Living In Style, Your Home, Sweet Home

Roti, kappra aur makan (food, clothes and shelter) is not the mantra (magic- words) of this era of luxury and fashion. With this changing world, its inhabitants as well as their demands have changed a lot beyond recognition. Man is no more satiated with the minimum and basic requirements of life. Everybody wants to relish the best of all things, be it food, garments or shelter. Though it is a characteristic of all human beings that they are never satiated with what they get. They always want to have more and more. There is no end of their wish list. But this urge of man to get more, has also helped him to wade through all obstacles of life. It has also acted as a source of inspiration to move forward. And the word shelter carries more weight as it displays ones living standard and strength.

Now a house does not mean only the four walls of brick and mortar but the term living in style has evolved to take its place. Living in style or living kingly is the catchphrase of the time. A more demand for an elegant living will generate in future for sure. The definition of house has been changed significantly. It has moved from a mere shelter to a sign of premium living, from single standing Project to Condominium, from cement paint exterior to plush glass and metal front. There is a gradual leap from simple apartments to A/c apartments. French windows, aluminum sliding doors, terrace pools, a small garden with the living room, spa and Jacuzzi in the master toilet with shower panel, high quality flooring and specification have become the thing of necessity. Amenities like sophisticated waiting lounge, shopping mall, swimming pool, community hall, childrens park, lots of open spaces and garden, health club, club house, high speed automatic lift with top class security and facility management are on the top of their list. What was considered a luxury few years ago has now become a necessity with the changing lifestyle. It is also due to this aspiration of man to lead a life of comfort and luxury that men are coughing up a good some of money on it. The whole world has learned to live a life in a more stylish way.

People are also running after the most sought concept of building automation or the digital homes. The concepts of digital homes have already reached many countries but still there are such countries that are still untouched by the concept of digital homes. The system enables its owners to control everything from lights, curtains and security system and operate appliances like microwaves, air conditioners and geysers through landlines and mobile phones ( via SMS also). The owner can also connect their homes with internet to control the gadgets and view their homes.

Moreover, after you come back home, you can get fresh and cool air around you, your food already ready to eat, all lights on and many more such services can be controlled only through a SMS from your mobile phone from any nook and corner of the world. This system will prove to be a friend in need of yours.

Finger identification doors, video door phone, gas leak detector, smart card and cameras are already there. But a new leaf has been added with the invention of door alarm which will aware the owner if the door is not properly locked.

In near future, we will find that the building automation, which is a luxury now, will no more remain a luxury but a thing of necessity. Few years back, a building with a good elevation and lift was a mark of luxury but now its no more that. Today, premium project means value addition of facilities and lifestyle with location advantages. With the rapid escalation in peoples earnings the popularity of the digital type homes are also increasing.

As the life style plays an important role in the buyers mind so as in the developers. The meaning and aspect of life style is not stagnant. It is always changing with the changing time. The gulf between luxury and necessity is getting thin. Men now can afford more for the availability of easy loan terms with many money lenders. Living in style is no more an uncommon word; rather it is a natural choice for all.

Kanquona Bhattacharjee is a freelance writer and bloger. She has completed her post graduation in English from the University of Calcutta. She has some deep insight into social problems and often present these infront of the most strongest medium. Her personal website url is http://www.wertex.org/ She can be contacted at kanquona@wertex.org http://www.ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kanquona_bhattacharjee

Planting Bulbs - Part 3 - Watering, Removing Foliage

With fall on the way, it is time to consider planting bulb flowers that we want for spring blooming. Bulbs are one of the best flower investments for the cost, properly cared for they will provide spring color in your garden for years.

Watering Bulbs

It is important that after planting any spring flowering bulb that the beds be watered. Watering aids in settling the soil and provides the moisture necessary to commence root growth. Bulbs that are planted in the fall must commence to root before the cold weather sets in. Over watering at this time or any time can create bulb rot avoid over watering. Drip irrigation works very well with all bulb plantings.

If your soil is dry, you should commence watering spring and summer plants as soon as the first flower buds appear on the plant. Do not just water the surface! The larger plant bulbs were planted 6 to 8 inches deep and water needs to permeate the soil to below that depth in order to reach the new root growth.

Continuous watering is needed throughout the growth of the plant from bud to bloom and early foliage, the plant needs approximately 1 inch of water per week (rainfall or supplemental watering). Try to keep water away from the blooms. If you are providin929g supplemental watering, use a drip irrigation or a soaker hose aiming the water at the base of the plant.

Shallow planted bulbs such as alliums will quickly rot if over-watered in the summer heat.

Removing Foliage

Spring flowers create a beautiful garden, with a wide variety of colors, shapes, and heights that is, until the blooms die, and you are left with a very unappealing quantity of green foliage. Although this could be unappealing, the foliage should not be cut or mowed until it turns a shade of yellow and dies naturally.

Little aesthetic problems are caused with the smaller bulbs such as snowdrops and squill as the foliage on these plants dies quite rapidly. Tulips and daffodils have much larger bulbs and much hardier and larger stocks of foliage. These plants may take several weeks to die naturally. Cutting the foliage prematurely can cause damage to the bulb and prevent it from growing next year. After flowering, the plant needs the green leaves to manufacture food (photosynthesis) that is then stored in the bulb for next years growth. Prematurely cutting the foliage means that the plant can no longer manufacture nutrients.

If the foliage is a visual concern, you can divert attention from the foliage by planting bulbs in between colorful annual plants.

For additional information on Planting Bulbs
Part 1 Soil Preparation, Fertilizing;
Part 2 Planting Location, Planting Depth;
Part 4 Staking, Mulching, Storing;

For additional information on gardening and landscaping or other home renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Choosing A Walk In Bathtub

Walk in bathtubs are becoming increasingly popular, not only for those who in their senior years find themselves wanting to remain independent, but also for those who are approaching the baby boomer years and preparing for retirement.

With so many models and options now flooding the market, choosing a walk in bathtub can be difficult. Walk in bathtubs are sold on the web under a variety of names and2238 website addresses. If you want to be sure of what you are buying, contact the manufacturer for information about the product. Look for upfront answers to the following questions:

1. How long have you been manufacturing walk in bathtubs?
2. What is the price?
3. Can my local plumber or installer do the installation?
4. Where can I see the bathtub?
5. What is the warranty?
6. Does the bathtub hold more water than a regular bathtub?
7. Does the tub have CSA/UL certification?
8. What options are available?
9. How does your tub differ from other walk in bathtubs on the market?

Beware of companies who try to sell you a walk in bathtub whether it is the right choice for you or not. Walk in bathtubs are not for people who are wheelchair bound and cannot transfer. People who suffer from Alzheimers; someone who could not be left alone to use a stove, should not be left alone to bathe. If you have concerns about the ability of an individual to use the walk in bath, express those concerns. A credible manufacturer will be honest about who the users of their product should be.

It is wise to remember that convenience, comfort and safety should be the main objective you are purchasing a walk-in bathtub.

For more information:
Visit: http://www.safetybath.com
Safety Bath Inc.
504 5th Ave NE
Ituna, Saskatchewan, Canada

Author
Pat Krushen
Phone: 1 877 826 6666 Ext: 22
Fax: 1 306 795 3533
Email: Pat@safetybath.com

Installing Retrofit and Replacement Vinyl Windows

In previous articles i explained to you how to determine whether your windows are candidates for vinyl replacement style frames or retrofit style frames. This week I'm going to explain the installation techniques for both frame styles. Let's start with the retrofit frame.

Retrofit window installation is really the easiest of all. The retrofit window already comes with an exterior trim attached. That's the flush fin that goes against the outside surface, usually stucco. Prepare the window by drilling 3/8" holes in the areas of the frame where you want to screw it in place. Normally, there will be 3 holes on each side and 3 more across the top. Don't predrill any holes in the bottom track. After removing the old panels, you want to run a heavy bead of caulk on the face of the old aluminum frame that you left in place. Then you and a helper set the bottom of the vinyl window onto the old aluminum bottom track and raise it into position. The flush fin or retrofit lip will act as a "stop" to hold the window in place. Have your helper hold the window while you go inside.

Once inside, you want to center the window in the opening. Slide the vent panel open and closed to make sure the window is plumb and level. To adjust for out of square conditions, shim the bottom right or left corner by placing a shimming material between the sill and bottom of the window frame. Once square, drive a 3" deck screw through the 3/8" holes and into the wood studs.Just seat the screw, don't overtighten. After you get the screws into the sides and top, remove the sliding panel. The bottom track should lift out. Look for drainage holes in the track and insert a thin screwdriver and lift up. Drive one screw in the bottom center, caulk around the screw head, then put the track back in place and re-install the sliding panel. Now, you want to go back outside and caulk the gap where the retrofit fin meets the exterior surface of the house. You want to have a double barrier of protection against water infiltration. RemeF08mber, you already applied a generous bead of caulk before inserting the new frame into the opening. The rest of the job is done on the inside.

First, you want to plug the 3/8" screw holes to hide the heads of the screws. We sell the hole plugs on the website. Just click on the "shop" tab to see a picture. The plugs will pop into place in the hole. The next step is to fill the gap around the new frame with R-13 Insulation. Do not use the foam insulation that comes in a can. Many manufacturers will not honor the warranty if the foam is used. Even the non expanding foams can cause the frame to distort, causing problems. Pack the insulation in tight. You might want to wear a dust mask during this procedure. Many people, myself included, are very sensitive to insulation. After the insulation is in place, you want to install trim around the inside to finish the job. You can use wood trim from the hardware store, or some other product. But in my experience, the best product is a vinyl flat trim that matches the window frame. The flat trim can also be purchased on the website under the "shop" tab, or you could try to find it from a local window contractor. Ours comes in 3 different widths, although the 1 3/4" wide piece is by far the most common. The trim has a double sided adhesive tape on the back. You cut the top and bottom first, stick them on the vinyl frame, making sure the trim goes to the drywall. This covers all the insulation and the old metal frame. Do the side pieces next. The final step is to caulk where the trim meets the walls.

Much of the installation process for a replacement frame is the same as the retrofit frame. But, there are a few differences. When you put the new window into the opening using a replacement frame, you don't have the flush fin holding the frame in place. You and your helper have to hold the frame in place while you put a screw in the top center to support the frame. Then, you can do your adjusting for a square condition. All of the procedures on the inside will be exactly the same, from hole plugs, to insulation, to trim and caulk. The outside is different. You have to apply the trim that was part of the retrofit frame. Again, I prefer the flat trim. Once again, you apply a bead of caulk to the old frame,then measure and cut the top and bottom trim pieces. Apply the adhesive part of the trim to the vinyl frame, and let the other part contact the bead of caulk. Trim all four sides, then caulk again where the trim meets the exterior material.

As you can see, it really doesn't matter if the exterior of your home is brick, stone, siding, or stucco. You can install vinyl windows without having to damage the surrounding structure. We have step by step instructional videos for sale on the website at how-to-install-windows.com. Next week we are going to start discussing sliding glass door replacement.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows

Hire Home Remodeling Contractor for Best Home Aesthetics Results

Give a new lease of life to your home with home remodeling. While home improvement has more to do with general repairs, home remodeling concerns itself with giving a whole new look to your home exteriors as well as interiors. Moreover, home remodeling is the best way to keep pace with the home dcor trends and leverage the market value of your home. However, home remodeling is something that does not very often, so one has to ensure that he sets everything right in the beginning itself.

Your home remodeling can include the remodeling contract of your entire home or of specific areas such as kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, etc. Else you can also get specialized home modeling jobs such as plumbing, roofing, and flooring done to just add subtle changes to your home dcor without letting then weigh too much on your budget.

You can hire services of a general contractor or specialized contractors for your home remodeling project. While a general contractor gives you advantage of wholesome service including all aspects of home remodeling, a specialized contractor has the advantage of more expertise in their area of work as compared to a general contractors. While choosing the type of contractor, carefully weigh you options in terms of budget, timeline and quality of work.

Natasha
For more details and tips visit http://www.allremodel.com

Average Sunroom Prices

According to NARI. (The National Association of the Remodeling Industry). sunrooms can repay more than 70% of their investment cost. Not bad when you consider that sunroom prices can range anywhere from from $12.000 - $70.000 (including the cost of materials and labor).

Averaging the Cost of a Sunroom

Broken down. it is estimated that the average sunroom runs at about $10.400 in materials. with $1500 in materials to construct a deck or foundation and $270 to construct the stairs. Add in the flooring and roofing systems and youre looking at a price tag of somewhere in the neighborhood of $13.500- $14.000 dollars.

The second most important factor- thats almost as important as the first- is the cost of labor. Just the labor charge itself for preparing the sunroom will be around $10.000. Then there will be approximately $1650 in labor for the deck and $200- $250 for the stairs. Once. again factoring in labor costs for flooring and roofing. the number lands in the area of $12.000.

Putting the two numbers for materials and labor together puts the total cost at a conservative $25.000. This number will of course travel up and down the scale depending on the materials used. Obviously. the better the materials used in building your sunroom. the higher the price will be when all is said and done. Trying to save money by using less expensive materials. however. does not always make good sense. As they say: You get what you pay for.

Features that Add Value to Your Sunroom

Your sunroom can be constructed of aluminum materials with energy efficient exterior and interior and thermally broken panels or for a more classic touch. you can construct it of wooden panels and beams.

There are a number of additions that will give your sunroom the look and feel that match your homes interior and exterior. Vinyl clad sunrooms will convey a Georgian or Victorian type conservatory look. Options such as sliding glass doors and windows with double locks and childproof handles provide a measure of safety to your sunroom.

Investing In Your Sunroom

Style will also determine the cost of your sunroom. Various roof designs such as cathedral. solarium. conservatory or California all have different price ranges due to the amount of materials involved in their construction471. Each style also has a number of optional upgrades in its window systems that can be of benefit or just a way to make your space just that much more unique.

Andrew Caxton is a reliable journalist who has published more articles on this issue for http://www.allsunrooms.com If you would like more information on this topic please checkout his website at sunroom prices

Installing Retrofit and Replacement Vinyl Windows

In previous articles i explained to you how to determine whether your windows are candidates for vinyl replacement style frames or retrofit style frames. This week I'm going to explain the installation techniques for both frame styles. Let's start with the retrofit frame.

Retrofit window installation is really the easiest of all. The retrofit window already comes with an exterior trim attached. That's the flush fin that goes against the outside surface, usually stucco. Prepare the window by drilling 3/8" holes in the areas of the frame where you want to screw it in place. Normally, there will be 3 holes on each side and 3 more across the top. Don't predrill any holes in the bottom track. After removing the old panels, you want to run a heavy bead of caulk on the face of the old aluminum frame that you left in place. Then you and a helper set the bottom of the vinyl window onto the old aluminum bottom track and raise it into position. The flush fin or retrofit lip will act as a "stop" to hold the window in place. Have your helper hold the window while you go inside.

Once inside, you want to center the window in the opening. Slide the vent panel open and closed to make sure the window is plumb and level. To adjust for out of square conditions, shim the bottom right or left corner by placing a shimming material between the sill and bottom of the window frame. Once square, drive a 3" deck screw through the 3/8" holes and into the wood studs.Just seat the screw, don't overtighten. After you get the screws into the sides and top, remove the sliding panel. The bottom track should lift out. Look for drainage holes in the track and insert a thin screwdriver and lift up. Drive one screw in the bottom center, caulk around the screw head, then put the track back in place and re-install the sliding panel. Now, you want to go back outside and caulk the gap where the retrofit fin meets the exterior surface of the house. You want to have a double barrier of protection against water infiltration. RemeF08mber, you already applied a generous bead of caulk before inserting the new frame into the opening. The rest of the job is done on the inside.

First, you want to plug the 3/8" screw holes to hide the heads of the screws. We sell the hole plugs on the website. Just click on the "shop" tab to see a picture. The plugs will pop into place in the hole. The next step is to fill the gap around the new frame with R-13 Insulation. Do not use the foam insulation that comes in a can. Many manufacturers will not honor the warranty if the foam is used. Even the non expanding foams can cause the frame to distort, causing problems. Pack the insulation in tight. You might want to wear a dust mask during this procedure. Many people, myself included, are very sensitive to insulation. After the insulation is in place, you want to install trim around the inside to finish the job. You can use wood trim from the hardware store, or some other product. But in my experience, the best product is a vinyl flat trim that matches the window frame. The flat trim can also be purchased on the website under the "shop" tab, or you could try to find it from a local window contractor. Ours comes in 3 different widths, although the 1 3/4" wide piece is by far the most common. The trim has a double sided adhesive tape on the back. You cut the top and bottom first, stick them on the vinyl frame, making sure the trim goes to the drywall. This covers all the insulation and the old metal frame. Do the side pieces next. The final step is to caulk where the trim meets the walls.

Much of the installation process for a replacement frame is the same as the retrofit frame. But, there are a few differences. When you put the new window into the opening using a replacement frame, you don't have the flush fin holding the frame in place. You and your helper have to hold the frame in place while you put a screw in the top center to support the frame. Then, you can do your adjusting for a square condition. All of the procedures on the inside will be exactly the same, from hole plugs, to insulation, to trim and caulk. The outside is different. You have to apply the trim that was part of the retrofit frame. Again, I prefer the flat trim. Once again, you apply a bead of caulk to the old frame,then measure and cut the top and bottom trim pieces. Apply the adhesive part of the trim to the vinyl frame, and let the other part contact the bead of caulk. Trim all four sides, then caulk again where the trim meets the exterior material.

As you can see, it really doesn't matter if the exterior of your home is brick, stone, siding, or stucco. You can install vinyl windows without having to damage the surrounding structure. We have step by step instructional videos for sale on the website at how-to-install-windows.com. Next week we are going to start discussing sliding glass door replacement.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows

House Mold Problems

Average Sunroom Prices

According to NARI. (The National Association of the Remodeling Industry). sunrooms can repay more than 70% of their investment cost. Not bad when you consider that sunroom prices can range anywhere from from $12.000 - $70.000 (including the cost of materials and labor).

Averaging the Cost of a Sunroom

Broken down. it is estimated that the average sunroom runs at about $10.400 in materials. with $1500 in materials to construct a deck or foundation and $270 to construct the stairs. Add in the flooring and roofing systems and youre looking at a price tag of somewhere in the neighborhood of $13.500- $14.000 dollars.

The second most important factor- thats almost as important as the first- is the cost of labor. Just the labor charge itself for preparing the sunroom will be around $10.000. Then there will be approximately $1650 in labor for the deck and $200- $250 for the stairs. Once. again factoring in labor costs for flooring and roofing. the number lands in the area of $12.000.

Putting the two numbers for materials and labor together puts the total cost at a conservative $25.000. This number will of course travel up and down the scale depending on the materials used. Obviously. the better the materials used in building your sunroom. the higher the price will be when all is said and done. Trying to save money by using less expensive materials. however. does not always make good sense. As they say: You get what you pay for.

Features that Add Value to Your Sunroom

Your sunroom can be constructed of aluminum materials with energy efficient exterior and interior and thermally broken panels or for a more classic touch. you can construct it of wooden panels and beams.

There are a number of additions that will give your sunroom the look and feel that match your homes interior and exterior. Vinyl clad sunrooms will convey a Georgian or Victorian type conservatory look. Options such as sliding glass doors and windows with double locks and childproof handles provide a measure of safety to your sunroom.

Investing In Your Sunroom

Style will also determine the cost of your sunroom. Various roof designs such as cathedral. solarium. conservatory or California all have different price ranges due to the amount of materials involved in their construction471. Each style also has a number of optional upgrades in its window systems that can be of benefit or just a way to make your space just that much more unique.

Andrew Caxton is a reliable journalist who has published more articles on this issue for http://www.allsunrooms.com If you would like more information on this topic please checkout his website at sunroom prices

Colonial Exterior Door

Installing Retrofit and Replacement Vinyl Windows

In previous articles i explained to you how to determine whether your windows are candidates for vinyl replacement style frames or retrofit style frames. This week I'm going to explain the installation techniques for both frame styles. Let's start with the retrofit frame.

Retrofit window installation is really the easiest of all. The retrofit window already comes with an exterior trim attached. That's the flush fin that goes against the outside surface, usually stucco. Prepare the window by drilling 3/8" holes in the areas of the frame where you want to screw it in place. Normally, there will be 3 holes on each side and 3 more across the top. Don't predrill any holes in the bottom track. After removing the old panels, you want to run a heavy bead of caulk on the face of the old aluminum frame that you left in place. Then you and a helper set the bottom of the vinyl window onto the old aluminum bottom track and raise it into position. The flush fin or retrofit lip will act as a "stop" to hold the window in place. Have your helper hold the window while you go inside.

Once inside, you want to center the window in the opening. Slide the vent panel open and closed to make sure the window is plumb and level. To adjust for out of square conditions, shim the bottom right or left corner by placing a shimming material between the sill and bottom of the window frame. Once square, drive a 3" deck screw through the 3/8" holes and into the wood studs.Just seat the screw, don't overtighten. After you get the screws into the sides and top, remove the sliding panel. The bottom track should lift out. Look for drainage holes in the track and insert a thin screwdriver and lift up. Drive one screw in the bottom center, caulk around the screw head, then put the track back in place and re-install the sliding panel. Now, you want to go back outside and caulk the gap where the retrofit fin meets the exterior surface of the house. You want to have a double barrier of protection against water infiltration. RemeF08mber, you already applied a generous bead of caulk before inserting the new frame into the opening. The rest of the job is done on the inside.

First, you want to plug the 3/8" screw holes to hide the heads of the screws. We sell the hole plugs on the website. Just click on the "shop" tab to see a picture. The plugs will pop into place in the hole. The next step is to fill the gap around the new frame with R-13 Insulation. Do not use the foam insulation that comes in a can. Many manufacturers will not honor the warranty if the foam is used. Even the non expanding foams can cause the frame to distort, causing problems. Pack the insulation in tight. You might want to wear a dust mask during this procedure. Many people, myself included, are very sensitive to insulation. After the insulation is in place, you want to install trim around the inside to finish the job. You can use wood trim from the hardware store, or some other product. But in my experience, the best product is a vinyl flat trim that matches the window frame. The flat trim can also be purchased on the website under the "shop" tab, or you could try to find it from a local window contractor. Ours comes in 3 different widths, although the 1 3/4" wide piece is by far the most common. The trim has a double sided adhesive tape on the back. You cut the top and bottom first, stick them on the vinyl frame, making sure the trim goes to the drywall. This covers all the insulation and the old metal frame. Do the side pieces next. The final step is to caulk where the trim meets the walls.

Much of the installation process for a replacement frame is the same as the retrofit frame. But, there are a few differences. When you put the new window into the opening using a replacement frame, you don't have the flush fin holding the frame in place. You and your helper have to hold the frame in place while you put a screw in the top center to support the frame. Then, you can do your adjusting for a square condition. All of the procedures on the inside will be exactly the same, from hole plugs, to insulation, to trim and caulk. The outside is different. You have to apply the trim that was part of the retrofit frame. Again, I prefer the flat trim. Once again, you apply a bead of caulk to the old frame,then measure and cut the top and bottom trim pieces. Apply the adhesive part of the trim to the vinyl frame, and let the other part contact the bead of caulk. Trim all four sides, then caulk again where the trim meets the exterior material.

As you can see, it really doesn't matter if the exterior of your home is brick, stone, siding, or stucco. You can install vinyl windows without having to damage the surrounding structure. We have step by step instructional videos for sale on the website at how-to-install-windows.com. Next week we are going to start discussing sliding glass door replacement.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows

House Mold Problems

Bathroom Remodels

There are a myriad of different reasons homeowners choose to remodel their bathroom. It seems though that the one of the most popular reasons is people want a functional yet more inviting bathroom, wh16B3ere they relax after a long day's hard work. Since a bathroom is a place where so much time is spent, it makes sense to have one that has a soothing, almost spa-like atmosphere. Today, bathrooms can be furnished with several different amenities including whirlpool bathtubs, steam showers, heated towel racks, and so on.

More and more homeowners are also deciding to take a more hands-on approach to their bathroom remodels and decide to do it themselves. Before you begin such a large remodel project by yourself, you should determine a few things so you know where to begin. Some of your decisions may be influenced by what particular bathroom it is (a full bathroom used by family and guests or the private master bathroom). In addition, you will have to determine if the size of the bathroom is adequate, if you want to replace any fixtures or bath furniture, and if you are going to completely remodel the bath and or shower. These will all significantly impact how minimal or extensive the remodel is.

Once you have determined what you want the remodel to accomplish (i.e. a new shower, bigger bathroom, etc.), you need to figure out how you want the design. Research online and through magazines to get an idea of the design and dcor you want for the bathroom. Do you want a traditional bathroom or something with a more modern feel? Pick out fixtures, bath furniture, and dcor that matches the style you want.

You also need to decide a budget. This is definitely one of the first things you should do since it will greatly influence everything else, from how extensive the remodel is to what kind of fixtures and bath furniture you select. Performing a do-it-yourself remodel will definitely help save money since you will not have to pay for labor.

Aside from the fact that you will get to enjoy a beautiful new bath, the great thing about a bathroom remodel is that it is a sound investment and will increase the value of your home. Should you ever decide to sell, it will increase the dollar value of the home as well as its selling appeal to buyers.

Building Wainscotingsiding

How to Plumb a New Bath Tub

Before you fit the bath into1C82 your desired position, it is best to fit the overflow, taps and trap. The reason being is that once a bath is fitted against a wall, it is difficult to make the connections of the fittings in such a tight space. Put some adjustable feet on the bottom on the bath so you can raise the rim of the bath to your required height. Also, be sure to check it's level along the length and width of the bath tub.

Fitting the Taps

If you have separate taps for hot and cold, then you would just fit these as you would for a washbasin. If you have a mixer tap you may well have been supplied with a long sealing gasket. This long sealing gasket slips over both tails by lowering the tails through the holes in the rim. Place top-hat washers onto them and tighten both of the back-nuts to secure the mixer securely to the bath tub. Get approximately a 22mm flexible copper pipe and fit onto each of the tails.

These flexible pipes allow for the easy adjustment that will be necessary if the joints are slightly misaligned. Alternatively, attach short lengths of standard 22mm (3/4") copper or plastic pipe with tap connectors, in preparation for jointing to the pipe run.

Fitting Waste and Overflow

It is best to use a combined waste and overflow unit to your bath tub. If you use a flexible plastic hose, this takes water from the overflow outlet to the waste outlet. A flexible pipe of a compression-fitting unit connects to the trap itself, but if you use a banjo unit, you should fit the overflow before the trap.

Now spread a layer of silicone sealant under the rim of the waste outlet, or fit a circular rubber seal. Before inserting its tail into the hole in the bottom o the bath, seal the thread with PTFE tape. On the underside, add a plastic washer; then tighten the large back-nut, bedding the outlet down onto the sealant or the rubber seal. Wipe off excess sealant.

Connect the bath trap to the tail of the waste outlet with its own compression nut.

Pass the threaded boss over the over-flow hose through the hole at the foot of the bath. SLip a washer seal over the boss, then use a pair of pliers to screw the overflow outlet grille on.

If you're using a compression-fitting overflow, connect the nut located on the other end of the hose to the cleaning eye of the trap.

Claire Bowes runs a successful website on bathtub refinishing. For further articles and information, visit Bath Tub Refinishing and Designs

Fallbrook Kitchen Remodeling

63081

78060

Types Of Natural Stones Existing

Precious stones are available in the market in different varieties as per the requirement. Natural stones are products which form naturally on the earth before millions of years ago in different kinds. For beautiful installation and unique style, the diverse stones are used by the customers. Some of the kinds are granite, marble, soapstone, sandstone, limestone, quartz, hewn, coral and travertine and even more. It comes in beautiful colors, designs and types. As per the requirement of the customer the color, design and shade can chosen for their houses or buildings. The most popular kind of natural stone used is granite and marble countertops which are precious materials used by almost every people.

Granite

Among the different natural stone available, granite is the popular most precious substance used by almost every people. Most of the builders and house owners will desire to use granite for kitchen, bedrooms, buildings and office to establish sophisticated look in the environment. Granite is an expensive material which can be used as countertops, sinks, tiles, slabs, tubs and decorative item.

Marble

Next to granite, the other popular most products in the market are marble. Similar to granite, marble fetches more demand among general customers and business clients for competitive prices. Marble countertops, sinks, tubs, slabs retain their demand and it is used for houses, buildings and monuments to show their value. Both granite and marble are durable, resistant and long last material.

Soapstone

The other kind comes under the list is soapstone. Soapstone is metamorphic rock used in inlaid designs, sculpture and houses. The reason it fetches demand is that, the substance will be soft and sense soapy when it is touched. The durable, resistance retains the soapstone for longer period.

Sandstone

It is enriched with consolidation of sand. The product is extremely hard and tough material which enhances strong and challenging role in the sandstone. For commercial and residential purpose, sandstone is largely used. Different colors and designs are available in the market and the customer can choose the best required.

Limestone

It composes of mineral calcite and variable amount of silica in the rock. Limestone looks more beautiful and it comes in almost white color. Generally, it comes in white color, but there are cases for different colors also.

Quartz

The other kind of natural stone is quartz. Quartz is the beautiful kind of material used by some kind of the people for their houses and buildings. It comes up with quality and nature of strong and long lasting power. More number of customers makes use of it to have a reliable surface.

Shijina is an expert author for Granite Countertops Houston Tx. She written many articles like Granite Countertops, Granite Houston, Granite Texas, Granite New Orleans and Marble Countertops. For more information visit our site. Contact me at shijina.seo@gmail.com

Importance Of Kitchen Windows

Design a Spa In Your Own Bath

The hectic pace of our lives and responsibilities makes it sometimes difficult to sit back and relax. A week at "the spa" is all we need! Why not bring the spa into your home and enjoy it whenever you can! Transform your own bath, through simple interior decorating ideas, into the spa-like atmosphere you crave. When thinking of that sanctuary, think natural healthy living and relaxation. To transform your own bath, here are some tips to follow:

Go natural with your colors and accessories. Nothing says ahhhhhhh.... Like the sound of sand and surf, so incorporate those colors (soft blues and tans) in your bath. Bring in soft mossy greens and browns to anchor the color palette. Get your inspiration from the outdoors and keep the colors soothing and soft.

In accessories, keep everything neutral in creams, greens, blues, and browns. Think texture, feel, and minimalism when choosing bath accessories, such as towels. Fluffy, white towels rolled up and placed in a natural wicker basket by the side of the bath is ideal. Group bath soaps and salts together in pretty glass apothecary jars, using them as accessories. Place lotions, extra towels, and other bathroom needs behind closed doors or attractively on a shelf. Keep this space very uncluttered and clean. Well-placed flowers and green plants soften the edges and coldness of the bath and add to the spa atmosphere. Live orchids love the humidity of the bath, as do other real plants. Artificial ones that look great are certainly available also, if your thumb is not green!

Now that the stage is set, we need to add the ambiance. First, use candlelight- soy candles are fragrant and burn cleaner (good for the environment and your home.) Place numerous candles on a tray, instead of scattering them throughout the space, echoing that uncluttered feel. Do not overload your senses in this room. If the candles are fragrant, add no more scent. Some popular scents are rosewood and lavender. Soft, background music, waterfall sounds, or complete silence are relaxing and calming, and add to the ambiance. Dim the lights, or use just candlelight for a soft glow.

Enjoy the moment of quiet and sink into the tub of sudsy water. Block out the outer world. Leave the cell phone behind. Turn off the televisio1110n. The "to do" list can wait until later. This is your " spa" moment- relax and enjoy your new bathroom!

Tracey Schabel is the editor of http://www.GirlzDealz.com a website "for women by women", where you can find ideas, tips, and deals about home and lifestyle trends. Be sure to check out our website for the latest in interior decorating, green living, lifestyle trends, handpicked shopping deals, entertaining, book reviews, and much more.

Cold Drafty Windows

Kitchen Compactor

The kitchen compactor is starting to appear in a large number of new kitchens and for good reason. If you don't know what a kitchen compactor is, it's a device that crushes your rubbish into a significantly smaller amount, making it easier to dispose of. Here are 3 good reasons you should make the investment.

First and foremost, they're incredibly convenient. How many of us have to push the bin down at the end of every week to cram it all in there? A compactor will reduce your waste by a third and take away the hassle of having to do it yourself. It also works tremendously quickly meaning you can do multiple loads very quickly.

Secondly, the compactor is remarkably small meaning it can be hidden away with ease. It also makes very little noise when in operation so there's no danger of it interrupting you when you're trying to have a quiet meal.

Finally, the kitchen compactor is incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is empty the rubbish you want to shrink down into a draw and push a button. It's equally easy to clean as the draws detach for wiping down and disinfecting.

You don't have to46B be working in a commercial kitchen in order to need a kitchen compactor. Large families and student homes tend to produce large amounts of rubbish and have to deal with overflowing bins. Equally, if you have a modern kitchen that's flawlessly clean, a compactor will ensure it stays that way and your bin doesn't get filled to the brim.

There's more information on kitchen appliances at the Kitchen Design Site.

Home Improvement Ideas

Steam Bath Vs Sauna - What are The Differences?

For sure you read or heard a friend commenting tha1C84t steam baths are better than sauna and another friend claiming the exact opposite. Well, they are telling the truth, at least to some extent. Either one is superior or less effective compared to the other. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Steam Bath

A steam generator is used to produce the steam inside the room. The temperature is maintained generally at 40C. Most Steam rooms have skewed ceiling to avoid the buildup of steam dripping onto the bathers. Ceramic tiles are usually used to hold the moisture produced by the steam.

For people suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, steam rooms are recommended. You can breathe easier in a steam room. It is believed to improve health conditions of those who have sinusitis and bronchitis because the mucous and chest muscles are loosened. Another good thing about steam baths is that your skin remains hydrated and supple due to the maintained level of humidity.

One downside of steam rooms is the risk of bacteria proliferation due to the warm and wet conditions. Just make sure that the steam rooms you are using are maintained and cleaned regularly. Also, make it a habit to take a shower before and after your steam session.

Sauna

Saunas have higher temperature because of the extremely low humidity inside the room. It normally falls between 75C to 100C. This is definitely safe compare to a steam bath that can injure your skin with that temperature. Sauna rooms use electric, wood-burning, or far infrared (FIR) heaters. It is typically made of wood and wood benches. It is suggested that sauna floor should be cleaned at least once a week to avoid or lessen rotting. Saunas are very common and a favorite leisure in Scandinavian countries.

There are people claiming that a 25-minute sitting in a sauna can burn you up to 300 calories. Due to extreme sweating, it promotes body detoxification and better blood circulation resulting to improved metabolism.

A lot of people find the intense heat in saunas excessively too much and thus prefer lower temperatures which are common to steam rooms. Extreme heat may aggravate any nose or lungs ailments.

There you go. I hope you have a clearer understanding when it is good to take a steam bath or sauna. If your health permits I suggest you try both once in a while. Isn't it marvelous to have the best of both worlds? GP

Jason Case writes articles for http://www.steam-bath.net/
If you are looking for information on steam baths stop and in and check us out, for all the latest information on steam baths and steam shower sauna for your home.

Real Estate Ebooks

SEO Tips: Link Building

This article is a follow-up to an article I wrote about On-Page Optimization . On-Page optimization enables each of your web pages to make the most out of the mojo that they have -- but you need inbound links to create that mojo in the first place.

I use the term "mojo" as a generic descriptor for the importance given to a web page or a web site based upon inbound links. Similar terms include page rank, site rank, trust rank, and authority. Those terms tend to carry too much linguistic baggage, so I use the term "mojo" for simplicity unless another term is specifically required.

Mojo is created by getting inbound links to your web site and to your web pages.

Getting inbound links is one of the most important, and time consuming, tasks involved in SEO.

Here are a few tips to generate inbound links. Each of these tips are appropriate for some web sites, but none are appropriate for all web sites. Select the link building strategies which are most appropriate for your specific web site.

Submit to Web Directories

Start with big slow directories like the Yahoo Directory and the DMOZ Open Directory Project, but don't stop there.

Search out the small directories which are dedicated to topics relevant to your web site.

For more suggestions on finding directories to submit to, read How can I find web directories?

Reciprocal Linking

Write individual e-mails to specific webmasters whose web pages compliment your own and tell them that you would like to trade links with them.

Make sure to personalize each e-mail, or your e-mails will be quickly deleted as spam.

To achieve the best results from your e-mail, include the following in your initial e-mail:

* Mention two positive items about their web site, so that they know that your e-mail is not a generic spam.

* Include directions to the specific web page where you have added the link to their web site.

* Mention the Page Rank of the page where you have added a link to their web site.

These web sites exist to help you search for reciprocal link partners in the same market niche' as your web site:

* Find Link Partners

* Link Partner Finder

* Themes Reciprocal Link Finder

Write Articles for Other Web Sites

One method for getting inbound links is to write quality articles and submit them to other web sites for publication.

Each article should include a link back to your web site.

These links are better than links from link pages, because there tend to be very few outbound links on the article page.

Write a brief article on some topic related to the topic of your web site. Do not write an article about your web site, but write an article that would be interesting to people who would also be interested in your web site.

Send this article to webmasters who maintain web sites on topics similar to the topic of your article. Explain to them that they can post your article for free on their web sites, in return for a link to your web site.

To find web sites to submit articles for publication, visit Where can I submit an article for publication?

Create and Submit Press Releases

Write press releases about your web site and submit them to press release distribution services.

To find places to submit press releases for publication, visit Where can I submit my press release?

Join a Reciprocal Link Program

Reciprocal linking programs exist to help webmasters share links with similar web sites.

Some of the reciprocal link programs are:

* Link Market

* Info Wizards

* LinkExchanged

* Link Partners

* Links-Pal

* Linkateer

* Webmaster Link Exchange

* GoTop Link Exchange ($19.95 fee to join)

* LinkLeads

* Link Traders

* LinkExchangeIt

* SiteSell

* 123ExchangeLinks

* Ads4Links

* Spocka

* Links For You

If you have a blog, try blogLinker, the automatic link swapper for blogs.

These link networks can generate a lot of e-mail. You will probably want to create a new e-mail account just for these networks.

Join the DigitalPoint Ad Network

The DigitalPoint Coop Advertising Network enables you to automatically trade links with thousands of web sites across the Internet.

Join a Reciprocal Linking Forum

Several web forums exist for the purpose of sharing and trading reciprocal links. These linking forums include:

LinkRequests Link Trade Forum

Start a Reciprocal Linking Program on Your Web Site

You can also setup a reciprocal linking program on your own web site.

For more information on setting up a reciprocal linking program on your site, read How can I add a reciprocal link manager to my web site?

Start or Join a Web Ring

You can use an existing web ring service such as WebRing, or you can create your own web ring using the PHP-Ring webring script.

Join or Create a Top Site List

Search for top site lists which are relevant to your web site.

Add yourself to the existing lists. If no relevant top site lists exist, create one.

Provide a Useful Service

Create dynamic content on your web site which other web masters can include on their web sites by linking to it.

Every webmaster who uses your content automatically adds a link to your site.

Firearm News is an excellent example of this. If you add a small bit of JavaScript to your web page, your users will receive up-to-date news on firearms.

Of course, you will also have to contact other webmasters to let them know about your service -- perhaps even with a press release.

Buy Links

If all else fails, you can always buy links to your web site.

Will Spencer is the webmaster of The Internet Search Engines FAQ, SAN Security, and Enterprise Storage Management.

Preparingforinspection

Intercultural Team Building

Internal business structures have been radically transformed over the past few decades. Changes in areas such as communication and transportation technology and shifts towards global interdependency have resulted in companies becoming increasingly international and therefore intercultural.

In addition, the need to go global and to cut outgoings is demanding that companies combine protecting international interests whilst keeping down staff numbers. The solution in most cases has been the forming of intercultural teams.

As with all businesses, success depends upon effective cooperation and communication within teams. The intercultural dimension of todays teams however brings with it new challenges. Successful team building not only involves the traditional needs to harmonise personalities but also languages, cultures, ways of thinking, behaviours and motivations.

Intercultural teams have an inherent disadvantage. Cultural differences can lead to communication problems, unpredictability, low team cohesion, mistrust, stress and eventually poor results. However, intercultural teams can in fact be very positive entities. The combination of different perspectives, views and opinions can lead to an enhanced quality of analysis and decision making while team members develop new skills in global awareness and intercultural communication.

In reality this best case scenario is seldom witnessed. More often than not, intercultural teams do not fulfil their potential. The root cause for this is that when intercultural teams are formed, people with different frameworks of understanding are brought together and expected to naturally gel. Without a common framework of understanding, for example in matters such as status, decision making, communication etiquette, this is very difficult and thus necessitates outside help to commix the team.

Intercultural or cross cultural training is one method of helping to blend a team together. Through analysis of the cultures involved in a team, their particular approaches to communication and business and how the team interacts, intercultural team builders are able to find, suggest and use common ground to assist team members in building harmonious relationships.

Intercultural training sessions look at helping a team to realise their differences and similarities in areas such as status, hierarchy, decision making, conflict resolution, showing emotion and relationship building. These are then used to create mutually agreed upon structures of communication and interaction. From this basis, teams are then tutored how to recognise future communication difficulties and their cultural roots, empowering the team to become more self reliant. The end result is a more cohesive and productive team.

In conclusion, for intercultural teams to succeed, managers and HR personnel need to be attuned to the need for intercultural training to help cultivate harmonious relationships. Companies must be supportive, proactive and innovative if they wish to reap the potential benefits intercultural teams can offer. This goes beyond financing and creating technological links to bring together intercultural teams at surface level and going back to basics by fostering better interpersonal communication. If international businesses are to grow and prosper in this ever contracting world, intercultural synergy must be a priority.

Neil Payne is Managing Director of Kwintessential Ltd. For more information please visit http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cross-cultural/training.html

Curved Stairs

The Best Mass Building Bicep Exercise

Almost every day without fail someone sends me an email asking about bicep exercises.

The song is always the same "how can I make my biceps bigger?"

Then the guy will go on to tell me that he's doing twenty sets of concentration curls, followed by twenty sets of dumbbell curls and a few more light sets to really get the pump.

That's what most guys do. And most guys will never stretch the tape measure beyond 16 inches.

So today, I'm going to give you some tips that you can use to build sleeve-stretching biceps.

Tip #1: Stop Torturing Your Biceps

Your biceps are a relatively small muscle group. They are no where near as large as the muscles in your legs, back and chest.

So why would you expect your biceps to be able to recover from the exact same workload that you inflict on larger muscle groups? It doesn't make any sense.

Because the biceps are a smaller muscle group, you need to work them hard and brief and then let them recover. I recommend no more than three training sets for your biceps.

Tip #2: You Must Pick The Right Exercises

I don't know why but people seem to love the concentration curl. Yet it's one of the least effective bicep exercises. Why? Because this exercise severely limits the amount of weight you can use.

The most effective mass building exercises are the ones that allow you to safely move the most weight. That's why squats are a better mass-builder than leg extensions.

So when choosing bicep exercises remember that you should be looking for exercises that will allow you to safely move the most weight.

With that in mind, here are my top four bicep exercises.

Best Bicep Exercise #1: Weighted Chin-up

This is the grand-daddy of bicep exercises. And for good reason. This exercise allows you to use the most weight. Plus, this exercise recruits extra muscle fibers because it involves moving your entire body instead of just moving your hands.

Do perform a weighted chin-up, place your hands on the chin-up bar relatively close to each other. Your palms should be facing you. Then simply pull your body up. When you can do ten reps or more, it's time to get a belt and start strapping some weight to your waist.

And when you're knocking out chin-ups with 90lbs around your waist your biceps will be just about as big as they can get.

Best Bicep Exercise #2: Friction Barbell Curl

Not many people know about this exercise but it's one of my personal favorites. It's performed just like a typical bicep curl grab a barbell and curl it. But on the way down, I want you to drag the bar down the front of your shirt. This will force your elbows back and make the negative portion of the exercise a little more efficient.

Best Bicep Exercise #3: Cable Curl

I don't do this exercise too often but I will rotate this exercise into my routine when I stop making progress with the other exercises.

Attach a straight bar handle to a low pulley machine and simply curl the bar. To make the exercises more difficult, bend slightly forward at the waist through the entire movement.

Best Bicep Exercise #4: Preacher Curl

This is another favorite of mine. It doesn't need much explanation. You must have a specialized preacher bench to perform this exercise. Simply sit at the preacher bench, drape your arms over the padding and curl the bar. I prefer an EZ-curl bar for this exercise. Also, I prefer to keep the rep count higher on this exercise as I personally see better results with higher reps.

If you haven't been able to make your biceps grow, give these exercises a try. Remember, the most important thing is to consistently get stronger. If you start out curling 100lbs and can add just two pounds to the bar every week, you'll be curling 200lbs in less than one year. And you'd better believe your biceps will be huge when you make that kind of jump.

Matt Marshall is the author of The Biceps Report. To grab your free copy of the Biceps Report, visit, http://www.BicepsReport.com

Termite Damage

American Indians and Plants in the Great Basin of North America - An Ancient Relationship

Originally, many scholars viewed the possibility of this ancient relationship with some skepticism, primarily because of the early anthropological work of Julian Steward, and the overall general unfamiliarity with the Great Basin environment. Rather than according the American Indians of the Great Basin the knowledge and cultural sophistication they deserved for sustainably and symbiotically living in their homeland, scholars hypothesized that indigenous Great Basin peoples were:

1) the least developed in terms of cultural sophistication and complexity,
2) had only recently migrated into the Great Basin from more resource rich areas, and
3) had little or no knowledge of Great Basin ecology. Therefore,
4) they were a dying cultural group that required little or no consultation in contemporary Great Basin resource issues.

As researchers began to actually work with Great Basin peoples, and slowly learned the epistemic value of their traditional ecological knowledge, a very different understanding has emerged. It became apparent that the Paiute, Shoshone, and other indigenous people of the Great Basin have been in their traditional homelands for thousands of years, and that their traditional lifeways and the general Great Basin ecosystem were only recently disrupted by Euroamerican colonial processes. Further, it became clear as more research was conducted that an ancient relationship between American Indians and plants in the Great Basin existed, and that knowledge from such a relationship could offer insights into restoring the Great Basin ecosystem and other natural resources problems currently at issue.

The Great Basin is a region encompassing more than 115,800 square miles between the Sierra Nevada of California in the west and the Wasatch Range of Utah in the east. The region is bounded to the north by the lower Snake River plain in Idaho and to the south by the Grand Canyon and Colorado River. Composed of a series of large, internally draining basins in which seasonal lacustrine marshes and lakes form, the Great Basin has historically provided a rich variety of resources that American Indians have relied upon for 10,000 years or more. Furthermore, these seasonally dry and sparsely vegetated basins are geographically divided by a series of north to south mountain ranges that historically provided resources in a seasonal cycle from the basin floor to the upper mountain slopes. As a result of this geography, perennial mountain streams form each spring that historically provided a number of riverine based floral resources. By knowing the environment, weather, and geography of the Great Basin, American Indians could successfully find plant resources at all times of the year. Evidence for this ancient and symbiotic relationship comes primarily from archaeological and ethnographic data, although biological data also supports these conclusions.

The archaeological evidence, which has become more refined and extensive since the time of early theories discussing American Indians of the Great Basin, argues that American Indians and plants of the Great Basin have shared an 8,000 year or longer relationship. In the eastern Great Basin, for example, the earliest evidence of people in the area comes from sites located along prehistoric lakeshores in the basin floors where people subsisted largely on seasonally available lacustrine resources. Later, evidence indicates that Great Basin peoples began to also utilize upland regions that were situated in the pion-juniper ecozones, allowing access to sage and grass communities as well as higher montane resources. Faunal and floral macrofossils, coupled with pollen analyses from across the Great Basin, further evidences a dependence on wetland food resources augmented with small seeds from dryland plants beginning in the early Holocene (9600-7000 years ago) and continuing into the ethnographic period. Although other resources apparently fluctuated over time in the diets of Great Basin peoples, plant-based resources remained constant.

Not only was plant-life exploited for subsistence purposes, but peoples of the Great Basin also used floral resources in the construction of shelters, mats, clothing, and especially baskets. The exploitation of plant-life in the construction of baskets was so important, in fact, that it has been possible to identify at least three distinct basketry manufacturing regions. Each region had special characteristics that delineated it from other basketry manufacturing styles, such as in the northern Great Basin where at least 13 different basket wall-construction techniques have been identified over time. These include at least six different coiling techniques and seven basic twining methods such as close simple twining, close diagonal twining, and open simple twining.

Beginning in the 1800s, however, contact with Euroamericans and their cultural products (i.e., diseases, material goods, weapons, horses, etc.) resulted in a disruption of the millennia old relationship between American Indians and plants of the Great Basin. This disruption was rapid and severe, as thousands of Euroamericans entered the Great Basin to begin agricultural, industrial, or resource extraction endeavors. These processes and events, such as the now famous Comstock mining explosion, or the development of the Newlands project near present-day Reno, or the massive cattle and sheep ranching operations that took place in the early and middle twentieth century, completely disrupted the ancient symbiotic relationship between American Indians and plants in the Great Basin.

These colonizing processes of the 1800s radically changed the ecology of the Great Basin. The seasonal marshes and lacustrine resources were either trampled, drained, or consumed. Large areas were transformed into agricultural fields that produced non-indigenous agricultural products. Giant mines and their waste transformed entire mountains and watersheds, polluting the land and making it impossible for the native plants to grow. As a result of these and many other processes, the relationship between American Indians and plants of the Great Basin has been seriously tested. Unable to access traditional resources and areas, much of this relationship has been maintained through oral traditions, ceremonial and religious practices, and in the minds and hearts of tribal elders. Today, however, there may be hope for reinvigorating this ancient relationship once again.

Great Basin peoples are beginning to establish cultural programs that teach their youth ancient cultural values and knowledge. Environmentalists and resource managers are attempting to clean up mines and restore watersheds, and applied and action-oriented social scientists are advocating for the inclusion of Great Basin peoples voices in resource issues. Together these processes bring hope to a formally bleak picture. By working together, it is possible to once again allow this relationship between American Indians and plants of the Great Basin to flourish. Through communication, consultation, and collaboration this relationship can not only flourish, but it can be strengthened by the addition of all voices involved.

My name is Peter N. Jones, Ph.D. I am a social scientists with the Bauu Institute in Boulder, Colorado where I work on environmental, psychological, and social science issues. I have written numerous articles and two books: Respect for the Ancestors: American Indian Cultural Affiliation in the American West and American Indian mtDNA, Y Chromosome Genetic Data, and the Peopling of North America. I am also author of Indigenous Issues Today a syndicated news blog.

Plywood Shim Under Top Plate

Asbestos And Mesothelioma Connection

Asbestos are primarily known as the substance which causes the deadly disease Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer in which the internal organs of patients become surrounded by a cancerous coating of cells. Asbestos describes any of a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals of the hydrous magnesium silicate chemical family.

These fibers are often used in cement during construction and though they have been banned in construction in the United States today, their presence at construction sites world wide five and six decades ago are causing medical and legal problems today. Asbestos can take five or six decades to fully display their deadly potential and thus many of the construction workers who absorbed the dangerous chemical in the 1950;s and 1960;s while working, are just now experiencing the effects of the disease. Hence, many of the lawsuits that are being filed for Mesothelioma have to do with the intake of asbestos at construction plants in the 1950s and the 1960s.

Currently, these asbestos cause a disease for which there is no cure; however, due to the amount of attention that this disease is getting, many top scientists and researchers worldwide are working to develop a cure for the disease. Like many cancers, without continued support and attention, research and funding are not possible.

To find out information on mesothelioma lawsuits canada visit http://www.whatismesothelioma.ca

House Mold Problems