Data Disaster Recovery Plan for Total Disaster

(A) Scope

This DR Plan is designed for the worst case scenario. i.e. complete loss of the site - fire, water damage (flood), earthquake.

Here are the key areas that you need to focus:

* Crisis Management Procedures

* Security Procedures held by Building Security

* List of emergency contact names held by Senior Management.

* Backup/ Recovery Procedures

* Inventory List(s) (what required / can be savaged)

* Business Continuity Plans

* DR Test, BCP Test (These can be provided by DR Managed Service)

(B) Invocation Procedures
This is an important and often ignored section of the plan that should be given great attention. It is also imperative that the procedures defined here are included in the testing schedule as plans invariably flounder at this early stage due to lack of familiarity with how to set the recovery process in motion. It should contain details of who is authorized to invoke the plan, and how this is to be done.

Purpose
In a disaster situation people will need to take on special responsibilities to effect the data recovery.

Such responsibilities need to be defined clearly, and the assignments can then be made5B4 from the pool of staff available at the time. Provisional allocations have been made but will be confirmed at the time with the personnel available.

Records should be kept of personnel assigned to specific teams in order that the recovery process is controlled in an orderly manner and that a record of staff not actively involved on-site is maintained (this can then be used if required to call on extra resource as/when necessary).

Telephone Numbers are one of the important contributing factor to the success of data disaster recovery. Imagine during emergency, you cannot contact a technical personal responsible for a specific system as you do not his/her number!

At Disaster Recovery site, ensure the following are available:

* Server Room Filing Cabinet

* Standard Build Documentation

* Application Restore Procedures

* Technical Manuals

* Disaster Recovery Plan copy

* Contact Numbers of your own Personnel

* Contact Numbers of Disaster Recovery Service (Your appointed DR Vendor)

Remote backup will assist in backup process in the offsite backup centre. The remote backup can be done via communication lines such as Wide Area Network or Private Lease Line (encrypted line is recommended).

Inventory
Following loss of HW and SW, it will be necessary to set insurance claims processing in motion. To assist in this process inventories of hardware and software should be main5B4tained.

Hardware and Software Inventory (This encompasses IT e.g. PCs, Servers and also non IT asset e.g. furniture and fixtures, phones, important documents etc.

Plan Testing

Purpose
It is imperative that detailed testing plans are produced to support the Disaster Recovery document. The plan is not a working document until it has been fully tested and proven using the Disaster Recovery Software.

Here is an example of a Data Disaster Recovery form that you can use:

Please enter details of all attempts made whether successful or unsuccessful.

Recovery of Country Data Centre
In the event of Disaster (e.g. fire, water damage - flood) in the company with a total loss of servers and networks, we will bring up the critical servers in this location.

(C) In-House Recovery

* Action: Retrieve backup tapes from offsite centre

* Action: 2 hours - can recovery a month old data. Offsite backup tape is 1 month old data.

DISASTER DATA RECOVERY SITE TEAM

Once decision taken to invoke this Plan Data Disaster Recovery Plan, the following checklists are recommended:

* Locate /Install DR Server(s) - server disaster recovery

* Contact third party suppliers for additional equipment (if required)

* Equipment available at DR site Install and test Disaster Recovery equipment and connectivity

* Connect up Switches and Server

* Test all network points

* 5A3Install/Test workstations

* DR site established Restore application(s)

* Recover latest copies of system and data backups

* Restore operating system environment

* Restore applications

* Restore data files

* Notify user management of availability and status

* Restoration complete Hand over

* Obtain user acceptance

* Leave contact details for support.

Gabriel Ng is an IT Security Consultant, IT Auditor (CISSP) and author of http://www.comsectutorial.com This site is setup to provide step by step information and how to use FREE security tools and commands. Further, recommendation on hacking prevention, Disaster Recovery Tips, controls to minimise security threats from viruses, trojans, spywares, hacking based real life experience while conducting security assessment and penetration tests.

Fallbrook Siding

Chicago Water Damage Restoration

If you live in the Chicago area and are in need of water damage restoration there are a number of places you can call. Water damage happens all the time from storm drainage back ups which also carry sewage and can ruin a person's basement or even their main floor. There is also damage from rain water that a sump pump can help but you might not have had it installed yet and therefore the damage is done.

2 X 6 Handrail Cap Problem

Mold Testing - Forensic Science Investigation for your Family's Health

If you have reason to believe you have a mold problem in your home, you may need to consider getting professional help. Investigating your own home for mold problems is certainly a step you should take, but if your sleuthing does not come up with solid evidence then you will need to get mold testing done. Though it is an expense most homeowners would prefer to avoid, mold can be a serious health issue and should not be taken lightly.

Investigating on your own before bringing in a professional is fine, so long as your investigations do not end up disturbing mold and spreading the dangerous spores into the air. The easiest way to begin searching for mold is to follow your nose; mold and mildew have a distinctive smell, which is generally associated with damp surroundings. Indeed, mold needs moisture to survive, so the best place to start is any area where you know there has been water leaking or seeping into the home. This could be something as large as a roof or plumbing leak, or simple condensation from con1C84stant steamy showers or an improperly tuned air conditioning unit.

Surface mold is easily detected, and generally easy to dispose of. Many commercial mold killers exist on the market and most do a fine job. The more insidious types of mold, however, are often hidden behind walls or under carpets, and this is where mold testing comes in.

Professional mold testers have the tools and expertise to uncover mold hidden in many parts of the household. Often they will take cultures and grow the mold spores in a lab, to discover what kinds of mold are growing, and whether they are benign or dangerous. Though scent is a good indicator of mold, it is not always practical to sniff around the entire home, and sometimes areas are missed. Also, some types of molds are less 'nose-worthy' than others, though no less damaging to your families health.

If you have had a leak or flood or other water intensive problem in the home, there is a good chance that mold has had a chance to grow. Mold spores simply float around in the air, and it doesn't take much to allow them to thrive. However, unless the area remains moist, the mold will dry up. This doesn't mean the problem is necessarily solved, as the spores still end up airborne, and ultimately breathed in.

If your own investigations have proved fruitless, but you are still convinced there may be mold in the home, then mold testing is imperative. The cost can be significant, however, so it is best to try and find out as much on your own as possible. However, the cost is often worth it, when hidden mold is discovered in places you might not have expected.

It is also a good idea to have mold testing done when buying a home, as part of the general building inspection, as the history of the home is not always disclosed. In the event of a flood, professional mold removal services can be quite ruthless, often cutting out large pieces of wallboard to remove and sanitize mold breeding grounds. Some homeowners prefer to avoid the expense of this kind of large-scale disaster relief, but the result can often be hidden mold in the walls. As a home buyer, you want to be sure that you are not buying hidden mold as well.

Though mold testing can be expensive, if you suspect there may be mold but you have not been able to find any, it may be worth it. Mold can cause many serious illnesses, particularly respiratory sickness, so removing mold is imperative. The cost of not testing for, and removing mold will ultimately be born by the health of your family.

For more information on mold testing and household mold, please visit:

http://www.HealthyHomeFacts.com

Brent Craig is a writer and researcher with an interest in healthy home options.

Stringer Layout At Landing

Cheating Spouse? - Avoid These Five Mistakes

If you think you have a cheating spouse, you should avoid the following five crucial mistakes at all costs. All too often when you get caught up in the downward spiral of suspicions, it clouds your ability to keep yourself objective; something that you need to be if you want to get to the truth.

If you already find yourself to have made one or more of these mistakes with your spouse, it does not mean that it makes it impossible to find out the truth about possible infidelity, but it does make getting to the truth that much harder.

While your instincts are powerful, it is by no means conclusive - So leaving or separating with your partner should not be your first move, but a last resort. If you feel that your spouse is having an affair, you will be in a position to gather much better clues and evidence of them being unfaithful than if you are apart because of a hasty decision on your part.

Do not spread the word based on your suspicions - While it is natural and perfectly understandable that you want to get your heavy thoughts off your chest, and confide in friends and family, you should do so with caution. There are two reasons for this. One is that you need to make sure that the person you choose to confide in will not gossip in any way and spread the word, and may be ultimately lead to your spouse knowing. Secondly, it is not uncommon that your cheating spouse is involved with the very friend that you are confiding in. Hard, I know - but it happens all the time.

Don't pretend to be ignorant - As traumatic and emotionally draining it is to find you are living with a cheating spouse, pretending to ignore it and go into denial is the worst thing you can do. It is probably the most harmful way to deal with the difficult situation. When you choose to ignore your partners' infidelity, you are giving the impression of a silent approval. Your spouse will start to feel comfortable with continuing the secret relationship.

Wasting your time on the other person - This is a huge mistake, and all too common. This is especially true when a woman feels her husband is cheating on her. The desire to know more about the other person is overwhelming for some, and stems from an uncontrollable anger. Repeatedly questioning your spouse about the other person, and dragging them into every situation and conversation will only make him closer to her. Belittling and confronting or threatening the lover to back off from your husband or wife, will only them defensive and closer together.

The sanity of mind is in the proof - Last but not least, is the biggest mistake you must avoid when you think your spouse is cheating on you, is to confront him or her without any real proof of their cheating ways. Without having any real evidence, confronting your partner will result in a continual cycle of hurt, suspicions and betrayal.

The important thing to remember is to keep yourself calm despite facing the adversity and suspicions of a cheating spouse, as the only way forward is to find the proof followed by a well thought out decision on whether you will leave your partner or choose to rebuild your marriage and relationship.

Tim Denio has helped over 27000 of men and women learn to discover the truth about infidelity in their relationship. To end your suspicions, and find out if you have a cheating spouse using proven shortcuts, visit : http://www.cheatingspousecaught.com

Utility Closet At Entrance

Why Some Married Women Cheat On Their Husbands

Marriages in our society today do not seem to mean nearly as much as they used to in the past, with divorce commonly being the first preferential choice in modifying a married couples problems or troubles. Individuals who exchange their vows of matrimony, are not only making a promise to their new partner, but also to God, and many people seem to take that vow very lightly.

Just as men have unremarkably done in the past, in recent years is has become increasingly more common for women to cheat on their husbands as well. Women share many of the assonant reasons for cheating on their spouse as men do, the only difference is that it has somewhat been more acceptable behavior for that of the male species, than it is of the female species. Just as a man who lies down with many women is often referred to as a stud, when a woman implements the same behavior in herself, she is considered nothing more than a paramour, whore, concubine or worse.

Many women become unfaithful to their husbands out of revenge, and feel that if their husband is sleeping around, there is nothing to say that they themselves do not have the right to sleep around as well. Although it may feel great at first getting revenge, it truly fulfills no purpose, and can only aid in destroying what is left of the couple's marriage.

Women also tend to stray from their husbands when they are not getting enough attention from their husbands, whether it be mentally, physically or otherwise. Many women feel that they have become alienated from their husbands and no longer feel that there is any love or feelings between them, at least not coming from their husband's part. Depression and loneliness can lead an individual to do many things that they would never do had they been feeling like themselves.

Some women simply cheat on their husbands for the thrill of not getting caught, or the feeling that they are getting away with something. Often times it becomes an addiction for men and women alike, and seems to be uncontrollable until all is lost, including their marriage, their health, and many times their mental stability.

In closing, women cheat for exactly the same reasons that men do, and in either case, it is not physically safe to be sleeping around on your spouse, and risking losing your marriage, no matter how far lost you think your marriage may be. If you are that dead set on ending your marriage, go ahead and do it, before you start sleeping around, especially if you have children that will be hurt by your actions.

Article written by: Laura Fleenor - owner and webmaster of Articles 4 Me And U.com and Particle Articles.com. Laura is also webmaster of Article Pyramid.com. Laura holds an AAS in Computer Programming, an AS in Information Technology, and a Certificate of Program Completion in Web Page Design/Publishing.

Fallbrook Building Articles 4

Personal Branding 101 - Present Your Personal Brand Through Your Personal Profile

Whether you are in an organisation and developing your career or you are the leader of your own professional services practice, one thing you can be sure about....

.... at some stage in the next 12 months you are likely to be asked to present yourself on paper.

That could be for a proposal you are submitting, a job you are applying for or a profile you have to present as a speaker at a conference.

But when was the last time you reviewed your personal profile or CV? And does it accurately reflect your expertise and experience?

I was recently working with a professional association to support them building their brand on-line. They had developed a new web site which gave the members of the association the opportunity to add their details to the data base, providing them with increased visibility.

However, the quality of the personal profiles was so poor, they certainly were not likely to attract interest from potential clients or strategic joint venture partners.

I was also recently working with an executive who was looking for their next career move and we were working on developing their personal brand. However when we looked at their personal marketing materials - their CV - it certainly did not enhance their reputation.

I am frequently asked for a copy of my personal profile and what I have some to learn is that we need to have a core profile available at a moments notice so that we can adapt it to the needs of the audience requesting our profile.

You see it is much easier keeping your profile up to date and relevant than having to create it the first time.

So if your personal profile or CV is out of date, here are four personal branding action steps to ensure that your profile projects your personal brand.

1. Print out a copy of your current personal profile and identify which elements are no longer current.

2. Update your profile - whether it is a CV or professional profile make sure that it does not exceed 2 pages.

3. If you are not sure if your profile accurately reflects your personal brand and expertise, ask a colleague or friend to review it and provide feedback.

4. If you need additional assistance consider the support of a resume writer or personal branding coach to help you create

Do you want to learn more about this and similar strategies? Then join me for my no-cost branding and business development teleseminars.

Register today at: http://www.bizgrowthlive.com

Want to get started immediately? Then visit http://www.bizgrowthnews.com for immediate access to free resources, articles and audio turorials and bring your corporate brand, employer brand and personal brand to life today!

Copyright Krishna De. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long the article is printed in its entirety, you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way and include the copyright statement.

About the author: Krishna De is considered to be one of Europes leading branding, business blogging, corporate podcasting, marketing and media experts. You will find Krishna building her brand online at http://www.krishnade.com where you can also access her content rich branding and business development ezine, bringing you strategies, inspiration and tips to attract more clients in less time with less stress.

Fallbrook Building Articles 4

Commercial Real Estate - Learn To Profit from The Two-Step Purchase Offer Process

A commercial real estate purchase offer requires a two step process that includes a Letter of Intent followed by a Purchase and Sale Agreement. The importance of this two step process should not be underestimated because the non-binding Letter of Intent is quick, efficient and lays the foundation, for the lengthy legally binding Purchase and Sale Agreement.

The Letter of Intent begins your offer and is a concise, straightforward document that should be easy to understand and contains specific information spelling out the basic terms of the agreement you want the seller to read without feeling the urge to involve legal counsel. Your terms and conditions outlined in the Letter of Intent will begin structuring the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the commercial real estate under consideration.

The Letter of Intent is a combination of a cover letter with specific elements referencing documents you request for information. One particular part of the letter of intent you want to establish is your validity as an investor with an offer worth considering and your intention to purchase the property described. Only a fully executed purchase and sale agreement legally binds the parties to the deal.

The structure of a successful Letter of Intent will include but not be limited to the following:

Property description: a brief, accurate description of the property naming the number of units, bedrooms and baths, including the name of the apartment complex as described in the listing or information you received.

Purchase price: determined through an evaluation process that considers required rate of return, comparable market price and net operating income in relation to the price.

Earnest money deposits: amount applicable to the purchase price required and time frame needed to deposit it.

Date: establishes the response time by the seller of accepting or rejecting your offer.

Title and Title Insurance: relates to presenting documentation of clear title to the property

Due diligence: an attached exhibit outlining specific items for review required from the seller

Conditions of the offer: these include various items related to closing, costs, extensions, financing, property review, defaults, etc.

A well presented Letter of Intent sets the parameters for the negotiation and can position you for a successful Purchase and Sale Agreement.

Learn more about the Purchase Offer Process from a proven Investor Education Resource:
Investor Tours University is a dedicated resource helping investors build wealth and achieve their defined level of success. We offer state-of-the-art commercial real estate investing education, tailored to meet the needs of investors with varied backgrounds and experience levels. Our faculty network consists of national experts in legal, tax, investment strategy, property management, acquisition and sales professionals who practice daily what they teach investors, which is how to achieve generational wealth using commercial real estate.

Monte Lee-Wen is an accomplished author, CEO and Founder of Investor Tours University.

Investor Tours University currently offers:
- Free bi-weekly teleclasses
- Investment Education Seminars
- Investor Tours Events
- Investment Education Webinars
- And much more . . .

ITU is a subsidiary of the Partnered Property Acquisitions Group, The PPA Group, of Austin, Texas. The PPA Group has holdings of over $40 million in commercial real estate with a projected target of over $100 million in commercial real estate acquisitions by the close of 2007. Visit: http://www.theppagroup.com

The PPA Group does business in all 50 states. Monte may be contacted at (512) 651-0513. ITU is the #1 educational resource for in depth commercial real estate investment education offering a proprietary investment system taught by Monte Lee-Wen.

You are welcome to share this article, unedited, in it's entirety with anyone. You may not remove this text. 2007 Investor Tours University

Look at more articles just like this one go to: http://www.investortours.com

Carlsbad Remodeling
De Luz Remodeling

Walking: It's Never Too Late to Lose Weight!

How did a thin person like me become overweight? My mother had probable Alzheimer's disease and I was her caregiver for nine years. During this time she lost the ability to read, understand television, converse with others, and the ability to speak. Eating was the only thing that gave her pleasure.

To give her some quality of life I took her out to lunch every Wednesday and cooked a gourmet meal for her every Sunday. Slowly but surely, I put on extra pounds. Though I had to buy larger clothes, I wasn't aware of my weight gain, and continued to think of myself as thin.

Looking back, I realize I was so busy caring for my mother that I forgot to take care of myself. After she died I still didn't take care of myself because I was grieving. But the day came when I stepped out of the shower, looked in the mirror, and gasped.

Who was this person?

When I went for my annual physical exam my doctor told me that tests showed a slight increase in my blood sugar level. She cautioned me about becoming a late onset diabetic and said I could avoid this by shedding a few pounds. "The next time you see me I'll be thinner," I declared.

I bought some walking shoes, a pedometer, and jined a health club. In the evenings I walked in my neighborhood. A year and a half later I was back to my college weight and clothing size. My blood sugar was normal, I had renewed energy, and could out-walk people half my age. Now my goal is to maintain a healthy weight.

I walk 10,000 steps a day, which is about fve miles. On snowy or rainy days I walk around the center island in my kitchen, inside at a local mall, or every grocery store aisle. Instead of piling thngs on the bottom step to take upstairs, I look for excuses to climb stairs.

Sometimes I don't get in 10,000 steps a day and when this happens I don't punish myself. I just walk more the next day.

In addition to my daily walking. I cut my protein intake, ate more fruit, vegetables, and fiber, and cut portion sizes. I'm 5' 5 1/2" inches tall, flucuate between 115-117 pounds, and have a Body Mass Index (weight adjusted for sex, height, and age) of 19 - an excellent number.

Daily walks help me to prevent diabetes, maintain a normal blood pressure, reduce the risks of heart attack and colon cancer, and slow bone loss. Walking can do the same for you. If you haven't been physically active lately, get a medical checkup before you start walking. No matter how old you are, it's never too late to lose the weight!

Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To learn more about her work go to www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 26 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. A member of Mayo Clinic's Action on Obestity Task Force, she continues to write health recourses for chidlren and adults. Her latest book, Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, co-authored by Dr. Lois Krahn, is available on amazon.com by entering the title or her name. Hodgson is hard at work on her next book, Doctor in the House: An Inside Look at Medical Marriage.

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Drywall Vs Drop Ceiling

Commercial Mortgage Broker Marketing Secrets

What you know makes all the difference.

Countless surveys and articles have been written about how an independent commercial mortgage broker can market themselves. You can attend seminars, read books, listen to web broadcasts, or get the advice of your business associates. Marketing advice is everywhere, but who gets it? Who does it right? What can you do to bring clients to your doorstep? Im not talking about leads, you can buy leads. Im talking about real clients, the kind of clients that need your expertise, and will pay you real money to get it. I will tell you who will not come knocking at your door. Clients that dont know you exist.

Ok here is the secret to marketing. Do something. Whether right or wrong, do something. If you do nothing, it will always be the wrong thing. Dont be afraid to get your name out there. If you do something, you will be right some of the time and some of the time will bring you clients. Its not about a fancy ad campaign. Most of us cant afford that sort of expense and it wont work anyway. What clients need in the commercial mortgage industry is expertise and options. Options that will get their deals funded, and options that you, the expert commercial mortgage broker can offer. Educate those clients and you will reap the rewards.

Step 1- Figure out what makes you unique. Why would someone want to work with you to finance their commercial mortgage? Are you knowledgeable about the mortgage industry? Do you have multiple commercial lender contacts that make you invaluable to a potential client? If so, let them know.

Step 2- Write articles, send informational emails, write a newsletter, speak at investor events, anything to let people know who you are and why they need to do business with you. Above all educate your clients about yourself and about the commercial mortgage industry. Dont assume that they know what they are doing, assure they know what they are doing. It will make your job easier in the long run.

Step 3- Do it with a smile, self confidence, and a helpful spirit. No one wants to work with someone who is condescending or pessimistic. A lot of people have made it far with a smile and a great attitude. Know you can do it and get out there and do it. Henry Ford once said "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right".

My time in military service taught me one great life lesson. That lesson is to control the things in your life that you can control and dont worry about the things you have no control over. There is nothing you can do to change those things. Think about that for a moment. How much time do you spend worrying about interest rates, traffic, or global warming? These are all things you have no control over, so dont worry about them. Whether your phone will ring tomorrow, next week, or next month with your next commercial deal is something you can control. Something you and only you can make happen. Take some time to decide what works best for you. What fits your style and abilities? Are you a good writer? Then write some articles and educate the commercial investors in your area on commercial finance. Are you better face to face? Join every investor or community group you can and go meet people. Having no budget is not an excuse for not marketing.

The only secret is to do something. No one knows your business better than you do. What makes you different? Why should someone do business with you? All you have to do is figure that out and let people know. Get the word out any way you can. Marketing is not magic.

Contributed by: Patrick Bedall, Vice President, VEC Financial Group

You are welcome to share this report, unedited and in its entirety. All links must remain intact. No information in this article should be taken as legal advice.

2007 VEC Financial Group

The VEC Financial Group (VEC) is a privately-owned company dedicated to providing commercial mortgage and business financing to property owners and entrepreneurs across the country. VEC Financial provides these services by connecting the right broker with the right borrower, who ultimately finances with the right lender. This personalized system of matchmaking helps provide the best possible commercial financing experience. For more information on how to join VEC Financial Group as a client, Associate Broker, vendor, or lender please visit our website.

http://www.vecfinancial.com

Possible 6 X 6 Wood Post Damage
Quarter Inch Ply Sawn Plywood

Save Some Coin! - A Guide to DIY Lawn Care

A great looking lawn and its care is possible for anyone, not just for professionals.

With an awareness of the issues that deal with proper lawn care and health, you can easily take care of your lawn yourself and save a lot of money that you would pay someone else to do the same job.

For those who have the time necessary to work on their lawns, ding it yourself lawn care is not difficult. The following tips will help you to properly take care of your own lawn and keep it healthy and beautiful.

DIY Lawn Tips

Regular mowing is one of the most important lawn maintenance steps. As a natural source of nutrients (in the form of slow-release nitrogen) for the grass, it is important to leave the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing.

Another necessary step in DIY lawn care is watering. Each time you water, you need to apply at least 2.5cm of water. You must make sure to apply the water across the lawn evenly, and you can make sure you are using the correct amount by placing a container on the lawn while watering. When the water level in the container reaches 2.5cm or slightly more, you can stop. Over watering can be just as harmful as under watering. Make sure you stop applying water before over watering occurs, so you can avoid poor growing conditions and potential disease on your lawn.

Fertilizing is the next crucial step in DIY lawn care. Compost will add organic matter to your lawn and is a great natural fertilizer. Besides the organic matter, other major and secondary nutrients supplement your lawn when composting. Overall, the results of composting help to ensure a healthy, growing lawn.

A commonly overlooked process of lawn care is aerating. When you notice that the ground is hard and compacted, if thatch is accumulating, or when you see that water is not soaking into the lawn, it is important to aerate. By aerating, your lawn will benefit from a smoother flow of water, air, fertilizer, and important nutrients from the plant roots.

These DIY lawn care tips will get you started in taking care of your own lawn. They will help you to save money and make sure that you have control over the beauty and health of your own lawn.

Watch out as Thomas Fryd talks about lawn care fertilizer burn. Join Tom as he shares his plant and landscape experience at www.Plant-Care.com where practical professional advice is always online.

Utility Closet At Entrance

India's Thrust on Renewable energy Resource - Power

Let us first understand what energy is. We need energy to move about and work. We need healthy food to get that energy. The plants convert the sunlight and water into energy to grow. On the other hand, we use energy to travel from place to place in a car or in a plane, and it is this energy that we use to light and heat our homes. We use the energy stored in fuels, when gasoline is used to power the car. The engine in the car transforms energy in fuel to work on the wheels, for the car to move.

The energy that we put to use every day comes from the Earth's natural resources, and these resources could be classified into two categories; renewable and non-renewable energy. It is the energy that we can use over and over again, which we call renewable energy, for example wood. We get more and more wood by growing trees, the source is far from running out at present. But, as far as gasoline is concerned, the resource has already started to deplete, and the energy that we get from fuel is a non-renewable energy.

The solar power is now being used to generate the much wanted electricity using the photovoltaic energy, converting the Sun's rays to generate electric power. These photo cells are devices, made from silicon alloys, which produce electric energy when the Sun light falls on it. The Suns rays are composed of photons, which contain various degree of energy, and this energy corresponds to the different wave-lengths of the solar spectrum. When the sunlight strikes a photocell, the photons falling on it either gets absorbed, reflected, or pass through. It is those photons that get absorbed produces electricity. As the Sun's rays strike the surface of the photovoltaic cell, electron migration takes place, and this creates imbalance of charge, which appears as a voltage potential at the output. A large array of thee photovoltaic cells are used to produce enough electricity to light up a small house. The Sun light is therefore a renewable energy source, which could be harnessed to provide power.

India's total installation of power capacity is a little over 124,000 MW and out of that 60% is coal based, with hydro at 25%, and the rest are coming from gas and nuclear energy. Power shortfall has been estimated at 11% of the total energy, and 15% of the peak capacity requirements. These are likely to increase. It has been recently announced that the country would be facing a sudden power shortage of 70,000 MW, and several measures are being taken by the Indian Government to avert the shortfall. However, the power sector planning estimates, that another 10,000 MW of capacity will be required by the country in the in the near future, with the requirement of a further 10,000 MW in the next 10 years. There are environmental concerns about coal-base power plants, related to its emissions of particulate matters, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane and other gases. As regards the other alternative, Hydro-power plants can lead to degradation of soil, erosion, destruction of forest, wildlife displacement, and most important of all displacement of human habitats. The Indian Government has put the use of renewable energy in its top priority list to encounter the shortfalls envisaged.

Being a tropical and sub-tropical region, most part of the country experiences a clear sunny weather, over 250 to 300 days a year. This is comparable to the annual global radiation, which varies from 1600 to 2200 kWh/sq.m, which provides an equivalent energy potential of about 6,000 million GWh per year. According to the report maintained by the India Meteorological Department, the state of Rajasthan and Gujarat receives the highest annual global radiation, and with a large part of the land in the state of Rajasthan being barren and scarcely populated, it has become a suitable site for large central power stations based on solar energy.

In the sunny state of Rajasthan, the Indian Government is about to complete a huge new power station using hybrid systems. This fossil fuel/solar hybrid power plant is poised to generate a huge 140 megawatts of electric power, out of which 40 megawatt will be produced from a large array of solar parabolic troughs. The technology, which is much more cost effective than photovoltaic cells, uses large parabolic mirrors to focus the sunlight to heat a thermal media, like, gas or steam, which in turn drives a turbine generator. The project cost runs to about $1 million per megawatt and is still considered to be cheaper than the others.

In setting up a solar thermal plant in the state of Rajasthan, there are a few points to be proved, and these include:

-The operational viability of the technology used.
-Development of solar power energy for an expected significant reduction in operating costs.
-Contribute efficiently towards clean energy, and help to reduce greenhouse effect in the long run.

The operational viability of the solar energy thermal power plant is hoped to be demonstrated through commercial power sales and delivery arrangements with the grid. The technical development of the system is planned to be achieved through technical assistance and training. The power plant is a step forward to a long term program, for promoting the objective focused on climate change.

Over twenty two years experience in Oracle. Significant development & Management skills viz.,technical writing, project planning and execution, project management, Oracle sql, pl/sql, data flow design, database design, datawarehousing, Oracle applications viz., manufacturing, scm, crm, financials, hrms, workflow, Oracle discoverer, forms, reports, etc., having expertise in Business Analysis. Presently a Sr. Program Manager with a Large IT organisation in London, looking after 10 Oracle applications project in Europe, and managing offshore development partners.

Education:

1. Fellow - Institute of Electronics & Communication Engineers.
2. MSc. Eng (Computer Science), University of London.
3. BSc. Eng (Electronics), University of London.

Hobby: Writing

prabirsenuk@yahoo.co.uk

Fallbrook Building Articles 4

List Building - Building An Opt In List, Simply

There are no real secrets to making real money online. Yep, you heard me right. There are just strategies that you may not yet know of or have simply not used because you thought they would not work. It is really not complicated.

Simply put, the lifeblood of any online business is traffic. You need to get targeted visitors to your website, capture their details and then work at turning curious visitor into subscriber and subscriber into customer. This is where the real money is. And yes, I have heard that the money is in the list! What I am sharing with you here is how to build that much talked about list, simply.

You have 2 main options to choose from.

1) Buy a list. A list of names and addresses is really no use to you if you do not even know how they came to be. Any mailing to this list will be unresponsive. They simply don't know you. They may delete your messages without opening them or even report you for spamming. This can have serious consequences for your online existence. You could be shut down!

2) Build your own list (best option). You simply create your own traffic. You'll then be sending messages to people who know you. They will be more responsive to you. No fear of being accused of spamming either.

Of the two options you should choose to build your own list. How?

Here is how to build a list simply:

1. Research your niche market (I am assuming you already have a niche) and write a helpful report. Include in it links to affiliate products linked to your niche. You will be giving this report away for free, so it must be something people in your niche would want to have. It will be your exchange for your visitors contact details.

2. Subscribe to an autoresponder service. This particular tool is a must have. I use Aweber because they have a very high deliverability rate. They know how to beat the spam filters and place your email in your visitors inbox. Just where you want it. They also provide you with a html code that forms the name and address box for your squeeze page.

3. Set up a squeeze page and plug it into your autoresponder. Your squeeze page and autoresponder work in partnership to capture the name and email address of your visitor and manage subsequent follow ups. Send all traffic to your squeeze page.

4. Write carefully crafted emails to load your autoresponder with. Don't agonise over what to write. Be prepared to learn from those who have done it before you. Yep, learn from all those newsletters and other subscriptions you are presently signed up to. Remember you are trying to build a relationship with your visitor so use plain and simple language. Write like you would to a friend. These messages will be your relationship vehicle. Drive it well.

Having gone through the above steps you must stay in contact with your visitors who once on your list becomes a subscriber. Treat them well. Ask them what they want and provide it. Provide useful information they can act on to achieve their online goals.

Whatever you do, aim to build a solid relationship with your opt in email list.

Would you like to know more about how I do it?

Download my newly completed eCourse free at: http://www.ListBuildingMission.com

Here's your opportunity to learn How To Quickly Build A Profitable List From Scratch Without Spending A Fortune.

Willi D is an expert author and marketer specialising in list building and pre qualified traffic generation techniques.

You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author bylines are intact. Willi D 2007

Fallbrook Building Articles 4

Personal Branding 101 - Present Your Personal Brand Through Your Personal Profile

Whether you are in an organisation and developing your career or you are the leader of your own professional services practice, one thing you can be sure about....

.... at some stage in the next 12 months you are likely to be asked to present yourself on paper.

That could be for a proposal you are submitting, a job you are applying for or a profile you have to present as a speaker at a conference.

But when was the last time you reviewed your personal profile or CV? And does it accurately reflect your expertise and experience?

I was recently working with a professional association to support them building their brand on-line. They had developed a new web site which gave the members of the association the opportunity to add their details to the data base, providing them with increased visibility.

However, the quality of the personal profiles was so poor, they certainly were not likely to attract interest from potential clients or strategic joint venture partners.

I was also recently working with an executive who was looking for their next career move and we were working on developing their personal brand. However when we looked at their personal marketing materials - their CV - it certainly did not enhance their reputation.

I am frequently asked for a copy of my personal profile and what I have some to learn is that we need to have a core profile available at a moments notice so that we can adapt it to the needs of the audience requesting our profile.

You see it is much easier keeping your profile up to date and relevant than having to create it the first time.

So if your personal profile or CV is out of date, here are four personal branding action steps to ensure that your profile projects your personal brand.

1. Print out a copy of your current personal profile and identify which elements are no longer current.

2. Update your profile - whether it is a CV or professional profile make sure that it does not exceed 2 pages.

3. If you are not sure if your profile accurately reflects your personal brand and expertise, ask a colleague or friend to review it and provide feedback.

4. If you need additional assistance consider the support of a resume writer or personal branding coach to help you create

Do you want to learn more about this and similar strategies? Then join me for my no-cost branding and business development teleseminars.

Register today at: http://www.bizgrowthlive.com

Want to get started immediately? Then visit http://www.bizgrowthnews.com for immediate access to free resources, articles and audio turorials and bring your corporate brand, employer brand and personal brand to life today!

Copyright Krishna De. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long the article is printed in its entirety, you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way and include the copyright statement.

About the author: Krishna De is considered to be one of Europes leading branding, business blogging, corporate podcasting, marketing and media experts. You will find Krishna building her brand online at http://www.krishnade.com where you can also access her content rich branding and business development ezine, bringing you strategies, inspiration and tips to attract more clients in less time with less stress.

6 X 6 Post With 2 X 6 Stair Guard

Home Tips & Hints: August 2004

P.L.1991, c.431 with final retroactive amendments effective August 5, 1992 consolidated, into one more flexible law, the various long term tax exemption laws under which municipalities may agree with private entities to undertake redevelopment projects in return for tax exemptions.

P.L.1991, c.441, effective for the first full tax year commencing after its January 18, 1992 enactment, consolidated the various five-year tax abatement and exemption laws into one, more standardized law to govern all tax abatements and exemption regardless of the type of structure.

Long Term Tax Exemption Law

Prior to 1993, which was the first full year of operation governed by the new Long Term Tax Exemption Law, under the provisions of N.J.S.A.40:55C-40, the "Urban Renewal Corporation and Association Law of 1961," commonly known as the Fox-Lance Act, a qualified municipality (a municipality with "areas in need of rehabilitation") could abate from 15 to 20 years the taxes on newly constructed industrial, commercial, cultural, or residential projects of a corporation, with profits in excess of the limited profits returned to the municipality, or from 30 to 35 years for condominium projects. Condominium projects were given 30 to 35 years in order to provide a realistic period for permanent financing. Also, prior to 1993 under the provisions of N.J.S.A.55:16-1 et seq., the "Limited-Dividend Nonprofit Housing Corporation or Association Law," a qualified municipality could abate for up to 50 years the taxes on newly constructed housing. Further, under N.J.S.A.55:14I-1 et seq., a qualified municipality could abate for up to 50 years the taxes on newly constructed senior housing. Lastly, prior to 1993, under the provisions of N.J.S.A.40:55C-77, the "Urban Renewal Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1965," basically the same types of properties and projects as the Fox-Lance Act could be abated for 20 to 25 years with all profits being returned to the municipality. In all cases under these property tax exemption laws in-lieu of tax payments were required.

Commencing in 1993 the provisions of N.J.S.A.40A:20-1 et seq. permitted a qualified municipality to abate the taxes on properties and projects in the same way the pre 1993 law did with the following notable exceptions:

A new, flexible in-lieu of tax formula was established with a phasing-in of payments in-lieu of taxes to occur under both the percent of gross rental formula and the percent of total project cost formula.

The formulas for computing payment in-lieu of taxes for both office projects and housing projects were changed. The minimum annual service charge for office buildings was reduced from 15 to 10 percent of the annual gross revenues of the project or units of the project. Municipalities retained the option of computing the payment in-lieu of taxes at no less than 2 percent of the total project cost or total project units cost. For housing projects the annual service charge was changed from a minimum of 15 percent to a maximum of 15 percent of annual gross revenue of the project or from a minimum 2 percent to a maximum 2 percent of the total project cost or total project unit cost.

The payment in-lieu of tax formulas remains basically unchanged for all other types of industrial, commercial or cultural projects.

Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law

Prior to 1993, which was the first full year of operation under the new Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law, there were three types of property to which a qualified municipality (a municipality with "areas in need of rehabilitation") could grant a partial exemption and abatement for a five-year period.

These property types included:

Homeowner improvements (including additions and enlargements) made to one-unit or two-unit residential dwellings that were more than 20 years old. As determined by ordinance the first $4,000, $10,000 or $15,000 of increased value due to improvement on each unit could be exempted from taxation (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.72 to 3.79).

Commercial and industrial improvements and construction projects (with less than a 30% increase in building volume) could have the full assessed value of the improvement exempted with payments in-lieu of taxes made at 2%of project cost or 15% of annual gross revenues or an in-lieu of tax payment phased-in. (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.94to 3.112).

Multiple dwelling improvements or conversion of other types of structures to multiple dwellings could have up to 30% of the full value of the improvement or conversion alteration exempted. No in-lieu of tax payment was required (see N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.121 to 3.129).

Commencing in 1993 the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq., the "Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law," which consolidated all provisions of the previous five-year abatement statutes, permitted a qualified municipality to grant partial exemptions and abatements on residential dwellings, non-residential structures and multiple dwellings in the same way the pre 1993 law did, with the following notable exceptions made to the new law:

A new, single definition of "areas in need of rehabilitation" was established to govern all exemptions and abatements which, if chosen, could enable an entire municipality to be designated as an area in need of rehabilitation (thus permitting new structures to facilitate infill construction).

The new five-year law also permitted, for the first time, tax abatements and exemptions for new construction of single family and multi-family dwelling units and non-residential structures rather than just improvements or enlargements to such properties.

The new law also increased the allowable maximum tax exemptions for the value added by an improvement from $4,000, $10,000, and $15,000 to $5,000, $15,000 and $25,000, respectively, as the municipal ordinance may specify.

Biography: Gerald Jerry' Dowgin "The Property Tax Doctor" and the author of the Homeowner's Assessment Review Guide (http://www.propertytaxdoctor.com) a former tax assessor worked in the field of public finance at the State and local levels in New Jersey for more than three decades until his retirement in 2001. As a Supervising Tax Analyst in the Office of Research and Statistics in the Division of Taxation in the New Jersey Department of Treasury he worked principally on local property tax issues. Then he joined the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) in 1983 and served as the Secretary to the New Jersey Property Tax Assessment Study Commission for four years. While working in the OLS, Local Government Section he researched, drafted, and estimated the cost of the Senior Property Tax Freeze Bill which was signed onto law and worked on legislation that became law that virtually stopped the tax assessment practice of "Spot Assessments" in New Jersey that had treated many property taxpayers unfairly.

Installing Kitchen Cabinet Islands - 4 Tips

A lot of people today install kitchen cabinet islands for various reasons. The most common reason is so that they would be able to organize their kitchens better.

It is most often the case that people install kitchen cabinet islands in order to separate various areas of the kitchen and so that utensils and other kitchen items can be stored properly.

However, you should know that just putting up a kitchen island cabinet is inadvisable. You have to plan the installation carefully in order to make sure that the kitchen cabinet island you put up will truly help you instead of becoming a hindrance.

Here are some tips to help you install the kitchen cabinet island:

1. Plan the space carefully

Since a kitchen cabinet island requires a lot of space, you have to make sure that building one does not cramp your kitchen area.

Planning a kitchen cabinet island requires you to make sure that building one still leaves you with enough space to move and to cook freely around in the kitchen.

2. Decide the purpose of the kitchen cabinet island

Although organization is the main purpose of building a kitchen cabinet island, you should really think about how specifically you wish to accomplish this.

Do you want a kitchen cabinet island to serve as extra workspace or do you just want additional storage areas? This will ultimately help in deciding the design of the kitchen cabinet island.

3. Maximize the function of the kitchen cabinet island

Although it is a common practice to build kitchen cabinet islands to serve merely as an extra tabletop, a lot of people are realizing the advantage to actually turning the area into a whole new station.

That is, people are starting to realize the fact that adding a sink to the kitchen cabinet island can help speed up various processes such as cooking or cleaning up.

There are also those who install stoves into their kitchen cabinet island to help them handle cooking a lot of dishes at once. This is actually only advisable if you cook often for a lot of people.

4. Plan the necessary features

Of course, if you are planning to build a new sink or even a new stove, you need to make sure that you prepare the kitchen cabinet island area properly.

This means you need to install plumbing and gas lines where necessary. In doing so, you will be making sure that the kitchen cabinet island will function as intended.

For tips on choosing kitchen cabinets, visit http://www.kitchencabinets101.com

Fallbrook Building Articles 4

Infidelity Detective: Investigating a Lover or Spouse

Weve all heard the horror stories associated with relationships. Usually, these stories are the common issues that touch most, if not all, couples. A step up that ladder is infidelity statistics show that affairs affect approximately one in every three couples. Think about that for a minute. One out of every THREE. This means, even if you havent personally been cheated on, people in your life likely have been.

Also, millions of women each year are abused by the men in their life. Many of these women are ultimately murdered by the hands of their significant others. And its not just men that do the abusing women are abusers also. Abuse has many variations from the physical to the emotional and the far majority of it happens behind closed doors with someone the victim trusts.

Unfortunately, there are also con artists out there who purposely find emotionally needy targets to steal money from. They use their charisma and their lies to become romantically involved with their victims, and once the trust is established, they walk away. Not only leaving a broken heart, but often, an empty bank account. Many times, these victims never come forward because they blame themselves.

Today, it is easier than ever for someone to take advantage of you. With the advent of the internet, and the fascination with falling in love, internet matchmaking companies are big business. And, for the person looking to find someone to victimize, these organizations are a fairly anonymous way to begin their search.

There are many reasons why someone may want to investigate their lover or spouse. They could be in a new relationship with someone they dont know very much about, they could be contemplating marriage and are unsure if their intended has been honest with them, or they could be in a long-term relationship or marriage and believe their significant other is cheating on them. Regardless of the reason why, in todays world, it makes sense to be sure that your partner is who they say they are. In most circumstances, if your instinct is telling you something is off, it probably is.

Usually, when people are hiding something, there are clues to this. Knowing what to look for can help you in making the decision to investigate your lover or spouse. Realize, the following tips are based on the assumption that a couple is beyond the first date stage.

General Evasiveness. Are they vague when you question them about their job? Past relationships? Family? Schooling? Where they grew up? Whether they outright refuse to answer, or just never fully answer, this is a huge red flag.

Refusal to Give Contact Information. If you only have their beeper number, that signifies a problem. Even if you have their work phone number and their cell phone number, but not a home phone number you should be suspicious. Likewise, if you dont know where they live, and the individual is not forthcoming with this information, theres probably a reason why.

Keeps Friends and Family Hidden. If you have no idea who their friends and family are, have never met them, and dont even know where your partner hangs out with their friends and family be concerned. In healthy relationships, it is a normal and expected involvement to meet each others friends and family.

Deception. If youve caught them in lies, one after another, even small white lies this is a warning signal you should not ignore. When you know the facts about an incident and your partner is lying to you, theyre trying to keep you from discovering something. You need to carefully consider what they are hiding and why.

Missing Blocks of Time. Do they run to the store for one quick thing, and return three hours later? Do they suddenly have business meetings every night that run until late? Are they often unavailable at unexplainable times? Missing blocks of time often leads to the realization that your partner is cheating.

Complains about Lack of Money. If your partner is suddenly complaining about a lack of funds, and if this is a NEW thing, be careful. They could be spending their extra money on someone else.

New Concerns over Appearance. Suddenly worried about their physical appearance is a sign of infidelity. Those who have been cheated on always say their first clue was the new clothes in the closet, the excessive shaving, the using of perfume/aftershave when it wasnt before, the membership at the gym, etc. Basically, any behavior related to appearance the individual didnt have before.

The above characteristics do not mean your partner is lying to you, cheating on you, or is someone other than they say. However, they are suspicious in nature, especially if more than one of the above pertains to your partner. What do you do to confirm or deny your suspicions? There are many possibilities at your disposal if youre ready to investigate your lover or your spouse. Remember, the more information you have, the better decisions you can make.

Terry Taggert writes informational articles about people search, privacy, reverse phone lookups, and other similar topics. Conduct an instant reverse cell phone lookup at http://www.ReversePhoneDetective.com

Utility Closet At Entrance

Why Some Married Women Cheat On Their Husbands

Marriages in our society today do not seem to mean nearly as much as they used to in the past, with divorce commonly being the first preferential choice in modifying a married couples problems or troubles. Individuals who exchange their vows of matrimony, are not only making a promise to their new partner, but also to God, and many people seem to take that vow very lightly.

Just as men have unremarkably done in the past, in recent years is has become increasingly more common for women to cheat on their husbands as well. Women share many of the assonant reasons for cheating on their spouse as men do, the only difference is that it has somewhat been more acceptable behavior for that of the male species, than it is of the female species. Just as a man who lies down with many women is often referred to as a stud, when a woman implements the same behavior in herself, she is considered nothing more than a paramour, whore, concubine or worse.

Many women become unfaithful to their husbands out of revenge, and feel that if their husband is sleeping around, there is nothing to say that they themselves do not have the right to sleep around as well. Although it may feel great at first getting revenge, it truly fulfills no purpose, and can only aid in destroying what is left of the couple's marriage.

Women also tend to stray from their husbands when they are not getting enough attention from their husbands, whether it be mentally, physically or otherwise. Many women feel that they have become alienated from their husbands and no longer feel that there is any love or feelings between them, at least not coming from their husband's part. Depression and loneliness can lead an individual to do many things that they would never do had they been feeling like themselves.

Some women simply cheat on their husbands for the thrill of not getting caught, or the feeling that they are getting away with something. Often times it becomes an addiction for men and women alike, and seems to be uncontrollable until all is lost, including their marriage, their health, and many times their mental stability.

In closing, women cheat for exactly the same reasons that men do, and in either case, it is not physically safe to be sleeping around on your spouse, and risking losing your marriage, no matter how far lost you think your marriage may be. If you are that dead set on ending your marriage, go ahead and do it, before you start sleeping around, especially if you have children that will be hurt by your actions.

Article written by: Laura Fleenor - owner and webmaster of Articles 4 Me And U.com and Particle Articles.com. Laura is also webmaster of Article Pyramid.com. Laura holds an AAS in Computer Programming, an AS in Information Technology, and a Certificate of Program Completion in Web Page Design/Publishing.

Fallbrook Building Articles 4

Hope Chest - A Beautiful Furnishing Perfect For Your Bedroom

Are you in need of some extra storage space in your bedroom, but do not have do not want another dresser or nightstand? Well, you are in luck because there are other storage options available and one of those is a hope chest, which would be a great, stylish addition to that bedroom of yours.

A hope chest has a fairly basic design and will be in the shape of a longer box, about three to four feet in length. It will either rest flat on the floor or will be supported by legs and will have a lid that covers it, which will open and close to a large storage area and will sometime have a locking option. Over the years, some modifications have been made to this design and instead of featuring just one large storage area, now you can get ones that are equipped with drawers and even cabinets.

Probably the best quality of a hope chest is that fact that it is extremely practical since you can use its storage area for hiding away a number of different items in your bedroom space. Whether you have extra bedding that needs to be stored away during the summer months, or extra clothes and shoes. It would even work well for stowing books, photo albums, and other special keepsakes that you just do not seem to have a place for. Along with storing different things in one, you could even use it as a bench in your space, like you could place it at the foot of your bed and put a cushion on it for a great place to sit down while taking on and off your shoes or just as a nice place to take a break after a long day at the office. And, one would also be a nice choice for other rooms throughout your home as well, including any guest bedroom, bathroom, even entryway, or bathroom.

Along with its practicality, a hope chest would also be a great addition any room throughout your home because it is an extremely beautiful furnishing. It gets it beauty from the lovely wood materials that it can be crafted from, all of which are available in a wide variety of finishes. Some of the woods used to make it include maple, oak, pine, and cedar while some of the different finishes available are cherry, espresso, black, antique, distressed, and just the plain wood grain if you like the simple, sophisticated look.

Each one of these materials and finishes yields a stunning furnishing that would really enhance the look of any space it is put into. You can even get ones with hand painted patterns and accents, and others that have elegant scrollwork. If you do not believe it, just hit the internet and do some comparison shopping through all the online stores.

So, if you are looking to add a little storage space to your bedroom, but do not want to go with the usual options, then a great furnishing for you is a hope chest. Both practical, and beautiful, it is a lovely selection that is sure to please.

As the owner of many online sites, author Jennifer Akre, shares her insight on how to make your indoor living space more comfortable with classic a cedar chest, a memorable hope chest or to add a touch of comfort to welcome your guests, a hall chest.

Homeinspectionsystem

Preserving Your Chillies - Smoking

OK. You've managed to grow a successful crop of chillies for yourself but now you have a problem. Well, not really a problem; more a challenge.

What can I do to preserve my chillies so that I can use them all year round? Fortunately people have been faced with this problem for thousands of years. As a result there are a number of solutions that you can use. Some of them ancient, some of them quite modern.

This ezine article will examine, in detail, the process of dehydrating chillies with an electric dehydrator.

However, before you start, there are a few basics that we need to cover to help you get the most out of your garden and the harvested fruit.

1) It is universally agreed that the best approach to harvesting your chillies is what is known as a 'staggered harvest'. No - you don't have to be drunk. What it means is that you harvest the chillies a number of times throughout the growing season. This will ensure you maximize the production from your plants. If the chillies are left on, the plant believes it has achieved it's reproductive goals and few new fruit will be produced. Staggered harvesting ensures that the plant 'keeps on trying' for the full length of the growing season.

2) Unless you are specifically after green chillies, the best approach is to harvest ripe fruit with tight, shiny skins that are firm to the touch. Fruit that are ready should come off the plant easily. If you need to use any force it's probably best to leave it a few days before trying again.

3) Give the fruit a wash and have a second look to weed out any fruit that have black spots as these will usually rot and/or go moldy.

OK, you want to smoke your chillies to make your own chipotles (pronounced chip-ote-lays).

The team here at Chillies-Down-Under.com believe that the chipotle is the ultimate chilli. The complex, smokey flavour and medium level heat are, without argument, the perfect combination to go with just about anything.

Smoking chillies is an ancient way of preserving them that, as far as we can tell, was started by the Teotihuacan Indians in central America around 500 BC. Their civilization peaked around 200 AD and the Aztecs subsequently adopted chipotles and took them to the art-form they are today.

Smoking chillies is one of those activities that is about two-thirds art and one-third luck. What we will provide below (and it is a fairly lengthy article) are reasonably detailed guidelines, however, you must remember that they are guidelines to be followed, not strict rules guaranteeing a successful result. There are an enormous number of variables that can change the results you get, however, a willingness to experiment a little will take you through to a successful technique that works for you.

Equipment

The team have used three different pieces of equipment in their quest for the home made chipotle.

The Portable Fish Smoker

These little guys are approximately 40cm x 30cm and 20cm high. They are made from galvinised steel also the body will not rust, however, make sure you oil the internal rack as that is not galvinised and will rust.

The base of the unit is about 5cm above the 'bottom' and has air holes in the sides so that the methylated spirit burner can be placed underneath.

Inside the unit, wood shavings or saw-dust(see wood further down this page) are scattered across the base, which is heated by the burner underneath. The rack sits inside, above the wood shavings/saw-dust and the unit is closed with a tight fitting lid. Because of the size, you won't be smoking vast quantities of chillies, but they are a good, inexpensive tool for starting to learn what works, what doesn't, what you like .... and so on.

If you already have one of these smokers and have used it for fish or other foods, we strongly suggest you give a good wash before smoking your chillies. Otherwise they will pick up all sorts of odd flavours.

The Hooded Gas Barbecue

These babies are great. Chances are you've already got one, and if not, you should consider making it a priority. It is our preferred way of cooking virtually anything; grills, roasts, baking, stir-frys, .....

You need to have at least one of the plates inside to be a bar-grill type (i.e. one that is not a solid plate) so that the wood can be exposed to the flame. Wood used here comes is usually in the form off of small blocks of a 3-10 centimetres square. It must be soaked in water before use.

If the wood or chillies to be used are small, we make up flat-bottomed wire mesh baskets (about 20cm square with sides 3-5cm high) to hold the prevent them falling through the grill. It also makes it a lot easier to move things around.

Kettle Barbecue

Virtually everyone is familiar with these barbecues. They were a must have item in the 80's and while their popularity has faded a little, they are still a great product to cook with.

We are considering only the charcoal ones here as we are not sure why anyone would bother with a gas one. If you want to cook with gas, get a hooded barbecue. While the charcoal does take a long time to cook meat (the main reason for it's popularity drop-off), it also imparts a great flavour that is unique to the charcoal.

Fortunately for you, if you still have one, they are ideally suited to smoking chillies.

Once the charcoal is burning, it is a simple case of putting wet chunks of your favourite smoking wood on the coals, put your chillies on the rack or in wire baskets (see above) and putting the lid on.

Commercial Smokers

Unfortunately I don't have access to one of these and we apparently can't afford one (something about clothes for the kids) - hence, I won't discuss them here.

Woods

To make smoke you essentially need to apply heat to wood, without setting it alight.

We've discussed the heat sources above, so now it's time to look at the wood.

There are a number of options available that are not particularly hard to lay your hands on.

* apple

* mesquite

* pear

* hickory

Are generally available at the bigger hardware stores (Bunnings & Mitre 10 in Australia & New Zealand) and barbecue stores (Barbecues Galore, K-Mart, etc).

We know a small producer here in Western Australia who smokes their chillies using jarrah. The convention has always been to use non-resinous woods as they impart quite an antiseptic flavour, yet these jarrah smoked chillies, while unusual, are quite acceptable. Those readers in the eastern half of Australia may like to try redgum - we'd love to hear how you went if you do ! Also, if anybody else has a different type of wood they use we'd love to hear about that too.

Whatever you use, there are a couple of things you need to know;

* if you are using a fish smoker, the wood needs to be in the form of saw-dust or fine shavings,

* if you are using a hooded barbecue or a kettle, the chunks need to be soaked in water for at least an hour before.

The Process

* Get your wood chunks soaking if that is what you are using

* De-stem your clean chillies and then slit them in half and de-seed. Most instructions tell you simply to put a slit in the chilli, however, once they are smoked they become quite leathery and it is a 'pain in the bum' to try and remove the seeds then.

* Fire up whatever type of smoker you are using. If it's a portable fish smoker you don't need much time as it heats up very quickly. If it's a hooded, pre-heat for 5 minutes, and if you are using a kettle, it will take 15 minutes for your charcoal to be properly burning.

* Put on your wood. In the portable fish smoker, scatter the saw-dust/shavings evenly across the bottom about 0.5-1cm thick. In the hooded bbq put the chunks over the open grill, and in the kettle, put them straight onto the coals.

* Put your chillies in. Whatever you are using, put them straight onto the rack or grill plate, or into wire baskets and then onto the rack/grill plate.

* Close the hood/lid and check them every hour. For the portable fish smoker, you may want to check them every half hour for the first couple of hours to get a feel for how they are going (it's a small unit and cooks a lot faster).

* Replenish wood if necessary.

* Cooking time is in the order of 5hrs for the portable fish smoker and 6-8 hours for the other two when using jalapenos Cooking times will decrease for thinner fleshed varieties.

* You may find that the chillies will not go totally dry. If so, you can finish them off in a dehydrator, oven, or outside. See our dehydrating page or our air-drying page if you are not yet familiar with these techniques.

* Fully dried smoked chillies can be stored for years in air-tight containers. Triple bagged, they can also be stored in the freezer, even if not totally dried out.

Nigel publishes a monthly newsletter covering all aspects of chillies that is FREE to subscribers. You can subscribe at http://www.chillies-down-under.com and receive the full Grow Your Own Chillies eBook as a free gift.

Nigel Laubsch is one of the world's leading chilli experts and has grown studied and cooked with chillies for over 20 years. Much of his experience was gained traveling through Indonesia, China and Fiji. In 2005 Nigel presented the world's first Chilli Sauce Appreciation course at the University of Western Australia and has received rave reviews for the innovative content.

Building Your House Help

Rain Gutters And Downspouts

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

What size of rain gutter do you need?

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

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

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

Seamless or not?

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

Installing rain gutters

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

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

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

Sunroom Installation

You need to take several things into consideration when you're thinking of a sunroom installation and there are many options to choose from. Maybe the first thing that will come to your mind is the price, but this all depends on how big you want your sunroom to be and what type of material she will be using. For example, if you want an aluminum sunroom and you're just thinking of adding a few windows, then it is going to cost you much less than if you had the entire sunroom constructed out of glass and wood. So there are a few factors that you must consider before you get started.

When building a sunroom you start with the foundation and it is important to build its foundation to the building codes of your local area. These codes will vary depending what kind of climate to live in. If you have a lot of freezing during winter, then it stands to reason that the foundation has to be deeper in the ground and this will mean more expense in labor and materials. But if you have an existing patio then the expense won't be as much.

Of course the major expense in a sunroom is the number of windows that you intend to use and also the type you have in mind. For example, if you are going with fixed windows will be less expense than if you order custom installation. Another cost difference would be in the type of glaze that you choose to put on the windows. This glaze can control sunlight and block out damaging rays but keep in mind the more your windows can do the more expensive it will be. You will find a difference in the materials that you choose and this will affect costs also. The cheapest material is PVC and the next one up the line is aluminum with the most expensive being wooden material.

For lots of information on how to build a sunroom and other sunrooms related topics, visit DIY Home Advice at home remodeling

Magnetsfortreatingwater

New Construction Windows

Hello, my name is John Rocco.I grew up around the window and door business. My father owned a glass shop that dealt in every aspect of residential and commercial glass.Naturally, when it came time to choose a profession, i wound up in the window and door business.I have been in the business for about 27 years, and i have been self employed for 20.

One of the things that separated my company from my competitors was my willingness to show my customers how to replace their windows themselves. Whenever i would encounter a customer with a curiosity or willingness to learn how to install their own windows,i would offer to sell them the labor on one window,using them as my helper.Then,they would install the rest of the windows using the knowledge gained from helping me install one.Most window companies would never do this because there is so much money made on the labor.But i was always so busy,i never felt like it was costing me money.

Eventually, i made an installation video for those homeowners who wanted to do their own windows.While the video is for sale on my website, i decided to take excerpts from the video and write an article once a week covering some part of the window replacement project.This article is going to cover the difference between window frames used in new construction homes, and the window frames that are used to replace existing aluminum or wood windows.

When a new home is being built,the windows are nailed to the wood studs that make up the house frame.In order to accomplish this, new construction windows have a fin around all four sides of the frame that rests against the outside of the stud and nails are driven into the studs through the nailing fin. After that,flashing paper is applied to prevent water leaks,then the exterior material is applied. That material can be stucco, brick, siding, etc.

Now,imagine 10 or 20 years later when you want to replace those windows. If you were going to install your replacement windows the same way the original windows were installed, you would have to remove the exterior material around each window in order to get to those nails holding the frame in there. You can see how this procedure could cause many problems, not to mention all the labor involved. I have seen homes in california with stucco exteriors where the homeowner had the stucco cut out in order to remove the old windows.The problem was they were unable to match the stucco colors after patching. Its just not a very efficient way to replace windows. So the replacement frame was designed.

In most parts of the country it's simply a new construction window frame with the nail fin removed. In the west, where stucco is a common home exterior,a retrofit frame was designed. If you're going to be replacing the exterior material on your home, then you might want to consider going with the new construction window since the nailing fins will be exposed anyway. Also, chances are that a contractor will be doing your exterior replacement,and it would be wise to let the contractor install the windows as well.Since my installation videos deal with window replacement only, these articles will focus on replacement frames and retrofit frames. Using these two frame styles,a do it yourselfer can replace their old windows without any damage to existing interior and exterior surfaces. And the job can be done using common tools such as a drill,tape measure, and caulking gun.

In next weeks article,we will discuss the replacement of wood sash windows.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978

To learn more, visit http://www.vinylwindowsforless.com

Framing A Closet

Tuscan Style Decorating For The Kitchen

A Tuscan decorating theme can put some old world charm into your kitchen and make it a warm homey room to gather in. The Tuscan style incorporates warm earth tones along with natural materials and architectural accents to create a time worn look. Although the look is of a centuries old kitchen you can achieve it without having to buy priceless antiques.

Color

The colors mimic those of the Tuscan landscape rich golds, earthtones and even tones from the sea mingle together for this look of old Italy. Buy some majolica pottery (either new or old) and use those colors to influence your wall and floor choices. Using natural materials like stone, slate, granite or terra cotta for your flooring and countertops will help complete the look. Try some faux painting on your walls to give it the look of antique plaster.

Lighting

Think old world in your lighting and stay away from new or modern styles. Some nice antique looking wrought iron lights will be right in style. Its OK to also have recessed lighting for your task lights, but choose your pendant lights or chandeliers carefully. Stay away from anything too shiny and stick with muted metals.

Accessories

You can buy accessories like those you might find in a Tuscan kitchen brand new today, or you can scour the antique shops to get real antiques. Look for old pottery bowls and pitchers as well as painted or antiqued wooden bowls. Majolica makes a nice addition to a Tuscan style kitchen and you can buy whole sets of this pottery new today and use it for everyday use. Use lots of decorative jars of oils with peppers and ropes of garlic, peppers and grape vines. Antique look signs with a wine motif can add to the wall decor as can wallpaper murals in the form of Italian frescos and niches. Soften it up with lots of greenery.

Furniture

You want your furniture to have an old world look. Chunky wood tables with chippy or distressed paint go nice. A distressed wooden cupboard (perhaps with chicken wire doors) can give you some extra storage and add to the look if you have the space. Display your majolica or old world pottery behind the chicken wire to authenticate the look.

Decorating a Tuscan kitchen can be a lot of fun. You can get the look with brand new accessories, or if you enjoy collecting antiques, you can scour the flea markets and antique malls for those perfect pieces. Either way, you will be creating a kitchen with charm and character.

Lee Dobbins is owner of A Kitchen Decorating Idea where you can find more on kitchen decorating themes and decorating ideas for every budget.

Do It Yourself Home Help

How Kitchen Backsplash Choices Can Make or Break Your Interior Design

TILE BACKSPLASH
You can follow literally hundreds of kitchen tile backsplash ideas and themes using ceramic tile installations for your backsplash. Using tiles as your backsplash can really give you a chance to be creative and show off your unique style. There are thousands of artistic and artesian tiles you can order that can be a unique design centerpiece to your backsplash installation. If you go this route, the longest time in this process is usually trying to narrow your pick down to that special tile you like. Expect to spend a lot of time online browsing the thousands of available styles.

MOSAIC BACKSPLASH
Along the ceramic tile backsplash theme you can also select a variety of shapes, colors and sizes to create your own unique mosaic kitchen backsplash ideas. Again, your choices are staggering here, but if done right can really make your kitchen look spectacular. Its best to work with an interior designer or color expert to identify the best background and accent colors to use on your backsplash design.

STAINLESS STEEL BACKSPLASH
Growing in popularity is the stainless steel kitchen backsplash installation with its cool, sleek and minimalist look. Its easy to keep clean, won't stain or rust, and is great for clean minimalist design concepts. Stainless steel backsplashes are very popular is new lofts and urban condominiums.

GLASS TILE BACKSPLASH
For a real shine and brilliance you may want to consider a glass tile backsplash installation. Available in almost any color and size, glass tiles can offer a real brilliant and clean looking shine to any kitchen backsplash.

TIN BACKSPLASH
Tin backsplash panels are a truly unique installation option that can work very well with some new modern designs as well as complementing more rustic interior design palettes. With so many stamped designs available there are a lot of selection options to consider.

COPPER BACKSPLASH
Another popular metal backsplash option is using copper to give your kitchen that warm glow that only copper can provide. Great for country kitchen styles and other more rustic design preferences.

SLATE BACKSPLASH
Bring the natural outdoors inside your kitchen with a beautiful slate kitchen backsplash. Slate is an obvious choice for high end lodges and natural wood finishes and goes well with other natural colors in your kitchen.

SOAPSTONE BACKSPLASH
For a truly unique backsplash idea that will make a design statement in you kitchen consider going with soapstone. This material is beautiful to look at, is extremely durable and gives a real high-end finished look to any countertop.

[ -- ARTICLE USE POLICY -- You are permitted to freely copy and use this article on your website, RSS, or e-zine ONLY IF the article text is not changed or altered in any way and the hyperlinks inside the article are active and working. Sites found violating this reprint condition will be subject to legal action for copyright infringement. When using this article you may remove this legal notice -- ]

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Kitchen Tile Backsplash Ideas information portal which reports on the latest backsplash ideas in the kitchen tile backsplash industry.

Plant Growing From Stairs
House Remodeling Ideas

Famous Skyscrapers

Architectural design has advanced to a phenomenal stage where every modern city would like to boast having one of the tallest buildings. While criteria defining the tallest buildings or skyscrapers differ widely, listed below are the ten most popular architectural marvels of our time.

Empire State Building
A world famous New York City landmark and sky scaper, it rises above the island of Manhattan, about a quarter of a mile into the sky. The observatory is located on the 86th floor, 1050 feet above the ground and offers the most breathtaking and panoramic view of Manhattan and beyond from within a glass enclosed pavilion. Besides the observatory there are several tourist attractions, including, restaurants, shops and banks. It also has a New York SKYRIDE an independently owned and operated simulated helicopter ride and virtual-reality movie theatre. William Lamb, an architect at Shreve, Lamb and Harmon was chosen to design the Empire State Building in 1930

Petronas Towers
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lampur lay claim to being the tallest twin towers of the 20th century, standing at a height of 1483 feet. They were designed by architect Cesar Pelli and completed in 1998. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia's Muslim religion. The towers feature a sky-bridge between the towers on the 41st and 42nd floors which is 170m high and 58m long.

Sears Tower
Architect Bruce Graham designed the Sears Tower of Chicago in 1974. At 1450 feet, and 110 stories, it is the tallest building in the United States of America. The construction system consists of steel fram with bronze tinted glass curtain wall. The Sears Tower Skydeck observation deck and tourist attraction is on the 103rd floor, 1353 feet above the ground.

Bank of China Tower
Located in Honk Kong, in addition to being one of the famous skyscrapers in the world, it is one of the most outstanding achievements of modern architecture. The construction was started in 1985 and completed in five years by the architects I. M. Pei & Partners and Sherman Kung & Associates. The building standing at 1205 feet, is a grouping of four triangular glass and aluminium towers of different heights, all emerging from a single granite podium. The changes rising from a square base to a single spire results in a magnificent faade of angles and profiles that reflect the light and seem almost crystalline in composition. On the 42nd floor is a sky-deck providing a panoramic view of the northwest Hong Kong.

Chrysler Building
Rising at 1046 feet, it was considered to be an engineering marvel and the tallest building in 1931. However, it still remains the tallest brick building in the world. The tower is a beautifully tapered stainless steel crown supporting the famous spire at its peak. A quintessence of skyscraper design, the Chrysler Building is a perfect example of Art Deco and has a lobby clad in different marble, onyx and amber.

Taipei 101
At a height of 1671 feet, this high-rise building has surpassed all to become the tallest skyscraper today. Taipei 101 holds the world record in three of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's height categories: tallest to the structural top, tallest to the roof, and highest occupied floor. The 89th floor has an indoor observation area while the 91st floor has an outdoor observation deck, known as the highest in the world. The pagoda shaped design of this building is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. The sectioned tower is also symbolic of the bamboo plant characterizing strength, resilience and elegance. The towers design specifications are based on the number 8, considered lucky in the Chinese culture.

Jin Mao Building
This building in Shanghai symbolizes the progress and advancement made by the Chinese. It boasts of being the first tallest sky scrape in the country and the third tallest in the world. A great blend of East-West architecture it denotes aptly the emergence of Shanghai as a modern global city. It follows the versatility model by offering retail at it base, offices above and the Grand Hyatts Worlds highest Hotel occupying the upper 38 floors. The magnificently designed building combines the elements of traditional Chinese architecture and a vastly Gothic influence.

Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab rises to a level of 1053 feet, and is known as one of the worlds tallest structure with a membrane faade, 24-meter wide helipad. This is the tallest operating hotel building in the world and the design is influenced by the profile of an Arabian sailing ship. The Al Muntaha restaurant is located 200 meters above the Persian Gulf offering a panoramic view of Dubai while the atrium is situated at a height of 180 meters.

CN Tower
At a height of 1815 feet, the CN Tower in Toronto is the tallest building and freestanding structure in the world. It is considered to be the signature icon of the city and hosts almost two million visitors a year. The view from the exterior glass floored observation deck located 342 meters above ground is breathtaking as it is exciting. It also has the Space Deck at 447 meters, the worlds tallest observation deck with a 160 km view and the revolving 360 Degree Restaurant.

Hancock Place
A reflective obelisk sky scrape at Boston is an architectural marvel. It is regarded as icily magnificent wherein the surface changes as the day changes, each side reflecting the color of the sky it faces. Moreover, this dramatic effect is highlighted by the parallelogram shape of the prism, which provides uniquely differing reflections on adjoining surfaces.

The architectural buildings mentioned above are famous creations and literally considered architectural works of art today.

William Brister - http://www.architecturaldesign.tv - All about architecture

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