2007年12月31日星期一

The Ten Priciest Cars Today


For most car buyers looking for the perfect car, their wish to get that vehicle that they are eyeing is often compromised by the lack of funds. It is, of course, hard to choose between paying for a house and buying a new car. While this predicament has been experienced by most car buyers, we are always dreaming to own that one perfect car that would have been ours if not for the price.

Most car manufacturers produce vehicles which come with price tags that are within the reach of more people. This means more cars will be bought thus an increased profit is expected. But there are those who cater to the automobile needs of the rich and the privileged. Car companies like Ferrari, Porsche and Bugatti produces cars that will never be within the reach of the common car buyer. Nevertheless, as we daydream about our perfect car, it is necessary that we know their price just so that we can dream realistically on how much money we will have to spend on, say, a Bugatti Veyron.

The Bugatti Veyron is currently the priciest production car and also holds the distinction of being the fastest production car in the world. The sleek and power packed Veyron is estimated to have a price tag in the range of $ 1,700,000. That much money can give you the privilege to sit behind the wheel of the most powerful, most expensive and the fastest production and street legal car. And by doing that, you would be able to command the attention of motorists and pedestrians alike.

The Veyron is capable of reaching speeds of 407 kilometers per hour or 253 miles per hour. While most owners of the Veyron may not have the chance to reach that speed, the looks of the Veyron is enough to call the attention of anyone. The car is built by the German car manufacturer Volkswagen AG under the Bugatti brand and is named after race driver Pierre Veyron who won the Le Mans in 1939. The cars engine is a W16 or two V8s strapped together in a W configuration. According to the manufacturer of the Veyron, the final production engine which will be used by the Veyron will be able to produce as much as 1001 horsepower.

The second most expensive car in the world is the iconic Ferrari Enzo which is priced at $1,000,000. The Enzo as it is called is named after the founder of the famous Italian sports car manufacturer. The car came into production in 2003 and became an instant icon. Its body design comes using Formula 1 design cues and this makes the Enzo one of the most recognizable sports cars. Ferrari used carbon fiber materials for the body of this supercar.

The exterior design and material is not the only thing that the Enzo shares with F1 cars but also the sequential shift transmission and the carbon-ceramic brake discs which shadows the efficiency of brake parts available at Active Brakes Direct. The car also uses technologies which F1 cars are not allowed to have. One of this is active aerodynamics which means a dynamic rear spoiler for the Enzo.

The third most expensive car in the world is the Pagani Zonda C12 F that is priced at $741,000. This relatively unknown brand outside performance enthusiasts unveiled the Zonda C12 F at the 2005 Geneva International Auto Show. The car uses a humungous 7.3-liter V12 unit capable of producing as much as 594 horsepower. A special model for the Zonda is equipped with an engine capable of producing 641 horsepower. The cars acceleration is superb needing only 3.2 seconds to reach speed of 60 miles per hour from a standstill. Its top speed is rated at 225 miles per hour or 374 kilometers per hour.

The fourth most expensive car today is the Koenigsegg CCX with a price tag of $600,910. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X with the X commemorating the tenth anniversary of the first CC vehicle. The car is built for the United States and is designed to meet the standards for an automobile in the United States. The car derives its power from a 4700 cubic cm double overhead cam 32-valve V8 engine. This powerplant is able to generate as much as 806 horsepower and 687 lb-ft of torque. That much power alone makes the CCX worth all that money. Its sleek styling and aggressive stance instantly commands attention.

The fifth most expensive car today is the legendary Porsche Carrera GT - priced at $484,000. The car comes from the German car manufacturer known for producing some of the most powerful cars in the world. According to some tests, the Carrera GT is the sixth fastest production car today completing the 0-100-0 test in just 11.6 seconds. The 0-100-0 means that the car will start at a stationary position and reach speed of 100 kilometers per hour and has to once again come to a stop. The time it takes for a car to complete the test is one of the basis for naming the worlds fastest cars. The Carrera GT is equipped with a 5.7 liter V10 engine that is very much capable of producing 612 horsepower.

The sixth most expensive car today is the Mercedes SLR McLaren with a price tag of $455,000. The car is the fruition of the joint venture of DaimlerChrysler AG and McLaren Cars. The power of this car comes from a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 engine rated to produce 626 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque. While it is dubbed as a supercar, it has the attributes of a Super Grand Tourer which makes it the direct competitor of the Pagani Zonda, Ford GT, Porsche Carrera GT, Aston Martin V12 Vanquish and the Lamborghini Murcielago.

The seventh most expensive car today is the Maybach 62 priced at $385,250. The 62 is one of Maybachs first car models since the brand was revived by DaimlerChrysler. The car is derived from the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept vehicle that was unveiled ten years ago at the Tokyo Motorshow. The Maybach is re-introduced to the auto market in 2002 as DaimlerChryslers answer to the Rolls-Royce/Bentley marque.

The 62s sibling is the Maybach 57. The 57 and 62 indicates the difference in the length of the two models. The engine of the 57 and the 62 is a Mercedes 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 engine capable of producing 550 horsepower.

The eighth most expensive car is the Rolls-Royce Phantom with a price of $320,000. The marque is now under the BMW group and the Phantom is first introduced in the market in 2003. The power of the Phantom comes from 6.8-liter 48-valve V12 engine with an output of 453 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque. While the car is not as fast as the rest of the most expensive cars today, it exhibits the best in luxury as per its interior.

The ninth most expensive car today is Lamborghinis flagship model Murcielago which comes at $279,900. While its smaller brother, the Gallardo is faster, eth Murcielago is more expensive. It combines the attributes of a super car and a Grand Tourer. This car takes the place of the legendary Diablo in Lamborghinis lineup in 2002. The Murcielagos engine is a 6.5-liter one capable of producing 640 horsepower.

The tenth most expensive car is the Aston Martin Vanquish with a price tag of $255,000 and the reputation of being James Bonds favorite car. The Vanquish made an appearance in the film Die Another Day. The Grand Tourer is first introduced to the market in 2001 and quickly became a favorite among performance car enthusiasts. The power of the Vanquish comes from a 5.-liter 48-valve V12 engine capable of initially producing 460 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Recent improvements though have added power to the Vanquishs engine raising it to 520 horsepower and 426 lb-ft of torque.

Learn How To Combat Acid Reflux Disease

You have acid reflux and it is not fun. Trust me, I know exactly how uncomfortable acid reflux disease can be and how it can slow you down. It is much more than simple heartburn which we all experience from time to time. Acid reflux occurs when the formation of gas and acidic things in the stomach causes severe pain or a burning sensation in the stomach and chest. This is known as Acid Reflux Disease, also known as Gastroespohaheal Reflux Disease.

What happens is that you have eaten something you should not have. It does not need to be something you KNOW you should not eat, because acid reflux affects each of us differently. Unfortunately, it is only from experience that we learn what we can eat and what causes acid reflux to flare up. And things change over time, so every now and then we may want to try different things out, because we get older, our tolerances for certain foods may either increase or decrease.

From a medical standpoint, acid reflex is a physiological condition that typically occurs when there is inappropriate activity in the lower esophageal sphincter, or in other words, the muscular valve that connects the esophagus to the stomach. This activity allows the contents of the stomach to empty into, or REFLUX, into the esophagus and throat. This happens when this valve does not close properly or when this muscle relaxes, thereby allowing the contents of the stomach to back up.

But you dont care what happens physiologically. All you know is that it happens and you need to know what to do about it. If you have been diagnosed with acid reflux, you need to see your doctor on a regular basis to make sure that it is kept under control. The biggest thing you can do to avoid acid reflux is to avoid foods that are known to increase the level of stomach acid.

What if you already are having episodes of acid reflux and want to control them? You may wish to consider a natural cure. There are many natural cures and natural health remedies that are readily available on the market today that will help control the effects of acid reflux.

You need to make sure that what you are experiencing is really acid reflux and not a sign of something more serious like heart disease. But once that determination is made, one popular way to combat is to use to antacids. Depending on the severity of the affliction, this can be as simple as Rolaids or Tums, or maybe requiring a bit more strength such as Pepto-Bismol or Mylanta. You should be keeping a close eye on exactly what kinds of treatments seem to work best for you, since we are all different, and different remedies will have varying results. The remedy that works for you may not work nearly as well for the guy next door.

Do not allow acid reflux to ruin your day or your night out. You can control acid reflux by exercising a bit of good judgment. Instead of ordering your seafood blackened, order it grilled. Instead of french fries, get a baked potato instead. Your choice of foods is going to play your greatest role in avoiding more acid reflux.

2007 Honda CR-V Review

Compact Recreational Vehicle. This is the name which has given the acronym CR-V to one of Honda's most popular releases. And it is, indeed, both compact and fun to drive. For the past decade, the Honda CR-V has proved to be a reliable family car: affordable, spacious, without appearing too large, and, best of all, safe. The new, 2007 model, however, is taking these features to new lengths.

The CR-V 2007 is slightly wider and lower than its predecessor, which gives it an extra touch of stability in turns, and also shorter, mainly because the spare wheel is no longer attached to the back, as in the previous two generations.

The standard safety equipment included in the car is amazing: Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure on the front end, a total of six airbags (dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, front side airbags with passenger-side occupant position detection system, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor), active front-seat head restraints, stability control system, ABS, break assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System. This model has received a 5-star frontal and side impact rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This functionality-oriented crossover SUV has four doors and five seats, including a fold-and-tumble rear seat which can easily be adjusted to hold two child seats, for that ever-expending family. All the seats are equipped with three-point seatbelts.

The 166-hp, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4 cilinder engine (10 hp more than the 2006 model), five speed automatic transmission, the MacPherson strut front suspension handles, the traction-enhancing Real Time 4-wheel drive, the Drive-by-wire throttle system, are all features which add up to ensure an increased sense of stability, while offering, at the same time, an amazing driving experience.

As Honda has already accustomed us to, the CR-V 2007 allows for reduced emissions, fuel economy and noise reduction, thanks to its trademark variable valve timing and lift electronic control, i-VTEC, and to its aerodynamic design.

Customers can choose from three models: the LX, the EX and the EX-L. For those in search of a more stylish look, the EX-L is the best choice, thanks to its leather trimmed seats and its optional navigation system equipped with a rear view video camera. The model comes in 10 colors, from the Taffeta White to the Nighthawk Black Pearl, to suite any driver's preferences and personality.

Although its competition, such as the Toyota RAV4, the Mazda CX-7 or the Hyundai Tucson, may offer either more space, a better driving experience or lower prices, Honda CR-V, especially the 2007 model, remains a top choice of the customers in search of all these features and extra safety guarantees.

2007年12月30日星期日

Glimpses of Esoteric Christianity Part 5

The comprehension of Karma as revealed to the masses by Jesus is an improvement of the old interpretation and understanding of the principle of a previous dispensation of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," as given to the Israelites by Moses. To illustrate this, the law does not cause blindness as a punishment to an individual if he had blinded someone in the past. It does, however, make him aware, in some manner, of the wrongness of his actions--even if it does take blinding him if other means fail to make him realize his error. Should the individual realize his mistake, sincerely repents and compensate, then the lesson would have been learnt; he would be putting new forces into motion which offset the original negative impulse. Karma is not punitive. Negative karma is neutralized to some degree by implementing positive causes--these are the laws of grace and mercy at work. In contrast, even if it happens that balancing of karma should occur, and that the individual does not learn, repent and compensate for his wrong deeds, he might repeat it again or the "punishment" might just occur again and again, lifetime after lifetime, depending on the proportion and momentum of the original force, until all of its misqualified energy is spent. Also, undigested and unassimilated experiences are undergone repeatedly until the inherent principle which the experience is intended to teach is absorbed.

Every entity or group of entities create karma; hence, we have such collectives as "group karma," "racial karma," and "national karma." Karma functions under cyclic law and in accord with esoteric astrological configurations. Its effects are dependent upon the ratio of the forces put into motion and the situation with which the deeds were committed. Some effects are immediate, while others requires a passage of time for the force to return full circle, even deferring until a later lifetime. Karma, therefore, is conditioned in its full expression and is divided into two groups:

1) Ripe Karma, where the effects of deeds and actions occur in the same lifetime.

2) Unripe Karma, where effects of deeds and actions are postponed to a future embodiment.

According to one modern school of Esoteric Christianity, a dispensation had been given in our century by the Cosmic Directors of Karma for the spiritual aspirant to transmute his karmic sins and tendencies. This dispensation takes the form of an invocation (actually Hindus and Buddhist have been using similar techniques for centuries) to that aspect of the Holy Spirit called the "violet flame." This is the "consuming fire" of God mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. The violet flame when active in one's energy-field, transmutes the cause, effect, record, and memory of sin and karma until one becomes immaculate:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa:1:18)

The effects of the violet fire brings us that much closer to our perfection and ascension into our God-Presence. When freed from personal karma, the disciple is ready to take on a higher burden of transmuting world karma to some degree, to assist suffering humanity to march onwards towards the light. This was what the Master Jesus did. He transmuted part of world karma--esoterically "saved the world." Much still has to be done and the individual is still responsible for his sins and karma--the quality, nature, and status of his own energy-field, his soul-record--this was not cleansed by the death of the "savior." The Master Jesus "died" for the awakening of the collective consciousness of Man, not for the saving of any individual.

The overcoming of karma in one's life requires an understanding of the situations that one finds himself facing, and a constant vigil and check of all inharmonious expressions or our being. Moderation in all sensual activities assists greatly in reducing negative fruit, such as pain and suffering. Below we give some guidelines to negate karmic influences:

1) Invoke the violet flame on a regular basis.

2) Control of the mind and emotions.

3) Act, think, and speak beneficially.

4) Offer oneself to selfless service to humankind.

5) Be unattached to the fruits of actions.

6) Steer the mind away from sensuality by focusing on one's divinity.

7) Seek the spiritual wisdom and teaching in one's life-experiences.

Light

Light manifests in the mind of man as illumination, enlightenment, and an expansion of consciousness. Light, as Truth, is the illuminating mystery given to candidates of the Christian Mysteries who had previously undergone the required perfection, the period of spiritual cleansing. Those who were free from the stain of sin were offered the secrets of the Light for further advancement along the path of the ascension, for sinlessness alone were inadequate to lift man to the portals of the Kingdom of God and thus unite him with his "I AM Presence." In the gnostic work, Pistis Sophia, Jesus has this to say about the illuminating mysteries:

"But amen, amen, I say unto you: even if a righteous man hath committed no sin at all, he cannot possibly be brought into the light-kingdom, because the sign of the kingdom of the mysteries is not with him. In a word, it is impossible to bring souls into the light without the mysteries of the light kingdom."

In the same gnostic work the Christ initiate also reveals one of the main purposes of the Mysteries of Light which man should seek, rather than the baubles of this impermanent world:

"For this cause have I said unto you aforetime: 'Seek, that you may find.' I have therefore, said unto you: 'You are to seek after the mysteries of this light which purifies the body of matter and make it into a refined light exceedingly purified.'"

"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." (1Co:15:53)

The above verses refers to the etherealization of the physical component of man. It is a standard practice among the practitioners of Esoteric Christianity to surround themselves with light in their visualizations and meditations for alchemical and spiritual transmutation. Besides having the effect of healing and purifying the aura, the precipitation of light particles within one's being also accelerates the vibratory rate of our various sheaths, or bodies of the Soul and Spirit. The light that purifies and illumines should be constantly invoked by the spiritual aspirant. To purify and spiritualize the atomic particles composing one's being by applying divine fire is only part of the spiritual transformational process; however, the other part is the work of refraining from assimilating additional coarse matter. Jesus advises us to:

" . . . renounce the whole world and all of its association, that ye may not amass additional matter to the rest of your matter in you . . . "

This renunciation is not the actual giving or selling away of one's earthly goods and to live somewhere in poverty as an anchorite or as a vagabond. The rich man that Jesus advised to sell his goods and to follow him has a different connotation. "To be in this world but not of it" is the clarification of the precept above--in other words, detachment, earthly desirelessness, harmlessness, the living of soul-purposes, etc. One may be wealthy or poor, known or unknown--it makes no difference. It is how we live our lives that counts.

The Pistis Sophia, like the aphorisms of Patanjali, advises us to renounce various vices such as slander, pride and haughtiness, love of the world, cursing wrath, pitilessness, avarice, and sloth. To renounce vices and to acquire virtues, man should contemplate the holiness and sacredness of God, Nature, Life, and the intrinsic essence of all sentient beings. His attention should be reoriented from a materialistic three-dimensional perspective and habitual pattern to a spiritual outlook and way of life. By constant living from the spiritual standpoint, man acquires that state of harmony, that freedom from the chaotic mentality and emotionalism that characterizes the worldly man. Harmony is organization--organized thought, speech, action, living, and movement. The light of the trinity of the godhead stands at the door of the waking consciousness and knocks--and waits. Harmony within the four-lower bodies which reflects the harmony within the Tao, in conjunction with certain spiritual practices opens the etheric valves which allows greater influx of spiritual forces, magnetizing the lower sheaths of man's energy-structure with an abundance of power, love, and wisdom. Divine forces enter man's being via the sutratma, antahkarana, and the sahasrara chakra.

Once illumined by the Light of God, man becomes a living flame. He lives as a focus of Omneity's divine presence. Radiance, magnetism, and power of his Divine Self fills his aura till his "cup runneth over," and his very presence affects all with whom he comes into contact. It is the nature and desire of God to make men "his ministers a Flame of Fire" (Heb 1:7). Each enlightened person, as a Flame of Fire, ignites fellow souls slumbering in the mayagrammic world. This stimulation occurs by magnetic, and telepathic induction on all levels of being. We may allow the "dead" to bury the dead; but it is our personal task as torch-bearers to revive those that needs awakening and resurrection.

Light from a cosmological point of view, is the essence of all matter. It is the primal energy which manifests in substances that composes our universe. Matter is densified light. Between matter and the pure Light of Omneity are manifestations of God-radiance in varying intensities. Light was the first emanation of Omneity, it is the manifestation of the Supreme Godhead's first spoken creative impulse--"Let there be Light." (Gen 1:3). This fiat was not the creation of the sun and its radiating energies but something more subtle and lofty.

Light is often identified with the Word, the Pranava "OM," which is in a continuous reverberation throughout the cosmos. Hindu mystics call the Sound, "Sabda Brahma." The Sufis are acquainted with the existence of this Word-Light; they refer to it as the "Kalam-I-Aadim," meaning, "the Ancient Sound." Christian mystics, on the other hand, figuratively call it "the Rush of a Mighty Wind," and "the Sound of the Trumpet." Gnostics, Hindu and Buddhist Tantric mystics, and High-degree Sufis initiate candidates to the gnosis or marifat where the Divine Light and Sound emanating from one's very essential being, the very essence of God, are experientially seen and heard. Blind faith and beliefs are replaced with knowledge, experience, and conviction. One perceives God's radiant countenance face to face and is transformed thereby; no longer is the on-looker a mortal or lives as one but spiritually immortal as he "sees" his very SELF as "Sat-Chit-Ananda,"or "Existence-Consciousness-Bliss."

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matt 5:8)

"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:26)

"And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." (Ex: 33:20 )

"And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." (Ex 33:11 )

Indeed, after perceiving one's essential SELF, one's "I AM PRESENCE" one is never the same; one no longer lives as a man or as a mere mortal. One becomes the anointed, a Christ, an immortal god--the hope of Job and the Pure. Is this not what was requested of us:

" . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

Or in other words,

"I AM the true model and I represent the true way of attaining that Divine State of Sonship. Become as 'I AM.'"

This possibility is the essence of the gospel--this is the good news--this is the kingdom come--this is the Resurrection--this is the Second Coming. This is the promised Kingdom of God that is at hand and not located in some astral realm or to be entered into in the afterlife or during the Apocalypse in the last days. It is NOW that the kingdom of God is to be attained by one and all--no matter what your religious affiliation. May all heed this and live a purposeful life.

Man's Divinity

Man's true nature and reality was a hushed subject that the Christ Initiate taught to the inner circle of his followers. Some of his statements concerning man are to be found in the gospels. His enigmatic sayings about his relationship to his father were statements of truth that applies to humankind collectively, and was never meant to indicate to the masses of any exceptionality on his part as a sole "son of God." As a result of this misunderstanding, perhaps deliberately, of the words of the Master, modern Christians worship the son in the form of Jesus and not in the light of the Christ divinity within. Throughout the centuries, the precepts of man's divinity have been overlooked, misinterpreted, and misrepresented. The human, mortal, sinful side has been unduly stressed and emphasized to a morbid degree. The Light shone in the darkness, but the darkness took no trouble to understand its nature and source. There are those that fear Light in the form of truth, for its nature reveals the true state of things--things which are uncomfortable to those who resent movements in an upward spiral by personal effort. Jesus and other prophets before him declared that men were gods,

"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." (Psalms 82:6)

"Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together." (Isa 41:23)

"Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" (John:10:34)

That we are more than mortals is echoed in the "Thou art That" proclamation of certain Hindu philosophies. This divine precept of man's divinity is shun by the followers of orthodox Christianity as a teaching of the devil and not acknowledged to be true because of their erroneous comprehension of the scriptures and the faith that they have upon the dogmas and creeds arbitrarily created by corrupted theologians. People are indoctrinated to believe in things that do not reflect reality, things that mostly cannot be verified by personal experience. Where there is a lack of intuitive understanding, where ignorance and fanaticism holds sway, the mind and emotions will cause the jiva or soul to stagnate in a bog of their own construction. This imposes self-limitation, self-restriction that is well depicted in Plato's Cave allegory.

Man believes what he wants to believe, and until he replaces beliefs and fancies with experiential knowledge of his divinity he will continue to experience the torments of "hell"--the pain, suffering, fear, and anguish. Herein lies evil, for evil opposes all activities that frees the soul from bondage to matter, from advancing on the path of evolution; and man unconsciously swims against the currents that would lead him to the other shore.

Man is considered by atheistic scientists as a being of matter; religionists sees man as a creation, a creature fabricated by the Source for glorifying and worshipping Itself by making Its creatures sing hymns of praise eternally, for the benefit of who knows whom--for that which is egoless requires no recognition of its SELF-existence, as It is in a state of completeness, of oneness with the hidden nature of its illusory elements as perceived by man. Prayers and worship are never for God's benefit but for the beings engaged in the revered adoration.

It is from the sages of the world that we learn of their personal experiences of what man truly is, and by following in their footsteps we come to know ourselves. The sages present methods with which the gnosis, the Truth may be known. By applying their methods we in turn gradually recognize the accuracies of their statements concerning man--some uttered while in transcendental states. The rationale of the statement of Jesus mentioned before--"I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" may be understood clearly through the intuitive sense.

Most people focus their consciousness, their attention excessively upon externals, upon a world of illusions, to the detriment of their spiritual unfoldment. This overconcern with earthly baubles drains the mind, body and soul of the energies that would call forth the treasures laid-up in heaven by man's obedience to the laws of the Voice of Silence. Christ is the cosmic nature within each individual; the so-called second coming of Christ occurs within the psyche where man experiences and manifests his internal reality in the world of form, in the sphere of Malkuth. To focus constantly within, as in meditation, and in certain forms of yoga, one retains the required amount of force to awaken and stimulate the Shekinah, the flickering fire of God's manifestation within man, residing in his heart chakra as the threefold flame of Love, Wisdom, and Power.

Man emerged out of the fiery core of the Great Central Sun, or "Parabrahm" in Hindu Philosophy, as a spark. The essential nature of this spark, this "unit" of Brahman, is divine. It is a manifestation of God-in-becoming. Out of this monadic spark the Divine Ego, or Atma, was formed and individualized as Self-consciousness. Its nature is threefold: it consists of the divine spirit, the life spirit, and the human spirit. The higher aspect of the Divine Ego is the Christ in man, which is the way to oneness with the Father in heaven, the Monad focused in celestial planes. This Monad is Ishvara in the Samkhya philosophy of Hinduism. The Divine Ego is the progenitor of the personality, the jiva, the manifestation of man in the lower worlds of matter. A portion of Egoic consciousness lies buried in the etheric heart awaiting the outer consciousness to acknowledge its existence and to manifests its essential qualities and nature in the physical plane. Its growth is dependent upon the personality offering it freedom of expression in its sphere of activity.

"God is Man, and Man is God." This is a metaphysical truism which should be mystically understood. If interpreted literally, this spiritual truth would seem blasphemous. God is eternal and infinite, so is man, for man as the microcosmos reflects the spiritual structure of the greater cosmos. God is acknowledged by enlightened individuals to be ineffable, indescribable. When contemplating man's true nature, one finds oneself in a similar position : Man transcends words, it is impossible to describe that which is actually beyond and void of physical, feeling, and mental structures.

Depreciation of the true Ego and the exaltation of the false ego are expressions of egoism. Indulgence of such mental states prevents spiritual awakening. Man wrongly identifies himself with the components of his manifestations in the realms of matter. For instance, he believes that he is the body, the feelings, the mind, etc. This misidentification stalls the unfoldment of the faculties and powers of his divinity which grows within man at the objective consciousness level as he acquires a greater perspective of his true being and expands his consciousness to encompass higher states. Egoism is an idol that man unknowingly places on the altar of his consciousness--and he worships this monstrosity; and each time that he thinks, speaks, and acts imperfectly, negatively, unculturedly, and destructively, he exalts the deceiver of men, the beast whose number is 666.

Copyright 2006 Luxamore

Saturn Thermostat: The Solution For Better Performance

General Motors boasts a lot of quality car makes under its belt, all of which are made with the finest of materials and assembled with careful hands. One GM make that the company is truly proud of is their Saturn line of vehicles. But in order to experience the full potential Saturn vehicles could reach, owners should first be aware to always warm it up before taking it on a drive. Thus, to warm up the vehicles appropriately, automakers and car engineers designed the Thermostat and Saturn was fast on acquiring its function.

The Saturn Thermostat is located between the engine and the radiator. It helps in the warming up period of the engine, making the temperature rise up quickly but keeping the engine at a fixed degree of temperature. This is a temperature-sensitive valve and therefore it remains closed during engine warm up. The reason behind this is to prevent the coolant from circulating through the radiator until the right degree of temperature is reached. However, the Saturn Thermostat starts to open up when the temperature reaches 180-195F to let the coolant out into the engine. The thermostat should have then opened all the way once the temperature reaches 200-218F.

For it to function well, it uses the little cylinder located at the engine-side of the device. This cylinder is filled up with a wax that would begin melting at 180F. A rod connects it into the valve which presses into the wax. When the wax starts melting, it expands and that's what pushes the rod out of the straw, which would then open the valve.

Knowing its function would tell car owners of the significant role a Saturn Thermostat plays in their vehicles. Warming up the car at the right temperature would help drivers experience the full potential of their Saturn cars. For this reason, drivers should be regularly checking this part for its condition so that future Saturn Thermostat problems can be remedied before it contributes more damage to the car.

2007年12月29日星期六

All About The Amazing Walk-In Tub

One of the most innovative creations of our time is the walk-in tub. This tub offers independence to those who would otherwise have to depend on others to assist them with the bathing process.

Constructed of high-quality fiberglass, these sturdy tubs are low maintenance. They also offer the finest in safety features and convenience. A twenty-four inch wide door swings inward and seals when closed.

The five inch high threshold makes entering and exiting the tub safer that having to step over the high sides of a conventional bath tub. This also prevents the loss of balance and the possibility of slipping and falling.

With a forty-six gallon capacity, these tubs allow one to soak away the cares, aches, and pains of the day. A cushioned, contoured seat provides a safe place to rest while bathing.

The faucets are within easy arms reach. The extendable showerhead assists in getting to all the hard to reach places as well as rinsing shampoo out of the hair and soap off of the body. The floor, as well as the seat, is designed with a slip-proof material to ensure safe footing. An enhanced faucet reduces the time it takes to fill the tub.

A special drain has been installed to reduce the time that it takes to drain the water out of the tub. This is a very important feature if a person has a medical condition that requires immediate attention and must be removed from the tub first. Grab bars are standard in all walk-in tubs.

Another feature that the tub is equipped with is the anti-scald water mixing valve. This feature prevents the water temperature from exceeding a preset temperature. The walk-in tub also has air propelled hydrotherapy jets.

This allows for a water massage that would not be possible for the same amount of time if it were water propelled, thus allowing for a longer, more relaxing massage. There is a temperature sensor that adjusts and maintains the heat of the jets.

Perhaps one of the best features of this tub is the fact that the water is not recirculated the way it is in a whirlpool or in a Jacuzzi. The water is always drained so that the tub can be wiped with a disinfectant cleanser.

This is very important if a person has diabetes, an open wound, or is recovering from a recent surgical procedure. Draining the water maintains a bacteria free environment, which is necessary if someone else is going to use the same tub.

A Brief Glimpse At Sealed Lead Batteries

With the increase in portable electronic and electric devices, the need for batteries has grown geometrically through the years, with no end in sight. Of these types of batteries, sealed lead batteries are the most common. Let'sa explore them in some detail.

Sealed lead batteries were created around 1975 for the purpose of having a power source that was maintenance free while also being economical for both the manufacturer and consumer. Amongst features beyond the sealing of the lead electrolyte from spillage was the formation of special release valves to allow dangerous gas build-up to release safely. Further, these sealed lead batteries were often designed to be rechargeable (which is when most of the gasses would form in this type of battery).

Two basic types of lead acid batteries were created that survived the tumults of economic and consumer demands. These were the VRLA and SLA batteries. VRLA stands for valve regulated lead acid, whereas SLA is sealed lead acid. Both types are quite synonymous overall, with little difference between them.

One of the best features of these two sealed batteries, when they are rechargeable, includes an excess voltage safety mechanism which disallows the battery's explosive gas from becoming too great in quantity. This is effected by a depletion of full potential, should the battery become over-energized. The key here is not to over charge a battery.

A great deal of effort has gone into this aspect of rechargeable batteries specifically. Not only do batteries become dangerous when they are overcharged, but on a more economic note, they lose their overall charge through time via the buildup of crystals or corrosion, which limit the amount of electrolyte storage ability.

While this is somewhat ideal for the makers of such batteries, in that it brings in further income once the recharged battery no longer will take a charge and must be replaced, there is a continual race to make this type of lead batteries more efficient and longer-lived. As well, in a time of speed being almost synonymous with efficiency, it should be noted that sealed lead batteries do not charge so quickly. They trickle chargbe over a longer period of time.

However, with lead, as opposed to lithium ion and other types of batteries, the damage and memory loss is next to nil. However, self discharge is still a fact of life, leading between 35 and 45% loss per year. So recahrgeables are not as great as first thought.

2007年12月28日星期五

The 2007 Volvo S80 at Par with the Best in Its Class


February of this year will signal the introduction to the market of the newest luxury sedan from the worlds leader in automotive safety - Volvo. The luxury vehicle is the 2007 version of the companys best selling Volvo S80. The car, just like its predecessor, promises to give the best safety features available in any vehicle out there. Along with that, the vehicle also is expected to come bearing the high quality of performance that can be expected from a Volvo. The Volvo S80 will be up against some tough competition like the Audi S6, the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The competition may be tough but the car packs a really great performance and an even luxurious interior so as to be a serious competitor in their class.

The interior design of the car shows off the Scandinavian luxury design concept which shows the companys loyalty to its roots. The entire concept is based on the simplicity and functionality of the interior which in reality gives the interior a very luxurious feel that only Volvo can offer. The wood grain strip paneling looks immaculate and very much in tune with the rest of the interior. Controls and handles inside the vehicle are designed to be attractive yet also very functional. One such design is the functional graphic which can be found at the center of the climate controls that allows the occupant to choose the direction of airflow through its stylized head, torso and legs.

Buyers can opt for the trim package which includes a V8 engine for the Volvo S80. Such an option allows the company to be capable to drive the car against the best in its class. The quad-cam, 32-valve, 4.4-liter V8 engine can churn out 311 units of horsepower. The powerplant transfers the power of those 311 horses to all the four wheels of the car for this car has an all-wheel drive configuration. The configuration gives the car a better traction especially during nasty bouts of weather. The power finds their way to the wheels via a six speed automatic transmission that provides a smooth transfer of gear ratios and can thus give the car a decent acceleration. The precise engineering of the gearbox allows the car to go from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in just 6.5 seconds. The cars engine is also equipped with a Volvo oxygen sensor to increase its fuel efficiency by keeping the air and fuel mixture at the standard combination.

Safety features are abundant in the car - after all, it comes from Volvo which is known the world over in their effort to provide safety for their cars users. It employs the Whiplash Protection System of the company which allows the seat to move back with the occupant to absorb much of the energy in cases of rear collisions.

Aside from the standard airbags, which are the most advanced being employed by any car in the market, there are a lot more of the safety features that Volvo is known for. Take for instance, the blindspot warning device which is a set of cameras that alerts the driver if any vehicle has entered his blindspot. The car also has swiveling headlights which can enable the driver to see better when turning.

The car itself is designed to react during a collision so as to protect the passengers and the driver inside - it is made up of four different grades of strength of steel used in different zones that have different reactions during crashes. To protect the vehicle, it has a personal safety system that allows the owner to check from afar if the doors are locked or unlocked and can even detect the presence of a person inside the car by sensing the persons heartbeat.

2007年12月27日星期四

Motorcycle seat heights of fancy

In case of auction the seller presents the products on a public platform. The selling price of the products are
determined by the bids or offers of buyers interested in buying them based on their individual estimation of value of and need of the products.

If youve budgeted for possible out-of-pocket expenses in case of a car accident, you might want to consider increasing your insurance deductible to $500. This will lower the cost of your insurance.

Learner drivers that pass the one hour driving assessment, will be offered a 21% reduction on their insurance. This is a substantial reduction for any new driver, particularly young males under 25 years of age, and well worth achieving. Just being in the possession of a provisional license will not suffice to pass this test.

Motorcycle seat heights of fancy
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Believe it or not, the most common concern of motorcycle riders who are new to the motorcycle riding field is the height of the motorcycle seat.

Basically, all riders want to sit comfortably on their motorcycle while at the same time have their feet easily flat on ground.

However, the fact of the matter is that it is quite possible to ride a motorcycle with the rider not having the need to flat-foot the vehicle, many new motorcycle riders still prefer to have full control and balance in order to keep the motorcycle upright when halted.

Therefore, the height of the motorcycle is a vital issue.

Manufacturers of motorcycles have their own list of seat heights for each motorcycle model in every specification.

But it is better if info regarding motorcycle seat heights is listed on a page that covers all motorcycle models and makes.

Thankfully, this year, a slew of motorcycle websites were able to list the seat height for the current motorcycle models.

Such a list is available below. The heights are arranged from the seat that is the lowest to the seat that is the highest.

In 2000, the year that the Focus was introduced, Ford Motor Company had high hopes for the car that was created to replace the popular, but aging Escort. Instead, numerous minor quality problems plagued the vehicle and it soon became the butt of jokes throughout the industry.

The more you notice about your vehicle, the more likely you'll be able to head off repair problems. Yep- even if you're mechanically challenged. You can detect many common vehicle problems by using your eyes and nose.

After you have finished filling up your tank, you should twist the gas pump nozzle a full 180 degrees. This will drain a bit more gas into your tank, sometimes up to an entire half cup. If you don't do this, the extra gas would just be a bonus to the next gas customer.

The measurement of the seats are given in inches. Along with the height is also the make, year, model of the motorcycles.

Take note that the list below of seat heights were released in connection with the similar release of the 2006 motorcycle specifications.

The below specifications are currently available for motorcycles such as the Harley-Davidson, Buell, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha Star Line, BMWs Data.

Fortunately, such info on the motorcycle seat heights would benefit greatly those new motorcycle riders and even those who have considerable experience riding motorcycles.

So riders of motorcycles that are shorter in height, a seat whose height is lower would be perfect.

Meanwhile, motorcycle riders that are taller need to look for bikes which offer higher seat heights.

On the average, most manufacturers of motorcycles create bikes that fit a motorcycle rider whose height ranges anywhere between five to six feet.

If you are taller or shorter than this specified height, fear not. There will always be motorcycles out there which you can raise or lower, and which eventually would fit you.

All in all, height does matter, what matters most is how well and how safe you allow yourself to ride your motorcycle.
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If it is possible, change your work start and end time to avoid traffic congestions. Stopping and going affects your gas mileage.

Mitsubishi's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 160 horsepower, matching the output of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Mitsubishi tuned the Outlander's engine to deliver the bulk of its torque at lower engine speeds. Mitsubishi's MIVEC electronic variable-valve setup helps the engine to operate at peak power and efficiency throughout the rev range.

Certain types of cars attract higher car insurance rates. Cars such as sports cars and also certain makes and models that are prime theft candidates cost more to insure. If you are buying a car then find out which makes and models these are before you buy.

Arrhythmia a long way to go before having a pacemaker

Can you feel it?

Your heart beats on average 72 times every minute if you are a standard healthy adult. Do you often feel those beats, or become aware of them during the day. Most people who are not practicing meditation will be totally oblivious to the rhythm or arrhythmia of their heart. However, when your heart beat becomes arrhythmical, you might experience anxiety, light-headedness, dizziness, fainting, unusual awareness of the heartbeat, and sensations of fluttering or pounding in the chest. It is at this point that you need to think ahead and treat your arrhythmia problem with some arrhythmia vitamins and nutritional supplements.

Another cup of coffee?

Your case of arrhymia symptoms could be as simple as due to an overindulgence on coffee. Excessive caffeine consumption has been associated with arrhythmia in some studies. Although most people do not experience arrhythmia as a result of caffeine consumption, some healthy people appear to be susceptible to as little as one cup of coffee. Allergic reactions to foods and environmental chemicals have been reported to trigger arrhythmias. If you haven't yet been checked out for possible allergies, then book an appointment with your naturopath today!

Alongside consultation, try vitamins to calm your heart beat down. Magnesium, fish oil and cod liver oil are among the recommended nutritional supplements for arrhythmia. However, arrhythmia is often associated with other medical problems. You will still need to consult about the best vitamins and nutritional supplements to take for your arrhythmia.

How to avoid the pacemaker

If your palpitations aren't accompanied by dizziness or other symptoms and if you don't have a valve disorder or other structural problem with your heart, that usually means palpitations are benign. If you think your case of arrhythmia symptoms needs stronger arrhythmia treatment, you had better book a appointment with a cardiac specialist. In the most advanced cases, surgery might be needed. When a normal rhythm cannot be established by general medical intervention, a pacemaker may be implanted surgically. (A newer procedure called radiofrequency ablation may be used to destroy small areas of the heart responsible for the arrhythmia.) Avoid the pacemaker by taking preventative action, keeping fit and eating a healthy diet.

2007年12月26日星期三

History of the Ford Mustang

If there is a car that can be said to be a classic piece of Americana, the Ford Mustang is it. For decades the Mustang has enjoyed unparalleled popularity. Born out of a need to compete with a rival company's model and to boost sagging sales, the success of the Mustang is due to the right combination of media savvy, great entrepreneurship, and marketing brilliance.

The Concept

In 1964, the Ford company was experiencing a downswing. With the development of the Corvair Monza, Chevrolet had taken a significant lead in sales. With the greatest success of the Ford Falcon squarely in the past, the Ford Motor Company knew they needed something new. Ford wanted an answer to the Chevy's character and style, which were its key selling features.

Lee Iacocca stepped up to the plate and suggested the new vehicle be designed by the people. At first, upper management at Ford rejected the concept, but eventually Iacocca won them over and soon after the car began its design stage. In order to reduce costs on the development, the Mustang used many parts that were originally included on other car models, notably the drivetrain that was found in both the Fairlane and the Falcon. It came in two-seater models, coup or convertible.

The Campaign

To launch their new car, Ford put together an extraordinary advertising campaign. The car would be revealed to the public at the 1964 World's Fair in New York on April 17 of that year. Within two days the advertisements were all over U.S. television. The campaign was one of the most successful launches in American history, with over a million Mustangs sold in its first year and a half on the market (during which time it was upgraded to a four-seater).

One of the largest perks of buying a Mustang was that every car was built-to-order and each soon-to-be-owner could choose from a long list of options to include on their new car. Some of the options included power steering, power train combinations, air conditioning, and a high performance engine. The Mustang was the first automobile to offer a laundry list of options and it became extremely profitable for both manufacturers and dealers.

New Models

The '64 to '66 Mustang models were built with a sports car look, including long hoods and shorter rear units. Interiors were also designed along sports lines, with a small backseat and two seats in the front.

1967 and 1968 Mustangs had a larger grill than the original models, and also a widened hood that was more aggressive looking and a better reflection of the engine units.

1969 and 1970 Mustangs were longer than the previous models, and were also heavier. In addition, the headlights of the Mustang were now housed inside the grill instead of protruding.

'71 to '73 saw the heaviest Mustangs to date put on the market.

The second generation of Mustangs saw a return to the appearance of the original model, but with important innovations in the guts. Rack-and-pinion steering was an important part of the system that was manufactured from 1974-1978.

The third generation of Mustang was also the longest incarnation of the car in terms of production. While it lacked the cosmetic appeal of the other generations (being smaller and with softer lines), this model had a complete reworking of the interior so that four people would fit in it comfortably. With a 302 with a better camshaft and new valves as well as an updated exhaust system, the third generation of Mustang was the best from a performance point of view, being one of the fastest domestic cars available in America.

The fourth generation of Mustang was designed to get the car back to the sales numbers it had enjoyed in previous years. The manufacturers relied on a return to the sporty look to accomplish this, and the move paid off. Ford had successfully melded the look of earlier generationg with the superior parts and performance of the third-generation Mustangs to create one formidable machine.

Ford bought in to the popularity of retro in a big way with the fifth generation of Mustang which hit the market in 2005. The latest Mustang models are much more similar to the '60s styles than any other generation, only with the sleeker lines that the 21st century finds so appealing in all matters of decoration. The Ford Mustang is forever history in the making.

The Laws Of Attraction Create Abundance

All abundance arises from the Laws of Attraction.

Abundance is for everyone, not just the limited few that life appears to have smiled on.

We are surrounded by abundance. Nature is lavish, even wasteful in its abundance. Anyone caring to look will find an abundance of love, joy, money, and health is readily available to everyone willing to accept them. If there is any lack in our lives it's not because there is not enough, but rather, because we are limiting our intake. What we receive in life is controlled by the limits we place on our emotions, behaviors, thoughts and actions.

There are many factors involved in why it is so hard for us to open the valve controlling the flow of abundance in our lives. By the time we become aware of the fact that we create our own limits, the beliefs and habits we've developed that produce these limits are so ingrained they are very difficult to change.

Society also has its role to play. Since most of the world's governments have become capitalistic societies, it's in their best interest to promote conditions and belief systems that produce large numbers of have-nots. Simple economics tells us that in order for capitalism to thrive, there must be a large supply meeting a large demand and you must have people who are in debt to create a large enough demand to consume that large supply.

The simple reality is that the governments of the world make their money from our poor health, debt, and our struggle to "just get by." Their abundance is dependant on our lack.

But this does not mean we have to accept these limits. While it's true that most people will never take advantage of it, information about attracting wealth and prosperity is freely available to anyone caring to look. And the law of attraction says that the more you look, the more information you will attract. What fills your life is what you focus on.

Learning to create abundance in your life is about much more than simply creating material wealth, it is about enriching your Self as a whole. When you begin to understand the principles and laws that govern Abundance, you begin to understand that you are not constrained by the conditions of the economy or the amount of your present income.

Your ability to increase your wealth, live in abundance, and have financial freedom is all based on your understanding of the universal laws that govern the flow of energy controlling your ability to turn potential into reality.

Yet there is more to creating abundance than simply placing an order and then sitting back to wait for its delivery. You have to be giving something of value, adding to the flow, in order to make this work. When this is the case people are more than willing to pay for your contribution.

Wealth, money, success, love, and health are all forms of energy. Being part of the flow means that you are a participating member. Once you understand how to operate in the flow of that energy, you learn to work with the Source of energy and actively create your reality instead of simply letting random thoughts create a chaotic existence for you.

Abundance is about living a healthy, vibrant life with a purpose and experiencing the joy that comes from possessing a strong sense of Self. If you want to change your life, and enjoy much more abundance, you should study and use the Laws of Attraction.

2007年12月25日星期二

Blackberry Pearl

There are so many variants of pearls originating from the worlds
countless oceans and lakes. They differ in luster and colors. It depends on
the type of oysters they grew in. Pearls can also take on a wide
variety of appearance, thus no two pearls are exactly the same.

Pearls are hard, rounded objects produced by mollusks and oysters. Over
time, pearls have been turned into jewelries and also crushed and
formed into cosmetics. Pearls are also valuable gemstones.

Formed inside shells of bivalve mollusks, the layer that is deposited
inside forms layers known as nacre. Now when these small particles form
altogether, a pearl is produced.

Pearls are known for their luster. The luster of the pearl depends on
the reflection and refraction of light. The finer the proportion of the
layers is, then the thinner and more numerous the light is.

Blackberry pearls are grown from black lipped oysters. They still come
in many colors, despite what its name denotes. Their colors vary from
specks of silver to a monochromatic black.

An example of a popular blackberry pearl is the peacock green pearl
that has a magnificent luster and green tinge added to its black
coloring.

Blackberry pearls are attractive because of its radiance. It is
extremely valuable because of its rarity.

Most blackberry pearls come from the blue lagoons of Polyneisa. Now,
blackberry pearls are hundred times more rare than white pearls, thus
making blackberry pearls really valuable.

Aside from the color green mentioned earlier, blackberry pearls also
come in a variety of colors like emerald green, sea green, peach-copper,
pink, pale silver blue, melon, bordeaux, indigo, cranberry and
aubergine. Usually ranging from dark green to deep black, blackberry pears are
iridescent and constantly shimmering. They are very exotic.

Thus jewelry necklaces, earrings, bracelets made from blackberry
pears are indeed a fine gem. They represent love and romance.

How do you then determine the value of a blackberry pearl? There are so
many factors:

1. Luster
When youre selecting a blackberry pearl, always check the luster. The
luster refers to the reflective surface giving off a shiny mirror-like
quality. The better the luster, the higher the quality of the
blackberry pearl. The luster denotes the thick layering of the nacre or the
pearl material. If there is a fine luster, it means that the pearl has been
inside the oyster for a long period of time. The thicker the nacre, the
more valuable the blackberry pearl.

2. Size
In evaluating black pearls, size is a very important criteria. The
Black Lipped Oysters, where a majority of Blackberry pearls are obtained,
are one of the largest in the world, so it is expected that the pearls
are of more-than-average size. The usual size is 8-10.5 mm or there are
some cases wherein it is 11-14 mm. The size of the pearl is determined
by the size of the nacreous layer that surrounded it when it was still
in the oyster. The largest Blackberry Pearl seen so far was 23mm
thats the size of a small bird egg! Imagine how precious that pearl is!

3. Shape
Blackberry pearls come in a variety of natural shapes. It ranges from
mushroom, acorn, barrel, pear-shaped, tear-drop, button and baroque
shapes. All these shapes are marketable because they accommodate the demand
of the public. But the rounder the pearls are, the more valuable. That
is because it is so hard for oysters to create the perfect spherical
shape.

4. Orient
The orient is the heart and soul of the pearl. The orient is the
penetrating light on the pearls surface that gives depth of color and light.
This can be observed by looking through the lustrous surface and the
many layers of the nacre or pearl material. The layer reflects the light,
thus creating an illuminating glow in the pearl. The best way to see
the orient is to hold the pearl in front of a neutral background. Let the
light shine into the pearl. The eye will be able to see through the
surface color.

5. Color
Blackberry Pearls often come in rainbow-like or beautiful natural
color. Each color is special. In selecting color, one must determine which
looks best on the wearer. The color comes more alive when it suits the
skin tone and complexion.

6. Surface
The outer surface of the pearl is checked for smoothness and
perfection. The less visible scratch, the better. Each pearl has tiny surface
marks adding character to the pearl. These marks are like that of
birthmarks to human beings. However, the less surface mark, the better.

It is because of the blackberry pearls value that a mobile phone was
named right after it.

Pumping Your Septic Tank

Pumps are typically either vacuum or centrifugal. Vacuum pumps, the most common system used by septage haulers, have the following advantages: Iiquid does not flow through the pump, which reduces wear; the pump is less likely to freeze; and the tank contents can be discharged under pressure. Vacuum pumps should be equipped with a water trap to prevent dispersion of aerosols. Because liq-uid moves through the pump, centrifugal pumps are more likely to clog and wear more readily from grit and debris. Centrifugal pumps are typically open-impeller or recessed-impeller for handling solids. Both types of centrifugal pumps have a maximum suction lift of about 27 ft (8 m). Some truck-mounted tanks are equipped with high-level automatic shutoff controls to prevent overfilling. Pump capacities are typically at least 400 gal/min (1,500 Umin). Hoses should be of high-vacuum black rubber or synthetic material, with a minimum diameter of 3 in. (8 cm). Hoses should also be capable of being drained and capped to minimize spillage. Haulers typically carry at least 100 ft (30 m) of hose. Discharge valves on the hauler trucks should be drip tight, and a discharge nipple should accommodate a quick-disconnect coupling. Other equipment includes a device for breaking up the scum layer (e.g., a long-handled fork), shovel, soil probe for locating the septic tank, and other tools to either measure accumulations or perform other tasks in the field. A squeegee and suction wand attachments should be carried The Pumper, a monthly publication aimed at the liquid waste hauler industry, produces an annual directory of equipment suppliers that is free with a subscription to The Pumper. to help clean up any spills. Lime should also be available to apply to areas where septage has been spilled.

Mobile septage dewatering systems, originally developed in Europe, are now available in the United States. Withthese systems, septage is pulled from the septic tank into one compartment on the truck; filtrate is returned to the septic tank. Polymer or lime is added to the septage during transfer to a dewatering tank, where solids are concentrated. A sludge solids content of 15 to 20 percent is reportedly achievable for polymer and lime systems, respectively Mobile dewatering systems offer: Lower transportation costs due to fewer trips to the disposal site, greater truck capacity, lower volumes of material requiring further treatment and disposal. These advantages are best suited to areas with many septic tanks and long travel distances to the discharge site. Disadvantages include more complex operational requirements and high equipment investment costs.

After the septic tank has been located and the access hatches exposed, the inlet and outlet baffles or tees are examined for such problems as damage, loose connections, and plugging. Broken pipes or baffles should be replaced or repaired. If the liquid level in the tank is higher than the outlet pipe, this may indicate clogging in the outlet pipe or in the drainfield. Next, the scum mat is manually broken up to facilitate pumping. Before this is done, the liquid level in the septic tank first is lowered below the invert of the outlet, which prevents grease and scum from being washed into the drainfield. After the scum mat is broken up, the contents of the tank are removed. Normally, the vacuum/suction hose draws air at a point where 1 to 2 in. (2.5 to 5 cm) of sludge remains over the tank bottom; this materialshould be left in the tank. Washing down the inside of the tank is unnecessary unless leakage is suspected and the inside must be inspected for cracks, If internal inspection is warranted, fresh air should be continuously blown into the tank for at least 10 min.

Displace toxic gases or oxygen-deficient air. The interior can then be inspected from the surface with a flashlight. A septic tank should never be entered without first testing the air for oxygen content, lower explosive limit, and hydrogen sulfide. This is accomplished using electronic triple gas detectors, available from suppliers of industrial safety equipment. Septic tanks are considered confined spaces and are subject to confined-space entry regulations published by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA Standard 1910.146). Anyone entering a septic tank should wear a safety harness connected to an aboveground hoist. Two additional workers should be topside to assist the inspector in the event of problems. Your state or local agency responsible for occupational health and safety should be contacted regarding any additional regulations regarding confined-space entry in their jurisdiction. In the event of a spill, septage should be immediately cleaned up. Hydrated lime should be sprinkled over the area of the spill, and a squeegee and a suction wand attached to the end of the vacuum hose are useful tools for cleanup. For large spills, a second pumper truck may be necessary; companies with one truck should reach an agreement with another company to assist in emergency spill cleanup.

Addition of any chemical or biochemical agents to the septic tank, such as disinfectants, microorganisms, and enzymes, is discouraged. Such formulations offer little or no benefit and may even be detrimental to the operation of the septic tank and drainfield. For instance, agents that emulsify grease allow its discharge to the soil absorption system, where the emulsion may break at the soil infiltrative surface and cause increased rates of clogging or pass through the soil to ground water. Other
agents are formulated of strong alkaline compounds that can pass through a tank and destroy soil structure. The most detrimental formulations contain chlorinated hydrocarbons, which can pass through the tank and soil to contaminate ground water. Fortunately, many commercial products do little to affect performance of either tanks or soil systems. Although no known benefits have been demonstrated to date, the possibility of an effective formulation in the future cannot be ruled out.

2007年12月24日星期一

MotorWeeks 2007 Drivers Choice Awards


MotorWeek has recently announced the results of their Drivers Choice Awards and here is the complete list:

Best of the Year Honda Fit
This cute edgy 5-door subcompact delivers big on all levels. The front-wheel-drive Fit is powered by 1.5 liter single overhead-cam 4 cylinder with variable-valve timing and lift control. It revs up a reasonable 109 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque. Both the manual and automatic transaxles are 5-speeds, with paddle shifters included in the uplevel S trim. It is also equipped with safety features like safety front, ABS brakes, and front-side-impact and side curtain airbags. Its other features include standard air, CD stereo, and power windows and locks. Fit is priced at under $15,000.

Best Small Car Honda Fit

Best Family Sedan Saturn Aura
The Saturn aura is derived from the Opel concept combines with the solid reputation of the Saturn brand with some added capabilities. It has an upscale look, a long list of standard features including curtain airbags, V6 power at a 4-cylinder price, a hybrid option, and 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

Best Minnivan Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona
These two Korean branded designs were able to match all the outstanding features of other brands in the same segment. They were able to defeat their competitors in terms of price and powertrain warranty. In terms of school bus and apartment moving, minivans are still the most versatile vehicles worldwide and this is exactly where these two brands lead.

Best Convertible Volkswagen Eos
The convertibles 5-piece retractable hardtop allows this open four-seater to double as a four-season coupe. The large glass sunroof panel makes sure that sun always rises. Add to that the firm driving experience that is typical to all Volkswagen with standard turbo 4 power and a base price that is under 30k makes the Eos a must have.

Best Luxury Sedan Lexus LS
The LS is equipped with high-end technology starting from radar cruise control to self-park. Even the long wheelbase edition has powers that its German rivals can appreciate throw in an upcoming V8 hybrid and the new LS move a notch higher.

Best Sport Sedan Infiniti G35
The second-generation Infiniti G35 is an outstanding backroads performer. It obtains a close to perfect balance between ride and handling, rear drive power and economy, and drivers cockpit and comfort. The G35 is a very gorgeous car even when its not moving. It is equipped with a powerful V6 engine and available in all-wheel drive.

Best Performance Car Ford Shelby GT500
Carroll Shelby combines a revving supercharged 500 horsepower V8, and near-race-car-quality prowess with added sophistication.

Best Small Utility Honda CR-V
This is third award given to Honda. The CR-V is a no fuss vehicle and does what a small utility should do but only better.

Best Large Utility- Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon
The Tahoe and Yukon possess contemporary styling, excellent fit and finish, luxury car-like interior, and segment-leading fuel economy which exude GMs new design direction. Its features range from quick-fold seats to three-row curtain airbags plus other features that customers want in a ute. GM will release a hybrid version of both the Tahoe and Yukon later this year.

Best Crossover Utility GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook
Although these 7 and 8 passenger crossovers lack in rugged looks but their efficiency, comfort, and safety makes up for what they lack. Their all-wheel-drive and standard OnStar adds up to its performance. The Acadia and Outlook offer driving security regardless of the road condition and the weather.

Best Pickup Truck Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra
The Silverado and Sierra both have added style, flexibility, class-leading economy, and perceived quality plus capabilities. From its interiors which are perfectly fitted to owners, to its wide-swinging rear doors, sturdy GM bed rail and cargo management, the Silverado and Sierra are the perfect vehicles for those individuals who just love rugged outdoor adventures.

Best Eco-Friendly Toyota Motor Corporation
MotorWeek has not only chosen one car but the entire ToMoCo was awarded as Drivers Choice Best Eco-Friendly of the Year. The award was given to honor the company that has brought the fuel-saving gasoline electric hybrid technology in the world that has pushed other carmakers to follow suit.

Best Dream Machine Jaguar XKR, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and Porsche 911 Turbo
Leading the trio of the most desired machine is Jaguar XKR. This Ford feline is capable of producing 420 horsepower and exudes elegance and perfect details which is considered to be the hallmark of the brands posh sedans. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano on the other hand is equipped with a rarified V12 engine producing 611 horsepower. It possesses GT styling and performance at its best. The last but not the least is the latest Porsche 911 Turbo which is equipped with a 480 twin-turbo horses that can produce tremendous power but still delivers a down-to-earth feel.

How to Treat Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are caused by undue pressure on the veins and inflammation of veins in the rectum and anus that caused forcing blood to stretch and swell the blood vessels.

If you've ever suffered from the pain, itching, swelling and discomfort commonly associated with hemorrhoids, you know that it's a big matter and you need to know how to treat hemorrhoids.

Risk factors and causes of hemorrhoids include genetic predisposition (weak rectal vein walls and/or valves), constipation, chronic diarrhea, straining during bowel movements, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, pregnancy, heavy lifting, postponing bowel movements, any pressure that contributes to congestion in veins in that area (like coughing, sneezing, or sitting for unusually long periods of time or standing for long periods of time).

These are some tips how to treat hemorrhoids:

Changing your diet by eating more dietary fiber food will help constipation. Avoid consuming excessive spicy & greasy foods when hemorroids flare up.

Drinking plenty of water will also help constipation.

Avoid Drinking too much diuretic liquid such as coffee or cola or caffeinated can cause a hard stool, which can lead to hemorrhoidal irritation.

Excessive alcohol consumption can cause diarrhea which in turn can cause hemorrhoidal irritation.

Reduce Straining. Using a squat toilet to reduce straining and therefore reduce the occurrence of hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoid sufferers should avoid using laxatives and should strictly limit time straining during bowel movement.

Wearing tight clothing and underwear will also contribute to irritation and poor muscle tone in the region and promote hemorrhoid development.

Washing the anus with cool water and soap may reduce the swelling and increase blood supply for quicker healing and may remove irritating fluid.

Treatments for hemorrhoids vary in their cost, risk, and effectiveness. Different individuals approach treatment differently. Recently, Natural home remedies for hemorrhoids treatment and elimination are fast becoming an acknowledged and successful means to treat hemorrhoids in the privacy of your own home. There are a variety of easily available over the counter medications and homeopathic remedies designed to shrink hemorrhoids and end the symptoms.

2007年12月22日星期六

Fen Phen Drug Risks

The use of fen phen has been associated with two serious medical conditions, valvular heart disease and PPH (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension) and neuropsychological damages. The risks for developing those disorders are substantial.

What is Fen Phen? It is a term used to refer to the combination of the drugs fenfluramine (Pondimin) and phentermine (Ionamin and Adipex-P). Serious medical complications have arisen in patients exposed to fenfluramine alone or in combination with phentermine. They have also been noted in patients receiving a related drug, dexfenfluramine (Redux). The use of fen phen (as a combination) was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Ongoing litigation related to damages from exposure to these drugs continues.

Risks:

Patients receiving fenfluramine alone, fenfluramine in combination with phentermine, or those receiving dexfenfluramine alone, have encountered a significantly increased risk for developing valvular heart disease (damage to heart valves), PPH (Primary Pulmonary Hypertension) and neuropsychological abnormalites.
Symptoms include dyspnea (shortness of breath), dizziness (weakness or fainting spells), chest pain, fatigue and edema (ankle swelling). The other category, known as neuropsychological damage, involves the development of memory loss, behavior changes, depression or mood swings, or psychotic symptoms.

Who Is At Risk? The Food and Drug Administration requested that fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine be withdrawn from the market in September of 1997. Up to that time they had received more than 100 reports of adverse effects associated with the use of fen phen or one of the other agents alone (fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine). By 1996, an estimated 6 million Americans (mostly women and not all of them suffering from obesity) had taken fen phen. In 1996, 18 million prescriptions were written for the drug in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued statistics related to the drug. According to the CDC, up to 30 % of people who have taken this combination may have heart valve defects. Unfortunately, patients who show evidence of these disorders often have no symptoms at the time of evaluation. Therefore, anyone who has taken these drugs should be evaluated by a physician.

Responsibility:

These drugs were widely prescribed by many physicians, even though the combination was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, physicians were under the assumption that the individual drugs and the combination were safe. Wyeth, the manufacturer of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine had knowledge that these drugs were associated with heart failure, the need for heart valve replacement and death. From 1989 to 1996 Wyeth reported that there were only four cases of PPH associated with the drug. The true figure was much higher. Sadly, most patients who used the drug successfully regained the weight they lost.

Recoverable Damages:

People with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension can seek to recover damages related to physical pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of earnings and punitive damages. People with fen phen related valvular heart damage are eligible to participate in a national class action settlement. Those suffering from Primary Pulmonary Hypertension or neuropsychological damage must pursue individual claims through attorneys who handle this type of litigation.

Plumbing Tips

Thermostatic radiator valves are not a very complicated piece of equipment, in theory radiator valves are the simplest piece of equipment available. A thermostatic valve is designed to regulate the flow of warm/cold air into a room. A thermostatic valve senses the temperature of a room and depending on the temperature decides how much warm air should flow into the room. Compared to older central heating systems, thermostatic radiator valves ensure that a room remains at a certain temperature throughout the day. A central heating system fitted with a thermostatic valve is more fuel efficient when compared to the older central heating systems.
Contrary to popular belief, thermostatic valves are not expensive at all and can cost anything from 5 to 20. A flow to all system has certain drawbacks that only thermostatic valves can overcome. Instead of aimlessly heating a room, a thermostatic valve ensures the room is heated to a certain temperature and not overheated. If you are looking to improve your homes energy consumption and want to control the temperature of each room, then you should definitely consider installing thermostatic radiator valves on your central heating system.
Before you start looking for equipment, the first task is measuring all your pipes so you can find thermostatic radiator valves of the same size. The next step is deciding which rooms you want to fit with thermostatic radiator valves. Ideally, Upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms and lounges should be fitted thermostatic radiator valves. In addition, you will require adjustable spanners, a radiator adaptor key, a radiator bleed key and other nick knacks like towels and plastic rolls. Apart from the radiator valves, all the equipment will probably cost you close to 30.
Although, there are numerous kits available in the market the simplest to install is the no drain kit. Once the system has cooled down, it takes around 15-20 minutes to install a radiator valve. It is important to keep at least one radiator without a thermostatic valve as this will allow easy water drainage. Also read all the documentation and instructions carefully, make sure the thermostatic radiator valves are compatible with your heating system and do not end up damaging the radiator. Since, you will be working with the radiator pipes, keep some sandpaper handy and clean each heating duct and pipe before installing the radiator valve.
Choosing a thermostatic radiator valve
There is so much variety when it comes to thermostatic radiator valves that choosing a radiator valve can be a difficult decision. Ideally, you should choose radiator valves that allow greater flexibility and come equipped with frost protection. Apart from regular temperature settings, new radiator valves come equipped with an additional setting that protects the radiator from frost, and the moment the temperature falls below 6 degrees, the thermostatic radiator valve turns on the radiator. Also make sure that the radiator valves are equipped with protective caps or can be locked to prevent someone from changing the temperature.
To know more about thermostatic radiator valves and to buy radiator valves visit http://www.buyplumbing.co.uk

Plumber Plan for Automatic Sprinkler Plumbing System Installation

Installing an automatic sprinkle system requires some planning and effort, but once you install it, it is worth all the efforts. It can save you from the hassle of dragging hoses around every time you want to water the lawn.

Moreover, an automatic sprinkle system comes with a built-in timer that prevents your lawn from becoming too wet or too dry.

However, before you actually start installing it, make sure that you have following tools ready with you.

Tools
- PVC primer and cement
- PVC pipe cutter
- Measuring tape
- String
- Gravel
- Shovel
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Hacksaw
- Gas-powered Trencher with vibratory plow (you can rent it for about $150-$200 per day)

Basic Preparations
Now that you are ready with all the required tools, you have to do some basic preparations as discussed below.

- Get information about your water supply. If you do not know about that, call your utility company.

- Check the meter capacity, and make sure that how many sprinkle heads you can install per zone in your irrigation system.

- Gather information about some other things, such as climate, soil type, wind conditions, water flow rate, water pressure, etc.

- Gather information about what are the installation requirements in your area. If you are not sure, you can get this information from the building-codes enforcement agency.

- There can be underground pipes or cables, so before you begin your installation project, locate these things with the help of your utility company.

Installation Procedure
1. The best way to start the procedure is to draw a map of your lawn on a paper. Now, mark all the important locations with specific measurements as applicable, such as the location for the water meter, sprinkle timer, sprinkle manifold, sprinkle heads, etc. It is better if you mark other things as well, such as the location of your house, driveway, mailbox, etc.

2. Now as per the measurements and location of your map, place your PVC pipes along the supply lines. Place some markers on the manifold, valve, and each sprinkle head. You can use some colored flags as the markers.

3. Take a string that is equal in length to the spray coverage and stretch it from one marker flag to another. This way, you can have an idea of how much spacing is there between the sprinkle heads.

4. Now you have to dig a trench. You can use a gas-powered trencher with vibratory plow for this purpose. It will not only dig the trench but it will also place the PVC pipe simultaneously.

5. Switch off the water supply.

6. Cut a two-inch piece from the pipe that is leading to your house. You can use a PVC pipe cutter for this.

7. Clean both the "cut ends" of the pipe and put a PVS T-fitting, with the T-points upward, at that position, and glue it with PVC cement.

8. Take a short piece of PVC pipe and attach the same with a 90-degree elbow.

9. Connect the PVC sprinkle supply lines from the main water supply to the backflow preventer or an anti-siphon valve, whatever is applicable as per your building codes.

10. After you are through with the required connection, use short pieces of PVC with T-fittings to assemble the manifold. Do not forget to follow your manufacturer's instructions.

11. Use PVC cements to attach timer valves to the manifold, and then attach this assembly to the main pipe.

12. Assemble all the sprinkle risers.

13. Once, you are through with assembling sprinkle risers, this is the time to attach the sprinkle heads.

14. Cut the risers to proper heights as per the manufacturer's instructions.

15. Attach the proper sprinkle head to each riser, and make sure to keep it vertical while establishing it.

16. Use soil to fill all the trenches but leave a little gap at the top. Make sure to tightly fill it so that there are no air pockets.

17. Place the timer in a dry location or in a weatherproof box.

18. Use wire nuts to connect the ground wires of each valve together, and the circuit wires of the valves to the terminal screws at the timer. Do not forget to follow the manufacturer's instructions in this regard.

19. Now fill the gap at the top you left, and bury the cable, which is leading to the manifold, under it.

20. Connect the timer to the power supply and set the time.

Note: After every connection, do not forget to turn on the water supply to check the leaks.
Hence, here we see how easy it is to install an automatic sprinkle system.

However, make sure that you have done the basic preparations and all the necessary tools are available to you before you actually start the installation process.

Home Building - Bathroom - Showers

You can really make a big splash when it comes to designing your shower. Unlike the old days when manufacturers offered a only few standard stalls or tub/shower combinations - now you can choose all your shower fixings, including valves, doors, shower heads, handle bars, jet sprays and much more to create a one-of-a-kind shower.

Shower Surrounds

Any surface material for a tub or shower surround should be applied on top of water-resistant or waterproof wall material. The most common type is water-resistant drywall, sometimes called "greenboard" because of its color. A more durable and water-resistant product is a cement-board. Cement-board products may be more expensive than greenboard, but the added expense affords you the peace of mind of knowing that your walls can stand up to the moist environment of the bathroom

Types of Shower Surrounds

Prefabricated surrounds are available in fiberglass, acrylic, vinyl, plastic laminate, or synthetic stone. Theyre available in one-piece and multipieces surround kits.

Solid-surface materials are made with a smooth acrylic surface that makes it easy to clean and its a material that will last a lifetime. Solid-surface materials start from $40 to $75 a square foot installed.

Ceramic tile is waterproof, durable, and easy to maintain, but has one drawback - the grout, which if not properly cleaned can grow mildew. To save on the cost of installation you can get small mosaic tiles (which measure about 1 inch square) that are bonded to sheets of 1x1-foot or 1x2-foot fiber mesh. These sheets go up faster than loose tiles, because you don't have to set each piece individually - but for many thats half the fun - creating a masterpiece in the master bathroom. Tiles are priced from 17 cents to 40 cents a tile (not including installation) , but can easily escalate in cost.

Fiberglass is waterproof, durable, and simple to clean. Many companies manufacture three- and five-piece shower/tub surround units in various sizes. These are the cheapest units on the market with a range of $200 to $400.

Shower Doors

When installing any type of shower, your first priority should be to make sure the water stays in the shower area. This can easily be done by using either a shower curtain or shower door.

For a quick (but not always efficient) way to enclose your shower you can opt for a shower curtain. While you may like the idea of being able to change them - say seasonally - for a new look, youll probably be changing them more frequently because they to get dingy looking and can easily rip or tear. If youre not careful about fully and properly (use those magnets) closing the curtain - water will easily escape.

All your water problems can be solved by installing a fixed door - which thanks to new styles and materials are very eye catching.

There a many configurations to choose from depending on the area theyre intended to cover, like the opening over a tub, the open side of a one-piece enclosure (shower stall) or the doorway to a custom shower. They open and close by either sliding, swinging or a combination of both. Keep in mind the layout of your bathroom, when you choose how your door will operate.

Sliding doors are the most common and use the least amount of space because they glide in a track, which is either mounted to the tub or the floor in a stand-alone shower. Theyre available in two or three sections, but because of the track can be difficult to clean.

Bi-Fold / Curved Doors are made in folding sections that open like an accordion and use minimal space, while providing full access to the shower. The downside to using this door is that it can bind up in the track after excessive opening an closing and its difficult to keep clean. Like the bi-fold door, curved shower doors offer the advantage of "zero clearance" and are the perfect solution for corner installations. The door itself is a curved glass panel attached to a frame at both the top and bottom for stability and smooth operation. The door is reversible for right or left access.

Swinging Doors are made as wide as 48", but rarely are they more than 36" in width, because they need to clear the other fixtures in your bathroom. These doors can be hinge-mounted or pivoting and are secured with magnetic catches.

Glass Options

Glass is offered in a variety of styles, but they generally come clear or opaque. For a more unique look you can get a glass door that is obscure, fluted, etched, beveled and even stained.

Dont vent about ventilation

Whether youre soaking in your tub or enjoying a nice hot shower - you should have peace of mind knowing that a properly sized ventilation fan has been installed to eliminate condensation, which will eventually damage your decor. There are many different styles and sizes to choose from - just be sure you choose one.

Shower Sprays

The most common type of shower sprays are the fixed showerhead, handheld and body spray. A showerhead installed in a fixed position on the wall or ceiling and may have adjustable water direction and spray styles - depending on the manufacturer. Handheld sprays are very versatile and have a hose connection (in varied lengths). You can mount them to a shower wall or sliding bar and they usually have two or more adjustable spray styles. A body spray is usually installed below your shoulder and in groups of two or more. The direction of the water and the amount of spray styles varies from each unit. Spray styles vary with each product, but youll get to choose from a soft-aerated spray, strong, deep massage spray, pulse spray, strong concentrated spray, concentrated pulse spray and a mixed spray thats strong and pulsating.

Custom Showers

While traditional single-spray showerheads are still widely used for a single-purpose shower enclosure, or as part of a tub-shower combination, the new trend is using showerheads with multiple spray patterns and multiple valves. Current state-of-the-art shower systems are quite elaborate, so they require a lot of additional plumbing. If you want to have a high tech shower installed in your new home, you must decide this before construction begins and discuss your plans in detail with your plumber. Be sure your water supply and pressure is plentiful, because these units use up a lot of natural resources. Note: Some well and septic systems cant handle these units.

Basically custom showers are multiple-head showers that consist of valves, water outlets, volume controls, shower heads, handheld showers, or body sprays. There are two main types of custom showers - full body spas or carwash showers and shower towers.

Carwash showers/Full body spas

Full body showers consist of a dual array of vertically mounted spray nozzles, designed to spray the body from head to toe under adjustable volume and pressure. 'His-and-her' temperature-control valves and arrays of as many as 6 or more water sources are common.

You can choose a body spa, which is a re-circulating stand up whirlpool with a waterfall, or you may prefer an electronically controlled shower system that consists of pulsating and pivoting body sprays to which you can add a showerhead. Most spas and carwash showers use about 80 gallons of water per minute (thats more than the combined delivery of 25 standard showerheads).

If you like steam, then you can add a steam generator to your system, but be sure your electrician knows about this in advance so he can include the additional wiring when laying out your bathroom.

Shower Towers

These mighty fountains are an integrated one-piece custom shower that combines valves, body sprays, handheld sprays, and water jets using a single water line connection. Multiple units can be installed to create a unique and luxurious custom shower, without complicated plumbing design considerations.

Cardiac Asthma Symptoms and Treatment

Cardiac Asthma

Cardiac asthma isn't asthma in its true sense. It's wheezing due to congestive heart failure.

Cardiac asthma is a clinical condition caused by severe reflexive blocking and/or by edema of the lungs. It is an asthmatic-type breathing caused by sudden blockage of the pulmonary circulation. The bronchial spasm in cardiac asthma is caused by back pressure from the left side of the heart to the lungs (the left part of the heart has a sudden disproportion between its work load and work capacity).

Cardiac asthma is quite similar to lung asthma. In this, patients with heart failure or heart valves that do not open properly experience shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.

What causes cardiac asthma?

Cardiac asthma is usually due to a major mechanical fault of the heart and may pose to be life threatening, if not checked at the right time.

In this kind of asthma, the reduced pumping efficacy of the heart leads to a build up of fluid in the lungs. This build up of the fluid causes the air passages to narrow up and eventually cause wheezing and other related symptoms.

Symptoms:

Symptoms usually occur with exercise or at night after going to bed. Excessive fluid in the lungs associated with heart failure causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, which imitate asthma.

Both cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema are symptoms of coming heart failure. It is a life-threatening condition and one must seek medical advice immediately on experiencing any symptoms.

Some of the main symptoms are:

* Shortness of breath, not necessarily accompanied by wheezing.
* Increased rapid and superficial breathing.
* Increased blood pressure and heart beat rate.
* A feeling of uneasiness.
* Cardiac asthmatic people wake up breathless a few hours after sleeping, and have to sit upright to again properly breathe. This is due to lying down too long.
* Swollen ankles which worsen rapidly during the stretch of the day.

Treatment:

The key to effective management of cardiac asthma is right diagnosis, which includes differentiation between patients who wheeze only due to acute heart failure vs those who wheeze from other disorders, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Treatment is directed at improving the pump function of the heart along with medications. If the asthma is caused by a heart valve that is not working properly or a hole between the heart chambers, surgery or other procedures may be suggested.

Treatments mainly focus on controlling the night coughs, control of the edema, control of inflow load and the amount of residual blood in the left ventricle.

Treatment of heart failure involves using diuretics (water pills) to free the lungs of excess fluid and medications to help the heart muscles pump more effectively. When the heart failure has been well controlled, the wheezing will gradually stop. Some people may suffer from asthma and heart failure simultaneously, and thus require treatment for both conditions.

Patients suffering from cardiac asthma generally respond well to a combination of bronchodilators, supplementary oxygen, and treatment of the heart failure.

Corticosteroids for a patient with acute cardiac asthma are only prescribed depending on clinical circumstances and the patient's response to initial therapy. When treatment of pure cardiac asthma is effective, the wheezing usually resolves automatically. Corticosteroids require several hours to give peak effect.

Who are prone to cardiac asthma?

Cardiac asthma usually occurs in elderly people who have wheezing and shortness of breath that are due to heart failure. When the heart is too weak to pump blood effectively, fluid will accumulate in the lungs. Fluid in the lungs causes shortness of breath and wheezing.