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Low Ball Bowling – A Great Method For Bowling Buffs

If you already love bowling, why not try it out in a couple of different ways for a change? There is a specific style of bowling in particular that I would like to mention for the avid bowlers out there. This type of bowling is called “Low-Ball Bowling.” Some bowling enthusiasts have found that experimenting with other kinds of bowling provide a great alternative to your normal bowling routine – or even change your favorite bowling style.

Low ball bowling is what I like to call “backwards bowling,” using a standard pin set up. The object of the game, as opposed to getting as many points as you can, is to get as few as you can. Kid-of like goofy, crazy bowl for adults – you want the lowest score. If you are playing low ball bowling strikes and spares are scored exactly the same way you would score a strike or spare in a regular game of bowling. At least one pin needs to be knocked down. A perfect score in low ball bowling is a twenty. Meaning that one pin is knocked over on each of the two balls per frame in the score.

A miss, or gutter ball, in low ball bowling games will be recorded as a strike the first time it happens, (if it happens.) The second gutter ball will score as a spare, this means high points, but high points are not good, not good at all. You’ve got to knock or topple over at least one of the pins to get a low score. Therefore, this version of the game is quite a challenge. Nonetheless, as you can easily gather from the objective, it requires a completely different kind of technique.

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What Are the Advantages of Commercial Roof Repair?

The roof is one of the most important parts of an establishment. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most neglected and forgotten as many building owners often overlook small cracks and leaks only to find greater damage in the long run. Here are reasons why you should hire a personal roof inspection and repair company to take care of one of the most important safety features of your property:

• A professional service can provide you with a great variety of services. These experts can and will do so much more than just discover and repair leaks on your roof. They can also offer a wide range of maintenance services, ranging from constructing roof flashing, repairing water damage, and replacing shingles. They can also fix other critical parts of your roofing, ranging from vent pipes and chimneys to skylights and drainage systems. They can also perform interior damage repair caused by leaky roofs to make sure that your property is in good condition from the inside out.

• Commercial roofing contractors also have an extensive supply of high quality materials that ensure reliable repair services. This means any damage repair they carry out are guaranteed to last long. Typical roofing materials available at your local hardware store are often inferior to what these companies are supplied. They often use specially designed roofing materials and finishes such as elastomeric coating, which enhance the durability and quality of roofs.

• Professional leak repair services are also cost-effective. Even when you have commercial-scale repair needs, professional services aren’t as expensive as they may seem. As a matter of fact, you will end up saving a great deal of your hard earned money by seeking the help of professional repairmen in the first place, rather than trying to fix the damage on your own. A professional roofer will not only offer you short-term solutions to your leak problems but provide you with options that will help you prevent damage in the long term. Settling for unprofessional repair work can actually cost you more in the long run, especially when the temporary repair fails and causes more irreversible damage.

• Safety is another major advantage of hiring professional commercial roofing contractors. Trying to repair building leaks can be quite dangerous. Professionals have all the right equipment, tools, and skills to make sure that repairs go well, with the safety of their workers and their clients in mind. They also guarantee protection of your property throughout the duration of the repair project.

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24 X 36 Detached Garage Plans Provide Enough Room and More

If you have been thinking in terms of building a garage large enough for your three cars, it is best to go in for the 24 X 36 detached garages. With the help of plans prepared by experts, you can make this yourself, saving a substantial amount in the bargain.

Why this big?

You might be wondering why your detached garage has to be 24 X 36 feet in size. Why not a smaller one? The answer is not too difficult to find. If you have a Ford Explorer, it is 16 feet 1 inch plus in size. A Chrysler minivan is 15 feet 9 inches in size, and a Chevy Silverado standard cab, longbed pickup is 18 feet 8 inches plus in size. This makes it amply clear that your plans have to be suitable for these vehicles.

Moreover, you can also store your workbench and tools, have hobby space, have storage space for recreational equipment, lawn mower and gardening tools in your detached shelter. You do not have to find a separate space for them. For this you would have to select plans which provide you instructions including those on constructing this separate storage space.

Now let us look into the width of the building. It is on the larger side, too. Let us take the example of a Ford Explorer again. It is 6 feet 2 inches wide. Any expert would tell you that 30 inches is the minimum comfortable width between two cars, or between a car and the wall. This is so that you can open the doors in the garage. In a three car detached shelter, you would require a space of 30 inches between the wall and the outside cars, as well as 30 inches between each of the three cars. When you add the 6 feet 2 inches width of each of the cars, you require a minimum width of 30 feet and six inches. Add to this the extra storage space you require, and you would agree that 24 X 36 detached shelter plans are the best bet for you.

Increase in Property Value

Another important reason to go in for 24 X 36 detached garage plans is that by constructing this garage, the resale value of your property will go up. Let us see how this happens. If you were to put up your house for sale, what usually happens is that it is now in competition with every other house up for sale in a similar price range. So, if two houses are available at a similar price range, have similar floor plans and are located in the same desirable area, any outstanding feature which either of these houses has would help the buyer decide in its favor. This is where having a three car detached building built with the help of good plans would help turn the tide in your favor.

What if you do not want to sell your house?

Even if you do not intend to sell your house, building a 24 X 36 detached shelter with the help of plans is still the way to go. You would be able to comfortably park and take out your cars. You need not worry about door dings while opening the car door, or having to back out of the garage into the rain so as to let someone into the garage. You also do not have to spend on mini-storage costs for storing all your equipments and tools.

Your 24 X 36 detached garage built with the help of plans would truly be a prized possession. Now you can rest assured that your cars have a great shelter and that too, one which you built yourself.

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Art Appreciation – A Rich, Rewarding Experience

I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ART BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKE?

Perhaps you’ve gone to a gallery or art museum, looked at the artwork displayed and said to yourself, “What the heck is that? I can’t understand it! Why is this here in a gallery?”

Or, maybe you’ve gone to a gallery or art museum and your reactions was, “Wow! Great stuff! I like this! I don’t know why, but I do!”

Or, maybe you’ve gone to a gallery or art museum, and, after viewing the exhibits, you walk away feeling bored and disinterested. You may have said to yourself, ” Why do I bother with looking at art? I never understand it. It’s beyond me.”

Like any other discipline, art requires the viewer to be knowledgeable about the information it presents. Sometimes we think we should just automatically understand art. After all, there it is, just hanging there on the wall and all we have to do, we think, is just look at it. But do we really SEE it? Often, our response may be, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.”

That is just another way of saying, “What I like is really just based on my ignorance.”

THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN ENJOY

Liking a certain artwork is a pleasure. You have communicated with visual phenomena and really enjoyed the experience. It can be a very enriching, rewarding experience to know how and why an art form developed or have some knowledge of how and why an artist works in a particular way. More than likely, your perspective is quite limited if you have never studied art or know how it has developed in not only, our Western culture but all over the world.

What if you could gain information on the many forms of art that have been produced since humanity began, and how it developed over time to the present day? What would this kind of study mean to you? It would mean that, equipped with that knowledge, you would be able to enjoy a lot more art! Here’s why.

The more you know about art and its development, the more you can enjoy looking at art! You will see much more and understand the context, content and style of the art form. And this is the basis of Art Appreciation-a study of how to expand your knowledge of the art world, past, present and future and, with that perspective, be able to communicate with the rich visual/creative world!

HOW TO BEGIN

So, how do your start gaining knowledge of this vast art world? Where do you begin?

Begin by dipping your toe into Art History. With a basic Art History 101 knowledge you will be able to see how art, as we know it, was not really a term until the science of Art History was developed in our western culture. And, when it was developed, as you can read in many art history books in the library, art has existed as long as humans have been able to pick up a stick, brush or chisel and record their lives and experiences.

There are several ways of learning how to appreciate art:

ONE — Learn about the basics of art history. How art developed, from the Lascaux cave paintings to modern art today. Older art history books deal primarily with artistic development in Western culture. Newer books add developments in Asia, China, Russia and the mid-East. The study of Art History has, over time, become global. In learning the time lines and factors that produce new perspectives and styles in art, you will not only gain a new historical perspective, but also become acquainted with the various art forms produced over the past centuries.

TWO–Choose a certain period or style in art history and learn about it. Perhaps Impressionism interests you. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to know the difference between Op Art and Pop Art. Through studying the cultural impact of a certain style on a specific period in time, you can understand why that particular art form developed and appreciate the artwork in a broader context.

THREE–Take a tour of your local art museum. Museums offer a wide variety of art educational programs and tours of their exhibits. Or travel and see the actual art in its setting. There are many websites on the Internet listing global art tours and travel, often by geographical location or specific art and architectural styles. On site art tours offer a unique and interesting way to travel and can give you an intimate, one on one perspective with the historical art and culture of the area. Tour groups are generally small in number and conducted by very knowledgeable guides delighted to respond to all of your questions and comments.

FOUR-Visit your local art galleries often. Galleries are supportive of their artists and gallery owners and attendants are usually quite pleased at your interest in their exhibits. They will be glad to give you information on the artists, such as whether they are local, where they have shown their work, what awards they have won, and who has purchased their artwork. Keep informed of present and future exhibits. This hands on approach, connects you closely with affordable art that is available where you live and often created by artists who live in or near your area.

DISCOVER A RICH VISUAL WORLD

Art Appreciation is as big or small a study as you want to do. Whether you want to make it an occasional outing or a serious study, whatever you choose, learning how art forms have historically developed and understanding what is on the walls in your local gallery will definitely change your perspective.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to discuss a painting on the wall in a gallery, instead of shrugging and muttering, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.”

Think of it. Perhaps your response would be more like, “I like the way this artist uses color in an Expressionistic style. The brushwork is so vigorous! There is a lot of energy in the composition. Also, the use of thick paint produces an interesting texture.”

Through Art Appreciation you can discover a rich visual/creative world that will inspire you and beckon you to learn more.

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Nairobi City Hotels – Top 6 Five Star Hotels In Nairobi Kenya Africa

The Stanley

Since 1902, The Stanley has stood as a social cornerstone of Nairobi. Centrally located, its relaxing atmosphere provides a luxurious oasis minutes away from the cosmopolitan bustle of the city.

Visit the famous ‘Thorn Tree’ café, which was a favorite observation post of Ernest Hemmingway.

Grand Regency Hotel

It is located in Nairobi City Centre and overlooks Uhuru Park. There is a choice of fine dining and informal restaurants, coffee shops, cocktail lounges and piano bar.There is a business centre and conference facilities. Leisure facilities include all-weather, covered and heated swimming pool, fully equipped health club and gym and an exclusive members’ club on the penthouse floor. It has 388 beds and 35 suits.

Hotel Intercontinental

It is located in uptown Nairobi, bordering Uhuru highway and next to Parliament and the Jomo Kenyatta mausoleum. The large seven storey hotel with 440 rooms has a wide range of services and facilities. These are three restaurants and two heated pools. All rooms have air-conditioning, TV with in-house videos as well as phones

The Norfolk

Older than The London Ritz, younger than The Savoy, no other hotel in Kenya has as rich a history as The Norfolk, one of the worlds most romantic hotels. When it first opened on Christmas of 1904, it was to spearhead traditions, which are still unmatched today. Nairobi as a capital grew all around The Norfolk. From the old and new worlds, the first guests came many of noble birth. The guest list made its legend and still does so today.

Nairobi Serena Hotel

On the outskirts of Nairobi’s Central Park, shaded by Jacaranda, bougainvillea, and acacia trees, stands the Nairobi Serena Hotel. The tranquil settings belies it’s location, just moments from the city’s main attractions. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the hotel offers exceptional standards of accommodation, service, cuisine, and amenities. The restaurant and health club are the finest in Nairobi

Safari Park HotelAbout 15 Km from town, Safari Park Hotel is on a 25hectare land and has dramatic architecture and a complete range of facilities spread out in beautifully landscaped grounds. There are 6 international restaurants. This is a popular place for conferences and exhibitions, with a capacity of 1000 people and is fully equipped with audio visual and communication equipment. The hotel can accommodate 400 guests. Each room has a private veranda or balcony with a garden view

Hilton Hotel Nairobi

The 287-room hotel is located in the heart of Nairobi. All rooms are air-conditioned and have satellite TV, electronic safes, electronic locks, and minibars. Four restaurants are available and one pub with live entertainment. Special recreational amenities include a heated swimming pool, health club facilities, gymnasium, sauna, steam bath, and massage. The ballroom and four meeting meeting rooms can host up to 500 guests

Windsor Golf and Country Club

Built in 1992, The Windsor Golf and Country Club Resort is a cluster of impressive Victorian-style buildings, providing 100 deluxe twins and doubles, studio suites and cottages, set amidst lush, tropical gardens. The elegant and spacious rooms overlook the spectacular golf course and are tastefully decorated with large ensuite bathrooms, showers and other amenities.

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Stain Removal in Carpet – Stain Removal Help

Hey guys … It's been a while since I've posted a helpful tip to add to your arsenal of automotive interior repairs I've given here on my blog.

So I thought of giving you a little bit on Stain Removal in Carpet. This is one thing I get a lot of questions for and that is how to get those nasty brown, or black, or even red stains out of the interior carpet of the vehicles I work on a daily basis.

The trick is not to it is not really a trick at all, it's timing and knowledge of what to use where and when. Getting to a spill before it gets a chance to soak in is your best defense against a stain in your carpet. If you spill something wipe it up and soak it up as quickly as possible and then flush with water and soak it up with a towel, or whatever ever you have at the time. But that's not always the case and that's where this little guide will help you, but really if you can wipe spills up a fast as you can and this helps to get the actual stain out later when you have more time.

One of the most common stains I see in vehicles are footprints or skid marks from dirty and greasy shoes. The answer to this is a de-greaser. There are so many different options to use in this situation, but I'm here to make this as simple as possible and effective. Supplies you will need are a couple of white towels, a scrub brush and a mild detergent, like lawn dish soap, a small pail of warm water mixing the soap to 1/4 oz. soap to gallon of water. Dip your brush in the soap and water, scrub the areas lightly with the brush making sure not to soak the carpet then wipe and blot with the towel. Repeat if necessary, wiping and blotting the area with the towel to remove the dirt and grime and the water, you do not want it to sour later if left wet. If you have a shop vac, use it to suck up the water and to fluff the carpet pile back up to dry better. Place a fan in the vehicle if needed to dry further if you've had a bad one.

Now sometimes more then not you will need something a little stronger to get the grease out. I use Castrol Super Clean, the purple stuff. I've used Simple Green at times too, and some of the products at some of detail shops I'm at time to time, so really any good de-greaser will work. Just spray the area with the cleaner, scrub with the brush, then wipe it up with a towel. Now if at all possible flush the area with water, this will help to remove the chemicals from the carpet and will help to preserve the natural look to the carpet. Some of those chemicals are pretty strong and if left can damage the carpet.

Soda pop and coffee stains, are another I run across a lot. Now this one can be booger to get out. A coffee stain if left can do permanent damage to the carpet and at times I have had to just dye the carpet to cover up the stain. If coffee is your problem, here are a few tips, catch the spill as quickly as possible then flush with mild soap and water like before with the grease, but you may have to soak it a little more to get it out. Now if this is an old stain, one thing you can try is hydrogen peroxide. This can be used as a mild bleaching agent. Just pore a little in a cup and with a tooth brush scrub it into the stain let sit for about 20-30 minutes then flush with your soapy water solution. If this does not work, I found a product at my local janitorial supply called called Perculator, it comes in spray bottle and is primarily a peroxide mix, and works pretty good, but it's still not a miracle worker. Coffee can be a pain, but with a little luck and timing on this one you can get it out. Now soda pop, if it's not orange or red which I'll talk about in a minute, can usually be taken care of with the warm water and soap.

Food stains can range from greasy french fries smashed in the carpet to dried ketchup, to jelly beans and candy. Most of these can be deal with with your soap and water. Ammonia can be added to the solution to help cut the greasy foods. Scrape the chunks out with a blunt knife before you get wet this will help to not spread the stain further. Candies might take a little more due to dyes added for color, wash as much as possible to remove the candy, if the stain stays you can try peroxide but like I said there are dyes in some candies that do just that, dye the carpet. Gum is another candy that can be removed with mostly picking it out but the rest might take a little chemical. Goof Off is a good one to keep on hand for a lot of different things, but it works great on gum too. After you pick most of it out just take a little Goof Off on a towel and wipe the rest right out.

Red Wine is sort of a food stain but treated a little different. If it's fresh flush with cold water and soak it up as much as possible. Try even a little club soda and pore directly onto the stain and soak it up with a towel. This should get most of it. One last trick is an enzyme cleaner, enzymes get right to it when it comes to food stains. They are known for removing food stuff stains, but I have not had much luck with red wine though so I'll talk about it in a minute on getting the red stains out of your carpet.

Now if you have a misfortune and happen to get a blood stain on your carpet then this one needs to be handled with cold water and not warm or you will set the stain. If it's washed then scrap the washed blood with a blunt knife to get the chunks out, vacuum them up, then scrub the area with cold water and a mild soap. Peroxide can be used to help remove the reddish tint if needed. Then flush again with the soap and water, then vacuum with your shop vac. One other remedy is a blood enzyme, which will eat the blood away. Blood Buster is good one, it's an enzymatic cleaner designed for bio stains.

One that I deal with upon occasion is pet urine. Talk about nasty … but, hey they have to pee too, just not where we always want them to. This one is one you can go to your kitchen for, vinegar, helps to neutralize the pains in the pee. Supplies for this one are paper towels if still wet, white towels, mild soap and warm water, brush and vinegar. First soak up what you can with if it's still wet with the paper towels, next take your soapy solution of warm water and soap, 1 / 4oz. of soap to a gallon of water, dip the brush and scrub the area with the soapy water, blot with the towel and repeat until the stain is gone. After wards pore a little vinegar over the stain and let set for about an hour. Lastly rinse with water and vacuum with a shop vac or dab with towels until mostly dry. If the stain is still there, let it dry, then apply an enzyme. Enzymes work really well for all bio stuffs including urine. The guys over at Petguest have come up with a 100% enzyme concentrate that is made for the elimination of pet stains and odors.

The old melted crayon stain in the carpet …. Man what a mess this can be, but believe it or not it's pretty easy to remove if you have a clothes iron and a brown paper bag. Scrape the major away with a blunt knife then lay the brown bag over the crayon and with the heated iron, rub it over the bag over the spot. The heat from the iron will melt the crayion into the bag. Just rotate the bag around to keep a clean side down and after a while the crayon will be on the bag not on the carpet. Patience on this one helps, but again if the spot remains try a little chemical like your Goof Off.

Paint is another carpet stain that can give you a bunch of problems. First thing you need to determine what kind of paint it is. If it's automotive paint then a solvent paint reducer or thinner can be used to remove it. I usually use lacquer thinner, works fast and removes most paint spills. Now if it's house paint, then scrape off the excess with a blunt knife and pull out the Goof Off, try not to spread it out to much, work small and from the outside in on the stain. I guess nail polish is a paint, but with this one use nail polish remover or straight acetone with a towel, and again work the stain from the outside in so to not spread it out to far.

Now this is probably got to be the worst carpet stain out there. The red stain in the carpet. This is caused by a # 40 Red dye that is put in a lot of drinks like Kool Aid and, red and orange sodas. If you run across this one there is only one way to remove it and that's with a strong chemical. I have found a product that I use on these type of stains and have had really good luck with it, it's called Red Dye Solution. There are others out there like Red Relief, and Red Out, all work pretty similar. You pore the chemical on the stain, and with a wet white towel and a steam iron you remove the stain. It is a time consuming project and with some luck all of the stain will be removed. Sometimes a little blue hue will be left from the chemical but it sure is a lot better then a bright red stain jumping out at you. But with a little carpet dye over the top and your good as new. You can find these products usually at your local janitorial supply shop or online. I'm working on getting some here on my site, so bare with me.

Stain Removal In Carpetcan be frustrating at times, but there is no substitute for a professional. These tips can help and may just save you but if you have any problems or feel that the stain is just a little above your head then do not hesitate to call an automotive interior repair professional like myself to come in a make your life a little easier. For those of you that are the professionals feel free to post your tips in the comments so we can all benefit from your expertise in carpet stain removal.

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Red Dye Diesel – A Red Diesel Fuel That Costs Less

If you own a construction company or use farm equipment, you may be paying too much for your diesel fuel. Red dye diesel fuel has the same chemical composition as diesel #2, but red pigment has been added. Red diesel fuel costs less because it can be used for any diesel engine powered vehicle that does not drive on the roadways, and is therefore exempt from state road tax. In California, for example, red dyed diesel fuel is about.40 to.50 less per gallon than diesel #2 due to the absence of the state road tax. Here’s a closer look at the types of off-road vehicles that use red diesel and the businesses that could benefit most from switching to red dye diesel.

Construction companies rely upon diesel fuel to power their backhoes, cranes, bulldozers, Bobcats and even for their diesel generators. Moving large objects like loads of rebar, soil, and steel beams are no match for large pieces of equipment like these. However, with off road construction vehicles like these, the gas is burned in large amounts. According to the Nebraska Test Laboratory Web site, construction vehicles vary widely in their gallons used per hour depending upon the size of the vehicle.

With the smallest bulldozers using just under 4 Gal/hr and the largest devouring 18 Gal/hr, a day’s work can cost thousands of dollars in fuel costs! For just one large construction vehicle operating 9 hours per day at 18 Gal/hr (at $3.00 per gallon), the cost for diesel #2 would be $486.00 per day. If red dye diesel were used instead, the cost would only be $396.90 for the day at $2.45 per gallon! Savings: $89.10 per vehicle, per day. With multiple construction vehicles in operation, a construction company can save thousands of dollars every day in diesel fuel costs.

Farmers are another type of business that can financially benefit from using red dye diesel fuel. Farm equipment including tractors, bulldozers, harvesters, Bobcats, and diesel powered generators can all use red diesel instead of diesel #2. The Nebraska Test Laboratory states that a new John Deere 9230 tractor uses about 11.5 Gal/hr on average. For multiple tractors and farm equipment running their diesel engine from sun up to sun down, the savings can add up significantly each day! At $3.00 per gallon for diesel #2 versus $2.45 per gallon for red dyed diesel, a 10 hour workday can cost $63.25 less per vehicle!

Though some people use red dye fuel in their diesel engines on state roadways, it is illegal to do so. The California Highway Patrol has paper dipsticks to test for the presence of red dye in consumer vehicles and will fine the driver heavily if the stick comes out of the tank with the classic red hue. Off road farm equipment and construction vehicles can all use this less expensive fuel and business owners can begin saving money immediately. In this poor economy, saving money is more important than ever. Other businesses that can benefit from using this fuel instead are traveling shows that use diesel generators such as road shows, carnivals, and fairs. Start saving money today by switching to red dye diesel!

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Why Google Chrome Lags? Learn How to Fix It

While browsing or downloading some file from a web site, Google Chrome lags. There are many reasons why this lagging occurs. Some of these reasons include accumulation of too much browser junk, corruption in Windows registry and malfunctioning extensions or browser applications. We will discuss certain solutions that worked for many users.

To stop lagging in Chrome web browser do below steps:

Reset Google Chrome to the Default Settings

Re-Set Network Settings for Maximum Internet Performance

Disable the Automatic Tuning Level

Disable Detecting Proxy Settings Automatically

Delete Cache Contents & Temporary Internet Files

Reset Google chrome to the Default Settings

Browser lags if the settings are not modified properly.Resetting the browser to the default and standard settings would help fixing it easily. To perform this action follow the easy steps given below:

Open Google Chrome.

Open Tools | Options.

Click Under the Hood tab.

Click Reset to Defaults button.

Restart it for the changes to take effects.

Re-Set Network Settings for Maximum Internet Performance

Lack of appropriate network configurations could lead to Google Chrome lagging. Re-set the network settings by enabling only those features which are really supported by your computer. Download an Internet Optimizer/System Utilities software to do this task automatically.

Disable the Automatic Tuning Level

In order to reduce browser lagging, disable the Automatic Tuning Level with the help of Command Prompt. This change will require you to restart your computer. Follow the procedure given here:

Click Start | All Programs | Accessories.

Right click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.

Type the following command and press ENTER:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disable

When finished, type Exit and press ENTER.

Reboot the system.

Disable Detecting the Proxy Settings Automatically

As default your browser detects the proxy settings automatically. Disable this technology in the following way for solving this problem:

Open Tools | Options.

Click Under the Hood dialog.

Click Change Proxy Settings | LAN Settings.

Uncheck the box called Automatically detect the settings.

Click OK until you get back to the browser.

Restart Google Chrome.

Delete Cache Contents & Temporary Internet Files

The files that are downloaded to your computer may be corrupted. Delete the contents of Google Chrome cache and its temporary internet files.

Click Tools | Options.

Click Under the Hood tab.

Click Clear Browsing Data.

Select The Beginning of time from the Obliterate the following items from drop down box.

Mark all the boxes as checked.

Click Clear Browsing Data button.

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Hold Your Breath, Here Comes a Bridge – History of the Fastener Industry

Ever hold your breath while you were crossing a bridge. If you have, you’re not alone. Either when you were a kid or now watching your own children – seeing if you could hold your breath all the way across the span of a bridge is a common challenge. However, if it weren’t for the fastener industry, we might all be holding our breath for a different reason – fear – and not fun. The same holds true for taking a plane to Grandma’s house, or tossing the car keys to your daughter. The excellence of fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws, rivets, etc.), used in manufacturing today, allow us to take much for granted.

From the Industrial Revolution to 2 World Wars: It was a long and bumpy road to the levels of standardization and quality that we enjoy today. The Industrial Revolution saw the end of the crude fasteners that had been around since early civilizations when they were employed in carts and agricultural equipment. After hundreds of years of fairly static technological improvement preceding the Industrial Revolution, this new era saw large numbers of screws and bolts produced in a relatively short amount of time, with more consistency, and more precision. By the mid 1700’s, the Wyatt brothers in England were manufacturing 150,000 wooden screws a week. By the late 1700’s, across the pond in America, companies were also making fasteners.

However, expansion of the industry was difficult due to a lack of standards. Size, thread density, and other factors varied greatly among businesses. Two Connecticut firms established in the 1840’s – The Rugg & Barnes Company and the A.P. Plant Company – were the first large American manufacturers to focus solely on making fasteners. Then, as often happens, a large historical event motivated growth and innovation – such an event was the American Civil War. It brought with it a huge demand for machinery – machinery held together by screws, nuts, and bolts. With it came the need for developing an American thread standard. William Sellers entered the picture in 1864. He proposed a uniform system of screw threads which differed from the British (Whitworth) standard in that the tops and bottoms of the threads were rounded rather than flattened. Ultimately, this standard proved to be a superior one, as rounded threads better withstood stress and resisted cracking and breaking compared to the flattened threads of the Whitworth standard. Standards are not always adopted quickly, though, and it would be another twenty years before his system was accepted as the American standard.

Differing American and British standards did cause some problems during the world wars of the 20th century. Field repairs were made difficult by the inconsistencies, but cooperation and temporary measures saw them through. In 1964 the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), announced two universal thread systems: ISO Inch and ISO Metric. The United States is the only country still tied to the inch system.

The center of the industry – American moves west: As the country expanded toward the west, so did the center for fastener manufacturing. Cleveland, Ohio, which was close to the expanding railroads and steel and iron production, became the capital of the fastener industry in America. The industry saw steady growth throughout the 20th century. By 1969 there were 450 companies, 600 plants, and more than 50,000 people employed in fastener production. Nuts, bolts, screws and rivets put meat and potatoes on the dinner tables of many a family. However, the next twenty years would bring steady decline. The increasing availability of less expensive product from overseas cut into demand for American product.

“Bogus Bolts”: In 1985, a controversy surfaced with reports of equipment failure and even the loss of life due to faulty, substandard bolts. A U.S. House subcommittee spent 18 months on an investigation and ultimately determined that the faulty and counterfeit bolts were largely foreign-made. This led to the passage in 1990 of the FQA – Fastener Quality Act. This reignited demand for American made fasteners. By 2007, the fastener industry in the U.S. was a $14 billion part of the economy. Competition from foreign manufacturers continues, however, the U.S. maintains its leadership by responding to the need for technologically sophisticated products. The aerospace industry, the medical and food industries, energy producers, and the semiconductor industry all have a requirement for special materials such as A286, Inconel 718, PVDF, or MP35N, as well as for uncompromising quality and strength. The U.S. fastener industry continues to respond to these needs with unsurpassed excellence.

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Fitting Guide – How to Fit a Fiat Punto Starter Motor

First of all, as with fitting all new or used car parts, Always remember safety! If you raise the vehicle on a jack Always support the car with axle stands! The one thing to be careful about when removing the wires to the starter. There is a red wire fitted from the battery to the rear of the solonoid, this wire is live & if it comes into contact with anything which is earthed, you will have problems. So be careful, a good rule of thumb is to tape up any wire ends with electricians tape or disconnect the battery completely but only if you have your radio code.

The two lower starter motor bolts are best accessed from the underside of the vehicle as these two lower bolts are located on the underneath of the starter motor. You will find the starter motor located in the centre of the engine at the rear under the air filter box and above the exhaust front pipe. The starter is connected to the car battery with red wire you must disconnect this wire by undoing the 13mm nut and washer from the rear of the starter solonoid, then you will find a 10mm nut and washer securing the wires on the smaller terminal. After removing the wires from the rear of the starter solonoid you will then need to loosen the two 13mm bolts that secure the starter motor to the gearbox. (A good tip is to always remove the lower bolts first to save the weight of the starter pulling downwards with gravity making the top bolt appear tight to the very last thread)

The lower bolt can be easily located and undone from the underside of the car where the top bolt is not quite as accessible, the top 13mm bolt is best accessed from under the bonnet at the rear of and below the vehicle battery it is easier to access this bolt with a 13mm socket.

To refit your new or used starter is a simple reversal of the removal procedure. After finally reconnecting the vehicle battery the starter fitting is complete. Finally expect to pay around £25 for a good second hand used unit from a Car Breakers Yard.

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Build a Storage Building: A Five Step Guide for Building a Brick Shed

To build a storage shed in your backyard takes planning and creativity. Most sheds are constructed from wood when built from scratch, others are assembled from shed kits and are generally constructed with plywood or metal. Some sheds, however, are built using brick because the owner wants to match the construction of the house or because the owner believes he is adding strength to the structure.

Perhaps one remembers the story of the Three Little Pigs and fears the big bad wolf blowing down his outdoor shed. Nevertheless, a brick shed will outlast a more traditional wooden shed if neither structure is maintained.

Look, if you maintain your shed then either construction material is just fine. For this reason and this reason alone, I only recommend building a shed in from brick if, and only if, your decision is aesthetic and not structural. Any well-built shed will last several lifetimes if properly maintained.

That being said here is a brief five-step guide for building a brick storage building or shed in your backyard.

Step 1

The first step in any construction project is to determine the location of the shed. Make sure you choose a location that is relatively flat, has good drainage, is not directly on any property line, is not too close to trees which may cause problems for your shed roof or foundation (remember trees have a large root system below the surface). Also make certain that your shed foundation is not interfering with any electrical, cable or water lines. Overlook any one of these and you’ll have a potentially costly problem on your hands.

One other thing to think about at this stage is to make absolutely certain that your shed design complies with local building codes and zoning ordinances. The best way to do this is to apply for a permit. In some cases, if you live in a planned community, you may need permission to build the shed from your Home Owner’s Association. Don’t make the mistake of not asking because the HOA has broad powers to make you comply with their decisions.

Step 2

Once all approvals and permits are obtained it is time to clean the area where your shed will be built. Remove any debris, roots, weeds, rocks, and other hindrances. Level the ground if necessary. Using a chalk line or stakes, draw an outline of the shed’s footprint on the ground.

Step 3

Now it is time to start digging. Your task is to create a foundation for your shed. Building a strong foundation determines the strength and stability of your shed and is a step that must not be taken lightly. Depending on where you live, you’ll need to dig to a depth that is just below the frost line. This will assure that your shed will not heave due to ground swells caused by expanding soil due to freezing. Your minimum depth for a solid foundation is eight inches and most areas require no more than thirty-six inches. It is best to check with your local building department to know the exact depth to dig. You can rent a small back hoe or trenching machine, or you can hire an experienced excavator to do this step for you. You want the bottom of your trench level all the way around.

The outside of the trench must be about one inch beyond the outline of your building and should be four to six inches wide. Now using 2×6 lumber and stakes, create a form extending above the level of the ground.

Step 4

It’s time to pour concrete for your foundation. Pour the concrete to a level of about two to three inches above ground level. Unless you are a martyr call your local concrete supplier and order a truck with the right amount of yardage to fill the hole. Tell the company the dimensions and they’ll tell you just what you need. Ask for advice about the mix needed for strength and permanence for your area. Make sure the top of the foundation is relatively level though it doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth. Leave the concrete to set. In about 24 hours remove the forms but don’t toss the material away. You can reuse it for door frames and other things like ceiling joists. Normally this is the time to call for your first inspection. Do so before you proceed.

Now you may want to pour a concrete slab for the shed floor. Again call your concrete supplier and tell him your dimensions. A 3 to 4 inch slab is sufficient for your purposes. You’ll also want to buy some rebar or wire mesh to add strength and stability to the slab.

Step 5

Now mark the foundation walls for rough door openings making sure you account for the finished size of the opening and go wide enough to accommodate that size. Also, if you are adding windows make sure you know where to leave openings for the rough opening as well.

Spread your bricks on the ground and set a level string around each wall of the shed. Mix a batch of mortar (rent a mortar mixer from your local home center) and apply a layer of mortar to the foundation to accommodate around 5 to 7 bricks. Lay bricks one at a time making sure they are level. Use the string as a guideline. Repeat all around the foundation wall. As you build layers repeat the same idea but place your bricks so they are centered over the space between the two bricks below. Repeat until you have reached the height of your building.

At the door and window openings you’ll need to place a header across the top of the opening so the bricks above will remain in place. You can use a thin steel header or a piece of 4×4 timber to act as a header. Don’t overlook this step.

The final step is to build your roof. This is a common shed building activity so I won’t go into that here. When you build a storage building from bricks you have to pay attention to the details of the construction process. Follow these steps and you’ll build a strong brick shed.

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Understanding the Risk of Concrete Dermatitis

One of the most common construction materials is concrete with more than a million workers in various occupations using it regularly. However, not many people are aware that exposure to wet concrete poses some risks. If you use concrete in your work or you supervise any work that makes use of concrete, it is a must to learn about its hazards, one of which is developing concrete dermatitis.

What is concrete or cement dermatitis?

This is a skin condition caused by contact with cement. The combination of the cement’s wetness and chemical abrasion and corrosion can lead to skin irritation. When people working with cement become sensitive to cement’s additives such as chromium salts then they could develop allergic dermatitis. Some of the symptoms of concrete dermatitis are redness, itching, blister formation, swelling, and scaling.

Who Is at Risk?

Cement is a basic ingredient in many building materials such as tile grout and plaster. It is also a binding agent used in making modern mortars and is also added in modern stucco or render to make it more durable. So, aside from construction laborers working with plain concrete, other workers or using cement-containing materials are also at risk of concrete dermatitis including those who do concrete finishes, who use precast concrete, truck drivers of ready-mix concrete, carpenters, cement block and brick cement layers, tile setters, plasterers and terrazzo workers. In addition, over exposure to cement dust is also hazardous because cement dust when mixed with sweat becomes very corrosive. Those at particular risk include cement plant laborers, cement drilling workers and disaster emergency units such as firefighters.

Why is Wet Cement Hazardous?

Portland cement, the most common cement type, consists of calcium oxide which turns into the highly alkaline calcium hydroxide when water is added to cement. On the pH scale, ph14 is the highest alkaline point and calcium hydroxide has a pH of 12-13, making it extremely damaging once it gets onto human skin which has a normal pH of 5.5 and is actually slightly acidic. That acidic layer of skin helps it repair damage and because alkalis counteract acid, prolonged skin exposure to strong alkaline substances such as in wet cement can cause severe skin damage.

First Aid Treatment

If fresh cement comes into contact with skin, rinse the skin with clean, cool water at once. Likewise, if cement gets into the eyes, flush with clean, cool water for about 15 minutes. Seek medical help if irritation does not subside.

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Advantages of Using Rolled Steel Joist Beams in Commercial Construction

When it comes to commercial construction projects, rolled steel joist (RSJ) beams are known for their superior quality, versatile support, and strength. Since the late 20th century, steel beams of this kind have safely and effectively been used in both commercial and industrial construction, and it is easy to understand why.

In modern times, RSJ beams have increased in popularity within the residential construction realm and can be seen being used in the reinforcement of decks, patios, and floors. Contractors enjoy using steel beams because they are durable, versatile, lightweight, and sturdy. Fabricating steel is easier than what it sounds as the material can be bent and manipulated with ease.

Due to the construction industry becoming more aware of utilising environmentally safe practices and materials, steel is always a number one choice for projects as it is considered a “green” material and does not emit greenhouse gases. RSJ beams can also be recycled an unlimited amount of times, which results in less waste material filling up landfills.

In comparison with other building materials like wood and concrete, steel beams are a far more cost effective option and offer a massive amount of benefits for the contractor, fabricator, and building owner.

Strong

As research has revealed, steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any building material in the construction industry. This means that steel is capable of bearing far more weight and stress without compromise than a beam that has the same mass but made from wood or concrete. Both residential and commercial builders opt to use RSJ beams versus other materials.

In fact, in areas where natural disasters are prevalent, buildings are often constructed with a steel framework because they are able to withstand Mother Nature at her worst when other materials cannot. What would you rather be living in during an earthquake or hurricane; a structure made from wood or one containing RSJ beams?

Flexible

You might not know it, but steel beams are insanely versatile. This material can be used and reused in a variety of ways and architectural designs. Due to steel being so flexible, beams can easily be bent, shaped, cut, and formed into many different lengths and dimensions. Because steel is so lightweight, framing a building is a much more basic process than using other materials.

In most cases, steel beams are of the highest quality material in the construction realm. However, a reputable company should be selected when choosing a contractor, as you want to be certain the beams have been put through a battery of tests to ensure their integrity.

Durable

Did you realize that in terms of durability, RSJ beams take the lead? Wood and concrete beam do not stand a chance when it comes to the tough composition of steel. Steel beams are fire retardant, cannot be damaged by termites, and require no chemical treatments. Additionally, when steel is galvanized, it will never succumb to rust.

Longevity

When it comes to withstanding the tests of time, steel is the answer. Many residential property owners opt to use steel beams in their decks and patios because the amount of weight applied to the structure can be handled by RSJ components. The load bearing design of the steel beams makes them virtually indestructible to constant leveraging forces.

Affordable

You might not think that a material like steel would be cost effective, but it is. In comparison with other popular building material like aluminium or titanium, steel has a cheaper price tag by a long shot. Due to steel being a better building material in numerous ways, it is the number one choice of building owners in terms of affordability and effectiveness.

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Introduction to Silk Test Architecture

Normal use of an application consists of a person manipulating a keyboard and mouse to initiate application operations. The person is said to be interacting with the GUI (Graphical User Interface). During Silk Test testing, Silk Test interacts with the GUI to submit operations to the application automatically.

Thus Silk Test can simulate the actions of a person who is exercising all the capabilities of an application and verifying the results of each operation. The simulated user (Silk test) is said to be driving the application. The application under test reacts to the simulated user exactly as it would react to a human rest. Silk Test consists of two distinct software components that execute in separate processes:

The Silk Test host software

The 4Test Agent software

Silk Test host software

The Silk Test host software is the program you use to develop, edit, compile, run and debug your 4Test scripts and test plans. This manual refers to the system that runs this program as the host machine or the Silk Test machine.

The Agent

The 4Test Agent is the software process that translates the commands in your 4Test scripts into GUI-specific commands. In order words, it is the Agent that actually drives and monitors the application you are testing. One Agent can run locally on the host machine. In a networked environment, any number of Agents can run on remote machines. This manual refers to the systems that run remote Agents as target machines. This manual refers to the systems that run remote Agents as target machines. In a client/server environment, Silk Test drives the client application by means of an Agent process running on each application’s machine. The application then drives the server just as it always does. Silk Test is also capable of driving the GUI belonging to a server or of directly driving a server database by running scripts that submit SQL statements to the database. These methods o directly manipulating the server application are intended to support testing in which the client application drives the server.