Donnette

Oak has been the wine-makers choice for barrels for many years. The use of wood in barrels can be found over 3,000 years ago. The marriage between oak and fine wine was established about 1,000 years ago. The use of oak became more prevalent in France, when the wine-makers had access to forests planted by Napoleon. The timber from these forests was used for ship-building. With the use of other materials in ship-building, these forests became available for other uses. There are five main forests that are harvested for the production of wine barrels. Each forest produces timber with different characteristics that can be exploited in the production of wine. The forests are known as Cosgues, Allier, Nevers, Limousin and Trancois and the current aim in forest management attempts to harvest trees about 200 years old. The tightness of the grain effects the amount of oak flavors that enter the wine.

There is of course American oak that is used in the production of barrels. American oak trees are felled at between sixty and one hundred years old and there does not seem to be any differentiation between the characteristics of timber from different forests. Barrels all over the world are generally made in the traditional French way, however there is often a difference in the way the oak is prepared for use. The French coopers only air dry the oak for up to two years, prior to use, whilst most other coopers kiln dry the timber. It is difficult to understand why one method is better than the other for barrel manufacture, since the end product is dried to the same moisture level, with air drying taking longer. There is also much discussion as to whether the timber should be split or sawn. The French copper only splits the timber. Nevertheless French oak barrels are usually at least double the price of American oak barrels. There are many other oaks used in barrel making, for example, Canadian oak and Hungarian oak.

In order to produce different effects on wine, the inside of the barrels a sometimes fired. When partially completed, the barrel is placed over a wood fire to partially char the inside. Oak barrels are made in sizes ranging from two liters to thousands of liters. It is becoming more common to ferment wines in stainless steel tanks, before being placed into oak barrels for aging. The new oak barrels will also impart more flavor into the wine than older oak barrels, so the wine-makers need to constantly be updating their barrel stock, irrespective of the type of oak used in the barrels.

As can be seen from this information, the type of oak is only a small component, but an important one, affecting the final product. Traditions die hard in the wine industry and perhaps the French oaks still has the wood on the others!

For more information on port and items relating to the consumption of port go to http://enjoyingport.googlepages.com

New puppy? Wondering which is the best bowl to put puppy's food and water in?

The most important consideration is that your puppy's dog and food bowls are indestructible. If you leave puppy for any period of time, water should always be available. Puppies will chew, and if they chew their water bowl they can be left without water. Broken pieces of plastic could also be ingested, causing harm to puppy.

A stainless steel, enamelled steel or ceramic water bowl is the best bet as none of these can be chewed up by puppy. Of these, a ceramic bowl is heaviest and if designed well, will be difficult to tip over accidentally. Ceramic bowls do tend to dry out faster on a hot day, so make sure you have more than one water bowl available outside. Keeping a bowl in a shaded place will slow down evaporation.

Some pet stores stock self-filling water bowls. These are a good investment for dogs kept outdoors during summer, particularly if they are left alone for a working day. Just take care that pup won't chew through the water hose which fills these bowls.

Always have separate food and water bowls. They are easier to keep clean this way, and pup will not be left without water while feeding.

A handy tip for new puppy owners, never leave a bowl of food out for puppy. What is not eaten in 5 minutes should be emptied from the bowl and stored for later. Nothing teaches pup to be a fussy eater like free access to food all day.

Aidan Bindoff is Editor of http://www.PositivePetzine.com, a free resource for people training their own dogs.

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Phase Change Materials (PCM) in Textiles In textile industry, protection from extreme environmental conditions is a very crucial requirement. Clothing that protects us from water, extreme cold, intensive heat, open fire, high voltage, propelled bullets, toxic chemicals, nuclear radiations, biological toxins, etc are some of the illustrations.

Such clothing is utilized as sportswear, defense wear, firefighting wear, bulletproof jackets and other professional wear. Textile products can be made more comfortable when the properties of the textile materials can adjust with all types of environments.

At present, for fulfilling the above requirement Phase Change Materials (PCM) is one such intelligent material. It absorbs, stores or discharges heat in accordance with the various changes in temperature and is more often applied to manufacture the smart textiles.

Phase Change Materials 'Phase Change' is the process of going from one stat to another, e.g. from solid to liquid. Any material that experiences the process of phase change is named as Phase Change Materials (PCM).

Such materials collect, discharge or absorb heat as they oscillate between solid and liquid form. They discharge heat as they transform to a solid state and absorb as they go back to a liquid state. There are three basic phases of matter solid, liquid and gas, but others like crystalline, colloid, glassy, amorphous and plasma phases are also considered to exist.

This fundamental phenomenon of science was initially developed and used for building space suits for astronauts for the US Space Program. These suits kept the astronauts warm in the black void of space and cool in the solar glare. Phase Change Materials are compounds, which melt and solidify at specific temperatures and correspondingly are able to retain or discharge large amounts of energy.

The storage of thermal energy by changing the phase of a material at a constant temperature is classified as 'latent heat', i.e., changing from a liquid state to a solid state. When a PCM experiences a phase change, a huge amount of energy is needed. The most significant characteristic of latent heat is that it involves the transfer of much larger amounts of energy than sensible heat transfer.

Quiet a few of these PCMs change phases within a temperature range just above and below human skin temperature. This characteristic of some substances is used for making protective all-season outfits, and for abruptly changing environment. Fibre, fabric and foam with built-in PCMs store the warmth of body and then release it back to the body, as the body requires it. Since the procedure of phase change is dynamic, the materials are continually shifting from solid to liquid and back according to the physical movement of the body and outside temperature. Furthermore, Phase Change Materials are used, but they never get used up.

Phase Change Materials are waxes that have the distinctive capacity to soak and emit heat energy without altering the temperature. These waxes include eicosane, octadecane, Nonadecane, heptadecane and hexadecane. They all possess different freezing and melting points and when mixed in a microcapsule it will accumulate heat energy and release heat energy and maintain their temperature range of 30-34C, which is very comfortable for the body.

The amount of heat absorbed by a PCM in the actual phase change with the amount of heat absorbed in an ordinary heating procedure can be evaluated by taking water as a PCM. The melting of ice into water leads to the absorption of latent heat of nearly 335 J/g. If water is further boiled, a sensible heat of only 4 J/g is absorbed, while the temperature increases by one degree. Hence, the latent heat absorption in the phase change from ice into water is about 100 times greater than the sensible heat absorption.

How to assimilate PCMs in fabrics? The micro encapsulated PCM can be combined with woven, non woven or knitted fabrics.

The capsules can be added to the fabric in various ways such as:

Microcapsules: Microcapsules of various shapes - round, square and triangular within fibres at the polymer stage. The PCM microcapsules are permanently fixed within the fibre structure during the wet spinning procedure of fibre manufacture. Micro encapsulation gives a softer hand, greater stretch, more breathability and air permeability to the fabrics.

Matrix coating during the finishing process: The PCM microcapsules are embedded in a coating compound like acrylic, polyurethane, etc, and are applied to the fabric. There are many coating methods available like knife-over-roll, knife-over-air, pad-dry-cure, gravure, dip coating and transfer coating.

Foam dispersion: Microcapsules are mixed into a water-blown polyurethane foam mix and these foams are applied to a fabric in a lamination procedure, where the water is removed from the system by the drying process.

Body and clothing systems The needed thermal insulation of clothing systems mainly depends on the physical activity and on the surrounding conditions such as temperature and relative humidity. The amount of heat produced by humans depends a lot on the physical activity and can differ from 100W while resting to over 1000W during maximum physical performance.

Specially, during the cooler seasons (approx 0C), the suggested thermal insulation is defined in order to make sure that the body is adequately warm when resting. At extreme activity, which is often a case with winter sports, the body temperature rises with enhanced heat production. To make this increase within a certain limit, the body perspires in order to withdraw energy from the body by evaporative cooling. If the thermal insulation of the clothing is decreased during physical activity, a part of the generated heat can be removed by convection, thus the body is not needed expected to perspire so much.

The quality of insulation in a garment in terms of heat and cold will be widely managed by the thickness and density of its component fabrics. High thickness and low density make insulation better. It is observed in many cases that thermal insulation is offered by air gaps between the garment layers.

However, the external temperature also influences the effectiveness of the insulation. The more extreme the temperature, be it very high or very low, the less effective the insulation becomes. Thus, a garment designed for its capability to protect against heat or cold is chosen by its wearer on the expectation of the climate in which the garment is to be worn.

Though, a garment produced from a thick fabric will have more weight, and the freedom of movement of the wearer will be restricted. Clearly then a garment designed from an intelligent fabric, whose nature can change according the external temperature, can offer superior protection. However, such a garment must be comfortable for the wearer.

Temperature change effect of PCMs PCM microcapsules can create small, transitory heating and cooling effects in garment layers when the temperature of the layers reaches the PCM transition temperature. The effect of phase change materials on the thermal comfort of protective clothing systems is likely to be highest when the wearer is frequently going through temperature transients (ie, going back and forth between a warm and cold environment) or from time to time touching or handling cold objects. The temperature of the PCM garment layers must vary frequently for the buffering effect to continue.

The most obvious example is changing of water into ice at 0 and to steam at 100. There are many products that change phase near body temperature and are now being integrated in fibres and laminates, or coating substrates, that will alter phase at or near body temperature and so support the equilibrium of the body temperature and keep it more constant. It is for athletes in extreme conditions and people who are involved in extreme sports such as mountaineering and trekking. It is going to be used in industrial applications where people are very mobile, for example, in and out of cool rooms.

Effects on fabrics

When the condensed PCM is heated to the melting point, it absorbs heat energy as it moves from a solid state to a liquid state. This phase change produces a short-term cooling effect in the clothing layers. The heat energy may come from the body or from a warm environment. Once the PCM has totally melted the storage of heat stops

If the PCM garment is worn in a cold environment where the temperature is below the PCM's freezing point and the fabric temperature drops below the transition temperature, the micro encapsulated liquid PCM will come back to a solid state, generating heat energy and a momentary warming effect. The developers assert that this heat exchange makes a buffering effect in clothing, minimize changes in skin temperature and continue the thermal comfort of the wearer.

The clothing layer(s) consisting PCMs must go through the transition temperature range before the PCMs change phase and either produce or absorb heat. Therefore, the wearer has to make some effort for the temperature of the PCM fabric to change. PCMs are transient phenomena. They have no effect in steady state thermal environment.

Active microclimate cooling systems need batteries, pumps, circulating fluids and latest control devices to give satisfactory body cooling, but their performance can be adjusted and made to continue for long period of time. They are, however, costly and complicated. Present passive microclimate devices use latent phase change; either by liquid to gas evaporation of water (Hydroweave), a solid to liquid phase shift by a cornstarch/water gel, or with a paraffin that is contained in plastic bladders.

The liquid evaporation garment is cheaper, but will only give minimum or short-term cooling in the high humid environment found in protective clothing. They must also be re-wetted to revitalize the garments for re-application. The water/ starch gel-type cooling garment is presently preferred by the military, and can offer both satisfactory and long time cooling near 32F (0 degree Celsius), but it can also feel very cold to the skin and needs a very cold freezer (5F) to completely recharge or rejuvenate the garment. When completely charged, its gel-PCMs are somewhat rigid blocks, and the garment has limited breathability.

The other paraffin PCM garments are comparatively cheaper, but their plastic bladders can split, thus dripping their contents or leading to a serious fire hazard. In addition, their paraffin PCM melts about 65F (18C) and must be recharged at temperatures below 50F (10C) in a refrigerator or ice-chest. Their rate of cooling also reduces with time because paraffin blocks are thermal insulators and control the heat that can be transmitted into or out of them. The plastic bladders used to contain the PCM also strictly limit airflow and breathability of the garment, thus reducing their comfort.

Uses of PCM

Automotive textiles

The scientific theory of temperature control by PCMs has been deployed in various ways for the manufacturing of textiles. In summer, the temperature inside the passenger compartment of an automobile can increase significantly when the car is parked outside. In order to regulate the interior temperature while driving the car, many cars are equipped with air conditioning systems; though, providing adequate cooling capacity needs a lot of energy. Hence the application of Phase Change Material technology in various uses for the automotive interior could offer energy savings, as well as raising the thermal comfort of the car interior.

Apparel active wears

Active wear is expected to provide a thermal equilibrium between the heat produced by the body while performing a sport and the heat released into the environment. Normal active wear garments do not satisfy these needs always. The heat produced by the body in laborious activity is often not discharged into the environment in the required amount, thus resulting in thermal stress situation. On the other hand, in the periods of rest between activities, less heat is produced by the human body. Considering the same heat release, hypothermia is likely to occur. Application of PCM in clothing supports in regulating the thermal shocks, and thus, thermal stress to the wearer, and supports in increasing his/ her efficiency of work under high stress.

Lifestyle apparel - elegant fleece vests, men's and women's hats, gloves and rainwear.

Outdoor sports - apparel jackets and jacket linings, boots, golf shoes, running shoes, socks and ski and snowboard gloves.

From genuine uses in space suits and gloves, phase change materials are also used in consumer products.

Aerospace textiles

Phase Change Materials used in current consumer products primarily were made for application in space suits and gloves to protect astronauts from higher temperature fluctuations while performing extra-vehicular activities in space.

The usefulness of the insulation stems from micro encapsulated Phase Change Materials (micro-PCMs) primarily created to make warm the gloved hands of space-strolling astronauts. The materials were accepted ideal as a glove liner, to support during temperature extremes of the space environment.

Medical textiles

Textiles having Phase Change Materials (PCMs) could soon find uses in the medical sector. To raise the thermo-physical comfort of surgical clothing such as gowns, caps and gloves. In bedding products like mattress covers, sheers and blankets. A product, which helps the effort to stay the patient warm enough in an operation by giving insulation tailored to the body's temperature.

Other uses of PCM

Phase Change Materials are at the moment being used in textiles, which include the extremities: gloves, boots, hats, etc. Various PCMs can be selected for various uses. For example the temperature of the skin near the torso is about 33C (91F). Though, the skin temperature of the feet is nearly 30 -31 c. These PCM materials can be useful down to 16C, enough to ensure the comfort of someone wearing a ski boot in the snow. They are increasingly applied in body-core protection and it will shift into the areas of blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses and mattress pads.

PCM Types

Standard phase change materials are generally a polymer/carrier filled with thermally conductive filler, which changes from a solid to a high-viscosity liquid (or semi-solid) state at a certain transition temperature. These materials conform well to irregular surfaces and possess wetting properties like thermal greases, which considerably decrease the contact resistance at the distinctive interfaces. Because of this composite structure, phase change materials are capable of surviving against mechanical forces during shock and vibration, safeguarding the die or component from mechanical damage. Moreover, the semi-solid state of these materials at high temperature determines issues linked to "pump-out" under thermo-mechanical flexure.

When heated to a targeted transition temperature, the material considerably softens to a near liquid-like physical state in which the thermally conductive material slightly expands in volume. This volumetric growth makes the more thermally conductive material to flow into and replace the microscopic air gaps existed in between the heat sink and electronic component. With the air gaps filled between the thermal surfaces, a high degree of wetting of the two surfaces lessens the contact resistance.

In general, there are two types of phase changes materials:

. Thermally conductive and electrically insulating. . Electrically conductive.

The main dissimilarity between the thermally and electrically conductive materials is the film or carrier that the phase change polymer is coated with. With the electrically insulating material, lowest amount of voltage isolation properties can be achieved.

Analysis of the thermal barrier function of Phase Change Materials in textiles

Producers can now use PCMs to give thermal comfort in a huge range of garments. But to know how much and what kind of PCM to apply, as well as modification of the textile, in order to make a garment fit for its purpose, it is essential to quantify the effect of the active thermal barrier offered by these materials.

The total thermal capacity of the PCM in many products depends on its specific thermal capacity and its quantity. The required quantity can be expected by considering the application conditions, the desired thermal effect and its duration and the thermal capacity of the specific PCM. The structure of the carrier system and the end-use product also affects the thermal efficiency of the PCM, which has to be measured with respect to the material selection and the product design.

Prospect of PCM

The main challenge in developing textile PCM structure is the method of their use. Encapsulation of PCMs in a polymeric shell is an evident selection, but it adds stiff weight to the active material. Efficient encapsulation, core-to-wall ratio, out put of encapsulation, stability during application and incorporation of capsules onto fabric structure are some of the technological aspects being measured. Though PCMs are being promoted in various types of apparel and connected products, the applications in which they can really work are limited. As superior test methods are developed for PCMs, makers of PCM materials and garments will have to further cautiously target the markets in which their products do work well.

Conclusion

Since a huge amount has been invested in research and development in these areas in the developed counties, it is expected that very soon all-season outfits will be mass-produced. For example, in Britain, scientists have designed an acrylic fibre by integrating microcapsules covering Phase Change Materials. These fibres have been used for producing lightweight all-season blankets.

Many garment making companies in USA are now producing many of such garments, like thermal underwear and socks for inner layer, knit shirt or coated fleece for insulating layer; and a jacket with PCM interlines for outer layer, beside helmets, other head gears and gloves. Such clothing can maintain warm and comfortable temperatures in the extreme of both weathers. There is no doubt that textile which integrate PCMs will find their way into several uses in the near future.

Fibre2fashion has emerged as a distinctive B2B platform for global Textile, Apparel, Fashion and Retail and allied industries. Fibre2fashion.com offers business solutions, news, articles and information that help to survive and sustain in the most hostile and competitive business environment.

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A lot has been said and written about the virtues of the mountains of possible VOIP solutions and how VOIP technology is one of the best inventions since sliced bread and canned beer. All the advertisements and marketing hype would have you believe that all VOIP solutions are good ones but none of them talk about what is right for you, and when a VOIP solution from ANY VOIP service provider may not make sense. VOIP is not a "one size fits all" solution.

First of all, please realize that VOIP is not a cure-all for anything. It does not get whites whiter or colors brighter. It is a technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls using your high-speed Internet connection. That's it. Granted, it is cheaper than the phone company in most (but not all) cases, but when is it not a good idea?

One of the things that VOIP providers do not emphasize (and should) is that the quality of the VOIP conversation on the phone is highly dependent on the quality of your high-speed Internet connection. For home VOIP, that is usually DSL or cable Internet, and if your connection is not stable, reliable, and good without hiccups, your VOIP experience from any VOIP provider on the planet is not going to be good. The VOIP provider does not include the high-speed Internet connection with their service, but rather they assume you already have it and it is stable and reliable and truly high-speed.

This is the first mistake. Not all residential Internet service falls into the category of being able to be termed stable and reliable without hiccups. In fact, especially with DSL, if you are located a long ways (more than 15,000 feet) from the DSL distribution center, chances are good that your DSL speed is not a whole lot better than dial-up speeds, and you are not going to have a pleasant experience if you venture into the VOIP world.

If the only high-speed Internet connection available to you is satellite, you are also not going to be happy with your VOIP solution. Satellite Internet service was not designed for that, and especially with the high latency times that are inherent with a satellite Internet connection, satellite is not going to work well for you with VOIP.

Business VOIP is very much the same, since the same core technology is used. A business that wants to use a VOIP solution with their DSL circuit, even a "business class DSL" circuit, is asking for problems. One of the problems is that the VOIP solution provider, when you call to complain, is going to be able to fix the problem, because DSL was just not designed for this purpose and is inadequate for all but the most modest VOIP requirements.

For business VOIP, a fractional or full T1 line is required for your high-speed Internet access. A T1 provides guaranteed bandwidth and guaranteed availability of that bandwidth, which interestingly enough, is also a requirement for VOIP. Do you see the connection between those requirements? You say a T1 line is too expensive? That is a whole topic unto itself, but from a Tier 1 carrier that can guarantee the service, a T1 that can handle VOIP in most parts of the country can be had for under $400 per month, and in more than 90% of the country, for under $550 per month.

But do you really NEED a VOIP solution, or are you really implementing technology for the sake of technology? Some say, even for home or business, that one automatically saves money. Let me tell you that there is nothing automatic about it, and I recommend that you create a small spreadsheet and compute the real costs. Yes, VOIP usually includes unlimited long distance, but how much long distance do you use, really? Would you really use that feature, or is it only for bragging rights? Yes, a good VOIP solution usually includes features like voice mail, caller ID, call waiting, and others, but would you USE those features?

Make no mistake about it, a good VOIP solution can save you a ton of money, but it will require that you understand your own calling habits and how you will use the service. It also requires a solid high-speed Internet connection so that people you call won't think you are phoning them from the bottom of your bathtub. You need to evaluate the costs and then make a financially smart decision based on your individual and unique needs, whether you are seeking a VOIP solution for home or for business.

To get more insights and more information about your options for a good VOIP Solution please visit our web site at http://www.voipinsideinfo.com

By now we were disappointed by the traditional television. One thing that brings down the old TV is that all that it shows, has been viewed and reviewed. Its very boring! Also I think that its only a political communication instrument today. We only wished the television were more different, more original. Only in some case as the news or sport events, the old TV are still capable to compete with the recent success of Online Television.

However, sooner or later the inevitable will happen and what it is being born online will replace the traditional TV. Ive realized how strong the community of users idolize the new generation Online Television or Internet TV through services like YouTube, Blip.tv, Joost, Miro, and Brightcove which allow to decide what to watch and when through a free access and a large video programming.

As you already know, the Online TV can be seen on the move anywhere around the planet, when youve an internet connection or where you can find an Internet caf or library. To have access on the net youve only need of Wi-Fi technology, an ADSL cable and you can be connected always, through a cell phone or computer laptop device. So, you can browse online video professional or amateur from around the planet, or store them to your pc computer. Furthermore, you can see the new internet TV through an application like Apple TV even on your traditional television set.

If you have not yet realized it, there are two valid reasons to use a Online TV and create your own Internet TV. The first reason, you dont need payment or paid subscription and the second reason because internet TV allow you to distribute video on other Internet TV channels, with an Infinite bandwidth to broadcasting and give you the possibility to distribute video on blogs and even on traditional TV. To live at the pace of change and create a Net TV you dont need a large budget, all youve need are to sign-up services like Mogulus, or Operator11.

Conclusion

Soon the success that has made great the traditional TV will grow on the internet. Old television will not used anymore but if you want to live at the pace of change the new TV not only does it provides an solution to your entertainment but will allow a lot of people to join in and participate into the show. That should make it easier for video professionals or video amateurs and Im sure that will give a great chance to lot of people with talent and new ideas. The total control of the informations will be on your hands.

Nicola Deiana works in software development since 2000s, with emphasis on software requirements and development methodology. He is the author of the3dtechnologies.com, a popular site for lovers of the technology.

Salt Lake City Schools recognized the academic success of both a federally funded program, and of its individual students in May. The first group of 150 Utah Scholars has graduated from the rigorous academic high school program.

Utah Scholars is a federally funded program that was with the goal of encouraging academic rigor at the high school level. Several Salt Lake City Schools including the Granite, Jordan, Park City and Prove districts had participating students. Utah was one of 22 states to benefit with a grant of $300,000 to fund the program for two years.

Salt Lake City Schools require students to meet state guidelines of 4 years of English, and 3 of math and science to graduate. Those Salt Lake City Schools students in the Utah Scholars program are required to complete 4 years of English, 3 of social studies, 3 of science, 3 of math, and 2 of a foreign language. One main incentive is the possibility of grants and scholarships for successful graduates of the program.

The program was launched for two reasons. Educators in Salt Lake City Schools and around the nation have noticed a direct correlation between a demanding high school course load and success in both college and college entrance exams- like the SATs. There has also been national concern over the decreasing number of students enrolling in college programs and completing degrees on time.

Declining numbers of advanced degrees have been an ongoing concern for Salt Lake City Schools. In 2004 the Utah Foundation reported that the number of bachelor degrees among residents was steadily declining. Less young people were pursuing the degree and Utah schools were 31st in the nation with the 25-34 year old crowd. A 2006 report issued by the US Census Bureau confirmed concerns when it released figures that said only 27% of Utah residents hold bachelors degrees.

One reason that this may be a problem in the Salt Lake City Schools is its large Mormon population. The famous founders of Brigham Young University encourage their members to marry young and to do missionary work for the (Mormon) Church of Latter Day Saints before beginning their education.

Salt Lake City Schools are trying to educate its students on the vast discrepancies in income between those with bachelors degrees and those without. The Utah Scholars program is helping them to do that. This past school year the Salt Lake City Schools targeted eighth graders who will enroll in the program next year. These selected students at Salt Lake City Schools will work with mentors from local colleges and counselors in their own schools. Salt Lake City Schools are hopeful that they can graduate another crop of Utah Scholars and turn the trend around.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit Salt Lake City Public Schools

If you have cats you probably already know what a mess they can be. They are constantly messing up something and can be a pain. They are however very much worth the effort and most cat owners could not do without one. Read this article for some tips that will help you live with both cats and carpets.

The number one thing that cats do to carpet to damage it is to urinate on it. Cat urine is very high ammonia and can do a great deal of damage to the carpet as well as smell horrible. It is even more destructive than dog urine. To prevent this damage you should always keep your cats liter box cleaned to prevent them from going elsewhere. Also have them checked by a vet regularly because things like urinary tract infections can cause them to urinate in strange places. If they do have an accident try to blot it up as soon as possible and then clean it with a solution of one part white distilled vinegar to three parts water. This should take the color and the smell out of the spot.

Another way that cats can harm carpet is tracking litter into the room. Litter is basically clay and if it gets wet you will have quite a mess in your carpet. To prevent damage you should keep your litter box on a tiled or otherwise hard surface. Also try to use a litter mat in front of the box to catch any litter from their feet. If you must keep it near the carpet be sure to vacuum regularly to prevent a buildup. The last thing I will discuss that cats do is hacking up fur balls. These can cause damage because they are often accompanied by food or whatever else the cat has in their system containing dyes. To prevent problems with fur balls you should bath your cat regularly or brush them to get rid of excess hair. If your animal has a large problem with them you can ask your vet about hairball medicine which should help the problem.

As you can see, cats do quite a bit of damage to carpet. Most of the problems though can be avoided with a little care so it really is possible to live with both cats and carpet.

Learn about Dayton carpet cleaning and carpet cleaners at the authors website.

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was an internally governed British colony until it gained independence in 1973. The Bahamas is comprised of 700 islands and 2000 rocks and cays, with only about 30 of those islands being inhabited. Andros is the largest island; New Providence is the most important and most populous and is also where the capital, Nassau, is located. Of lesser importance are the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama, Cat Island, Long Island, Eleuthera and Exuma.

Watling Island, or San Salvador, is regarded as the first land of the New World to be reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The total landmass of the Bahamas is 13,940 sq kilometres (5,382 sq miles).

The Bahamas rest on a shelf of coralline limestone and are themselves exposed portions of the shelf. Mostly flat, they reach an elevation of 60 metres (200 ft) on Cat Island. They have a beautiful coastline, which falls of steeply on the eastern side. The porous nature of the limestone detracts from any stream activity and the water supply relies on bores, wells and tanks capturing rainwater.

The islands are bisected by the Tropic of Cancer and have subtropical conditions. Together with the influence of the Gulf Stream, the temperature in winter averages 21 degrees C (70 deg F) and summer temperatures average 27 - 32 deg C (80 - 90 deg F). Rainfall averages out at 1000 - 1300 mm (40 - 50 inches), although can be heavier in some places. Rainfall months are May, June, September and October.

The population is approximately 330,000 and is about 85% Negro, with a white minority of British, American and Canadian ancestry. Until 1964, the whites controlled the political power of the country. The islands have been subjected mainly to British influences since the 1660s, when the first British settlers arrived.

Long the hangout for pirates and slave traders, later Nassau prospered as a base for blockade-runners during the American Civil War and as a meeting place for bootleggers during the Prohibition years.

English is the main language of the islands. Education is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 15. Religious groups include Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists and Roman Catholics. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy and is backed by US funding. The warm sunshine, attractive beaches and laid-back lifestyle attract large numbers of tourists to Nassau and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Taxation concessions have made Freeport an attractive option for investment and retirement.

Real Estate and Finance are important sectors of the economy. There is very little industry apart from an oil refinery at Freeport and a rum distillery on New Providence. Fishing is one of the major mainstays of the Negro population. Vegetables and fruit are grown however the arable land is limited and a small amount of livestock is also farmed. Trading commodities include cucumbers, tomatoes, shellfish, pulpwood and cement and the main trading partners are the USA, the UK and Canada.

At least 6 international airlines and major shipping lines serve the Bahamas. There is a good inter-island boat service and major roads on the main islands are paved.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to The Bahamas

Classroom furniture can do more for students then just give them a flat surface to write on or a place for them to sit; it can also help you more effectively organize your rooms which can help provide a number of other benefits for your students.

In unorganized classrooms, students have a hard time focusing on their studies because there is literally stimulation everywhere they look. There is no specific place for any one activity. Its like taking a child to the proverbial candy store. There are so many delicious treats everywhere the child looks that he or she simply cannot focus enough to decide what to eat. The good news is that incorporating the right classroom furniture into your room design can help you improve this situation dramatically.

For example, you should try to have separate locations in your room dedicated to specific activities. One area should be for art, one area for reading, etc. You can use the classroom furniture to achieve these separations while maximizing the use of your existing space and staying well-organized. For example, you might place a table with drawers for storing the supplies in the art area or audio caddies in the reading area so students can listen to the books being read to them.

Classroom furniture can also help you teach your students to be more organized which, in turn, will help them gain a greater sense of control over their own environments. Young people confronted by disorganization may want to help clean up the mess, but if theres no way to get things organized the task may seem overwhelming especially to a child. Imagine how daunting it can be for adults to clean out the garage or closet; its the same feeling for kids.

When you use classroom furniture to help with organization, you make it easier for students to help keep things neat and tidy. For instance, if you have a book display stand for classroom books, then students will have a specific place to put the books he or she finds on the floor or elsewhere. Plus, your students can more easily locate the books they want to read and can be taught to return the books when they finish reading them. These simple measures now can help students develop the important organizational skills that will help them in the future.

Some teachers also have problems in their rooms because the organizational pieces being used were not designed for young children. They may be too tall, too hard to open, or just not appealing to kids. Ideally, you need classroom furniture that is specifically designed for students in your age group. You want them to view organization as fun and easy, so the classroom furniture should promote this idea by being easily accessible and entertaining, such as an art easel with all of the supplies organized inside of it where students can reach what they need all from one tidy location.

The bottom line is that classroom furniture doesnt just have to serve the single purpose of providing a seat or writing surface for students. The tips above and other creative uses of organizational classroom furniture can help make your learning environment better for all of your students and can help you begin teaching them organizational skills theyll need for the rest of their lives.

Patricia Giadone is the owner of http://www.childrensorganizers.com an online provider of discount classroom and home furniture for parents, daycares, preschools, and churches. Her writing focuses on early childhood and the benefits of organization in the classroom and at home.

Cordless phone systems offer many features and are ideal for small businesses or businesses that are run from home. As well as increasing the portability of your phone system, they also increase office efficiency and productivity.

The first cordless phone systems were introduced in the 1970 and suffered from issues such as large handset size and short battery life. Since then the technology and security of modern systems has grown continuously.

A good cordless phone system can now offer benefits such as: voice mail, call forwarding, caller I.D. and many more. The latest systems also offer: lightweight handsets, speed dialling, digital answering and long battery life. You can now choose from a range of high quality cordless phone systems that offer excellent clarity with virtually no interference.

Cordless phone systems allow you to contact a user that may be walking around. Each system has a base unit which enables you to page the handset of a user, so long as they are in range. You can then speak to the user through the intercom facility. Some systems allow you to use another handset as the intercom instead of the base station.

Cordless phone systems can be integrated into existing office phone systems. Over the past few years, the development of new technology has made it possible for some cordless phone systems to be integrated into already existing office phone systems. Enabling companies to take full advantage of all the features and benefits that come with cordless phone systems, without suffering the cost and upset arising from the implementation of a new full office phone system.

Put simply, cordless phone systems allow you to wander freely around your business environment, without the fear of missing an important call or losing vital new business. They are truly wonderful pieces of equipment and can only enhance the profitability of any small business.

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Jason Morris is co-author of Business Phone Systems Direct. An established communications company, offering advice and implementation of high quality business phone systems.
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Love the taste of prime rib? Love the taste of barbecue? You can combine them together for cooking roast prime rib on the grill. It takes a bit longer than hamburgers, but cooking roast prime rib on the grill gives you a fabulous roast that everyone enjoys.

You need a lot of charcoal for cooking prime rib on the grill. The cooking time is about two hours so you need about 8 pounds of good quality charcoal. Fire up the charcoal and wait until the flames die down and the charcoal is giving off a good heat.

When cooking prime rib on the grill, you don't want the meat to be directly over the hot coals. Move them over to one side of the grill so that you can place the roast on the other side. Before putting the meat on the barbecue, rub the exterior with a mixture of coarse salt, pepper and herbs.

You can use either bone on or bone off when cooking roast prime rib on the grill. You can ask the butcher to remove the bones and then tie them back onto the meat. This gives you the best of both worlds -- easy carving and great tasting ribs.

Place the meat on the grill and cover it tightly. If the cover has vents, you want to close them as well. Check the grill from time to time to make sure it has enough heat to for cooking roast prime rib on the grill. If it cools off, you can open the events to let the flames build up again.

After two hours of cooking roast prime rib on the grill, take the cover off and check the temperature with a meat thermometer. The interior will be about 115 when the meat is rare, and 150 is well done. Be sure to check the temperature as close to the middle as possible.

After cooking roast prime rib on the grill to your taste, remove it from the grill and let it sit for about 15 minutes before serving. I hope you bought a big enough roast because your guests will ask for seconds and thirds!

You are free to publish the above article in your ezine or website, provided credit in the form of an (HTML clickable) hyperlink is given to the author.

Hans is author of http://www.steaks-guide.com/ and the barbeque and grill section of http://www.patio-furniture-ideas.com/

Wills are documents that reflect your deep desires to transfer your assets to those you love in the event of your demise. It says how your property must be distributed among your siblings, children, spouse and friends. There may also be instructions on what should be done to your property (such as providing for donating some money to charity).

Additions to a will, known as letters of instruction, can be created for items that may not be included in the will but may be due for distribution. These letters may carry instructions, like what to do with a pet, disposal of old files, etc. Such instructions are not legal documents.

Only items of high value and personal importance should be included in a will. The testator is the writer of the will and he usually appoints an executor. The executors primary responsibility is to see that the will is executed according to the wishes of the testator. He may also oversee paying of taxes of the estate. The executor is usually an attorney or a person not named as a beneficiary.

Any person over the age of 18 is legally eligible to write his will. Writing a will is simple if you have small assets, but grows complicated if you have different kinds of assets, different kinds of beneficiaries, properties with legal problems, or several heirs to your fortune.

Forms for writing simple to elaborate wills are available in the market and also on the net. Last will and Testament forms are meant to help you with the organization and execution of your final wishes so that your precious wealth is handed down to your near and dear ones. Last will and testament forms are available from lawyers, estate counselors, and legal advice websites.

These forms help you to avoid problems with legal jargon and simplify the process of writing a will. With these forms you can quickly and efficiently design your will keeping all your dear ones in mind and not leaving out anyone.

There are some simple forms, which are available, free of cost. These are suitable for those who do not have large estates or many beneficiaries. These forms can be modified according to your requirements. It is possible to download such forms from the Internet from websites specializing on wills. This enables you to write your will without hiring a lawyer or buying an expensive pre-made testament document.

More and more people are using pre-made forms to create wills as they can save on time, legal costs, complicated legal jargon and future complications for their beneficiaries.

Last Will And Testament provides detailed information about last will and testament, contesting a last will and testament, free last will and testament packages, how to write a last will and testament and more. Last Will And Testament is the sister site of Probate Court.