19 Oct 09 Software
Fishermen are familiar with tangled lines. They may not happen when they are actually fishing, but take a length of line and store it out of sight, give it a little time and it seems magically to get itself into a mess.
Just like the fisherman, Software has an incredible habit of doing the same. It starts out being carefully designed and nurtured, with everything neatly in its place and catalogued with the changes made to each file. If it is lucky, the software may arrive at the end of the development phase untangled, but all too often it slides down the slippery slope to entanglement before it ever gets there.
Let me be nice, and suggest that we have arrived at the post development stage relatively unscathed. At this point the erudite first team are itching to be off to pastures new, leaving a new group of people to look after it. I have yet to be involved in a handover that was truly effective, because the first team have forgotten the history that has brought them to this point in the development, and they usually struggle to impart the detailed knowledge that is essential to maintain the code.You need to find better scripts and softwarefore your website or PC
Time passes, and with it designers come and go, taking with them what little knowledge they have learned. It is not surprising that the longer the product is alive then the more fragile it becomes, as successive intellects shoehorn in new features, and not fully understanding the code that is there, write code to make the product work rather than making the new code fit like an old glove.
With this in mind, the task that I have undertaken this week is to help people to understand some code that is poor condition. The knowledge and history is intrinsically embedded in the code and it is important that any re-work doesn’t cause it to deteriorate.
You can preserve the identity of your code by teasing out self-contained unit in much the same way that you would with your Fisherman’s tangle. It does need patience, and you do need to talk to enough people to ensure that you understand what may be self-contained and what may not. As you tease the code out, you must continually update your decisions about what belongs in a unit and what doesnt.
Don’t tackle more than one self-contained software unit at a time, tease out everything that seems related, and then think awhile. You will find that your view on what belongs and what doesn’t will change as you come to understand it more.
Don’t be frightened to throw the odd bit of tangle back into the man mass if it doesn’t fit, and by teasing away module after module will eventually become exposed.
As you get one module isolated, take steps to make sure that you haven’t damaged the integrity of the code overall, before you dive in and tease out the next one. Sorting out software Tangles can be fun, and quite a challenge, but at the end of it you will have some code that makes more sense to you and a lot of others.
19 Oct 09 Suzanne Somers’ Get Skinny on Fabulous Food
If you are trying to lose weight, you may be trying to find a great diet that will really help you out. However, it can be really hard to decide on the diet that will really work for you, with so many out there for you to choose from. There are a variety of great books out there on weight loss as well that have been turned into diet plans, and one of those was Suzanne Somers’ Get Skinny on Fabulous Food. Not sure that this is a great book or a great diet plan? Well, let’s do a bit more research and find out all about this diet and whether or not it is a great choice for you and your weight loss needs.
Overview of the Diet
Basically this is a book and a diet that was written and developed by Suzanne Somers and it is developed around the premise that you can actually eat anything and lose the weight you want to. However, it does stress that you have to eat in certain combinations if you want to lose weight. The author points out that she thinks that it is certain combinations of food that make people fat, so she shows how to combine foods in certain ways that are to help you lose weight.
Who Does it Work Best For?
For people who have no will power at all and those who really want to eat all the foods they love, this is a diet that they may want to try. If you don’t want to be left hungry all the time feeling deprived because you can only eat protein or vegetables, this is the diet that offers something different.
A Few Pros and Cons
- Pro #1 – Eat Just About What You Want – The main pro that most people find with this diet is that they can finally eat the foods that they want to eat instead of dealing with diets that totally limit them in foods.
- Pro #2 – Recipes Included – Another pro of this diet and book is that there are quite a few recipes that are included in the book, so you do have an idea where to start. However, once you go through the recipes, you may find yourself a bit lost.
- Pro #3 – Don’t Count Points or Calories – You’ll also find that you will never have to count any points or any calories when you are on this diet. All you have to do is make sure that you eat certain foods together and that you avoid eating foods together tha may cause you problems.
- Con #1 – The Author Has No Nutrition Credits – One of the main cons of this diet plan is that the creator, Suzanne Somers really does not have any nutrition credits as well. The only thing she has done in the past is appear in an infomercial for a special exerciser for thighs. So, all that she offers in her book is not based on great nutrition credentials.
- Con #2 – Silly Claims – Another con of this diet and book is that some of the claims are just silly. The author advises people not to drink any water with their meal, stating that the digestive juices get diluted and you won’t be able to lose weight as you should. There is absolutely no merit found for this idea, so it appears to be a bit off the wall and silly.
- Con #3 – Food Combining is Needed – You’ll also find that to follow this diet you’ll have to combine foods in certain ways in order to be allowed to eat them. This is not always fun and it’s not always easy to get the right combination at the right time as well. Her method of food combining is called Somerizing, but it can be difficult to actually incorporate this into your life.
Foods You Can Eat and Some You Can’t
When it comes to eating foods on this diet, you can just about eat anything; however, it is how you eat it that is so important to this diet. When you eat fruits, you are only supposed to eat them by themselves. Proteins and fats are supposed to be eaten with vegetables and when you eat carbs, you’re allowed to eat them with vegetables, but not with fats. Fats and proteins are never to be eaten along with carbs. Also, if you want to change the type of meal you’re eating, you have to wait at least three hours.
What the Medical Community Has to Say
When it comes to what the medical community has to say about this diet, most of the things they have to say are not really complimentary to the diet. You see, most people in the medical field really feel like much of what the author says in the books is not true and that there is not scientific premise for it, such as the idea that drinking water with your meal is bad. So, for the most part, this is not a diet that has impressed the medical field in any manner.
The author of this article runs a small dog bed web site, which also offers products and information about dog bed covers and discount dog beds.
19 Oct 09 Safe Web Browsing – Is It Even possible?
Most people would agree that the Internet is one of the greatest inventions mankind has ever managed to create. It is probably the single most revolutionary leap we have made since the invention of the printing press.
It has given the average person access to an unparalleled amount of information and collective knowledge. They say knowledge is power and that is very true. With this great power comes great responsibility and it is up to us all to do the right thing.
Unfortunately there are always those who will try to increase their personal gain via revolutionary advancements such as the Internet. One way this is happening is through the use of robot software programs which attempt to take control of remote computers.
The kids who are designing these robots are often employed by shady characters whose goal is to steal credit card details and push x-rated content on unsuspecting users. When it is your children they are targeting then you have to sit up and do something about it.
This is when you need to start thinking about safe Web browsing. There are various programs available online which can make your child’s experience on the Internet a much safer one. We don’t have the room to explore all of these options here but you should make a point of investigating the various programs available to you.
It is up to us all to police our little part of the Internet and whilst it is a bit of an uphill battle keeping up with the script kiddies you can stack the deck in your favor by educating yourself and using the right tools.
19 Oct 09 Learn Chinese Fast With The Rocket Chinese Language Software
Need to learn Chinese fast without all the trouble of registering in a Chinese language school or actually going to China? Don’t worry. Now you can learn how to speak Chinese easily and conveniently anywhere at your own time.
Firstly, should you even consider learning Chinese? What are the benefits of learning the Chinese language?
Well, the entire world is increasingly looking towards China for business and economic opportunities because it is rapidly becoming a financial superpower. Many businesses have set up shop in the major cities in China and lots of foreign students are studying in the Chinese universities. People who know how to communicate in Chinese will have a serious advantage over those that don’t know Chinese.
The Rocket Chinese course is one of the best Chinese language courses to learn how to speak Chinese quickly without too much sweat. It has 31 tracks of over 15 hours of audio instruction that you can listen to repeatedly.
Besides just learning how to converse, you also have access to lots of language rules, culture and written Chinese lessons that help you to develop your knowledge and understanding of genuine Chinese settings.
You can learn quicker and boost your memory when you have fun and enjoy yourself. Rocket Chinese has a MegaVocab Software Learning Game that helps you develop your vocabulary with its extensive 1000 word database.
Lin Ping, the native Chinese teacher in the Rocket Chinese program is on hand to respond to all your questions and assist you through the lessons. Last but not least, you also get unlimited access to the Rocket Chinese learning lounge where you can work together with other students and get free future updates to lesson materials.
Get a FREE trial lesson now of the Rocket Chinese language cd!
19 Oct 09 The Most Popular Ways of Making Money Online
Articles can pay up to $10 for a 400-word article. There is no limit as to how many articles you can be given to write. Article marketing is essential but it is not the only type of marketing strategy you should be taking either. There are many other ways to grow your presence in your niche community and create more incoming links. Articles and blog entries may serve as gateways towards target advertiser’s websites. The probability of traffic to reach the site increases with articles optimized to top search engines.
Starting an internet business can be difficult at first but very rewarding in the long run. One thing that you will immediately enjoy is that you do not have to commute from home to an office everyday dealing with rush hour traffic and spending out the nose for gas. Starting without real money making ideas, will waste your time. Here are some easy ways for kids to get started with .making money online Starting out, there are generally two classes of freelancers: the ones who under price and the ones who overprice. First, though, you need to figure out your flat rate.
Blogs and blogging tips and techniques. Blogs have become very popular not only for their simplicity but because they are also quite cheap to create and they are free. You can create a blog within minutes on any topic of your choice and fill it with appropriate content and go ahead to market appropriate goods and services which may either be your products or affilate ones. Blogging is a popular way to make quick money online. Many people these days are interested to find ways by which they can earn more money online without sacrificing time with family.
Web industry gives you a lot of possibilities to earn some money even without going out of your house. You do not have to spend a lot to start working on the web, all that is required is a computer with Internet access and your wish to earn money online. Webmasters are always in need of new articles on every subject imaginable to use as fresh content for their websites. Again, you do not need any special qualifications to do this work – if you can write properly in plain English and enjoy creative writing, this could be your ideal home business .
19 Oct 09 Demolition Questions Answered
Introduction
Taking down old buildings and replacing them with new is a process that has been going on for thousands of years. The destruction of buildings might have occurred during battles or attacks on villages; or due to natural disturbances such as earthquakes or volcanic activity. The resultant ruins would need to be removed and rebuilt. So the idea of demolition would have come about where a population wished to re-inhabit a specific area or site. (One famous example is the Holy Temple in Jerusalem which was deliberately destroyed by the Assyrians around 586 BCE. After 50 years of occupation the Jews returned to Jerusalem and began the re-construction of the second temple which took seventy years to complete.)
However the actual word to demolish only came into being in 1570, and was used from then on to mean the deliberate taking down or destroying of a building or structure.
Preserving the past – preparing the future.
In a country like Britain with very dense populations per square mile, there is a limited amount of land available for building. The land between built up areas of the villages and towns is known as Green Belt and is protected from development to preserve the agricultural and natural heritage which is vital to the economy of the country.
The outcome of this policy is that there is a constant shortage of land for housing and industry, so the developers have to be more creative when providing structures for the population. One of the ways of doing this is to find places where the buildings are no longer commercially viable or have been abandoned, and re-use the area for different purposes. These areas are known as brownfield, or greyfield sites. In some cities, particularly Leeds and Manchester, the old warehouses or factories have been converted into apartments, retaining the original shell and reconfiguring the internal dimensions into modern living accommodation.
Brownfield sites are disused industrial and commercial facilities where the land may be contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution. They are potentially valuable for significant redevelopment once they have been cleaned up. Greyfield sites are urban properties that have been underutilised or abandoned, but do not have the environmental issues of brownfield sites. They were termed greyfield sites because of large areas of asphalt that covered the land. These sites are valuable because they already have the infrastructure such as water, sewage, electricity and gas in place and do not need remedial work to develop the site.
When a structure is to be removed there are different ways of approaching the task. The size and construction of the building, the new use of the site and whether there are valuable elements suitable for re-use, will all determine how it is to be demolished.
Traditional Demolition
Traditionally, once all the services were disconnected, the machinery and men would go in and just knock down the walls which caused the roof to collapse and then drag all the remains away. Any concrete hard standing would be broken up ready for removal. The previously employed method of site clearance simply involved the disposal of rubbish to a landfill site. However modern demolition practices are very controlled and are subject to strict planning, safety and monitoring regulations.
Small structures such as two or three storey houses can be dismantled quite easily with hydraulic excavators and bulldozers using an undermining process. The walls are undermined at the base, in order to topple the structure; at the same time the manner and direction of the fall is controlled. Clean-up and safety issues are also taken into account when deciding how the building will be undermined and demolished.
Larger buildings such as tower blocks and chimneys require more specialist techniques, and are outlined below.
Deconstruction
A new approach to demolishing buildings is deconstruction – a green approach. The aim is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites by carefully preserving valuable materials for reuse. The work may be a painstaking task of dismantling by hand – brick by brick – or beam by beam. The reclaimed materials are then recycled or re-used for future buildings. The results of deconstruction can save in excess of 90% waste from going to a landfill site. When the farmer opposite to my house sold his farm yard with barns for housing, the builder demolished the barns, cleaned up the bricks and reused them for the perimeter wall of the farmhouse. At the time I was looking for some rubble as a base for a path and the builder let me take several barrow loads off his pile.
Recycling
Historically when old buildings were ruined from disuse or war damage the local people would gradually remove the stone and use it to build their new structures such as houses or barns. Hadrian’s wall between Carlisle and Newcastle has mostly gone because after the Romans left, the local population made off with the beautifully dressed stone the Roman craftsmen had used in the building of the wall. So even in those days people understood the value of recycling because it was much cheaper than having to quarry and dress the stone themselves.
At one time the rubble resulting from a demolished building would be taken to a landfill site for disposal. Now however concrete can be rapidly broken up with the latest machine called a guillotine and the resultant rubble can be crushed and used as sub-base material for the foundation of the new building which is to replace the old, or sent to other construction sites. These days this crushed rubble is called 6f2 crushed stone or 6f2 crushed material.
Modern machinery and techniques allows the demolition companies to efficiently segregate waste types on or off-site. Wherever possible construction materials are recycled and re-used in the new structure. Recycling of waste contributes to a substantial savings in project costs and is good for the environment.
When we renovated our bungalow 20 years ago the builder, who was a bell ringer, found an old beam from a bell tower that was being renovated, and after carefully treating it, installed it in the kitchen. It gave the room some badly needed character and has never needed any further treatment.
Copper pipes, wiring, roof tiles or slates, floor tiles and doors, and wood panelling are some of the valuable artifacts that are saved for recycling and re-use. There are specialist yards in many towns where reclaimed old or antique artefacts are available for purchase.
Tall Buildings
A demolition project involving tall buildings requires specialist techniques. In some cases a wrecking ball on a crane may be used to demolish the top part of a tall building until it is down to a manageable height. However this process is rarely used by professional demolition companies today due to the uncontrollable factor of the swinging ball and the proximity of other buildings.
Other methods of demolition of tall buildings are by implosion using explosives, controlled collapse and piecemeal. Also ‘High Reach’ demolition excavators are used where explosives are not suitable. Once the building is down to a more manageable height demolition continues in the usual way.
The steeplejack Fred Dibnah became famous in the late 1970’s for his work on demolishing tall chimneys without the need for explosives. He would cut an ingress at the base of the chimney, use wooden props to support the brickwork and then burn the props so that the chimney toppled hopefully in the right direction.
The tallest building to be lawfully demolished was the Singer Building of New York in 1967/8. More recently the collapse of the World Trade Centre after the 9/11 attack in 2001 demonstrates the terrible devastation that could occur if the demolition is not controlled and very carefully contained.
In the demolishing of tall buildings and large structures water hoses and spray equipment is used to control the dust and would is termed a wet demolition.
Explosions
What comes to mind for many people when they think about demolition would be the dramatic collapse of a tall building using explosives. However it is usually the process of implosion, using explosives, that brings down a tall building so that it does as little damage as possible to the surrounding environment. Implosion is essential for dense urban areas and is very fast, the collapse taking only seconds, with the building crashing inwards into its own footprint.
Using explosives is specialist work and is a very skilled process and getting it wrong can be catastrophic. If an implosion is not prepared correctly the danger may be damage to neighbouring structures or even killing onlookers from flying debris. Even more dangerous is a partial collapse of a building where the remaining structure is unstable and there are still primed explosives that failed to go off. Workers are in great danger if or when continuing the demolition.
Other hazards of working with explosives occurs when the atmospheric pressure from low cloud above the implosion site will cause the shockwave to spread outwards instead of upwards. The wave of energy and sound created will break windows and cause other damage to the surrounding buildings.
Because of the dangers of working with explosives, implosion will only be used when other methods are too costly or impractical.
Health and Safety
Demolition of any building is highly dangerous and is a much more complicated and technical process than most people would realise. Experienced and skilled operators are essential to ensure safety for both workers and public alike. The stability of any structure is reliant on the interdependence of its component parts, so an incorrect sequence of dismantling could result in an accidental collapse.
Health and safety is paramount in demolition work so personnel working in the industry have to be thoroughly trained. It is advisable for operatives to have gained a Certificate of Competence in Demolition to ensure they have the necessary skills and safety awareness. All demolition work is regulated by the Construction, Design and Management Regulations.
Sequence of Demolition
There has to be a sequence of actions before any demolition can take place. Each area council will have their own specific list for planning approval, but a typical order would be as follows:-
- Provision of Information
The demolition company must provide information about the construction to be demolished, its previous use and the appropriate demolition method to be applied including disposal of hazardous substances. - Survey of Demolition
Identification of any structural problems as well as risks associated with hazardous or flammable substances the presence of asbestos, for example, requires an asbestos surveys is performed.Where petrol has been stored, in a disused garage for example, precautions need to be taken to prevent a fire hazard. - Preferred and Safe Method of Work
A reputable company involved in demolition will be able to select the appropriate method of disposal. Planning and outlining the dismantling process is necessary for vigilant monitoring. A detailed statement outlining the safety process needs to be agreed by all parties involved before any demolition can take place. - Preparation and Planning
There is a lot of preparation to be done before starting work on demolishing the building itself. Issues such as asbestos abatement, disconnecting utilities, rodent baiting, dealing with hazardous substances and making safe any electric, gas or other services have to be resolved. - Protection of the Public
Where demolition is carried out in heavily populated areas the protection of the public is paramount. Safety cannot be compromised. Temporary services may need to be arranged, health hazards assessed and people affected will need to be informed.
Conclusion
The word ‘demolish’ is interpreted as the deliberate and controlled collapse of a structure. Demolition work is a very hazardous business and demolishing any building is a complex and skilled process. The aim in demolition is to remove an unwanted building as safely and quickly as possible, recycle or re-use most of the old material, and clear the site ready for the subsequent use.
In the centre of Nottingham over the last few years there has been a major reconstruction of what was an old car park into a brand new shopping complex. While this was going on the public were only really aware of the boarding around the area, a change in traffic direction and maybe some big lorries going in and out of the site.
So the next time you see buildings being demolished to make way for the new, give a thought to the company involved who’s team are daily working in a dangerous environment, adhering to all of the regulations and carefully and meticulously carrying out the project to bring us the modern conveniences we have come to expect and clearing the way for the future.
19 Oct 09 Looking For Long Term Health Care Insurance?
If you are looking for an effective way to fight against the unaccepted or sudden health diseases or something like that. Then long term health care insurance is the best way which you should try out. Long term care health care insurance is not different from other insurances, but yes certain features of it makes it entirely different from other health insurance. The first and foremost thing about this insurance is that it is long term coverage of your health.
By this we mean to say that this insurance will cover the expenses incurred on various health diseases and disorders (from which you will suffer) for a long period of time. Usually this period is different in different policies so you should check them before actually selecting them. Some policies may also have certain disease in exception list (meaning they will not cover such diseases) so you should also pay attention towards it. You need to select the best long term health care insurance for you. It is not a tough job to perform, you just need to pay little attention towards it.
You might not get the benefits of long term care insurance now but once you get older in age you will slowly but surely start getting the various benefits of it. A whole lot of people have gone for this long term health care insurance and they have responded well for it. It is totally reliable and efficient way to get over all such problems (health related). Hence you should go for it and with faith.
There are various other benefits of best long term care insurance as well. You can have them as well, once you try it yourself. So what you are waiting for, get more information about it today and implement this insurance as soon as possible.
19 Oct 09 Foods in Phukets
We all know that Thailand has so many attractions. This country has so many beautiful places and choices of luxury to cheap accommodation and that surely would attract so many tourists to visit there. One of the most beautiful places in Thailand is Phuket.
Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, approximately the size of Singapore. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by a bridge. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The region has an area of approximately 570sqm and it’s made up of 1 large and 39 small islands. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign trader’s ship logs. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.
But the beaches are not the only attractions of Phuket. There are so many interesting things in there, including the food. It has so many kinds of foods that surely would match to many people taste. If you visit there, you must taste the Fried or Boiled Noodle Dishes. This food usually served with pork or chicken. You should also try the Khanom Jeen. This is a version of noodles. In this place the noodles were served with a spicy curry sauce plus some fresh vegetables.
You should also try the Narm Phrik Kung Siap. This is a mix between dried chili and smoked chili. The Pad Kanaa Moo Grob would be the other kind of food that you should try. There are so many excellent foods in Phuket. If you visit this island, you must try those foods.
