Ionic Air Purifier – Japanese Plasmacluster Ions Technology Leads The Charge Against Lethal Bird Flu Virus
Sharp Corporation issued a seemingly ordinary press release on 27 August 2008. But I believe the information therein will one day gain global prominence! Incorporated in its ionic air purifier, the Plasmacluster Ion Technology (more on this in a later post) has just been scientifically proven to be 99.9% effective in eliminating the bird flu [...]
Sharp Corporation issued a seemingly ordinary press release on 27 August 2008. But I believe the information therein will one day gain global prominence! Incorporated in its ionic air purifier, the Plasmacluster Ion Technology (more on this in a later post) has just been scientifically proven to be 99.9% effective in eliminating the bird flu virus known as H5N1.
As we have been constantly reminded by the press, bird flu is the prime suspect to cause mankind’s next pandemic. Pandemic sounds terrifying. It is. That’s when a highly contagious virus goes global, in a very negative sense. In 1918, an invisible bug is believed to have wiped out 50 million people during the Spanish Flu pandemic! That deadly killer flu was confirmed on 5 October 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be caused by H1N1, a bird flu virus.
PANIC STATIONS! PANIC STATIONS?
Not quite, not yet anyway. Statistically, as recorded by WHO as at 10 Sep 2008, “only” 245 people have died from the H5N1 virus. This is since 1996 when the virus first surfaced in China. So what’s the fuss? A bird flu virus that attains human-to-human transmission capability is the ultimate horror of the scientific community. As of today, there has been only one probable case of human-to-human transmission recorded in Thailand in September 2004. If indeed the much-feared virus mutation takes place, you can expect pandemonium on a global scale.
Like other countries, Singapore (where I live) is conscientiously preparing for the worse (more on this in a later post). At the individual level, we should start making preparations too.
Ok, so what’s all this got to do with Sharp’s ionic air purifier. Isn’t it just another ionic air purifier? Yes, it’s ordinary in that it takes care of the usual stuff that we look for in an air purifier – dust, dirt, smoke, dander, pollen, cuisine and pet odours, pollutants, allergens etc. If there is really a tested defence shield against a deadly virus, why not? That’s what Sharp is saying, get the all-in-one air purifier with their Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier.
Obviously, for the value-conscious, the next logical question would be “yes, that makes a whole lot of sense but at what cost”? Here again, Sharp claims that it’s at no extra cost! They go so far as to say it may in fact be cheaper than any other ordinary ionic air purifier when measured over 5 years. Wow, value for money sure gets my attention! How is it possible in this nothing-is-for-free world?
Well, in promotional materials, using the Plasmacluster Ionic Air Purifier Model FP-N40CX as the basis, Sharp contends that it is much better value for money as there is no filter replacement costs for the first 5 years. At first sight, the typical competitor’s upfront cost of US$160 looks cheap compared to Sharp’s US$399. But add in the annual replacement filter replacement costs of US$100 and the total outlay for the competing ionic air purifier comes to US$560.
If you have relevant data, be it on Sharp or the competitors, I would greatly appreciate your input. Just email me if you have actual numbers.
In the meantime, I’m going to investigate intently the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Technology. Especially since bird flu is still not quite at pandemic proportions.
Don’t procrastinate. Experience is a good teacher. Like a horror movie, pandemic fears spread across Asia for months. People shunned crowded places like shopping centres, some stayed away from work, others became unofficial health “authorities” passing decrees on hygiene standards. Anyone who sneezed in public without a N95 face mask found himself standing alone in a split second. For the uninitiated, it was the year 2003. The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus originated in Asia, infected 8,096 people around the world before finally resulting in 774 fatalities. Being well prepared is half the battle won.
Watch this space as we track exciting developments in our pursuit of safe, pure and clean air with nothing more than an ionic air purifier.
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Discovering Expressive Accent Rugs
In addition to providing color and protection for your entry way there are different styles of accent rugs that you can use here. You should take into account the type of flooring or base that your accent rug will be placed on. Accent rugs will make a wondrous difference to your décor as you [...]
In addition to providing color and protection for your entry way there are different styles of accent rugs that you can use here. You should take into account the type of flooring or base that your accent rug will be placed on. Accent rugs will make a wondrous difference to your décor as you can brighten plain neutral colors with an accent rug that blends in the various accessories in your rooms.
The other great thing about buying and using accent rugs is that you can use different types of accent rugs for every season, your various moods and style desires. You can even move the accent rugs to enhance your existing carpets and rugs at home. This means that when you move into your brand new home all that you need to do is decorate your home and lay out your accent rugs to create that stunning look that you love.
We all love how a carpet or an accent rug can add color and warmth to our rooms. Like many things in our lives we can use natural products or man made products. The choice will be dependent on our preferences. This native animal of Peru has soft fleece that can be used to create alpaca rugs amongst many other items.
Since many of us have different ideas about decorating our homes we tend to look for items that seem to reflect our personalities. This means that you can find alpaca rugs in geometric designs, southwestern designs, animal designs and others. This mans that to clean the rugs you will need to use only the items that you already have in your home.
One way of protecting your alpaca rugs is to brush out many of the stains by using baby powder or corn starch. Now if you are not sure that this method will work you should see about contacting professional carpet cleaners and letting them get your alpaca rug back in great condition. For this reason you will see the quality that can be found in many alpaca rugs that are made in Peru.
Our homes reflect our personalities to a great extent. These carpets come in many styles and colors. There are also accent rugs that can be used for various parts of your house.
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How to build your own home the right way
Do you want to build your own home but are not sure how to go about it? Well, building your own house can be rewarding but it can have its headaches, and mainly because of cost overruns, which is why it’s always recommended that you plan on having an extra 5 to 10% available for [...]
Do you want to build your own home but are not sure how to go about it? Well, building your own house can be rewarding but it can have its headaches, and mainly because of cost overruns, which is why it’s always recommended that you plan on having an extra 5 to 10% available for any overrun on your budget. This amount is used for things that you can’t control.
Building your own house, means you need to plan everything out to the last detail. This way you won’t go over budget and if you do it wont be by much. This way you will avoid going over budget as much as possible.
1. Make sure you plan everything out well and include the building costs of each stage of building your own house. Plan and estimate the costs of each stage of the construction, and get quotes from each contractor that will work on the building. Have the plans to the house drawn out. That way you will know what the house will be like before it is even built. You will get a good idea of what the house will be like before it’s built this way. When you have the plans drawn out you will also have a clearer view of what the house will cost. You should even go so far as to visit home product stores and find out what flooring, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, etc, will cost.
2. When you know what materials you want to use in your home, have the contract quote his price using the materials you ask for.
3. Planning everything to the best of your ability is key. When you decide to make changes after the construction has started, you will pay a price. If you choose to make a change after construction has started then you should consider the financial implications and whether it is worth changing or not.
4. If you plan on building a large home, a two story home or a home that has a special shape then you must realize that you will need to spend more money. The size, shape and type of home will influence how much you pay in construction. The style of home , the shape and the size you want will make the cost of the home go up.
5. Keep a certain amount of money set back for the unforeseen. You never know what will make costs go up, it is usually at the beginning or at the end of construction that you may find the costs go up. This is where extra expenses can come into play and you need to have a little money set aside here for any extra costs in this area.
If you don’t know how to build a house, then you don’t know that there are many factors and many people that come in to build a home. There is a contractor that only works the foundation, one that does the framing, another that does the brick, another for the roof, and then there is a whole other set of contractors that work on plumbing, electricity, flooring etc.
Every contractor has a different set of skills, which are needed to build one house, and because of all the people needed to build a house it is often easy to go over your budget. These overruns are likely to happen either at the beginning of the construction project or at the very end.
People that build new houses usually run into cost problems when they start adding things like fixtures, flooring, cabinets and appliances, and that is generally because they didn’t price these things before they started to build. this is why its so important you take the time to look at the costs of items of how to build a house while you are still in the planning stages of the house.
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How to Service Garage Door Torsion Springs
The most important and vital component on any home garage door are the torsion springs which allow the door to open and close easily and smoothly. If one or both of the springs are not working correctly, the door might not open all the way or even at all. Garage doors, like other mechanical and [...]
The most important and vital component on any home garage door are the torsion springs which allow the door to open and close easily and smoothly. If one or both of the springs are not working correctly, the door might not open all the way or even at all. Garage doors, like other mechanical and electric equipment around the home, need routine maintenance in order to remain in top notch condition.
In order to maintain your home garage door opener in tiptop condition, you need to attend to lubricating and checking on the spring system, which is one of the most critical parts for safe and proper performance of the door. Unfortunately, the majority of householders are oblivious to the fact that garage door torsion springs together with other parts of the door require occasional run-of-the-mill servicing and safety checks.
The most obvious culprits to pay special attention to when you are having problems either opening or closing your garage door are the high tension springs. If the springs are old, they are probably worn out to some degree. Garage door torsion springs are kept under extremely high tension and are wound tightly. It is due to this extreme high tension that even the best quality steel springs will wear over time and eventually break. It is due to this danger of sudden breakage that all garage door opener torsion springs have to be contained in order to avert serious injury or property damage. Up and over garage doors use cables for containment while roller shutter doors make use of a metal tube around the spring mechanism.
Even if they are contained and you have an older garage door, it is advisable to have them inspected on a regular basis by a professional installer. The springs should be replaced if necessary. If you have a model of garage door that has two independant springs, and just one is damaged, it makes sense to interchange both at the same time. You can bet your bottom dollar that if one spring has broken, the other will not be far behind it.
A sure indication that your garage door is in need of a spot of maintenance is when the springs either begin squeaking or chattering loudly when raising or lowering the door. This does not necessarily indicate that the springs are about to give up the ghost or the door is on its last legs and requires replacing. The trouble can probably be fixed by spraying on some lubricant, like WD-40, or something similar.
Another indication that your garage door needs servicing is if there are frayed and broken strips of cable hanging loose. Regardless of the quality of your garage door opener, this is a sign that the cables are about to snap. A sudden breakage of the garage door cables could result in serious injury to anybody standing close by. These chafed cables need to be inspected and in all likelihood replaced by a professional service engineer who is knowledgeable about the problems associated with torsion springs and cables breaking.
Because of the heavy load they have to lift, garage door torsion springs are retained under extreme tension making them dangerous to adjust. It is a sound advice to schedule a periodic maintenance inspection of your garage door by a qualified service engineer. This will avert the danger of potential injury and also give you peace of mind that the door will work correctly each and every time.
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Home Improvement Services – DIY
There are many home improvement ideas and therefore a multitude of home improvement services. These services don’t necessarily mean that a company specializing in additions, remodeling or repair work needs to be hired for the job. Improvement services for your home can be something you can do yourself as well, or a mix of the [...]
There are many home improvement ideas and therefore a multitude of home improvement services. These services don’t necessarily mean that a company specializing in additions, remodeling or repair work needs to be hired for the job. Improvement services for your home can be something you can do yourself as well, or a mix of the two. Home additions can mean adding an extra room, deck, a privacy fence or energy efficient windows to your home. Remodeling is simply changing the appearance of the inside or exterior or your home. Repairs are fixing something that is broken.
The cost of quality home improvement services vary greatly. How much money you spend depends on a number of factors, such as how simple the project is, if you have the time to do it yourself and whether there are bylaws that may prohibit you from just getting it done. There are several questions you should ask yourself when preparing to build on room additions, before starting a basement remodel, a kitchen remodel, a bath remodel or any repair work to any part of your home. First, is it a project you can handle on your own for sure? If not, then hiring a professional and having the work done under a building contract will be your best option. If you try to tackle something that you aren’t sure about, then you could end up creating a lot of stress for yourself.
The second question is, “What kind of project are you undertaking that requires home improvement services? Simple projects you can most likely do on your own. Your local hardware or warehouse store usually holds classes in several “how to” projects that are really quite simple, such as “how to remodel.” This includes the knowledge of which supplies are needed and where you can get free or cheap instructions on how to complete the project properly. The third question relates to whether or not hiring a company is an absolute must. What kind of company should I hire for the service repair, remodel or addition?
Before hiring any company for repairs, additions or remodeling ideas, get some feedback about the company first. Home improvement services are great to get from professionals, but always be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Experience and professionalism are important to look for, but a good reputation may cost more. However, it may be worth the extra dollars when you view the end result with great joy and jubilation, especially knowing you didn’t have to lift a finger!
Are you tired of looking at the same old cabinets in your kitchen? Is the dishwasher and refrigerator something out of a ’70s remodel? It may be time to try a bit of remodeling to bring a new, more stylized look to your kitchen. The best way to improve a property is to have an up-to-date kitchen and it is not as hard as you might think. While some people can afford to hire professional contractors, others have to do it themselves. But have no fear because there are many resources available to you to help. To see more: Click Here.
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Find A Contractor not a Rogue Trader and have the Job Done Right
Remodeling a home can be a costly proposition, so you need to find a contractor who is reliable and reputable. You are going to need to do some investigative work before you sign on the dotted line. Failing to out some background information on home improvement contractors has cost people tens of thousands of dollars, [...]
Remodeling a home can be a costly proposition, so you need to find a contractor who is reliable and reputable. You are going to need to do some investigative work before you sign on the dotted line. Failing to out some background information on home improvement contractors has cost people tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention a lot of hassle and heartache. Many contractors do shoddy work, fail to complete projects on time or go over budget. Always investigate thoroughly before you hire a contractor to remodel your home.
Regardless of whether you are planning a basement remodel, a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel or want some room additions in an expansive home remodel, it is always a good first step to contact your local builders association for a list of contractors who are members as this will help you avoid the cowboy builders and rogue traders. Once you have the list, check with your state’s regulatory or licensing board. You want to make sure your potential contractor is licensed and find out if he has any upheld complaints against his work. You might also want to check with the Better Business Bureau. Once you have done your research, solicit bids from at least three contractors. Don’t necessarily assume the cheapest quote is the best either and if its way lower than the other two builders quotes then assume something is wrong and he either doesn’t know what he is doing or he has missed an expensive part of the project.
Once you’ve narrowed your list down, ask your prospective residential contractors some questions. How long have they been in business? Are they insured, including workman’s compensation and liability? Do they do the work themselves, or do they subcontract? If they subcontract, do they have a stable of subcontractors that they work with regularly? Who are their suppliers? Contact the subcontractors and suppliers and find out if they have good working relationships with the contractor. You should also ask for three references from past clients. Find out if they are satisfied with the work, if the project was completed on time and at the quoted cost. Once you find a contractor you feel comfortable with, you are ready for the contract.
Never hire a residential contractor without a written building contract. This document should clearly state what work is to be done, what materials will be used, including brand names, a cost estimate, and when the work will be completed. It can be a difficult task to find a contractor who will remodel your home to your satisfaction. A thorough investigation before you hire a residential contractor can save you tens of thousands of dollars and incalculable hassles.
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General Contractor Do It Yourself
Are you looking for a general contractor for your home? Why not be your own for a change? It takes hardly anytime to plan most of household remodeling construction work, with a few exceptions here and there. The most important thing, more than your ability to do the required repairs, is that you maintain a [...]
Are you looking for a general contractor for your home? Why not be your own for a change? It takes hardly anytime to plan most of household remodeling construction work, with a few exceptions here and there. The most important thing, more than your ability to do the required repairs, is that you maintain a logbook of exactly what has been done, and where, so you can take it up later from where you left it, if necessary.
General contractors need to ensure that before any digging work is started, they are aware of the positions of underground utility pipe work. When the building contract is drawn up without taking this aspect into consideration, you could risk digging up an old pipe or damaging it. This is not only bad news for your but you will attract the wrath of the utility company as well. This is valid even if your remodeling services are sub-contracted to another professional. Knowing the plan will also help in better designing a new house.
You can always increase the value of your home by applying yourself to its repairs as your own general contractor. The best value for money will come from investing in the remodeling and improvement of the bathroom or kitchen. These types of upgrades will often increase the price dramatically, while the costs incurred will be low owing to the fact that most of the work you will do yourself and only use professionals for specialized services.
When you work as your own general contractor, quality and value for money are the most likely outcomes. Whatever home improvement and repairs you do, you will no doubt be thrilled that you did it yourself and at a fraction of the quoted price from a local professional. If you ensure that you work according to a plan, you will be amazed at what you can do with a little help from professionals. You will not only get an excellent job done, but you will also save a sizable amount of money in the process.
Are you tired of looking at the same old cabinets in your kitchen? Is the dishwasher and refrigerator something out of a ’70s remodel? It may be time to try a bit of remodeling to bring a new, more stylized look to your kitchen. The best way to improve a property is to have an up-to-date kitchen and it is not as hard as you might think. While some people can afford to hire professional contractors, others have to do it themselves. But have no fear because there are many resources available to you to help.
For more information: Click Here.
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Saunas-Ancient Times To The Modern World
Sauna bathing is an ancient past time although the activity is quite popular in the modern world as well. What is it that makes the sauna such a timeless pleasure?
A sauna is a small room or dwelling specially designed for bathers to experience wet or dry heat sessions.A bather, or group of bathers, can [...]
Sauna bathing is an ancient past time although the activity is quite popular in the modern world as well. What is it that makes the sauna such a timeless pleasure?
A sauna is a small room or dwelling specially designed for bathers to experience wet or dry heat sessions.A bather, or group of bathers, can gather inside of a sauna to experience temperatures as high as 80 degrees Celcius or more. Saunas are very relaxing, and tend to make users sweat. The detoxification has not only physical benefits, such as an improved immune system, but also psychological benefits, including a reduction in stress.
The word sauna simply means a traditional Finnish bath. In ancient times, saunas were small dwellings dug in the bottom of hills and slopes to keep people warm in winter. Stones were heated to very high temperatures and water was poured over them in order to create heat and moisture in the form of steam.The temperature would increase so dramatically that people removed their clothing.
Eventually the sauna was improved with the addition of a metal woodstove and chimney. Although the temperature was generally set somewhere between 70 and 80 °C, a traditional Finnish sauna could sometimes get as hot as 90 °C. Similar to the earlier style sauna, a steam vapor was generated by dousing heated rocks with water. The combination of heat and steam produced extreme perspiration.
Often the Finns would use a ‘vihta’, a bundle of birch branches with fresh leaves, to gently swat themselves and other bathers to improve the experience. The vihta was used by bathers to gently swipe the skin in order to stimulate the pores, enhance cell production and improve blood circulation. Another benefit of the vihta was that it gave off a very pleasant scent that stimulated relaxation in the same manner that many of today’s aromatherapy products work. In fact, the vihta is still used by some individuals in the sauna.
Saunas relieve stress in two ways. One obvious way is psychological; the heat and steam have a highly relaxing effect. The other way in which a sauna relieves stress is by releasing chemicals from the body. When your skin heats up during a bath, large quantities of chemicals that cause stress are expelled from the body. Thus, in addition to reducing the amount of chemicals in the body, the sauna bath also slows the formation of chemicals.
Since the sauna makes you sweat, and the sweat removes toxins, the overall experiences helps to detoxify your body by forcing toxins out through the skin.
The Finns keep the rich history of the sauna alive today by making it a part of their daily ritual. In Finland, saunas are considered to be a natural and effective way of refreshing both the mind and spirit. The sauna was and continues to be an essential aspect of daily life. Families in Finland traditionally bathed together in the sauna at home. It is interesting to note that Finnish women used to give birth in the sauna.
Finnish migration to other parts of the world aided in the dissemination of information about saunas, how they were made and used and their many benefits. This enabled individuals from other cultures to learn about saunas and use them, and it paved the way for future advancements such as electric sauna stoves and far infrared saunas, which became very popular. Today, the sauna is recognized and enjoyed globally, and continues to be enhanced both aesthetically and functionally.
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Jacuzzi Hot Tubs, The Real Deal
If you’re stuck between installing a pool in your home or a Jacuzzi, you might want to consider the fact that soaking in a Jacuzzi hot tub can literally melt away your worries and tensions. Pools take up more space, and–particularly if your pool is heated–they use a large amount of energy, too. Not to [...]
If you’re stuck between installing a pool in your home or a Jacuzzi, you might want to consider the fact that soaking in a Jacuzzi hot tub can literally melt away your worries and tensions. Pools take up more space, and–particularly if your pool is heated–they use a large amount of energy, too. Not to mention that pools take a lot of chemicals and constant maintenance to keep clean. With a Jacuzzi hot tub, you have more space to work with, it doesn’t take as much energy to heat and the maintenance is minimal. It you can’t decide with one to choose, the best bet would be the Jacuzzi hot tub.
Jacuzzi hot tubs look great when they’re installed in your yard. A Jacuzzi will bring a touch of class to your yard. It is probable that anyone who visits you will find it hard to resist the urge to jump in immediately. Nothing compares to a good old fashioned blow out with your closest friends congregating around the sides of your new Jacuzzi hot tub.
To keep your water warm and clean, cover the Jacuzzi hot tub. You will find that it’s very low maintenance when compared to a swimming pool. All you have to do is change the water every so often and apply certain chemicals to keep the water fresh and inviting.
Great After A Long Day’s Work
After you have installed your Jacuzzi hot tub, you will find that it’s relaxation benefits are so welcome after a long day at work. Just put on your suit or swim trunks and take a dip in the relaxing waters of the Jacuzzi hot tub. To achieve total relaxation, soak for approximately ten minutes. You will find that people will insist on coming to your home. A hot tub will make people want to stop and visit. Having a big Jacuzzi hot tub gives you the room to have a hot tub party with all your friends. Or, you can just soak yourself. It’s all up to you when you own a Jacuzzi hot tub.
Check your local yellow pages for a dealer near you to find Jacuzzi Hot Tubs to suit your taste and style. They have many different sizes and styles to choose from. Odds are you will find one that fits into your budget. In instances where you don’t have the money to pay for it ahead of time, payment plans are often good options. There’s nothing like the feeling of coming home from a stressful day at school or work and letting your cares just melt away in your home Jacuzzi hot tub.
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Conservatory blinds should always be perfect fit window blinds
perfect fit blinds
If you have been looking for conservatory blinds any time in the last year then you will probably have come across something called the perfect fit window blinds. The whole blinds industry has been altered because of these fantastic blinds that just snap in in moments. The reason for this is that perfect [...]
If you have been looking for conservatory blinds any time in the last year then you will probably have come across something called the perfect fit window blinds. The whole blinds industry has been altered because of these fantastic blinds that just snap in in moments. The reason for this is that perfect fit blinds need no drilling to fit them.
The Huge Benefit of a Perfect fit window blind
The most important benefit of using this type of blind is that your 10 year guarantee on the conservatory is not made null and void by fitting them. Because of the snap in fit none of the window frames or mouldings are damaged with drill holes. The clips simply slide in between the gasket and the glass. The lugs on the brackets then snap into the lug holes on the frame of the window blind.
The second benefit of perfect fit window blinds.
Because they simply clip in you can also unclip then when you want to clean the conservatory or your blinds. When your conservatory needs its annual clean normal blinds seem to get in the way all the time. The perfect fit blind system allows you good access to both the glass and the frames.
Window and conservatory companies are now recommending the sytem
I know that many window suppliers are now specifying this type of conservatory blinds in preference to the normal options of vertical blinds and roller blinds which use brackets that have to be screwed into the frames. Becuase this is such a better product many enterprising window companies now promote this type of bloind because its adds to them offering a good all round service.
The measuring has to be done very precisely as there is very little tolerance made for measuring mistakes. The blinds are made to the metric scale only which helps with this accuracy. The fitting takes about 2 minutes per blind which means that a whole conservatory can be fitted in less than an hour.
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