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Cold Water Diving Jakob Jelling
What to wear when practicing cold water diving.
When practicing cold water diving, one of the main and most important things to have into account is which clothes to wear in order to keep warm. Keeping warm while diving in cold water is not as easy as it might sound since you must wear the proper clothes in order to be able not only to maintain your body temperature but at the same time keep your agility and be able to move as you need.
First of all, you should always remember that the dry suit you wear has the purpose of keeping you dry, not warm. Therefore, whenever you are going to practice cold water diving, you need to wear clothes with the purpose of maintaining your body temperature under your dry suit; they must complement each other.
There are some fabrics and materials which can work very well for the thermal insulation purpose. Among these materials we can find some special microfibres such as the one known as thinsulate which can be a great choice for a diver. There are many modern materials which might allow you to keep your body temperature through their thermal insulation capabilities at the same time than allow you to have a great agility.
There are some clothes meant to keep each specific body part warm. For the neck, you should wear a woolen or similar scarf; ideally made of cashmere due to its comfortableness and malleability. For your feet, you can wear woolen socks or clothes made of the same material you have chosen as an under suit.
It is also important to remember that we always loose a lot of our body heat through our head. Therefore, it might be important that you wear something to insulate your head from the cold which surrounds you. As you can see, there are specific clothes for each body part which you should consider before you start your cold water diving. It is very important that you wear them since, among other reasons, loosing your body temperature might even make you loose some of your thinking capabilities and become a serious risk.
About The Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.divepilot.com. Please visit his website to discover the world of diving!
Soap scum. Stiff clothing. Clogged pipes. No matter what you try, it's hard to get your surfaces clean. Scale builds up. Dishes come out of the dishwasher with spots on them. All of these problems occur because of hard water, a frustrating but fixable situation. The term, "hard water," refers to water with a high mineral content. The most common minerals that cause water hardness are calcium and magnesium. As water is absorbed into the ground, the minerals are pulled from the earth and eventually end up in a household's water supply. Hard water can clog household plumbing.Water hardness, or how much of a mineral is present in water, is measured in grains per gallon (GPG), parts per million (PPM), or milligrams per liter (MG/L). Water up to 1 GPG is considered soft, water; from 1 to 3.5 GPG is considered moderate, and water 3.5 to 7 GPG is hard water. Kits used to test water hardness can be purchased at a pool supplier or from a water softener dealer. Many water softeners plug right into the household water supply. Ionic exchange water softeners consist of negatively charged plastic beads, a brine tank, and a regenerating system with a timer or other monitoring device. Sodium or potassium chloride is added to the brine tank when regeneration is necessary. Home water softeners range in price from $400 to $1,200, and the salt ranges from $5 to $7 per bag. Price depends on type, size, and type of softening agent. Alternatively, magnetic water softeners consist of only 2 magnets attached to the outside or inside of water pipes.Water softeners work by replacing ions of the minerals that cause hardness with "softer" ions. Water is filtered through charged plastic beads and the magnesium or calcium ions are replaced with sodium or potassium ions. In the case of magnetic water softeners, magnetic energy causes chemical changes in the minerals. Using water softeners poses no health risks, except for those who are on sodium-restricted diets. Keep bottled water on hand for cooking and consumption, or use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride to soften. Potassium chloride is more expensive than sodium chloride. There are also no health risks associated with choosing not to soften water.
About the Author
Water Softeners Info provides detailed information about magnetic and ionic exchange water softeners, home water softener systems and kits, product reviews and comparisons, water softener salt, and more. Water Softeners Info is the sister site of Dishwashers Web.
Troubled Waters Require Capable Leaders at the Helm Larry D. Cote
Canadas lean leaders need to look beyond the horizon and chart the future
In stormy times, true leadership skills emerge, says Larry Coté, the President of Lean Advisors Inc. www.leanadvisors.com
By Larry Coté
The rumbles on our economic outlook are troubling. The dollar is still up, foreign investment, profits and sales are down. Low cost Asian competition is eroding our market share. Financial scandals and corporate governance issues keep flaring into the headlines. Disasters such as terrorism, possible pandemics, and war continually reshape the world in which we work and live. There are so many "big" global issues, so much apparent chaos, that our minds are often distracted from the day-to-day jobs we do leading our businesses.
The world as we know it has changed - both economically and socially. What hasnt changed however, is the customers insatiable appetite for more value, faster delivery and better service.
Most business leaders are eager to return to their pre-recession profits and growth. But even when the economy is robust again, we may find the bounce back to previous profit levels is not a "slam dunk" in spite of a revived and thriving economy. During the past couple of years, while business executives have been making short-term decisions to survive, customers and markets have continued to change at a rate never seen before.
If we turn our worries and blame for new shortfalls to the currency fluctuations and Asian competition, it starts to sound like the same old "blame game" with different players. Its easy to fly high on adrenaline when you look at these global issues and threats. But, for a moment, lets step back and look at our business challenges from a lower altitude and a more local focus.
In doing this, we need to disregard the factors affecting our businesses that we cant influence and begin to look at those we can. The ones we have little or no influence over are things like the recession, currency fluctuations and major disasters. The area we can influence and affect is our own long and short-term strategies for transforming our companies, making them more competitive and customer focused.
The bottom line is lets stick to our "knitting," do our jobs and focus more on our roles as organizational leaders.
In North America weve proven that we can provide products and services competitively through innovation, inspired product development and comprehensive efforts to eliminate waste. But it does require a prolonged and concentrated effort. Leaders arent hired to cry wolf when chaos threatens. The terms of employment are to use our leadership talents and drive improvements that will be seen and sustained on the bottom line.
We need to readjust how we use these talents and not be distracted by global factors, which are out of our control for the most part. We must accept the role we were hired for and focus on the business operations where we can have a real impact.
We are leaders, so lets lead. Most activities, whatever the company, can be classified as waste of one kind or another once you start to see it. As leaders, it is our responsibility to set the direction and motivate our staff to understand how to remove this waste properly rather than making incremental or point improvements.
This requires seeing and analyzing the process from end to end, not just at points or segments of the process. That becomes your road map to success.
Beneficial change happens in a very structured, sequential and organized fashion. Your teams arent caught running around chasing low hanging fruit while creating what we call "exciting chaos." When everyone rushes reactively to improve their individual areas they feel virtuous, after all they are helping the company, arent they In fact, they are only improving their areas or departments, often at the detriment of the entire process. Its your leadership and your measured future state plan that will bring order to chaos. Reactive flurry kills profits faster than any big external threat!
Striving to improve our own competitiveness by providing customers faster and better products or services will accomplish more than worrying about the next global crisis looming just around the corner. The only futures game we need to be in is the one that cuts waste so the customer sees more value.
Science tells us that nature likes order - its human agents that generate the chaos. There are things that we can control - so lets get busy and do it!
Larry Coté is president of Lean Advisors Inc. You can reach him by email at: lcote@leanadvisors.com. Larry is also a key organizer of the Lean Conference Canada event being held Sept, 15-16, 2004, at the Ottawa Congress Centre. For event details visit: www.leanconferencecanada.ca
For information: www.leanadvisors.com or Contact: info@leanadvisors.com Phone: 613-821-4545
About The Author
Larry Coté is well known for his penetrating analysis and creative energy. He was employed by the Lean Enterprise Institute in Boston for almost two years as C.O.O./E.V.P. He was the Founder and President of the Lean Enterprise Institute Canada.
Over the years, Larry has worked with 100s of companies at various stages of their Lean journey in many different business sectors. He is particularly skilled at working with senior executives in the boardroom to plan, problem solve and create Lean corporate strategies.
His research and development work along with his past hands-on experience has led to new ways to teach and communicate Lean across North America. These methods used in the past by Lean Advisors Inc. have proven to be very successful in promoting sustainability within the organizations where they have been applied.
Larry has specialized expertise in Toyota Production System concepts, diagnostics and assessment of Lean readiness. He works with the corporate leaders to develop effective plans for transforming entire organizations using Lean and adapting it to their particular culture.
lcote@leanadvisors.com
Drowning in Debt Tips and Tricks for Getting Out of Hot Water with Creditors Beth West
Do you, like millions of other Americans, feel like you’re sinking in an ocean of credit card debt Well, fear not--there are many options for reducing your debt way before you have to be concerned about receiving notices or daunting telephone calls from debt collectors. The important thing to remember is to be proactive in handling your credit card debt. Unmanaged debt can ultimately lead to lawsuits, loss of property, and tarnished credit reports.
Here are a few ideas for managing and/or reducing your debt:
Get in touch with creditors right away. Often times, creditors will reduce credit card interest rates if you simply ask for a break. Explain your situation, and let creditors know if you’re having trouble meeting your minimum monthly obligation. Many creditors will work with you to arrange a customized payment plan.
Develop a Budget. While many people dread this very important step in reducing debt, it can be extremely important in taking control of your financial situation. Compare and contrast fixed expenses—-mortgage payments, rent, car payments, and insurance premiums, for example--with variable expenses, such as entertainment and recreation. List all your expenses, even those that seem unimportant. This is an important step in determining your spending patterns, prioritizing expenses, and determining whether or not you have additional money to contribute to the monthly payments on your credit card.
Consolidate, consolidate, consolidate. While debt consolidation is a sometimes daunting and drastic step, it can be an important move in the quest to reduce your credit card debt. If you’re a homeowner, consider a second mortgage or a home equity loan to pay off high-interest rate debt. While these loans often require you to list your home as collateral, remember that if you start skipping out on credit card payments, you could easily lose your home. What’s more, these loans provide tax advantages that are not available with many kinds of credit.
Go to Counseling. Credit counseling, that is. Many credit counseling organizations will help you come up with a feasible solution for ridding yourself of debt. You can find credit counselors on the Internet, and many credit unions, universities and military bases provide credit counseling programs. Also, get in touch with your bank, friends, and/or family for a recommendation.
Some of the services credit counselors provide: Advice on how to manage your debt, assistance in developing a budget, and classes and workshops that are geared towards teaching consumers about money management, credit card debt, and budgeting. Counselors can also recommend a debt management plan DMP, which allows you to make monthly deposits to the specific counseling organization that you’re working with. Your counselor will then develop a payment schedule with your creditors that includes lower interest rates or waives certain fees.
For more suggestions and information on how to manage your credit card debt, please visit http://www.informedcredit.com.
About The Author
Beth West has an extensive background in public relations and marketing, with previous management positions in both the hospitality and software industries. Currently serving as the Director of Marketing for http://www.informedcredit.com, she also is working on a freelance writing business.
bethwest@cox.net
True Success In Wood And Water Robert Warren
Lets get right to the point, folks.
Were all looking to succeed, in our own individual ways, and were all looking for nuggets of wisdom to lead our course. We wake up every morning in search of meaningful thoughts that will carry the day. Sometimes optimistic little catch-phrases work; other times, a new insight into market dynamics or a book on client relations sparks that days adventure.
And it is an adventure. Thats why were out there fighting every day - because, in the end, weve rejected the idea that modern life is an eighty-year exercise in waiting for the inevitable. We want to walk beaches, climb mountains, love deeply, life our lives fully. We live for the joy of never knowing what strange lands our journeys will take us to that day, what people we will meet or who we will become as a result.
Were in this game for passion. Were doing it for love.
And in the pursuit of success, sometimes its very, very easy to forget that. We all have bad days, setbacks, even the occasional disaster - a lost opportunity, a lost client, a computer crash - and question just how on earth were going to keep doing this. If were not careful, we then start naturally falling back into the pattern of wanting every day to be a good day, a safe day, a predictable day. We close ourselves from life and slowly forget everything about why we started this in the first place.
As youre out there in the world, folks, remember to be patient. Learn to take a deep breath occasionally. Enjoy simple experience as often as you can, and accept the passing days with the gratitude of one alive. Keep the faith.
Theres an ancient Buddhist proverb that goes, "Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water." Its a good saying, not only for seeking an enlightened mind, but for seeking success in any fashion; it means to keep doing the work, no matter what. Be patient. Keep going. Dont be distracted by your own success - let it instead flow through your efforts naturally, without trying to cup it in your hands. Take the days as they come, and feel the joy of each day passing, whether good or bad.
Experience the passionate life of one who chops wood, carries water, and is content. True success, in all its forms, will follow.
About The Author
Robert Warren www.rswarren.com is a Florida-based freelance copywriter specializing in the unique marketing needs of independent professionals. writer@rswarren.com
Intranet Portal Project - RAD or Waterfall David Viney
In this short article, David Viney examines whether Rapid Application Development RAD or Waterfall development methodologies should be used during Intranet Portal projects.
Building Bridges
I have often used the analogy of building a bridge to explain to business colleagues the difference between RAD and Waterfall.
Let’s say that we are in the middle ages and the Mayor of Kingston-upon-Thames is evaluating whether or not to build a bridge over the river to the north side, to replace the current ferry. The whole area has been growing rapidly and a bridge at Kingston should give his town a lead against competing local towns like Ham and Richmond who also have their own ferries.
However, building a bridge presents problems. Firstly, the bedrock north and south of the river are very different. Secondly, the river is still tidal at this point and its path continues to vary across the floodplain. Finally – and perhaps most importantly – there is no guarantee that the projected growth in cross-river traffic will indeed materialise – or that people will wish to cross at this precise point, rather than further up, or down, river. A new bridge could prove an expensive white elephant and divert much-needed town resources away from other projects. The increased local taxes required could also scare the very businesses he is hoping to attract away to other local towns.
Option 1 - Waterfall
Waterfall, as a methodology, is all about building reliable systems. At each stage of the lifecycle, the results are correct. The Mayor’s engineer believes that - when building a bridge - the result needs to be safe, sound and capable of lasting for decades. He recommends a design phase, which includes thoroughly testing the bedrock by driving piles and developing ways to limit the future variance of the river’s course. During the build phase, the bridge would be tested to ensure it can take the loads that will be placed upon it and to deal with high winds or flood conditions. The engineer confirms that each stage would only start once the previous stage had been proved correct beyond reasonable doubt. The stone bridge will take five whole years to build with a high upfront cost commitment. If the project were ever stopped, the value tied up in phases to date would be lost. The engineer reminds the Mayor that a collapsed bridge would not help his place in history!
Option 2 - RAD
RAD, as a methodology is all about building relevant systems. The argument runs that it is better to be there quickly with 80% of the functionality in 20% of the time, so as to take full advantage of the business opportunity. The Mayor’s political advisors recommend the RAD option; to lay a pontoon bridge first alongside the existing ferry. This can be achieved in just three months, using a series of boats with a makeshift road surface and swing bridge lock for river vessels to navigate. The pontoon bridge allows the business model to be tested very quickly; If the expected benefits materialise, then further iterations of the bridge can be constructed later on. Sounds good, but of course overall the costs will be higher than waterfall if a full, stone bridge is ultimately required. In the meantime, if the river changes course, or floods impact the area, then the pontoon bridge will be washed away. His chief advisor reminds him that a bridge five years from now would not help his re-election prospects two years hence!
The Mayor’s selected option
Hmm. Interesting, isn’t it. Not a clear-cut decision. There are good arguments for either approach. The Mayor’s decision will ultimately depend on a how sure he is of his own vision, b his financial and time constraints and c how changeable these factors are likely to be over time. In short, he has a trade-off decision of relevance vs. reliability.
Turning the analogy onto Intranet Projects
In chapter 16 of my Intranet Portal Guide see http://www.viney.com/DFV/intranet_portal_guide/during/development_methodology.html, I explore these concepts in a bit more depth.
However – put simply – the answer for you will depend largely on how sure you are of your vision, the support of stakeholders, the availability of resources and the degree of change in your organisation and it’s requirements.
If you are operating in a stable business environment and are well funded and supported, then waterfall offers real benefits. You could establish an Intranet Portal that is well founded, scalable and secure. If not, then RAD could offer you the means to make some progress now at low cost and use the results of your early work to build a stronger case for future investment. It also allows you to vary the approach – or begin again – should circumstances or requirements change.
Most Intranet evangelists will find themselves perhaps in a mixed situation, where there is support and funding but there is also the risk of rapid changes to the underlying business environment and requirements. Here, I would recommend a mixed approach: Use a waterfall project to establish the underlying portal infrastructure as this platform will be the bedrock on which you will build and needs to stand the test of time. Then use a RAD method to build the content and applications developing solutions that are timely and relevant to businesses operating in a fast-moving and competitive environment.
About The Author
David Viney david@viney.com is the author of the Intranet Portal Guide; 31 pages of advice, tools and downloads covering the period before, during and after an Intranet Portal implementation.
Read the guide at http://www.viney.com/DFV/intranet_portal_guide or the Intranet Watch Blog at http://www.viney.com/intranet_watch.
Why Does My Cat Drink Dirty Water Larry Chamberlain
You know that cats should always have a supply of water, especially if you are feeding them dried food. There on your nice clean kitchen floor is a bowl of nice clean fresh water, in a nice clean bowl.
What does your cat do Maybe gives the bowl a sniff and walks away from it, or just ignores the bowl completely, as if water were the last thing a self respecting cat would consider drinking.
"Okay", you think to yourself, "Kitty just isnt thirsty at the moment". But then later, you happen to spy your cat busily lapping up stale water from a puddle in your garden as if it was nectar.
Cats are self-reliant, independent creatures, but surely your cat is not going to turn its nose up at the nice clean water you provide, just to let you know it can survive without you After all, kitty does not reject the food you provide even though it is perfectly capable of catching mice.
No, the answer is not your mousers independence. Tap water is usually treated with chemicals, often chlorinated strongly enough for a cat to smell it. Cats noses are far more sensitive than human noses and many cats find this chemical odor very offensive. Stale water in puddles and pools has a far more attractive smell are far as a cat is concerned. Puddles may be full of rotten vegetation and microbes, but cats find this organic soup very tasty.
As well as the off-putting odor of chemicals in tap water, cats find the smell of detergents repugnant. So, because you diligently clean your cats water bowl in the interest of hygiene, the detergent that you use deters your cat from drinking from it. You use the same detergent to wash your cats food bowl, why then, does your feline friend eat heartily from the bowl, and not be repelled by the smell of the detergent This is because the aroma of the fish or meat is stronger than the smell of the detergent.
With the water bowl, the combination of the two unpleasant smells, the chemicals in the tap water and the detergent, means that your cat will only quench its thirst from the water bowl if there is no better smelling option to be had.
So, what can you do You need to rinse your cats bowl more thoroughly than you would a plate for a human. Remember feline noses are far more sensitive than ours, every trace of detergent needs to be rinsed off. Secondly, let the water from the tap stand for a while before putting the bowl down for your cat, this will allow the chemicals to dissipate.
These two things should have kitty drinking happily from the dish, unless, of course, kitty has got so used to drinking from puddles it just cant kick the organic water habit!
About The Author
Larry Chamberlain If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com.
Cat art posters, art prints, cat calendars and cat collectibles. Great cat gifts for yourself or your cat loving friends.
Water on the Brain Ieuan Dolby
I was in the supermarket this morning nothing unusual in that and pushing my trolley to the checkout. Well, my wife was pushing and I was away in airy-fairy land when it suddenly dawned on me that I was walking past water. Not just any water but a whole world of the stuff. A complete representation of nations: a veritable United Nations of water in one aisle.
There, in your local Supermarket: Highland Spring Water all the way from Scotland or water drawn from the speckled valleys in the Black Mountains of the Canadian Rockies. Or you prefer Continental European How about Spa Reine Water from Germany hope it wasn’t a public Spa or Vittel from the French Societe Generale des Eaux Minerales de Vittel, whatever that is. Even Australia is represented by Wattle Water – Pure Water from the Australian outback and complete with a sprinkling of dust. And from the Continent of Africa comes “Oasis Pure” shipped out from the Negrev by Camel Train. China and Japan had ambassadors at the Supermarket I attended and the pictures on the bottles looked great, but the price of $4.50 was pushing my ability to grasp the essentials behind buying water a bit far.
Yes, one can buy water from almost any place in the world right in your local shop. You can even get water from the Three Gorges Damn in China at your local Chinese Take-away, which is a bit weird as the damn is not ready for completion for another six years or so.
How true the advertising of water is can be anybody’s guess, but to me it seems a mite strange to ship small bottles of water half way across the world when a quite decent reservoir exists just up the road. I realize that in an effort to promote certain brands you can pay twice as much for water in a colorful green bottle or in a bottle shaped like a duck – but is it all so necessary. The cost of this water is outrageous yet nobody seems to realize what they are actually doing when they faithfully buy bottled water everyday of the week. The way I see it is that people are buying water that comes from the other side of the world and costs them money that could be otherwise spent. Why not just go to the tap as we used to do and use the water from there If concerned boil it, let it cool and put it in the fridge for later. That is what we used to do until all of these fancy and expensive bottles came on the scene.
In an attempt to understand this bottled water phenomena I decided to put the words “bottled” and “water” into the search engine on my computer. The first entry that came up surprised me greatly. There is a whole association dedicated to bottled water; a whole business geared up to its welfare. I mean I can understand the International Association for Rail Workers or for Medical Supplies, but the International Bottled Water Association IBWA shocked me to the core. After this surprise I noticed that the whole Industry is massive, that not only this association exists but so do hundreds of others! Wow!
Anyway, it matters not. Looking through the IBWA site for inspiration I came to their “tip of the week” page. And here is the tip that they had for this week:
“Cool water is absorbed much more quickly than warm fluids and may help to cool off your overheated body”. Source: Nutrition Information Center in partnership with IBWA
Handy stuff! I got another useful hint from some other association that told me to drink two glasses of water every morning to offset imperceptible water loss that I have had during the night. Excellent stuff. This “handy tip” was given out by a Dr Fereydon Batmanghelidj and he wrote a book called, “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water”. I doubt that it is fictional in content.
Must try and get hold of that book – only joking. Another piece that I found was Ed Ford’s views on the matter of water:
“Human beings were invented by water as a device for transporting itself from one place to another”.
I am completely stuck for something to say after reading that weird statement. I must move onto other things or I will end up trying to find this man to see if he is for real.
As a kid in Edinburgh which is not that long ago we always used to drink water from the tap. If you wanted a glass of water then go to the kitchen sink and open the cold tap, let it run for a few seconds, more to make it cold than to clear the line and then fill your glass. Final step: drink it. This was always the case and 99% of the population of Britain one percent lived on whisky lived quite happily in this way with no notable side-effects form the tap water. And then suddenly bottled water came on the scene and life changed without noticeable falter, now 100% of the population drink from bottles.
Edinburgh Water shocks a lot of people when they find out the cycle that it goes through before it arrives in the glass that they are busy drinking from. Recycled sewage water is the ingredient of the stuff now inside their stomachs at the point when they grasp what you are telling them. Edinburgh has for many years removed the dung from the sewage this used to be shipped out to sea in a special ship called the Gardyloo, it is then treated and passed through charcoal beds and retreated and analyzed endlessly before it is sent back into the system. And believe it or not Edinburgh has some of the highest quality water in Europe – and it comes straight from the tap!
Countries like Taiwan, the Philippines to name but a few do need treated water as the quality available from the tap could kill at ten yards. Taiwan has an extremely efficient system going – just go outside of your house to any one of the many machines dotted along the streets and by putting in 5NTD 8 pence you will get a few gallons of clean and drinkable water in return. Not that the tap water is that bad some waste chemicals and untreated sewage have been diverted to another river and a boil in the kettle does me perfectly if I am feeling lazy.
It seems to me as if the whole world is shifting water around constantly. Singapore is a good example of the state of water today. Singapore has to buy water from Malaysia to survive and without such the whole of the Singapore economy would grind to a halt. This water is actually under serious contention as Malaysia has been complaining that Singapore does not pay enough for the water they pump everyday.
The Malaysian state of Johor provides 350 million gallons of water per day to Singapore at $0.007 per 1000 gallons, while Singapore has to resell a minimum 17 million gallons per day of treated water to Johor at $0.13 per 1000 gallons. The price differential has prompted calls from numerous Malaysian politicians that Singapore is profiteering from the deal. It also rankles the Malaysians that the price paid was derived from an agreement made decades ago and is still due to run for another few until 2061. In basis: they want more for the water and Singapore doesn’t want to pay. They are even threatening to go to war over this!
In an attempt by Singapore to reduce their reliance on Malaysia they have started a program to build recycling plants around the Island. Great idea –convert dirty water into drinking water – and although it will take many years before the balance changes it is a good start. I am not sure about their marketing campaign – you can buy this water from the chosen outlets and it is called “New Water”. Sounds like a religious order.
The worlds shifting of water despite Ed Fords thinking that water made humans so that it can transport itself is none greater than what is going on in China as we speak. The Three Gorges Dam! China’s largest project since the Great Wall of China: and one with greater impact on China and the rest of the world than any other project underway today.
Some facts about the Three Gorges project: Project expected to take 17 years; completion expected in 2009. An estimated 250,000 workers are involved in the project. The Three Gorges Reservoir will inundate 632 square kilometers 395 square miles of land. An estimated 1.2 million people will be resettled by the dam. The projects 26 hydropower turbines are expected to produce 18.2 million kilowatts, up to one-ninth of Chinas output. The amount of concrete totals 26.43 million cubic meters, twice that of the Itaipu project in Brazil, currently the worlds largest hydroelectric dam.
Source: Chinese government
Alongside of this massive shifting of natural resources we have the ice caps melting North and South of us, floods occurring worldwide where they should not and abnormal rainfalls flooding towns that usually do not see water for months on end. And of course the Meeting of Nations on the Supermarket shelves!
The world has water on the brain!
Just make sure that when you buy water from the supermarket that you try and miss out the “Clouds Recycled with Flouride” and the “Occaneechi Local Spa” and maybe go for the Deep Rock Crystal Drop and Whistlers Pure Glacial. It’s all in a name!
About The Author
Ieuan Dolby, from Scotland is an Engineering Officer in the Merchant Navy. He has been travelling the world for 15yrs on an endless tour of cultural diversification. Currently based in Singapore he writes various articles for magazines and newspapers and is working on a marine glossary. ieuandolby@lycos.com
Bottled Water Is Better Than Tap Water Dr. John Roberts
Is bottled water better than tap water
Nov. 6, 2004
If you think bottled water is safer than tap water, you need to read the following.
A Dutch study presented at a recent meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Washington, DC. found that 40% of bottled water is contaminated with bacteria and or fungi.
Chemical or biological contamination of bottled water has been already found for many years. Some readers might already have known that some so called spring water is actually tap water without any purification. Many brands of bottled water are indeed inferior to tap water in regard to their safety.
The package per se can be a problem. Years ago when I was in graduate school, we did a sensory evaluation on the odor of the bottled water. We found that the opaque bottles often times carry strong plastic odor.
To avoid intake of pollutants through water, consumers need to use as less water as possible. Drinking 8 cups a day may not always be necessary. Let common sense be your guide. Drinking too much water could get you too much of pollutants.
If you buy and drink bottled water, make sure that the bottle is transparent. I suggest that opaque and colored bottles be avoided. At home, you’d better use a filter for the tap water, particularly when you have a kid or two. Filters need to be certified by a third party for its sound quality. There are some products on the market that just self-claim certain benefits. Do not use such products.
About The Author
John Roberts works for foodconsumer.com - an online magazine promoting healthy food and diet.
True Culprits of High Cholesterol -- Homogenized Milk and Tap Water Deb Bromley
What if I told you tap water and homogenized milk may be two of the biggest culprits in skyrocketing rates of high cholesterol Cholesterol is actually being produced by our own bodies all of the time as a natural mechanism to combat oxidation when our bodies are diseased. Therefore, if we are not well, our cholesterol levels are likely to be higher regardless of what we eat that contains cholesterol. Having too low of a cholesterol level is just as bad as having too high.
Avoiding eggs and other foods that naturally contain cholesterol may not be the best solution, nor taking cholesterol-lowering drugs with their plethora of harmful side effects. For example, eggs are actually extremely healthy in moderation, being that they contain nutrients present at the beginning of life. Fatty meats are often harmful simply because fats store toxins, and animals not raised naturally have often been injected with antibiotics, hormones, steroids, and graze on grounds containing pesticides and fertilizer residue.
Two of the most harmful, and most common, everyday products we are ingesting that contribute to high cholesterol, and thus plaque in the arteries, are homogenized milk and chemically-treated tap water.
The explanation is far more complicated than I will cover here, but basically homogenizing milk involves the breaking down of fat particles to such a small size that the milk looks nice and smooth with no chunks of cream, but these smaller fat particles can permeate the intestines and end up in your blood stream. On the other hand, fresh unhomogenized milk from the farm, assuming the cows have not been exposed to chemicals, with its cream floating to the top, is natural and not a harmful form of fat. The larger fat molecules pass through the digestive system and nutrients are properly absorbed without fat entering the bloodstream. This cream, of course, can also be skimmed off the top of the milk and used for other purposes.
Studies have shown that many of the chemicals present in tap water that were added to kill bacteria, such as chlorine, often react with and oxidize cholesterol already in the body, forming a gummy substance plaque that actually sticks to, and clogs, the arteries. And there are many more dangerous side effects of drinking chemically-treated water.
What can you do about it If you want to lower your cholesterol, which is not an easy task once your body is not functioning properly regardless how much cholesterol you eliminate in your diet, first eliminate homogenized milk and stop drinking and cooking with tap water whenever possible. If you cant always get unhomogenized milk, such as from a health store or organic farm, then fat-free regular organic milk is the next best choice so youre not getting chemicals nor as much cholesterol. If you can afford it, put a good filter in your bathtub or shower and/or install a whole-house distillation system, as even bathing in chemically treated water is harmful because it absorbs through your pores, and chemicals in the steam are inhaled.
And dont think you can turn to bottled waters -- sometimes bottled waters are no better, as they can contain runoff from groundwater containing pesticides and fertilizers that are not removed and do not have to be reported. If the bottle says it has been purified by both reverse osmosis and carbon/charcoal treatments, it may be less contaminated. The healthiest water available today for purchase is probably distilled water, which most closely mimics the suns natural way of purifying water.
The best way to bind and pull cholesterol out of your body naturally and avoid chemicals is by eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables preferably organic and chemical-free that havent been processed or "enriched" by synthetic means such as bleached white breads, white rice, white pasta, etc. Since your body has been overoxidizing, antioxidants may help speed recovery, and hence indirectly lower cholesterol. There are natural and safe cholesterol-lowering supplements available at health stores, including plant-based polycosinol, but always check to make sure there are no supplement, herb, or drug interactions if you are, or plan to continue, taking medications concurrently. Never stop medications abruptly. And lastly, since much of our soil has been depleted of minerals from chemicals, and most processed foods lack sufficient vitamins, most people should always take a potent natural vitamin and mineral supplement to help speed healing and to maintain their health.
To view a version of this article containing links to free informative resources that will help you combat high cholesterol, avoid disease-causing toxins in your food and environment, and treat other health conditions naturally, please visit the NatureGem web site at http://www.naturegem.com and select the article title.
About The Author
Deb Bromley is a former science and technology researcher and the President of NatureGem Nontoxic Living, an organization devoted to promoting awareness of toxins in our food and environment that can cause disease, and providing access to nutrition information, natural remedies, and alternative health resources.
debbromley@legacyhealthfoundation.org
Amazing Water HSF Energy
Before the floods of Noah, before epidemics, before disease and before a shortened life span, there was pure, energized water. Different from the water we drink now, free of chlorine, additives, chemicals for purification and toxins, from factories. This water was full of life giving energy, vitalized water.
Some 30 years ago, a French researcher determined a means of measuring the energy of earth and water, and called it Bovis scale. Starting at zero and growing to infinity, the level for neutrality is based at 6,500 Bovis units. Anything below that number is considered depleting or negative. The life force index for most current water resources, including rivers, lakes, oceans and fresh water supplies is below 4,900 Bovis Units. Tap water comes out at 2,500 Units. This may account for illness, disease and a diminished life span, as cancer has been read at 4,700 Bovis Units, while most other states of depletion or illness range from 5,700 to a low of 3,600 Bovis Units.
The earths strata horizontal section has given us a clue about what may have happened thousands of years ago. Reportedly, Scientific research has concluded that around the time of Noahs flood, a radiation cloud from a Super Nova engulfed the earth for over 2 years. Before this cloud, water registered in excess of 6,500 units and afterwards, much lower. The result being a non-vitalizing water supply which contributed to the current state of disease. Bible stories mention many long living individuals before Noah, but few, if any, after the flood, which coincidentally occurred around the same time frame as the radiation cloud.
Several years ago Manfred Bauer, a German Engineer, searched for both a cause and a cure for his own cancer. The cause was unexplainable, until he met a German Naturopath one who uses natural means for healing without drugs, who explained that negative water lines below his home might have contributed to his diseased state. He was skeptical, but was determined to do everything possible to beat his cancer.
Manfreds research led him to previous German discoveries surrounding the energy of water and various vitalization processes. He then developed his own water vitalization procedure, over a 2 year period of time. Six years later, he remains cancer free. Despite maintaining the secret of his discovery, Manfred willingly shares the results with those interested in listening. And, the results have been rather astounding. His company makes only two claims: water from his devices mugs, cups, food containers, refrigerator products, whole house systems and pool or spa revitalizers, taste better and people who drink the water feel more energy and vitality. Regardless of the limited claims being made, potential is limitless.
Imagine taking in water that actually provides the body with an innate ability to begin its own healing. In a time where skepticism abounds and scientific research or triple blind studies are the normal water vitalization process such as this will be questioned, and with good reason. On the other hand, an old adage, the proof is in the pudding, may also be appropriate, as we are each unique and our reaction to products is also unique. The only way to determine if this energized water is effective is to try it. Thats the easy part as it is inexpensive and maintenance free. Even the FDA has taken a look at the product line and concluded that there are no chemicals or additives being used and they had any concerns about safety or side effects.
Through personal observation, a polycarbonate, energy water mug, eliminated the yellow and the chlorine taste of chlorinated water. Just from drinking vitalized water for a few weeks, headaches dissipated within minutes, energy improved, sleep was deeper, mental clarity increased, bowel function improved and a sense of emotional well being increased.
Natalie felt a distinct change in energy for the better and felt clear headed for the first time in months.
Sue was so energized that she needed less sleep.
Mark saw his liver function improve dramatically and an ability to get more accomplished was impressive.
Bill said his tooth pain was virtually eliminated in minutes.
Few, if any, have tried the water and not seen some results. We live on a water planet and most everything connected with the earth has a high concentration of water. Our physical body consists of over 70 percent water. And if that water happens to deplete our systems of energy, we become susceptible to disease, ailments, germs and viruses. On the other hand, if we increase the energy of water to 10,000 - 12,000 Bovis Units, we increase our ability to eliminate, reduce and prevent illness.
Manfred saw this potential when he developed his energized water products, which allow water to energize other water. One of the wonderful aspects of these products is their unlimited shelf life. They dont need to be constantly replaced. We have been blessed to live in an age where supplements and new techniques have provided a means for improved health while maintaining our lives for longer and longer periods.
Antioxidants such as CO Q 10, Grape Seed Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, N Acetyl Cysteines, IP6, SAMe, MGN3, MSM and Green tea have proven to be breakthrough products for improving and strengthening the immune system. But there isnt one of these or any other supplement that doesnt require continuous replenishment. This isnt to say that we dont need supplements, minerals and vitamins, because we do. But, we probably wouldnt need as much as we would with an energetically improved system.
Essential Energy Water may be at the forefront of changing the way we view health and healing. And, it may actually be the true Fountain of Youth. But lets leave that for you to decide.
Essential Energy Water can by found at www.hsfenergy.com.
About The Author
This article was written by David Dancu and brought to you by HSF Energy. You can find PX Essential Energy products at www.hsfenergy.com.
David Dancu has been using herbs, vitamins, supplements and Homeopathy for over 20 years. He maintains a Natural Health practice in Naples, FL, specializing in Brain Chemistry, ph balancing, nutrition, Herbs and Homeopathy. He has degrees in Homeopathy, Naturopathy and Holistic Health and is the author of two books, Homeopathic Vibrations and Natural Health Essentials. He can be reached at 239 424-2497 or email: naturopath@bigfoot.com or online: http://naturalhealthessentials.com.
hsflinks@comcast.net
Great Summer Workouts: Just Add Water Lynn Bode
With warm weather season now in full gear, exercisers want to take their workouts outside and breakout of their indoor fitness ruts. But, when temperatures reach record highs and humidity levels soar, traditional outdoor workouts become less appealing. So how can you stay cool while still enjoying outdoor physical activity One word – water. Water exercises are the perfect way to workout under the sun without overheating. You can get a total body workout without even breaking a sweat!
And don’t worry if you aren’t a veteran swimmer. Aquatic workouts aren’t limited to just swimming. There are many other forms of pool exercises. You don’t even have to be a regular exerciser to try aquatic fitness. One of the great things about working out in the water is that even fitness novices can easily perform many of the moves.
It’s also an excellent fitness choice for all ages, from the very young to seniors. Water exercise is a very good way to burn calories, improve your strength and flexibility, tone-up, improve your cardiovascular system, and just get more fit overall. And, the types of workouts are practically endless. Most land exercises can be modified and re-created in water. Other benefits include: lower injury risk less sweating works your entire body challenges your body in a very different way then it is accustom to refreshing way to workout water provides natural resistance so no equipment is needed can increase/decrease intensity difficulty simply by alternating between shallow and deep areas good low-impact exercise choice for pregnant women reduces joint compression and downward gravity pull in other words – easier on the joints even people who can’t exercise on land can often exercise in the water excellent rehabilitation exercise for people recovering from an injury less stress on bones and muscles great option for people with arthritis
Plus, water workouts also provide a fun and more socially interactive exercise option. For example, parents can enjoy time at the pool with their children while also fitting in some of their weekly workout sessions. Aquatic aerobic classes also provide a social, group-setting alternative.
Still not convinced that an aquatic workout will challenge your body as well as some of the more common workouts like walking or jogging. Well, try some of the sample exercise below and you’ll probably quickly change your mind. But, don’t judge the workout solely on how high your heart rate gets. Keep in mind that swimmers generate a slightly lower heart rate when compared to cyclists and runners. This does not imply that they aren’t working as hard. Experts equate the lower heart rate partially to the effect of immersion in a relatively cool environment. So, keep this in mind when determining your target heart rate, which may be 10 beats per minute lower when in the water. Also, don’t make the mistake of assuming you are well hydrated just because your body is submerged in water. You still need to drink about ½ a cup of water about every 20 minutes of exercise.
Swim/Walk interval laps: Swim 1-2 laps use any swim form you prefer: crawl, backstroke, etc. Walk 1-2 laps in the pool. Repeat sequence 4-6 times.
Water Squats: Stand in the water with feet about hip-width apart. Bend your knees slightly as you push your hips back as if you are sitting on a chair. Keep your knees behind your toes. Return to start position and repeat. The water provides extra resistance and makes this move more challenging.
Wave Jumps for those with access to the ocean or a wave-simulator: Stand in knee-deep or less water. Each time a wave comes attempt to jump over it. Note: this is a more advanced move that requires good balance and strong swimming skills. Do not attempt this move unless you have experience swimming in waves.
Water Jogging: Can be done with the use of flotation devices where your feet don’t touch the ground or the traditional way of actually jogging in the water.
For a more comprehensive list of water workouts and more detailed instructions for the above exercises, visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com/water.htm
Remember, you should always consult your physician before trying any new exercise programs.
About The Author
Lynn Bode, author and certified personal trainer, offers her services online through WorkoutsForYou.com. Workouts For You provides affordable online exercise programs to help even the busiest of people lose weight, tone-up, build muscles, increase stamina and more via the Internet. Let us guide you one-on-one through your fitness journey with weekly customized workouts designed just for YOU! Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for a free sample workout. info@workoutsforyou.com
How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day Marc David
I’m always amazed at how many people seem to know the answer to this question yet in practice they fail. Everybody I’ve talked to seems to know that 8-12 glasses of water a day is the recommended standard. But if I ask them how many glasses of water have you consumed today The answer is usually none. Or the other standard answer at a corporate environment “does coffee count”
While 8-12 glasses of water is great for the average sedentary person, many of us are fitness conscious or on the pursuit of some type of bodybuilding physique. With that in mind, I think the new standard for us should be 1-2 gallons of water a day.
As a bodybuilder, you are putting much more nutrients, food, supplements, and other stuff into your body. What your body does not use, it must rid itself of by any means necessary. Usually it does this via water. So drinking plenty of water becomes a necessity. Increasing protein puts a strain on your body and drinking lots of water can keep things “moving.” Creatine monohydrate supplementation requires a lot of water. Creatine is all about cell volumization. Making sure your cells are completely hydrated helps with the volumization process. NO2, a hemodilator, requires water. Many other supplements require water as a transport and a flushing method.
The side effects of drinking too little water are an excess buildup of certain chemicals. Creatine can leave behind some buildup that overtime, becomes a bit hard to pass. Putting such a strain on the body is also self-defeating. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not just about Creatine and NO2. It’s about making sure you are hydrated.
Being properly hydrated has it’s benefits other then just the flushing methods and cell volumization discussed above. Your state of alertness is affected by your hydration levels. Performance in the gym by a hydrated body is enhanced. Your body is roughly 70% water. It makes sense to hydrate it. Drinking water is not just for hot days. It’s for intense workouts in the gym. In fact, being hydrated has that perpetual pump that is so sought after.
There can be too much of a good thing. Drinking water to excess leads to water intoxication, referred to as hyponatremia. As you consume water, blood plasma increases and dilutes the salt content of the blood. While this is happening, you lose more salt by sweating. Consequently the amount of salt available to the body tissues decreases and over time, the loss interferes with brain, heart and muscle functions. Water intoxication is more commonly found in endurance athletes.
Drink plenty of water per day, but just keep in mind, there can be too much of a good thing. Being properly hydrated is necessary for optimum performance in the gym and for keeping your body performing well.
About The Author
Marc David has a degree in Criminal Justice from Sacramento State, a 16 year history of non-competitive bodybuilding and is the owner of Freedomfly -the fitness network! For free fitness tools, discount supplements, fitness consultation, and workout routines, visit http://www.freedomfly.net mrcd@freedomfly.net
Water...How It Effects Aging Paula Willard
How many times have your heard – drink eight to ten glasses of water everyday How often do we actually drink that much pure water
Would you believe that as you are reading this page you are dehydrating We were all born as grapes, but now we are turning into raisins. Your body was once more than 70% water and now, if you’re like most Americans past the age of 40, you are lucky to have a hydration level above 60%. The bodies of most hospitalized elderly are less than 50% water.
Today, Americans consume more coffee and soft drinks than water. These beverages, along with tea and alcohol, are diuretics and dehydrate the body. All the moisturizer in the world will not restore a youthful appearance. By dehydrating your body you are actually pulling a hundred times as much water out of your skin through the urinary tract. Much worse than the skin dehydrating, is the dehydration of the internal organs, connective tissue and the brain.
Inadequate fluid intake and excess water loss can disrupt critical cell function. Most people experience this level of hydration all day, nearly everyday. Water is essential for all anabolic repair functions, and conversely, dehydration accelerates the aging process.
A study at Fred Hutchinson Research Center in Seattle found that women who drank two glasses of water a day had nearly twice the risk of colon cancer than women who drank four glasses a day. The few women who did drink eight or more glasses of water a day had less than half the risk of those who drank only four glasses. The association of increased water intake may also reduce the risk for other types of cancer. In one study, the women who drank the most water were 80% less likely to develop bladder cancer than women who drank the least. Other conditions that often respond to increased water intake include the reduction of headaches, muscle aches, hangovers, fatigue, constipation, and heartburn. Drinking enough water will also reduce fluid retention and edema. Sometimes it is difficult for people to understand that drinking lots of water actually decreases water retention. If you provide your body with ample amounts of pure water, it will not have to retain water in the tissues The body can become significantly dehydrated before we actually feel thirsty.
In the morning, you have a true need for water, but you may not feel it. For most people, the first liquid they consume is coffee, a beverage that sucks the water out of our cells.
Try this test: Before you eat or drink anything in the morning, sip about four ounces of water-no more. You will be surprised to see that in two to three minutes your mouth will feel parched. Drink another four ounces and in two to three minutes you will be thirsty again. You may have to repeat this six or more times before you are no longer thirsty. Add up all the four-ounce servings that you consumed, and you will discover your body’s true metabolic need for water.
About The Author
Paula Willard is a Certified Herbalist and has been working with Nutrition and Herbs for the past 20 years. Her passion is helping people defy the effects of aging and restore their youthful feeling, through the aid of supplementation. See her website at http://www.youthfulliving.com pjzteam@rochester.rr.com
Is Low-Carb Weight Loss Really Just Water Loss Craig Whitley
Any weight loss or diet plan, including low-carb plans like the induction phase of the Atkins Diet will result in water loss during the first week or two. However, one of the real beauties of following a low carbohydrate eating plan is that most of the weight loss than extends beyond the initial induction phase of the diet is really from a drop in fat pounds.
How can this be Well, when you follow a controlled carbohydrate eating plan like Atkins or the South Beach Diet, your body soon switches from burning carbohydrates which the diet deprives the body of to burning fat for energy. In other words, the majority of the weight loss that occurs beyond the initial induction phase is really loss of fat that has been stored in your body.
Contrary to what many skeptics and misinformed persons may report or say, even if your body sheds water during the first few days of a controlled carbohydrate diet plan like the South Beach Diet or Atkins, the body’s water balance soon returns to normal and the weight loss that follows is the depletion of fat pounds. This loss of fat reveals itself to one and all in the form declines in inches your body measurements and pounds – regardless which low-carb diet you follow.
About The Author
Craig Whitley is the Senior Editor of “Diets and Weight Loss Plans” – a daily blog for dieters. Visit his website daily to read the latest news and articles on diets, dieting, weight loss and obesity. The URL address for Diets and Weight Loss Plans is http://weightloss.blogdiets.com/blog You have permission to publish this article electronically on your website or in print, free of charge, as long as this resource box with all links and author attribution are kept intact.
Wild Watercress Soup Nasturtium officinale Simon Mitchell
Wild Watercress soup is a delicious and nutritious recipe with the leaves available in spring and early summer. Watercress is rich in Vitamins A and C, iron, iodine and phosphorus. Watercress has been used as part of a holistic response to cancer of the lungs, larynx, oesophagus, prostate, bladder, uterus, stomach and intestines. It can be used in the treatment of: skin problems bronchitis winter colds or flu liver or kidney fatigue sinusitis
However there are dangers: watercress may cause cystitis in some people and its medicinal use is not advised for those who have a delicate stomach or suffer from acidosis or heartburn. Excessive or prolonged use may lead to kidney problems. Some doctors advise against its use during pregnancy. Wild watercress often grows in streams inhabited by water snails which carry liver fluke. There is also the possibility of bacterial infection. Eating wild watercress in a raw state is not advised for this reason. Cooking the leaves for a short period removes the dangers. Also make sure that the watercourse feeding the stream in which the watercress grows is free from industrial or agricultural pollution.
Ingredients for watercress soup: Pick the watercress from clean water areas by pinching out the tops of the plants. Uprooting them will destroy this resource for everyone. Gather a good handful for each person who will be sharing this delicious spring treat. Other ingredients for a soup for 4 people are: 2 large potatoes generous knob of butter dash of olive oil to prevent butter burning stock cube chicken or vegetable salt and freshly ground pepper single cream
Instructions: Cube the potatoes and cook them gently in the oil and butter until they are starting to soften Add boiling water and dissolve the stock cube. Simmer for 10-15 minutes Coarsely chop the watercress and add to the mix for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally Liquidise and add in some single cream to taste. Add Salt and pepper to taste Use some purchased raw watercress leaves and pepper to garnish
This nutritious soup is warming when hot and a refreshing summer soup when served cold. Watercress is part of the Nasturtium family whose peppery leaves are well known for their nutraceutical value. In addition to containing high vitamin C contents and antioxidant Beta-carotene, it contains vitamin E and is a natural antibiotic. It is sometimes used in complementary medicine to speed up the bodys detoxification processes.
Thanks to Dr A. Dracea, J. Lust, R. Phillips
About The Author
Simon Mitchell From an ebook called ‘Wild Food’ underway at simonthescribe. If you wish to republish this article with resource info. intact you will find excellent quality pictures to accompany it at http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/wildwatercresssoup.html
Water, The Magic Drink: Learn How It Helps Glow Your Skin Jasdeep
Glowing skin comes free of charge to you. Our simple water does it effectively.The effect of water is immediate, say overnight. your skin not only glows but you also feel a lot better after having a glass of water. Your wrinkles will seem less pronounced and your body will work most effectively as the waste and toxins are washed away. This is what our free of cost renewable source of energy does to us.
Tip: Drink a glass or two of water if you are watching your diet. Dehydration triggers false feelings of hunger so its easy to confuse thirst with hunger.
Natural spring water, whether its fizzy or still, is full of natural minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, which are so important for our growth and healthy skin, along with iodine, copper and iron .Fizzy water is believed to be absorbed much quicker in body and is thought by some beauticians to aggravate cellulite.
Tip: People who drink a lot of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and aerated drinks tend to have tired-looking skin and have greasy skin and spots.This is because these drinks contain caffeine which prevents your body from making efficient use of minerals and vitamins.Try not to drink more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day.
Alcohol and Smoking also effect the skin in great great way.Keep their intake low. Excessive intake of alcohol can lead to split veins. Smoking which has Nicotine doesnt help you keep healthy skin too.Try Giving up Smoking.Nicotine attacks the blood vessels that feed the skin with oxygen and nutrients, as well as those that drain away the body waste. Smoking also age the skin greatly and affect nail beds and hair follicles, which nestle the epidermis .
Tip: Try not to take more than recommended 21 units of alcohol a week and GIVE UP SMOKING . Learn how to give up smoking effortlessly and painlessly here . http://www.weightloss-health.com
So, i would advice you to increase your water intake. One of the best way is to start a day with a glass or two of water. These initial glasses are important as you are reversing any mind dehydration that may have occurred overnight. It is always advisable to have water empty stomach as it avoid unnecessary dilution of digestive juices .So half hour before your meal, do have water.Get into the habit of taking water bottle along with you when you go out so that you can refresh yourself whenever you want.
Benefits of Pure Water: It doesnt create any false feeling of hunger if we have proper intake of water. Hence, no overeating. Skin feels moist with the increase in energy levels. Pumps you up, improves mental and physical performance. Flushes out Toxins and unwanted substances . Gets you rid of dark circle under eyes . It also alleviates migraine headaches, high blood cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis pain, allergies and high blood pressure.
Tip: Your intake should not be less than 8 glass of water per day.
Get More free informative articles on health at So, i would advice you to increase your water intake. One of the best way is to start a day with a glass or two of water. These initial glasses are important as you are reversing any mind dehydration that may have occurred overnight. It is always advisable to have water empty stomach as it avoid unnecessary dilution of digestive juices .So half hour before your meal, do have water.Get into the habit of taking water bottle along with you when you go out so that you can refresh yourself whenever you want.
About The Author
Jasdeep Singh http://www.weightloss-health.com
The most comprehensive Health guide for complete family: http://www.weightloss-health.com.
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How To Build A Waterfall Dan Eskelson
The number one, most asked question that I receive about water features is "How do I build a waterfall"
The first advice I give is to visit natural waterfalls or at least look at photos. Dont try to memorize just how they look...just get a general idea how the water flows around and over the rocks.
The design of your falls will depend on topography, pump and pipe size, length of water flow from pump to falls, pond size and possibly other site-specific factors. If your pond is just 4 x 6, you certainly dont want a large, three foot wide falls - keep the elements of your water feature in scale.
One of the most common mistakes results from the desire for a tall waterfall at a level building site...large amounts of soil are imported to build the falls up to a three or four foot height. Yes, you will achieve a dramatic waterfall, but the total effect will look more like an out of place volcano. A falls of just two feet will produce a very satisfactory effect both visually and audibly.
On a level site, with an "average" size pond of 11 x 16, the amount of soil needed to surround the biological filter and create the berm is just about equal to the amount of soil excavated from the pond...it works out quite well. To further enhance or enlarge the berm, you may want to import a little more soil, large boulders or other features.
If you are working on a slope, you have the option of placing the biological filter waterfall source uphill from the pond and creating a series of cascading waterfalls. This is how I built my falls, described in the photo essay here: http://clearwaterlandscapes.com/pondphotos.htm
It was definitely an exercise in visualization to determine exactly how the water would flow down the falls. I made a slight underestimation of the total flow and could have widened the falls somewhat, but the effect is very acceptable.
Even on a level site, its a good design strategy to place the falls six to eight feet from the pond. This will create a short stream to the pond.
Be sure to use a wide EPDM rubber liner under the falls and/or stream...this will allow for twists and turns in the course of the water and also contain splashing. A ten foot wide stream liner is recommended. Underlayment under the falls and stream liners is usually not required.
When your excavation is complete for the falls, and liner is in place, add your stone. Dont be in a hurry - try several or many combinations and visualize how the water will flow.
When satisfied with your arrangement, use black waterfall foam to direct the water over the stone instead of under it. That is, stone that is directly in contact with the liner should sit on a bed of foam so the water goes around or over the stone instead of underneath it. Caution - the foam expands greatly...dont use too much!
Though it requires some creativity and patience, building a waterfall is extremely satisfying. Though you should give some time to preliminary research, youll learn most by actually building your water feature - just do it! Youll find that your water garden is the most relaxing and enjoyable part of your yard.
About The Author
Visit Our Site for Interactive Landscaping Solutions. Plan and Visualize Your New Landscape Online. Youre an Essential Part of the Design Team! http://clearwaterlandscapes.com support@clearwaterlandscapes.com
Simple steps to build a Tabletop Water Fountain Rachel Paul
Water is the essence of life. Creating your own table top fountains is a wonderful way to bring out your creativity and self-expression while simultaneously relieving stress and enhancing your interior décor.
There are many unique benefits to having a fountain at home or work: The gentle soothing sound of flowing water can help you relax and meditate in your bedroom after a hard day’s work; Start the day listening to the music of the splashing water and enjoy the invigorating effect it has on your mood. Fountains humidify the indoor air, especially if your home or workplace is dry due to continual air-conditioning. This is extremely helpful in preventing your skin from drying out. Fountains release negative ions, said to promote better moods and concentration.
Building a water fountain can be as simple as putting some stones and a small pump into a container with water. It does not have to be expensive or fancy. Nothing can compare to the feeling of accomplishment from creating your own fountain.
Materials Needed:
1 A waterproof container or bowl of proper depth.
Choose a container between 8-16 inches across in diameter and depth of at least 4-6 inches. The water has to cover the pump; otherwise, the pump will burn out. You can use ceramic bowls, plastic flower pots, glass, or wood boxes. The easiest and least expensive containers are plastic pots or ceramic bowls. Some plastic pots tend to vibrate when you put everything together. Ceramic bowls are more solid, lessening the vibration
Look in your cupboard for a casserole, serving dish, punch bowl, or fruit bowl if youre in a hurry to make a fountain.
2. A small water pump less than 100 gallons per hour and clear plastic tubing 1/2" inner dimension or 5/8" outer dimension.
Fish tank pumps are fine. The smallest ones work well for the typical size containers. Some shops supply suction cups with water pumps. Both the pump and tubing can be found at an aquarium, hardware, or garden supply store. To straighten the hose, boil it in water for a while.
3.Rocks; pebbles; slate; crystals; semi-precious stones; drift wood pieces; shells, anything that goes in water can be used.
Each item can have a special meaning, thus adding to the individuality of your fountain
If you select rocks from your garden make sure you clean them well in a water-bleach bath. You can substitute polyethylene spray foam for bigger rocks thus reducing the need for heavy rocks.
4. Plants add greenery to your fountain. A small clipping will do nicely. You could also use a small pot or glass bottle [baby food jar], fill it with water, put the plant inside and place it inside the fountain bowl.
Steps: Place the decorative slate or tile on the table. Place the bowl on the slate or tile. Place the pump at the bottom of the bowl, taking care to see the cord is draped to the back of the container. Use suction cups to make the pump stick to the bottom of the container. Add tap water to more than cover the intake value [2” minimum]. Plug the pump into the electric outlet. It is advisable to test out the pump in a bucket or sink before placing it in the container. Unplug the pump to adjust the water flow, if needed. Cut the tubing length to fit your container and design. Fit one end of the tubing to the pump spout. Place larger rocks to cover the pump and fill the bottom of the container. Arrange the smaller rocks and tiles /slate /driftwood by stacking them so as to create a diverse and irregular path for the water flow. You can reduce the water flow from a geyser to a gurgle by covering the open end of the tube with tumbled glass. Plug in the pump, adjust the water volume and stones as needed to produce the sound that appeals most to your ears. Suction excess water from the container with a turkey baster. Place figurines, plant cuttings, ivy, moss, shells or tiles to hide the tubing and electric cord. Place a candle in a candleholder beside the fountain, the light from the candle will glisten on the water and reflect its light onto the fountain arrangement.
Maintenance tips:
Check water level daily for the first week, adding fresh water as needed to keep the pump completely covered.
Add a small amount of bleach or petri oil to the water to cleanse the fountain and keep the water shimmering.
Clean the fountain components every month to remove slime and algae.
Every three months, take fountain apart and clean the pump. Pull off the front cover, remove debris from propeller and screen, and wipe the bottom.
Reassemble your fountain, experimenting with a different bowl and accents.
More Resources:
Tabletop Fountain: "Mountain Seep" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/knowhow/pp/tabletopfountain/
Simple Rock Fountain: http://www.ivillage.com/home/howtoguide/garden/articles/0,,170784_209022,00.htmlarrivalSA=1&cobrandRef=0&arrival_freqCap=2
Under $30 fountain: http://www.stylewiz.com/articles/index.cfmfuseaction=article_page&id=115
Feng Shui Table-Top fountain: http://bellaonline.com/Article.aspid=1033
Copper Frame Fountain: http://www.rebeccasgarden.com/howto/items/19foun01.html
About The Author
© Rachel Paul, 2004-
Rachel Paul is a busy at-home mom and an avid interior decorator who loves to find genuinely innovative ways to perk up her home in the few free moments she finds between caring for her family and pursuing home study writing courses as well. She can be contacted at: rpaul197@yahoo.com.
Mosquito Farms Is That What Water Gardens Are Scottie Johnson
What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The lush growth rising above the water, graceful fish darting about and the soothing sound of the water. These are just a few of the reasons people are drawn to water gardens.
But when you think about adding a water feature to your garden, you are torn, because you know that a charming pond can also be a mosquito hatchery. And, everyone is concerned; rightly, about mosquitoes and the diseases they spread.
It is true, mosquitoes do need water to breed, but at the same time, there are so many effective ways to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in ponds, you should not let that stop you. Water gardeners are in a unique position; they can have wet spaces that can actually help stop mosquitoes from breeding.
Just a few simple precautions are all you need to feel safe and enjoy such a wonderful addition to the landscape.
If you have a water garden, or want one, try these suggestions.
Have moving water in your water garden. Mosquitoes will not lay eggs in running water. The newly hatched mosquito must rest on the water’s surface for a few minutes to let its wings dry. If the water is moving, the female mosquito will not lay eggs there.
Get some mosquito fish for your pond. Mosquito fish, or gambusia affinis, are very aggressive predators of mosquito larvae. They are also aggressive to other fish and will also eat dragonfly larvae, or nymphs. If mosquito fish are too predatory for your particular tastes, several other types of fish readily consume mosquito larvae, such as guppies, killifish, and small goldfish. Koi are too large and will not target the larvae.
Add Bti to your pond. Bti is a naturally occurring type of bacillus that is eaten by the mosquito larvae, and rapidly kills them. It is not harmful to fish, pets, wildlife or humans. It is sold under such names as Mosquito Dunks, or Mosquito Bits.
Add dragonfly larvae, or nymphs, to your pond. They are voracious predators of mosquito larvae, and while the mosquito larvae stay in that stage for only a few days, the dragonfly nymphs stay in the larval stage for up to two years, and can prey on many generations of mosquito larvae. And, when they become adults, the dragonfly feeds on adult mosquitoes too.
Invite toads into your yard. One toad can consume up to 100 mosquitoes and slugs per night. They lay their eggs in water, so the pond will attract them. If happy with its environment, a toad can grace your garden for up to 20 years. And the tadpoles will eat mosquito larvae also.
As an overall precaution, get a propane powered mosquito trap, such as the Mosquito Magnet, to reduce the mosquito population in your garden area. These are the most effective mosquito killers around, and they will capture and kill the mosquitoes that your natural controls miss.
With the growing concern about mosquito diseases, like West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever, it is natural to feel reluctance to add any water source around your home. With the right precautions, you can beautify your garden and still feel secure that you are not inviting mosquitoes into your immediate environment.
If water gardening appeals to you, just educate yourself, take the needed precautions, and get ready to enjoy the beauty and serenity a water feature adds to your home.
About The Author
Scottie Johnson is a life long mosquito warrior and freelance author. For more detailed information about mosquito kill and having a mosquito free life, please visit her website at www.mosquito-kill-net.com.
Copyright 2004, all rights reserved.
This article may be duplicated for use provided all biographical information and web links are preserved.
article@mosquito-kill-net.com
How to Choose Water Garden Plants Brett Fogle
So the water garden bug has bitten. You’ve dug and leveled and sweated and said words you hope that no one else has heard. Now it’s time for the fun part – picking out your water garden plants!
Plant varieties within these four categories are what you need to eyeball: deep-water, marginals, oxygenators, and floaters. If you think these words are big words, just be happy we’re not talking about medicine.
After you’ve diligently planted your new plants in plastic tubs, pans, or clay pots, packing the fertilizer- and chemical-free soil down tightly, load the container down with pea gravel to keep the soil from floating away. Don’t ask why this works, but it does. Plunk your plant into the water at the appropriate depth You’ll read about that in just a minute and you’re on ready to go!
Plant-dunking should be generally be done during the growing season. For new ponds, wait four or five weeks for the water plants to do their thing before you add your fish. If you just can’t hold your horses, or your fish, for that long, you can jump the gun a couple of weeks, but the idea is to let the plants first get established.
When picking your plants, you’ll no doubt be wowed by water lilies of the tropical persuasion. These aquatic wonders are popular compared to their hardier cousins with knock-out fragrance, big blooms day or night – depending on the variety – and a habit of blooming their little hearts out nearly every day during the growing season. They love their warmth, though, so unless you live in a year-round, warm-weather climate, be prepared to hasten them into a greenhouse or at least muster up some funds to buy them some “grow” lights to tough it out through the winter.
They will definitely bite the dust at freezing temperatures, but give them night-time temps of at least 65F and daytime temps of 75F or warmer, and your love affair with tropicals will only grow that much more torrid.
Hardy water lilies, while not the showboaters that tropicals are, are . . . well, hardier. Their big advantage is that they can stay in the water year ‘round unless it freezes so deeply the rootstock is affected. And being the tough guys they are, you can plant these puppies deeper than the tropicals, some living it up in depths of 8 to 10 feet.
Both hardy and tropical water lilies are real sun worshippers. At least 5 to 10 hours a day is what it takes, along with regular fertilization, to keep these plant pals happy.
Everybody and their brother with a water garden wants a lotus plant. Sisters, too, no doubt. These water-lily relatives come in hardy and not-so-hardy strains, so make sure you know what you’re buying. Much bigger than water lilies, lotus have huge, famously splendid blooms that not only will knock your socks off, but make you forget you have feet altogether. Their leaves and seed pods are so breathtaking, they’re a favorite in costly cut-flower arrangements. Big, bold, and beautiful, with water-depth needs of 2-3 feet, these shouters are really better off in big ponds that get plenty of sun.
Marginals sometimes called “bog” plants by those less high-falutin’ are grass-like plants that strut their stuff in shallow areas no deeper than 6” that border the water garden. They also do well in mud. Cattail, bamboo, rush, papyrus, and many other plants fall into the family of marginals and grow best with a minimum of at least three hours of sun.
Some plants are there but not seen, working stoically under water and without fanfare to fight algae, oxygenate the water, and provide food for fish. In lieu of these plants, if your pond is small, you can fake it fairly adequately with an aquarium pump. Easy on the wallet, varieties of these plants can be bought in bunches and like their soil sandy and/or gravelly. Like hardy water lilies, they, too, will warrior it through the winter.
Water hyacinths have become a recent rage, especially for the lazy among us. No soil is required for these beauties. Toss them in the water and they’re “planted.” A water hyacinth ain’t just another pretty face, though; these plants do their part in the war against algae and blanket weeds by keeping sunlight scarce on the water’s surface. But one note of caution: This plant may take over the world if allowed. It’s invasive as all get out, so keep it under control or you and your neighbors may wish you’d never laid eyes on it.
A water garden isnt a garden without plants. Take your time, know your climate, and choose wisely. Your rewards will be great in return.
To read the full article, click here: http://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Newsletters/July2004/pond-plant-selection.shtml
About The Author
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary New Pond Owners Guide for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens at www.macarthurwatergardens.com. brett@macarthurwatergardens.com
Its Not Just Water Under the Bridge ARA Content
Americans want better drinking water -- and are doing something about it
ARA - Did you know nearly 90 percent of Americans have a serious drinking problem The problem Significant concern about the quality and taste of their drinking water.
Thats according to the results of a new 2001 National Consumer Water Quality Survey which analyzed respondents perceptions about their household water supply and other home water quality issues.
This study, conducted and released in May 2001 by the Water Quality Association, found that nearly nine out of 10 American consumers have serious, overall concerns about their drinking water. In particular this included:
Two-thirds have aesthetic problems with their water: its smell or taste, hardness or appearance
More than half are concerned about possible health contaminants
Almost half are worried about sediments in their water
In addition, nearly half of all respondents 49 percent believe federal drinking water laws should be stricter, and one in every three Americans 32 percent believes household drinking water isnt as safe as it should be.
The study also noted a significant increase in both the uses of bottled water and home water treatment devices the latter now up to 41 percent compared to 38 percent in 1999, and up from 32 percent in 1997. Respondents said they purchased and used filtration devices because they not only wanted to improve the taste of their tap water, but also because they believed it was safer.
"Water, Water Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink"
The above cry was from a thirsty sailor at sea made famous in S.T. Coleridges "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," and that cry now echoes the feelings in close to half of Americas homes, as evidenced by their purchase of some type of water filtering device. That number doesnt even include all the consumers who purchase bottled water, which is now close to being a $5.2 billion-a-year industry, according to the New York-based consulting group, Beverage Marketing Corp. However, home water treatment systems are gaining in popularity because of not only the high cost of bottled water, but also the ongoing maintenance of purchasing and transporting large bottles or heavy cases of the wet stuff.
This is why todays consumer has so many options to get better tasting and healthier water, thanks to a vast number of home water filtration devices now available. These come in varying degrees of style, convenience, filtration features, prices, and have different features and levels of necessary maintenance.
All are good for improving water taste and decreasing odors, with some also designed to filter out lead, chemicals and potential health risks like bacteria. Before purchasing a unit, check with your communitys local water utility or have your water quality checked. Then you can look into a water treatment system that will meet your filtration, budget and lifestyle needs.
Some of the more popular options, and their pros and cons include:
Water pitchers or carafes: These allow you to directly pour water into them, then wait while the water runs through a filter.
Pros: This is the largest portion of water filtering category, because pitchers are cost effective they start at under $20, and require little maintenance and no installation. Brita, Culligan and Teledyne are some of the more popular models and all provide varying shapes and sizes of pitchers as well as different levels of filtration.
Cons: Pitchers can take up considerable room on the countertop and in the refrigerator. Plus, theres often a lot of neglect refilling them like the, "Hey, who didnt fill the water pitcher" factor. It can take more than 7-10 minutes to filter just one or two gallons.
At-The-Tap systems: These models are faucet attachments that convert tap water directly into filtered water.
Pros: Also cost-efficient, tap attachments are usually available from $30 -- $100, and now, too, offer different levels of filtering. They provide filtered water with just a knob turn, and are fairly easy to install. PUR, GE and Culligan are among market leaders.
Cons: Perceived as big and clunky, faucet attachments tend to stick out, and usually do not mesh with most kitchen decor. They also provide a very slow flow rate, often under a half-gallon per minute.
Filtering faucet systems: One of the most recent introductions, these are single-unit faucets with filters directly built in the faucet.
Pros: These systems provide significant convenience -- Moens PureTouch system, for example, filters cold water directly through a separate port and provides filtered water at the touch of a button. It also has a visual indicator to let you know when its filter needs to be replaced. These and other filtering faucets provide great tasting water with style and functionality, including some models with pullout and multi-function spray patterns. The filters tend to be easy to change, as they are often located right in the spout.
Cons: Initial cost on these units starts at $175, depending on choice of style, function and finish. But over the long run, they can actually save money compared to purchasing bottled water. In fact, t
Tips on Buying a Boat: Seven Tips on What should you look for when investing in watercraft Keith Binnersley
I discovered sailing many years ago and found it to be a wonderful way to enjoy time with friends and family as well as a way to get away from the office and become totally entranced and absorbed with a world that I did not know existed. I love to sail, so much that I became a certified American Sailing Association Sailing Instructor.
It has been 30 years now that Ive sailed the Chesapeake Bay, East Coast U.S.A. and the Caribbean Islands and Ive been fortunate to have owned a number sailing vessels, currently two Beneteau sail boats.
Im often asked by my students what to look for when making an investment in a sailing vessel. I often share the following seven tips and hope that you too may find some value in them.
First carefully examine where you expect to use your boat, long term. Will it be on the Ocean, trans-Ocean, near the shore, in a Bay, on the Caribbean or all of the above. If you plan to sail Ocean or trans-Ocean then be sure that the construction is class "A" or rated for extended off shore passage making.
Beware of the buying philosophy "Ill buy a smaller boat now and get a bigger one later." If youre buying new you will suffer two large depreciations. If buying used, the money you put into the first boat to bring it up to your own personal standards and needs will go a long way to paying a down payment or many monthly payments on the second boat. You will be upgrading the second boat anyway. Buy now what you expect to own for 5-10 years.
Take into account the area where you will be sailing and who you will be sailing with. Decide on the type of berths that will be suitable for you, your family and your guests. For example, aft doubles aligned with the axis of the boat or an aft double that runs across the boat port to starboard. Although the latter tends to be larger and more comfortable in the slip it is definitely not a sea going berth. How easily does the main salon table convert into a berth and is it sturdy enough to do so repeatedly In a pinch or in good weather can any one sleep in the cockpit
What is your likely cruising range If just 2-4 days then water and diesel tankage can be respectively 20 and 80 gallons or less. If it is 5-10 days then a minimum would be 50 and 160. If you buy a boat with say 100 gallons diesel and 2-300 gallons water then the designer will have given up berth space to accommodate the tankage. Depending on the size of the boat the left over space may not be well utilized until you reach say a 50 ft. long boat. Look for living and storage space that is well utilized. Odd placement of the main salon settees, chart table and galley may indicate poor utilization of space and hence you may be paying good money for little advantage.
Boats that are heavy displacement, say 28,000 lbs for say a 42 ft. boat rather than say 17,800 lbs for a medium displacement, 42 footer will need 10- 15 knots of wind to develop any kind of "feel" at the helm and in many locations such as the Chesapeake Bay with winds typically 5 - 15 knots in the summer you may have purchased a very nice well equipped power boat. However these heavy displacement cruisers are excellent for extended off shore passage making and live-aboard sailing either in the Caribbean or the U.S.A..
One of the best tips, If you are a first time sailor and want to buy a boat in the 25 to 50 ft range, is to sail with someone who knows how to sail, take a sailing class and then charter a boat in the length range that interests you. Picking a boat with out sailing a boat of similar size is risky although many have done it successfully. Keep in mind that many of the modern designs of the last 10 years are designed specifically for two people to sail easily whether in the Bay or in the ocean.
Lastly, do insist on a survey. If the boat has any of the defects listed below find out the cost to correct them if you are expecting the boat to pass the insurers surveyor. Insurers have their own requirements. Your insurance agent and the surveyor should be working hand in hand. This is where a purchaser of a used watercraft can suddenly be faced with unexpected costs. Costly defects include but are not limited to:
Soft or cracked gellcoat on the deck.
Deck leaks around windows, masts, caprail, traveller or through deck fittings.
If the engine that has stood idle for more than 6 months diesel may be contaminated with bacterial sludges, have pistons seized, injectors blocked and electrical system contaminated with water. Insist on at least a 2-4 hour run in the water at cruising speed. Check for undue vibration, overheating, proper charging of the batteries and that the engine can come up to its cruising rpm.
If the boat is more than 6 years old have the surveyor check that the engine mounts are OK and particularly that all mounting bolts are intact. Two can be broken without any obvious signs or effects. When #3 breaks the engine is loose! This is a common problem on older boats that encounter rough waters while under power and can easily be overlooked by the surveyor.
Obviously you will need an out of the water inspection. Check for blisters, gellcoat cracks, soft spots, shaft play in the cutlass bearing and loose rudder bearings, hull integrity around through hulls and the gap between the hull and the top of the keel which should be filled with sealant else corrosion of the keel may have caused the keel to separate from the hull.
Rigging should be checked by a rigger and all running rigging must be overhauled end-to-end to detect hidden chafe.
Hope you find these tips helpful. Best wishes to you on your investment, maybe Ill see you on the Chesapeake Bay or near the British Virgin Islands sometime, Ill either be sailing on Majjik II or Majjik III.
About The Author
Keith Binnersley is owner of Upper Bay Sailing School, Inc. http://www.upperbaysailing.com. He is a Certified American Sailing Association Sailing Instructor and holds a 50 ton Masters USCG License. You can contact him at majjikll@msn.com.
Whitewater Rafting Forges Bonds Stronger than the Rapids Jim Sampson
Colorado River Rafting is a Trip
Visualize the boats brow cutting through the swirling, surging water; the sun sparkling on the frothy waves, making tiny rainbows; the abrupt lurch of the craft, as the surging waves suddenly shift direction. The adrenalin is pumping, all senses alert, with nature working overtime to orchestrate a thrill youll never forget. Thats what most people think a raft trip entails, but theres much more going on. Your connection with the other rafters forms a matchless adventure that wont be forgotten.
Rafting down the Arkansas River on the rushing snowmelt from 14,000 feet peaks is exciting - no doubt about it. But the trip is still safe enough for a family vacation. River rafting in Colorado combines thrilling rapids with quiet stretches, where rafters can take in the spectacular mountain scenery close up. Their mental cameras capture images that will be studied over and over later, once they return home.
Look Past the Surging River and the Drama
Theres one thing even more crucial than the water for making your adventure tour a treasured event. Its the other people. Some you bring along, like family, friends or group such as a scout troop. You may think you know each other already, but the time spent on the river forever alters the way youll relate back home. Thats the real pay-off from a wilderness adventure. The guides and other rafters also play essential roles in the total experience.
Unlike taking a bus or a train, the goal isnt to arrive at the destination. Instead, getting there is ALL the fun. So theres no hurry. Everyone along plays their part in moving the boats, and reacts to what the river throws at them. Each person needs to develop their sense of teamwork and reliance on each other. The emotional exhilaration amps up even more because of the sharing involved. Facing physical challenges together builds trust and confidence in each other, in a matter of hours.
Make Memories that Dont Fade
Scientists have discovered that the intensity of an emotional experience permanently alters the way a person remembers it. Emotionally charged experiences are filed differently in the brain than everyday ones are. Later, theyre recalled with vivid detail, without losing clarity over time. Recalling even a small part of the event brings the full force of experience back. Thats why theyre called "flashbulb memories."
When people go through such powerful experiences together, they relate to each other in new ways. Its certainly a step away from their day-in, day-out routines. Thats a major reason why a wilderness adventure like whitewater rafting does more for those who take the trip than a casual vacation would. They develop new ways to relate to nature and each other. Rafters tell me they arranged the trip to get away from the TV and the cell phone. But theyre pleased to find that the river is the tonic for much of whats stressful for them.
Even when they get home, those newly-forged ways of relating influence the way people treat each other. As owner for Four Corners Rafting, one of the oldest whitewater rafting company on the Arkansas River, Ive taken thousands of people on the outdoor adventure. Without exception, they find the experience delivered in ways that they hadnt expected. Im often told that what they experienced during whitewater rafting was the highlight of their vacation."We visited all the other attractions, we saw all the sights. Nothing comes close!"
Step Out of Your Shoes
The benefits that rafters receive dont stop when the trip is over. Weve all heard the phrase about walking a mile in someone elses shoes. That does help to understand the experiences of others with fresh awareness. But I think that greater value comes in understanding yourself better. To step into someone elses shoes, you must temporarily step out of your own. That breaks a lot of habits and familiar assumptions. Then when you return to your own shoes, you can see aspects of your life that you usually overlook because theyre so unbroken.
Taking a wilderness adventure is a walk in another pair of shoes. And those people who shared that intensely emotional adventure with you took the same mind-stretching trek. That stays with you for the long haul.
About The Author
--Jim Sampson owns Four Corners Rafting, an early whitewater rafting company on the Arkansas River. With 1 to 3-day Colorado wilderness adventures. Near Buena Vista, CO 800 332-RAFT PO Box 219 Nathrop, CO 8123 http://www.fourcornersrafting.com jim@fourcornersrafting.com
Explore A Whole New World On The Water! News Canada
NC—How will you spend your precious spare time this summer For many Canadians, making the most of it means escaping by boat to explore a whole new world on the water. You can leave all your cares and worries behind by simply pointing your bow away from land. Your whole perspective changes as you view the great outdoors from this new vantage point. You can explore enchanted shorelines, feel the fresh breeze ruffling your hair, enjoy a picturesque sunset, or simply float peacefully with the soft rhythms of the water. These are just a few of the irreplaceable boating moments that will lift your spirits and soothe your soul. Your spare time will never have been so well spent…
For an hour or a week, for a day-trip or the cruise of a lifetime, boating delivers big time. Avoid the crush of land travel by escaping to the water for serious touring or a few hours of carefree play.
No highway traffic, no flight delays, crowded hotels or restaurant line-ups when you get away to that special serenity, peace and relaxation of boating. Because no matter where you want to go, be it a real destination or just a place in your mind, you can get there easily by boat.
A boat can be as basic or elaborate as you choose, from a simple fishing dingy to a fully-equipped luxury cruiser. There are boats with sails, motors or paddles. And even boats that you peddle. Whatever you like to do, you can find a boat to do it in.
These are just a few suggestions. To get lots more information on boating, including a free CD-ROM entitled "Discover Boating", visit www.discoverboating.ca.
- News Canada
About The Author
News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.
News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.
Underwater Digital Cameras Jakob Jelling
Underwater photographys is primarily focused towards entertaining and informing the people and the users themselves about what is happening in the world of under water with the aid of photography. The advent of digital cameras has opened up new horizons for such ventures. These digital cameras are not only handy and sleek but also they offer a spectral range of features that helps the underwater photographers in their work a lot. In this discussion these special features of underwater digital cameras are necessarily been revealed and done justice to!
Looking at the grass root level some of the main features that the users of the underwater digital cameras must necessarily seek are as follows. They are applications for land mode, sea mode and external flash mode. This helps in shooting in any conditions in the sea and obtains much better picture quality than ever before. Some other features are like instant delete option after each picture in both sea and external flash modes along with one-button operation features. These mentioned features provide the sophistication as well as ease of control for the photographers. Some more desirable features are expandable and good quality standard lenses, flashes and accessories.
Some of the sophisticated and well know underwater digital cameras such as the Aqua Pix DX3100 are fully functional and even have a 3.1 mega pixel resolution. These digital cameras can be aptly described as being effusively amphibious! Thus the chances of water damage and flooding in these underwater digital cameras are greatly reduced and are hence extensively used for professional purposes too.
Scrutinizing in some more detail it can be said that the underwater digital cameras mostly use a meniscus lens that can be used above or below the surface of water. The also have features for built in color correction filter and macro lens along with built in flash diffusers too. They utilize multi flash functioning in order to get adequate good quality pictures in the most adverse conditions too. They have sufficient memory of around 15MB and come equipped with complete storage, editing and image manipulation software.
It still remains a fact that underwater photography is a difficult yet fascinating profession. Moreover, with the underwater digital cameras this task has become even easier and creative along with greater scopes to express much more through the eyes of the lens. It is hoped that the new depths of underwater photography would be fathomed with the aid of the underwater digital cameras!
About The Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.snapjunky.com. Visit his digital camera guide and learn how to take better pictures with your digicam.
5 Simple Steps To Dividing Your Hardy Water Lilies Brett Fogle
If you missed the springtime window of opportunity to divide your hardy water lilies, dont worry, its not too late. Although springtime is the best time, youve actually got the entire normal growing season to get it done.
The reason for dividing your water lilies is that they eventually run out of room in their existing pots and need more room for the roots to spread out so the plant can flourish. Not only is this relatively easy to do, but you end up with more plants as a bonus!
Step 1
Remove the plant from the pot and gently rinse the dirt from the root system.
Step 2
Cut the older growth from one end of the tuber, and the newer growth from the other. If there are new "eyes" along the tuber you can snip them off and pot them if you wish.
Step 3
Take a sharp knife and cut the tuber back on the growing part. On small plants you can safely cut the tuber down to 2-3 inches. Keep it at around 5-6 inches for larger plants.
You should also cut off new buds and any older leaves so the plant can stay focused on growing a new root system.
Step 4
Plant the tuber in good quality garden soil that has been poured into a pot that is suitable for water gardening. Potting soil is not the best choice so make sure that the package says garden soil.
Insert the tuber into the soil placing it next to the wall of the pot rather than in the center of the pot.
Insert a couple of aquatic plant food tabs about halfway into the soil and then pack the soil around the tuber so it will stay in place when the pot is submerged.
Finally, pour a layer of pea gravel over the soil to keep it from washing away. This also discourages your fish from digging in the pot. Make sure that you do not cover the crown of the tuber with gravel.
Step 5
Slowly submerge the pot into your garden pond. Dont be alarmed if some dirt residue mixes in with the water. This is normal and it will soon settle to the bottom and the water will clear.
Keep your new plants in water that is no deeper that 12" until you notice at least five or six new leaves. Once the plant is established you can place it in deeper water if you wish.
There, youre done. Now your old plants will have more room to grow and youll have new plants to keep or share with friends. Wasnt that easy
About The Author
Brett Fogle is the owner of several pond-related websites like http://www.MacArthurWatergardens.com and two others including http://www.Pond-Filters-Online.com and http://4-pond-pumps.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000. Sign up for the FREE newsletter and receive our complimentary New Pond Owners Guide!
brett@macarthurwatergardens.com
Flatwater Kayaks Jakob Jelling
Flatwater kayaking is easier and better to learn than any other type of kayaking.
Flatwater kayaking is the type of kayaking that you should start with if youre new to the activity. Flatwater kayaking can take place on almost any body of water so long as it is is an area that is sheltered form the wind and any major waves. This is also the safest type of kayaking since it generally only takes place during calm conditions when there are no major obstacles to make kayaking difficult.
Tours are very popular for people who want to participate in flatwater kayaking. Generally, these tours either take place on a river or in a sheltered bay. If youre going on a flatwater kayaking tour, youll likely get to see some beautiful areas, and you may even get to see wildlife in the area that youre kayaking in. If youre thinking about going on a flatwater kayaking tour, the most important thing that you should consider is where you want to go - and make sure that you set aside enough time for the kayak tour!
Since flatwater kayaking is the easiest type of kayaking, this is the type of kayaking that you will learn first. Not only that, but you do not need very much experience kayaking in order to be able to flatwater kayak proficiently. If youre looking for an activity for the whole family that can be learned easily, flatwater kayaking on a lake or calm river is it.
Flatwater kayaking also does not need very specific types of kayaks. Since the water is calm, you dont need to worry about finding a particularly sturdy kayak. While it is always important to make sure that the kayak you are using is safe, you do not need the same type of kayak that is used for whitewater kayaking.
Since flatwater kayaking is a much safer activity than whitewater kayaking, or kayaking through rough water, its more common to see two person kayaks instead of just the one person boats. These kayaks are fun for kayak tours, since youll be able to talk about what youre seeing with another person as you go. Other types of kayaks that are used for kayak touring are designed so that instead of sitting inside of the kayak, you sit on top of it.
No matter what type of kayaking you intend to do in the future, flatwater kayaking is where everything starts. In fact, if youre going to learn how to whitewater kayak, youre going to need to learn flatwater kayaking first. Since this is such an easy activity to learn, you wont have to worry about the rest of your family, either - instead, youll be able to bring them flatwater kayaking with you!
About The Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.kayakhelp.com. Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.
Whitewater Kayaks Jakob Jelling
Whitewater kayaking is an extreme form of kayaking.
Whitewater kayaking is kayaking taken to an extreme. This is basically the combination of whitewater rafting, except that you are in a kayak instead of a raft. This sport has been gaining popularity in recent years, and has even been included in the Summer Olympics of 2004.
Whitewater kayaking is definitely not for the faint of heart, as it generally involves some of the roughest rivers around. People who go whitewater kayaking should have a lot of experience kayaking in rivers and rough water. They should also make sure that they know exactly what type of kayak they need to use.
The kayaks used for whitewater kayaking generally need to be sturdier than most other kayaks due to the beating that they will probably get from being in the river. Two person kayaks are not used for whitewater kayaking because its too dangerous to have more than one person in the kayak while going over whitewater. The single person kayaks themselves can vary between whether or not theyre short or long - this generally depends on what aspects of the kayak the person kayaking wants to emphasize.
There are several different types of whitewater kayaking as well. If youre just going to be whitewater kayaking for fun, then youre more than likely just going to be something called "river running." What this means is that you take your kayak and go down a whitewater river. These rivers are generally not the roughest, and there are sometimes some flat parts as well as rapids. River running can either be a day excursion, or it might be a week long adventure down a river. This is a great choice for somebody experienced in kayaking.
Some people find that its fun to participate in playboating or rodeo. Basically what this entails is staying near the same part of a river and using the same rapids to do tricks. This is a much harder part of whitewater kayaking, so its less likely that youll find somebody who knows how to do it.
The last thing that people usually think of when they think of whitewater kayaking is what is known as "creeking". This is the most extreme type of whitewater kayaking, and involves taking a kayak through some of the roughest whitewater in the entire world. This type of kayaking is usually done as a part of some sort of competition, or by people who are looking for an extreme whitewater kayaking experience.
No matter what type of whitewater kayaking youre looking into starting, make sure that youre prepared for what youll be doing. Since whitewater kayaking is an extreme form of kayaking, you need to be sure that youre following all of the safety advice, and that you have all of the necessary kayaking equipment.
About The Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.kayakhelp.com. Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.
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