Business Owner or Jack of All Trades - Master of None

How do you become a successful business owner? You must become the master of your craft. This means you learn to outsource the things that someone else can do better or faster than you so you can focus on what you enjoy doing. This just makes good business sense.

When evaluating a business you will want to review what services the business is offering. Is one person trying to be the receptionist, bookkeeper, cleaning person and deliver the services or products in person? Buyer beware. Experts specialize. Depending upon your budget you may want to work with a Jack of All Trades but more than likely you will want to work with the Master or Expert.

As a business owner, you must determine the products or services you will provide. Often people start chasing the latest trends before having mastered the services they are currently touting. Instead of become a master at specific things they are just learning the basics of several things and mastering none. Would you go to a gourmet coffee shop where the owner only knew how to make regular coffee and never mastered how to make a latte or frappaccino? No, you would not. You would be disappointed. Would you hire a web designer that only could provide you a basic template website? Would you hire a marketing professional or graphic designer who was using templates from a bargain online store? These people may fit your budget but will the results really be what you are looking for? What is your actual return on investment?

People want to work with experts. Experts are also able to command more money for their services. How do you become an expert? You must be willing to invest your time and money into learning every facet of that particular item. Many people are touting themselves as social media experts or guru's yet they have never invested in attending social media training nor do they invest their time in learning the latest. What he or she is relying upon is watching what others are doing and copying what is currently being done. Instead of being on the cutting edge he or she is following the pack. But, because he or she is not investing in training he or she is not able to learn the inside secrets to using social media until the secret is no longer a secret.

Again, experts specialize. As a business owner review your mission and vision statement. Do the products and services you offer honor your mission and vision statements? Have you gotten off track? Look at your website. Are you even offering the products and services that you state you offer or have you gone off chasing the next shiny object? Do not fall into this trap. You must take time to self reflect on where you are in your business, where you want to go and what honors your passion. It is OK to change direction but make sure you are doing it for the right reason.

When I started my business many people were only focused on offering social media training. Those business owners are now out of business. You must have products and services that will withstand time. It is OK to offer a few of the latest trends but you must have something to fall back on when that fad or trend passes. You must be the expert in your niche. Take time to become the expert. If you are not willing to invest in becoming the expert in your niche then it is time to admit that you are not passionate about what you are doing and you need to move on. Passion turns into profit. Experts specialize.

Celtic Warriors - Top 5 Irish Boxers of All Time

1) John L Sullivan (1858-1918)

Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts to Irish immigrant parents, Sullivan or the Boston Strong Boy became the first American sports idol. He was the link between the old and the new, being the last Bare Knuckle Champion and the first gloved champion. At 5'10 tall and weighing in at 190 pounds, he was a powerful versatile athlete who although proficient with both fists had a powerful right hand which could break a man's jaw.

Sullivan could take a punch and on numerous occasions he tested this out by walking into bars and telling everyone there that he could lick any of them. A challenge which was readily accepted by many, and readily regretted by most.

Although no formal boxing titles existed during Sullivan's era due to the legality of the sport, he undoubtedly held the title of world champion in the eyes of most Americans. His defeat of Paddy Ryan in 1882 with an 8th Round Knockout and a gruelling 75th Round win over Jake Kilrain in 1889 cemented his place in boxing folklore.

Sullivan toured America and appeared in France and England for exhibition bouts and reportedly earned 1 Million Dollars over his career.

The end came for Sullivan in 1892 when he faced Jim Corbett in the Carnival of Champions, New Orleans. Years of hard living may have taken its toll but a younger, faster and more technically aware fighter, Jim Corbett, put an end to Sullivan's career with a 21st Round knockdown. Sullivan retired from boxing after the fight, only appearing in exhibition bouts over the next 12 years against well known fighters such as Tom Sharkey and Jim Jeffries.

Sullivan did much to advance the sport of boxing with his charismatic and bullish style.

2) Gene Tunney (1897-1978)

Born in New York City to two Irish parents, Mary Lydon and John Tunney, Gene Tunney, standing at 6'0, would become World Heavyweight Champion at the age of 29. Tunney was an intelligent fighter moulded along the lines of a previous great Jim Corbett. He studied each opponent in detail and boxed scientifically rather than toe to toe. However what makes Tunney an all time great is that he could adapt his style if needed.

His bobbing and weaving style flummoxed many a fighter in his era, but it is the Harry Greb fights in Tunney's career that shows he had the willingness and heart to go toe to toe if the occasion arose. Tunney's fight record is a testament to his boxing skills, in a total of 86 fights he lost only once.

His opportunity to take the greatest prize came in 1926 against Jack Dempsey. An underdog going into the fight, Tunney won the fight on points in the Tenth, a major shock in the boxing world. A rematch was widely anticipated and it occurred 364 days after their first encounter. This match will be forever remembered for the Long Count which caused controversy, after confusion over a new rule which required fighters to go to a neutral corner after a knockdown, led to a time lapse of around 14 seconds before Tunney rose from the canvas. Tunney did rise eventually and went on to win the fight.

Tunney went on to defend his title only once. In 1928 he fought New Zealander Tom Heeney which he won by TK in the 12th. He decided to retire after this fight, some believe as a promise to his wife, but he went out as the undefeated Heavyweight Champion of the World. Tunney may not have been as charismatic a figure as Dempsey during this period who in boxing circles has taken much of the accolade and some commentators stated he had a weak chin and was not a strong puncher. However Tunney's record speaks for itself he beat Dempsey twice, in over half of his fights won the achieved this by knockout and his only knockdown in his career was the infamous Long Count.

Tunney died on the 7th November 1978 at the age of 81.

3) Jack Dempsey (1895-1983)

Born in Manassa, Colorado to an Irish father and English mother, standing at 6'1 and weighing 187 pounds, 'the Manassa Mauler' rose to stardom in a World Title fight in 1919 against Jess Willard. The previous year saw Dempsey accumulate an impressive record to set up this title bout. In 1918 he fought 17 times winning 15 losing 1 with one no decision. At the beginning of 1919 he fought 5 times winning each one by knockout in the first round.

The fight with Willard was billed as a modern day David v Goliath as Willard stood at 6'6 and few gave Dempsey any hope. After the bell sounded for round one it was clear what Dempsey's intentions were, to finish this fight as early as his previous 5 fights that year. He nearly achieved this, sending Willard to the canvas 7 times in the First. Dempsey had inflicted considerable damage on the Champion in the opening minutes, including a broken jaw, cheek bone and ribs. The fight was stopped by Willard's corner at the end of the Third.

Dempsey went on to successfully defend his title 6 times in 7 years. His reign would come to an end against another Irish American fighter Gene Tunney in September 1926. Tunney had only lost once in his career but was considered the underdog. Dempsey lost the fight on points in the Tenth, a major shock in the boxing world. Dempsey considered retiring but decided against it defeating future Heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey on his way to a rematch with Tunney.

The rematch was widely anticipated and the Gate receipts exceeded 2 million dollars. The infamous match would be remembered for the notorious long count which occurred in the seventh round. Dempsey was losing the fight on points when he hit Tunney with a left hook to the chin sending the champion to the floor. Confusion over a new rule which required fighters to go to a neutral corner after a knockdown, led to a time lapse of around 14 seconds before Tunney rose from the canvas. Tunney regained his composure and won the fight on points.

Dempsey retired after the fight, only fighting exhibitions and died in 1977, with a legacy of one of the greatest box office draws in boxing history.

4) Tom Sharkey (1873-1953)

Born in Dundalk, Ireland, standing at 5'8, Tom Sharkey would have a colourful career in Boxing. Leaving Ireland and travelling to America at a very young age, Sharkey joined the US Navy. It was here that he learned how to fight. Challenging and accepting fights from all comers, was in his nature, short but powerful and fearful of nothing or no one.

It was while in the Navy that he began his professional boxing career. The earliest recorded fights where fought at his base in Honolulu. Between 1893 and 1896 he fought 19 times and won all 19 fights by way of knockout. In his early 20's he was already gaining a healthy respect by fighters in the boxing world.

In 1896 Sharkey took on the best around, including a win over Joe Choynski, a draw against Corbett in a four round exhibition, and an exhibition against the old timer John L. Sullivan. It was however a controversial fight which would bring Sharkey to the attention of many Americans. At the end of 1896 he was given the chance to fight Bob Fitzsimmons in a contest billed as the Heavyweight Championship because it was believed that Corbett the reigning champion had relinquished his title. The referee was none other than Wyatt Earp and it was his decision in round 8 to award the fight to Sharkey after a low blow, which caused outrage. Fitzsimmons was dictating the fight and was renowned for inventing the solar plexus punch which knocked Sharkey to the canvas. Many believe Earp rigged the fight in Sharkey's favour. After the fight, Sharkey was not crowned champion as Corbett stated that he had not relinquished his title and returned to the ring.

In 1896 Sharkey returned to Ireland and was greeted with a heroes' welcome. He fought relatively few contests in preference of some exhibition bouts. In 1898 Sharkey again fought the best around including wins over Gus Ruhlin and now former champion Jim Corbett. It was also in this year that Sharkey recorded his first loss, after a war of attrition against Jim Jeffries.

It would be Jeffries who he would face again in 1899 for the Heavyweight Championship. A fight which became known as the fight of the century was one of the hardest fought in the ring to this day. Jeffries in my opinion was the greatest of all time and would have held this title by most if he had not of come out of retirement to fight Jack Johnson. A fight, he should never have fought, only to be coaxed out of retirement by the American media, six years after he had hung up his gloves.

The fight with Sharkey was held in Coney Island. Sharkey had the best of the early rounds but Jeffries came back in the latter stages of the fight. Although both suffered severe injuries, most notably Sharkey, who had two broken ribs and a broken nose, the fight, went the distance. Many believed Sharkey won the fight but Jeffries was awarded the victory by decision.

Sharkey never fully recovered from the fight physically or mentally but went on fighting never achieving the status of world heavyweight champion. In his own words Sharkey fought them all and never backed away from anyone. He was among the best in an era which had some of the greatest boxers of all time. Jeffries was undefeated until his ill fated comeback against Johnson, Jim Corbett dubbed as the father of modern boxing and Bob Fitzsimmons, the first three division world champion.

Sharkey became great friends with Jeffries and toured America re-enacting their famous fight in 1899. Both had great respect for each other, Sharkey was among those, including Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey who stated Jeffries was the greatest of all time, Jeffries stated that Sharkey's bouts were the hardest of his career crediting Sharkey as been the roughest, toughest and bravest man he ever fought.

Sharkey died, penniless, in 1953 after he lost his final fight with a long suffering illness. Remembered as the greatest heavyweight never to have won the title he was a veritable nightmare to any man he faced.

5) James Braddock (1905-1974)

Born to Irish parents Joseph and Elizabeth in New York City, Braddock's life would become one of the fairytale stories of the 20th century. Braddock started out as a very promising fighter rising up the ranks and had the opportunity to fight Tommy Loughran in 1929, for the light heavyweight championship, however he lost in a fifteen round decision.

Less than two months later the stock market crashed and Braddock like many others lost everything he had. His boxing career also suffered and he struggled to win fights, losing 16 of his 22 fights, in the process badly injuring his right hand. Jim was forced to give up boxing and filed for government relief. Jim struggled to support his family, occasionally finding work in the Docks unloading cargo ships. Compensating for his injured right hand he had to work twice as hard as others with his weak hand, subsequently strengthening it.

Braddock's story did not stop there, in 1934 with a touch of long awaited fortune, he was given the opportunity to fight John Griffin after a last minute cancellation. This match was on the undercard of the world championship fight between Primo Carnero and Max Baer. Braddock seen as simply a stepping stone for Griffin, won the fight by knockout in the third round. Braddock had taken his opportunity and two more fights ensued against strong favourites, John Henry Lewis and Art Lasky. Braddock won both fights and captured the hearts of a nation along the way.

The victories cemented Braddock's position as a serious contender and he was given his opportunity to fight the formidable champion Max Baer on June 13th 1935. Braddock going into the fight was ten to one underdog but after a gruelling fight and a dogged display he won the Heavyweight championship of the world by decision. Braddock would defend and lose his title against Joe Louis two years later but he has remained in the hearts of many people still to this day, for overcoming the odds.

Braddock's career was the subject of a Hollywood film, starring Russell Crowe. It is worth noting that Braddock paid back his welfare money, further adding to the legend of the proud underdog who fought the odds and won. Braddock retired in 1938 after one last fight with Tommy Far, which he won. He died on the 29th November 1974 at the age of 69.

Resistance Training for Osteoporosis and Older Women's Health

Simply put, osteoporosis is a disease condition where the bone tissue thins and becomes fragile. In the actual clinical setting, a patient with bone mineral density of less than 2.5 standard deviations (unit of measuring the bone density through DXA) is officially diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Bones in the body constantly undergo destruction and formation caused by the bone forming cells called the osteoblast and bone destroying cells called the osteoclasts. Osteoporosis plays around three main factors causing the bones to become fragile or brittle. These factors include: too much bone destruction, insufficient bone formation and lesser development of bone mineral density.

Older women are more vulnerable to this condition primarily after the menopausal period since the hormone estrogen rapidly declines. Estrogen inhibits "osteoclastic" activity or bone destruction. Without this hormone, bone formation cannot compensate with the magnitude of bone disintegration.

The Power of Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure. Without prevention, bones become frail and could easily break. Some of the very vulnerable bones include those that carry the greatest weights of the body including the hips and the spine. Hip fractures are difficult to repair surgically because of the irregularity of its shape. Fractures along the spine would be very dangerous because within it is the delicate spinal cord - the body's indirect connection to the brain. A slight deviation of this cord would be detrimental to health and functioning.

Strengthening the Bones

Before reaching the menopausal stage for women and andropausal stage for men, it would be important to take calcium supplements and foods that have high calcium content to prevent osteoporosis from occurring. A minimum of about 1200 mg of Calcium should be taken in daily to support normal body functions. Calcium supplements are also available if the diet cannot supply these amount. Milk, cheese, yogurts, salmon, sardines, okra, beans and almonds are just some of the best sources of calcium there is. Vitamin D3 supplements are also available which promote calcium absorption from the diet and aid in calcium storage.

What to Avoid

Increased blood acidity counteracts bone formation. It would be wise to avoid foods that increase acidity and these include the common soft drinks, most alcoholic beverages, strong vinegars and the like. Smoking is also has a similar effect to acids in preventing "osteoblastic" (bone forming cells) activities and also breakdown estrogen (which inhibits bone destruction).

Resistance Training and Weight Bearing Exercises

Weight bearing exercises cause bone stress. Bone stress stimulates osteoclasts to breakdown bone and release calcium used by the brain and the nerves to issue commands to the body. Constant bone stress prompts the body to compensate by increasing bone formation making bones more dense than it previously was. Resistance training tones the muscles that are connected to bones by ligaments. Active muscles interact well with the bones in producing enough bone stress thus, further bone formation.

Some of the Beneficial Exercises for Osteoporosis

For individuals far from the menopausal stage, weight bearing exercises like moderate intensity jogging, running, hiking, cycling, and active sports like tennis and badminton are advisable activities. People with low bone mineral density however, need to be more careful having safety as the primary concern. Low to moderate exercises are advised with minimal twisting, stretching, and strain to the weight bearing areas. Other helpful resistance exercises for the individuals with healthy bones include side planks, suspended triceps dips, push ups, pull ups, crunches, sit ups, lunges, trunk lifts, squats, jumping jacks and many more.

Shadow of an Indian Star

Shadow of an Indian Star is a 500-page historical fiction set in the early 1800's. It accurately brings life to a fascinating era of gun slinging, saloon drinking, hard work, rough living and bittersweet romance. The exploits of heroes, villains and those just trying to survive during this tumultuous era are certain to keep readers aching to turn the next page.

A rich family lore, with momentary appearances of well-known historical characters such as Billy the Kid and General Custer, was remembered and passed on to each new generation until Bill Paul and his wife Cindy became curious enough to determine the accuracy of the tales. As it turned out, the stories were true!

Map-lovers will enjoy the insert within the first few pages, which depicts the area that this story takes place in. Three generations of the Paul family history and their bitter feuds are divided into segments, one for each generation. A simple family tree is provided on the last page.

Little known facts of the Native Indian tribe known as the Chickasaw Nation along with the life of early settlers in Oklahoma could be excellent reading for history classes. Readers will witness the Trail of Tears and learn about callous and greedy settlers and a corrupt government. Readers will also see the grace and pride between both peoples in their uninhibited generosity, genuine grief for each other and intense inter-racial romances.

Authors Bill and Cindy Paul are both well educated individuals. Bill holds a degree in animal science, while Cindy has degrees in biology and environmental science. The couple resides in the very same valley and maintains the family graveyard that is written about in their first novel, Shadow of an Indian Star.

I am completely in awe of the authors' talent and superb story-telling capabilities.This tale was amazing and I enjoyed the ride immensely. There is no doubt in my mind that this book needs to be seen by movie or TV series producers.

ISBN#: 097559222X Author: Bill and Cindy Paul Publisher: Synergy Books

Compact Dishwashers are Perfect for Small Kitchen Spaces!

There's no need to keep scrubbing dirty dishes by hand when you can buy a machine to do the work for you. Most people equate dishwashers with the 24" size models built-in beneath the counter. But dishwasher selection is far greater than that! What do you think cleans the dishes in RVs and Boats?

If you're looking at the selection of compact dishwashers, you will find slim 18" models available as well as countertop models. In addition, portable dishwashers in 24" size and 18" size are also available.

18" dishwashers

These machines can be very useful when kitchen space is tight. However, these machines do not necessarily offer a bargain to consumers as they tend to cost as much as a low priced 24" dishwasher, which is to say $300 to $450. For selection, Miele makes an 18" model as does Kenmore.

You can also find portable models manufactured by Danby, Equator, Frigidaire, and Haier. These dishwashers are mobile and generally include either casters or a set of wheels. To operate you need to plug in, and hook up to the faucet.

For functionality, portable dishwashers can be extremely useful when there's no room for a built-in machine. When not in use, you can store the unit in a separate location; a closet or beneath the stairs. Additionally, portable models are equipped with a countertop which provides a nice surface for numerous kitchen tasks.

Countertop dishwashers

These compact dish cleaning machines are pretty much the smallest dishwashers available. Most are designed with microwave styling, and can be built-in or used portably.

Danby makes a nice countertop model, it includes a window and microwave styling. It also features a stainless steel interior and is energy efficient. Typically, you can wash about 4 place settings in the countertops.

Is this dishwasher your best option? These models can be very good in the right situation. However, if you have a family and kids, this appliance is far too small. On the other hand, if you have a limited number of dishes to wash, countertop models can be very useful!

Tata Cars - Important Design Developments at Tata Cars

In 2008 Tata Neno was introduced as the most low price vehicle in the world. This is absolutely not the very first innovative step from Tata cars; here are few interesting design development stories about this prolific leading car manufacturing brand.

The design was shown to the world in New Delhi, the capital of India during the Auto Expo. Priced at $3,000 only this was huge step in the low price cars. Huge orders started to pour in eventually after the Expo in 2008. Tata Neno is now available in many countries including most of Europe too.

The critics of Tata Neno see this venture as start of mass motorization. Besides the environmentalists the other car makers have not followed the suit, and Tata Neno is one of the few examples of the successful low cars in the world today. Since 2009, Tata Neno has being assembled and sold from the plant in Gujarat, in India. These days this car is sold in more than forty countries including, Kenya, South Africa, and most of Asia. The European version of this car is available in market as Neno Europa too.

This is first Indian Mini truck, and was introduced in 2005. This was Indian answer to the mini truck market that has been dominated by the foreign makers before. This was a new market segment in Indian market, and the step towards the light commercial vehicles (LCV) and small commercial vehicles (SCV) market.

The success of Tata Ace can be measured by the growth of more than 39 percent in this market. The first six months saw more than twenty eight thousands mini trucks being sold. The Car has been nicknamed as small elephant by the makers, the sacred animal in India too. This vehicle is still in the best seller among the Tata vehicles today. You can buy Tata Ace in many counties around the world including South America, Europe, and most of Africa as well. The world sale of Ace is handled through the Chrysler, and Global Eclectic Motors.

Tata is also making cars with alternate fuel too. The compressed air cars are one such example. Their flag ship vehicle in this range is Tata One. This was produced after collaboration with the French Makers MDI. Tata has invested in the making of the first compressed air car's prototype development also. This car works like electric car in many ways, all you need to have is compress air fuel from any station to move. This is great car with no fossil fuel involved at all.

Bunce-field Burner

I often make the journey from Northampton to Somerset, but yesterday I did so under a cloud...

At just after 1pm yesterday, the cloud from the Buncefield Depot had reached the edge of Northampton. Around Oxford the road visibility was down to about 200 yards, and we stayed under the cloud until Bristol.

As I looked up at the sunlight filtering through the cloud I got to thinking that we have to do more to stop this kind of pollution happening.

Right now, we're hamstrung by the oil industry. We need their produce to run our cars, to fuel our homes, power our computers and even transport our groceries to our local supermarket.

And what would happen if the oil industry hiked the prices to an even crazier level, or our supply got cut off? Do you have the skills and knowledge to survive: to produce, food, heat and light?

It seems that we like being spoon-fed. We like the easy life, especially when it comes packaged as cheap or more importantly, when it's convenient. It seems we don't ask questions anymore. We just accept what we're told or accept that their is only one way. And because of this acceptance our air is polluted, water contaminated and our soil full of toxins.

Something must be done... and we need to do it.

Start today, become aware that you might be burning more fuel than necessary. Drive at the speed most economical for your car, usually between 50 & 65 miles per hour and turn off electricity when you don't need it on - even the time clock on the oven or the stero or DVD player. If it has a red dot showing it is on standby and using 1/3 of the regular power.

More importantly start to look at the alternatives - after all Iceland is now producing 70% renewable energy, why can't we?

Breast Enlargement Pills

The concept of breast enlargement by ingesting pills is appealing to many women who are hesitant to undergo breast implant surgery. Many women view breast enlargement pills as an easy and inexpensive way of increasing their breast size.

Breast enlargement pills contain phytoestrogens, a naturally occurring non-hormonal plant estrogen that promotes the growth of new breast tissue. These pills, as the manufacturers claim, activate the inactive estrogen sites in the breasts and increase breast size.

The ingredients used in the pills are a combination of ancient herbs that naturally adjust the hormone levels and stimulate breast growth. Most of the pills contain seven ingredients, including fenugreek, don quai, saw palmetto, wild yam, blessed thistle, and damiana. The manufacturers assert that the consumers can see the result often in a couple of weeks and the consumption of pills for 3 - 6 months can lead to an increase in the breast by 1or 2 cup sizes.

Do these pills really work? No, says some of the studies. On the contrary, they could be dangerous. Though manufacturers claim to have conducted research on their products, none of the medical journals have reportedly published their studies. It is understood that the studies, they claim, may have been derived from historical anecdotes or some isolated studies.

The ingredients of breast enlargement pills, as per some studies, supposedly interfere with certain medicines. It is claimed that while fenugreek may interfere with medicines taken for blood clotting, chaste-berry tree may interfere with birth control pills. Don quai, one of the ingredients used in the pills is a known carcinogen.

All breast enlargement pills are not the same, and therefore the results may differ for every individual. These pills are sold as herbal supplements and so the US Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate the product for their safety and effectiveness. Educating oneself about the ingredients found in the pills is of utmost importance. Individuals should also thoroughly go through the independent reviews of the products. Besides, individuals who take medication should equip themselves with the thorough knowledge about the potential negative effects of consuming the pills.

Using a Co2 Fire Extinguisher

There are a number of different types of fire extinguisher. CO2 extinguishers are among the most common. You'll be able to identify them by their red casing, with a black band indicating that the contents are carbon dioxide. Contents of a fire extinguisher are also written on the extinguisher, usually in white letters. It's a good idea to make sure you know whether your extinguisher is a CO2 model, or some other type. That way, you'll know how to use it properly.

The first thing to do when you see a fire, before you even grab the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, is to let others know there's a problem. If there's an alarm, use that to alert the other people in the building. If no alarm is available, tell someone and have him or her spread the word. Call the fire department before you attempt to put out a fire, and don't try to deal with one unless you know what to do.

Then, be sure that the CO2 fire extinguisher is really the right tool for the job. It works on most fires, including flammable liquids, gases, and electrical fires. However, the pressure at which the extinguisher operates can damage items, and small pieces of ice may fly out of it. CO2 fire extinguishers are not commonly used around computers because of the possibility of damage. Instead, another type of "clean" fire extinguisher may be used. For most applications where a grease or electrical fire is a danger, however, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are a good choice, because they leave behind no powdery or harmful residues. Some dry chemical extinguishers contain dangerous chemicals, and all of them leave behind a mess to clean up.

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are also not ideal for some paper, cardboard, or plastic fires, since they can't displace enough oxygen to make sure that the fire is out. Because these extinguishers don't always cool the fire enough, there may be enough heat to cause a problem. When the carbon dioxide dissipates, and the oxygen returns, the fire may re-ignite. For oil fires and electrical fires, however, they are quite effective. Never use a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher on a fire containing flammable metals - it can actually increase the chemical reaction!

Once you're certain that what you need is a CO2 fire extinguisher, release its trigger mechanism by pulling out the plastic tag. Move the discharge horn up to a right angle with your body, and use your body to support it. Never hold this discharge horn with your hand while using it. Metal discharge horns will become so cold on a CO2 fire extinguisher that your hand could freeze to them. You should only deal with a fire when it's in the very earliest stages. Never try to put out a fire that's gotten established in a building, or try to deal with a fire if you're not sure what you're doing. Remember - you're not obligated to try to put a fire out. Call the fire department as soon as possible if you're not confident you can deal with the fire.

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers make a lot of noise when used, so don't be surprised. Aim at the base of the flame, whether the burning material is located, not at the tips. If you have any worries about whether you're doing things right, or you empty the extinguisher without putting out the fire, leave the area immediately. It's better to be safe than sorry. Your fire extinguisher isn't the only thing that's useful in an emergency, either. A fire blanket is an excellent solution for any fire that's smaller than the blanket. Always be sure to hold the blanket in such a way that it protects your hands, and leave it on the fire for at least thirty minutes.

Never walk on an area where a fire has been, even if you've used an extinguisher on it. It may reignite, or you could find that your extinguisher's CO2 supplies are exhausted unexpectedly. Recharge all extinguishers as soon as possible after you use them, to make sure they're ready for the next possible accident. Not having a working fire extinguisher on hand could be a big problem. Remember to inspect your CO2 fire extinguisher monthly to be certain it's ready for use.

HSN1 - A Type of Avian Influenza Virus

H5N1 is a type of avian influenza virus (bird flu virus) that has mutated[1] through antigenic drift into dozens of highly pathogenic varieties, but all currently belonging to genotype Z of avian influenza virus H5N1. Genotype Z emerged through reassortment in 2002 from earlier highly pathogenic genotypes of H5N1[2] that first appeared in China in 1996 in birds and in Hong Kong in 1997 in humans[3]. The "H5N1 viruses from human infections and the closely related avian viruses isolated in 2004 and 2005 belong to a single genotype, often referred to as genotype Z." [1]

The avian influenza subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused Spanish flu, H2N2 caused Asian Flu, H3N2 caused Hong Kong Flu, H5N1, H7N7, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7.

All avian influenza (AI) viruses are type A influenza virus in the virus family of Orthomyxoviridae and all known strains of influenza A virus infect birds. Influenzavirus type A is subdivided into subtypes based on hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) protein spikes from the central virus core. There are 16 H types, each with up to 9 N subtypes, yielding a potential for 144 different H and N combinations.

Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals.

An influenza pandemic is a large scale epidemic of the influenza virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that there is a substantial risk of an influenza pandemic within the next few years. One of the strongest candidates is the A(H5N1) subtype of avian influenza.

A myxovirus of the genus Influenzavirus, antigenically varying from influenza virus type A and influenza virus type C, that causes various respiratory illnesses in humans.

A myxovirus of the genus Influenzavirus, antigenically varying from influenza virus type B and influenza virus type C, that causes acute respiratory illness in humans.

Influenza caused by infection with a strain of influenza virus type C.

People should get vaccine who are:

People 65 years of age or older. Resident of nursing home and other chronic-care facilities. Adults and adolescents with chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disorders, including asthma. Health care workers, care givers and others who might transmit influenza virus to persons at high-risk for complications from infection.

People who are less able to fight infections because of a disease they are born with, infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), treatment with medications such as long-term steroids, and/or treatment for cancer with X-rays or medications.

Adults and adolescents who required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic illnesses (including diabetes mellitus), kidney diseases, and blood cell diseases such as sickle cell anemia.

Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season (December - March).

Persons 6 months to 18 years of age who receive long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after influenza.

How to Deal With Genital Warts in Males - What You Have to Know

Dealing with sexually transmitted disease like genital warts is a very stressful situation if you do not know how. It is important for sexually active people to be cautious and prevent getting the disease. This condition is very frustrating and embarrassing especially to men and that is why it is important to know how to deal with genital warts in males.

Genital warts are caused by HPV or human papilloma virus. There are more than 100 different types of HPV and around 30% of it affects the human genitals. The virus is easily transmitted through sexual intercourse, oral sex and skin to skin contact. If you get infected by HPV, symptoms may appear 3 months after you had sexual contact with an infected partner. In men, the most obvious symptom is the appearance of genital warts on or around the head of the penis, scrotum and anus. They are skin-colored, white, pinkish or yellowish small lumps. They could also appear as cauliflower-like lumps in clusters. Other symptoms include itching and burning sensation around the genital area and painful sexual intercourse. The symptoms are very disturbing that you need to know how to deal with genital warts in males.

Dealing with genital problems could be really difficult especially for sexually active men. Here are some tips on how to deal with genital warts in males:

Abstain from sexual activity. To be sure that you will not make your condition worse, stop engaging in any sexual activity while you are under treatment. Staying sexually active will worsen the infection and you may infect your partner. Using condoms may work but it is not 100% reliable because it cannot cover all the infected areas.

Consult a medical practitioner. It is best to seek medical advice once you suspect that you have HPV to avoid more serious genital problems. It is better to talk to your doctor about your suspicions and fears. They can perform tests to know if you are infected or they can offer treatments and antiviral medicines to help you deal with genital warts in males.

Advance medical treatments. There are advance medical treatments to help you deal with genital warts in males. Treatments like laser surgery, freezing or cryotherapy, electrocautery or burning and surgical removal are preformed by doctors to treat genital warts.

It's Official! Pluto Is Not A Planet!

Astronomers at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly in Prague, decided on Aug. 24, 2006 that the Solar System has eight planets, not nine, and Pluto is not one of them. Instead, Pluto has been designated a "dwarf planet."

424 astronomers were involved in the vote.

"I'm embarrassed for astronomy. Less than 5 percent of the world's astronomers voted," said Alan Stern, leader of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and a scientist at the Southwest Research Institute. He expects the decision to be overtuurned by the astronomy community. Other astronomers have criticized the definition as ambiguous.

The assembly ruled has ruled, in order to qualify as a planet, a world must meet three criteria:

It must have enough mass and gravity to gather itself into a ball. It must orbit the sun. It must reign supreme in its own orbit, having "cleared the neighborhood" of other competing bodies.

So Jupiter, for example, which circles the sun supreme in its own orbit, is a planet - no adjective required. Pluto, on the other hand, shares the outer solar system with thousands of Pluto-like objects, some bigger, some smaller. Because it has not "cleared its own neighborhood," it is now to be called a dwarf planet.

There is one flaw in that argument, though; Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all have asteroids as neighbors and can hardly be said to have cleared their neighborhoods. True, those asteroids are a sparse population, but research in recent years has discovered over 1,000 Near Earth Objects, bodies that could potentially impact our planet in the future. Not so much a case of Earth serenely sailing a pristine path as occasionally getting a bug-splat on its windscreen as it orbits through space.

"It's patently clear that Earth's zone is not cleared," Stern said. "Jupiter has 50,000 Trojan asteroids," which orbit in lockstep with the planet. "It won't stand," he said. "It's a farce."

The historian and astronomer emeritus at Harvard, Owen Gingerich, who led the committee that proposed the initial definition, has called the new definition "confusing and unfortunate" and said he was "not at all pleased" with the language about clearing the neighborhood. Gingerich also did not like the term "dwarf" planet.

Mike Brown, of Caltech, recently found an object with the snappy moniker of 2003 UB313, which is larger than Pluto.

"As of today I have no longer discovered a planet," he said. But Brown called the result scientifically a good decision.

"The public is not going to be excited by the fact that Pluto has been kicked out," Brown said. "But it's the right thing to do."

This decision clarifies the vocabulary of planetary astronomy while simultaneously upturning 76 years of "Pluto is a planet" pop-culture. Will non-specialists heed Pluto's demotion? That remains to be seen. Meanwhile, according to the IAU, the Solar System has eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; and three dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto and 2003 UB313.

Quite a number of textbooks and classroom charts will now have to be updated to take account of Pluto's change in status.

Named after the god of the underworld in Roman mythology (and not a cartoon dog), Pluto orbits the Sun at an average distance of 5.9 billion kilometres (3.7 billion miles) taking 247.9 Earth years to complete a single circuit of the Sun.

The New Horizons spacecraft is due to fly by Pluto and the Kuiper Belt in 2015.

Types of Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief breathing pauses during sleep, if left untreated can lead to serious cardiovascular problems and premature death. Currently there is no complete cure for sleep apnea, but there are a number of treatment methods available. Diagnosis is done via a sleep study (polysomnography) and is usually conducted in a sleep lab. Home sleep test kits are available these days for those who may have problems sleeping in a foreign environment like a sleep lab.

There are a number of conventional treatment methods commonly used and these depend on the patient's medical condition and also on the severity of the disorder. These conventional treatment methods for Obstructive Sleep Apnea commonly recommended include:

Use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine Use of Oral or Dental Appliances Throat or nasal surgery

Currently there is no medication available to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Provagil tmModanifil has been recommended for some sleep apnea patients who complain of persisting sleepiness during the day even when using CPAP for several months. Provagil has been prescribed as an adjunctive treatment for patients who have not responded adequately to CPAP.

Of the three conventional treatment methods above the use of CPAP machine is by far the most popular and is relatively successful in treating sleep apnea. Unfortunately the compliance rate is not very high and many users have reported great discomfort in using a CPAP machine and sleeping with a mask attached. In fact the problems and side effects experienced with the use of CPAP mask and other oral dental devices have prompted many to look for other alternative treatments. Surgery unfortunately is more invasive and painful and has not had very good success rate either.

There have been some clinical studies and reported success cases on a number of alternative treatment methods. In fact some of these natural alternatives have been considered as complementary to the more conventional treatments.

Following are some alternative treatments:

Lifestyle changescan help sleep apnea Diet, exercise and weight loss. Even a small amount of weight loss can open up your throat and improve sleep apnea symptoms. Quit smoking. Smoking is believed to contribute to sleep apnea by increasing inflammation and fluid retention in your throat and upper airway. Avoid alcohol and other muscle relaxants or depressant drugs a few hours before bedtime, because they relax the muscles of the soft palate and interfere with breathing. Avoid having heavy meals and coffee a few hours before bedtime. Sleeping Positions- avoid sleeping on the back. Sleeping on the back cause the tongue to fall backwards into the airway causing an obstruction in the airway leading to sleep apnea. There are a number of aids available to help avoid sleeping on one's back. The most popular is a specially designed sleep pillow that makes it difficult for the user to roll over onto his/her back thus preventing the user from sleeping in the supine position. Singing Therapy- singing therapy has been proven in scientific studies to help reduce the number of apneas significantly. There had been a number of successful clinical trials conducted at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Weak vocal chord muscles and tissues in the throat tend to relax and collapse when we sleep resulting in a blockage of the airway causing apneas. The principle behind this 'singing therapy' is that by strengthening and toning the throat muscles it reduces the risk of the flabby soft palate tissues and throat muscles collapsing and vibrating hence reducing snoring and blockage of the airway, a major cause of sleep apnea. Didgeridoo Therapy- A study done by Dr. Milo A. Puhan and his team showed that regular Didgeridoo playing is an effective alternative treatment for patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea. To play the Didgeridoo correctly it requires a special breathing technique called 'circular breathing'. This breathing technique requiring the coordinated movements of the tongue, mouth and throat help to strength the airway by toning the muscles surrounding it helping to reduce any blockage of the airway. Acupuncture - Energy or 'qi' in ancient Chinese tradition flows through the body by way of 'meridians', i.e. invisible energy channels located throughout the body. This flow of energy like all flows can often times be blocked in the body. This blockage is attributed by Traditional Chinese Medicine as a cause of many health problems, sleep apnea being one of them. To unblock this flow of energy, acupuncture is often used as an effective healing technique.

For more information on Alternative Treatments for Sleep Apnea visit my website below.

Franchising Mobile Oil Change Units - Is It A Viable Concept For Franchising?

As a former franchisor, it seemed that I learned many things the hard way. Much of the Industry Association information was not applicable to our type of franchise or the size of our business starting out. When franchising mobile service business as franchised units it is more difficult than you might think.

There are many folks out there that wish to "SELL" a business opportunity or trailer, van, truck, etc or franchise and yes they are more concerned with the short term sales than the long-term accomplishments that franchising brings. Of course, we would never partner or attempt to partner with anyone that short sided, such thinking for short-term without the long-term component is a dead end.

Thus, we often found ourselves going it alone and inventing it as we went. Indeed, you must make money both short and long term and like Collins points out in "Built to Last" and therefore, you must consider the total mission, each battle and the end game of the war itself. So, I do not fault folks for making money "selling equipment" as that is their choice, but that is not what we are about or our primary focus in setting up franchises in the past.

In fact, I tend to agree with those who make comments about such short-sided folks, and agree I would never wish to partner with any of them. If you decide to franchise a mobile oil change business or any mobile service business, then I think you can make this work with the right resources, what questions do you have for me? Would you like a reading assignment?

Go to this website; www.EzineArticles.com and at the top center of the home page is a search feature. Type in "mobile oil change" and you will pull up about 150 articles on the subject. And also look for the top authors in the Franchising Section, to find the article that I have written, it will give you a good basis to formulate questions, that you will need to answer in your business plan. Good luck, Gods Speed and Continued Success.

Kitchen Tables and Chair Sets - An Essential Dining Room Furnishing

Your dining room, it is the location in your home for all sorts of events and occasions. From fancy seven course dinners to pizza parties, even all nighters for school projects. For that reason, it needs to be a functional space and that's where high quality kitchen tables and chair sets come into play. They allow you to use your space the way that you want, plus, one adds a nice decorative element in the process.

Kitchen tables and chair sets are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, making it easy to find just the right one for your space. For example, if you have a smaller kitchen area, then a great option for you would be one that is smaller and round in size that comes with four chairs. If your dining space is on the larger size, then a long, rectangular table option would be the way to go that comes with eight chairs and can sit eight people. You can even get kitchen tables that have an expanding option with a removable insert and if you want chairs that match the set, extras are always available for purchase. Basically, there are just a lot to choose from.

Along with coming in different shapes and sizes, kitchen tables and chairs sets are also available in a slew of styles and designs to match the look and feel that you have going on in your space. The reason this is possible is because they can be crafted from a wide variety of materials including wood, metal, metal and glass, even stone. So, maybe you have a modern theme resonating throughout your entire home, then a great choice for you would be something that features bold geometric lines. Like one who's table and chair base is made out of metal that is paired up nicely with a glass table top. For something that is more on the traditional side, a great choice would be sets that are crafted out of wood with a nice cherry base.

A great way to browse all the different kitchen tables and chair sets that are available and find the perfect one for you is by heading to your computer. That is right, your computer and not the local furniture store. You see, there are a lot of online vendors and you can breeze through all their offerings in not time and all. And when you do find something you like, it will be shipped right to your home so you do not even have to worry about transporting it. Now that is convenient.

When it comes down to it, kitchen tables and chairs sets are essential in having a functional and beautiful dining room space. One thing to remember when buying yours is that it is important to get one of high quality because you want it to be able to stand up to the rigors of everyday living. Now, what are you waiting for? Get one today, so you, and everyone else can enjoy sitting around it tomorrow and many, many years after that.