November 2008
Hurricane Katrina - How You Can Help
As you know, the Hurricane disaster in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi is hard to believe, yet true. As is described in detail on CNN and all other television networks minute by minute, the need is overwhelmingly great.
Here is how you can help the people and animals in distress, whether you own a website or not :
The Red Cross has a website that offers banners that can be placed on websites of those who want to direct visitors to the Red Cross site to make donations. Would you please visit this site and then consider placing one of these on your website and telling your subscribers about the link on your site and also ask if they can, to place a banner on their website. Every little bit as soon as possible helps.
Here’s the link :
http://www.redcross.org/psa/bannerorder/all/index.asp
Aid Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina
In addition, please don’t forget the abandoned, suffering and injured cats, dogs and other animals impacted by this disaster. CNN just showed a puppy that was tied to a tree and left to die by someone. But, the puppy was rescued by an unknown source. CNN called him
About the Author
Ken Black
Owner/Proprietor
http://www.skin-care-reviews.com
About Nanominerals
Nanominerals, those teeny-weeny crystallized materials that appear invisible to the naked eye, are identified by several distinctive characteristics.
Aside from its grain-like size, nanominerals also have large reactive surface areas and a high aspect ratio.
In relation to their catalytic properties, nanominerals are also known to be highly modifiable in both structure and surface.
These characteristics make nanominerals the stronger choice as compared to your regular or normal minerals. This is probably because they serve a variety of functions that other minerals may not be able to perform or achieve.
Several researches and studies have proven that nanominerals are important for dealing with ecological problems. Raw materials also benefit from nanominerals.
As mentioned in a number of articles and studies, nanominerals are important elements for finding solutions for problems related to earth sciences, specifically weathering, formation and transformation of minerals, sedimentology, and petrography.
And since nanominerals are extremely wear and corrosion resistant, it won’t be long before companies consider these materials for construction purposes. With nanominerals, manufacturers will be able to come up with high performance, high quality materials.
Nanominerals can also be beneficial to social science, geomicrobiology, agronomy, and geotechnique; while several companies and scientists are currently studying how these minute minerals can be used for material science, chemistry, food technology, and pharmacy.
Several sun blocks available in the market are said to have “micronized minerals” or nanominerals that are blended into the formula to provide sun protection. The nanominerals in the sun block work as a physical shield that protects the skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays.
The science of mining for nanominerals was developed by Dr. Charles Ager, the founder of Nanominerals Corp. Chuck Ager’s company merges the age-old mining industry and the up-and-coming nanotechnology field. Chuck Ager is a recipient of the Killam Trusts Award.
How to Slash your Electricity Bill in 10 Easy Steps
1. Lighting & Light Bulbs
Install low energy light bulbs in rooms you use regularly - they last up to 15 times longer than a normal light bulb and provide the same lighting for a quarter of the running cost. Turn off the lights when you leave a room for a long period and don’t use several light bulbs where one will do the job. Teach all family members to turn off lights when leaving a room.
2. TV, Hi-Fi & Radio
Turn off the TV or video and hi-fi rather than leaving it on standby. Always use the television’s on/off switch. Leaving the television on standby wastes energy.
3. Cooking
Microwave ovens reduce cooking time by 15% to 20% and save energy. When boiling vegetables, use just enough water to keep them covered. Use a jug kettle that has a water level gauge to ensure you only heat the amount of water you need. Cover saucepans with lids whenever possible to reduce the cooking time.
4. Home Laundry & Dishwashers
Save electricity by using old-fashioned clothesline for clothes drying. Avoid drying clothes on radiators as it lowers the room temperature, making your boiler work harder. Shut off dishwasher for dry cycle. Let your dishes “air dry”. Don’t use dishwasher or laundry equipment until you have a full load.
5. Fridges & Fridge Freezers
Make sure your refrigerator and freezer door seals are airtight. Let hot foods cool before placing them in the refrigerator. Defrost refrigerator regularly - when about 1/4 inch of ice has formed. Place your refrigerator in the coolest part of the kitchen - away from cookers, heaters and out of direct sunlight.
6. Heating
Turn off electric water heater when going away for vacations or weekends. Turn your heating down rather than opening a window to reduce the room temperature. Never cover radiators with curtains or furniture as this reduces their efficiency and wastes valuable heat. When going on long holidays, remember to switch your water heating off.
7. Work Tools
Use hand tools in your workshop instead of power tools.
8. Appliances
When shopping for new appliances, ask about energy-efficient models. Buy appliances on the basis of cost plus operating costs, not price alone. Limit the use of appliances that use over 1,000 watts. Keep appliances clean and in good working order. They’ll use less energy.
9. Bills
Check all energy bills closely. Errors can be costly.
10. Insulation & Air conditioning
Insulating your attic will save on operating air conditioning (also heating). If your walls are suitable, cavity wall insulation will substantially reduce heat loss. Keep air conditioning condenser shaded from sun or on north side of house. Turn off air conditioning when no one is home.
About the Author
Copyright © 2005. Chileshe Mwape writes for The Guide to Cheap Electricity website at: http://www.cheap-electricity-guide.org.uk/ and he’s also a regular contributor to the Ways2Save website at: http://www.ways2save.org.uk/
Villa Veronica in Siena
Villa Veronica is a bed and breakfast in Siena, located in S. P. 102, n.3 - Loc. Colombaio
Bed and Breakfast in Siena "Villa Veronica" lies in the heart of the Chianti Classico district, just 4 km from Sienna, in a panoramic positon of this beautiful area. This Siena accommodation has been completely renovated and offers its guests a welcoming, reserved, comfortable and quiet environment with a magnificent garden and a large swimming pool set in a sunny, panoramic position.
Villa Veronica can be considered the ideal place for those who wish to pass a peaceful, cultural holiday, enjoying close contact with nature and the gentle beauty of Sienna’s landscape.
The bedrooms are furnished in a classic Tuscan style and all have a private bathroom, satelite LCD tv, telephone with direct outside connection, mini-bar, air-conditioning (on upper floors). There are also private parking facilities. It is possible to reach all the most beautiful places in Tuscany quickly and easily.
Villa Veronica can be considered the ideal place for those who wish to pass a peaceful, cultural holiday, enjoying close contact with nature and the gentle beauty of Sienna’s landscape.
You can visit:
San Gimignano a km 35, Monteriggioni a km 10, Firenze km 68, Pisa Km 110, Volterra km 47, San Galgano km 35, S. Antimo km 55, Montalcino km 49, Pienza km 50, Montepulciano km 58, Abbadia S. Salvatore sul Monte Amiata a km 88, Perugia km 105, Castiglion della Pescaia (Mare Tirreno) km 99 e Porto S. Stefano km 124.
From North and south: take the hightway Siena-Firenze and exit to Siena North. Follow the signs to Castellina in Chianti (S.S.222); you will find also the signs to "villa Veronica".
Other than Villa Veronica, you can browse our offers for other accommodations in Siena, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Tours all over Italy; tourist information about Italy can be found on World 66
Here is the most informative help in relation to pocket watc
Here is the most informative help in relation to pocket watches .
When you are in search of excellent information on pocket watches , you’ll find it easier said than done extracting the best information from poorly sourced pocket watches proposals and guidance so it is wise to recognize how to qualify the information you are often given.
Pocket Watches - Find, Compare and Buy at Shopping.com!
Compare prices and read reviews on pocket watches and other watches at Shopping.com!
Now we’d like to give you some advice which we recommend you think of using when you are trying to find information about pocket watches . Understand that the advice we are giving you is only appropriate to internet info about pocket watches . We are unable to offer any tips or guidance if you are receiving information offline.
eBay: Pocket Wristwaches
Online marketplace for buying and selling pocket watches.
An excellent piece of advice to follow when you’re presented with help and advice regarding a pocket watches web site is to find out who owns the site. This may divulge who is behind the site pocket watches authorizations The easiest way to reveal who owns the pocket watches website is to look on the ‘contact’ page or ‘about this site’ information.
Any worthwhile website providing information on pocket watches , will almost always provide an ‘about’ or ‘contact’ page which will record the owner’s details. The details should divulge major points about the owner’s skill and understanding. This means you can conduct an appraisal about the webmaster’s depth of experience, to give recommendations about pocket watches .
About the author:
Barry Wise is the webmaster for http://www.pocket-watches.info
Halo
The popular Halo game.
You are the last of your kind. Bred for combat, built for war. You will fight on foot, in vehicles, in the air and beneath the surface of a mysterious alien ring orbiting in the depths of space.
Recognized as one of the greatest achievements in video game entertainment, the Xbox version of Halo has already sold over 3 million units and continues to be a top seller. The Macintosh version adds 16-person online multiplayer, new vehicles, new weapons, new maps, customizable multiplayer games, the precision of playing with a mouse and keyboard and more.
The defeat of the Covenant in the first Halo game was only a temporary victory, as the alien attackers have renewed their mission to wipe out all of humanity. Despite the human military force’s and Master Chief’s efforts, the Covenant have breeched the Earth’s defenses and have left its inhabitants in a dismal situation. In the midst of desperation, players assume the role of Master Chief and lead the resistance against the Covenant to save the people of Earth from a gruesome demise. Halo 2 will feature an immense and epic single player mode, as the story picks up where it ended in the first game. In addition to the single player mode, Halo 2 will also feature a redesigned multiplayer mode. While the first game limited players to LAN connectivity, Halo 2 takes multiplayer missions online by way of Xbox Live.
About the author:
Give a Jewelry/Watch Gift With a Twist
Okay, so you’ve waited until the last minute. Or you’ve
tried really hard but have drawn a blank and can’t seem to
think of any good wedding anniversary gifts.
It’s time to pull out that bag of traditional romantic
gift ideas. And this time you’ve decided to go with
jewelry, or maybe a watch. But that doesn’t have to be the
end of it. You can still make an impression, big time.
Spice up those traditional wedding anniversary gifts (or
gifts for any occasion) easily. You can get romantic gifts
online that present a creative spin to the old standbys of
jewelry and watches.
For example, your jewelry can be personally engraved with
a unique message, or with your and your significant others’
names.
Sometimes it’s not the gift you give, but the way you
present it that really sticks in the mind of the receiver.
Here are a couple of ideas on how you can use those
traditional flower anniversary gifts to and make a lasting
impression on your significant other…
* Instead of just handing over a jewelry or watch box over
dinner at a nice restaurant, have it handed to them on a
silver platter by the waiter. 
* Make gift giving a treasure hunt and make them search
for the jewelry/watch gift. Give clues to point them in the
right direction.
Or you could be very blatant and point them in the right
direction literally. For example, before they come home,
put up sheets of papers with arrows on them, one leading to
the next arrow and the next, until eventually an arrow
points to the gift.
Or you could make a path out of little gifts (or flowers,
or flower petals, or…) that leads to the (big) gift.
* Or, combining two traditional anniversary gift ideas
(flowers and jewelry, specifically a ring), you could
present a ring inside a flower, like a rose.
Of course, those ideas would be good for any number of
gifts. Use your imagination. Even the simplest touch can
make traditional wedding anniversary gifts like jewelry or
watches even more special.
About the Author
Kori Puckett is the web mistress of GoGiftGuides.com: gift
ideas, tips, and guides for creative and unique romantic
gifts. You can find more romantic gift ideas in
GoRomanticGifts at http://www.GoGiftGuides.com.
Gas Masks: An Overview
The gas mask, a device to aid and protect the user from inhaling gas, smoke or other poisonous fumes, have been used for years by different people and for different reasons. The first use of poison gas in warfare began in Ypres, France on April 22, 1915 when the German army used chlorine gas to attack French forces, but gas masks were in existence long before that fateful date.
Miners, firemen and underwater divers all had a need for helmets to protect the face from harmful elements, provided breathable air and filtered out potentially lethal substances such as smoke and debris. It took a series of inventors creating useful products to address that need that resulted in the creation of the gas mask which went into full scale production immediately following the heinous attack by the Germans against the French.
Prior to 1915, gas masks were manufactured in limited numbers for firefighters, miners and to a lesser degree, deep sea divers. Obviously, the helmet created for deep sea divers had the additional task of keeping water from seeping into the mask, but essentially it performed the same function as the other devices.
Some of the masks created for miners had a similar hose attached to an air device so miners could breathe at depths where the coal dust was so thick that without the use of the mask, they would pass out in minutes.
The masks created for firefighters were the best of the early prototypes for the modern gas mask as they provided no clean air supply but rather ran the existing air supply through a series of filters designed to remove particles from the air and render it safe for human inhalation. This invention was the most produced version and then was mass produced for the army beginning in 1915 with only minor modifications to the filtration system to account for the removal from the air of chlorine gas and later mustard gas.
About the Author
Gas Masks Info provides detailed information on military gas masks, surplus gas masks, and gas masks for sale, gas mask manufacturers, and the history of the gas mask. Gas Masks Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.
Free Christian Ecard and Christian Ecards
A free Christian ecard is comprised of inspirational quotes, musical greetings, messages of love, get well soon, and a plethora of other familiar greeting card options free of charge. Family and holiday Christian ecards are also available. Individualized free Christian ecards are offered by a multitude of websites on the Internet. A popular method of communications is the use of email, or electronic mail. Emails avoid the time restraints that other avenues of mail cause. Christian ecards can be delivered instantaneously to a friend or family members email account and can then be forwarded to others for all to enjoy.
A free Christian ecard choice can be made from a large variety of colors and designs with scripture verses to encourage fellow Christians in every situation from any walk of life. Christian ecards or electronic cards are defined as a digital greeting cards created online and sent to someone through the Internet. Imagine how comforting it would be to receive a free Christian ecard focused on the birth of Christ that could be shared at no cost to other Christians. It is no wonder the business of Christian ecards has more than tripled in past years. Christians love receiving expressions of compassion and love from one another.
Most free Christian ecard website companies are funded by banner ads which are made visible for ecard givers while they are creating their free Christian ecards. Some sites offer visitors a free Christian ecard to attract them to their site in order to sell them the many other Christian products and services offered by the website. Christian ecards are sent via email or electronic mail usually with a link to its originating website. The process of free Christian ecard advertising allows Christians from all over the world to have access to information and products offered by a particular organization providing Christian ecards.
In addition to a personalized text, a free Christian ecard allows a consumer to create different backgrounds, images and music to attach to their Christian ecards. The most effective way to locate a free Christian ecard company is to use a search engine. Using common keywords that may be within the domain of a Christian ecard company can ensure success in finding the website desired. Keywords for finding a free Christian ecard website include: Christian ecard, Christian e-card, Christian digital card, Christian virtual card, or Christian digital greeting card.
For more information about free Christian ecard and Christian ecards, visit:
http://www.christianet.com/christianecards/index.htm
http://christian.christianet.com/articles.htm
http://www.christianet.com
About the Author
Christian N,
http://www.ChristiaNet.com
http://blogs.christianet.com
Featuring numerous life application articles and tips.
Era of Throwaway Lyrics
Era of Throwaway Lyrics
I often thought it was the generation gap or perhaps the evolutionary cycle or simply a sign of the end times. But, whatever it is, one thing is certain: that music has changed immensely in the 20th century.
For brevity, my focus shall be on the sixties and seventies, when the nations seemed to have come alive with the lyrics and rhythm of the time and the nineties, when they seem to have lost that rhythm change that drove the sixties.
While music has grown in other times, the sixties saw an explosion in the industry. It did not only grow in size, but also in quality. Performers elevated the art to a new high, using their talents to address the needs and concerns of society.
In Africa, artists turned out hit after hit. This was especially true in central and western Africa. The folkloric songs of the fifties were replaced by the more vibrant, more up beat rhythm of the sixties. In Zaire, Franco in his hit song “Trezempoli,” which translates “very impolite,” criticized those who smoke in offices where they do not like smoke. Also in Zaire, Tabuley in his song “Sara” talked about the problem of divorce.
In his philosophy divorce is unthinkable. Nigeria’s, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in his massive hit “Zombie”, done in Nigeria’s unofficial lingua franca, Broken English, berates the military government of then General Olusegun Obasanjo for its lack of vision and the soldiers for their blind obedience. “Zombie no go think unless you tell am to think…” he lamented.
In the Caribbean, the Ska was polished and elevated to the richer, more balanced Rocksteady, with a lot of infusion of the African drum, and finally to the internationally acclaimed Reggae beat. Joe Higgs, Desmond Decker, and Bob Marley were some of the early apostles. In his hit song “War,” Bob Marley reechoed a speech made by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia at the United Nations in the 1960’s. “Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior, is finally and permanently, discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war.” Also from the Caribbean, Jimmy Cliff, in his classic “Vietnam” lent a credible voice to the opposition against America’s carnage in that country. “Yesterday I got a letter from my friend, fighting in Vietnam… Tell all my friends that I will be coming home soon, my time will be up sometime in June. But Mrs. Brown your son is dead.” Yet, in another hit he lamented the widening divide between the rich and the poor. “It’s a pain to see we are in a sad situation, suffering in the land. The rich is getting richer and the poor…”
The story was the same in America. Descendants of Negro slaves turned the beats and experiences of White America’s cotton fields into new forms, imbuing them with new spirituality and new energy that gave added impetus to their struggle. Candy Staton, in “In the Ghetto,” captured the mood and spirit of Negroes trapped in the ghettoes of North America. “If there is anything she don’t need, it’s another little hungry mouth to feed in the ghetto… and his mama cried.” James Brown, in “I am Black and Proud,” sought to bring pride back to blackness, which hitherto had been a burden and a badge of dishonor and scorn to those who wore it. “Say it loud, I am black and proud,” he implored. Cart Stevens, “Wild World”- now that I have lost everything to you …but if you wanna leave take good care, hope you make a lot of nice friends out there but just remember a lot of nice things turn bad out there…”
It was a global phenomenon. There was cross grafting of genre across national boundaries. The world was on the move, driven by the rhythms and the beats of the time. But what was driving the rhythms and the beats and the people behind them? - The turmoil of the time.
The sixties were a period of great upheavals. Freedom movements in Africa, liberation struggles in South America, civil rights marches in North America, labor movements in Europe, political emancipation struggles in the Caribbean, - all provided the impetus for the rhythm change and the performers were in the vanguard. Using their creativity and artistry and the circumstances of their time they created classics that elevated the spirit. Whether it was about war or politics or love, there was an element of subtlety that gave the listeners the opportunity to dream. They were limited only by their imagination.
The sonorous sixties were an era redolent of a great musical renaissance. And regardless of the culture or the geographical location of the songs, there seemed to be a common thread running through them, — the lyrics were not throwaway words. They were words that aroused your humanity and agitated your conscience. They were evergreens, destined to stand the tests and rigors of time.
But that was as it should be. Good music must, regardless of culture or era, stand the test of time. It should elevate the mouth that sings and the ear that hears. It should be a vehicle for positive change and above all appeal to the higher self.
Anchored on that premise, what shall we then say of the nineties and the present? With due respect, with the exception of a few, not much except that it was an era that ushered in a gang of hollow and lackluster musicians. It was an era when the clean lyrics of the sixties were smeared with obscenity. There seemed to be a preoccupation among musicians on lewdness and vulgarity. This is self-evident in some of their lyrics and videos.
How did this happen? The answer is simple. Although the issues– poverty, inequality, injustice, war, death, love, etc– that inspired and impelled the revolutions of the sixties are still very much alive, modern musicians took the easy way, assaulting undiscriminating ears and eyes with baseness.
How have they done this? Through music videos. Whereas the artists of the sixties had no medium other than sound, today’s artists have the added advantage of visual images.
Hiding behind seductive graphics, they pass off trash and mediocre songs as hits. The artists of the sixties did not have that privilege. They understood that the distance between success and failure was as far as the distance between the ears and the brain and they worked hard to reduce it. Today’s artists do not have to work that hard. There is always the video for a cheap bail out.
While today’s artists may win Oscars and Grammies, it is doubtful whether many of those award winners can stand the tests and rigors of time. When it comes to the performing arts, time is the best judge. One thing though is certain: that this truly is an era of throwaway lyrics.
About the Author
Austin Akalanze is an Educator, Poet and Freelance writer and webmaster at http://www.power-profit-systems.com/pips.html He writes in from Dallas Texas.