Occupy Wall Street (OWS) Movement

Hardly a day passes by without stories about the Occupy Wall Street Movement making headlines on TV, Internet and newspapers. Actually, what is OWS? Here is a write up about the Movement as adapted form Wikipedia.

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is a protest movement that began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district. OWS was initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters and has led toOccupy protests and movements around the world. The OWS protests are against social and economic inequality, greed, corruption and the undue influence of corporations on government—particularly from the financial services sector. Their slogan, We are the 99%, addresses the growing income inequality and wealth distribution in the U.S. between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population. To effect change OWS engages in "direct action" instead of petitioning authorities.

Origins

Occupy Wall Street has roots in the British student protests of 2010, Greece's and Spain's anti-austerity protests of the "indignados" (indignants), as well as theArab Spring protests. But the more immediate series of events which lead to the protest started with email conversations between Kalle Lasn, founder of the Canadian-based Adbusters Media Foundation and Micah White, Adbuster's senior editor.The two had the idea for an occupation of lower Manhattan in early June 2011. Lasn registered the OccupyWallSteet.org web address on June 9th. Early in June, Adbusters sent its subscribers an email saying that “America needs its own Tahrir,” and according to Micah White the idea "was spontaneously taken up by all the people of the world.” In a blog post on July 13 of 2011, Adbusters proposed a peaceful occupation of Wall Street to protest corporate influence on democracy, the lack of legal consequences for those who brought about the global crisis of monetary insolvency, and an increasing disparity in wealth. The protest was promoted with an image featuring a dancer atop Wall Street's iconicCharging Bull statue.

The series of events which culminated in the formation of the New York General Assembly (NYGA) began in June and July when a group called New Yorkers Against Budget Cuts (NYAB), began promoting a “People’s General Assembly” to “Oppose Cutbacks And Austerity Of Any Kind”. On August 2 NYAB met in Bowling Green Park. Activist, anarchist and anthropologist David Graeber and several of his associates also attended the NYAB meeting, but grew frustrated when they found out that the event was not a "general assembly" which rules by consensus created by group discussions. Rather, the event was intended to be merely a precursor to marching on Wall Street with a corpus of predetermined demands such as "An end to oppression and war!" In response, Graeber and his small group began their own general assembly, which eventually drew all the remaining attendees from the NYAB meeting and eventually developed into the New York General Assembly. The group began to hold weekly meetings to work out the issues and direction of the movement, such as whether or not to have a set of demands, the formation of working groups and whether or not to have leaders.  Graeber argues that the Occupy movement is based on the philosophy of anarchism. The internet groupAnonymous encouraged its readers to take part in the protests. Other groups began joining to assist in organization, including the U.S. Day of Rage, and the NYC General Assembly. The protest itself began on September 17; a Facebook page for the demonstrations began two days later on September 19 featuring a YouTube video of earlier events. By mid-October, Facebook listed 125 Occupy-related pages.

Protesters near the New York police department's headquarters (Photo from Wikipedia)

The original location of choice by the protesters was 1 Chase Plaza, the site of the "Charging Bull" sculpture. Police discovered this before the protest began and fenced off the location. NearbyZuccotti Park was then chosen. Since the park was private property police could not legally force protesters to leave without being requested to do so by the property owner. At a press conference held the same day the protests began, New York City mayor Michael Bloombergexplained, "people have a right to protest, and if they want to protest, we'll be happy to make sure they have locations to do it."

Because of its connection to the financial system, lower Manhattan has seen many riots and protests since the 1800s, and OWS has been compared to other historical protests in the United States. Writing for CNN, Sonia Katyal and Eduardo Peñalver said that "A straight line runs from the 1930s sit-down strikes in Flint, Michigan, to the 1960 lunch-counter sit-ins to the occupation of Alcatraz by Native American activists in 1969 to Occupy Wall Street. Occupations employ physical possession to communicate intense dissent, exhibited by a willingness to break the law and to suffer the -- occasionally violent -- consequences." Commentators have put OWS within the political tradition of other movements which made themselves known by occupation of public spaces, such as Coxey's Army in 1894, the Bonus Marchers in 1932, and the May Day protesters in 1971.

More immediate prototypes for OWS include the British student protests of 2010, Greece's and Spain's anti-austerity protests of the "indignados" (indignants), as well as the Arab Spring protests. These antecedents have in common with OWS a reliance on social media and electronic messaging to circumvent the authorities, as well as the feeling that financial institutions, corporations, and the political elite have been malfeasant in their behavior toward youth and the middle class. Occupy Wall Street, in turn, gave rise to the Occupy movement in the United States and around the world.

^Goals

Some journalists have criticized the protests saying it is difficult to discern a unified aim for the movement, while other commentators, such as Douglas Rushkoff, have said that although the movement is not in complete agreement on its message and goals, it does center on the problem that "investment bankers working on Wall Street [are] getting richer while things for most of the rest of us are getting tougher". According to Rushkoff, "... we are witnessing America's first true Internet-era movement, which -- unlike civil rights protests, labor marches, or even the Obama campaign -- does not take its cue from a charismatic leader, express itself in bumper-sticker-length goals and understand itself as having a particular endpoint".

Some protesters want, in part, more and better jobs, more equal distribution of income, bank reform, and a reduction of the influence of corporations on politics. Adbusters co-founder Kalle Lasn has compared the protests to the Situationists and the Protests of 1968 movements and addresses critics saying that while no one person can speak for the movement, he believes that the goal of the protests is economic justice, specifically, a "transaction tax" on international financial speculation, the reinstatement of the Glass-Stegall Act and the revocation of corporate personhood.

The General Assembly, the governing body of the OWS movement, has adopted a “Declaration of the Occupation of New York City,” which includes a list of grievances against corporations, and to many protesters a general statement is enough. However, saying, "‘Power concedes nothing without a demand' " others within the movement have favored a fairly concrete set of national policy proposals. One group has written an unofficial document, "The 99 Percent Declaration”, that calls for a national general assembly of representatives from all 435 congressional districts to gather on July 4, 2012, to assemble a list of grievances and solutions. OWS protesters preferring a looser set of goals have written another document, the Liberty Square Blueprint; an early version read: "Demands cannot reflect inevitable success. Demands imply condition, and we will never stop. Demands cannot reflect the time scale that we are working with." The demand for demands itself has been criticized by figures like Judith Butler and David Graeber, who argue that issuing demands is counterproductive for the Occupy movement, as this legitimizes the very structures the movement seeks to challenge.

On March 17th, Occupy leaders declared the six-month birthday from the moment their movement started with a bold Twitter message, “In our first 6 months we changed the national conversation. In the next 6 months we will change the world.”  The movement was mostly dormant during the winter months but avows renewed enthusiasm, larger demonstrations, and a general strike all leading into the 2012 election season.

 

Slogan/meme

"Occupy" protesters' slogan, We are the 99% first appeared on a flyer calling for OWS's second General Assembly in August 2011. The Pew Research Center's Paul Taylor called the slogan "arguably the most successful slogan since 'Hell no, we won't go,'" of Vietnam war era, and that the majority of Democrats, independents and Republicans see the income gap as causing friction. The Economist and Washington Post said CBO report released in October, 2011 confirmed the validity of the meme. The Post also said the slogan was formulated using earlier studies reaching conclusions similar to the CBO's report.

Source: Wikipedia

New Home Construction - What Makes Good Building Design?

Form versus function: which should take precedence in building design? The answer to this age-old question is clear to architect and interior designer Michele D'Amico. It's always a fine balance between exterior and interior, between aesthetics and practicality. But, ultimately, D'Amico believes that functionality is key.

"When designing a building, I always try to 'see inside,'" she says. "The building must work for actual living or working. The first lesson in architecture really is 'form follows function.' I often see wasted space." D'Amico is very particular about placement-of the building, rooms, windows and furniture-in space. "The energy of a design is important, and so I use feng shui to create good energy," she says. As an example, D'Amico says that a building's front entrance should form a strong, straight "line of energy." Instead, many Island entryways lead immediately to expansive picture windows or sliding glassdoors, which only dissipates the energy.

D'Amico's fascination with buildings began when she was just a toddler growing up in Bristol, Rhode Island. "I remember when I was three years old," she says, "going to the house that my father was building for our family and watching the floor being laid. It stayed with me”.

She graduated from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, with an architecturedegree in 1985. Initially she worked in the Washington, DC, area for two companies specializing in US Embassies and Consulates. Designing rooms within rooms and Marine Guard booths might not appeal to all architects, but D'Amico enjoyed the challenge of working on numerous (over 100 annually) different projects around the world.

She moved to Honolulu with her Hawai'i-born fiancé in 1988. She was happy with the move, but admits that "it took some getting used to." Twenty years ago, she says, "Honolulu was still more of a small town versus a small metropolitan city," which it has become today.
That said, the small-town vibe was familiar to her. "Where I grew up, everyone knew one another," she says. "Later, in DC, a small transient city, most of the people you know are people with whom you work. In Honolulu, it was more like my hometown, where you know people through school and family.

Today, Honolulu is a mixture of both, with mainland and multinational companies coming and attracting transplants at the executive and management levels."

When D'Amico arrived, times were good for architects. "Hawai'i's construction industry was booming while the east coast mainland construction and real estate markets were going into recession.

The Japanese market kept Hawai'i growing for at least 10 more years." In Honolulu, she worked for two large firms, AM Partners, where she specialized in retail design, and Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo, in their Interior Department. D'Amico established her company, d'Amico Design Group, LLC, in 1995.
D'Amico is not one to force her personal preferences on her clients. "I design to my clients' tastes," she says. "A design must reflect their style and vision. It is up to the designer to glean that from a client.

At the first meeting," she says, "I ask them how they envision the project and which colors they prefer. I tell them to tear pictures out of magazines or to flag pictures in books to convey what they like. Likewise, I do the same thing before our next meeting. Then we compare what we've both pulled from books and magazines. Architecture and interior design are visual endeavors. Thus, pictures best express what they're seeking."

In recent years, D'Amico finds an overuse of stucco and tile roofs on O'ahu. "It seems that everyone wants a Hawaiian theme," she says. "But many don't know what that means. Stucco is Mediterranean style. Or they like the Tommy Bahama look, but that was based on the Caribbean Islands. It's not real Hawaiian style, which has distinct characteristics down to the architecture."
D'Amico herself prefers genuine Hawaiian designs, such as the work of C.W. Dickey and simple plantation-style structures. One of her favorite buildings in Honolulu is the classic Honolulu Academy of Arts. As for new structures, she's impressed with the Loft at Waikiki, as its scale (six stories rather than highrise) matches its surroundings.

Her home addition projects require coordinating new and existing elements, which can be tricky. In one current design-build project, D'Amico's clients are renovating their recently acquired Hawai'i Kai fixer-upper home. "Two prior owners added onto the home with no overall vision," she says. "The house has tacked-on rooms and level changes, all haphazardly done. It reminds me of the Winchester Mystery House in California. I sat down with them and we took the whole home into consideration. Now, with an overall plan, we can proceed in phases."

In October, D'Amico will become president of ASID's Hawai'i Chapter. (Michele was president of ASID Hawaii in 2009.) "Unless you get involved at the leadership level," she says, "you cannot really understand what's involved to keep the chapter going-and to make it one of distinction. It's one thing to sit on the sideline or to be a Monday-morning quarterback. It's another to step up and get involved. It's not as easy as it looks.

After almost 25 years in the industry, D'Amico finds it deeply redeeming at the basic human level: helping people live in their ideal homes. "When I first came to Hawai'i," she says, "I joined Junior League of Honolulu. The year I joined, eight of us started an affiliate of the national nonprofit group Christmas in April (now known as Rebuilding Together). That year, we renovated seven homes in one day. The homeowners left their homes while the work was being done. Then, at the end of the day, they returned to see the transformation. To see their faces light up gives you a wonderful feeling. I experience the same type of feeling when a client sees a completed project."

Source: www.articlealley.com, http://www.damicogroup.com

 

General Information About Business Cards

General Information About Business Cards

By Adriana J. Noton

Business cards are small pieces of paper that contain business information about an individual or company. They are often shared during formal interactions between people and are convenient memory aids. Typically they include a name, company affiliation and logo, and contact information. Most companies use a simple text on a solid stock, while many may choose to add a visual design to their cards. There are many avid collectors of these cards. These individuals search for antique, celebrity, or unusual cards.

Generally these cards are printed on a form of card stock, though the method of printing, visuals, and cost will vary. Developments in digital and batch printing have made printing in full color a cost-effective option. A raised print effect can be added to a card in a process called thermography. Ones that are in full color may be printed on sheet-fed presses in the four-color printing technique. There is also the option of UV gloss coating. This may add to the overall design.

Some are made from plastic, specifically translucent, crystal clear, metallic, or white plastic. Other materials that may be used for construction: rubber, magnets, metal, wooden nickels, poker chips, and real wood. Using different materials is a way to grab the attention of potential clients.

There are printing shops that can mass-produce these products. They can even be printed at home, using a special card software or online program. Software usually allows individuals to customize the design, layout, and text of the card. The final product can be printed from a home printer, if card stock is available, or sent to a print shop.

Another option for getting these products is using a web-to-print application. There are several printing firms with websites that allow customers to choose and customize a design template, adding in logos, imagery and other features select their quantity, view pricing options, and request delivery. The company will produce and ship the finished product. Usually these companies also offer customized labels, notepads, pens, bags, t-shirts, letterheads, and other accessories.

These papers can act as advertising for the services provided by an individual or company. Some contain more than just contact information. A card may list the services available or a brief summary about the company or person. Because these products are used as a memory aid, it

is best when they are straightforward and detailed. These may be handed out during formal interactions, or placed within a business for clients to take and pass on.

A new form of business card is called the compact disc cards. These devices hold approximately 35 to 100 MB of data and may be square, oblong or round in shape, but approximately the size of a traditional card. The compact disc is designed to fit within a CD-ROM drive of a computer, and can hold a large amount of data, including presentations and portfolios.

Business cards are a way to share contact information and services with potential clients or business partners. The small pieces of paper can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are sometimes made from unconventional materials. Typically these products include, at the very

least, the name of the person, their company, and some form of contact information.

About the Author:

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Source: http://www.isnare.com

SEISMICITY

The seismicity or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time. Seismic waves are elastic waves that propagate in solid or fluid materials. They can be divided into body waves that travel through the interior of the materials; surface waves that travel along surfaces between materials; and normal modes, a form of standing waves.

Types of Seismic Waves:

Body waves

There are two types of body wave, P-waves and S-waves (both body waves). Pressure waves or Primary waves (P-waves), are longitudinal waves that involve compression and rarefaction (expansion) in the direction that the wave is traveling. P-waves are the fastest waves in solids and are therefore the first waves to appear on a seismogram. S-waves, also called shear or secondary waves, are transverse waves that involve motion perpendicular to the direction of propagation. S-waves appear later than P-waves on a Seismogram. Fluids cannot support this perpendicular motion, or shear, so S-waves only travel in solids. P-waves travel in both solids and fluids.

Surface waves

The two main kinds of surface wave are the Rayleigh wave, which has some compressional motion, and the Love Wave, which does not. Such waves can be theoretically explained in terms of interacting P- and/or S-waves. Surface waves travel more slowly than P-waves and S-waves, but because they are guided by the surface of the Earth (and their energy is thus trapped near the Earth's surface) they can be much larger in amplitude than body waves, and can be the largest signals seen in earthquake seismograms. They are particularly strongly excited when their source is close to the surface of the Earth, as in a shallow earthquake or explosion.

Normal modes

The above waves are traveling waves. Large earthquakes can also make the Earth "ring" like a bell. This ringing is a mixture of normal modes with discrete frequencies and periods of an hour or longer. Motion caused by a large earthquake can be observed for up to a month after the event. The first observations of normal modes were made in the 1960s as the advent of higher fidelity instruments coincided with two of the largest earthquakes of the 20th century – the 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake and the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake. Since then, the normal modes of the Earth have given us some of the strongest constraints on the deep structure of the Earth

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Reproduced from: www.wikipedia.org

Unique Gem Cutting Styles

Author: CA Real Estate

There are many different gem cutting styles that are common for showing
off the beauty and charm of precious stones but there are also other
styles that offer a truly unique look that stand out from the rest.

Learn about the different unique gem cutting styles that are quickly
becoming very popular in the world of precious gems.

Heart-Shaped Cut

A cute and beautiful shape for any precious stone, the heart-shaped cut
is one of the most popular unique designs around today. Most of the
heart shapes are very close to a round cut, which makes them sparkle
beautifully in the light.

Being the main symbol for love and devotion, the heart-shaped gems are
very popular for Valentine's Day and Anniversaries. When looking for a
heart-shaped cut, always look at the width to length ratio for stability
and brilliance since the 1 to 1 ratio is the one that holds more value.

Briolette Cut

A truly stunning gem cutting style for any precious stone, the briolette
cut is a pear-shaped cut with facets that encircle it up to the fine
tip. This is a truly antique style of cut that's found in many antique
pieces and yet still stunning for modern jewellery designs of today.

Marquise Cut

The marquise cut is also known as the navette cut, which is shaped like
an elongated oval with pointed tips. This is a great choice for smaller
diamonds as a solitaire or to compliment it with smaller stones in
jewellery designs. The delicate touch of the stone offers a beautiful
refraction of light to any piece.

Concave Cut

A modern cut that has only been around for the last twenty years, the
concave cut is a wonderfully unique choice for showing off any precious
stone. The facets are cut in a way to create more dimensions in the
piece, which then reflects even more light for a brilliant shine.

Fancy Cut

Fancy cuts are fun and unique gem cutting shapes that take on the form
of flowers, stars and more. They are ideal for creating one-of-a-kind
pieces that no one else would have while also creating an artistic piece
in almost any theme imaginable.

Fantasy Cut

These are the types of gem cutting styles that are truly unlike any
other. Usually specially designed for individual customers, fantasy cuts
are formed and mounted into unique shapes and arrangements that no one
else would ever have. Any stone can be chosen for a fantasy cut though
it's recommended to ask the gem cutting professional for the best
facet.

Before choosing one from the many gem cutting styles available today,
always consider the size and colour of the precious stone. This will
help you determine which style will perfectly enhance the stone's
natural beauty for the jewellery piece. Ask professional gem cutters for
advice since they will be able to check the quality and inner structure
for a proper assessment.
Learn more about custom jewelry design Unusual Engagement Rings
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/

Power Transformer

A transformer is a static device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field through the secondary winding. This varying magnetic field induces a varying electromotive force (EMF) or "voltage" in the secondary winding. This effect is called mutual induction.

If a load is connected to the secondary, an electric current will flow in the secondary winding and electrical energy will be transferred from the primary circuit through the transformer to the load. In an ideal transformer, the induced voltage in the secondary winding (V_s) is in proportion to the primary voltage (V_p), and is given by the ratio of the number of turns in the secondary (N_s) to the number of turns in the primary (N_p) as follows:

By appropriate selection of the ratio of turns, a transformer thus allows an alternating current (AC) voltage to be "stepped up" by making N_s greater than N_p, or "stepped down" by making N_s less than N_p.

In the vast majority of transformers, the windings are coils wound around a ferromagnetic core, air-core transformers being a notable exception.

Transformers range in size from a thumbnail-sized coupling transformer hidden inside a stage microphone to huge units weighing hundreds of tons used to interconnect portions of power grids. All operate with the same basic principles, although the range of designs is wide. While new technologies have eliminated the need for transformers in some electronic circuits, transformers are still found in nearly all electronic devices designed for household ("mains") voltage. Transformers are essential for high-voltage electric power transmission, which makes long-distance transmission economically practical.

Basic principles

The transformer is based on two principles: first, that an electric current can produce a magnetic field (electromagnetism), and, second that a changing magnetic field within a coil of wire induces a voltage across the ends of the coil (electromagnetic induction). Changing the current in the primary coil changes the magnetic flux that is developed. The changing magnetic flux induces a voltage in the secondary coil.

An ideal transformer

An ideal transformer is shown in the adjacent figure. Current passing through the primary coil creates a magnetic field. The primary and secondary coils are wrapped around a core of very high magnetic permeability, such as iron, so that most of the magnetic flux passes through both the primary and secondary coils.

Induction law

The voltage induced across the secondary coil may be calculated from Faraday's law of induction, which states that:

where V_s is the instantaneous voltage, N_s is the number of turns in the secondary coil and Φ is the magnetic flux through one turn of the coil. If the turns of the coil are oriented perpendicular to the magnetic field lines, the flux is the product of the magnetic flux density B and the area A through which it cuts. The area is constant, being equal to the cross-sectional area of the transformer core, whereas the magnetic field varies with time according to the excitation of the primary. Since the same magnetic flux passes through both the primary and secondary coils in an ideal transformer, the instantaneous voltage across the primary winding equals

Taking the ratio of the two equations for V_s and V_p gives the basic equation for stepping up or stepping down the voltage

N_p/N_s is known as the turns ratio, and is the primary functional characteristic of any transformer. In the case of step-up transformers, this may sometimes be stated as the reciprocal, N_s/N_p. Turns ratio is commonly expressed as an irreducible fraction or ratio: for example, a transformer with primary and secondary windings of, respectively, 100 and 150 turns is said to have a turns ratio of 2:3 rather than 0.667 or 100:150.

Ideal power equation

The ideal transformer as a circuit element

If the secondary coil is attached to a load that allows current to flow, electrical power is transmitted from the primary circuit to the secondary circuit. Ideally, the transformer is perfectly efficient; all the incoming energy is transformed from the primary circuit to the magnetic field and into the secondary circuit. If this condition is met, the incoming electric power must equal the outgoing power:

giving the ideal transformer equation

Transformers normally have high efficiency, so this formula is a reasonable approximation.

If the voltage is increased, then the current is decreased by the same factor. The impedance in one circuit is transformed by the square of the turns ratio. For example, if an impedance Z_s is attached across the terminals of the secondary coil, it appears to the primary circuit to have an impedance of (N_p/N_s)²Z_s. This relationship is reciprocal, so that the impedance Z_p of the primary circuit appears to the secondary to be (N_s/N_p)²Z_p.

Operation

The simplified description above neglects several practical factors, in particular the primary current required to establish a magnetic field in the core, and the contribution to the field due to current in the secondary circuit.

Models of an ideal transformer typically assume a core of negligible reluctance with two windings of zero resistance. When a voltage is applied to the primary winding, a small current flows, driving flux around the magnetic circuit of the core. The current required to create the flux is termed the magnetizing current; since the ideal core has been assumed to have near-zero reluctance, the magnetizing current is negligible, although still required to create the magnetic field.

The changing magnetic field induces an electromotive force (EMF) across each winding. Since the ideal windings have no impedance, they have no associated voltage drop, and so the voltages V_P and V_S measured at the terminals of the transformer, are equal to the corresponding EMFs. The primary EMF, acting as it does in opposition to the primary voltage, is sometimes termed the "back EMF". This is due to Lenz's law which states that the induction of EMF would always be such that it will oppose development of any such change in magnetic field.

This article was retrieved and changed from: http://www.wikipedia.org. All diagrams are the property of Wikipedia.org

PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS

INTRODUCTION

Control engineering has evolved over time. In the past humans were the main methods for controlling a system. More recently electricity has been used for control and early electrical control was based on relays. These relays allow power to be switched on and off without a mechanical switch. It is common to use relays to make simple logical control decisions. The development of low cost computer has brought the most recent revolution, the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The advent of the PLC began in the 1970s, and has become the most common choice for manufacturing controls.

PLCs have been gaining popularity on the factory floor and will probably remain predominant for some time to come. Most of this is because of the advantages they offer.

· Cost effective for controlling complex systems.

· Flexible and can be reapplied to control other systems quickly and easily.

· Computational abilities allow more sophisticated control.

· Trouble shooting aids make programming easier and reduce downtime.

· Reliable components make these likely to operate for years before failure.

Ladder Logic

Ladder logic is the main programming method used for PLCs. As mentioned before, ladder logic has been developed to mimic relay logic. The decision to use the relay logic diagrams was a strategic one. By selecting ladder logic as the main programming method, the amount of retraining needed for engineers and tradespeople was greatly reduced.

Modern control systems still include relays, but these are rarely used for logic. A relay is a simple device that uses a magnetic field to control a switch, as pictured in See Simple Relay Layouts and Schematics. When a voltage is applied to the input coil, the resulting current creates a magnetic field. The magnetic field pulls a metal switch (or reed) towards it and the contacts touch, closing the switch. The contact that closes when the coil is energized is called normally open. The normally closed contacts touch when the input coil is not energized. Relays are normally drawn in schematic form using a circle to represent the input coil. The output contacts are shown with two parallel lines. Normally open contacts are shown as two lines, and will be open (non-conducting) when the input is not energized. Normally closed contacts are shown with two lines with a diagonal line through them. When the input coil is not energized the normally closed contacts will be closed (conducting).  Read more...

Retrieved from: http://wikibooks.org

Your Annual Guide to Home Maintenance

Follow these helpful seasonal maintenance tips and keep any potential issues in your home at bay.

Spring
• It's planting season and this could be your first chance to get into your garden. You should consult a nursery first because what starts out as a small tree will grow! The height of a mature tree is the distance it should be planted from your home.
• Make sure your drainage is right. Grade your garden soil away from the home by at least a 50mm drop over the first metre. Don't let water flood anywhere near your home's exterior.
• If you have agricultural drains it's a good time to flush them. Just use a garden hose down the inspection pipe to get rid of any sediment.
• Dust and dirt will settle on window sills, so make sure drain holes are cleaned and window tracks are occasionally lubricated.
• Collect leaves from your gutters rather than hose them into storm water drains. Consider installing a leaf guard.
• Check waste pipes inside cupboards for leaks. A simple tighten by hand is enough. Don't use a spanner to tighten as you may crack the pipes. Replace any leaking tap washers but remember to turn off the mains water first. If you're unsure, contact a licensed plumber.
• If you have a pest control system for termites, contact the pest control company for an annual check. If they uncover any problems, it makes sense to follow their recommendations. Termites are not to be trifled with.
• When the clocks change for daylight saving, change your smoke alarm battery. Even though they are hard-wired into your home, a battery is required as a back-up.

Summer
• It's time to organise your end of season service on evaporative coolers. Regular servicing may extend the life of the unit, saving you a lot of money.
• Check with your manufacturer for their recommendations. Also, a cover for the winter will keep birds from nesting in the unit!
• If you have a coloured concrete or paved driveway, look at whether it needs resealing. These materials fade in the sun and keeping them in good condition maintains the value of your home.
• A lot of people have touch-up paints left from construction. Keep them out of harm's way in a cool, dry place. Stored correctly, they'll last for a couple of years at least.
• For brand new homes please don't stand on window sills while you fit curtains. They're not designed to bear that sort of weight.
• If you've noticed any leaks, take action straight away to minimize damage. 'Leave it until the winter rains and you'll be very sorry!
• Dust and dirt are a big factor over the drier months so don't forget to clean drain holes and lubricate window tracks.
• Outside ledges, vertical planes, mouldings and sills also need a good dusting.
• Rainfall is always an issue so be smart about using water around the home. It's not only good for our water storages, but good for your pocket. Remember, if you get a pool or spa for your deck, you need permission from the relevant authorities to fill it. Don't water the garden, even by hand, during the day. You'll lose most of the benefit through evaporation. Early morning or in the cool of the evening is by far the best time. If you make one New Year's Resolution to keep, commit to using water wisely.

Autumn
Leaves, leaves and more leaves. The trees turning golden may be a beautiful sight but when the leaves fall, they fill up gutters, go into stormwater pits and drains in your garage. Any external drains are at risk from leaves and other organic matter, particularly when the rain starts. They can cause blockages in pipes causing water to back up and do potentially a lot of damage inside your home.
• Autumn is a dormant period in the garden and it's a good time to look at re-doing the mulch on your garden beds.
• In early autumn, when the temperatures can still be quite mild, it's a good time to clean the ducts in your ducted heating system to get ready for the first chilly night. Consult your instruction manual for the frequency of service required. This is routine maintenance that can avoid nasty clouds of dust blowing into your home after a prolonged period of disuse. It's also a good idea to clean out your window tracks and ledges of dust.
• If you're moving in now, it's probably not the best time to be looking at your garden beds. The key is to make sure no water puddles next to the home. This can be achieved by grading the soil away from the home. Don't try to stockpile soil for the spring — weeds will grow in it. It's best to buy fresh topsoil from a nursery when you're ready to start planting.
• This is the time when you should install weather seals to external doors, to keep out draughts and water during the wetter months. Homes that were built under five star energy provisions will have these as standard features.
• If you've had light curtains up during the summer, swapping them for a heavier weight fabric, will give you a greater insulation benefit.

Winter
• Everyone hates doing work around the home in winter, so you'll be very sorry now if you haven't followed our tips for the other seasons. Winter brings its share of hazards and the last thing you want is a blocked pipe. It's a messy job to clear leaves and other matter, especially during winter rains.
• If you haven't serviced your heater you could find it is not as efficient as it could be, resulting in higher energy bills.
• All those weather seals now come into their own. Draughts are not only bad for your health, but your pocket as well, with all that lovely heat literally flowing out of your home. Make a quick check in your ceiling to see if any duct work has come loose or fallen.
• If you are using open fire places, always use a fireguard to protect your kids and stop embers popping out to scorch your floors. Any flames need your constant vigilance, especially around children.
• If you're moving into a home in winter and don't have your driveway finished, there is help to stop you dragging mud into your pristine new home. A couple of metres of crushed rock, sourced from your local nursery, makes an effectively and inexpensive temporary path.
• In the garden, check for weeds and keep lawns under control. Look for areas in the garden that seem "over wet". This could be because of a blocked pipe, sprinkler fittings that are leaking or just a low spot that may require an agricultural drain to be fitted.
• If you bring your washing indoors, make sure your dryer is adequately vented. Wipe down any condensation from the inside of windows or in your laundry. This is an issue with new homes in particular, where moisture is still coming out of the natural products that make up your home.

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About the Author: Find out about the latest home decorating trends & pick up some practical home design tips from the experts at Studio M.

Source: www.easyarticles.com

Controlling Shopping Urges and Avoiding Debt

Author: Nazima Golamaully

In this modern day and age where technology rules and being fashionable is cool, material things are often the basis for a person’s happiness and success in life. Sadly, not everybody is able to access such luxuries because of varying opportunities and inequality.

Money doesn’t grow on trees and people have to work hard in order to acquire it. When they get their money, they have to pay for utility bills, rent, necessities like food and water and if there’s any amount left, they could spend it on leisure.

However, a lot of people around the world are getting into debt because they fail to spend their money properly. Prioritizing shopping frenzies over paying your bills can lead to very dire consequences.

Even though it is generally known that people should settle bills concerning their “needs” over their “wants” first, a large number of people still give in to the temptation of purchasing unnecessary things that are not within their budget.

Perhaps the greatest tool that fans the flames of temptation is the credit card. It allows people to gain instant access to things they can’t afford and gives them the option to pay for the things they buy later. While it may sound like the best thing you’ve ever heard in your life, credit cards are like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Some people cannot control their urges to buy things simply because they have increased spending power. If you don’t have cash on you, you can always use your credit card and pay for whatever it is you bought later. The problem is that if you don’t pay on time, interest rates go higher and higher and you have to pay more than you originally would have hoped for.

Since a lot of material things are becoming a part of people’s daily lives, people want to spend more in order to keep up with the times.

Over the last century, people have invented things like cars, television sets and other gadgetry and machinery which have since brought convenience and entertainment into people’s lives.

More recently, the introduction of portable mp3 players which allow its owners to listen to music on the go have also become part of the latest fads. Both desktop and laptop computers have also been integrated in contemporary human life because of their ability to let people access information around the world via the internet.

With all these great products out in the market, who wouldn’t be tempted to buy them one by one?

The best way to acquire these items is by saving up a portion of your monthly salary and waiting until you have enough money to get whatever it is that you want.

In conclusion, the moral lesson here is that you shouldn’t jeopardize your family’s financial security by abusing your credit card and going on a shopping spree if you can’t afford it. Keep your emotions in check and don’t give in to sudden impulses when you shop. Having the option to pay for something later is a privilege – don’t abuse it.

Are you looking for more information regarding  shopping  ?  Visit http://www.xsellant.com today!

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com

Top 5 CV Tips

Author: cv4me consultancy

A CV is a document that must be regarded as your personal brochure, it is your chance to highlight all of the skills that make you an ideal contender for the post. The tips underneath are what you need to think genuinely about in order for you to be represented in the best light.

1. Show your special qualities

For every job you apply for you could be up against hundreds of other candidates so you need to make sure you stand out.  Businesses do not purely buy skills, the want results, you therefore have to illustrate how you can make their firm money or enhance it in some way. An important thing to note is that if your CV is too fancy or distracting it will not usually make it past HR and you then have no chance of the manager even seeing it. This is mainly due to the fact that it is seen as unprofessional and cheesy. When you think about it, it is not imperative to an employer that you can create  snazzy CVs that merely look nice, all they are interested in is that you can deliver on your job. Do not allow yourself to come across as amateurish here.

2. Pick a professional template

The reader of your CV will only spend about 30 seconds on your CV, so if it is messy and ambiguous, they will not have the patience to read more.  There are many places on the internet where you can find free examples of templates to guide you, just remember that the conservative approach is always the safest bet.

3. Target your industry when writing your CV

Many people neglect to recognise just how valuable it is to target your CV to your chosen field. Not doing this at all is suicide to your interview prospects, and doing it badly can result in many missed opportunities. This might appear to be time consuming and pointless, but the effort you apply on tailoring your CV at this step will do you justice in the long term. This can greatly boost your probability of securing an interview.  The more targeted your CV is, the more likely you will end up being the perfect  candidate for the job. If you have taken the time to address the key qualities desired from the advertisement, you will undoubtedly impress.

4. Have no spelling or grammatical mistakes

It is misleadingly simple to make mistakes in your CV and unbelievably difficult to undo the damage once an employer has gotten hold of it. As well as checking your spelling and grammar, make sure your employment dates match up and that you've provided the right phone number and email address. To help you further get a friend or relative to read over it and point out mistakes that you may not have noticed yourself. It is always good to have a second judgment here as you may not be reading your CV in an objective enough way to really make it work for you.

5. Keep your CV up-to-date

When you begin to write your CV it can be very difficult to recall all of the skills that you have garnered in your roles. To avoid missing important pieces of information out, revisit your CV every month adding anything of importance, and cutting any information that is no longer required. Another good idea would be to brainstorm qualities and skills that you have obtained from new roles and training.If you have recently left a job or done some training try to think about what these things have taught you and what you brought to the experience. If you are able to approach your CV in a more open minded manner then it will surely remain up-to-date and relevant.

Expert CV and Career Consultancy based in the UK. To see our website please click here: cv4me or read more free career advice here: cv4me Career Advice

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com

Troubleshooting your Business Strategies

Author: Kaye Z. Marks

A business strategy is a work in progress. It is not a one shot deal. It should continually evolve to suit the current business climate. At some point in time, you may have assessed if your strategy is actually doing what it is meant to do.

You probably asked this question because chances are that someone you hired had specifically developed this for you and prepared this strategy.

This is true for many business owners because either they do not have the time to actually sit down and write the strategy, or they are terrified when they hear the word business strategy. For some it involves a lot of analyzing using tools like SWOT analysis, environmental scanning, risk analysis, financial prospects, etc. Well, they are. However, as a business owner you cannot just rely on a specialist or a consultant to do the thinking for you. True, they are trained and paid to do business strategies. However, implementing the strategy is another thing.

More often than not, these specialists and consultants are not very familiar with the ins and outs of your business. Often they come in, interview a couple of management people, look at some graphs, refer to some statistics, and Voila! They have a business strategy for you. I do not have anything against consultants or specialists but these people come in to your business with a package. They are not coming in to really look into the business in order to develop a plan; they are bringing in a template. A template that they have been prescribing to many businesses long before you hired them. A little tweaking to factor in some business peculiarities and you have for yourself a business strategy.

A template, though not necessarily bad, can go wrong. This can be particularly if it does not suit the business. Perhaps the strategy is not achieving the desired results, or worse, a misguided strategy can put the entire business at risk. Regardless of the severity of your concern, it is up to you as the business owner to make the necessary changes along the way.

Take this for example. If you realized that your marketing collaterals such as your posters are not achieving their purpose, will you immediately order a recall? Why not? You can do this but the question is will it help you or the business? Pulling them out of circulation is not only a waste of time and resources. You have to consider the amount of money you put into poster printing and the amount of time it took you to distribute it and eventually the time you will spend pulling them down.

It is also dangerous because of perceptions that something has gone wrong with your business or your products and services. What is important is for you to find ways to express your concerns in a manner that will not adversely affect the reputation of your business. By acting cautiously and thoughtfully, you can address your concerns without alarming the general clientele and your team.

Admittedly, business strategy development is a difficult and challenging task because it is time-intensive and often involves a messy process. The result is never perfect. Far from it! However, as the business owner, you have the obligation to act decisively if you see that there is something wrong in your business strategy.

Kaye Z. Marks is an avid writer and follower of the developments in the posters or poster printing industry that benefit small to medium scale businesses.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1681308_64.html

About the Author: Kaye Z. Marks is an avid writer and follower of the developments in the online printing industry.

http://www.printplace.com

The Essence of Leadership

Author: Lee Coates

Leadership is not about title, the size of your office, leadership is not about your house, your friends or your family. Leadership has to do with the power within you.

Leadership is many different things, different components, it has many aspects - It's a mental thing - a thought processes     - It's habits - It's the ability to take action - It's a system, a series of stepe - It's a philosophy

It's about leaving the world a better place than you found it at the end of the day.

But is it possible for a person of average intelligence and modest means to ascend the throne, to be a champion, to be a leader, or further still to be one of the "Great Ones"?

The answer is YES!

Average people become leaders every day. And the great thing is it's learn-able.

I'd like to share with you, this quote from a Robin Sharma audio. Here's What Robin says.

"to quote Nike "If you consume oxygen you are an athlete", So here is the answer to your question about leadership. Everyone on the planet who has a pulse today can show leadership. Because leadership has nothing to do with your job description; leadership is not about the office you are in; leadership is not about your house.

Leadership is about using the authentic power within you and going out into the world every day and leave things better than you found them. I think it is what leaders do.

When I was growing up my father shared a Sanskrit saying with me that I have never forgot and its helped me as I've built my career and built my business  and built my life. My dad said, When you were born you cried, while the world celebrated. Son; experience life so that when you pass, the world will wail, while you celebrate in heaven.

And I think really that is the ultimate definition of leadership and that is no matter what your station is in life, whether you are a taxi driver or a street sweeper or a CEO or a poet or a wildly successful entrepreneur. Great leaders project a power to always deliver what I call "Abdov" -  Always be delivering outrageous value, always  leave every person they meet better than they found them, they want to leave every client that they touched better than the first time they found them, they want to add value, and be merchants of WOW.

And to me that is what leadership is all about."

To leave every person, every client, every friend and every situation better than you found them.

Leaders add value and as Robin Sharma says - They Are Merchants Of  - WOW!

That's what leaders; that's what true champions are all about.

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Lee Coates - internet marketing entrepreneur, coach and trainer. http://BecauseItsTheBestHomeBusiness.com is the place to go if you want to become an internet marketing expert. Do you have a product to sell, currently own a brick and mortar business or want to start your own new business? We can help. Come surf the internet marketing wave with us. We have the missing piece you are looking for.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/

Prepare For a Disaster

By Scott Bywater

Ever since I was a kid, I was a bit of a sports nut. I was into cricket, tennis, soccer and even made the Teal Cup Squad for the Northern Territory Football team before moving to Coffs Harbour
when I was about 15 years old.

Anyway, one of the things I have discovered is most of the great coaches walk into the game with more than one plan in their head. They have a plan to go by if their team gets off to a flying start. and a different plan if their team starts getting hammered early on in the game and it’s looking like a disaster.

They have already thought about every obstacle to their potential success: what will they do if a key player is injured during the game? How will they handle it if one of the opposition teams top players starts firing on all cylinders? But while conventional “positive thinking” tells us we should just keep staying positive no matter what, in reality the best approach is putting the positive power of negative preparation to work.

1. Starting out the year, we need to consider how we will handle things if we achieve our objectives early and get off to a flying start? How will we capitalize on this? How will we leverage our momentum to take advantage on everything? On the other hand, what will we do if things start out slowly? What’s your back up plan? What’s your second back up plan? And your
third?

For instance, if you are hedging on a particular marketing campaign getting you a bundle of new clients, what will you do if it doesn’t? You will need back-up strategies like:

-The web site lead generation strategy
-The fake cheque letter
-The joint venture program
-The special report program
-The “convert more customers program”
-The “get more referrals” program.

To name a few. In a nutshell, by using negative preparation, even if one thing doesn’t work, you’ve got plenty of proven back up plans to put in place to ensure you don’t end up getting crushed like so many other businesses.

2. Secondly, when you are selling in print, you need to take negative preparation into account. For instance, whenever I create a newspaper or magazine ad, direct mail piece, internet copy or a brochure, I write down all the reasons I can think of which would hold someone back from responding to my offer.

By identifying the “negatives” I can hit them between the eyes in the copy and cover every single objection which might hold somebody back. I go through an advanced way of doing this and the results you get from following this process will prove to you this approach is one of the most powerful selling strategies there is.

Apply the power of negative preparation and you’ll get far greater results than you ever thought possible, despite the economic uncertainty. And make sure you send me a note and tell me about the success you have as a result. Success is a matter of how fast you apply a strategy and start enjoying the results.

Make it happen – despite the obstacles in your path.

About the Author: Scott Bywater is a direct mail copywriter and the author of Cash-Flow Advertising. http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au

Source: http://www.isnare.com

 

Green Tips: How To Adjust Your Home To Be Energy Efficient

By Nicolas Couture

Because in today's society most people are for the health of our planet we have all heard stories and new terms like green house, constructeur de maison, green behavior, green home building. Hopefully you came here to learn more about it because we're just about to tell you everything you should know before contacting a home builder.

First you can make changes to your existing home to reduce your consumption of energy. If you need to know about green home renovation like novoclimat or renoclimat keep on reading!

Not everyone intends to build a new home with a contractor or home builder and those who don't can very well start by changing some of their home appliances for instance your shower head and sinks can be replaced for different ones that consume a lower flow of water. A great amount of water is wasted in North America (USA, Canada, Quebec and Montreal) and smarter home appliances will help you reduce their consumption. For example a new shower head can consume 3.78541178 liters of water per minute instead of an average of 13.2489412 liters that normal shower usually use.

Of course a green home must be built using green/recyclable materials. Most materials used in construction de maison is very polluting. When you build a green house your contracteur must confirm with you that he will be using recyclable/green materials that do not require long transportation. You must already know that the key to build a truly green house is to use materials bought from local places due to the fact that transportation of home building parts can cause a lot of pollution.

One can use CFL light bulbs to save energy in a new or existing house, it be a green house or a standard house built by a home builder and it will make you one of the environment aware people at the same time. LEDs can also be used to reduce your energy consumption by half. Energy Star compliant home appliances are a great choice because they conform to the Energy Star standards that have been put in place to save the consumption of energy in your home. You will find compliant televisions, computers, washing machines, microwaves, toaster and even more in most large home appliances stores.

On the same note cleaning clothes and regular home cleanup can  be put to the test using products advertised as being “green”. These are usually safer for your health as well as the environment's wellbeing. Some even make their own cleaning products at home and that is a real money saver. A combination of vinegar with baking soda that can be used as an efficient home cleaning product. But this is just an example, searching Google for “How To Make Green Cleaning Products” will give you more information on that subject.

I hope this information helped you and when in doubt, Google it, and I will be pleased to answer any of your questions by email!

Have a nice green ride!

About the Author: Nicolas Couture is the marketing director of http://www.contracteurmaison.com and writes about home building, ecology and new eco-friendly tendencies for Contracteur Maison in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

 

Your Positive Thoughts and Acts of Influence How to Maintain Your Commitment

 

Author: Paul Lucius Brooks

Maintaining your commitment to your positive thoughts and acts of influence presents many challenges and obstacles.  You may experience some failures (though not permanent) in your journey.  It is very difficult at times to hold steadfast to your commitment.  Of course achieving anything worthwhile will always have some degree of difficulty.  It is my belief and my experience that commitment is paramount to ultimately achieving your desired virtuous objectives.  How do you constantly maintain your commitment?  There are two main ingredients.  Initially you must define what commitment means to you, and then you will be able to move forward.

What is your personal definition of commitment?  You need to have a crystal clear concept of commitment means to you.  I have several thought provoking questions that may assist you in defining your concept.  Is it your pledge or promise to a noble cause?  Can it be your dedication and devotion to your positive goals?  Is it your loyalty to achieving your forward progress?  Can it be your strength of purpose to your ultimate success?  Your view of commitment should be closely related to the aforementioned or a combination thereof.

For illustrative purposes, a figurative great example of what commitment can be as illustrated by author and publisher Bennett Cerf.  It is a story titled “The Chicken and the Pig Go to Breakfast”.  The story is about a chicken and a pig  participating in breakfast.  The chicken was only involved in breakfast, because supplied the egg.  The pig was totally committed to breakfast because it provided the bacon.  For more details and information concerning this fable go to Wikipedia and reference “The Chicken and the Pig” fable.  With the preceding being stated, are you being involved in your goals or are you completed devoted?

Your degree of belief (conviction) in your progressive thinking and noble actions of influence can greatly aid you in maintaining your commitment.  The higher your belief level, the easier it is to maintain your commitment.  The opposite is also true.  The lower belief level, the more difficult it is to maintain your dedication.  In other words “You gotta really believe”.

Your zeal (enthusiasm) is another key factor in helping you maintain your devotion.  Constantly being excited about you achieving your goals, fuels the fire burning deep inside of you.  It should make you feel good all over your body about your impending success.  The higher your zest level the easier it is to maintain your devotion to your positive cause.  The opposite is also true.

In summary maintaining your commitment can be extremely difficult.  You need to define what it means to you, in order to proceed forward.  Are you merely involved in your super endeavors?  Or are you totally committed?  Your belief and zeal levels can tremendously assist you in maintaining your strength of purpose.  If you benefited from this article, pass it on to someone you care about, or share it with someone you know that can also benefit from it. 

Article Source: www.articlealley.com

About the Author:

Paul is a native of Buffalo, New York.  He is a graduate of Niagara University, Class of 1975.  Paul is the founder and CEO of Entrepreneur Marketing 3.0, an internet direct sales marketing company.  Paul has over 35 years of sales, marketing, and customer service.  He is a proud single parent of two young sons.  For more info go to http://entrepreneur2day.com  You can also follow Paul on Twitter.