PBS Kids To The Rescue
by Adriana Copaceanu
PBS has been a leader in providing quality programs for children for nearly forty years, including classics such as Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Reading Rainbow and many more. Most of the children�s programs not only teach valuable skills, such as reading and math, but they include some inside jokes for the grownups, making it enjoyable for all.
Some of the newer shows are quickly becoming classics in their own right. Here are some of the more recent additions to the PBS Kids line up that will be sure to be future favorites.
Between the Lions � Following in the footsteps of The Electric Company, Between the Lions helps kids learn to read, with phonics lessons hidden in song and silliness. This often �punny� show focuses on a pride of librarian lions and a menagerie of other puppets. Segments such as �Gawain�s Word� (where two knights �blend on� and make a new word as they joust), �Cliff Hanger� and �Sam Spud� spoof popular movies, giving the parents a chuckle while the kids learn.
Jakers! The Adventure of Piggly Winks � This delightful computer animated series is a gem. There aren�t as many episodes of Jakers! as some of the other shows on PBS, so some stations only carry it occasionally. Each episode begins with Grandpa Piggly Winks spending time with his grandchildren, telling them stories of his childhood. Then the audience is treated to his flashbacks of his imagination-filled adventures with his friends on a farm in Ireland. Each episode also has a segment, featuring real grandparents.
Cyberchase � For years, most of the PBS Kids shows focused on reading skills, but then they introduced Cyberchase. This show taps into the popularity of the internet and teaches about math and logic. It follows the adventures of three young people who are pulled into �Cyberspace� to battle The Hacker (voiced by Christopher Lloyd), to keep him from taking over �Cyberspace�. Each episode also features a live segment where the lesson learned during the cartoon is reinforced in �real world� situations.
In addition to the shows, the PBS Kids� website offers the opportunity to explore through games based on their favorite shows. It also has great parent resources to help encourage young learners.
About The Author
Clean The Computer Of Spyware Entries With Reliable Software
Clean The Computer Of Spyware Entries With Reliable Software
by Arvind Singh
Spyware is malicious software that downloads onto a computer clandestinely. It makes entries in the registry and must be removed with Anti Spyware utilities.
'Spyware' is a term that refers to a very wide category of malicious software that has been intentionally designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the consent of that computer's owner or lawful user. When the term 'Spyware' is taken in a literal sense, it suggests that the software clandestinely monitors the activities of the user operating the computer, however, it has over the years, come to be known as software that hampers the operating systems efficient functioning for the benefit of a third party, usually the person who created the Spyware. By downloading onto a system the Spyware will also make entries in the system registry. While it is imperative to remove the Spyware from the computer it is as imperative to remove all traces from the registry as well. This can be achieved with the help of Adware Spyware removal tool.
How Does It Affect The Computer?
'Spyware' is candid software that downloads itself onto a person's computer and constantly operates in the background and collects personal information of the user. For instance, it will record the entry from the keyboard every time the user enters a username and password or credit card details. The Spyware will monitor and record the information as well as which site the username and password was entered into. It will then mail this information to the host computer that the Spyware came from. In order to do this the Spyware must take over some processor time. It does this by delaying the operation of other programs or applications running on the system. This slows the system down drastically. The system can be revamped with free Adware Spyware removal utilities such as Quake removal Spyware tool.
Are Spyware Removal Utilities Not Enough?
Many Spyware removal utilities do remove the Spyware from the system but many of them cannot delve into the registry and remove all the entries therein. The registry will have to be scrubbed clean with special Spyware removal utility such as Quake removal Spyware utility software. Many of the Spyware entries will be associated with critical system files and so the anti-Spyware program will not delete them from the registry. Only a good Spyware removal utility such as Yahoo Spyware removal tool will scan the registry and detect the broken links and determine it they will hamper the efficient operating of the system if they are removed. If the Yahoo Spyware removal decides that they can be safely removed the entries will be deleted. If the entries are left in the registry they may link up to the site where they came from initially and download the Spyware again. This is why it is imperative to clean the registry with a reliable registry cleaner such as the free Microsoft Spyware Adware removal tool.
About The Author
To know about the Registry Cleaner visit at: http://www.pcmantra.com/registry-cleaner.htm
Know more about Registry Cleaner?
Read Articles at : http://www.pcmantra.com/RegistryCleanerResource.aspx
I Love German Wine and Food - A Pfalz Gewurztraminer
I Love German Wine and Food - A Pfalz Gewurztraminer
by Levi Reiss
If you are in the market for fine German wine and food, you should consider the Pfalz region of southwestern Germany. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you'll enjoy yourself on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local Gewuerztraminer.
The climate in the Pfalz region is so mild that some of its farmers actually raise lemons and figs. It has been called the Tuscany of Germany. While Pfalz is far from Tuscany, it is just over the border from the famous French wine-producing region of Alsace, also known for producing fine Gewurztraminer wines. Sooner or later we will review one (or maybe more) Alsacian Gewurztraminers for our series I Love French Wine and Food. Did you notice the difference in spelling between the German and the French grape?
The Pfalz is quite narrow and about 80 kilometers long, right along the Rhine River. The best vineyards belonged to the Church until Napoleon redistributed them. The region contains some 25,000 vineyards with an average size under a hectare (about 2.5 acres). With such small vineyards, most owners are forced to take on additional work to make ends meet. While Pfalz was once the number one German wine producing region, it now ranks number two in both total wine production and vineyard acreage behind its northern neighbor, Rheinhessen.
Approximately four out of five local wine bottles are white. The two top grape varieties grown here are Mueller Thurgau, a German developed hybrid, and the often noble Riesling. Local red grape varieties include Portugieser and to a lesser extent Pinot Noir, better known by its German name, Spaetburgunder. About 10% of Pfalz wine is classified as basic table wine, over 70% as middle quality QbA wine, and the remainder higher quality QmP wine.
The German Wine Road crosses the Pfalz region. Virtually anywhere you go on this road you can find something worth seeing, worth tasting, and I daresay worth eating. Be sure to visit the city of Speyer. While today's population is only about fifty thousand, Speyer was a major center in the Holy Roman Empire hosting many Imperial Diets, huge parliamentary assemblies. From 1030 to 1061 a series of emperors built the Kaiserdom (The Imperial Cathedral), which was expertly restored more than fifty years ago. Just across from the cathedral you will find the Palatinate Historical Museum. Other museums to visit include the Technology Museum, Sea Life in the old harbor, and the Wine Museum that features a 1600 year-old glass wine amphora, perhaps the oldest wine "bottle" in the world.
Before reviewing the Pfalz wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Keschlebreih (Chestnut Soup). For your second course enjoy Kalbsnieren (Veal Kidneys). As a dessert indulge yourself with Kerscheblotzer (Cherry Cake).
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed Darting Gewuerztraminer Kabinett 2005 10.8% alcohol about $14
Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. With such a German name, it's surprising that Gewuerztraminer is still a minority in the vineyards of the country. Kurt Darting has created some of the Pfalz's finest examples. The wine has classic lychee, grapefruit and spice tones. A perfect partner for intense, flavourful dishes such as chicken vindaloo.
My first pairing was with turkey meatballs, potatoes, and saut�©ed vegetables in a moderately spicy tomato based sauce. The wine was round, light, a bit sweet, and not very acidic. While the vegetables' sweetness intensified the wine's sweetness, happily the wine never became cloying. I tasted apples in the background. I tried the Gewuerztraminer with chocolate covered candied orange peels. While the wine was round it was somewhat disappointing. As always, I don't blame the wine for failing a stab in the dark type pairing.
My next trial was canned tuna doused in Harissa, a Moroccan spice, cold roasted potatoes, and a cold vegetable medley. The wine was sweet and tasted of honey without being at all cloying. I did taste the lychee that I was supposed to taste. The wine had pleasant acidity. You might consider canned tuna and honey-tasting wine to be a marriage made in Purgatory but I rather liked the combination. I think it would have been even better if the Harissa lived up to its promise as a fiery spice. For dessert I had homemade biscotti slathered with high-quality apricot preserves. The Gewuerztraminer became pleasantly acidic to match the dessert's sweetness.
The final meal included whole-wheat pasta with a commercial spaghetti sauce to which I added saut�©ed brown mushrooms and red onions. I sprinkled lots of ground Parmesan cheese on the mixture. The wine was really sweet, considerably than before. Its sweetness was a good match for the tomato sauce's sweetness. Steamed asparagus with a generous sprinkling of onion powder and a fair measure of cayenne pepper formed the delicious side dish. This combination rendered the wine more complex than previously. It balanced the spices well. The wine was weak with a fruit juice based candy.
And now come the cheeses. The first pairing involved a goat's milk cheese called Palet de Chevre from the Poitou Charentes region of central-western France. It was a goat's milk cheese unlike any that I have ever tasted. Frankly it looked and tasted like a somewhat runny Camembert. The wine was definitely honeyed with this cheese. I did not find the combination particularly enticing. Not being able to find a German cheese other than another Limberger, no thank you, I bought a Gruyere, a Swiss cheese without the holes. The pairing was virtually the same. Honey. Once again, no thank you.
Final verdict. Nothing special. This wine was sufficiently disappointing that I won't be buying it again. While I am partial to other German white wines beside Rieslings, I was not impressed by this particular offering.
About The Author
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
FSBO Closing Costs
FSBO Closing Costs
by Kyle Soper
What Are Closing Costs?
When selling your home "For Sale by Owner" (aka FSBO), your lender usually prepares a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs. You are entitled to receive this estimate no later than three business days after you apply for a loan. Because it is an estimate of the costs you may incur, it may not contain all potential costs. The lender will not know what all of the costs are going to be. The �Good Faith Estimate� will be an estimate based on previous experience. Actual closing expenses usually exceed the estimate. To avoid problems, go prepared to pay more than the amount listed on your estimate.
If you are comparing two lenders, look only at the costs charged by the lender. Lenders can only make educated guesses about the charges made by others.
You will receive an itemization of costs you may have to pay when you buy your home. The costs are listed in the order that they should appear on a Good Faith Estimate you obtain from a mortgage lender.
There are two broad categories of closing costs. Non-recurring closing costs are items that are paid once and you never pay again such as loan origination fees, recording fees, survey fees, etc. Recurring closing costs are items you pay again over the course of home ownership, such as property taxes and homeowner�s insurance.
Closing costs are usually made up of the following:
1. Attorney's or escrow fees (yours and your lender's if applicable)
2. Property taxes (to cover tax period to date)
3. Interest (paid from date of closing to 30 days before first monthly payment)
4. Loan origination fee (covers lender's administrative costs)
5. Recording fees
6. Survey fee
7. First premium of mortgage insurance (if applicable)
8. Title insurance (yours and your lender's)
9. Loan discount points
10. First payment to escrow account for future real estate taxes and insurance
11. Paid receipt for homeowner's insurance policy (and fire and flood insurance if applicable)
12. Any documentation preparation fees.
On closing day, you'll present your paid homeowner's insurance policy or a binder and receipt showing that the premium has been paid. The closing agent will then list the money you owe the seller (remainder of down payment, prepaid taxes, etc.) and then the money the seller owes you (unpaid taxes and prepaid rent, if applicable). The seller will provide proofs of any inspection, warranties, etc.
Once you're sure you understand all the documentation, you'll sign the mortgage, agreeing that if you don't make payments the lender is entitled to sell your property and apply the sale price against the amount you owe plus expenses. You'll also sign a mortgage note, promising to repay the loan. The seller will give you the title to the house in the form of a signed deed.
You'll pay the lender's agent all closing costs and, in turn, he or she will provide you with a settlement statement of all the items for which you have paid. The deed and mortgage will then be recorded in the state Registry of Deeds, and you will be a homeowner.
At closing, you will get:
1. Settlement Statement
2. HUD-1 Form (itemizes services provided and the fees charged; it is filled out by the closing agent and must be given to you at or before closing)
3. Truth-in-Lending Statement
4. Mortgage Note
5. Mortgage or Deed of Trust
6. Binding Sales Contract (prepared by the seller; your lawyer should review it)
7. Keys to your new home
Your Settlement Costs are going to consist of the following:
1. Sales/Broker's Commission: This is the total dollar amount of the real estate broker�s sales commission, which is usually paid by the seller. This commission is typically a percentage of the selling price of the home.
2. Items Payable in Connection with Loan: These are the fees that lenders charge to process, approve and make the mortgage loan.
3. Loan Origination: This fee is usually known as a loan origination fee but sometimes is called a "point" or "points." It covers the lender's administrative costs in processing the loan. Often expressed as a percentage of the loan, the fee will vary among lenders. Generally, the buyer pays the fee, unless otherwise negotiated.
4. Loan Discount: Also often called "points" or "discount points," a loan discount is a one-time charge imposed by the lender or broker to lower the rate at which the lender or broker would otherwise offer the loan to you. Each "point" is equal to one percent of the mortgage amount. For example, if a lender charges two points on a $80,000 loan this amounts to a charge of $1,600.
5. Appraisal Fee: This charge pays for an appraisal report made by an appraiser.
6. Credit Report Fee: This fee covers the cost of a credit report, which shows your credit history. The lender uses the information in a credit report to help decide whether or not to approve your loan and how much money to lend you.
7. Lender's Inspection Fee: This charge covers inspections, often of newly constructed housing, made by employees of your lender or by an outside inspector.
8. Mortgage Insurance Application Fee: This fee covers the processing of an application for mortgage insurance.
9. Assumption Fee: This is a fee which is charged when a buyer "assumes" or takes over the duty to pay the seller�s existing mortgage loan.
10. Mortgage Broker Fee: Fees paid to mortgage brokers would be listed here. A CLO fee would also be listed here.
11. Interest: Lenders usually require borrowers to pay the interest that accrues from the date of settlement to the first monthly payment.
12. Mortgage Insurance Premium: The lender may require you to pay your first year�s mortgage insurance premium or a lump sum premium that covers the life of the loan, in advance, at the settlement.
13. Hazard Insurance Premium: Hazard insurance protects you and the lender against loss due to fire, windstorm, and natural hazards. Lenders often require the borrower to bring to the settlement a paid-up first year�s policy or to pay for the first year's premium at settlement.
14. Flood Insurance: If the lender requires flood insurance, it is usually listed here.
15. Title Charges: Title charges may cover a variety of services performed by title companies and others. Your particular settlement may not include all of the items below or may include others not listed.
16. Settlement or Closing Fee: This fee is paid to the settlement agent or escrow holder. Responsibility for payment of this fee should be negotiated between the seller and the buyer.
17. Abstract of Title Search, Title Examination, Title Insurance Binder: The charges on these lines cover the costs of the title search and examination.
18. Document Preparation: This is a separate fee that some lenders or title companies charge to cover their costs of preparation of final legal papers, such as a mortgage, deed of trust, note or deed.
19. Notary Fee: This fee is charged for the cost of having a person who is licensed as a notary public swear to the fact that the persons named in the documents did, in fact, sign them.
20. Attorney's Fees: You may be required to pay for legal services provided to the lender, such as an examination of the title binder. Occasionally, the seller will agree in the agreement of sale to pay part of this fee. The cost of your attorney and/or the seller�s attorney may also appear here. If an attorney's involvement is required by the lender.
21. Title Insurance: The total cost of owner's and lender's title insurance is shown here.
22. Lender's Title Insurance: The cost of the lender�s policy is shown here.
23. Government Recording and Transfer Charges: These fees may be paid by you or by the seller, depending upon your agreement of sale with the seller. The buyer usually pays the fees for legally recording the new deed and mortgage (line 1201). Transfer taxes, which in some localities are collected whenever property changes hands or a mortgage loan is made, can be quite large and are set by state and/or local governments. City, county and/or state tax stamps may have to be purchased as well
24. Survey: The lender may require that a surveyor conduct a property survey. This is a protection to the buyer as well. Usually the buyer pays the surveyor's fee, but sometimes this may be paid by the seller.
25. Pest and Other Inspections: This fee is to cover inspections for termites or other pest infestation of your home.
26. Lead-Based Paint Inspections: This fee is to cover inspections or evaluations for lead-based paint hazard risk assessments.
27. Total Settlement Charges: The sum of all fees in the borrower's column entitled "Paid from Borrower's Funds at Settlement" is placed here. This figure is then transferred to line 103 of Section J, "Settlement charges to borrower" in the Summary of Borrower's Transaction on page 1 of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement and added to the purchase price. The sum of all of the settlement fees paid by the seller are transferred to line 502 of Section K, Summary of Seller's Transaction on page 1 of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement.
Don't be overwhelmed by all of the fees and charges. Your closing agent will go over each item one line at a time.
About The Author
Tips for Quick and Easy Iced Coffee
Tips for Quick and Easy Iced Coffee
by R.L. Fielding
Coffee is a fantastic drink at any time of day, during any season of the year. That being said, a steaming hot cup of java isn�t always welcome once summer rolls around. Don�t let the summer heat deprive you of your favorite beverage when you can switch to iced coffee!
During the warmest months of the year, iced coffee makes for a refreshing change of pace. While most cafes and coffee shops serve these cold concoctions, you may be wondering how to get iced coffee at home. Here are my tips for serving up delicious iced coffee without having to break a sweat:
� Get ice.
This may seem obvious, but you need ice to help you make iced coffee. If you don�t plan ahead by freezing some cubes, you won�t be able to make iced coffee when you want it. While plain old frozen water will do, I prefer freezing several of my favorite Keurig coffee brews in an ice cube tray. When combined with your freshly brewed coffee, these coffee cubes won�t water the drink down.
� Brew coffee.
Next, brew your favorite coffee variety. While you�re welcome to use a regular drip brewer or instant coffee, I prefer my Keurig single cup coffee maker. To make a cup of coffee in less than a minute, all I have to do is pop one of the K Cup portion packs into the machine and press a button. This allows me to brew multiple cups and different flavors very quickly � which means I can pour the fresh coffee over the coffee cubes and start drinking iced coffee that much sooner!
� Mix things up.
Once you�ve poured your freshly brewed coffee over your frozen coffee cubes, you can either drink it straight or add a splash of your favorite liquor. I recommend the flavors of coconut rum, Irish cream, butterscotch schnapps or cr�me de menthe. If you�re in the mood for extra flavor but don�t want alcohol, try adding a few drops of vanilla or adding some Italian-style flavored syrups.
� Try something different.
If you�d like a more slushy drink, skip the hot coffee. Simply throw a cup of the frozen coffee cubes into a blender and give it a few pulses. Don�t over do it with the blender or you�ll end up with soup. Pour the crushed coffee cubes into a mug and serve with a straw or spoon.
Another fun idea is to create a coffee dessert by freezing your favorite brew in an ice pop mold. If you don�t have an ice pop mold, freeze plastic spoons into the coffee cubes you make in an ice cube tray. Once your coffee pops are frozen solid, remove them from the tray and enjoy. Be careful not to consume your chilled treats too quickly � it might be the first time you get brain freeze from your coffee!
About CoffeeCow
This article was provided by CoffeeCow.com which goes to great lengths to provide the highest quality products, the fastest service, and the deepest discount prices you will find on single cup coffee makers, regular, decaf, and flavored coffee and tea, and a full line of Keurig coffee supplies. Developed by coffee professionals with over 35 years of experience in fulfilling any coffee service need, CoffeeCow offers all the coffee conveniences for your home or office. Visit http://www.coffeecow.com for more information.
This article is copyrighted by CoffeeCow. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be posted on other websites, without the express written permission of the author, who may be contacted via email at coffeecow@digitalbrandexpressions.com.
About The Author
Monday, April 28, 2008
Genetically Modified Maize Vaccine Can Aid Farmers in Developing Nations
Genetically Modified Maize Vaccine Can Aid Farmers in Developing Nations
by Alisa Baumer
In many developing nations around the world, small-scale farmers often rely upon poultry farming solely for their livelihood. Unfortunately, for many of these farmers, this livelihood has been affected by the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), a contagious and fatal viral disease that infects a wide range of both domestic and wild birds, including chickens. NDV also has a devastating effect on commercial poultry production. Since vaccines for poultry are too costly for these farmers who eke out very meager livings, a cost effective solution needed to be developed. Fortunately, researchers in Mexico have done just that.
Researchers in Mexico have been able to genetically modify maize crops to create an edible vaccine for poultry against the Newcastle Disease Virus. The researchers, including Octavio Guerrero-Andrade of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) in Guanajuato, inserted a gene from the Newcastle Disease Virus into the maize crops� DNA. Chickens that ate the genetically modified (GM) maize produced antibodies against the virus. The maize also provided a level of protection against infection comparable to that of commercial vaccines.
The researchers� findings were published online in Transgenic Research earlier this month. They hope these genetically modified maize crops can help small-scale poultry farmers protect their flocks from NDV.
�The disease is important and a big killer,� said Frands Dolberg of the Network for Smallholder Poultry Development, which works with partners in developing countries to promote poultry farming as a way of improving livelihoods.
According to the findings, vaccines against the disease that can be given to poultry through food already exist, but are not usually available in the small quantities that are often required by single families or villages.
�There is a big problem in delivering the vaccine to the many millions of poor poultry keepers around the world, and the genetically modified (GM) maize could be a possibility,� said Frands Dolberg.
Farmers in developing nations struggle every day to make a living against unfavorable conditions. They also struggle to access new technologies that can help better their lives, including getting vital vaccines that can save their poultry farms. With this genetically modified maize that the researchers in Mexico have developed, these needed vaccines will be easily accessible, less costly, and won�t require refrigeration like traditional vaccines do. It will ultimately help save and secure the farmers� futures.
About The Author
Can You Really Buy a Loaf of Bread Over The Internet?
Can You Really Buy a Loaf of Bread Over The Internet?
by Sam Benton
Pick a lifestyle any lifestyle, go ahead, I won't peek! Without knowing who you are or where you live and without knowing another single fact about you, I'm prepared to wager that for you, there just aren't enough hours in the day.
Like almost everyone, you have too much to do and not enough time to do it in. OK, so I'm not psychic and I've picked on a very popular theme that affects, well... almost everyone.
Between your job commitments, your family, and health and lifestyle commitments when exactly do you find time to go to the shops? Whether it's for groceries, for clothes, for the little luxuries that lift your spirits or for the spirits themselves for that matter.
Most of us divide retail therapy into at least two categories: The mundane essentials and the more pleasurable (indulgent) luxuries.
Mundane essentials like groceries and clothing (usually work or school clothes) take a little more effort to shop for and are difficult to get excited about. Shopping for more pleasurable luxuries on the other hand is never a chore and if you're like me, you'll always find the time.
Fortunately we now live in an age when both mundane and pleasurable shopping can both be done from the comfort of your own armchair.
A loaf of bread, a pair of socks, a blouse, a tie, a carton of milk, a school blazer, a torch, an armchair, a lemon cheesecake, a lemon cheesecake maker for that matter, virtually anything you want or desire can be sought and bought with the click of a mouse.
No queues, no heavy lifting, no concern about closing times, no fear of losing the kids and all with a cup of tea and a biscuit, oh and with your feet up!
This may not sound like something you'd like to do on a weekly basis, after all, isn't half the fun of shopping about touching and feeling and trying things on, but if shopping from home from a catalogue or online frees you up to indulge in some serious and enjoyable retail therapy, then it's got to be worth a look hasn't it?
Catalogue and home shopping companies are becoming more and more creative by the week in their ability to offer excellent choice and value for money, while expanding their product ranges and really focusing their efforts on creating an enviable and alternative shopping experience for you and me, the consumer.
Whether you're shopping for the essentials, for pleasure, a loaf of bread or an entire new wardrobe, catalogue, home shopping and the internet are able to provide a solution, and the outlook couldn't be rosier.
As always, Happy Shopping
Copyright (c) 2007 Sam Benton
About The Author
Be among the first to take advantage of some of the best offers, the best brands, from the most respected and innovative names in Catalogue and Home Shopping. For up to 20% off first orders and our pre-sale notification promise,
Click ==> http://www.the-catalogue-site.co.uk
Mangosteen Juice
Mangosteen Juice
by Kerry Ng
Although there is no actual evidence that mangosteen juice is effective as a treatment for cancer, there have been studies done that show that mangosteen juice is incredibly rich in antioxidants. In fact, there have been early research studies done that show it may have promise to help relieve acne, and early small studies in the lab and on rats show that further research should be done in order to find out if it can in fact help with cancer prevention in humans.
It is important to understand at least the basics about mangosteen juice, so that you can truly understand the plentiful benefits that are available in the mangosteen fruit. Such mangosteen juice info includes things like the available nutrients, how the juice is beneficial, and where the mangosteen fruit derives from. In all actuality, mangosteen juice is a tropical juice beverage that is made by the liquefying of the seeds, rind and flesh of the mangosteen fruit. All mangosteen juice info should also include the fact of what the mangosteen fruit actually is. Mangosteen is a fruit that is about the size of an apple, with an incredibly thick rind and an interior snow-white colored fruit.
No studies have been able to prove that drinking mangosteen juice on a daily basis would offer any significant improvement in illness. However, research does show that increasing one�s dosage of mangosteen has been proven to boost your absorption of vitamins, therefore strengthening your overall immunity.
Mangosteen juice has been used for centuries as a folk remedy, especially in places around the fruit�s native countries, such as Thailand. The mangosteen fruit has been widely acclaimed of having the qualities of an anti-histamine, anti-aging ointment, antibiotic, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory. Besides this, it has been shown to help certain medical issues, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, immune deficiency, and even fibromyalgia.
Mangosteen extract has also been generally accepted as being useful in the treatment of arthritis, acid dyspepsia, moderate asthma, otitis externa and eczema. It is considered to be at least as effective and helpful as most pharmacological agents, and diabetics especially are increasingly in favor of its use. Many diabetic users report the use of mangosteen has decreasing their need for insulin dramatically. Thus, the mangosteen is a fruit with some potentially amazing health benefits.
About The Author
Permanence of Paper
Permanence of Paper
by Joe Zicherman
Historically, most of society�s writings and visual images have been recorded on paper. However, paper is an organic material and is subject to deterioration caused by chemical, physical and biological agents. While documents on paper several hundreds of years old have endured, most paper manufactured in the last two hundred years has a limited storage life due primarily to acidity induced as part of paper manufacturing processes used during that time period. Exposure to acidic air pollutants also contributes to paper degradation.
Chemically this degradation is a result of acid hydrolysis of the cellulose polymers which are themselves responsible for the intrinsic strength found in paper sheets. The hydrolysis reaction are also autocatalytic since they produce additional acid products which themselves further increase paper acidity and accelerate degradation occurring.
Since untreated paper is too absorbent for the application of inks, hydrophobic fillers also called sizings are added to paper surfaces as part of the manufacturing process which can also have an impact on paper permanence. Sizing impacts absorption of liquids to prevent feathering of inks and dyes and to provide a crisp image.
Paper made before the 19th century was often made by hand from linen and cotton rag materials which are excellent sources of high cellulose, long fibers. Gelatin, from animal hides, was used to size such papers and because the resulting papers were neutral to only slightly alkaline they had very good storage properties. The paper machine appeared at the end of the 18th century, and as the demand for paper outpaced sources of available gelatin, cotton rags and linen, wood fiber took the place of cotton and linen. However, wood has shorter fibers and lower cellulose content along with lignin so that chemical methods had to be developed to free fibers from wood and other plant matter to supply the increasing amounts of paper furnish needed. Mechanical action [�beating�] to soften and bleaching to whiten these new materials yielded pulps that could be laid down by machine as a sheet with subsequent drying to form paper.
Gelatin was replaced in the early 1800s with rosin which was mainly abietic acid isolated from pine resin. Alum (papermaker�s alum or aluminum sulfate) was used to precipitate the rosin onto paper forming an alum/rosin sizing. Aluminum sulfate reacts with water - and produces sulfuric acid � and production of paper on the paper machine demanded additional alum, so papermakers often used the salt in excess. The industrial revolution added outside factors such as air pollution and acidic oxides of nitrogen or sulfur and ozone to the environment. Early bleaching processes using chlorine and hypochlorites, strong oxidizers, also degraded the cellulose and reduced its strength. All of these led to diminution of paper properties. Fortunately, bleaching processes have totally significantly over the past few decades and the chlorination and hypochlorite steps are no longer used resulting in less damage is done to resulting fiber.
The strength of paper results from a combination of factors. The most important is the condition of cellulose, in particular chain length. Cellulose is made up of repeating units of glucose monomers and the number of glucose units present provides a measure of degree of polymerization (DP). In native cellulose from wood DP is about 10,000. Depending on the nature of the pulping and bleaching, the DP of processed cellulose falls to a range of 600 � 1100.
After this reduction the paper fibers are still quite strong, but fiber strength is highly dependent upon retaining this DP and acids break cellulose bonds randomly often cutting the cellulose polymer in central regions. These attacks drastically reduce the DP of cellulose and quickly weaken the fibers. Alkalis also attack cellulose, but by a different mechanism, in which only end units are removed (end peeling) so that alkaline degradation has much less effect on reducing DP (Bristow and Kolseth, 1986)
Some low quality papers such as groundwood for newsprint also contain high amounts of lignin.
Lignin contains phenolic entities sensitive to light which develop chromophores or conjugated double bonds in the chemical structure which can absorb light in the visible range. This makes paper containing high amounts of lignin very prone to discoloration or yellowing. While there is no doubt that lignin in paper contributes to its discoloration, there is little evidence to show that paper containing lignin loses strength faster than paper of similar quality without lignin (Luner, 1988). However, standard specifications for durable paper allow no more than 1% lignin, for papers used in archives, libraries, and other permanent records.
In addition to the acid nature inherent in paper and the exposure to acidic air pollutants, it is now known that exposure of stable or acid free paper to acidic books and papers � as in a library or archive � will lead to deterioration of such seemingly stable documents stored within the same collections (Smith, 1999). Other threats to permanence include those from water and fire damage, theft, and vandalism or biological agents. These are problems while not inherently present with paper materials have been addressed in depth by the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NDCC, 1999).
Because of its importance to society, the permanence of paper is addressed in a significant and growing literature much of which has been generated by the community of archivists and librarians.
About The Author
Get all Required Protection with Cheap Home Insurance Quote UK
Get all Required Protection with Cheap Home Insurance Quote UK
by Henry Bell
Home insurance in UK provides a sense of security in you that your home is safe. If you wish to buy a home insurance in UK then the cheap home insurance quote available in UK can be of prime need for you.
Although home insurance can be quite expensive depending upon the value of your home but if you want to get home insurance quote in UK at cheap rate then you will have to keep some factors in your mind. Cheap home insurance quote in UK is purchased by people for saving their home against any loss or disaster which might be beyond their capacity to bear in the happening of any event. Home insurance quote in UK is generally given by insurance companies at cheap rate depending upon some facts like the deductibles paid and safety measures installed in your home. If you are residing in a home which is near to the fire station and police station then insurance provider will prefer to offer cheap home insurance quote in UK because it reduces the risk of danger from theft. Payment of higher deductibles can also make you available the cheap home insurance quote in UK.
Quote for cheap home insurance in UK gives protection to your home in case of calamities like hurricane, earthquake, and any other sudden natural disaster which might cause unbearable losses and damages to your home. Even sometimes incidents like riots, vandalism, and malice acts can be very disastrous for your home. So instead of living in danger it is better if you take some home insurance policy after studying well the home insurance quotes at cheap rate.
Another way of getting cheap home insurance quote in UK is to take your home insurance from the same insurance provider from whom you have taken your any other insurance policy. In this way you can not only get cheap home insurance quote in UK but might also get discount with your policy.
Insurance providers in UK provides quote for cheap home insurance on the internet. Online availability of cheap home insurance quote in UK has removed your tension to search about the best policy of home insurance. Insurance companies will provide you all the information online which you might need when buying a cheap home insurance quote in UK. Hence in UK internet is the best mode of searching about the cheap home insurance quote. From innumerable online quote for cheap home insurance in UK you can compare and choose the best one for yourself.
About The Author
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Forex: The Keep It Simple Stupid Guide
Forex: The Keep It Simple Stupid Guide
by Jim Wilson
A wonderful way to diversify your investment portfolio is to learn forex trading. Many new investors have discovered the world of foreign exchange trading to be an exciting new challenge. One that is filled with rewards that are beyond what they were achieving as stock traders. Currency forex trading is a great way to branch out into new investments. Experience a completely new world of investing by stepping outside of the chaotic domestic economy.
The unique thing about the forex market is that it never closes, if you feel like trading at 2am it's not a problem. Unlike with other markets, such as the stock exchange, you can continue dealing with the currency trading market without worries over it closing at the end of the day. Websites give you 24-hour access to monitor what has been happening in the world currency markets at anytime. Through these sites you are able to learn all the basics about the market.
The websites will include tools and tips to guide you through the beginning steps of trading. This is a clear advantage because you can hone your trading skills before laying down your own money in the market.
When you think of it, the forex firms are training you to become skilled at trading for free by providing guidance, demos and news at no additonal cost. In a short while you will start feeling confident in trading and investing in forex. It only takes about $300 to start getting some good returns.
Learning forex does not require that you have a degree in economics or that you study the markets for years. The forex trading websites have made it easier for you to become successful. Forex brokers will give you access to the market for your currency trading.
Just like stock brokers, they can provide you accurate information and advice on how to deal with Forex trading strategies. Advice includes all the aspects of the Forex trading market which extends to research approaches and technical analysis to improve the member�s trading performance. Naturally, because this market has apparently been providing a great return on investment, large financial institutions have been proactively monopolizing the market.
However, with the trading firms, small-time individuals also have the opportunity to earn money through Forex trading brokers. As I mentioned earlier, the online firms have been providing powerful website tools to become familiar with the whole idea of the currency market.
Your choice of Forex trading broker will largely depend on your need in the trading market. Many brokerage sites will provide trading simulators and expert advice as well as research and analysis designed for first time traders. Furthermore, these websites typically provide experienced online Forex traders who offer in-depth advice to forex traders of all levels. All of these tools are available to beginners to try out.
You really can earn money by taking the time to learn forex trading. The availability of investment simulators and 24-hour customer support enables new investors to learn quickly. Not only can you be trading in no time, you will also be showing a tidy profit. Start researching forex trading. You might be shocked to see how many large companies are involved.
About The Author
Food Gift Baskets Deliver in a Crunch
Food Gift Baskets Deliver in a Crunch
by Brian Connors
The inescapable boundaries of time can leave us in a quandary. The unpredictable pathway of life oft times leads us into situations during which the luxury of time is no longer our ally. One of these situations is gift-giving time to show our love, appreciation, and overall good fellowship towards someone who has made a difference in our lives.
What is a sure and certain path of least resistance that we can depend on to lead us in the right gift shopping direction? The answer is food gift baskets which can get the job done and with time to spare! How can this strategy work with the clock ticking away mercilessly before the celebration due date arrives?
Go to a respectable gift basket website online that offers a wide selection of merchandise. There you will find many themes to choose from that could hit the ol� bulls-eye regarding your desire to send the precise message that you wish. What are some of the food gift basket themes that the lucky beneficiary can identify with?
These treasures in a basket can say congrats for a new baby, happy birthday, get-well soon as well as a tasty way to express your thanks. They can display the aura of gourmet food, romance, sports, a relaxing spa, and the joys of gardening. The options are these and more to positively stir the emotions of the ones that you want to send a message to.
Found just the right food gift basket that your friend would find highly appealing? Good! Now all that you have to do is take about 5 - 10 minutes to fill-out online the necessary information needed to get the gift sent to the person intended by the time that you wish it delivered. Safely give your credit card info and it�s bada-bing, bada-boom over and done with. No tortuous mall shopping is needed with the crowds competing for parking space. Is this not a good thing?
Who doesn�t love food? Who doesn�t love a gift? Who doesn�t love baskets full of treats that make their life a bit more enjoyable? These add up to make perfect sense that food gift baskets are excellent ways to send your emotions. The added extra is that they can also spare you the emotion of traditional shopping anxiety!
About The Author
Birthday Speeches - Ten Top Tips on What to Say or Do
Birthday Speeches - Ten Top Tips on What to Say or Do
by Niamh Crowe
1. Always welcome the guests in your speech if it is your own birthday.
2. Say how happy you are to be there, if you are a guest at the birthday party. If you are a family member say how great it is to see everyone gathered together for such a special occasion..
3. Thank whoever is responsible for organising the birthday party saying how much you are enjoying the lovely food and the marvellous atmosphere.
4. Talk about what a birthday means. Depending on which one it is, you could find a poem or a quotation that sums up how you feel. If it is a special one such as a 21st there is even more reason to celebrate so start searching for that appropriate phrase that will stand out in the birthday speech.
5. Speak of the celebrant�s attributes. Say he/she has always been a great friend, a marvellous listener or the soul of hospitality. Say what he or she means to you as a family member, friend or neighbour.
6. Add a bit of humor to the birthday speech. E.G. If everyone knows the birthday boy or girl cannot sing in tune announce that as a special treat you have organised a recording session for him/her.
7. Speak about his/her foibles like needing Times Square to park the car or his/her inability to get anywhere on time.
8. Be diplomatic in what you say. There are things people won�t want mentioned in a birthday speech. Mention of alcohol or drug habits are not a good idea. It is probably safer too to avoid mention of politics, as there will undoubtedly be different loyalties amongst the guests.
9. Talk of his/her skills or talents. It�s nice to praise the celebrant for what he/she does with those talents. So if you love dancing with him/her say so. If you enjoy playing golf because he or she is so entertaining say that too. If he/she does wonderful work for the underprivileged it�s good to say nice things.
10. Mention what the birthday boy or girl means in your life. If he is a husband or she is a friend say how they have enriched your life in so many different ways. Then add how much the guests think of him/her.
11. Your birthday speech should always end on a positive note. Be positive in your speech. Talk about the future and all the good things you wish for the celebrant in the days ahead. Above all your birthday speech should leave him/her with happy memories.
About The Author
Copyright
Niamh Crowe
Copyright Speechwriters 1994-2007
marketing@speech-writers.com
http://www.speech-writers.com/birthdays_speeches.htm
Tel. +353 1 8333599
Buffalo Meat - A Cut Above The Rest
Buffalo Meat - A Cut Above The Rest
by Mike Sullivan
For many people, nothing could be more stressful than being a meat lover and be prescribed a low-calorie diet. Meat and low calories are self-contradictory, that�s the common perception. People who are trying to find a low-calorie meat that could replace the kind they are used to eating would do well to consider buffalo meat.
There are many Western-themed restaurants that offer buffalo (also known as American bison) dishes. Ted�s Montana Grill, co-founded by media mogul Ted Turner, which specializes in hand-cut beef and bison steaks, has locations in sixteen states. The Buffalo Bistro and Buffalo Grill in Utah�s Zion National Park are popular tourist attractions. Customers at such restaurants can anticipate being presented with specialties like roasted buffalo or grilled buffalo with a small serving of mashed potato, buffalo burger type served like Salisbury steak with French fries on the sides, regular buffalo steak with a generous serving of raw onion toppings, and even stewed buffalo served with a large mixture of green vegetables in it.
Roasted buffalo meat is especially popular, especially in its almost-raw form. Unlike meat from other animals, bison meat requires very little seasoning to bring out its naturally juicy and finger-licking flavor. A simple preparation technique would be to score the meat only on the surface and dab it with a little salt, a little pepper and olive oil, and it�s ready for cooking. One of the advantages that buffalo meat holds over regular beef is that it takes a shorter time to cook. Just sear both sides to lock in the flavor and you�re done!
Buffalo meat is the only meat with the 3 Ts - Texture, Tenderness and Taste. The flavor is sweeter, and it is lighter and less greasy than other kinds of meat I was used to, such as cow beef or pork or chicken. Also, buffalo meat does not need any tangy gravy to bring out its naturally good flavor; that is important because gravy for meat is usually heavy on calories.
There are some interesting healthful statistics about how, in many ways, buffalo meat is more nutritious than other kinds of animals� meat. It has around 70%-90% less fat than beef, and around 50% less cholesterol. Since it doesn�t have all those harmful fats, it has more protein, iron, amino acids and omega nutrients that a number of people are prescribed to take in the form of tasteless fish and raw vegetables. It is also eminently suitable for persons on a low-carbohydrate diet. A four-ounce serving contains no carbs, 11 grams of protein and three percent of total fat.
And the fat it contains is of the good kind, a monounsaturated fat known as omega-3 fatty acids. Adequate intake of this kind of fat has been scientifically proven to prevent heart disease and promote overall cardiovascular health. In fact, buffalo meat has been endorsed by the American Heart Association and prescribed by physicians for patients on a low-fat, low-calorie diet.
Buffaloes are grown in their natural elements in the open fields and are not given any chemical feeds or antibiotics or artificial growth hormones which are suspected of causing cancer. Since buffaloes are fed only natural grains and green grass, they have a natural strong resistance to diseases and their meat is not tainted with any harmful chemicals. In many ways, the meat of the buffalo, which feeds on nature�s grain and grass, has been graded to be far more excellent than cow, dog or chicken meat.
Today, we can enjoy buffalo steaks, soups, stews, and burgers either in restaurants or at home. Buffalo meat is conveniently available in most supermarkets and is offered by many websites. It�s a hearty, healthy, delicious, and convenient way to enjoy meat.
About The Author
How Safe Is Your Computer ?
How Safe Is Your Computer ?
by Arvind Singh
Your computer can be open to attack from different types of spyware. Spyware constitutes those programs that are deliberately lodged in your computer without your approval or knowledge. The only way to escape spyware or at least minimize its effects is to install antispyware software on your pc.
If you surf the web, you can be sure that you face the ongoing risk of spyware or adware. It is time you updated your antispyware programs to keep your PC healthy. But first let us briefly examine the most common types of spyware.
Gone are the days when viruses were expected only via our email. Now we don't even have to click a link to be infected. All we have to do is browse the Internet, and it's an open invitation to spyware. Spyware constitutes those programs that are deliberately lodged in your computer without your approval or knowledge. You can never live without spyware and adware protection.
Types Of Spyware
Adware is the worst form of spyware. These programs lay in wait for you to connect to the Internet and then they send you popups that give you all kinds of offers. And while you are thinking how considerate those websites are, these fake popups are actually recording your viewing habits and smuggling them off to marketing companies who sell you junk.
Another irritating form of spyware is the browser hijacker. After installing themselves on your PC, they just change your default homepage and search engine. When you start your web browser, you'll find that you are flooded with ads, porn and other stuff you don't want. The scary part of this is that they mine data - which means they report your surfing habits to someone who uses the information unethically.
Keyboard loggers are thieves who steal your PIN number when you bank online. They get your passwords. This means, without spyware protection, your personal information and assets can be stolen. Then there are Diallers that enter your PC through a virus infection, adult websites, warez, or even MP3s. A dialler is software that dials numbers at premium rates when you are not around and you end up with bills for thousands of dollars.
If you use file-sharing programs, while installing it, spyware also gets installed, unless you read your end user agreements carefully or have antispyware software installed to keep these Trojans away. Imagine having every keystroke recorded, and your private instant messages, emails and other conversations being logged and reported elsewhere without you knowing about it! No - not the best situation to be in! So, never be without spyware protection.
Is There Freedom From Spyware?
The only way to escape spyware or at least minimize its effects is to install antispyware software on your pc. Some programs just remove the spyware but cannot prevent new spyware from coming into your pc. Get firewall software, if you use broadband or high-speed connections. Avoid clicking on links that promise you free movies, prizes, free software etc. Update your antispyware program and scan your PC regularly.
About The Author
To know about the Registry Cleaner visit at: http://www.pcmantra.com/registry-cleaner.htm
Know more about Registry Cleaner?
Read Articles at : http://www.pcmantra.com/RegistryCleanerResource.aspx
Wine Classes: When School Gets Cool
Wine Classes: When School Gets Cool
by Jennifer Marie Jordan
When most people think of school, they are usually transported back to their elementary school days, a time of crayons, grumpy cafeteria ladies, and tennis shoes filled with playground gravel. Because they are taken back to a time of youth, people don�t usually think that �school� and �wine� belong in the same sentence; the school board would have had a fit the instance cartons of chocolate milk were replaced with bottles of Pinot Noir.
However, in adulthood wine and school often go together, merging with each other in the form of a wine class. A wine class, despite what some people may think, isn�t merely a class where students read the Grapes of Wrath or A Raisin in the Sun. Instead, a wine class teaches its students about wine tasting, wine clubs, wine glasses, wine openers, wine corks, and just about every wine related subject on the vine.
Why Take a Wine Class
From the newest novice to the ripest connoisseur, wine classes offer all sorts of things. For beginners, wine classes teach people how to truly taste wine, savoring its aroma and intricacies. This wine tasting helps novices to learn their preferences, get to know the vintages they really like, and allows them to identify the differences in wine, arming them with the ability to provide evaluation.
For the connoisseur, there is always more wine knowledge to obtain, no matter how much is already known. This is because wine contains so much information. From learning about the variety of wine glasses to learning about the differences in wine corks, the most accomplished wine drinker will still benefit from a class. When it comes to wine, the knowledge is nearly bottomless.
Wine classes also provides an outlet for people with commonalities to get together, discussing their hopes, their dreams, their Merlots. The classes are fun, lacking the monotony of reading a book or watching a film, and give the learner more hands on learning, a chance to grab the grape by the vine.
What Happens During a Wine Class
On the first day of a wine class, people may understandably feel nervous, they might not know anyone or be worried that they have forgotten their corkscrew. But, of all the classes known to ever fill a schoolroom, wine classes are among the neatest to take. Trigonometry has nothing on �em.
The syllabus of a wine class will differ from class to class and level to level. Overall, however, classes touch on a variety of topics. Some of the lessons include the basics of wine tasting, how to recognize specific flavors, how to compare wines, wine history, reading a wine label, navigating a wine store, at-home wine tasting, compiling a wine tasting kit, the differences of wine regions, using wine vocabulary, pairing food and wine, wine openers, wine corks, and ordering wine in a restaurant. Many of the courses include several in-class wine tastings as well as a few bottles for practicing at home.
Different Types of Wine Classes
Wine classes, like wine itself, come in all shapes and sizes. There are classes aimed at teaching people the specifics of wine glasses and there are classes that focus only on pairing wines with desserts. Some classes only offer instruction on tasting Italian wine, while some are focused on the tasting of wines from Australia. Certain classes may instruct a person how to purchase wine, while others may focus on the variety of wine openers.
While there are a variety of wine classes offered all over the world, some people may not be able to locate one near them. Others, wanting to get a leg up on other students by doing extra �homework,� may simply be better off not driving. For these folks, online classes are offered. While these don�t allow for the interaction of physical wine classes, they are the next best thing. Some people, wanting to study independently or go at their own pace, may even prefer online classes to others.
The length of the wine class, as well as the cost, can drastically vary. Some classes are only a few hours long and cost around 40 dollars while other classes can last for several weeks and cost a few hundred dollars. Many of the classes have access to study materials online and offer, upon completion, certificates and diplomas (to frame and hang from the wall of your wine cellar).
Wine classes are a great, easy, and quick way to learn about wine. They allow you to go from novice to connoisseur in no time at all, arming you with the knowledge to impress friends, family, and yourself. Along these lines, they are also fun and enjoyable; while a pottery class takes a field trip to an art store, you may find your wine class taking a field trip to Napa Valley.
About The Author
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Engage in a Constructive Debate About Genetically Modified Crops
Engage in a Constructive Debate About Genetically Modified Crops
by James Wachai
Richard Heinberg, famous for his rantings against Big Oil, in October delivered a lecture at the E. F. Schumacher Society in Stockbridge, Massachusetts on October 28, 2006.
The abbreviated text of the lecture entitled �Fifty Million Farmers,� is available in the online edition of Energy Bulletin November 17, 2006.
In the lecture, Mr. Heinberg forecasted that prolonged famine looms in the United States due to, among other factors, the effects of global warming, shortage of fuel, and increasing scarcity of water.
Even agricultural technologies such as genetic engineering, according to Mr. Heinberg, would do nothing to alleviate food shortage in the U.S.
This is what he said about genetically modified crops. �Our collective experience with genetically modifying crops so far shows that glowing promises of higher yields, or of the reduced need for herbicides, have seldom been fulfilled.�
He went on, �At the same time, new genetic technologies carry with them the potential for horrific unintended consequences in the forms of negative impacts on human health and the integrity of ecosystems.�
Mr. Heinberg�s rantings about GM crops sound like a comic strip. First what does he mean by �Our collective experience with genetically modified crops�?� Whose collective experience is he referring to? His �Our collective experience�� is null and void considering that 200 million acres of genetically modified crops are being grown in more than 21 countries.
It�s even more misleading for Mr. Heinberg to say that new genetic technologies pose �horrific� threats to human health. This is mere sensationalism because he doesn�t even bother to identify these �horrific threats.�
Mr. Heinberg�s lecture reminds me of a video clip in YouTube that equally attempts to discredit genetically modified crops without any scientific justification. Entitled �Contaminated� the video, as is the habit of anti-technology activists, dwells on hearsays and lies about modern agricultural biotechnology. What do people stand to gain from distorting scientific facts?
It�s time the world resorts to a civil discourse about GM crops. Let�s dwell on the science behind genetically modified crops rather than half-baked issues only tailored to instill fear and despondence in consumers.
About The Author
How Much Debt is Too Much?
How Much Debt is Too Much?
by Jo Ann LeQuang
People have a certain threshold or tolerance for debt. Most of us can tolerate a little bit of debt. How much debt is all right? And when are you in over your head?
Most of the time, the decision that you have "too much debt" is made emotionally. That is, you have too much debt when you feel you have too much debt.
So why do some people panic over small debts but others sleep like babies even when they owe tens of thousands?
The answer is that people have an emotional sense of how much debt is acceptable. The danger is that this personal gauge is highly unreliable. You may have gotten it from your family situation, past experiences, or what you saw on TV or in the movies. Your debt style also involves your own maturity level and self control.
We also have an emotional response to what is unacceptable, which is sometimes called "hitting rock bottom." For some people, hitting rock bottom is having a car repossessed. For others, the repo man was a familiar character from childhood.
Hitting rock bottom may be the day you cannot make minimum payments, the day you lie to a spouse about an overdue bill, or the threat of impending homelessness. In other words, the emotional response and not the event itself is what defines a "hitting rock bottom" moment. One man's rock bottom is another man's standard of living.
So when is debt too much debt? On a purely emotional level, many people hit "rock bottom" when the first calls from bill collectors start to come.
Getting hounded by a professional bill collector is tough. Some people cope, but others find it embarrassing, humiliating, and shameful. For some people, it may take an intervention of friends or family members to drive home the point that the debt is getting out of control. Others may wait till they are evicted or sued.
So how much is too much debt?
First, it's not a question you should answer emotionally. Most entrepreneurs have nerves of steel when it comes to debt and financial risk taking, but most of them do not carry a lot of personal debt. So the amount of debt you can tolerate emotionally is not the governing factor; in fact, it should not even be taken into account.
Debt is financial and the only way to evaluate financial things is to look at the big financial picture.
Your financial report card is something called your "net worth." You can do a reasonably good snapshot of your own net worth without hiring an accountant or doing a bunch of fancy stuff. Just write down all of the money you owe. If you have credit cards, list all the balances. If you have loans, list all of them. If you have a mortgage, add that. Take all of these debts (the accountants would call these "liabilities") and add them together.
Now take everything you own. This includes the contents of any bank or investment accounts you have, your retirement account, stock portfolios, and so on. If you own a house (even if it's mortgaged), add the fair market value of the house. If you have vehicles (cars, boats) add them in. It is fair to add in the value of your furniture, electronics, and clothing, but be very conservative. It may have cost you thousands to build the wardrobe hanging in your closet, but it's doubtful you could convert it to very much cash. Don't count what you spent, count what you could get if you had to sell it today. Add everything together to get what accountants call your "assets."
Now subtract liabilities (what you owe) from your assets (what you own), and you have your net worth.
I hate to disillusion you, but the number should be positive. And it should be thousands.
There are some reasons for a low net worth. For those who are just starting out or those just starting over, your net worth may be low because you have not had chance to amass any assets. You may have just gone through a major medical disaster or other catastrophe. The other reason your net worth may be low is a lot of debt.
Now look at your income and your monthly bills. Don't worry about total debt here, just look at what you spend each month versus what you bring in. Take some pencil and paper time here. Does your out-go exceed your income? That's a debt-making machine. Until you turn this around, you're going to keep your debt growing which, in turn, will keep your net worth negative.
If you can't make minimum payments, if you are adding to your debt each month, or if you are really unsure of your financial states, you are probably in need of some financial help.
Certified credit counselors can help and there are lots of excellent books and programs on the market aimed at getting you debt-free. There are even free resources. For instance, your local banker can probably help you come up with a financial plan to manage your debt, including things like debt consolidation.
If you're wondering if you have too much debt, you probably do. One of the great financial secrets of the truly wealthy is this: no debt. It's possible for even ordinary people to live debt free.
The bill collector or the repo-man are not the first signs of debt problems; they are really symptoms of a prolonged period of too much debt. When the warning signals come, even if we are not rattled by them, we should take firm steps to dig ourselves out of debt. The difference between too much debt and being destroyed by debt are just a few missteps.
About The Author
Friday, April 25, 2008
Washing Wine Glasses: From a Chore to an Art Form
Washing Wine Glasses: From a Chore to an Art Form
by Jennifer Marie Jordan
No one is particularly fond of washing dishes, with many people reserving it for times when the tower of dirty dishes in the kitchen sink begins to resemble the Tower of Pisa. But, for those who have a collection of wine glasses, particularly crystal wine glasses, washing dishes correctly becomes essential in preserving the glasses ability to fully do their job.
Non-Crystal Wine Glasses
Non-crystal wine glasses are not as high maintenance as crystal wine glasses, but they still require a certain know how, knowledge on what to do for everything from using dish soap to removing a rabid wine stain that, no matter how much you yourself whine, will not come out.
Just Add Water: A simple method in wine glasses is to just add water. Rinsing the wine glasses three or four times in hot water should be enough to remove all residual wine. And, placing the wine glasses upside down on a clean cloth, when finished, will help the wine glasses in their quest to air dry.
A Touch of Soap: Adding just a drop of soap can help remove a wine glass with a stubborn wine residue. The soap used should be very mild, and the cloth used for scrubbing should be soft and sponge-like. Be sure you rinse all the soap from the glass; if the tiniest amount remains, you may find that your next glass of Merlot is as sudsy as a bottle of beer.
Use the Dishwasher: While it may seem like the modern day dishwasher is a place where wine glasses go to die, those that are not made of crystal and do not possess long stems can actually be washed in this manner. But, if you wash wine glasses in technology, don�t use very much detergent and don�t allow the dishes to be dried by heat; as soon as the dishwasher is finished rinsing, remove the wineglasses and dry them by hand.
Crystal Wine Glasses
Crystal Wine Glasses are definitely the most elegant of glasses and they know it, standing tall and acting as if they are the Holy Grail. Because of this, they require a lot of tender loving care and they need more attention than other types of dinnerware. If they don�t receive it, they will likely rebel, forfeiting their ability to enhance the taste of wine, ruining it in the process.
Crystal is porous and can absorb flavors � particularly soapy flavors � with relative ease. If this absorption happens, you might have a clean wine glass, but you will also have a wine glass that alters the flavor of your wine, adding in a dollop of detergent.
Use Washing Soda: Washing soda � and baking soda works too, but not as well � is a type of cleaning soda that is designed for use on glass in a gentle, but complete, manner. It is made to be a cleaner that won�t be absorbed by crystal. Most grocery stores sell it in the detergent aisle.
Use the Force of Lukewarm Water: Like non-crystal wine glasses, crystal wine glasses can be washed simply with water. Making sure the water is lukewarm in temperature, rinse the wine glass repeatedly. If the wine won�t come out, add just a drop of very mild detergent and gently wash with a soft cloth. Never use a steel or a wool pad, your crystal wine glasses will never speak to you again.
Don�t Use the Dishwasher: While the Maytag man would probably assert that dishwashers are safe enough for crystal wineglasses, the truth of the matter is the dishwasher can ruin the wine glass one of two ways. While one of these ways simply involves placing your wine glass in the dishwasher, allowing it to run, and then opening it up only to find that your one crystal wine glass is now several pieces of crystal wine glass, the other way a dishwasher can ruin it is by allowing detergent to bake into the crystal. This baking causes the wine glass to cloud, ruining it and refuting the old �crystal clear� saying.
Place Over Boiling Water: The experts at the Riedel Wine Glass Company suggest that to make your crystal wine glass really shine, hold the glass over a pot of boiling water, allowing the steam to cover it. Once this �steam bath� is finished, simply dry the wine glasses with a linen towel.
Taking care of dinnerware can be no fun: the easily aggravated wine drinker may simply refuse to give their dinnerware proper care, telling their wine collection to kiss their glass. But, taking proper care of wine glasses is elemental in making sure the wine glasses hold their ability to add to wine�s elegance, never losing their edge and beating a regular old cup by a stem.
About The Author
How To Win As A Home Seller In A Buyers Market
How To Win As A Home Seller In A Buyers Market
by Robert Earl The Earl of Real Estate
So an opportunity has arisen that you must act upon sooner, rather than later. And even though you know that it is a Buyers' Market, you have to sell you home and you have to sell it fast. Waiting is not an option for you. You need your property to sell, no matter what the market conditions.
The first one to sell, WINS in a Buyers' Market. Put yourself in the shoes of the Buyer. Looking at it like a buyer, If you knew that your area was in a Buyer Market, and you knew that the last property sold for $450,000 & that prices had been dropping with each new sale. Then would you as the buyer, offer more or less than $450,000 for the next home that came on the market? It would be hard to come up with a situation where the answer would be more. With this being the case, being the next one to sell would be better than being the second one to sell, wouldn't it? If you were the one at $450,000 you make more than the next one & so on & so on.
Calculate your holding cost: Most sellers look at the one shear number of how much less they are going to list for as compared to the home that sold 2 years ago or the last property that sold prior to your listing without taking into account something called the waiting cost. Holding cost normally includes the Principal, Interest, Taxes & Insurance that would be outlayed plus any Condominium or Home Owners Association dues. Add to this the amount that property values are declining in value on a monthly basis. Then ask yourself is it better to hold or wait or is it better to take the "hit" up front, rather than prolonging the issue.
The most amount of buyers you will get to consider your property will be in the first 30 days - Ride the Wave: A buyers' market does not allow a seller to try to price a property high hoping to leave room to negotiate in the future or to lower the price in the future and still get the top dollar the market will initially bear. The time to price the property correctly & have it in the best condition is right away. The greatest number of prospective buyers will be coming through your property in the 1st 30 days and most of these will categorize your property as overpriced & move on to another property if it is not correct when they first see it. It is very important that you determine your Northern Virginia Condo & House Values (http://www.theearlofrealestate.net/selling_how_much_your_home_is_worth.aspx) correctly.
The Silver Lining to selling a condo in Northern Virginia (http://www.theearlofrealestate.net/Condos.aspx) during in a Buyers Market is when you are trading up. Sure, you are not getting as much as you wanted on your existing property, but you will be paying the same percentage less in a trade up situation. And the same % of a larger number means you are saving more money than you "lost" on your current property.
Remember, In a Buyers Market, marked by declining prices, each month you wait to sell results in less money you will get at closing.
About The Author
family
family
by Shawn Capell
Those of us who work in the home construction and design industry tend to forget how many little things there are that go into the creation of a new home or a redesign. There are design elements that have to be decided upon, from the big picture such as the overall architectural style of the home, down to the simplest things such as the type of kitchen hardware or the balusters for the staircase or deck. Recently in helping some new friends with their home project I was reminded how much there is to take into consideration in even just one area as basic as staircase design.
�Who would have known when we began designing our dream house just how many little details we would have to decide on? Did you know we spent an entire week just looking at balusters, banisters, treads and newels? I had no idea what any of these even were before we started all of this � except that my grandmother used to let us slide down the banister at her home when we were very small. But growing up in a California ranch style house all on one level, stairs were somewhat novel to me. I really had no idea of everything that goes into putting together a staircase - there is practically a new language to be learned! What exactly did we want? What kind of treads? Iron balusters? Wooden newels? It was all overwhelming.� And after listening to them for a bit longer, I understood what they meant, even I felt exhausted just from their recounting all that they�d been going through before coming to see me.
So after reminding them that this process was something they had dreamed about for years and it was something they were supposed to be enjoying as much as possible and having fun with it, they relaxed a bit and listened to my suggestions of how to proceed encouraging them to consider three easy tips that anyone taking on a home project, big or small can use.
Concentrate on one area at a time � Whether you�re starting from the very beginning with having to determine what style of architecture you want for your home or deciding on a particular element, such as my area of focus, staircase design, concentrate on that one area and work through the possibilities. With staircase design, this might mean first learning about all the different things you�ll even need to decide about. What exactly is a newel or a balustrade? Then you can get a bit more specific - what types of treads are characteristic for the architectural style we�ve chosen? Would iron balusters compliment the area of the home the staircase will lead to and from? Although you will be thinking about and focusing on one area in particular, thinking contextually about how this one area fits in with the rest of the home will not only help you to make good decisions, but will also help you uncover other questions to be addressed. The key though is to note those down and come back to them. Remember, one area at a time to keep from going into overwhelm.
Search out pictures of what you like and even what you don�t - This is a great way to help your through your decision making process. Head to the library or a bookstore and spend some time going through magazines and books until you find something that you really like. It�s again important to keep your focus narrow � look only at staircases and their elements in one sitting - don�t let yourself get distracted by chandeliers you like. If you see something you want to come back to, make a note of it so you won�t forget. Looking at particular elements in use is another option. Grab your digital camera and go look at buildings that might have iron balusters if you�re considering them or the particular type of handrails you loved the sample of but would like to see in an actual home setting. Oftentimes, vendors or builders can help you with referrals of where their work or products can be seen. Gather up all of your pictures to not only help you to solidify your vision, but to help to explain what you really want to your architects and home designers � as well as examples of what you absolutely do not want so that they really can get a visual sense of your style.
Remember your budget, but make decisions that you can live with for the years to come � Sometimes your budget as well as home size will decide from the get go for you if certain elements are not to be considered. For example, that grand balcony and sweeping staircase you saw in that Mediterranean estate on your honeymoon simply won�t work or be cost effective if you�re building a 1600 square foot 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. You�ll not only use up too much of your floor space if you go that direction, but lots of your budget as well. But that�s not to say that with a little creativity and inspiration that you can�t capture the same feel of what you loved about it and bring it to your home. The large antique hand-carved iron scroll work you admired can be emulated with today�s iron or aluminum balusters and accent pieces scaled to fit your particular staircase and home. And with the ability to shop online now for virtually any product for your home, you will also be able to find options to fit within your budget. The important thing is to capture the essence of the design style you like, even if initially it seems out of reach, so that you will enjoy living with your choices for years to come � and ideally stay within your budget.
Although these three tips may seem to oversimplify the process you are sitting in the middle of or are about to embark upon, by applying them over and over to all of your different home design decisions, particularly those you aren�t sure of, you�ll be able to focus your energy one step at a time and break down what might at times seem a daunting task. Your home is important and should reflect your style and desires. The project at hand may take time and energy, but the end result should and will be one you love and treasure for years to come, from the kitchen hardware to the iron balusters, if you just relax and take it step by step and enjoy the process as much as possible.
About The Author
Genetically Modified Maize Vaccine Can Aid Farmers in Developing Nations
Genetically Modified Maize Vaccine Can Aid Farmers in Developing Nations
by Alisa Baumer
In many developing nations around the world, small-scale farmers often rely upon poultry farming solely for their livelihood. Unfortunately, for many of these farmers, this livelihood has been affected by the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), a contagious and fatal viral disease that infects a wide range of both domestic and wild birds, including chickens. NDV also has a devastating effect on commercial poultry production. Since vaccines for poultry are too costly for these farmers who eke out very meager livings, a cost effective solution needed to be developed. Fortunately, researchers in Mexico have done just that.
Researchers in Mexico have been able to genetically modify maize crops to create an edible vaccine for poultry against the Newcastle Disease Virus. The researchers, including Octavio Guerrero-Andrade of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) in Guanajuato, inserted a gene from the Newcastle Disease Virus into the maize crops� DNA. Chickens that ate the genetically modified (GM) maize produced antibodies against the virus. The maize also provided a level of protection against infection comparable to that of commercial vaccines.
The researchers� findings were published online in Transgenic Research earlier this month. They hope these genetically modified maize crops can help small-scale poultry farmers protect their flocks from NDV.
�The disease is important and a big killer,� said Frands Dolberg of the Network for Smallholder Poultry Development, which works with partners in developing countries to promote poultry farming as a way of improving livelihoods.
According to the findings, vaccines against the disease that can be given to poultry through food already exist, but are not usually available in the small quantities that are often required by single families or villages.
�There is a big problem in delivering the vaccine to the many millions of poor poultry keepers around the world, and the genetically modified (GM) maize could be a possibility,� said Frands Dolberg.
Farmers in developing nations struggle every day to make a living against unfavorable conditions. They also struggle to access new technologies that can help better their lives, including getting vital vaccines that can save their poultry farms. With this genetically modified maize that the researchers in Mexico have developed, these needed vaccines will be easily accessible, less costly, and won�t require refrigeration like traditional vaccines do. It will ultimately help save and secure the farmers� futures.
About The Author