Archive for November, 2009
November 10, 2009 at 9:13 am · Filed under House Of Videos
At least a some researchers believe that Bees use sound especially during swarming to aid in their flight? Could this be possible? One online think tank believes it is and it has been debated and reasoned that the bees are perhaps much more highly evolved than we ever thought possible.
Now then all these swarming insects seem to have something else in common. A double set of wings. One set could be bouncing sound waves or is able to cause a rippling affect on the other to further enhance the sound waves. Like an acoustic transducer on a taunt film, for an insect to do this considering there cellophane type wing structure would not surprise me much although it is one of the coolest things going in nature you have to admit. Vibrational energy use seems to be a standard feature in nearly all complex life on Earth to some degree. It stands to reason that it would find a way into the aerodynamics of swarming insects.
If you ever watch a group of hornets manicure a little symmetrical flowered bush it is truly amazing the accuracy and precision they use in tasking and the sound they make could be the reason that they work in teams as they get an additional cooperative advantage in doing so, as you suspect the Locusts do in their swarms. You have me believing in it too.
Now then hornets are heavy little buggers considering their plump body and they have extremely powerful flying capabilities and the maneuverability, agility and stability is impressive indeed. Perhaps they are more adapted. And look at the Bumble bee too which I do not know but assume it does not swarm but it buzzes as it flies. Does it get an enhancement from the buzzing? If you have ever listened to an insect fly by your ear many of them buzz, do they all use the same abilities a little, but in a swarm they turn it up a notch and we get a piling affect like a giant amplifier and speaker? One think tanker stated; “It would be helpful for people to be able to limit their ability to swarm, whether here in the US or anywhere in the world.”
Or it might be very cool to allow beekeepers moving bees somewhere else to use this advantage in transport or assist the bees in moving further faster, with fewer fatalities along the way by enhancing their natural sound waves. Either way this whole thing is rather fascinating indeed don’t you think? Perhaps you will consider this in 2006.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
November 10, 2009 at 5:41 am · Filed under Media
A web site dedicated to the writings of the sea, ships and all those that sail on them? It sounds strange as who knows what the Merchant Navy is or what those at sea actually do all day, those who work in the Industry that is. Isn’t the Merchant Navy something to do with fishing or fighting? What is interesting about that? “Get a real job”, some would say and others would ask “and so why haven’t you got a sun tan”. So why would anybody be interested in a web site filled with things that nobody is interested in - beats me.
If one would look through the endless Marine and Nautical webs sites available or if one was to go to a bookshop and look at the available literature on the subject this is what you might find. Ten books on the “Titanic”, dozens of “how to sail around the world in a plastic boat with a sail” DIY books and a couple on “when I was shipwrecked or and attacked by pirates” biographies. This is all good stuff and I must admit to do with the sea and ships, but oh so very long ago! The Merchant Navy of today is not about sails and pirates, it is not about sinking ships and unqualified people sailing the world for adventure, it is not about scurvy and cannibals in foreign lands and it is definitely not about fishing and catching the nearest ferry to France!
Merchant Navy really started to be recognized as early as the Fifteenth Century. This was when hard men in little boats, battled the oceans in the name of exploration. “Yes, dear, I will be back in ten years or so, be good”, would be heard throughout the land. From these times the Merchant Fleet grew into the heart of the British Empire, bringing back all that Tea from China, the spices from the Orient, the fruits from Morocco and the gold from everywhere. Sailing ships became the heart of the spider web that connected Britain to its colonies and outlying Islands. Heroic men set forth to bring back to the British people news and exotic goods that had become so much in demand.
Last Century sailing ships became steam ships and steam ships became fuel oil burning ships. Britain became in the middle of the last century the largest shipbuilder in the world with well over 70% of the ships being built in places like Newcastle, on the Clyde, in London and other famous Maritime Ports and Harbors of the UK. Britain also had the largest Maritime Fleet in the world and dominated Trade everywhere with its powerful supply of home built ships and rufty tufty seafarers. Yes, not long ago Britain was dependent on a massive fleet of ships importing and exporting goods and keeping the Empire together. During these times families all knew what the Merchant Navy was either through having family members at sea or through working in the support Industries of Shipbuilding, Insurance, Imports/Exports, Dockyards, Stevedores amongst many other occupations in the Maritime World!
Times change though! Thirty or so years ago the British Merchant Fleet size started to drop and the shipbuilding Industry started to wither away. Countries like Japan and Korea started building ships using cheaper labor and the cost of building a ship in the UK became prohibitive. Shipyards closed and workers were laid off in their thousands and these workers drifted into other occupations if they could or joined the long queues at the unemployment center. The fleet size reduced in their hundreds as companies either moved their ships to other flags (different countries for cheaper tax incentives) or sold off their fleets to foreign companies. The remaining British ships and the foreign ships sold laid off seafarers by the thousands and employed in their place cheaper crews from such places as India and China.
The British Merchant Navy dropped in size at such a rapid pace that it went from world dominance to nothing in a matter of a couple of years. The significance of the Merchant Fleet in the eyes of the public disappeared overnight and became an unknown quantity to the outside world.
Today things are improving. Recent Tax incentives by the British Government have caused a turn around and certain shipping companies have started to increase their fleet size under the British Flag and other companies have switched their ships operate in the UK. London as the center of Maritime Affairs managed to retain the title of “Marine Capital of the World” throughout the troubled times and still to this day stands proud above all that represents the Marine Industry.
London with its hundreds of Marine Insurance Firms, Brokerage Companies, Lawyers, Import/Export Houses and Ship Business and Consultants (amongst many other support arenas) brings in over one billion pounds per annum to the UK economy? That is London alone and does not include all the other companies and offices situated around the Islands. Furthermore, it also makes no recognition for the 60,000 British seafarers that are still out there plying there trade across the many oceans, nor for the Nautical Schools that still operate in Glasgow, Southampton and Newcastle to name only the major ones. It also does not include those fleets that are registered and operated out of British territories, like Gibraltar and it certainly does not take into account those seafarers that work in the Merchant Navy but don’t subscribe to a Union.
In basic terms the Merchant Navy could be described as any commercially operated waterborne vessel. So any vessel that makes money is a part of the Merchant Fleet. This would include for example: Research Vessels, Ferries, Fishing Boats, Oil Tankers, Passenger Ships, Chemical Tankers, Training Vessels, Hospital Ships, Diving Support Vessels, Anchor Handlers and Tugs to name but a few! It could though be said that the Merchant Navy is anything on the water that is not used to fight with. Or anything on the water that does not have a gun! But there is a crossover point and it is easier to use the Commercial explanation above and to include any ‘pleasure craft’ into the statement.
Merchant Vessels go with Imports and Exports. Trade being their primary purpose and 95% of cargoes shipped around the world is by Merchant Vessels. Not, may I say by aircraft which is often a preconception that those ashore seem to have. Cargo planes carry either very small items, or very expensive items that are needed in a hurry. A plane could not carry Oil around the world and it certainly could not carry toxic and dangerous Chemicals. Fruit is carried in ships as are vegetables and grain to name but a few! Ships carry cargo; planes carry valuable items and cost too much for general items to become viable economically. If oranges where brought in by plane they would cost well over five pounds each at a minimum, I leave that subject to rest in peace!
At home in the UK have a look around your house and think about where the items you see come from! That television in the corner, does it have Sony written on it? The Persian Carpet that decorates your sitting room I am sure was not made in the UK. The children’s toys with “made in Taiwan”, certainly do not come from a UK factory and the tea you are drinking most likely comes from India! What about the Japanese car in the garage and the rice in the bucket in the kitchen? If you were then to go a bit further and look at the wood supporting your roof you may find that it was shipped in from Finland. The gas that heats your water is shipped in from North Sea Oil Wells or from Africa and the fancy gravel that adorns your path came from Spain or France. And by no means, were any of these goods or items shipped in to Britain by an airplane! Ships brought all of these goods to your supermarket shelves, for you to enjoy in your home!
As seafarers are not fighting (which seems a common misconception) and we don’t play cards all day let us clearly state that the average seafarer suffers from overwork and stress. Stress built up over the time he spends on the ship due to the high volume of work and the responsibility that is placed on his shoulders. I will leave it at that. It would take a whole volume to describe the jobs and routines that seafarers in their respective ranks are responsible for and I suggest that you read alternative literature (if you can find any) or join up! Seafarers in short have too much to do at sea and suffer as a result of it!
The Merchant Navy today is improving in stature and in size in the UK. Slowly and with time it may grow once again to be a recognizable force and understood and respected by the general population. Long gone have the times when a Captain was a respected figure in the community but maybe he will one day be able to lift his head high a not hide under the lie of being “a travelling salesman”. One day Marine Engineers will be come respected as extremely qualified experts and not classified on the same level as a car mechanic straight out of school. Maybe one day everybody will realize that being at sea does not mean a “wife in every port” and that often nowadays seafarers no longer manage to leave the ship in their time onboard. Maybe one day seafarers will be able to go ashore and tell people what they do without having a blank response or a daft reply like “oh, erm you fish?”, or “that’s good, you do a good job protecting out shores”.
The reason for setting up a web site for the written word of the sea may now be a bit more logical to the “landlubber”. There is in fact a whole world out there that remains unknown to all. An extremely diverse and interesting world filled with cultural shock and intrigue and through the web site it is hoped that all readers will gain massive insight and knowledge into this world. The Merchant Navy and those that sail on the ship deserve far more recognition and respect than they get to date. So maybe through this web site all will change and soon Officers and Crews of the many Vessels that ply their trades will be able to lift their heads high and shout “we are in the Merchant Navy”. And all those that hear will understand and respect those persons that are part of what was once the greatest Industry that Britain can lay claim to.
About The Author
Author and Webmaster of Seamania. As a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy he has sailed the world for fifteen years. Now living in Taiwan he writes about cultures across the globe and life as he sees it.
November 9, 2009 at 1:09 pm · Filed under Shopping Parlor
Freezers are a shrewd & cost-saving acquisition to your domestic commodities, as they permit you to pay for food when unit prices are low and stockpile them to be eaten when needed. Freezers also let you to sustain the taste & the goodness of fresh food for a substantially longer period of time, therefore resulting in the advancement of more nutritious, improved eating way of life.
Today, there are a huge number of options to pick from when obtaining a freezer, & which specific freezer is the most appropriate for your needs is of course based on specifically how you intend using it. This guide will offer you advice when selecting the freezer that is the best for your explicit needs and your kitchen’s space.
Today’s freezers come in 3 fundamental styles - these are: upright, chest, or the fridge freezer arrangement. The type of freezer you want will depend significantly on the capacity you are requiring. Generally chest freezers are acquired for freezing much larger products & foods that don’t have to be regularly accessed. Their horizontal, top-lid construction makes them suitable for putting in basements or garages, where space is not a massive concern. A chest freezer is often also particularly more efficient to run that that of uprights. Though, an upright freezer is a much superior option when it comes to small rooms, & also permits you easier access to the products inside, without the need for digging that you possibly will come across with a chest freezer. American fridge freezers are another option, & are becoming more and more in style, particularly in homes without space for a stand-alone machine. The American fridge freezer also presents a greater level of ease, which permits frozen products to be stockpiled in the kitchen itself, where they will be used. The capacity of these units, though, is really limited.
Freezers at present have pre-installed thermostats to make sure that the food is kept at an optimum temperature. Nearly all freezers produced currently are frost free, meaning you do not have to carry out the lengthy and messy task of thawing the freezer regularly, which is necessary for older products. Both chest freezers and upright products have shelves & baskets which generally can be configured in many different ways to let weighty objects to be kept level with smaller items. Baskets traditionally are integrated in chest freezers in order to avoid more frequently used items from moving to the bottom of the chest where they may well be much trickier to get to. However, be sure to think about your exact needs when examining the freezer’s shelf & basket choices.
More and more frequently homeowners & renters are buying fridge freezers, because of their space-saving benefits & more dynamic and pleasing style options. Providing a some what bigger storage size than the icebox of traditional refrigerators, the fridge freezer can deliver significant storage capacity, particularly if a side-by-side model is picked. Quite a few fridge freezers also include exchangeable door panels, allowing you to customise the appearance of your fridge freezer with the purpose that it merges suitably with your cabinets & other elements.
All freezers are carefully tested for their energy use, with a grade of A being most efficient. Standardised testing, checked by Testing Standards, is carried out by each company. What’s more also look for the estimated running costs that may be offered by the manufacturer or merchant. Find a huge array of electrical products such as; fridge freezers, electric cookers and gas cookers from leading brands online.
Installing a freezer into your flat may possibly result in substantial savings, both when it comes to time and money. Using these easy guidelines will help you select the freezer that’s ideal for your precise demands.
November 2, 2009 at 8:41 am · Filed under Insurance Programs
What is a car insurance? What will an auto insurance cover?
Auto insurance companies cover you and your passengers in the event of an accident. But it is up to you to decide the level of cover you will get.
Will the damages to your property be covered by the company? Will all the passengers be covered or only your family? What if your daughter was driving your car?
What questions should you ask your auto insurance company when it comes to auto insurance? This article help you choose between the various insurance policies.
Types of auto insurance
Liability insurance, or third party insurance.
This is general the lowest form of insurance offered by an auto insurance company. This is the basic insurance, if you are involved in an accident, and it is proven to be your fault, the auto insurance company will pay damages to the other party.
The cover offered by the auto insurance company is usually set beforehand. These are the maximum amount the auto insurance company will pay in case of accident
For example the agent will agree on a $10000 coverage per person, (bodily injury) and/or $40000 coverage in bodily injury and/or $10000 in property damage per accident
You need to confirm with your auto insurance company what they will cover and what are the limits.
You might be offered a very low premium by some auto insurance company only to realize that your cover is minimal and unrealistic.
Collision and comprehensive coverage, comprehensive insurance and full comprehensive insurance
An auto insurance company will also offer you a comprehensive insurance, as the name indicates, you will be comprehensively covered.
In simple terms it means that if you are responsible for a collision the insurance company will pay for the repair of the vehicle.
But it is not so simple, an auto insurance company will almost always have the final say on what amount will be paid out, so if it is cheaper to give you market value for the car, then they will.
You might think that your car is worth $1000.00 but the real market value might be $500.00. This is not an uncommon scenario. So if the repair of your car are more than $500.00 then the auto insurance company will simply pay the book value of the car.
You must make sure that the insurance company is not in control of the market value of the car, normally organisations like the AA will give an impartial market value.
As with the third party insurance, the auto insurance company will almost certainly limit the amount that will be paid out, but in general terms, a comprehensive insurance will have higher limits.
Recreation Vehicle
A recreation vehicle needs its own insurance, a Recreation vehicle insurance, (http://www.insurance-owl.com/other/car_rec.php), is not the same as auto insurance.
You should not assume that because your car is comprehensively insured, so is your recreation vehicle.
Other Types of auto insurance
Medical (MedPay), Persona Injury protection (PIP) and no fault cover
This insurance will cover you and your passengers medical expenses in the event of a collision.
The no fault cover means that the auto insurance company will pay regardless of who is at fault. This give you the piece of mind that, at the very least, your family and friends are covered.
PIP is often a minimum requirement in some countries or states, ask your auto insurance company what the requirements are.
Uninsured/Underinsured motorists’ coverage
This cover, (also sometimes a minimum requirement in some states), will cover you if the person at fault is not insured or is underinsured.
You must ask your auto insurance company what you will be charged in case of such a situation. Normally the auto insurance company should not charge you some extra premiums.
Rental reimbursement, towing and labour
Those ‘extras’ often given with a comprehensive insurance is often use by auto insurance companies as specials.
So in case your car is damaged the auto insurance company will pay for rental costs, (sometimes only for a few days).
The auto insurance company might also offer to pay for the towing of your vehicle, (not always included).
As always you should ask your auto insurance company what is included in the cover.
The legal requirements.
Most states, and most countries will require a certain level of cover, from full comprehensive car insurance to third party auto insurance.
In most cases it is up to you, the driver, to ensure that your auto insurance company offers you the minimum required. In most cases the insurance company, (the auto insurance company), is under no obligation to instruct you of the requirements.
But of course, a good auto insurance company will, (should?), try its outmost to advise you on the best deal for you.
Find out more about Auto Insurance company, (http://www.insurance-owl.com/other/car_co.php), on our website.
Insurance Owl gives simple, clear information about insurance.
Everything, ranging from health insurance to indemnity claims, including Auto, Travel and life insurance.
November 2, 2009 at 1:41 am · Filed under University of Networking
Every day, both dmoestic and corporate users of the internet receive considerable amounts of spam e-mail. They are not only annoying, but sometimes you can miss an important e-mail or newsletter simply because you lose it among the great number of e-mails that flood out your Inbox. Often you’ll find that important people neglect to read your e-mail, because busy people like them hardly have the time and patience to browse through the huge quantities of spam mail they receive.
One solution to this problem is a filter or a free spam blocker. Many companies have designed filters for their customers. Many e-mail servers, especially the renowned ones that have a reputation to protect, have their own free spam blocker. There are several types of programs that can help you stop spam, including:
- the ones that are offered when you create a new e-mail address. Every company that provides e-mail service has a spam filter, including those that offer free accounts like Hotmail, Yahoo!, Gmail and so forth.
- there are also standalone programs that go through your mail folders regularly and do their best to separate valid e-mail from spam and unwanted mail. The main disadvantage with these free spam blockers is the fact that, when they do their checks, they use quite a large percentage of your computer’s resources and sometimes also of your bandwidth. Before installing this kind of free spam blocker, you’ll need to decide if this is okay with you.
- other types of free spam blockers are the ones that work as plug-ins to other programs like e-mail clients. The disadvantage with this kind of approach is that you need to download all your mail anyway, before the plug-in can do its stuff.
When you decide to use a filter, you must be sure that you update it or install new versions regularly, because marketing researchers working for spammres are continuously developing new ways of ‘fooling’ the filters. Filter makers must keep up by improving their software accordingly.
A free spam blocker works by looking for trigger words or phrases inside the text of the e-mails, and categorizing e-mails on that basis. Nowadays, there are special programs being created that are designed to pass spam through free spam blockers by re-arranging words or using a different language style in the e-mails. This is an unfair marketing strategy, of course, but if you want to be protected against it, you must always have an up-to-date version of your free spam blocker program.
Specialists recommend that you should review your needs and see what kind of filter suits you best. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. You must make up your mind whether you want to use the default filter on the e-mail server, or if you want to download all your mail before scanning them, or if you are willing to share your bandwidth with a standalone application. The best way is of course, if you can blend all the programs in one, but that’s not always practicable. Still, it is advisable that you should not remain satisfied with the free spam blocker that your e-mail server provides, because you will probably continue to receive unwanted mail in spite of it. Using a plugin in addition to server-side filters is viewed by many experts as the most effective way of getting rid of spam, considering the trivial effort it takes to set up.
Matt Garrett www.Free-Spam-Blockers.Com
www.Spam-Filters.net
