Archive for the ‘American Transport Services’ Category

Osteoporosis is a common disease. In America, it affects approximately one in nine. That works out to 28 million people, with of them being women over middle age. While sone bone loss is inevitable as we age, there are precautions we can take to protect our bones and reduce bone loss and the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become weak or brittle and are much more prone to breaking. If not prevented or treated, it can lead to easily broken bones, especially that of the wrist, hips and spine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 90 percent of American women are calcium deficient on a daily basis. Being deficient in calcium puts you at risk for gum disease, menstrual cramping, depression, insomnia and down the road it can lead to osteoporosis. So it is clearly important for us to be aware of how much Calcium we eat. We need to try and eat more foods rich in calcium and add calcium to the diet as supplements.

Some of the foods which are rich in calcium are dairy products of nearly all kinds, greens such as turnip, bock choy, mustard and broccoli, oysters, blackstrap molasses, almonds and even some mineral waters.

It is important to note that some of the foods we eat have natural inhibitors to Calcium absorption. Foods like spinach, sorrel, rhubarb, and dandelion greens contain oxalic acid which binds to calcium to form calcium oxalate, which is indigestible.

Grains can also interfere with calcium absorption. Phytic acid is found in grains and this is a phophoruslike compound that combines with calcium in the intestines and blocks its absorption. Most people do not need to worry too much about this unless you are eating a very high carbohydrate diet.

There are also nutrients that will enhance the absorption of calcium. Magnesium helps with calcium metabolism and in transporting calcium in to bones and soft tissues. Magnesium is also important for preventing calcium oxalate crystals from forming which is what kidney stones are made from.

There are also vitamins which are important for calcium absorption. Vitamin C is one calcium enhancer. But more importantly, Vitamin D is vital for calcium being transformed into a useable form by increasing calcium absorption in the small intestines and retention by the kidneys.

There are trace elements that enhance calcium absorption. Boron maintains calcium and magnesium levels by aiding the body in it’s synthesize with both estrogen and vitamin D. Silicon is also important. Silicon helps to support calcium in the maintenance and growth of bones and joints.

Estrogen plays an integral role in the body’s use of calcium. Estrogen both increases calcium absorption and decreases its urinary excretion.

Exercise is one of the most important things that can be done to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Bones grow stronger with physical stress. Weight bearing exercise is the most important form of exercise to protect your bones. A study by the Mayo Clinic found that women who exercise twice a week have denser bones than those who exercise once a week, which in turn have denser bones than those who never exercise at all. Even sedentary postmenopausal women increased bone mass by 5 percent after nine months of an exercise program and a high-calcium diet.

We can conclude that if you want protect your bones, exercise and proper diets and supplements will be important for your health. Choosing the right supplement can be difficult with so many products out there. Many experts believe that postmenopausal women need up to 1,500 mg of calcium daily. When looking for a calcium supplement look for one that is also high in magnesium. You will also want to either find one with Vitamin D already in it, or take a separate D at a minimum of 400 I.U.

Isn’t it now time that you take action and prevent yourself from the risks of osteoporosis? Consult your physician for advice on starting an exercise plan if you are not already doing so. And look for a quality calcium/magnesium supplement to protect your bones so that you can enjoy a healthy, active life in your later years.

Osteoporosis is a common disease. In America, it affects approximately one in nine. That works out to 28 million people, with of them being women over middle age. While some bone loss is inevitable as we age, there are precautions we can take to protect our bones and reduce bone loss and the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become weak or brittle and are much more prone to breaking. If not prevented or treated, it can lead to easily broken bones, especially that of the wrist, hips and spine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 90 percent of American women are calcium deficient on a daily basis. Being deficient in calcium puts you at risk for gum disease, menstrual cramping, depression, insomnia and down the road it can lead to osteoporosis. So it is clearly important for us to be aware of how much Calcium we eat. We need to try and eat more foods rich in calcium and add calcium to the diet as supplements.

Some of the foods which are rich in calcium are dairy products of nearly all kinds, greens such as turnip, bock choy, mustard and broccoli, oysters, blackstrap molasses, almonds and even some mineral waters.

It is important to note that some of the foods we eat have natural inhibitors to Calcium absorption. Foods like spinach, sorrel, rhubarb, and dandelion greens contain oxalic acid which binds to calcium to form calcium oxalate, which is indigestible.

Grains can also interfere with calcium absorption. Phytic acid is found in grains and this is a phophoruslike compound that combines with calcium in the intestines and blocks its absorption. Most people do not need to worry too much about this unless you are eating a very high carbohydrate diet.

There are also nutrients that will enhance the absorption of calcium. Magnesium helps with calcium metabolism and in transporting calcium in to bones and soft tissues. Magnesium is also important for preventing calcium oxalate crystals from forming which is what kidney stones are made from.

There are also vitamins which are important for calcium absorption. Vitamin C is one calcium enhancer. But more importantly, Vitamin D is vital for calcium being transformed into a usable form by increasing calcium absorption in the small intestines and retention by the kidneys.

There are trace elements that enhance calcium absorption. Boron maintains calcium and magnesium levels by helping synthesize with both estrogen and vitamin D. Silicon is also important. Silicon helps to support calcium in the maintenance and growth of bones and joints.

Estrogen plays an integral role in the body’s use of calcium. Estrogen both increases calcium absorption and decreases its urinary excretion.

Exercise is one of the most important things that can be done to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Bones grow stronger with physical stress. Weight bearing exercise is the most important form of exercise to protect your bones.

A study by the Mayo Clinic found that women who exercise twice a week have denser bones than those who exercise once a week, which in turn have denser bones than those who never exercise at all. Even sedentary postmenopausal women increased bone mass by 5 percent after nine months of an exercise program and a high-calcium diet.

We can conclude that if you want protect your bones, exercise and proper diets and supplements will be important for your health. Choosing the right supplement can be difficult with so many products out there. Many experts believe that postmenopausal women need up to 1,500 mg of calcium daily.

When looking for a calcium supplement look for one that is also high in magnesium. You will also want to either find one with Vitamin D already in it, or take a separate D at a minimum of 400 I.U.

Isn’t it now time that you take action and prevent yourself from the risks of osteoporosis? Consult your physician for advice on starting an exercise plan if you are not already doing so. And look for a quality calcium/magnesium supplement to protect your bones so that you can enjoy a healthy, active life in your later years.

Despite the tight budget strains, educators and students alike want more services and higher achievement levels. Dated technology and administrative infrastructures may cause lowered productivity as well as increased cost of operating under the old technology.

Schools throughout the last decade have been able to harness technological advances to benefit the overall teaching process. While some forms of technology may have a cheap price label, hidden costs are often involved, whether schools are thinking about a new operating systems or state-of-the-art interactive whiteboards.

Walk into a budding classroom or administrative office and you will see a proliferation of printing equipment, ranging from colour laser printers, mono laser printers, ink-jet printers and copiers. Recent news in IT Pro alarmingly highlights that 69 percent of businesses are unaware of total cost of printing. However, printing is an area where schools can reap significant savings through properly assessing its printing requirements and the total cost of running a printer, also known as Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

The sheer amount of different models on the printer market often confuses bursars wanting to deploy the most cost effective, robust printing solution. If schools were evaluating printers only by each unit’s purchase price, most of the administrative offices as well as classrooms would be running ink-jet printers. However, ink-jet printers in the busy education environment are rightly considered as a false economy. Where as the investment is low, the costs for ink-jet consumables; such as ink cartridges, maintenance and paper, can quickly mount up to exceed that of a top-of-the-range laser printer.
Factor in the hidden costs

Mono- and colour laser printers have quickly become standard in the education environment due to their print speeds as well as the rugged durability they offer. However, TCO is something that is often overlooked by IT managers and bursars involved in printer acquisition projects. Schools should be aware of the hidden costs on printing, such as:
- Network Management:

Most printers today come network ready, and where networked printers can effectively reduce TCO; a growing population of printers will require more network management.
- High usage and Consumables:

Users who tend to use the wrong printer for their print jobs can significantly increase TCO. Most schools today utilise both mono laser printers for word document processing and colour laser printers for worksheet material and/or presentation slides covered in the lessons. Schools also need to be aware that sending print jobs to a smaller printer will, overtime, overload the printer leading to increased consumable and maintenance costs.
- Maintenance:

Technology with moving parts will need maintenance at some point of its lifecycle. Printer service can represent up to 50% of the overall printing costs. Maintenance, along with consumables is a key factor when considering a printer purchase.
Reduce your printing costs

With the demand for bespoke lesson plans, in-class materials and the rise of desktop publishing courses, colour printing is more in demand than ever and schools need to take a more strategic view of their printing needs.

Choosing the right printing equipment for either the class room or back office is not as daunting as it may seem as there are effective ways in which schools can effectively reduce TCO. For example, by choosing the right mix of robust mono laser and colour laser printers. With effective utilisation of both types of printers, schools and educators can effectively drive down the TCO, as mono laser printers provide crisp text at a lower cost than a colour laser.

There are many ways in which TCO can be effectively reduced:
- Choose the right consumables:

Toners can be a burden on IT expenditure. Often, schools opt for standard capacity toners due to their low purchase price, even though print cost can rise as high as 14 pence-per-page. Most manufacturers offer high capacity toners, which can reduce printing costs up to 35% by simply buying in bulk. In a time where environmental issues are top of mind for us all, look around for a reputable vendor who will offer free recycling services for empty toners.
- Warranty and Maintenance:

Many manufacturers offer extended warranties and service initiatives with various benefits. Initiatives, such as our Service For Supplies programme provides end users with the comfort of knowing that they can effectively reduce their running costs by receiving next business day, onsite support for the life of the printer and free maintenance for the price of their consumables.
- Easy to use printers:

Schools need to make sure that the printers they choose are easy to operate by both staff and students alike. Staff needs to be able to change toners and paper as well as comfortably operate the printer through the printer control panel. Printers with simple user interfaces can significantly reduce queues to the printer, when students are waiting for their work to print.
- Manage the printer network:

Schools can save money on printing by implementing an effective print strategy, by looking at which printer’s receive the most jobs, which users and departments make the most print jobs and what percentage of print job are in colour. Most vendors should be able to offer monitoring tools for all of these.
- Choosing the right manufacturer:

Each school is different and requirements vary on individual basis. Make sure that the manufacturer or dealer you deal with understands your needs and does not try and sell the fanciest printer that may not match your printing needs. The wrong printer in the wrong place will have a significant impact on TCO.

With the effective utilisation of both colour laser- and mono laser printers schools can develop a printing strategy, which is not only fast and effective, but easy on the budget as well. Each printer manufacturer and dealer should explain TCO to their customers so that mutual understanding and trust is established. Total Cost of Ownership can be tackled with advice from the leading supplier and implementation of the right printers.

Making the right decision in terms of investment means buying a printer that fulfils the application requirement. The right printer for the job brings about many advantages. It can improve work presentation, reduce project time and most importantly save money.

To correctly calculate a printer’s total cost of ownership. Combine the acquisition price, cost per page, reliability, and support. Each printer will excel in more than one area, but all must be considered when defining TCO. Most reputable printer vendors will be able to provide estimations of their printer’s TCO.
About TallyGenicom

TallyGenicom is one of the largest companies in the world focused exclusively on supplying computer printers, supplies and service to commercial and industrial users. All TallyGenicom products are designed and manufactured to perform critical, business-specific printing tasks in industries such as healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, warehousing and retail. Major international corporations such as Wal-Mart, American Airlines, Tesco, Daimler Chrysler, Blockbuster and Volkswagen use TallyGenicom printers because of their customized design, rugged construction, proven reliability and durability.

TallyGenicom world-wide headquarters are in the United States in Chantilly, VA near Washington, D.C. Its European headquarters are in Ulm, Germany. In Europe the firm has operations in Paris, Vienna, Milan and Basingstoke in the UK. Asian operations are located in Singapore and Jiangmen, China. The company markets Tally, Genicom and TallyGenicom products worldwide.

For more information on the company, please visit www.tallygenicom.co.uk

It has been estimated that by the year 2020 senility and Alzheimer’s disease will affect 14 million Americans. With the birth of the baby boomers, and with advancement of medicine within the last 100 years, we will soon have a large portion of our population in the senior citizens age group. Living to a ripe old age is now quite common so now we need to focus on the quality of life.

What good is living to be over 100 years of age if we have lost our minds at 65? Becoming a nation of caregivers for the elderly would not benefit society or the government. Our brain, like any other organ in our body, needs to get proper nourishment, have toxins removed, exercised, and get the proper amount of rest in order to function properly. Some herbs have shown the ability in helping prevent and in some cases treat or even reverse memory loss.

Chief of the US Dept of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University stated, because the brain consumes and processes so much oxygen, it produces a lot of free radicals, and is most susceptible to oxidative damage. Free radicals are created during the normal process of metabolism; cells produce unstable oxygen molecules that damage cells. Almost all of the anti-aging products on the market promote the anti-oxidant quality of their product.

Ginkgo.

Ginkgo is also called the duck foot tree and was found in China during the late 18th century. A French study conducted in the 1980s showed that women taking 600 mg of Ginkgo a day showed short-term memory improvement. It is also believed to improve circulation, and helps with sight and hearing loss. Ginkgo is also a blood thinner and anyone taking blood thinners or aspirin should consult with their doctor prior to starting any treatment that uses Ginkgo.

Lycium or Lycii Berries.

The Chinese Herbalists have used lyceum berries, also known as Chinese Wolfberry, since the 1st century AD for improving the circulation, removing toxins from your liver and kidneys. Lycium berries are also rich in antioxidants, which can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body. They are also used to treat dizziness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision. The root of the Lycium plant is used to relieve cough, wheezing, high blood pressure, and reduce fever.

Blueberry and Blackberries.

Blueberries and Blackberries contain a large quantity of antioxidants, which may help reduce the effect age related memory problems. They contain a chemical called anthocyanins which are very powerful antioxidants.

Hawthorn.

Hawthorn has an high concentration of anti-oxidants and can help remove toxins in the brain and can strengthens the blood vessels which helps get oxygen and nutrients transported to the brain.

Shilajit.

Shilajit is a powerful antioxidant that is one of the few chemicals that can cross the blood-brain barrier. It has been used for over 3,000 years and has is also called the Destroyer Of Weakness. Shilajit improves memory and the ability to handle stress. Shilajit is found in the Himalayan mountains and has been used by the local residents for centuries. It is not unusually for the people living in that region to live to be over 100 years of age.

Periwinkle.

Periwinkle helps to improve mental activity by increasing the blood flow to the brain.

Rutin.

Studies have shown that Rutin inhibited the oxidative damage in human red blood cells.

Rosemary.

Rosemary stimulated blood circulation and the nervous system and enhances memory and concentration. The ancient Greeks called it the Herb of Memory and they wore a stalk in their hair to increase memory.

Fish Oil.

Fish oil contains omega 3 and fatty acids, which have been shown to stimulate the brain and increase memory and mental awareness.

If you just feel that you need vitamins, supplements or herbs to fight the aging process then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Although their are numerous online travel services a traditional Travel agent is as much an important part of the trip as comfort is to traveling! The role of a travel agent has been increasing with the times and today most people are dependent on them for executing most of their travel plans so that they can rest easy and just enjoy their trip.

It is the responsibility of the travel agent to help and guide the travelers about the constantly changing schedules and airfares, availability of packages for vacation, and a lot of travel information that the traveler may not know about.

Choosing a reliable travel agent can be an important decision, since how you travel and your comfort will be largely decided by the travel agents. You should verify the information given by the travel agents, to be on the safer side and minimize your travel hassles. Incase of International travel, choosing a proper agent becomes more important.

The right agent should be able to foresee your problems and guide you about them. They should provide information related to customs regulations, important documents like visas, passports, currency exchange rates and certificates of vaccination.

Many hotels, cruise liners, resorts, and special travel groups make use of travel agents to market their travel packages to the ever increasing rate of people choosing to travel both inland and overseas. Most agents advice you on destinations and make arrangements for hotel stays, transportation, tours, car rentals, etc.

Information on weather conditions, restaurants, tourist attractions, and other such necessary information are also provided. A good travel agent could also take the trouble of checking out hotel services to gauge their quality of service in order that they can base references on a first hand report.

With the changing times, the travel industry has seen a big development in terms of Internet bookings and travel related information made available on the net. The number of people using online services is growing. This has resulted in a change in the view of the convenience of traditional agencies.

A poll result of American tourists revealed that over 92 percent of them generally buy their travel related necessities online. According to these consumers, online travel agencies have cheaper rates, are the easiest to use and offer all the relevant information. A word of caution is necessary for those using the Internet for their travel bookings. Be sure to navigate the site, verify that the agent has a good back-up system.

Also ensure that there are no added costs that are credited to your credit bills.

Till a few years ago, travel agents provided free services to their customers. Travel agents worked as agents for airlines, hotels, rental car companies, etc. The agencies worked on a commission basis from these suppliers.

But free travel agent services began changing as a result of certain changes in the rate of commissions. For example, in 1995 Delta Airlines imposed a $50 limit on domestic airline commission rates.

The role of the travel agent is thus not only diversified but one that necessitates trust and responsibility.

Since 1960s, career cluster resources have been used as career exploration and planning tools in schools, learning communities, and organizations across the nation. Career Clusters is a system that matches educational and career planning.

Step 1: Identifying Career Cluster Interest Areas

Career clusters are groups of similar occupations and industries. When teachers, counselors, and parents work with teens, college students, and adults, the first step is to complete career cluster assessment. The assessment identifies the highest career cluster areas. Career assessments show teens, college students, and adults rankings from one of the following 16 Interests Areas or Clusters:

1. Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources

2. Architecture & Construction

3. Arts, A/V Technology & Communication

4. Business, Management & Administration

5. Education & Training

6. Finance

7. Government & Public Administration

8. Health Science

9. Hospitality & Tourism

10. Human Services

11. Information Technology

12. Law, Public Safety & Security

13. Manufacturing

14. Marketing, Sales & Service

15. Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

16. Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Step 2: Exploring Career Clusters and Related Careers

After pinpointing the highest career clusters, teens, college students, and adults explore the different careers and create education plans. Career cluster tools used in career and educational planning include:

LISA: A comprehensive career cluster database

Models

Brochures

Pathways

High school plan of study

Interest and Skills Areas

Crosswalks

After completing a career cluster assessment, teens, college students, and adults look at web sites, career models, brochures, pathways, and high school plans. One of the most unique comprehensive career cluster resources is the Louisiana Integrated Skills Assessment (LISA), an Internet program. LISA lets you explore career clusters, careers, abilities, training requirements, and more. There are 3 steps in the LISA program:

STEP 1: Click here to select a Career Cluster,

STEP 2: Click here to select a Career Group

STEP 3: Explore Occupations within this Career Group

In Step 1, when you choose a career cluster, you will see a description of the cluster. When you select a career group in Step 2, you see different careers. Finally, in Step 3, you see a wealth of information:

Job descriptions

Educational and training requirements

Crosswalks, for example ONET, DOT, GOE, and other codes

Abilities

Knowledge

Skills

Tasks

Work Vales

Labor Market Information

Even though LISA is an awesome program, in classroom or workshop settings, you need printed materials. When using printed materials, the career model is the best place to start. Models provide excellent overviews listing the cluster definitions, sample careers, pathways, knowledge, and skills. Visual models show career clusters, the cluster subgroups, and related careers. Models are an excellent way to introduce career clusters.

For presentations, workshops, and group discussions, the career cluster brochures provide additional information. Adults and teens read about the different careers that are available in each career cluster. Teachers, counselors, and parents use the brochures to solidify adults’ and teens’ potential career or educational decisions. The brochures cover topics such as:

Definition of career clusters

Careers

Career pathways

Employment outlooks

Skills

Credentials

Teachers, counselors, and parents use career pathways for more detailed information. The career pathways are subgroups or areas of concentration within career clusters. Each pathway contains career groups. The career groups have similar academic skills, technical skills, educational requirements, and training requirements. Career pathways are plans of study that outline required secondary courses, post secondary courses, and related careers. The career pathways are essential tools that teachers, counselors, parents, and other adults use to give educational planning advice.

Several web sites feature High School Plans of Study. These study plans show required, elective, and suggested courses for each grade level. The school plans also match the career clusters to related careers, career pathways, and post-secondary options. Teachers, counselors, and parents find that these school plans are guides for selecting the right high school courses to match potential careers. Beyond high school, the Utah System for Higher Education has created a College Major Guide. Parents, teachers, and counselors can use the guide to match college majors to Certificate and Degree Programs.

Additional Resources for Counselors and Teachers

For planning curriculum and educational programs, there are detailed Knowledge and Skills Charts and Cluster Crosswalks. The knowledge and Skills expand upon the information listed on the career cluster models. For each knowledge and skill area, there are performance elements and measurement criteria. Crosswalks show the relationships between career clusters and other career models:

Career clusters build a bridge between education and career planning. Different types of career cluster resources are available: videos, web sites, booklets, brochures, activity sheets, and workbooks. Teachers, counselors, and parents use career cluster resources to successfully complete career and educational planning.

Resources:

American Careers Career Paths, Career Communications, 6701 W. 64th St., Overland, KS 66202, 800-669-7795

Career Click, Illinois Department of Employment Security,33 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60603, (312) 793-5700

CIP Code Index by Career Cluster, Adult & Postsecondary CTE Division, Bureau of Career and Technical Education, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126, (717) 772-0814

Cluster and Career Videos, Career One Stop, U.S. Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, 866-4-USA-DOL

College Major Guide Utah System for Higher Education, Board of Regents Building, The Gateway, 60 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1284, (801) 321-7100

Find Careers (Videos), iSeek Solutions, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Wells Fargo Place, 30 7th St. E., Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101-7804

High School Plans of Study, New Hampshire Department of Education, 101 Pleasant Street

Concord, NH 03301-3860, (603) 271-3494

Introduction to Career Clusters, Career Education, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, P.O. Box 543

Blacklick, OH 43004-0544,

Louisiana Integrated Skills Assessment (LISA), customized Internet version of OSCAR, a product of the Texas Workforce Commission/Career Development Resources, TWC/CDR, Austin, TX 78753

Maryland Career Clusters, Maryland State Department of Education 200 West Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21201,

Rhodes Island’s Career Clusters, Rhode Island’s Career Resource Network, 1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, 401-462-8790

School to Career Clusters, State of Connecticut, Department of Labor, Job Bank, 645 South Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457, (860)754-5000

States’ Career Clusters Initiative (SCCI), 1500 W. Seventh Avenue, Stillwater, OK 74074

Career Pathway Plans, Career Cluster, Knowledge and Skills Charts

VTECS Cluster Frameworks, VTECS, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA, 30033,404-679-4501 ext 543

What are Career Clusters? Career Prospects System, New Mexico Career Resource Network, CAREER TECHNICAL AND WORKFORCE EDUCATION BUREAU (CTWEB), Education Building, 300 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501, (505) 827-6512

Creating confusion and leveraging fear in parents’ minds for their children and heartland’s well-being, an impassioned environmental group surfaced this summer with a mission. Their efforts have cost local communities thousands of dollars in funding and consulting fees, delays in the construction of new sport fields, raw nerves and strained relations. The net result of this group’s efforts, so far, are inconclusive test results and an independent, somewhat self-serving report that provided no new information or answers other than “more study is needed” about the issues they themselves had raised.

Crumb Rubber Infill is the new smoking gun some want to put a safety lock on and throw in the closet. The consensus of industry professionals and east coast locals appears to lean towards defining a small group of citizens’ grass-roots efforts as a mere “smoke screen”, clouding the real issue of how public demands for sports field play areas in schools and parks are out-stripping resources available and to spite the obvious need of the community and interests of everyone to look at alternatives to natural grass play fields, this group wants to filibuster the decision to make the needed investment by building a case against it; in effect adding additional hidden costs to the process; taxing public and private funds.

Every published safety report; and there are hundreds that have been done over the years; has clearly stated that no over-whelming evidence exists that would imply our health or environment is at risk using artificial grass and crumb rubber infill as surface materials for play fields, lawns and leisure sports venues.

For every article written about the “hazards” of the crumb rubber infill that top-dresses artificial turf surfaces, providing resiliency and UV protection for the blades, there are 20 more stories proudly describing years of faithful service, lowered maintenance costs & water usage, of water districts approving endorsements for the use of artificial turf in the form of rebates and of the announcements of the funding of new artificial turf fields for public use, for hundreds of thousands of people, all over the world. See Current Artificial Turf Rebates Index and Industry News and Events at ASGi.

Public Agendas – Private Funding

Without publicly disclosing plans for her “toxic-free” maintenance regime for natural field solutions her group promotes while continuing to pursue securing additional funding for further studies of the “possible hazards” of crumb rubber infill in artificial turf fields her group wants to stop from being built seems duplicitous of Nancy Alderman, spokesperson and president of EHHI, Environment & Human Health, Inc.; the recipient, so far, of $2000 in grant monies for “studying” the possible environmental and human health issues of the use of recycled crumb rubber infill.

The initial grant was invested in a 30 day study conducted by EHHI. Their report yielded no new evidence and merely stated the obvious, that there were no “smoking guns” found; with the added caveat that something could have been missed in their analysis and the matter would require more time and further funding for continued study.

Existing Published Studies from Reputable, Recognized Sources

The wealth of existing studies published by globally known, reputable scientific and collegiate sources seems to elude EHHI researchers. A current list of published scientific, independent studies is located, online at ASGi Environmental Impact Studies Index Pages . Artificial turf has been used extensively in sports venues for over 40 years; crumbed rubber infill was added to the system in late 1980s; this is not new science or engineering; it’s a healthy, stabile, growing market with sustainable products. Crumbed rubber is also extensively used in the surfacing of natural grass fields, to help extend their life and increase their durability and resiliency.

EHHI – Okay to Use Known (but Regulated) Hazardous Fertilizers, Pesticides and Other Chemicals on Proposed Natural Turf Field

The director of toxicology for EHHI, David R. Brown, readily admits, in a recent article from TireReview.com[1], that fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals are going to be used on their proposed natural turf field for Fairfield Country Day School located within short distance of an environmentally sensitive river & estuary, However, says Brown; “agricultural chemicals are tested, licensed and regulated. Grass turf has no surprises, whereas crumb rubber might.”

Brown side-steps any mention of the dangers to children and local watershed to exposure to the very toxins EHHI was chartered to remove from local schools years ago! At time of publishing, EHHI has not yet publicly published any data comparing the environmental and cost impact of their natural turf solution to that of artificial turf. One would wonder if it might not show that for every “possible” toxin related to crumb rubber there isn’t one, equally as difficult to approve, using “regulated and approved” lawn care solutions.

“Regulated” Lawn Care Pesticides

Found in 93% of Pre-Schoolers Tested In Washington State

These known hazardous materials, regulated or not, are documented to cause humans many health challenges. Recent studies done on pre-schoolers in Seattle, Washington has documented results that 93% of them showed positive results for pesticides (know neurotoxins) in their urine samples. For further information see Pesticide Education Center Site. [2]

Neurotoxins are now recognized as a leading contributor to the challenges of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Autism, ADD and ADHD. These health afflictions are prevalent and difficult to manage neurological distresses that more than 30% of American school-age children are under chronic treatment for, today.

Natural Turf Advocates Yet To Disclose

Environmental and Cost Impact of Proposed Natural Turf Field

Advocates of “natural turf fields” have upset one school’s plans, forcing them to re-engineer their field design for natural grass. Alderman has not yet included reported projections of what long-term costs or environmental impact is associated with their proposed natural turf solution in comparison to their concerns about crumb rubber infilled artificial turf.

Custom grown and blended natural turf and the appropriate site preparation and maintenance that would be required to insure the field can handle the wear and tear it will be exposed to might cost a pretty penny. Added expense of delays, re-engineering and rising costs of fuel, labor and job materials will also have to be considered.

Reducing Volatile Fumes From

Transportation & Maintenance Vehicles

As the amount of volatile fumes emitted from an artificial turf field are one of EHHI’s main points of concern (referred to as “out-gassing”), one would hope that Alderman’s group also insists upon using “hybrid or natural gas” vehicles to deliver the natural turf materials from the farm to the field site and maintain it for the long-term, to insure that the vehicles and maintenance equipment will emit the least amount of air pollutants, possible. Emissions from gas powered, 2 cycle engines, used for most lawn care maintenance, are major contributors to green house gasses; representing 8% of the air pollutants that effect global warming.

Blumenthal Supports Alleviating the Apprehension of Parents

Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, who has committed $200,000 of funding to appease public requests for state support for continued studies into the “questions of crumb rubber safety” raised by EHHI back in August 2007, has yet to locate public or private financial backing to support the “cause”.

On one hand Blumenthal supports the need to alleviate the apprehension of parents with further studies. On the other hand, a parent himself, Blumenthal may have the right answer at hand, settling the issue and saving the citizens of Connecticut $200,000, a lot of delays, added expense and tons of missed games and fun by simply following his no-nonsense advice.

“My four children play on synthetic turf. I’m not panicking,” says Blumenthal. “Simple measures such as washing after playing on artificial turf and avoiding artificial turf when temperatures are high could minimize whatever risk the rubber poses.”[1]

Problem Solved. Now Lets Play Ball!

[1] http://www.tirereview.com

[2] http://www.pesticides.org

In the recent findings of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, American vehicles are heavier by 125 pounds from 1968 until 2001. According to the NHTSA, the figure was only their estimate as automakers are further adding safety equipment in their vehicles.

Automakers have been struck by the idea that their cars are getting heavier, so they started creating slimmer concept cars but without sacrificing safety value. Though the new concept cars are slender, they are also more fuel efficient and are capable of giving its passengers protection from side, front and rear crashes. Every ten percent decrease in the vehicle’s weight is equal to a seven percent increase in its fuel efficiency says the Environmental Protection Agency.

For example, some parts of the “QamaQ”, Hyundai’s concept car that debuted in this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show were made from light and cheap raw materials. The hood, doors and other car parts were made from 900 recycled bottles removing 132 pounds from the weight of the same vehicle made of the traditional aluminum and steel.

At the Tokyo Motor Show last month, Toyota’s 1/X concept car was made of strong, light carbon fiber. Its 1/X name was from the idea that the weight of the car is a fraction of the average car weight. Compared to the fuel-efficient Prius, the 1/X is only one-third (33 percent) of its weight same as its engine and also burning one-third of its fuel.

“The significance of the 1/X shouldn’t be understated,” insists Michael Brylawski, practice leader of the transportation innovations group at the Rocky Mountain Institute, a groups focused on environmental issues. “With it, Toyota is saying the next frontier is going to be ‘lightweighting.’”

According to Tom Lane, vice-president for product planning at Nissan, the “increasing requirement for safety” is the main reason why vehicles are gaining weight. Automakers in general emphasize that crash protection equipment are the source of additional car pounds.

The car’s power windows and door locks are made of heavy electric servos requiring the use of heavy alternators and batteries. As of now, Toyota’s Lexus LS460 has the most number of these electric servos with 125 and it is also jam-packed with gadgets and performance parts (including Lexus fuel injectors).

Consumers follow advices from institutions performing crash tests when choosing the safest vehicles. Both the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) are performing tougher crash tests, for their vehicles to earn five star crash ratings from the NHTSA and a top score from the IIHS, automakers have also made their vehicles responsive with additional shields.

The discovery of alpha lipoic acid at the University Of Texas Chemistry Department in 1951 was not heralded with trumpets of joy at the revelation of such a powerful antioxidant, but was instead largely ignored. This is largely due to the biochemistry involved not being fully understood at that time, but by the 1980s it was a commonly used supplement, recommended for several medical conditions.

Chemically, the substance is a 5-membered cyclic disulphide with a carboxylic acid grouping. Biochemically, it’s extremely powerful antioxidant properties are largely due to the fact that it one of those rare active molecules that are soluble in both water and fats, and in fact is the only such antioxidant currently know. One of the properties that this ability enables it to possess is to cross the blood-brain barrier, and apply antioxidant propertied to the brain.

Antioxidants are essential to human life in that they destroy free radicals. These are compounds with free unpaired electrons that destroy human body cells in their hunt for electrons to pair with. Electrons come in pairs in organic animal tissue, just as they do in organic compounds. However, under certain circumstances this pairing can become destroyed, leaving a molecule with one of its electrons without a partner.

The factors that lead to this situation are many and varied, and our own biochemistry can produce free radicals during the normal chemical processes of life. However, pollution can also lead to the oxidation processes that create free radicals, common such pollutants being cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust fumes, pesticides and the like. Excessive exposure to the UV content of sunlight can also create free radicals as can eating barbecued and smoked foods, and exposure to carbon monoxide and peroxides. Even the biochemical conversion of glucose to energy in our bodies creates free radicals.

These free radicals can destroy body cells, including DNA, and can create conditions such as premature aging due to destruction of skin cells, destruction of brain cells, strokes, cancers, diabetes, atherosclerosis due to oxidation of LDL cholesterol that deposits in the main arteries of the body, stiffening of the joints and many other undesirable conditions.

Free radicals are destroyed rapidly by antioxidants: the reaction is very rapid and most are destroyed immediately they are formed before they can do harm. Fortunately, if your diet is well maintained, the body possesses many antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, and other substances such as Coenzyme Q10, flavanoids, xanthenes, polyphenols and carotenoids. Many of these are found in highly colored foods, and if your food is brightly colored, it should contain a good supply of antioxidants.

However, the problem with all of these is that they are either fat and oil soluble or water soluble, which means that they can either be freely carried round the body by the blood or have to be emulsified by the bile and transported via the lymphatic system that places restrictions on their effectiveness in certain organs of the body. The fact that alpha lipoic acid is soluble in both water and fats enables it to be carried to all parts of the body and to every organ, and can cross water/fat barriers that other antioxidants cannot do.

It can therefore be carried via the blood to the brain and carry out an essential antioxidant function within our brains. It took a long time for this property of ALA to be recognized and its consequent health benefits understood. It is, in fact, the ideal antioxidant. The substance provides many known benefits to the body due to its antioxidant properties and also helps the body to generate the maximum possible amount of energy from the blood glucose and thus improve the energy balance of your body.

However, it is with its antioxidant properties that we are most concerned here. One of the benefits of these properties is its effect in holding back the visible effects of aging on your body. Because it is both water and fat soluble, alpha lipoic acid can help destroy free radicals in every part of your skin; the areas served by the blood and the fatty and oily secretions are protected simultaneously by the same strong antioxidant. The end result is a reduction in the destruction of the cells through the dermis and epidermis and a reduction in the degree of wrinkling with age.

Its antioxidant effect in the brain renders ALA in great demand for reducing cognitive impairment with age. In fact studies have indicated that alpha lipoic acid can improve memory and brain function in the aging and the elderly. This effect appears to be increased by the synergistic combination of alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine that work together to prevent cognitive decline in the brain through the effect of free radicals.

There is evidence that during a stroke, ALA works synergistically with vitamin E to reduce the effect of free radical damage on the vulnerable brain cells, and so reduce the longer term effects of the stroke. Together with ALC, it also reduces oxidative stress on the mitochondria of cells and in so doing helps once again to reduce the effects of aging, and maintain the body’s capacity to generate energy from blood glucose.

Cardiovascular disease is the main killer of the western world, largely due to our diets, and this is especially true of the USA. Although Americans appear unable to change their unhealthy diet, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine can be used to offset much of the damage done. ALA reduces the development of atherosclerosis through its antioxidant properties and the reduction of the adhesion of monocytes to the artery walls.

LDL trapped in the wall of the artery can be oxidized and enable monocytes to also enter under the surface of the arterial wall, where it changes into macrophages and ingests the oxidised LDL, causing the plaque that forms atherosclerosis. As the plaque thickens, the artery becomes increasingly restricted until the blood flow is significantly reduced or even stopped, causing cardiac failure or a stroke.

Alpha lipoic acid can prevent this free radical oxidation from occurring by destroying them before they act on the low density lipoprotein (LDL). Acetyl-L-carnitine works with the ALA to achieve this, as does another substance known as carnosine. Between them, these three musketeers work to keep your arteries clear and your brain functioning as it should, though it is the ALA that is most powerful due to its oil and water solubility properties.

Although alpha lipoic acid is available as a supplement, either alone or in combination with acetyl-l-carnitine, it is also available from natural food sources. It is particularly rich in offal such as heart and kidney, and also in broccoli, spinach and brewer’s yeast. It is also available in beef, and it is here that burgers can perhaps repay some of the damage that it causes. However, it is not a recommended source since burgers still cause more damage to your health than any of their constituent nutrients can allay.

Like any other supplement, you should seek medical advice before taking any substance if you have a health condition. Nevertheless, the benefits of alpha lipoic acid are such that it is difficult to see it doing anything but good. However, please consult your physician if are taking other drugs.

It is getting more and more popular to ‘go green’, and many Americans are leading the way in their housing choices. One area recently reported that their realty market was stagnant except for a big rush on newly built homes that were extremely energy conscious to run.

They boasted solar heating and this is one smart choice in a sunny area. Your neighbor’s bill will be twice as high as yours, you will always have hot water to hand and solar power can be transformed into other energy and stored for when you want to run different appliances.

It may be that many of these buyers are trying to help the environment, but one good side effect of going green, is that the running costs will be less once you have set yourself up to be operating an energy conscious home. Heating and cooling systems can account for up to a half of your total ‘non-green’ energy bill.

One place to read about saving energy in your home is Energy Star, the government’s on line site. Their many tips point out which energy is being wasted and where and how to avoid it. The on line site offers advice and free booklets to send for, and gives dozens of pointers on how to live green and how to build green.

One of the sites on Energy Star also gives you the top ten tips for finding a good (green) building contractor in your area. Of course, there are other small ways that you can save energy and save the money in your pocket. One of their recommendations is that you stop buying the old-fashioned light bulbs and start buying the new compact fluorescent light bulbs.

These are expensive to buy at first, but on the cost of one light bulb, you can save up to $30 over the lifetime of one light bulb. If you live in a hot climate, you may be pleased to know that they put out less heat, so will also keep your air conditioning costs down. This is a very small change for you to make, yet it does save your cash and it also saves the environment.

The local governments and/or the federal government offer a selection of rebates in their efforts to try and encourage people to become more energy conscious in their homes.

These grants, or one time rebates, can cover several different areas of green living. For instance, if your own state does not offer incentives for you to buy an efficient wood stove or furnace, you may be able to get one from the federal government.

The amount of the grant does not cover the cost of buying a new stove; however, it can save several hundred dollars from the price.The grant usually extends to people with an existing wood stove or fireplace, who wish to replace it with one that burns using the modern combustion system.

If your are planning to buy a home that is going to be built from brand new, remember that many builders will add your requirements in at the end, so therefore it is often easy to ask for preferred green options in a newly built house.

There is also a scheme that is run through the Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). Under this scheme you can use green building materials and designs and qualify for a green mortgage. You can even get financial help from these people if you are only planning to renovate, as long as you will be using green techniques and ideas.

If you want to find out more ideas about how to incorporate environmental considerations into the design, you will get some input from the green site at the National Association of Home Builders (NAH). Their site also includes such simple pointers as planting trees that let light in to the home in the winter, and give shade in the hot summers, as well as tips on water conservation, and other reminders.

Some of the luxuries in a home which are not so ’sustainable’ are being changed – gradually. For instance, granite counter -tops are still fashionable, but buyers will often choose the ‘look alike’s’ made from engineered stone. Although granite is a ‘naturally found’ stone, and therefore sustainable, it is very heavy and uses a lot of gas being transported around the country.

Similar ’swaps’ are made with hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets. Bamboo is widely used in homes by people who prefer to use sustainable resources. Bamboo wood flooring looks like oak hard wood floors and is equally as hard wearing.

It must be ‘the’ most sustainable resource on our planet: it can grow up to a meter in one day which is one and a half inches per hour. (This is under special accelerated conditions.) But even under normal conditions it grows in one tenth the time of an oak tree!