Material Monster

The construction of a serviced office can be quite complicated, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the most basic of construction tools, the humble brick. Bricks can be made a number of ways. They can be made from mud - made from a mixture of clay and sand, it is then ground up and mixed with a little water to make it more malleable, then pressed into shape and burned at high temperatures to make it a lot stronger. Another method is the dry press method. This is like the aforementioned mud way, but the brick mixture starts out a lot thicker, thus resulting in much sharper-edged bricks and bricks that are more accurate. Yet another brick-making method would be to make calcium silicate bricks. This can include crushed flint and rock mixed with something like lime or quartz, then mixed up until the lime is hydrated, at which point the mixture is pressed into shape for a few hours and generally results in a brick - or batch of bricks - which are incredibly accurate and uniform in appearance. Combining things like this will generally lead to the construction of a fantastic office which everyone involved can be proud of.

It’s a rare business plan that involves visiting the pale severity of the Arctic, but for those companies that do send their employees into the wilderness the return can be sizable. For these companies it’s not what’s visible in this fragile, remote and utterly unique portion of the world, but rather what is hidden, beneath the surface, swirling in giant lakes; the dark liquor of the deep earth that yells up to the oil prospectors through the ice, apparently desperate to be pumped upwards and put to use in our cars and factories. The search for oil has long defined man’s interaction with the Arctic, but a new report by the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research describes how, in somewhat of a closed system, the results of the climate change caused by fossils fuels such as oil will make future efforts to clean up after oil spills even more difficult. The report also suggests that such spills may become more likely in the future, as climate change will stir up rougher seas, making the already difficult to navigate shipping routes even more dangerous. Environmental groups, such as the WWF, are calling for a total ban on oil prospecting in regions where the oil companies’ strategies for spill cleanup are not credible. The Arctic fields pose two very specific problems; first that oil that has seeped beneath the ice is impossible to clear up, and second that deploying the technologies needed to clear up the oil is extremely difficult in the constant darkness that befalls the Arctic Circle for some of the year. As oilfields dry up, and the yearning for oil continues, there is growing concern that oil companies will be more and more adventurous in their hunt for the bounty. To the dismay of environmental groups, global warming is actually making hitherto unreachable Arctic oil fields accessible, as ice breaks and recedes due to climate change. The Northwest Passage is certainly more navigable now that at anytime in the past, as the warming climate turns solid ice into water. Research conducted by the Naval Postgraduate School, in California, recently estimated the Arctic sea could be completely free of ice by 2013. It’s an off-colour irony that this sad fact will possibly benefit those companies that are most culpable for changing the face of our planet.

Contact: info@togetherparenting.com Category: Parenting/Family
Activities Description: Family activities/recipes for St.
Patrick’s Day and spring Word Count: 551 Copyright 2004 Nine
Twenty Press URL:
_____________________

Summer may begin in June but, for many parts of the country,
gardens don’t reach their peak until August. Modern grocery
stores manage to keep us satisfied with produce year round, but
there is nothing like the flavor of farm fresh tomatoes,
peaches, or sweet corn. And there is nothing like the experience
of buying from local growers who are proud of their wares.

The first farmers’ markets started over a century before the
Declaration of Independence. Since then, it has become an
American tradition to buy fresh produce, flowers, eggs and
cheese from markets and roadside stands. In the beginning,
farmers would brave muddy roads in their horse-drawn wagons. As
time went on, farmers made the weekly trek to town in pick-ups,
where they’d pile bushels of fruit and vegetables high on the
tailgate of their trucks. Today, many lucky city dwellers visit
markets that are open every day.

My favorite though, is our county farmers’ market held on the
courthouse grounds. It’s open only on Saturday mornings, and
only June - October. It may sound inconvenient but, for my
family, it’s a summer ritual. We wake early and arrive
disheveled, rarely taking the time to comb through our hair. For
breakfast, we buy scones from our favorite bread stand and
snatch up the best looking fruit we see. My son is an expert at
choosing “chin dripping” peaches, always looking for the most
fragrant and the heaviest peach that can sit in the palm of his
small hand. My husband lounges on the grass and watches the
people go by as I scribble a list of what is available,
anticipating the culinary treats that only summer brings. There
is nothing like fresh corn on the cob, cold gazpacho with
homegrown tomatoes, or homemade fruit sorbet. We always have a
batch of sorbet on hand, each week a different flavor. Sometimes
we experiment by combining fruit with fresh herbs, but most of
the time we simple puree 2 cups of fruit with a little citrus
juice and a bit of honey, and then freeze it in an ice cream
maker. My boys and their friends think it’s a decadent treat.

Summer vacation is about to end, and our weekly ritual will soon
give way to soccer games and birthday parties. Lucky for me, the
farmers will be back next year with their trucks piled high,
just as they’ve done for generations.

MARKET FRESH FRUIT DIP

This makes a terrific afternoon snack on a warm summer’s day.
When entertaining, serve in a honeydew melon half and decorate
the rim with fresh blueberries and mint sprigs.

Ingredients

1 Pint Strawberries 2 Teaspoons Lemon Juice 3 Tablespoons Honey
4 oz Cream Cheese, Room Temperature 1 Cup Plain Yogurt

Assorted Fruit Slices

Directions

1. Wash the strawberries and remove the green tops.

2. Place strawberries in a blender or food processor with lemon
juice, honey, cream cheese, and yogurt. Puree until smooth.

3. To make a honeydew melon bowl, cut the melon in half and
scoop out the seeds. Slice a 3 inch diameter circle off the
rounded bottom of the rind so your bowl will sit flat.

4. Serve with slices of your favorite summer fruit. Peaches,
plums, apples, and melons all work well and make a colorful
presentation.

You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in
print, free of charge, provided that each article is: 1. Printed
in its full form with no changes 2. Includes an active link 3. A
courtesy copy of your publication is sent to the above contact
4. And the following byline appears at the bottom of each
article: About the Authors: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell
Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book
Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website
that’s jam packed with family ideas, visit
<http://www.togetherparenting.com> To subscribe to their online
newsletter, go to <http://www.togetherparenting.com/feedback.asp>

URL:

For sustained violence, no form of weather beats a major
hurricane. With wind speeds which may exceed 155mph (240 kph),
torrential rain, destructive waves and storm surges which can
raise sea level by 20 feet or more, their power is enormous, and
they should never be taken lightly.

North America can claim to be the hurricane centre of the world.
Every year hurricanes develop in the South Atlantic and make
their way through the Caribbean, usually growing as they move
westwards.

They start off as small disturbances with moderate winds and
thunderstorms. Those that keep growing and develop a spiral wind
pattern are classified as Tropical Storms and given a name. They
will keep this name whether or not they intensify into a
hurricane, for as long as they remain a threatening weather
system.

As Caribbean islands are battered, the mainland of North America
holds its collective breath. Will the hurricane reach the Gulf
of Mexico, swing further north to cross the Atlantic Coast of
the USA, or take a northward track and stay at sea? Will it be a
relatively minor Category 1 hurricane, or will it grow to a
devastating Category 5, like Camille in 1969.

But no matter how they are classified, all hurricanes are a
threat to life and property. Each hurricane is different,
although all are notable for strong winds and heavy rains. More
information can be found at http://www.home-weather-stations-guide.com/hurricanes.html

Hurricanes can cause problems in five ways;

• Strong Winds. Sustained wind speed is one of the main
  ways of classifying hurricanes. Category 1 hurricanes bring
  winds of 74-95 mph (119-153kph), Category 3, classified as a
  major hurricane, blows at 111-130mph (178-209kph), and the winds
  of Category 5 monsters exceed a devastating 155mph (249 kph). At
  these speeds many roofs and some complete buildings will be
  destroyed.

• Storm Surge. Storm surge is mostly caused by strong winds
  driving sea water ahead of them, resulting in an increase in sea
  level. Because winds rotate anticlockwise around hurricanes,
  storm surges are highest within and to the left of its eye as
  viewed from landfall. Becasue they are wind related, they show a
  steady increase in height from low to high category hurricanes,
  from 3-5 feet in Category 1, through 9-12 feet in Category 3 to
  surges in excess of 18 feet (5.5m) in a Category 5 hurricane.

• Strong Waves. On top of the storm surge come strong
  destructive waves. They are more notable for their speed and
  roughness than their size, because the high winds tend to blow
  the tops off them, but they are capable of significant damage in
  exposed situations.

• Flooding Rains. Hurricanes are composed of thick bands of
  turbulent, rain laden clouds. Thunder and lightning are common,
  but the main result is long periods of torrential rain,
  inevitably leading to flooding, particularly when combined with
  storm surge.

• Thunderstorms, including tornadoes. Although thunder and
  lightning are commonly seen with hurricanes, most destruction
  comes from the hurricane winds. But as the hurricane moves
  inland, it loses power and becomes disorganized. At this stage,
  when the atmosphere is still unstable, powerful storm cells may
  form, bringing violent winds, heavy rain, and often tornadoes to
  more inland areas.

This means is that the coastal fringe will be most affected by a
hurricane, with the degree and area of severe damage increasing
with increasing severity of the storm, particularly from
Category 3 upward. Evacuation may be ordered as Category 3 or
higher hurricanes approach, although mobile homes are in danger
even in Category 2 hurricanes.

In a Category 3 storm, low lying areas within a few blocks of
the shoreline will probably be evacuated, increasing to 5-10
miles (8-16km) for a Category 5 hurricane. As the severity of
the hurricane increases, so does the extent of damage by both
wind and storm surge, including the damaging effect of floating
debris.

Low lying areas may be flooded, and roads cut, 3-5 hours before
the arrival of the center of the hurricane, so although there is
considerable warning of a hurricane’s approach, the time
available for safe evacuation is quickly reduced.

I am sure anyone who has experienced a hurricane is keenly aware
of its power, and the speed with which conditions can
deteriorate. But its affect on you can be greatly reduced with a
little careful planning before the hurricane season, as well as
well thought out action in the brief period of time between a
hurricane warning and the start of disruption to access routes
and damage to property.

That is the subject of Part 2 of this article.

©2005, Graham McClung. This article is adapted from a free
special report on weather emergencies. It can be downloaded from
http:
//www.home-weather-stations-guide.com/tyvm.html

While you’re there, check out the rest of the site for more
information on dangerous and spectacular weather.

Find something you feel passionately about - Ok, I’ll readily admit
that on the surface this seems like a no-brainer. Yet it never ceases
to amaze me by how many people I talk with that feel as though
they’re just going through the motions with regards to the events in
their lives (both business and personal).

My Friend, you may be at a point where you personally feel as though
things are a little stagnant. I can sympathize with you. I know in
the past I have certainly felt this way myself. Getting up each
morning going to a job that I didn’t particularly enjoy. Doing things
that I didn’t really find all that exhilarating.

Then it dawned on me, if I was going to make a change I simply had to
stop talking about it and at least take small active steps towards
doing it. So rather than quit doing the things that I didn’t enjoy I
simply started dedicating a little bit of time to the things that did
inspire me. Things I could get excited about! As time passed I
realized that more and more of my time was being spent on the things
I enjoyed doing in my life.

The truly amazing thing was that suddenly I was no longer counting
the hours I put into an project. I loved the new path I was on so
much that the long hours of effort it was taking became almost
enjoyable. Oh yes, and along the way I did let go of a lot of the
things that no longer inspired me.

I do the motivational web site and my two free newsletters full-time
now. I have always had a passion for such things, and I do truly
believe that our achievement is going to be directly proportionate to
our ability to focus on the things that inspire us! These things move
us to action in ways that simply can’t be explained. I call it one of
life’s unsolved mysteries.

Each one of us has within us a special plan. Often times it can take
a while to realize what that plan might be. Far more often the plan
itself is a journey composed of many twists and turns and lots of
valuable life lessons along the way.

I find a certain peace in accepting that life is a journey and
displaying a willingness to accept and have faith that in the end all
will work out. I hope this message finds you well on your way to
accepting what life may have thrown your way… Your friend in
cyberspace, Josh Hinds

Josh Hinds - Founder http://GetMotivation.com
Get the *BEST* in motivation and self-improvement directly
in your inbox for FREE, visit: http://getmotivation.com/myezines.html
or send a blank e-mail to: mailto:ltm@infogeneratorpro.com

Candle holders are an essential accessory for candles. The first
candle holders, made of clay, date back as far as fourth century
BC Egypt.

Of course, today we have a wide variety of candle holders to
choose from. They are a colorful addition to home décor.

You can find candle holders for any variety of candles,
including: tapered, pillar, votive, floating, tealites,
birthday, etc.

Candle holders are available to match any style of décor. There
are candle holders made from glass, pewter, brass - even some
molded out of bamboo or coconut.

Choose decorative plate candle holders on which to set your
pillars. Candle holders shaped like small lamps with shades add
soft light to any room. There are also many beautiful glass cup
candle holders to hold your votive candles.

For your floating candles, choose one of the many fancy bowls as
your candle holder. You can even have a ready-made candle holder
by choosing a candle in a jar with a decorative lid.

So, add a little flair to your home with some beautiful and
scentsational candles and candle holders.

First off you have to decide on a shape when it comes to the contemporary style.There is a great variety to choose from. Unlike the traditional wedding invitations the contemporary ones don’t stick to the usual square or rectangular shape; you have far more choices.

Hearts, flowers and circles are all available designs when you look at modern wedding invitations. Unlike traditional wedding invitations that will largely consist of a single sheet of paper - it’s modern cousin will come as a bi or even tri fold wedding invitation sometimes even providing pockets for the reception card.

No limits on Paper and Ink choices. Unlike it’s traditional cousin modern invitations for your wedding will set no limits or boundaries to your imagination when it comes to the color of the paper or the ink you are using. Whereas you would limited in the former to white or ivory on the paper and black as pretty much the only choice for your ink; let you imagination run free for the modern wedding invitation style

Rice paper has become more and more popular lately as the number one choice of contemporary invitation paper. Not only does it look elegant and natural it’s also considered environmentally friendly. Colors can range from a subdued pastels to really bright colors. You can also choose the appropriate ink color that will make your invitation stand out.

Be Different in your presentation You don’t have to send out your modern wedding invitation in a plain envelope. A popular way lately has been to have a scroll like invitation made up and then have it sent by mail in tube. Others have come up with the idea of hiring an artist to create cartoons of the bride and groom to set themselves apart from other invitations.

One last thing to consider are the costs. Plan on spending more for your creative ideas for contemporary wedding invitations. On average you’ll end up spending between $3-$5 more than traditional invitations. That may not sound like a lot, but when you are inviting 200 guests those extra $$ will add up rather fast.

Summer Cleaning Tips By Mary Findley copyright@2003

This article may be reprinted but only with the accompanying bio
at the end of the article.

Oh those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Those lazy days turn
into hectic days when a few summer hazards pluck away at your
time. Let’s take a look at a few easy solutions to summer
problems.

First, when you head to the gas station to fill your lawn mower
gas container, place this container inside a heavy-duty plastic
bag then inside a plastic bucket. Secure it to prevent it from
tipping during travel. Oil and water don?t mix. Should the
container tip in your car, there is little you can do to remove
the gas from carpeting.

A handy trick for cleaning hands outside: Cut off an old pair of
panty hose just below the knee. Slide your soap slivers into the
toe part. Tie the top end around an outdoor faucet and it?s a
quick way to wash outside. Cut off the rest of the leg part just
below the panty and place over your cotton dust mop for an
inexpensive and reusable “Swiffer”. The panty part makes an
excellent polishing cloth for shoes.

Panty hose manufacturers really don’t like me for giving out
this next handy tip but ? well too bad. After purchasing a pair
of panty hose, saturate them with water and place in a zip lock
bag. Fill the bag half full with water then freeze until solid.
Remove and thaw at room temperature. Freezing hardens the fibers
so they don’t run so easily. Refreeze them occasionally for even
longer wear. One pair should last you a month or two.

Grass stains: Pour liquid dish soap onto the stains and allow to
set overnight. Rinse and wash as normal. Be certain to rinse out
the dish soap before laundering, otherwise it may cause too much
foam in your washing machine. This also does a great job on
soccer and baseball uniforms or for extra dirty socks.

Red clay: Follow the above directions only use a concentrated
orange cleaner instead. Do not rinse it out. Bio Ox is now my
favorite cleaner. It’s ten times more potent than Orange Clean
and far more concentrated. You would need to call me to order it
at 800-345-3934. It’s not available in the stores yet. Or find
Orange Clean at Bed Bath and Beyond. If you use Orange Clean get
the concentrated type. The pre diluted is not much good.

Underarm stains on shirts seem to worsen when we sweat. Before
washing saturate the underarm area with a 50/50 solution of
hydrogen peroxide to water. Allow that to set 30 minutes then
wash as normal. If you have been using bleach to whiten clothes
and they are now graying, switch to peroxide. The first time
pour 1 to 2 cups peroxide in your washer as it fills along with
your detergent. Add the clothes and soak for 30 minutes. After
the initial cleaning 1 cup works fine. You?ll find less
expensive peroxide at beauty supply stores. It?s a 20 per cent
solution so use only one-half cup.

Grease or oil: The orange cleaner does an excellent job. Use it
concentrated dab on the spot and wait 30 minutes or until the
oil has loosened. There is a product at the automotive supply
stores called GoJo. Use the liquid nonabrasive kind following
the above directions. It does contain petroleum distillates that
could leave a stain on clothing. Always test a spot before using
a cleaner.

Be careful of the orange cleaner you buy, many contain petroleum
distillates that dry certain fabrics and material. Check
clothing before placing in the dryer. Heat sets stains and if
any stain remains on the clothes, dryer heat makes it very
difficult to remove.

Mini blinds. Oh how they attract dirt. For lightly dusty blinds,
put a clean old cotton tube sock over one hand. Spray that with
and all purpose cleaner. My favorite all purpose cleaner is to
nearly fill a spray bottle with water then add one good squirt
of Ivory Liquid dish washing detergent and gently shake to mix.
Turn the slats of the mini blind down and wipe over the slats
turning the sock as it soils. Reverse the slats and walk around
behind them and repeat. To clean the cords, grab a can of
foaming shaving cream and gently dab on the cord. Wait 20
minutes then rinse. Strange as it sounds foaming shaving cream
removes many a stain.

If your blinds are past the point of no return then try this
handy trick. First pound two nails into the back part of your
home positioning them about a foot narrower than the width of
the blind. Remove the blinds one at a time and place on the
nails. At the grocery store purchase a can of Dow or Lysol Tub
and Tile Cleaner. Don’t use the spray bottle because those don’t
foam very well.

Put the blind on the nails and turn the slats facing down. Spray
the slats thoroughly with the tub cleaner starting at the bottom
of the blind working your way upward. Wait until the foam begins
to drip down from the top then wipe them down with a damp
sponge. Reverse the slats and turn the blinds over and repeat
the process. Dry and rehang. You should clean one blind in about
10 minutes without the mess of dunking them in the bathtub and
scratching the tub.

Mary Findley spent 12 years professionally cleaning homes and
developed a mop made to clean with ordinary terry cloth towels.
She also shares her cleaning tips and shortcuts with you twice a
month in her “Moppins Mail” newsletter. You can sign up for her
free newsletter at http://www.GoClean.com.

Well, Well - You’re Having Twins! 11 Top Tips On Working With
Newborn Twins