Senator McCain is Right - Torture is Wrong - In Fact it Causes Brain Damage

Studies on those who have been tortured show that they have had their personalities, bodies and minds permanently damaged to a point that they cannot function correctly. Senator McCain knows this from first hand experience, so when he debates this topic we should listen. Senator McCain shows signs of permanent damage himself and cannot wave his arms like other presidents did.

When there are signs of physical harm, generally there are far worse signs of mental harm, personality flaws such a fits of rage and mental health problems. So, when Senator McCain discusses these things he knows very well from personal experience exactly what he is talking about, so shouldn't we listen?

Some say that by torturing international terrorists, we can some how get information from them and make them in such a way that they cannot function properly as leaders of their cause or as suicide bombers in the future. These proponents disagree with Senator McCain on the torturing of murderers and terrorists. Although, it is not unusual from terrorists to torture their victims, it is cruel, but just because they do should not mean we should, says Senator McCain.

We should all feel sorry for Senator John McCain for the ordeal he went through with terrorism and the harm that was done to his body and brain functions, it just was not fair, as he was simply doing his job. Senator John McCain, was flying his Navy Aircraft attacking the enemy's military not innocent civilians, yet he was tortured brutally for 7-years.

A lot of permanent damage can be done to one's body and their brain in that time period. So, we are to listen to his comments now, because no one knows how much brain damage was caused to Senator John McCain, only he knows and he has not mentioned that yet to us. Think about how important this issue is to our nation, listen to his anger and consider if this one issue is to be the deciding factor in this coming election.

Learn more about Ron Paul for President and the Ron Paul Freedom movement:

http://www.ron-paul-freedom-movement.blogspot.com

Learn more about Mike Huckabee:

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Home Repair Help

Installing a Sump Pump The Home Improvement Warrior Way - Sump Pit

If you're a weekend home improvement warrior, you may have considered installing your own sump pump. It saves money and besides you learn something new to help hone your home improvement guru skills.

Home Improvement Ideas

Another Victim of a Drunk Driver

For more than 42 years I have been a sober and a defensive driver. You see, I would have a very difficult time living my life knowing that I was somehow responsible for the death and/or injury of another person, as a result of a vehicle accident that was my fault.

So too, it is a mystery to me why some people who have difficulty walking, because they are drunk or high on another kind of drug, would want to drive a motor vehicle. Tens of thousands of such people have killed tens of thousands of other people who were involved in accidents with drunk or otherwise impaired drivers.

As a result, I too became a victim of a drunk driver more than 25 years ago. The irony of it is the fact that my car was parked w5B4hen it was struck by that drunk driver who, at the time of the accident, was driving a car that was owned by another person. Who, in their right mind, would allow a drunk to drive their car? As it happens, that drunk driver wasn't drunk, but the use of that car allowed that person to go to a place where he became as drunk as can be and still be alive.

At the time of the accident, I was in the City Hall building for the purpose of requesting a building inspection of a property that I contracted to sell to another person. I had to fill out a request form and pay a fee, in order to comply with the City Ordinance for the transfer of the title of the property.

As I waited for my turn to be called, an injured person, who was bleeding from a gash in his forehead staggered into the waiting room and just sat down as if nothing was wrong with him. His head was down and blood from his injury was falling to the floor. Just as I was about to request that an ambulance be called for that person, two police officers entered the room and promptly took that person into custody by lifting him up and taking him out of the room.

A short time later another officer entered the room and asked the people if the owner of a car, with my plate number, was in the room. As it happens, my car was legally parked at the curbside and now it was damaged as a result of the person who was taken away just a few minutes ago. The officer told me to report 5B4to the police station, which was directly across the street from the City Hall, after my business was concluded with the City Official in question.

Having done so, I left the City Hall and then saw a damaged car on the parkway. My car was where I parked it about a half hour before I talked to the police officer, but the left side and rear of my once mint condition car was damaged and the fire department people were removing the broken parts of both cars from the street. The sight of it all was enough to bring tears to my eyes, but I was lucky enough to be able to drive my car home and call my auto insurance provider, in order to have my car repaired.

That is, after I walked into the police station and provided my driving information to the arresting officer and signed and received a copy the officer's accident report. That's when I discovered that the driver who hit my car was driving a car that he didn't own and was really drunk at the time of the accident. Well, that was surely too bad for him and, as it happens, it was too bad for me too.

You see, the blood alcohol level of that person, after he was arrested, was measured at 3.1 by law enforcement. To make matters worse, that drunk driver didn't have auto insurance. Who knows what his driving record was before he damaged my car, since I or my auto insurance provider would have to recover the repair costs of my vehicle from the person who damaged my car.

As it 57Fhappens, my auto insurance provider did pay the expense to fix my car, but since I had a deductible amount on my policy, I had to pay the first $250.00 worth of the cost of the repair in question. Yes, after more than a year, I received a check for that amount after my auto insurance provider sued for a received the full amount of the cost to repair my car.

Then again, in spite of the fact that I got back the money I paid, I did lose a great deal of resale value of my once mint condition car. I thanked God that I didn't lose my life, and I also thanked the arresting officer for the fine work that he did for me.

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How To Get A Credit Card With Worse Than Bad Credit

At first glance you might wonder why any lender would want to lend money to someone with a bad credit record. But having a bad credit rating does not automatically mean that they have been irresponsible or that it has been their fault. They may have just been unfortunate, lost their job through illness or redundancy, or suffered a relationship breakdown. Credit card companies recognize this situation and so have a number of different schemes to help people who find themselves in this position. There are three types of cards for people in this group, prepaid, secured and unsecured.

Prepaid credit cards are not really credit cards at all since there is no credit involved. When you apply for this type of card, you deposit funds with the bank and you are then able to spend up to the amount of your deposit. In effect this type of card is a debit card. There are no credit checks when you apply for the card, but the card company does not report to the credit bureaus either. This means that this card will not help you rebuild your credit score. Generally a prepaid credit card will not be accepted for car rental or hotel bookings.

Secured credit cards also involve a deposit, but this is treated differently from a prepaid card in that it is held by the bank as security. Apart from this a secured credit card is the same as any other credit card with the credit limit being determined by the amount of the deposit. In the event of a default the bank will use the deposit to repay the loan. The deposit means that no credit checks are needed, but the companies do report to the credit bureaus which will help to rebuild your credit. After twelve months with a good payment record many card companies will transfer you to an unsecured card.

Unsecured credit cards for people with bad or problem credit are the same as standard credit cards except that the interest rates are higher and there are extra fees. These usually involve a setup fee and an annual fee both of which can be quite substantial. Reports to the credit bureaus are the norm for these cards and so will aid in credit repair. Because these cards do not provide any security for the card company initial credit limits tend to be low, $350 - $500 to begin with, but can be increased following a period of satisfactory payments.

People with bad credit who have been refused a regular credit card have a wide choice of companies offering each of the three card types. The choice between secured or unsecured will depend on whether the individual has funds for a deposit and the desired credit limit. The fees and interest rates charged by the different card companies vary widely, so it is important to study the small print carefully before making a final choice of card.

Hugh Harris-Evans writes on financial matters and is the webmaster of Credit Card Cleanup.com where you will find further articles on credit repair and tips on how to make the most of your credit cards.

To receive an intensive 5-day e-mail course on Restoring Your Credit, Click Here: Credit Repair Strategies.

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Data Backup - How To Identify and Measure Digital Delusion Disorder

"Over time, 100% of computers fail 100% of the time."

Picture the following scene:

It's Friday at 3:30pm, and you're just about to shut down your office for a much needed weekend retreat at your family's cottage.

You're already running behind schedule to pick up the kids-it was a busy week after all-and you'd really like to get a jump on the afternoon traffic.

As you're quickly gathering your things together and heading for the door, you catch a glimpse of your "sleeping" computer out of the corner of your eye. The question flashes through your mind: When was the last time I backed up my computer?

And how do you feel? Are you confident (or perhaps even nonchalant) about the safety of your digital records? Or do you acknowledge the intense tug of war being waged between your diligent, rational, backup-friendly self and the playful, reckless part of you that just wants to break free for the weekend? Besides, you say to yourself, what are the chances my computer will crash over the weekend?

And so you quickly leave, lock the door behind you and happily rush off for another glorious weekend. You believe, like so many others, that your computer will soldier on; will be there for you through thick and thin; will never, ever give up. Yes, you're aware of the possibility of a crash, and even considered the possibility of a theft or fire, but you just don't believe it could happen to you.

You're suffering from a common entrepreneurial syndrome that I like to call "Digital Delusion Disorder". All of us computer users suffer some measure of DDD, but what's important is the extent to which this delusion is putting your business and your livelihood at risk.

Mild Digital Delusion Disorder Risk

You understand the true value of your digital information and devote the time and energy to manually backup your computers to a tape-drive, external hard-drive, memory stick, or CDs and DVDs on a regular basis. You also make a habit of testing the recovery of files from your backups.

You rely heavily on your computers to operate and organize your business, and you're conscious of the fact that a computer is merely a machine with moving parts that can break down at any time.

You perform your computer backup at least once a week, and store your backup disks offsite, but you still worry that your unencrypted backup tapes are vulnerable, and that your backup really should be completed every day.

What to do if this is you: the remedy

Train at least two other reliable people to perform your computer backup, and increase your backup schedule to a daily routine. You may want to hand this task over to a trustworthy employee, but be sure to train a second person as well, who can perform the backup if the first employee is home sick or away on vacation.

You should also consider looking into a computer backup service that will automatically encrypt your backups. Simply search "automatic encryption backup" and the name of your city, province or state to find these services on the Internet.

Storing your backups offsite is certainly the right idea, but do NOT entrust this duty to another individual. Remember, your backups contain your business' most valuable and sensitive information, and only you should have access to it!

Moderate Digital Delusion Disorder Risk:

Your business is growing quickly, and you are implementing procedures and systems to help you organize, automate, and execute your business.

Computer backup is a necessary evil that you do when you think about it, but you find it difficult to make time to do so, let alone test your backups regularly to ensure that your information is recoverable.

You currently store your backup in your desk or beside your computer, which incidentally has been making a strange whirring noise if you listen closely.

What to do if this is you: the remedy

Repeat after me: "Computer backup is critical to the survival of my business."

That's right! According to the U.S. National Archive and Records Administration in Washington, 93% of small businesses that suffer a computer crash and lose access to their digital information for 10 days or more, go under within one year.

Also, one of Canada's national newspapers, the Globe and Mail, printed in May 2007 that 70% of small businesses that experience major data loss close their doors within the year.

So whether it's 70% or 93%, those bankruptcy rates are too high to ignore, agreed?

Go back and apply the remedy for Mild DDD, and repeat the above quote twice daily for 21 days.

Also, find a local IT Service company that offers monthly maintenance contracts to service and clean your computer on a regular basis.

Severe Digital Delusion Disorder Risk

In too many cases, entrepreneurs just like you don't realize how much their businesses rely upon the digital information stored on their computers, and they falsely imagine that their businesses could easily survive for more than 10 days without that information.

In truth, you really have not considered how much your digital information-like your contact databases, marketing templates, accounting files and so on- contributes to your income generation, nor do you believe that inhibited access to this information would derail the day to day activities of your business.

But, in truth, you use your computer every day for a wide variety of tasks and as your primary method of document storage. You take your computer for granted, and have only a vague idea of what information is actually being housed on your machines. Accordingly, you back up your computer rarely-if ever-and continue to run and grow your business without any concept of a recovery plan should the inevitable crash occur.

What to do if this is you: the remedy

Ask yourself one question: If you could not access any of the files or records stored on your computer, how much time and money would it take for you to rebuild your business to its current level of success?

Really think about this!

Make an itemized inventory of the digital records stored on your computer, and estimate the amount of time and money that it cost you to acquire that information in the first place. Also, estimate how much income you would lose over the next year if you did not have access to that information.

It really adds up, doesn't it? I bet you're well into the tens of thousands-if not hundreds of thousands-of dollars, and many years of hard work.

Now consider that you can automatically backup your computer every day using a reputable online computer backup and recovery service for a tiny fraction of that cost. Simply search "online computer backup" and the name of your city, province or state to find these services on the Internet, and be sure to ask other business owners what computer backup solution works best for them.

Remember my opening quote: 100% of computers fail 100% of the time. Don't let Digital Delusion Disorder become a real risk to the survival of your business. Act today to protect your digital information, and SAVE your business!

Copyright 2007 - Blue Melnick. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline:

Blue Melnick is the Co-Founder and Lead Storage Specialist of Virtual Tape Drive Canada. Blue invites you to contact him through www.vtdcanada.com or by phone at 416-462-3323. Not sure if online data backup is right for you? Why not sign up for Biz Link News-Blue's free monthly ezine-to learn more about how this new technology can "save" your business?

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Examining Careers in Engineering

Many individuals find the career of engineering a very enticing option. One of the main reasons for such a wide level of interest in careers in engineering is due to the fact that there are so many job options within this particular field. In this article, we will examine careers in this area. We will take a look at some of the job opportunities available, briefly touch on the education that is required to obtain these jobs, as well as look at some companies where this type of career can be pursued.

Types of Engineering Jobs

There are numerous types of engineering jobs. Engineering careers can be anything from dealing with computers to various types of mechanics. Here, we will review the type of engineering positions that are available. Please keep in mind that this list outlines the most common and popular careers that can be pursued in this industry.

Chemical Engineer - Those who pursue this type of engineering career will work closely with an assortment of materials that are considered "raw" or a variety of chemicals. They will implement the use of various classifications of mathematics, science, and even economics in order to ensure that these materials are developed into forms that can prove to be more useful for the general population.

The newly created materials may also be used to create items for the automotive industry, medical field, military, and electronic field. When studying to become a chemical engineer, most individuals must place a heavy emphasis on various science courses, mathematics courses that focus on physics and higher forms of mathematic equations, as well as courses that are specific to the industry in which they serve. Most of these positions pay at least $20,000.00 to well over $100,000.00 annually.

Civil Engineer - This particular type of engineer focuses on developing a wide assortment of plans related to the design of many different public construction projects. This individual is responsible for supervising these projects as well. These projects are normally related to drainage systems in a community, road structures, and bridge construction.

Individuals who pursue this particular career are normally required to acquire at least a four year degree in civil engineering. The educational focus is normally on courses that are directly related to various types of math, physics, and project management. There are many entry-level positions in this particular field that require no college education, however, these positions normally pay only minimum wage and are described as labor positions. Upper wage levels are around $75,000.00 per year.

Electrical Engineer - An individual who pursues a career in this type of engineering is responsible for designing new electronic devices and gadgets. The employee compensation for this particular career ranges from around $47,000.00 to as much as $109,000.00 annually. However, it is important to understand that if you want to pursue this type of engineering job that you have a college degree that focuses on engineering. Coursework should include a heavy focus on science, social studies, math, and English.

Industrial Engineering - There are generally two different types of industrial engineers. The first type is responsible for supervising individuals that conduct technical product work. The second type is a professional who is trained in the area of industrial and/or systems engineering.

It is essential that this particular individual has been trained and is sufficient in various types of math courses and science courses; particularly social sciences and physical science. Many individuals may also take courses that are designed to teach them how to appropriately manage individuals in the workplace. These positions normally pay up to $100,000.00 annually.

Computer Engineer - These individuals focus heavily on computer science. They may assist in the development of many hardware components and software programs. This position has also been referred to as "electronic engineering". These components may be designed for the military field, medical profession, automotive industry, and any other type of electronic or computer related field.

Numerous courses should be taken in order to appropriately perform this job. The most basic coursework should include a good understanding of computers, electronics, and programming fundamentals. The pay range for this particular career normally ranges from as little as $9.00 per hour to as much as $45.00 per hour. However, the pay is often related to the needs of the position in relation to the area in which they person is located.

As you can see, there are numerous engineering jobs that an individual may pursue. Other types of engineering jobs include mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, and more. If you are interested in obtaining an engineering job in the United States or Canada, there are many companies that may provide you with employment opportunities. They are as follows:

1. QuestAir Technologies Inc. - Canada
2. Georgia Pacific - United States
3. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. - United States
4. AMEC Earth & Environmental - Canada
5. Magnetika - United States

Seek4Jobs.net has employment and job informations.

2 X 12 Exterior Stair Stringer

Who's Going to Do Your Maintenance?

In a recent article I discussed your need to find and keep great contractors. But most landlords only rely on professional contractors for some maintenance and repair tasks. The reason, of course, is price. Why pay a contractor big money to do a job you could do yourself, or find an inexpensive handyman to take care of, or even leave to the tenants?

You must weigh at least three factors in deciding who will do a job. Those factors are cost, reliability, and quality. If youre thinking about taking on the job yourself, consider time and something Ill call the fun factor as well. The fun factor is the enjoyment you may get out of doing handyman jobs. In my next article, Ill help you figure out where you should take these projects on.

Heres how the different candidates to do work, other than yourself, typically grade on the performance factors:

Contractors Score: Worst in Cost, Best in Reliability and Best in Quality. Handymen Score: Medium in Cost, Medium in Reliability and Medium in Quality. Tenants Score: Best in Cost, Worst in Reliability and Worst in Quality.

Of course the actual results depend on your actual contractors, handymen, and tenants. For contractors in particular, however, quality and reliability should be absolutes. If your contractor isnt the best in those areas, replace him.

Now its time to think about where you want the best quality. It is an absolute must on any jobs that directly affect the safety of the building, as well as any jobs that, if not done perfectly, may result in a more serious expense later. Keeping that in mind, you certainly want a real licensed plumber, electrician and HVAC contractor for all significant projects in those areas. Be very hesitant to employ a handyman here, and never use a tenant for such jobs (unless, of course, the tenant is a licensed professional contractor).

A significant job is one where there is potential for major damage if the job is not done right. For electrical jobs, you probably dont need a pro to replace outlets or switches, install overhead lights, or replace circuit breakers. For plumbing jobs, you dont need a pro to unclog most drains or replace washers in faucets, toilet parts, or showerheads. For HVAC, you dont need a pro to replace filters, thermostats or zone valves, or purge forced water heating circuits. You can probably think of other similar projects.

You should also think about insurability when considering a contractor. Your property insurance will not cover damage caused by bad repair work, unless the repair is done by a licensed contractor.

A licensed contractor is often your best bet in emergency situations. This is because such a contractor is usually on call 24/7, has replacement parts in inventory, and has more than one pro on staff.

If your buildings are in a snowy part of the country, you also need a very good snowplow operator. Use one who has been in business for several years, lives locally, and will get the job done by the time you set.

Use your handyman for light carpentry jobs, painting, and the small electrical, plumbing and HVAC jobs where you dont need a professional. A handyman can often also take on bigger jobs such as siding, building stairs or decks, or replacing windows. Many people who hire themselves out as handymen are actually licensed general contractors.

Youre much better off with a handyman who does have a contractors license, along with workers comp and liability insurance. This person will consider himself a professional and will probably be much more reliable as a result. However, you might have a hard time finding a handyman of this caliber.

A handyman who doesnt have those credentials may still do very good work, and will probably charge less. However, he is much more likely to want payment in cash, to not be available when you really need him, or even to skip town with your money. You can avoid these problems by paying only a small part up front, by scheduling him in advance (Ill see you at 9 a.m. Wednesday), and by checking frequently to make sure the job is done.

How will you find a good handyman? Start by checking with the other members of your local landlords association, making sure that their criteria for a good handyman matches yours. If that doesnt work out, check the Yellow Pages; then the classifieds in you local paper; then signs posted on community bulletin boards. A contractor hired off a bulletin board is much less likely to be reliable than one recommended by another landlord.

The primary reason to hire a tenant is cost. However, you should not hire tenants to do anything but the most basic jobs. Use tenants only for routine tasks like lawnmowing. Of course you can make an exception if you have a tenant who is a skilled handyman or professional contractor. In that case, however, the tenant will want to be paid his standard rates.

If you do hire a tenant, make sure it is someone who has lived in your building for many months, if not years, and who has proven to be reliable as a tenant. Dont ever allow a tenant to work off unpaid rent the job probably wont be done well and the tenant will still expect credit.

The other danger in hiring a tenant to do work is that problems with one relationship may affect the other. For example, suppose you hire a tenant to plow and he does a bad job. Now youve got a problem with your tenant and a problem with your snowplower. You may have to replace both.

For that reason, if you do hire a tenant, try to keep the two relationships as separate as possible. Write up a separate agreement that spells out what the tenant has to do and how much hell be paid. Rather than accept a lower rent, insist on full rent payments and pay separately for the work the tenant does.

If you do use a tenant or handyman to do projects, set an ironclad rule that he or she can never enter another tenants unit to do work even if the tenant is there without you also being there. This will help protect you from liability.

Brendan OBrien is the founder and president of Property Master Web property management software Our landlord software runs from any Internet-connected computer, includes FREE customer support and training, full accounting and reports, and property evaluation tools, and works with your other programs to help you manage anywhere from 1 to 100,000 rental units. Visit www.pcpropertymaster.com

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Poway Remodeling

Commercial Real Estate - The Quick and the Dead!

Suppose you see a swank office building in a big city with an atrium and you say to yourself, this would be great in your town. You want to venture into commercial real estate because you know how lucrative it can be. So, you call the broker on that nice piece of land in your town and find out what the asking price is, followed by a gulp and Really? The broker might ask what you intend to do with it. Tell them you would like to like to hold the land for a while. Why be so sneaky? The broker needs to unload the land and your idea can give the broker more angles to market the land. However, be courteous to the broker because they need to give you the Assessors Parcel Number (APN) and the zoning designation of that land. You cant build offices in a residential zoned area.

Okay, next you need to search on the city planning website or go to the city planning office and find out what the building height restrictions and ratios of building space to land are allowed. If you want buy an acre parcel of land and the code says you can only develop 50% of it, you building cant be bigger than 21,780 square feet. You want an idea of how big of a building you can build because contractors can estimate costs based on how many square feet the building type is. You dont want to bet on the city allowing you a conditional use permit to get around their laws because it takes months to get, if you can get it at all. Next, ask around the local Chamber of Commerce for the most respected contractors in your area and drop off some cookies for the staff with your card. Call them the next day and ask for a moment of their time and ask how much a building of your desired size and with the frills will cost maybe how much architect fees might run. They will give a ball park answer. Be sure to give them a general answer as to the location, until of course you own the land. Good real estate ideas seem to spread through the grapevine with lightning speed.

Now, you take all this information and determine the cost to build by adding up the cost of the land, construction, plans, and tack on several hundred thousand dollars in city fees. Again, you can get a lot of general information by being nice to the people who know what they are doing. Now you have an idea of what it costs to build your office building. You look around the area to see what the going office rates are and see if you get your desired return on investment.

This may seem like a lot of work and that you would prefer to give brokers much of the work. First do your own homework, then you may get a broker to help put an offer in and verify all the information you researched, check environmental reports, surveyor maps, follow up on title reports, etc. The reason is that you only have finite amount of time during your escrow period before your deposit becomes non-refundable so you want to move fast. Your diligence on the first project will allow you to be more intuitive in the future and know how to really drive your brokers to give you the answers you need faster.

The key is to keep your idea to yourself as much as possible until you own the land. Many real estate deals get swooped because someone came up with cash quicker and made an offer because they could pencil out the deal fast enough to know it made sense.

Lastly, any partners you bring in must understand this solemn oath of keeping quiet and being willing to share tax returns and bank statements to prove they have the money when its time. Unless, you have millions in the bank to build this office, youll need commercial financing and lenders will ask for it anyway. You dont want to lose a deposit because your partner decided to pull out last minute so a written agreement of confidentiality and agency to each other is advisable, even if its your own blood relative.

Ameet Chagan is a licensed commercial real estate broker with first hand experience in owning income producing assets. He specializes in helping motivated entrepreneurs get commercial loans for their real estate acquisitions.

His website is http://www.lionheartfinance.com
You are welcome to share this article, unedited, in its entirety with anyone. You may not remove this text. 2007 Lionheart Commercial Finance & Real Estate

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How To Repair Drywall Seams

Office Space In Britain - Make Your Work Space Work For You

Todays working environment is less formal than previous decades, evolving into an image conscious zone which is both comfortable and colourful. As workers spend more and more hours in the office and less time at home, the work place has become increasingly attractive and aesthetically pleasing. One major trend which is taking Britains offices by storm is the art of Feng shui. This ancient method of spatial organisation claims to create the most harmonious and balanced workspace ensuring happy workers and improved results. Indeed, business people in Asia have followed Feng Shui principles for centuries as a crucial part of business success.

So how are Feng Shui offices in Britain developing a more efficient working environment?

The most important principle to follow is to eliminate clutter by managing paperwork and files effectively. If you dont need a file, throw it away in order to create more space and less distractions. This will save time and money and also improve the look of the office.

The position of your table and chair is also important when it comes to attracting money to your business. The best position is to face the door in order to appear commanding and to see who is approaching. The wall or corner will offer you energetic support and you are more likely to feel confident about future business if you can see it coming. Alternatively if moving your desk is impossible, place a mirror on your monitor to allow clear visibility.

To increase the level of chi energy flow leave at least 7-9 inches of space between each piece of furniture. Unnecessary items of furniture should be stored away and taken out when needed so that workers feel less claustrophobic and are more relaxed. Green healthy plants can also add to the workers sense of serenity, while unsightly cables should be hidden to eliminate chaos, evoking a sense of security and control.

A practical lighting idea also follows the Chinese principles of harmony. Harsh overhead fluorescent lights are often the cause of headaches and tired eyes. A solution is to use an anti-glare filter on computer monitors and to remove one or more of the lights to decrease the intensity. Whether Feng Shui seems like mystical nonsense or just plain old common sense, there is no doubt that offices in the UK are finding the principles ever more attractive. It is argued that the effective use of space can not only entice new customers and increase workers concentration but also reduce insomnia and stress, boost health, and enhance financial security. The most successful businesses in Britain know that the image of working premises have a huge impact on people's impression of the company. Feng Shui your way to business success and turn your office into a space that begs to be worked in.

Chris Laas is an author for http://www.officialspace.co.uk/ Here you can find the best selection of office space to rent in the UK.

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New Technology Restores and Preserves Old Recordings

One of the many good things about newer digital media formats and the devices that store them is the fact that they're easy to back up and therefore preserve. That's definitely a major strength compared to the older analog format that stored things like old movies, old TV shows, and old audio recordings. In fact there are a lot of the oldest audio recordings on records and magnetic tapes, that have been so tortured by the passage of time that, for the most part, they're torture to listen to. These are the recordings of someone playing blue grass back in the nineteen twenties or thirties that have a sound of the voice trembling, and you assume that the singer actually sang that way and you wonder why anyone would sing that way on purpose and who would want to listen to it, let alone actually go to the trouble of recording that awful sound. Actually, it's not any defect or intentional modulation of the singer's voice. In reality, those trembles in the music are defects that have accumulated on the acetate or vinyl record or on the actual magnetic tape that the recording inhabited all of those years and decades.

There are a number of things that contribute to the degradation of these types of recordings. The first is simply the passage of time. Over the years, the vinyl that records are made out of and the celluloid that the magnetic tapes are made out of both out gas volatile organic compounds. In other words, these materials simply dry out. This causes them to be more brittle and may even contribute to them changing shape enough to distort the recordings that are encoded on them. Moisture can also cause problems and in the case of many of those blue grass recordings that were made and have been stored in the humidity of the southeast, that's a realistic problem. Of course, protecting the tapes and records from moisture is possible by storing them in a climate controlled environment, or keeping them cool and away from sunlight like in a freezer or a refrigerator would probably do the job, but no one has taken that kind of care to preserve these recordings.

The other kind of degradation that these recordings are subject to come from actually playing them. For example, the needles on record players gradually wear away the vinyl of the records. With magnetic tapes, all of the pulleys that are part of the tape players can pull and stretch the tape. Both of those things can seriously distort the sound quality.

Now there's special software technology that can allow these recordings to be remastered digitally while eliminating a lot of the distortions that have accumulated from their long storage in analog form and the wear and tear they've been subjected to. This technology recreates a virtual version of the original recording device. Then when the beat up old recording is fed through the program, the program can use the virtual model to eliminate the errors. The result is a much improved version of the recording where the music sounds like what someone would actually want to create intentionally.

A leader in technology reporting, Julia Hall has published articles about the latest digital devices and gadgets for over ten years. After graduating from MIT with a degree in electrical engineering, Julia turned down huge salaries from some of the most recognized fortune 500 companies in the world to pursue his dream of becoming a leading consumer advocate. Julia uses her expertise to cut through the too good to be true deals offered by high tech companies to reveal the real steals and the real duds that we're bombarded with daily. If you enjoy staying on the cutting edge of technology, whether for business or pleasure, but find yourself occasionally confused by the overwhelming information out there let Julia be your guide.

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The Evolution of Technology - The History of Computers

While computers are now an important part of the lives of human beings, there was a time where computers did not exist. Knowing the history of computers and how much progression has been made can help you understand just how complicated and innovative the creation of computers really is.

Unlike most devices, the computer is one of the few inventions that does not have one specific inventor. Throughout the development of the computer, many people have added their creations to the list required to make a computer work. Some of the inventions have been different types of computers, and some of them were parts required to allow computers to be developed further.

The Beginning

Perhaps the most significant date in the history of computers is the year 1936. It was in this year that the first "computer" was developed. It was created by Konrad Zuse and dubbed the Z1 Computer. This computer stands as the first as it was the first system to be fully programmable. There were devices prior to this, but none had the computing power that sets it apart from other electronics.

It wasn't until 1942 that any business saw profit and opportunity in computers. This first company was called ABC computers, owned and operated by John Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. Two years later, the Harvard Mark I computer was developed, furthering the science of computing.

Over the course of the next few years, inventors all over the world began to search more into the study of computers, and how to improve upon them. Those next ten years say the introduction of the transistor, which would become a vital part of the inner workings of the computer, the ENIAC 1 computer, as well as many other types of systems. The ENIAC 1 is perhaps one of the most interesting, as it required 20,000 vacuum tubes to operate. It was a massive machine, and started the revolution to build smaller and faster computers.

The age of computers was forever altered by the introduction of International Business Machines, or IBM, into the computing industry in 1953. This company, over the course of computer history, has been a major player in the development of new systems and servers for public and private use. This introduction brought about the first real signs of competition within computing history, which helped to spur faster and better development of computers. Their first contribution was the IBM 701 EDPM Computer.

A Programming Language Evolves

A year later, the first successful high level programming language was created. This was a programming language not written in 'assembly' or binary, which are considered very low level languages. FORTRAN was written so that more people could begin to program computers easily.

The year 1955, the Bank of America, coupled with Stanford Research Institute and General Electric, saw the creation of the first computers for use in banks. The MICR, or Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, coupled with the actual computer, the ERMA, was a breakthrough for the banking industry. It wasn't until 1959 that the pair of systems were put into use in actual banks.

During 1958, one of the most important breakthroughs in computer history occurred, the creation of the integrated circuit. This device, also known as the chip, is one of the base requirements for modern computer systems. On every motherboard and card within a computer system, are many chips that contain information on what the boards and cards do. Without these chips, the systems as we know them today cannot function.

Gaming, Mice, & the Internet

For many computer users now, games are a vital part of the computing experience. 1962 saw the creation of the first computer game, which was created by Steve Russel and MIT, which was dubbed Spacewar.

The mouse, one of the most basic components of modern computers, was created in 1964 by Douglass Engelbart. It obtained its name from the "tail" leading out of the device.

One of the most important aspects of computers today was invented in 1969. ARPA net was the original Internet, which provided the foundation for the Internet that we know today. This development would result in the evolution of knowledge and business across the entire planet.

It wasn't until 1970 that Intel entered the scene with the first dynamic RAM chip, which resulted in an explosion of computer science innovation.

On the heels of the RAM chip was the first microprocessor, which was also designed by Intel. These two components, in addition to the chip developed in 1958, would number among the core components of modern computers.

A year later, the floppy disk was created, gaining its name from the flexibility of the storage unit. This was the first step in allowing most people to transfer bits of data between unconnected computers.

The first networking card was created in 1973, allowing data transfer between connected computers. This is similar to the Internet, but allows for the computers to connect without use of the Internet.

Household PC's Emerge

The next three years were very important for computers. This is when companies began to develop systems for the average consumer. The Scelbi, Mark-8 Altair, IBM 5100, Apple I and II, TRS-80, and the Commodore Pet computers were the forerunners in this area. While expensive, these machines started the trend for computers within common households.

One of the most major breathroughs in computer software occurred in 1978 with the release of the VisiCalc Spreadsheet program. All development costs were paid for within a two week period of time, which makes this one of the most successful programs in computer history.

1979 was perhaps one of the most important years for the home computer user. This is the year that WordStar, the first word processing program, was released to the public for sale. This drastically altered the usefulness of computers for the everyday user.

The IBM Home computer quickly helped revolutionize the consumer market in 1981, as it was affordable for home owners and standard consumers. 1981 also saw the the mega-giant Microsoft enter the scene with the MS-DOS operating system. This operating system utterly changed computing forever, as it was easy enough for everyone to learn.

The Competition Begins : Apple vs. Microsoft

Computers saw yet another vital change during the year of 1983. The Apple Lisa computer was the first with a graphical user interface, or a GUI. Most modern programs contain a GUI, which allows them to be easy to use and pleasing for the eyes. This marked the beginning of the out dating of most text based only programs.

Beyond this point in computer history, many changes and alterations have occurred, from the Apple-Microsoft wars, to the developing of microcomputers and a variety of computer breakthroughs that have become an accepted part of our daily lives. Without the initial first steps of computer history, none of this would have been possible.

About The Author

Rebecca Blain is a professional hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her fish and educating people about how to build your own computer which you can learn about here: http://www.build-your-own-computer-tips.com

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List Building - List Building With Co-Registration

The number one hurdle in obtaining quality opt in leads using the co registration method is that you have got to overcome the perception of being just one of the marketers at a particular event.

This means that you have to brand yourself as someone uniquely important and able to offer value in a way that others would not be able to and that you need to work on creating this perception with your list beginning at the web form capture page, continuing at the subject line, with the follow up email and then at the download product page and also at the backend.

Remember the difference between a lifelong customer and a one time opt in is often the perceived value that can be given to your customer based on the relationship that is cultivated and the amount of help you provide them in your niche area of expertise and also in helping them to build their business.

Also, in coregistration it is important to do your homework and choose your partners wisely.

Do these people have a good reputation as providing value consistently and treating their customers fairly?

If so you might consider asking them for a sample product or link to their product download page to see what it is that they will be offering the people who are also going to be your subscribers.

Many marketers will just agree to a co registration give a way event blindly for the purposes of generating new opt ins and never even consider the quality of the products that the coregistrator is offering or that they will also be sending the people on his list emails.

You might very well consider keeping in touch with the other marketers after the event so that you will know what it is that they are sending your opt ins.

This will help you when writing to them in your emails.

Remember, generally that co registration leads take longer to build trust, warm up and to buy from you and that they also opt out at a much quicker and higher rate than in house lists.

However, even with those facts being the case, coregistration can often provide alot of subscribers in a short amount of time.

If you have a particular high value to price product, then it might be a good time to venture in the co registration method.

Download My Free Report: "How To Quickly And Easily Build An Opt In List Of Hyper Responsive Subscribers Who Are Willing To Spend Money With You Right Now!"

http://nocostlistbuilding.com/lbr-report.htm

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Examining Careers in Engineering

Many individuals find the career of engineering a very enticing option. One of the main reasons for such a wide level of interest in careers in engineering is due to the fact that there are so many job options within this particular field. In this article, we will examine careers in this area. We will take a look at some of the job opportunities available, briefly touch on the education that is required to obtain these jobs, as well as look at some companies where this type of career can be pursued.

Types of Engineering Jobs

There are numerous types of engineering jobs. Engineering careers can be anything from dealing with computers to various types of mechanics. Here, we will review the type of engineering positions that are available. Please keep in mind that this list outlines the most common and popular careers that can be pursued in this industry.

Chemical Engineer - Those who pursue this type of engineering career will work closely with an assortment of materials that are considered "raw" or a variety of chemicals. They will implement the use of various classifications of mathematics, science, and even economics in order to ensure that these materials are developed into forms that can prove to be more useful for the general population.

The newly created materials may also be used to create items for the automotive industry, medical field, military, and electronic field. When studying to become a chemical engineer, most individuals must place a heavy emphasis on various science courses, mathematics courses that focus on physics and higher forms of mathematic equations, as well as courses that are specific to the industry in which they serve. Most of these positions pay at least $20,000.00 to well over $100,000.00 annually.

Civil Engineer - This particular type of engineer focuses on developing a wide assortment of plans related to the design of many different public construction projects. This individual is responsible for supervising these projects as well. These projects are normally related to drainage systems in a community, road structures, and bridge construction.

Individuals who pursue this particular career are normally required to acquire at least a four year degree in civil engineering. The educational focus is normally on courses that are directly related to various types of math, physics, and project management. There are many entry-level positions in this particular field that require no college education, however, these positions normally pay only minimum wage and are described as labor positions. Upper wage levels are around $75,000.00 per year.

Electrical Engineer - An individual who pursues a career in this type of engineering is responsible for designing new electronic devices and gadgets. The employee compensation for this particular career ranges from around $47,000.00 to as much as $109,000.00 annually. However, it is important to understand that if you want to pursue this type of engineering job that you have a college degree that focuses on engineering. Coursework should include a heavy focus on science, social studies, math, and English.

Industrial Engineering - There are generally two different types of industrial engineers. The first type is responsible for supervising individuals that conduct technical product work. The second type is a professional who is trained in the area of industrial and/or systems engineering.

It is essential that this particular individual has been trained and is sufficient in various types of math courses and science courses; particularly social sciences and physical science. Many individuals may also take courses that are designed to teach them how to appropriately manage individuals in the workplace. These positions normally pay up to $100,000.00 annually.

Computer Engineer - These individuals focus heavily on computer science. They may assist in the development of many hardware components and software programs. This position has also been referred to as "electronic engineering". These components may be designed for the military field, medical profession, automotive industry, and any other type of electronic or computer related field.

Numerous courses should be taken in order to appropriately perform this job. The most basic coursework should include a good understanding of computers, electronics, and programming fundamentals. The pay range for this particular career normally ranges from as little as $9.00 per hour to as much as $45.00 per hour. However, the pay is often related to the needs of the position in relation to the area in which they person is located.

As you can see, there are numerous engineering jobs that an individual may pursue. Other types of engineering jobs include mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, and more. If you are interested in obtaining an engineering job in the United States or Canada, there are many companies that may provide you with employment opportunities. They are as follows:

1. QuestAir Technologies Inc. - Canada
2. Georgia Pacific - United States
3. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. - United States
4. AMEC Earth & Environmental - Canada
5. Magnetika - United States

Seek4Jobs.net has employment and job informations.

Architectural Roof Fascia

Home Tips And Hints: May 2003

There are several ways you can get a lot for your new home. Most of these methods don't require you to buy a vacant lot that's already been subdivided. For instance, you could purchase:

1. A portion of someone's property. Once you had a signed purchase contract with the owner, you'd have to subdivide the land off from their property before you could take title to the lot. But finding a property owner willing to sell you a portion of their land could be difficult, and getting the land at a reasonable price might be even tougher. Your offer should specify that you would be responsible for paying the costs associated with the subdivision because then you'd have more control over the work being done, time frames, and the expenses charged.

2. An existing house on its lot. You would demolish the house and then build new. However, what you don't want to do is overpay for improvements (i.e., existing house) that are going to be torn down. Since your offer price for the property should take into account the cost of demotion, you should get estimates for removal of the existing house before submitting your offer.

3. A land parcel (vacant or not). The parcel would have to have enough frontage and area to produce 2 or 3 separate lots with all of the lots fronting on the existing street. The objective is to avoid construction of a new street. You want to create a "turn-key" scenario: subdivide the original property, record the plan, and sell off whatever lots you don't keep for your new home. With the lots fronting on the existing street, your target market wouldn't be limited to builders. It could also include people interested in buying just one lot for either investment or the future construction of their homes. If the original parcel included an existing house, so much the better, as long as the house had some value and its location within the land parcel wouldn't mess up an efficient subdivision of the entire property.

The following examples illustrate the difference in land cost between buying one lot and buying a parcel that could be subdivided.

Example A: 2 acre vacant land parcel zoned for single-family detached housing on 30,000 sq. ft. lots; public water and sewer; asking price is $200,000; assumed yield: 2 lots

Your cost for the property is reduced by the price that you can get in selling off the second lot. So, for instance, if you sell the second lot for $150,000, your total cost for the land portion of your new home project is $50,000 (plus subdivision expenses).

Purchase price: $200,000 ($100,000 per lot)
Less sale of second lot: $150,000
Effective land cost: $50,000 (plus subdivision expenses)
Gross savings: $150,000

Example B: 2 acre parcel zoned for single-family detached housing on 30,000 sq. ft. lots; public water and sewer; the existing house on a lot is worth $250,000; asking price is $300,000; assumed yield: 1 building lot + existing house on its own lot

Purchase price: $300,000 ($150,000 per lot)
Less sale of existing house on its lot: $250,000
Effective land cost: $50,000 (plus subdivision expenses)
Gross savings: $250,000

Example C: 2 acre vacant land parcel zoned for single-family detached housing on 80,000 sq. ft. lots (cannot be further subdivided); public water and sewer; asking price is $200,000

Your land cost is the highest in Example C ($200,000) because you're buying one vacant lot that can't be subdivided. The subdivision necessary in the other examples isn't going to run $150,000-250,000 (the amount of your gross savings). To get a good idea of what the expense would be, contact civil engineers in your area. Ask them what they'd charge to do a small (2 or 3 parcel residential subdivision). This type of subdivision may be considered by some municipalities as a "simple" or "minor" subdivision based on the total number of lots and the fact that no new street would have to be constructed. Make sure you consult a real estate attorney for advice and to see that your purchase contract covers your flank.

Nancy Chadwick is a PA licensed real estate Broker and Instructor specializing in land brokerage, consulting and development. See how she's removing the mystery about investing in land through books (Land Buying & Selling and Selling Land: The Owner's Guide), articles and more by going to http://www.LandBuyingandSelling.com/

Over 1000 Massage Therapy Schools Are Looking For You In Their Massage Therapy Classes!

Massage therapists enjoy a profession that has many options. Beginning with the massage therapy classes where training is received, the hours a professional massage therapists operates and the setting at which their work is performed leaves ample opportunity to expand and explore the schedule and location that works best for your personal lifestyle.

Over 1,000 massage therapy schools are available in the country and with a high school diploma being the only standard requirement at most of them, anyone can start a profession in the art of massage therapy. Climb into those massage therapy classes and get certified!

Massage therapists have the rare professional choice of being able to work the hours that best suit their daily lives. The majority of a professional massage therapist's work is independently driven. This leaves them the flexibility to work either part-time or full-time hours, which is 17 or more hours of massaging a week. Of the professional massage therapist's working in the field now, 38% are doing their career full-time and around 62% enjoy part-time massage therapist hours. Many individuals use massage therapy to help supplement their weekly income as a second job, or use at it as a paying hobby, leaving them ample free time.

Massage therapy, as a career is great because it has so many different options for you to consider as your professional location. From working out of your own home or renting out a small office space, to traveling around and operating on-site at the client's home or office. Many professionals have more than one arrangement in order to best serve the customer. Here are the most common massage therapist's situations:

• 44% work on-site
• 39% have their own office
• 22% operate in a salon or sap
• 21% work in a health care clinic
• 17% share an office space
• 9% are in a health club setting

Enjoying massage therapy as a career can be fun and flexible. Simply by following three basic steps you too can be living the dream of having your own small business. First, find the massage therapy schools that can best train you in your field of massage study and can work around your current schedule. Next, become nationally certified in massage therapy. Finally, obtain a massage license through the state you will be practicing your profession in. Anybody interested in massage therapy as a career can easily learn how.

A majority of current massage therapists are female, at around 85% and more than half of them are aged between 35 and 54. A more diverse selection is going to open up the marketability for you as a professional massage therapist. Whether you fit the standard or will be standing out, enjoying your occupation is the most important thing to remember.

If you looking for the flexibility and satisfaction of operating your own business and helping others feel good in turn gives you pleasure, then professional massage therapy may be just what you have been searching for.

For more quick tips and advice on massage therapy classes and careers visit this popular website at http://www.health-nutrition-medicine-medical.info. You'll find the answers you need and want for Massage Therapy Classes. Visit this popular website at http://www.health-nutrition-medicine-medical.info for more tips and advice on massage therapy.

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Alternative Crohn's Disease Therapies And CAM

Diet is not the only way to reverse, cure, and control symptoms of Crohn's disease. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is another method that many patients are finding effective in controlling this ailment. CAMs are practices, systems and products that are not considered part of conventional medicine, but rather are used in conjunction with conventional Crohn's disease treatments to help ease the system.

One such therapy useful in treating and said by some to cure Crohn's is probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms, usually good bacteria that help rebuild a person's immune system. These good bacteria can be types of organisms, yeast or algae, and are available in different types of food supplements. Another CAM treatment that can be used is acupuncture. The practitioner would concentrate on the areas that are afflicted and use the needles in the appropriate positions along the body. Other types of Crohn's disease treatment include: behavioral therapy; hypnosis; meditation; relaxation therapy; and biofeedback. The success of a CAM in helping the symptoms also depends on how much a patient believes in the therapy.

A type of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease therapies continue to be explored in case studies and research labs in hope to rid this chronic disorder of the digestive tract that can affect everything from the mouth to the anus.

The majority of patients with Crohns disease have irritation of the intestines, a break down of the microflora, usually focused in the smaller of the two. It can affect the colon, although any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be harmed. Doctor's have not yet been able to determine the exact cause of Crohn's disease and are less open minded to alternative therapies. Some things that may cause it can include a weakened immune systems, genetics, and environmental hazards. There is a possibility that the inflammatory bowel disease is part of the body's defense mechanism.

There are a number of symptoms that are associated with Crohn's disease, ranging from mild to severe. They include diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping with fever, bleeding from the rectum, and appetite and weight loss. Fatigue is also a common symptom and other bodily organs can be affected. Children who develop Crohns may have delayed growth and sexual development problems. Fistulas and fissures in the body can also develop as a result from Crohns disease. There are five types of Crohns disease and depending on which part of the body is affected and the severity of the symptoms will determine how severe a case a patient may have. Two often the more severe the case of Crohn's the more patients seek out alternative Crohn's Disease therapies when conventional medicine doesn't work.

Because of the nature of Crohn's disease, a proper diet and alternative medicine therapies may go a long way to controlling the symptoms and severity of each individual patients case and even provide a cure. Diets high in protein (especially from oily fish such as salmon and tuna) help fight the protein deficiency caused by diarrhea. Complex carbohydrates found in vegetables and fruit provide needed fiber. Patients are advised to drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine. Omega-3 fatty acids and food rich in potassium should also be consumed as part of the diet.

If a patient is considering use a complementary and alternative medicine to treat their symptoms of Crohns disease, they need to discuss each option in detail with their primary care physician. With a firm game plan in hand, may sufferers of this debilitating condition can find relief from alternative therapies.

Read an amazing story about an alternative Crohn's Disease therapy, Cure for Crohns Disease, sickness to health. TJ Nelson believes in taking a more holistic approach to treating Crohn's Disease symptoms with alternative therapies.

Discover more about Crohn's visit: http://www.crohns-disease-probiotics.com and learn how to regaining health and vitality with probiotics.

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Data Backup - How To Identify and Measure Digital Delusion Disorder

"Over time, 100% of computers fail 100% of the time."

Picture the following scene:

It's Friday at 3:30pm, and you're just about to shut down your office for a much needed weekend retreat at your family's cottage.

You're already running behind schedule to pick up the kids-it was a busy week after all-and you'd really like to get a jump on the afternoon traffic.

As you're quickly gathering your things together and heading for the door, you catch a glimpse of your "sleeping" computer out of the corner of your eye. The question flashes through your mind: When was the last time I backed up my computer?

And how do you feel? Are you confident (or perhaps even nonchalant) about the safety of your digital records? Or do you acknowledge the intense tug of war being waged between your diligent, rational, backup-friendly self and the playful, reckless part of you that just wants to break free for the weekend? Besides, you say to yourself, what are the chances my computer will crash over the weekend?

And so you quickly leave, lock the door behind you and happily rush off for another glorious weekend. You believe, like so many others, that your computer will soldier on; will be there for you through thick and thin; will never, ever give up. Yes, you're aware of the possibility of a crash, and even considered the possibility of a theft or fire, but you just don't believe it could happen to you.

You're suffering from a common entrepreneurial syndrome that I like to call "Digital Delusion Disorder". All of us computer users suffer some measure of DDD, but what's important is the extent to which this delusion is putting your business and your livelihood at risk.

Mild Digital Delusion Disorder Risk

You understand the true value of your digital information and devote the time and energy to manually backup your computers to a tape-drive, external hard-drive, memory stick, or CDs and DVDs on a regular basis. You also make a habit of testing the recovery of files from your backups.

You rely heavily on your computers to operate and organize your business, and you're conscious of the fact that a computer is merely a machine with moving parts that can break down at any time.

You perform your computer backup at least once a week, and store your backup disks offsite, but you still worry that your unencrypted backup tapes are vulnerable, and that your backup really should be completed every day.

What to do if this is you: the remedy

Train at least two other reliable people to perform your computer backup, and increase your backup schedule to a daily routine. You may want to hand this task over to a trustworthy employee, but be sure to train a second person as well, who can perform the backup if the first employee is home sick or away on vacation.

You should also consider looking into a computer backup service that will automatically encrypt your backups. Simply search "automatic encryption backup" and the name of your city, province or state to find these services on the Internet.

Storing your backups offsite is certainly the right idea, but do NOT entrust this duty to another individual. Remember, your backups contain your business' most valuable and sensitive information, and only you should have access to it!

Moderate Digital Delusion Disorder Risk:

Your business is growing quickly, and you are implementing procedures and systems to help you organize, automate, and execute your business.

Computer backup is a necessary evil that you do when you think about it, but you find it difficult to make time to do so, let alone test your backups regularly to ensure that your information is recoverable.

You currently store your backup in your desk or beside your computer, which incidentally has been making a strange whirring noise if you listen closely.

What to do if this is you: the remedy

Repeat after me: "Computer backup is critical to the survival of my business."

That's right! According to the U.S. National Archive and Records Administration in Washington, 93% of small businesses that suffer a computer crash and lose access to their digital information for 10 days or more, go under within one year.

Also, one of Canada's national newspapers, the Globe and Mail, printed in May 2007 that 70% of small businesses that experience major data loss close their doors within the year.

So whether it's 70% or 93%, those bankruptcy rates are too high to ignore, agreed?

Go back and apply the remedy for Mild DDD, and repeat the above quote twice daily for 21 days.

Also, find a local IT Service company that offers monthly maintenance contracts to service and clean your computer on a regular basis.

Severe Digital Delusion Disorder Risk

In too many cases, entrepreneurs just like you don't realize how much their businesses rely upon the digital information stored on their computers, and they falsely imagine that their businesses could easily survive for more than 10 days without that information.

In truth, you really have not considered how much your digital information-like your contact databases, marketing templates, accounting files and so on- contributes to your income generation, nor do you believe that inhibited access to this information would derail the day to day activities of your business.

But, in truth, you use your computer every day for a wide variety of tasks and as your primary method of document storage. You take your computer for granted, and have only a vague idea of what information is actually being housed on your machines. Accordingly, you back up your computer rarely-if ever-and continue to run and grow your business without any concept of a recovery plan should the inevitable crash occur.

What to do if this is you: the remedy

Ask yourself one question: If you could not access any of the files or records stored on your computer, how much time and money would it take for you to rebuild your business to its current level of success?

Really think about this!

Make an itemized inventory of the digital records stored on your computer, and estimate the amount of time and money that it cost you to acquire that information in the first place. Also, estimate how much income you would lose over the next year if you did not have access to that information.

It really adds up, doesn't it? I bet you're well into the tens of thousands-if not hundreds of thousands-of dollars, and many years of hard work.

Now consider that you can automatically backup your computer every day using a reputable online computer backup and recovery service for a tiny fraction of that cost. Simply search "online computer backup" and the name of your city, province or state to find these services on the Internet, and be sure to ask other business owners what computer backup solution works best for them.

Remember my opening quote: 100% of computers fail 100% of the time. Don't let Digital Delusion Disorder become a real risk to the survival of your business. Act today to protect your digital information, and SAVE your business!

Copyright 2007 - Blue Melnick. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and include the following byline:

Blue Melnick is the Co-Founder and Lead Storage Specialist of Virtual Tape Drive Canada. Blue invites you to contact him through www.vtdcanada.com or by phone at 416-462-3323. Not sure if online data backup is right for you? Why not sign up for Biz Link News-Blue's free monthly ezine-to learn more about how this new technology can "save" your business?

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The Considerations Of Building A Cedar Greenhouse

What to consider when constructing a wooden greenhouse, or more precisely, a cedar greenhouse.

Wood has been the building material of choice for ages, whether building furniture, boats, houses and any number of things. It is still used today, though not without the support of other materials such as metals and the occasional plastic. When building a greenhouse of wood, however, the high moisture can cause premature rotting and decay.

Wood rot and decay is hardly popular with people, who obviously would prefer not to have to rebuild the outer walls of a greenhouse within a few years of building it, it is important to take care in the woods used to build the greenhouse to begin with. Woods such as black locust, red cedar, cypress and redwood will all last over seven years because they are all more resistant to decay.

Wood that is prone to rotting should be treated with some type of preservative, though certain preservatives can be detrimental to plant growth and should be chosen with great care. Some kinds of preservatives can also damage soil and should not be used on any wood making contact with the ground.

Applying preservatives can happen in a number of ways, such as pressure treating, cold soaking, and brushing. Pressure treating has the best results and gives wood the longest life span, but it is also the most complex version. Cold soaking is next, though the wood's life is half that of pressure treatment. Brushing the preservative on is almost as bad as not treating it at all, and the average life of wood treated this way is just over three years.

Greenhouses made of wood are a good addition to any house, but will not last for long without proper care and attention. With the right attention given up front, the better that wood will do and the longer it will be around in the end. If all this seems to daunting then maybe you should stick to the mini greenhouses.

Garry contributes to cedar greenhouses and mini greenhouses.

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What Are Veneer Woods

I am sure that many of you have looked at the beauty of the assorted types of wood furniture in your home. Or you have at least one friend who has this assortment. Nevertheless many of you have no idea that a large number of these wood items are no longer made with traditional methods or techniques. This means that most of these wood pieces of furniture are made from material that is not 100% real wood. Alternatively veneer woods have been used. I know, this may come as a big shock to most of you, but it is reality.

Now before you think that veneer wood is some kind of a chemical that has been applied to the wood you might want to look into what veneer woods are and the assorted techniques that have been exploited in their creation process. A little understanding and knowledge is all it takes to recognize these pieces of furniture. It is a very good idea for you to know a little something about these veneer woods. So, when the time comes for you to make a selection for that re-model, you will be prepared. Unlike many of the timberland that is used in the construction of various wood pieces of furniture and cabinetry, veneer woods are man made.

Many companies who deal in wood commodities find that using veneer woods has no real deviation in the caliber that their customers desire. Have our standards changed or are we just not in the know as consumers? In fact some customers refuse to purchase real wood products because of the high prices that they may have to bear and the diverse procedures that are needed to keep this wood furniture in first-class condition.

By and large many people will never be able to tell the difference between veneer woods furniture and actual wood furniture. Unless of course they have had some sort of education on woodworking. This means that you will continue to find both of these types of articles of furniture at furniture stores. You can ask the friendly sales assistant to help you in selecting good quality wood furniture. So, unless you are proficient at knowing how to tell the difference you may end up with veneer woods in your home as well. However, there is no need to worry. A quick education on the subject will arm you with the proper knowledge of wood.

Unless you are badly disgruntled about having your furniture made with veneer woods, you may sometimes find that the caring of these can be much easier than you ever dreamed possible. But before you abruptly decide to invest in only veneer wood made pieces of furniture you need to remember that caliber sometimes means more than convenience. For this grounds you should never expect your synthetic veneer woods to give your articles of furniture that timeless heirloom quality. Again, once you know the product spotting this type of wood is a cinch.

That particular difference aside, veneer woods are sometimes best to have in your homes. This is especially the case if you actually don't have taste for the character of wood in your various rooms or if you are a person who likes to move with the times. In which case purchasing veneer woods will let you decide on the versatile styles that you can use without worrying about the fact that you will need to do something about your invaluable wood furniture. So, what does all this add up too? Educate yourself about the various wood products. This will give you piece of mind every time you go to purchase wood furniture.

Bowe is the webmaster, content provider and author of the e-book: "Woodworking Essentials". Visit his site and receive his: Free 5 week email course.

Building Your House Help

Rain Gutters And Downspouts

Rain gutters and downspouts are obviously one of the more important aspects on the outside of any home. They help in protecting your foundation from eroding as well as your roof and siding from rotting as well. Not to mention preventing a complete muddy mess that you have to try and avoid walking in. The biggest question about rain gutters is, what do you really need for your particular home? Here is a quick look at some of the basics on choosing a gutter system for your home.

What size of rain gutter do you need?

Because gutters come in different sizes, as well as materials one of the first things you will need to know is what size you need. This will depend on what part of the country you live in. If you live in an area which receives heavy rainfall then you should go with a larger 7" gutter channel. You need the bigger size to handle the heavier amounts of precipitation to prevent them from overflowing. For those living in areas which get little rain then a 5" or 6" gutter will be fine.

What kind of material do you want your gutter made out of?

Your next step is deciding what type of material you would like to have your gutter made of. The most common materials are aluminum and vinyl. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but you can also choose to have them made from copper, steel or other materials. Obviously, cost will be a consideration when you are looking at copper gutters, but copper will last a lifetime if cared for properly. If you live in an area where you do not have extreme temperature fluctuations then a vinyl gutter system would make for a good choice.

Seamless or not?

Finally, you will need to decide on whether you would like to have a seamless gutter system or one that is in sections. Seamless gutters and downspouts are considered by most experts to be the best choice. It eliminates the "seams" that could eventually lead to leaks and sagging. Keep in mind though; a seamless gutter will still have seams at the corner breaks. Also, seamless will be a more expensive option. All in all though, it is the best route to go.

Installing rain gutters

Finally, whatever gutters and downspouts you decide to install, don't use the old style of putting them up with big spikes and ferrules. This is a very outdated method of installation and will only lead to problems down the road since these spikes expand and contract with the weather and wear out the fascia boards as well. Use gutter hangers and you will eliminate this issue altogether.

Once you have made your choice for the type of guttering you want you can have it installed by any number of contractors for a nominal cost. It is well worth leaving to the pros. Getting up on a ladder and trying to do it yourself is not a great idea, especially if you have ever fallen off a ladder as so many people have. Let a pro do it and you can enjoy the benefits of their work for years to come.

You can learn more about Rain Gutters And Downspouts as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com

Pressure Treated Lumber

If you are building a deck, retaining wall or a swing set for the kids it is highly likely that your material of choice is pressure treated lumber.

Pressure treated lumber, if installed properly, should provide a 40 year useable life. However, there are some things about pressure treated lumber that you have to know, in order to obtain that life and not have your project fall apart in a few years.

To create pressure treated lumber, raw lumber is impregnated with two waterborne compounds that are copper based chemicals. The amount of copper basically determines the usage and all pressure treated lumber, sold in the US, is supposed to have a tag stapled to the end of the board signifying its pounds of preservative per cubic foot of wood product:

0.25 Above Ground

0.40 Ground Contact

0.60 Permanent Wood Foundation

2.50 Salt Water

Because the lumber is impregnated with Copper, the choice of fasteners becomes very important. When two dissimilar metals come in contact with one another a galvanic reaction is created, the outcome is that the materials corrode and disintegrate. The higher the levels of copper in the lumber the faster that the corrosion will occur.

Although most people realize that they must use corrosion resistant fasteners and connectors many do not consider items such as flashings and light poles that are also in contact with the pressure treated lumber. Of course the best metals to use for fasteners, flashings and anything else that comes in contact with the deck is stainless steel or copper whenever possible. Stainless steel is expensive and copper is not conveniently available at your local lumber supply so the next best material is steel that has been galvanized.

Galvanized fasteners come in different grades (the thickness of the coating), better manufactures mark the box with a G rating. The higher the G rating, the more zinc used. You shouldnt use less than a G-90 rating and engineers are now suggesting the use of G-185. If the box is not marked it is probably a G-60 or less and this will not provide enough zinc coating to prevent galvanization from occurring. Cadmium plated nuts, bolts and screws do not provide any protection from corrosion whatsoever.

Some manufactures have created composite coatings for use with pressure treated lumber. Read the label on the box and make sure that what you are buying is suitable for the job.

Do not use aluminum flashing, deck flashing must be stainless steel, galvanized or copper. Aluminum corrodes very quickly when in contact with copper. This also means that metals items that come in contact with the pressure treated lumber must also be protected, items such as outdoor furniture, and barbeques should have rubber or vinyl feet or wheels.

For additional information on pressure treated lumber for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Fallbrook Siding

Remodeling Porches

Fixing up a porch is a great idea that will extend the use of your home considerably. Using just some paint, stain and basic carpentry skills, you can make your porch a pleasure to spend time on.

An example shown on DoItYourself.com shows a couple from Georgia who wanted enjoy their extended warm seasons of spring, summer and fall, but avoid the problems of mosquitoes and decided to take their slab concrete patio and make it into a screened in area they could enjoy almost all year long.

The patio was just concrete square under a roof overhang. They wanted the porch to blend in with the home, as well as protect the family from the heat, humidity and insects of the Georgia summers. The concrete slab declined slightly to allow for runoff, so there had to be some adjustments made to accommodate this feature.

Here is their step by step solution:

Step One. Cut pre-primed 4X8 sheets of beadboard ceiling paneling.

Step Two. Install the celing paneling and the ceiling fan. They used a nail gun to make the installation of the ceiling panels faster and easier than trying to swing a hammer upward. Before all of the panelling was installed, the ceiling was wired for the fan and light. This will allow the porch to remain cool and the light will allow the room to be used at night. This was a two person job, with one person holding the fan and the other connecting the wires and screwing the fan in place. The finish trim hid the seams in the paneling.

Step Three. Frame out the porch. Using 2X4 boards, they spaced them to allow for standard width screen to be installed. The crosspieces were nailed directly through the vertical braces.

Step Four. Install the interior panelling. Pine and plywood bead board paneling was secured by staple gun. These had to be trimmed along the bottom to accommodate the uneven floor.

Step Five. Install and level the exterior paneling. The harbor ad exterior panels wear put into place, from the bottom up. The first one had to be custom cut to allow for the uneven ground line and then the rest followed. These panels were painted to match the existing exterior of the house, so there was a lot of trial and error to match the aged yellow paint exactly. But weather resistant exterior paint was used so that it can be easily kept clean by rinsing Wit soap and water.

Step Six. Do the screening. Vinyl grids had to be screwed directly into the wooden frames. Then the screens were attached to the channels in the grids, so the fiberglass or aluminum screens could be slid in without using staples. When the screens were rolled into the grids with a spline, the extra screening material was cut off. With a mallet, the caps over the vinyl channels were banged into place.

Being really passionate about tree trimming and saw sharpening, Ray Walberg wrote plenty of detailed articles in this specific field. Sharing his passion in detailed publications, the author improved his experience on topics like chain saws and saw sharpening.

Corner Stair Entry

Simple Bathtub Remodeling Tips - How To Give Your Bathtub A New Look For Less

A bathtub is a major structure in your bathroom that can be very expensive to replace. But there are some simple things you can do to update your bathtub without breaking your wallet.

Consider replacing bathtub accessories. Would your bathtub look better by changing the shower curtain to a more modern and updated design? And what about changing the shower rod as well? What about adding a new bath rug to soften the appearance of the bathtub? Purchasing new accessories for your bathtub area can go a long way in giving you a remodeled bathtub look. This is by far the cheapest way to spruce up the area.

Consider replacing bathtub fixtures. Is your shower head, faucet, knobs, or handle worn and dated? Consider replacing only these fixtures if your bathtub is still in good condition. Often, adding new shiny fixtures will give your bathtub a new appearance since these are the areas of the bathtub that your eye is drawn to first.

Consider having a bathtub liner installed. If your bathtub has a lot of wear and tear on the actual tub, this is a cheaper solution than removing the old bathtub and putting in a new one. A bathtub liner is simply installed over an existing tub for a clean, new look at less than half the price it would cost to purchase a new tub.

Consider changing the look of the walls around the bathtub. Fresh, new paint or adding tile to the walls around the bathtub can give the bathtub area a new look.

Create the perfect indoor living area with simple bathroom remodeling. Learn more about bathroom remodeling and bath tub types including sauna steam showers, walk in bath tubs, claw foot tubs, and more. Click on the link to get all the facts and info today at http://www.bathtub-depot.com.

Do It Yourself Home Help

Shelving Creates Space In Your Bathroom

One of the biggest problems most people face in their bathrooms is clutter. Shelving is one way to get organized and create some space.

Bathrooms are very hard to keep organized especially when they are shared by a family. When each family member has their own favorite shampoo or particular brand of body wash, storage becomes a nightmare of clutter. Even in cases where the bathroom has ample storage space, and this is extremely rare, there is the additional problem of accessibility. When you suddenly realize that you need that bottle of conditioner in the middle of your shower, the fact that it is safely tucked away under the sink is little comfort. Bathroom tier shelves off a good solution.

The tier shelf is simply a series of shelving units on different levels much like a book shelf. The shelves can be one above the other or they can be offset. The two different types of bathroom tier shelves are the free standing and the wall mounted. A free standing tier shelf unit is designed to sit against the wall of the bathroom and provide an open storage area for bathroom personal items and towels and washcloths. If the tier shelf unit can be placed within arms reach of the shower or tub, the accessibility problem is solved.

In many cases, the free standing tier shelf unit can not be easily placed within reach of the tub and this is where the wall mounted units can be used. The wall mounted tier shelf can be hung right inside the shower enclosure. Different units are two tier, three tier, and even four tier design. The most popular is the three tier design which is usually sufficient to handle the various bottles and tubes needed in the shower.

Of course, the important thing about a bathroom wall mounted tier unit is that the materials be stainless steel or other non-rusting material as they will be exposed to water in the shower. Many people are concerned with the idea of mounting the units in existing showers. This is especially true in tiled or enameled shower enclosures. This should not be a worry as the hardware and mounting instructions for the units take into consideration all of the common mounting conditions.

The bathroom tier shelf unit can be a decorative accessory as well as a functional one. Although many plain and inexpensive types are available including models designed to hang over the shower head, they can also be purchased in more elaborate models designed to complement just about any decor theme.

Aazdak Alisimo writes about bathroom design ideas for http://www.BathroomDesignSupply.com

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Building Codes And Remodeling