Archive for July 26th, 2008

Air Cleaner Filters - Purify Your Air

by Marsha Raven

It is common to find Air Cleaner Filters in cars and rooms in needing recycling of air. These cleaning devices are used to purify and clean the air. The most popular use of air cleaner filters is to purify the air of solid harmful particles. Examples of these particles would include harmful microbes such as bacteria as well as dust and pollen mould. With particles like these removed the air is made cleans and fresh.

Air filter cleaners are very important in gas turbine engines as using clean air will notably increase the efficiency of the engines.

Air filters use a number of methods to clean harmful particles from the air. A very common method involves the use of fiber elements which are in the air filter as filters. Particles and dust stick to the fiber and thus only cleaner air is discharged.

There are other complex methods like the static electric charge method. In this method the air cleaner filters use static electricity to attract dust and other particles thereby filtering out clean air. Oil bath filters were used earlier but now due to sophistication in technology these have fallen out of favor.

There have continued to be advancements in the air cleaner filter industry brought about by advances in fluid science. With modern air cleaner filters air conditions and gas turbines work efficiently promoting healthy human health. Some popular air filter materials include cotton filters and paper foam filters. Air filters have to be cleaned and changed regularly and periodically to get optimum performance.

Air filters can be grouped as either class one or class two air filters. The classification is done based on their flammability. Class one air filters produce a negligible small amount of smoke when burnt. They do not become fuel when they come in contact with flame. Class two filters are the exact opposite as they readily become fuel when in contact with flame. While they burn they produce significant amount of smoke. A lot of research is still being done into the flammability of air filters.

The air filters are designed in many shapes and sizes to fit the area of flow of air. The air filters should be regularly changed as they get clogged over time filtering out air. The clogging of air filters not only produces impure air but also reduces the airflow through the passage.

If this happened in an engine the result is a serious drop in engine performance. Air filters can be used for different applications and situations. Their most common usage includes use in gas turbines, internal combustion engines and air conditioners for both rooms and cars.

Paper is one of the most common materials that are used for air cleaner filters in automobiles. This is mainly because they are cost effective as well as efficient. Also these are easily replaceable. Oil wetted foam elements are also known to be used as air filters in automobiles. Foam was a known choice for air cleaners in many applications before the improvement in air cleaning technology.

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Gary Terrazas on July 26th 2008 in Home

Tips and Tricks for Better Birding and Bird Watching

by Dave Joa

Watching Birds is Great Fun!

Enjoying birds and bird watching is one of the best ways to get out of the house and into the countryside and away from your back yard. By watching them in their natural habitat you will see them in their normal environment and it will be a different experience than watching them at the bird houses and bird feeders in you yard.

More and more people are now becoming bird watchers and birding will continue to become more popular. More time means more birding time and longer bird watching trips can take place. Also bird watching generates and appreciation for nature, our environment and the fact that we need to protect habitat for the birds.

Before going off on their first birding trips new birders should learn some of the basics for successful bird watching to avoid the potential for disappointment. Having a bird feeder or bird house in the back yard is a great idea, but to see more birds you need to visit their local habitat to find them.

Try To Get Out Early!

The best time to see the biggest number of birds is very early in the morning when the birds will be extremely active and easier to see. This applies wherever you happen to be when you are bird watching including in the back yard, at a park, in the woods or at some coastal location.

Obviously get a good nights rest during the previous night and get up as early as you can so that you are in position at your bird watching locality before the sun comes up. Yes that early! The reason for starting birding at this time is that the highest numbers of birds are active in the couple of hours right after sunrise. After this time, especially as the sun gets higher in the sky, the number of birds for a birder to see will be less.

Do Not Wear Clothes With Bright Colors!

One of the worst things you can do when birding is to wear bright colored clothing as by doing this you let the birds see you a lot easier and your movements will make them take cover before you even get near and you will not see them.

Try to put on clothing that has a more natural and darker coloring that compliments the color of the birds habitat where you will be birding.

It is a great idea to wear anything that will camouflage you when in the birds habitat while bird watching. Get the ultimate gear if you want to see the biggest number of birds or when you go into an area where birds are nervous and difficult to see.

Always Be As Quiet As Possible

While you are bird watching always move slowly and above all quietly. If you are with a friend and continuously talking you will never see many birds as the noise you make will scare them off and the fact that you are talking will drown out any noise the birds might make so you will never hear them either.

Always communicate with others very quietly and whisper if necessary and when closer to the birds use hand signals to indication the location of the birds, but do not raise you arm to point out the birds as they will easily see this and be off!

A good plan is to always stay behind objects such as a bush or a tree and look around or through them to hide your silhouette from the birds as once they see you they will become more nervous.

Keep To The Trail At All Times

Always stick to the trail to avoid disturbing the bird habitat and never go crashing through the undergrowth in pursuit of a bird. In fact never chase or try to flush out a bird as this will disturb the birds and could stress them unnecessarily.

The best way to see birds is to let them come to you and if you find a good location and make yourself comfortable this will happen and can sometimes give the best views. A bird feeder and bird houses in your back yard is also a great idea as again lets the birds come to you and over time they will become less nervous.

The birds welfare should always be paramount and you should do whatever you can to ensure that the birds you are watching are not disturbed by your actions and always stay away from birds nests.

Binoculars Or A Scope Are Essential

Watching birds from a distance is major requirement when birding as many do not allow close views so you will need a good pair of binoculars and when you become a more experienced birder you may feel the need to get a spotting scope to give much closer views of the birds you want to see.

Bird watching is an enjoyable pastime for any nature lover. Birding can be inexpensive and at some times challenging but above all it is always enjoyable and fun.

Even if you just start by watching the birds at your bird feeders or bird houses during the nesting season you will get great enjoyment from bird watching.

Enjoy Bird Watching!

Go bird watching and see more birds.

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Dave Joa on July 26th 2008 in Gardening

Baby Boomers Are Prime Targets for Identity Thieves

by Jed Jenson

Did you know that the first “baby boomer” filed for Social Security benefits in October 2007? This individual is the first of almost 80 million baby boomers who are expected to apply for such benefits over the next two decades and is, very possibly, one of the first baby boomers who may fall prey to identity theft. Because boomers are more likely to draw two incomes, i.e. retirement and social security benefits, thieves are more likely to target their financial resources than that of others. In addition to the extra income, boomers are being targeted by identity thieves because of their tendencies to avoid the internet, to rely on paper checks and paper mail, and to fall victim to pre-texting scams. Because of this, it is more important than ever for baby boomers, who, in the prime of their lives, are prime targets for identity theft, to use LifeLock’s Identity Theft Protection Services.

One of the first reason baby boomers should become members of LifeLock is because older boomers (ages 51-60) have not completely moved into the electronic age and, therefore, still use snail mail to pay bills and send correspondences. This leaves boomers, and their mailboxes, prime targets for identity theft as thieves can steal their credit card statements and retirement statements in order to change their address and take over their identity. LifeLock protects boomers from this form of identity theft by removing members’ names from pre-approved credit card mailing lists and junk mail lists.

The second way LifeLock protects boomers, and saves them time and energy, is by pulling annual credit reports from all three credit bureaus and mailing them to their members. Because some boomers have never used the internet and are not aware of how to access their credit reports online; they do not keep as close a watch on their credit activity as younger adults do. LifeLock gives boomers the ability to check their credit report for discrepancies in order to prevent identity theft from occurring. In addition to pulling credit reports, LifeLock also places fraud alerts on member’s credit files so that lenders must call the member for approval prior to issuing credit or loans.

Another way LifeLock protects boomers from identity theft is through their eRecon and TrueAddress services. Through LifeLock’s eRecon service, criminal websites are monitored for the selling or trading of social security numbers, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, etc. In addition to monitoring criminal websites, LifeLock’s TrueAddress service monitors national databases for changes to a members’ address and, if there is an address change, the member is notified of the change.

Another way LifeLock works to protect the identity of baby boomers is through their WalletLock service. Because boomers are more at risk of having their wallets lost or stolen, WalletLock is an invaluable service for boomers. Since boomers prefer to keep their personal documents close at hand, they are more likely to have multiple sources of personal identification in their wallet. LifeLock’s WalletLock service assigns a WalletLock specialist to their members if their wallet is lost or stolen. This specialist helps in contacting each credit card company, banking institution, and any state and federal agencies who issue driver’s licenses, etc. to cancel the accounts and begin the process of reinstating missing documents.

The fifth way LifeLock safeguards boomers from worry about identity theft is by easing their concerns about spending excessive amounts of time and money if their identity is stolen by offering a $1,000,000 full service guarantee. Although most boomers are receiving additional income, their income is barely enough to cover their cost of living expenses. Through LifeLock’s $1,000,000 guarantee, LifeLock will hire attorneys, investigators, accountants, case managers, etc. to restore a member’s good name and, if any money is lost as a result of the theft, they will reimburse the member the amount of money lost.

In the prime of their lives, baby boomers are prime targets for identity theft due to additional income, the tendency to use paper vs. the internet and because they can easily fall prey to pre-texters. Through LifeLock’s Identity Theft Prevention services, boomers no longer need to worry about the security of their identity leaving time for more important things, like retirement.

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Larry Gibson on July 26th 2008 in Finance

What You Should Know About Bankruptcy Mortgage Refinancing

by Ray Lam

Most homeowners assume the door marked “Mortgage” is boarded shut for them after a bankruptcy. Refinancing is actually a financial necessity on the road to rebuilding your credit. Here is what you need to know about refinancing your mortgage after bankruptcy.

The mortgage industry is extremely competitive; this means there are opportunities available to you that did not exist ten years ago. Having a recent bankruptcy no longer prevents you from refinancing your mortgage; however, the amount you pay depends on how savvy a shopper you are. Online search makes it easy to compare loan offers from a variety of different lenders.

The Internet is an excellent resource when mortgage refinancing after bankruptcy. You can quickly research mortgage refinancing interest rates from dozens of national mortgage companies. Don’t stop at the mortgage rate, request Good Faith Estimates from each lender you are considering to perform a line-by-line comparison of each mortgage refinancing offer.

Because you can expect to pay a higher interest rate when mortgage refinancing after bankruptcy, it is important to avoid paying any retail markup of this loan. Mortgage companies routinely markup the interest rate you qualify to boost their revenues. This markup by the retail mortgage company is called Yield Spread Premium and results in paying thousands of dollars in unnecessary interest each year.

Getting approved for a new mortgage isn’t hard; the hard part is finding a good mortgage offer. Researching mortgage lenders and comparing a variety of mortgage offers will help you find the most competitive interest rates. When shopping for a mortgage compare all aspects of the loan offers: interest rates, annual percentage rate, lender fees, and closing costs all need to be carefully scrutinized before accepting a loan offer.

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Ray Lam on July 26th 2008 in Home

The Sci-Fi First Gave Us the Water Fuelled Car

by Hybrid Lover

The Earth has an abundance of resources for the use of humans. The most abundant of these resources is the water that sits idly in the oceans. To find a way to use this water to make a cleaner and cheaper fuel is closer than we think.

Science fiction novels and movies have used the water-fuelled car as a standard prop. Writers have used this type of vehicle because it was the most fictional item they could think of. This belief is so because it seemed so implausible to make it a reality.

To generate a feeling of the futuristic and fantastic, authors like H. G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, and Piers Anthony have used these vehicles in their stories. The thought of the water-fuelled car seemed so preposterous to them because of the laws of thermodynamics. Little did they know, right on the horizon was the water-fuelled car.

Fuel made from water is much cleaner and safer for the environment. It would seem we would never run out with the abundance of this resource. Constant drilling of our lands would end saving our wildlife.

The chemicals that are put out by the burning of petrol are deteriorating our atmosphere. Creating a global warming effect and killing our world, water-fuelled cars would decrease this problem. Another ice age or worse is in the making.

Chemicals will not be generated if the use of water as a fuel becomes the norm. Drilling and polluting will also end if we change the fuel we are using now. This action will make our planet healthy again.

Water-fuelled engines will make travel easier. Once it has been implemented into cars, it can be then regulated to airplanes, trains and boats. Having a boat that runs on water would be the best vehicle to own.

Inventors have taken ideas from science fiction writers for centuries. The telephone, the airplane, and the elevator were created by enthusiastic writers long before they became a physical reality. Inventions from the show “Star Trek” have become reality since the beginning of the show in the 1960’s by science fiction writer Gene Roddenberry.

The scientists who claim to have invented them took years to complete the items from science fiction. Leonardo Di Vinci first thought of the helicopter centuries before it finally became a reality. Copernicus dreamed of space travel well before it was ever a possibility.

Many of the electronic devices thought up by science fiction authors have been first physically created by the Japanese. The Japanese used Gene Roddenberry’s idea for a wireless phone and created the cell phone. The Japanese have, yet again, advanced science fiction with the creation of a water-fuelled car.

Though the actual making of a water-fuelled car is incredibly hard, it has been done. A company in Japan is working on getting a patent for their concept. Once they have the patent, it should not be many years before we are driving these water-fuelled cars.

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Robert Eagle on July 26th 2008 in Environment