Making A Greener Lifestyle Easy

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You might say that some geeks and braniac inventors have too much time on their hands. And a lot of the time, I agree with that sentiment. But the latest invention from wacky food and drink “architects” Bompas & Parr deserves a Nobel Prize if you ask me. The pair of Eton-schooled eccentric Englishment have come up with what they call a ‘breathable cocktail’ and set it up in the middle of central London. The idea is that you can walk into this “bar” which is filled with a massive cloud of alcoholic fumes, and get drunk just by walking around. Not to mention the fact that because the alcohol is being absorbed directly into your blood via your lungs the effect can be a lot more intoxicating than plain old drinking.

The device works by hooking up an industrial humidifier to a healthy supply of Hendrick’s Gin and tonic water. A humidifier is generally something you see (or don’t see) in industrial settings like printing presses or tobacco plants, where lack of humidity can cause problems. Ordinarily, of course, the idea is to connect them to something a lot less potent! Bompas & Parr wanted to experiment with the idea of creating a Gin & Tonic sauna bar that you could simply walk around in and get more and more intoxicated off the fumes.

The company that provided the humidifier, JS Humidifiers, are specialists in air conditioners, heaters and the like, and would normally be the place to go for a ceiling fan or a portable air conditioner this summer. It won’t be long before some student somewhere tries this in his bedroom, sticks it on YouTube and then sales of humidifiers will go through the oroof…!As well as that, it surely can’t be long before some posh cocktail bar gets in on the act and sets this up full time in one of their rooms? Perhaps it could even mean that your local pub will get rid of its stools and hand out protective suits at the door. If I was you I wouldn’t hold my breath - in fact just inhale deeply!

In light of the recent swine flu outbreaks in many parts of the world, the World Health Organization has raised the swine flu warning to Level 5. With this warning, governments around the world must put their pandemic plans into action in order to stop the spread of the swine flu virus. A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area, affecting an alarmingly large proportion of the population.

In Sweden, a new invention by The Swedish AAA-rated company Gert Strand AB may be the cure for swine flu. Called SMITTSTOPP, this Swedish invention is touted to stop diseases, bacteria and virus from spreading. A spray-on product that comes in a 500-ml (16.9 oz.) bottle, SMITTSTOPP is a cationic polymer, a positively charged substance that attaches to all surfaces. Viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms all have a negative charge. SMITTSTOPP works by attracting these negatively charged microorganisms, stopping their growth and effectively killing them.

The swine influenza virus, according to the Infectious Disease Institute, is spread through the air (e.g., coughing or sneezing). Once air-borne, the virus can land on any surface, contaminating it. When the contaminated surface is touched, the virus is then transferred to the hands and fingers. It enters through the eyes, nose or mouth when the person touches his face with his contaminated hands.

Masks are ineffective in keeping bacteria and viruses like the swine flu virus from getting into the respiratory tract. This is where SMITTSTOPP becomes the first line of defense. By spraying it on surfaces and allowing it to dry, SMITTSTOPP creates an invisible layer of durable, non-toxic, food grade polymer, which works to significantly heighten infection protection. This polymer layer attracts negatively charged microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria and kills them, effectively stopping them from spreading.

SMITTSTOPP is recommended for use in clinics, hospitals, restaurants, public areas, schools, shops, cabs, buses and homes. SMITTSTOPP should be sprayed on surfaces that are most likely to harbor contaminants like the swine flu virus, staphylococci and salmonella. It works to stop the spread of viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms when sprayed on surfaces such as handles, taps, switches, toilet flush, toilet seats, counters, equipment, and even keyboards, mouse and cell phones.

A very interesting caller spoke to me about her need for a home ozone generator. She told me that she was a nurse and that her husband had some gangrene that the hospital appeared unable or unwilling to treat.

She told said that she was using red clay on the wound and that she wanted an home ozone generator because she believed the ozonator water would help to clean the flesh and kill bacteria.

Ozone is known to kill bacteria and viruses. Some view it as the way that nature purifies the natural environment.  If you have ever smelled the ‘fresh’ air after a rainstorm, then you are smelling ozone.

People use ozone for all kinds of purposes. Some want to use ozone generated with a home ozonator to  ozonate oils. This is due to the idea that ozonated oil has some wound healing properties.

Many people have other purposes for ozone. Some use it to make the air more clean and fresh. Some believe that higher concentrations of ozone in the air, may actually be bad for our health.Others, do not let that phase them.  It is like anything else in the world, there are those who take both sides.

Has the FDA done any studies on home ozonators?None that I have heard of.Science does appear to indicate that ozone can kill bacteria and viruses. I have also heard that it is used in the industrial arena to eliminate bacteria and viruses from many surfaces.

I happened to visit a dentist not too long ago who told me that in Europe, some doctors are using ozone to clean tooth chambers before doing a root canal or installing a filling.This is intriguing and underscores the point that Europs is better at finding and adopting things of this nature.This could be partly due to the more commercial economy of the United States, but lets not get sidetracked.

It certainly does seem that ozone generating machines are starting to become more and more popular. Click to read more about  home ozone generators. There might be something there worth investigating!

We have certainly traveled far along the road of continuing improvements, haven’t we?When you really pause to consider the technology we have in comparison with the past, it is mind boggling, isn’t it? 

The modern conveniences that are available to the masses today are incredible. If you go back a short eighty years ago, very few people had cars.In modern times, virtually every person has a car. Some have more than one. 

And think about the folks with mobility problems: Powerful stairlifts did not exist 100 years ago.  Yet today. They have devices to help the disabled be more mobile for both vehicles and at home. 

Today’s technology makes it possible for some folks to live a life that would not have been available to them 100 years ago.  That’s what is good.

Yet, there are still problems to conquer. Gum disease is a problem which is characterized in the beginning by the need to stop bleeding gums. It’s strange to think that we still can not beat simple gingivitis after thousands of years of being plagued by it. 

Modern medicine may have slipped a bit on that one.  But teeth whitening reviews abound on the Internet today. This is because at-home teeth whitening has become quite popular.This is an item that wasn’t within reach of the common man 100 years ago.

One tip about that: Please do NOT ever try to lighten your teeth with lemon juice - That is an urban legend that should be completely ignored.That lemon juice is very acidic and can really harm your tooth enamel, please don’t use it on your teeth. 

Medically speaking, it is getting better and better. Heart surgery has advanced. Yet, it leaves me feeling a bit sad.We should turn our attention to the area that really needs improvement: Prevention.  

At the same time, we really should develop our ability to work with nature instead of against. Are there natural substances that can clean our arteries and help us avoid heart surgery in the first place? 

Despite that, I’m optimistic.  Now, I’m left wondering what will be available to the average person in the next fifty years.  I’m looking forward to finding out. 

It might be difficult for westerners to perceive that Chinese inventions have been responsible for some of the most important innovations to come about, but the fact is that this is completely true. The Chinese have suffered under the stereotypical belief by others that they are not technologically accomplished. Just for started however, and these are not all, the Chinese invented spaghetti, the wheelbarrow, the water powered blast furnace, kits, chopstick, paper, gunpowder the seismograph, the crossbow, a plethora of weapons and armaments including tear gas, paper money, chess, the compass..need I go on?

The most important Chinese inventions, the ones that have impacted the rest of the world that is to say, have been gunpowder, just think about war and armaments! Paper, printing (they invented moveable type, not John Gutenberg) and the compass. Although they are also credited with the creation of brandy and whiskey and these are pretty important innovations for some people.

Gunpowder has certainly made one of the biggest impressions on the world, it has been responsible for a hell of a lot more deaths than lives, and is one of the most important warfare discoveries of ancient times. It was invented by and alchemist who was actually trying to invent the elixir of life for a Chinese Emperor in the Tang Dynasty. Elixirs of life have been considered to be vital to the Chinese people for centuries.

Cai Lun, who was a Chinese Eunuch (probably to protect the harem of the Emperor) was the inventor of paper in 105 AD. To my way of thinking paper was a far more important discovery than gunpowder, but then I am a pacifist. Many centuries later in 751 AD Arab captured Chinese Paper makers after the defeat of the Chinese army at the Battle of Talas River and this is how paper making spread to the world.

Originally the compass was invented for religious purposes. When a new house was built the Chinese used a compass to ensure that the house was facing perfectly in harmony with nature. In other words, that it faced true North. The compass started life at a marked wooden circle which balanced a magnetic spoon on the top. We all know what an impact the compass has had on navigation techniques through the centuries.

Anesthetics have been used as far back as the 3rd century, this was a type of wine which had an anesthetic affect. The Chinese are world renowned for their knowledge of herbal medicines and acupuncture and this dates back millennia. 4000 year old skulls have been found in Heilongjiang, Qinghai and Henan provinces which indicate some kind of surgery may have taken place on them, the age of these skulls have been confirmed by Carbon Dating.

The Chinese invented a lot of stuff that has an impact on our everyday life. We can go on and on but the above is probably good enough for now.

Water, one of the essential ingredients of life and survival.  But when it is the driving force in a disaster, it is far from being looked at as a life giving force.  It is so damaging and powerful, that when it strikes, nothing can stop it.  When that happens it leaves in its wake home water damage, damaged businesses, and damaged lives.

During flooding or any water damage type of situation, there are some important guidelines you are going to want to follow.  If you find yourself in that situation due to a flood, probably the first thing you must do is make sure all your loved ones are safe and out of harm’s way.

Going through the aftermath of a flood or any sort of water disaster is very discouraging.  To your home, water damage is really troubling.  The damage can extend from the floor to the ceiling and everything in between.  When that happens, you must move quickly since time is of the essence.  The first thing to do immediately is to call a flood or water damage restoration company.  Don’t wait any length of time because mold and mildew starts to form immediately with 24 hours.  Also make sure you get the furniture and valuables out of any more damage from water.

Did you know that even though items were not in direct contact with the water they can still be damaged.  This is due to any water or humidity that is unusually high in the environment during these types of disasters.  This is where working with an experienced water damage company will know what to do with all your valuables.

High humidity and unsanitary conditions can damage or contaminate most everything. It is essential that all belongings are evaluated and removed. There are times when items have already been damaged or contaminated and must be replaced. This can include furniture, carpeting or valuables. An experienced water restoration expert can help you decide if your items are able to be repaired or if they need replaced.

Another thing that concerns most homeowners is having to report the incident to the insurance company.  But this is exactly what insurance was made for, during times like these.  Report any damages immediately to your company.  Let them worry and have to take care of all the damages.  The insurance company will go out and find a reputable flood and water restoration company.  Don’t try and do any cleaning on your own.  An experienced company will be able to clean most anything including furniture, drapes, tables, wood, carpet, just to name a few.  Calling them will save you in the long run financially as well as giving your more peace of mind, and most importantly, they can help you get your life back in order as soon as possible.

It is helpful for homeowners to invest at least a minimal amount of time to learn about the heating ventilation air conditioning system that is in your home. This can help reduce frustrations when speaking to heating and air conditioning contractors and can also help to save you money, while assuring that the services you need are what you actually get. The more you know about HVACs, the more confident you will be in communicating clearly to avoid confusion.

When buying a new heating and air conditioning system, the contractor that you select will no doubt affect your overall satisfaction, even more than the brand of heating and air equipment you select. Choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor after sufficiently evaluating them will give you the best results, and you will be much happier than if you just randomly picked one out of the phone book, especially if you have a heating or cooling emergency that needs to be dealt with professionally.

There are a lot of homeowners who relegate their air conditioning heating units to the realm of just another device that does not need much attention, as long as the temperature in the home seems to be maintained correctly. But, heating and air conditioning contractors who take pride in their work know that HVAC systems are about much more than just temperature control.

A good, well-trained and experienced heating and air conditioning contractor is a professional who understands that the HVAC system in your home does much more than to just control the temperature. They also understand how it can have an impact on your family’s health. This is because heating and air conditioning systems also control the quality of the air that you breathe, have an impact on the moisture in the home and the potential of mold growth, determine the amount of energy used to control the environment, and subsequently the amount of money that you spend on a monthly basis to operate the equipment.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment system should be designed to suit the needs of your household and should not be decided upon because the contractor has a “deal” on a piece of equipment sitting in his warehouse. A diligent and quality heating and air conditioning contractor will select each part of the system individually, keeping in mind the overall design of the heating and air conditioning system, so that everything works together for top efficiency in providing the comfort you and your family deserve.

All of the components of the system are matched up by the heating and air conditioning contractor after he works with you to fully understand the needs of your entire household. These components include: the furnace, condensing unit, blowers and fans, the air conditioning condensing coil, and the entire duct work system that runs throughout the home.

Since a well-performing HVAC system is such an important element to the overall safety, comfort and health of a family, the heating and air conditioning contractors that are depended upon need to be easily reached by phone. In addition, they should have a reliable messaging system in place that will enable you to reach them even after hours, and on weekends and holidays as well. It is always best to use a company you already know and trust when an emergency related to heating or cooling occurs.

How do you dream up ideas for new inventions? Use any of the many excellent idea-creation techniques. One of the easiest is the use of a modifying-word list.

Several times now I have seen giant chairs. The most recent one was in a bar, being used by the host of a trivia contest. It was eight feet tall. Someone made and sold that chair, but how did he think of the idea? The simplest way would be to look at things and ask “what if it was bigger?”

That is the essence of the modifying word list. You look at things and ask, “What if it was…” and insert a word from the list to stimulate ideas for new inventions. To show the technique in action, I just looked around the room and chose a table as a test subject. I look at the word list and ask “What if it was…”

Bigger: If it had leaves that spread from a central pivot, it could be opened up easily into a larger surface, like a hand fan opened horizontally.

Movable: The obvious idea here is to put wheels on it. Another possibility is a line of super light tables that can be carried from room to room easily.

Cheaper: I once used an old door as a table. Are there other cheap and available materials that could be used to make tables?

Interesting: Make tables that are covered in family photos (or anything else you want). The top would then be encased in transparent acrylic. Easy to clean too!

Divided: Four small tables that can be used on their own or connected into one large table?

Subtracted from: Take away the legs and it would be easier to clean under. Could it hang from the ceiling?

Hotter: A warming tray built into the center of the table might be convenient for keeping meals hot.

Happier: Use colors that evoke positive emotions. Make cartoon-covered tables for day-care centers.

Take notes as you do this, and develop or discard the ideas later. Most words won’t give you useful ideas, but don’t dismiss them without a few seconds of thought. Creative solutions can begin with unrelated thoughts. “What if it was boring?” may seem useless, but then it could lead to the development of a line of furniture based purely on function: simple and cheap.

Words For New Inventions

You can make your own list for this technique. Generally it will need a lot of adjectives, but any words that have the potential to change your perspective can work. You may want to include some of the following.

What if it was… larger… smaller… farther away… closer… sooner… later… easier… more difficult… softer… harder… poorer… richer… wetter…  drier… higher… lower… longer… shorter… certain… uncertain… newer… older… divided… combined… more common… less common… faster… slower… better…  worse… hotter… colder… added to… subtracted from… left alone… hopeless… imaginary… cheaper… more expensive?

Take notes as you do this exercise, and give each word a few seconds of thought. Creative solutions can begin with unrelated thoughts. “What if it was hopeless?” may seem useless if you were looking for new inventions to replace existing shopping carts, but it could also make you look beyond ways for customers to gather their groceries. Maybe an invention to bring the groceries to the customer would be more radical and marketable.

Facebook And The Government

I have always thought of Facebook as a great social networking website that allows you and your friends to interact in so many ways but as of today I have second thoughts about the site. Lets face it even though facebook is a social networking site it still needs to make money and the one thing that facebook has lots of is personal information which is valuable to any business, facebook has been linked to selling your personal information for money. Facebook makes money in so many different ways and one of the points I’m going to talk about is the selling of personal information to 3rd parties and even the government. I should point out that Facebook isnt the only website that sells personal information but it is a great example. Whatever you search, or whatever website you visit that information is being stored by several parties and you will never be able to go unnoticed, why would you?unless you have somthing to hide?.

I strongly believe that the internet and your usage should be monitored to prevent online crimes but storing personal data such as age, address, education and work history is an invasion of privacy. The websites that store this information have different uses for it and its not always obvious to the user what they do with it. I don’t mind a website storing my personal information for the benefit of the site and usability of it, but I certainly don’t want them to sell my information to other companies or share it with my local government. We are all monitored on a day to day basis, they say each londoner is caught on average 300 times a day by CCTV and our local government has access to everything we spend our money on. Theres so many other ways our government is watching us, for example Oyster cards log down your journey from start to finish and that information is also stored and shared with others.

Facebook is a free website but they have to make money some how and in the early stages before they became as popular as what they are now they were linked to large sums of money from other companies like paypal. Why would the CEO of paypal give facebook over half a million? Paypal isnt a feature of facebook and isnt intergrated into facebook in anyway.

In 2001 a company was formed called "information awareness office" which was and has been designed to hold detailed records of as many people as possible. What has this got to do with Facebook? Well they have taken large sums of money from companies and organizations linked to government bodies and data centers. I have a dded a link to a really good video which explains all the other companies involvments with facebook when it comes to your personal information. Click Here

When you sign up to Facebook allot of people put as much information about themselves as possible on there like, address, phone number, age, interests, education, work history, clubs, music, books and with all the different apps available the amount of personal information you share is endless. If you don't want people or companies to know your life inside out then be careful about what you share. Remember companies like facebook buy information from each other and facebook have purchased personal information from the likes of instant messaging company MSN messenger. If you already have a Facebook profile and want to delete it, you can put in a request to Facebook but what they will do is remove your profile and prevent you from logging in but will still keep your personal information and use it on there site. Everything you write or upload is property of Facebook, e-mails between you and your friends in Facebook is property of Facebook, all comments and pictures of yourself and friends is property of Facebook ect.

With loads of companies online and offline wanting to make money and push there products to there targeted audience, websites like Facebook will always be in demand for selling personal details. Facebook has a growing network of over 175 million users and stores your personal information to sell on to specific companies, facebook is able to give the companies the type of customers they need based on the information that they store. We will never have enough solid proof to say for certain that a particular site has bought or sold information and we will never know for 100% where our Personal information will end up.

The Uk government is trying to tighten up even more and get as much information on people as possible, as of next week the uk government will be given access to detailed information on the users from the uk. To be honest I don't mind if it helps to combat crime, but we all know that information will be stored on a government computer somewhere and will be used to compile a profile about you. When the government gains access to Facebook they will be able to upload a photo of you and your address to there own private database from the information they will be given access to by Facebook.