http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/things-to-remember-as-you-set-up-your-home-theater-system.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/interior-design/things-to-remember-as-you-set-up-your-home-theater-system.html Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Not everyone is able to have their home system custom installed. Follow some of these worthwhile tips if you are bringing your stereo equipment home and installing all of the components yourself.

Installation is not as simple as placing the plasma TV and speakers up to the appropriate shelf of your home entertainment stand. For the less than technical, it may take a couple of hours to sort out the appropriate wires and connection cables and layout the correct plan for all of the home theater equipment. Take your time and feel comfortable with the plans. Make sure that the equipment you bought has all of the appropriate parts for solid installation. Taking the time to assess everything will save you stress later on.

Some pieces, such as a projector system, will require calibration and adjustment in addition to mounting. If you are unsure about how best to do this, schedule to work on installing everything in a couple of days so that you won’t be pressured to install equipment incorrectly or to settle for imperfect calibration.

Ask your retailer when you purchase a home theater system about any optional or “not included” components that may best go with your home theater design. This will save you from having to make several trips to the store for additional parts.

Most home theaters designs include a television - whether plasma, LCD, projector system, or CRT - some form of speaker package for the audio home theater system element, a DVD player, and a cable box, satellite TV system or other connection system. Depending on how sophisticated you wish your home theater to be, you may include high-end receivers, subwoofers, and universal remote controls. Choose what is right for your household – don’t succumb to hypes or pressure. It is your home atmosphere that matters.

As you are planning your room, decide where the best speaker placement is for the size of your room. If need be, move furniture around for the best sound or buy longer wires to easily connect your components in the way you want. Most manufacturers will recommend placement options for the particular speaker types. Subwoofers can generally be placed to the front and left of the TV. Other speakers should be placed to the right and left of the TV and, depending on how many you have, midway in the room on both the right and left and behind the main viewing area. As you place speakers, stop and play your favorite DVD and see if you are getting the sound you want. Move the speaker if you are not.
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Once the speakers are in place, connect them to the DVD player, cable box and the television, placing each component in the proper place as you get it connected. Play your favorite DVD in as you put on the finishing touches to test the sound quality, connections and the room lighting.

These tips are simple but they could save you a lot of time if you are installing a home theater system on your own.

Ben Anton, 2007



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Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes for Ronny's 5th St. Audio Vision.

We invite you to read more about the latest in custom home theater entertainment, speakers & components at our detailed home theater store and web site.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/mower-repair-preparing-greens-equipment-for-the-summer-season.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/golf/mower-repair-preparing-greens-equipment-for-the-summer-season.html Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Repowering your lawn mower or lawn tractor using repower kits for equipment made by Toro, Cushman, or Jacobsen can be the best preparation you need for the upcoming long lawn or golf course mowing season. The kits made for Toro lawn mowers and Toro lawn tractors are perfect examples of how small engine repower kits work and benefit lawn equipment owners.

Repower kits designed for Toro lawn mowers and lawn tractors have several features and added bonuses. The features and bonuses of these repower kits make them a great deal when so much else seems to be rising in price. What can you expect with the purchase of a Toro lawn mower or lawn tractor engine repower kit? The same great benefits you do with all repower kits available.

• To spend much less money on dependable, Toro replacement parts and engines than you would spend purchasing them new
• A spanking new emissions-certified engine for a high green-rating for your Toro lawn mower or Toro Lawn tractor that is more important than today
• All the parts needed for installing the Toro repower kit
• Complete and understandable installation instructions for easy installing
• Advanced technology like, full pressure lubrication, hydraulic valve lifters, overhead valves, and fuel efficient powering
• Simple, routine maintenance of Toro repowered lawn mowers and lawn tractors. Who doesn’t like the sound of that? Less time maintaining, more time mowing
• 2 year manufacturers warranty on every repower kit
• The support of a worldwide network of authorized dealers and distributors, for support where and when you need it.

The costs of lawn mower small engine repair and lawn tractor engine repairs can add up quickly if you are not careful about where you get your parts for making those repairs. Make sure you purchase parts from a reputable dealer and that those parts are high quality and dependable. Ask if your dealer has some sort of technical support as well so that if you have a question about the kit install or how your engine is working, you can get the answers easily and quickly.

The time to prep your lawn mower or lawn tractor, whether it is a Toro, Cushman or Jacobsen model, for the long summer mowing season is now. Small engine and engine repairs to lawn mowers and lawn tractors can extend the life and use of the mowers for many more years to come. Whether you are keeping your personal landscaping immaculate or caring for the quality of your community golf course, it is important to ensure that an aging mower does not become an unreliable fuel waster.

Ben Anton, 2007



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Read more about repowering from experts on Toro small engine repower kits.
Engine specifications and additional articles on the Cushman truckster, Jacobsen Greens King IV and others are also available.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/what-you-should-know-about-bed-bugs.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/what-you-should-know-about-bed-bugs.html Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500
While red marks may be an indication of an infestation, they are definitely not a confirmation. Finding these critters is no easy task, as they are approximately 4-5 mm in length with a flattened form, allowing them to hide in crevices and creases with ease. While often found hiding all over the house, their favorite spot to conceal themselves–in the event that a mattress cover or pillow cover are not being used–is in or around the bed, hence their name. Being so close to their primary food source gives them the opportunity to feed every 5-10 days, though they are able to live up to 18 months without eating. .

A bed bug will dine on human blood for approximately 5-15 minutes before it will be fully engorged, more than tripling its size. This change has been known to cause misidentification as it becomes round in shape, different from its naturally flat shape. Additionally, when it is an adult it becomes brown in color, except after feeding when it takes on a dark red hue due to the intake of human blood.

Because of their miniscule size and innate ability to hide, bed bugs can enter the home in a multitude of ways, including any type of object that can be transferred from one home, apartment, condo, hotels, etc., to another. This transferability, coupled with their hyperactive reproduction, allows their wrath to be widespread very quickly, especially in homes that are older or have many cracks and crevices, messy cluttered homes, and homes where mattresses or pillows are not covered with some sort of allergen-reducing encasements. To get a feel of their ability to infest an entire house, here are some reproduction facts:

• Females lay eggs in clusters of 10-50 in just one day
• The eggs are whitish in color, pear shaped and approximately 1 mm in length
• A female will lay up 500 eggs during her lifetime
• Eggs hatch in 1-2 weeks time
• In one year’s time, three generations of can be produced
• Newly hatched nymphs—as they are called–begin to feed on human blood immediately
• Nymphs are colorless and the size of a pinhead
• A nymph will go through five molting stages before becoming a full adult, feeding during each stage

Though these wingless vampires have been known to be brimming with pathogens—hepatitis B and plague included—they have not been shown to be a transmitter of disease. Unlike mosquitoes, they are not thought of as being a medical threat, making them more of an annoyance then anything else.

Some people try to live with bed bugs in their lives, though they often are covered with welts and scars from scratching all over their bodies. No distance is great enough to be protected once they have entered your home. They have been known to travel over 100 feet on their own to feed, making merely disinfesting your bed and using mattress and pillow covers a futile act.

In order to be fully rid of these pests, a home needs to be thoroughly cleaned, ensuring that every crease, crevice, floorboard, outlet and corner has been cleaned and rid of them and their eggs. Furthermore, every hole and crack should be filled and caulked, leaving little to no room for already existing eggs to penetrate the home. Once your house is rid of infestation, you should use a complete, zippered mattress encasement, a complete zippered pillow encasement, and a zippered encasement for your box spring. This traps any existing critters inside, essentially permanently removing them from their food source, and disallowing new bugs from hiding in their beloved hotbeds.

-Ben Anton, 2007




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Read more about protecting your sleep from harmful allergens and bed bugs.
The CleanRest website offers detailed information on the superior fabric technology available for mattress covers.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/dvds-bring-the-1980s-back-to-our-living-rooms.html http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/movies/dvds-bring-the-1980s-back-to-our-living-rooms.html Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500
One memorable season of Dallas came to a close with a cliffhanger that captivated the world. In that final scene, a shadowy figure approaches and shoots JR Ewing before the screen faded to black and the credits rolled. The world was fixated on “who shot JR” over what seemed to be an endless summer hiatus. Sue Ellen, Cliff Barnes, Pamela, Lucy, Ray, competing oil barons JR had crossed, and even brother Bobby all had motive and were suspect. I mean JR Ewing really never met someone that he didn’t eventually make an enemy of. But when the question of who was finally answered it was Sue Ellen’s little sister Kristen Shepard who had tried to send JR to his maker for judgment day. Dallas is now available on DVD so you can relive every addictive moment with the Ewing’s at Southfork on those 1980s evenings.

What do a substitute teacher, farm enthusiast, addict and an old Sicilian have in common? Retirement and living with roommates. The Golden Girls, a classic television show from the 80s gave us a different perspective on getting older, working beyond the typical age of retirement, and the tribulations of sharing a home with other adults, even if one of them is the mother you thought had been comfortably situated to live at the Shady Pines nursing home. We laughed a lot with the gals, but we also cried a lot too. Issues faced by older adults were also played out on this 80s television classic. Letting your grown children live their own lives, pensions not lasting as long as they did 50 years ago, the poor conditions in many nursing homes, Alzheimer’s, heart conditions, deaths of friends, planning for our own deaths, and dealing with the conflicts that arise from living with a house full of roommates were faced with determination, humor, and Sicilian curses by these Golden Gals we grew to love so much.. In addition to picking up episodes of The Golden Girls on DVD, you can still catch reruns of The Golden Girls on television stations devoted to showing 1980s classic TV.

Quick, name the five Cosby kid. Were you able to remember the children of Cliff and Claire Huxtable from the beloved 1980s TV sitcom, The Cosby Show? Sandra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy, the Huxtable kids, kept Father, Dr, Cliff Huxtable, and Mother, Attorney Claire Huxtable busy dealing with their growing pains. The theme of this 1980s television sitcom focused on a working family living in a brownstone in New York. The Cosby show is often heralded as being one of the first television sitcoms to feature a black family in a situation that many of us could then and now relate to. The Cosby’s were a loving family headed by two professional, hard-working parents. Love of family, civic duty, education, political and religious participation, and service to others, integrity, living above negative influences such as smoking, drinking, gang violence, and racism were all themes that were skillfully dealt with by The Cosby Show writers. Still seen on certain television stations, we never get tired of watching the Huxtables. Selected seasons of The Cosby Show are now available on DVD too so you can watch them whenever you want to.

Perhaps one of the least talked about but better loved action adventure shows on during the 80s was The Fall Guy. He made the hearts of women skip a beat with his spectacular stunts, completed without giving his tanned face or muscled body a scratch. Falling off tall buildings, jumping cars over flaming lines of vehicles, throwing punches, crashing through windows, fighting crime and rescuing those in need is what every action-packed episode centering around. Fearless stuntman and hero, sexy bounty hunter Colt Seavers provided us with a weekly dose of excitement and mystery. Colt and his cousin Howie never failed to catch their fugitive from the law man. This is one classic television show from the 1980s that still gets the adrenaline pumping even when watching reruns. Seasons 1 through 5 of The Fall Guy are now available on DVD. This is one 1980s action TV show that will never lose its appeal.

Classic television now encompasses great sitcoms and dramas from the 1980s. Catching up on some of your favorite TV families like the Huxtables or the Ewings is now even easier with the broadening availability of classic 80s television on DVD. Catch an episode or purchase a DVD and relive the memories of that great era.

Ben Anton, 2007



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If you enjoyed this article and appreciate great classic television shows, we
would like to extend an invitation to you to visit our site and read more about classic TV on DVD.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/a-fishing-knife-necessary-for-every-tackle-box.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/fishing/a-fishing-knife-necessary-for-every-tackle-box.html Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The following are some tips on what to look for when purchasing a durable fishing or fillet knife to all those would-be and experienced anglers out there.

When choosing a fishing knife, the size of the fish being lured needs to be considered. A ten inch blade would be excessive if you typically fish stocked rainbow trout or crappie in your local river. The larger blade could damage the meat of smaller fish during cleaning if you are not careful. On the other hand, a small fillet knife on a medium-to-large catfish or grouper would be time consuming and potentially impossible. If you fish a variety of species, consider owning multiple knives in various lengths and widths. There are a number of fishing knife sets with multiple blade styles available on the market. If you have one knife that you really like, maybe it has a handle style that suits you, see if the manufacturer makes other size knives in the same style.

The next item to consider when choosing a fillet or fishing knife, is the quality of the blade. You want to look for stainless steel blades that can maintain their sharpness. You also want to try to buy one that can be sharpened easily throughout a fishing season. Stainless steel is recommended because of its stronger resistance to rust; fishing knives encounter a lot of water. You will want the same durability and strength in your fishing knife as you would a hunting knife. However, with a fillet knife, a tempered blade that can cut smoothly and thinly is ideal. When purchasing a fillet knife, look for one that is serrated in a portion of the knife, toward the handle is best. Having the serration in addition to the smooth sharp blade will be helpful to cut through tougher sections and bones and will keep you from needing a second serrated knife.

The final items to consider are all about your personal style. There are a number of knives available depending on the type of fisherman you or the recipient of the knife is. Consider how frequently you use a fishing knife during your fishing trips. If you tend to constantly be reaching for yours, purchase a folded knife that can be put in your pocket or hang from a fishing vest so it will be easy to get to. If you have a messier tackle box with little organization, consider purchasing a fishing knife that comes with a sturdy knife sleeve or one that folds to avoid accidentally cutting yourself or damaging the blade while it is moving around in the box. If you have arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome, try out various knife handle shapes to find one that is comfortable for you. There are a number of knife options available; don’t settle for anything other than what will best help you as you fish this summer.

Consider these tips as you put together your tackle box and gear this summer. Whether you are heading to the river, lake or ocean, a quality fishing or fillet knife is an important addition and just may help bring in the record breaking fish.

Ben Anton, 2007



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Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes for DLK.
We invite you to read more about the latest in fishing pliers, knives, and scissors at our wholesale knives and lights website.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/food/cooking/kitchen-cutlery-is-easy-to-care-for-if-you-know-these-tricks.html http://www.articletrader.com/food/cooking/kitchen-cutlery-is-easy-to-care-for-if-you-know-these-tricks.html Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The first rule of use for your kitchen knife is to be sure that your blade lands on a soft surface, such as wood or plastic, instead of a hard surface like ceramic or metal. Striking your kitchen cutlery against hard surfaces will rapidly dull the blade and hinder the performance of your kitchen knife, even if you are using high quality ceramic or stainless steel cutlery.

It’s sometimes tempting to use the kitchen knife to pry something, use it as a screwdriver or chisel and many other actions for which the kitchen cutlery is not intended. Even using the handle of your knife as a hammer is not recommended, unless it is specifically built for that task. The pins, springs and handle can loosen or break, rendering your kitchen knife useless.

You should keep your kitchen cutlery away from sand and gritty materials. Be especially aware when you are using your knives outside, for instance if you are camping, fishing or just barbequing outdoors. Be aware of your kitchen knife and if it gets wet, you should immediately dry it. When you are washing your kitchen cutlery, do so in mild, soapy water and then dry it completely with a towel, instead of allowing it to drip dry. You should always wash your kitchen cutlery by hand and dry it immediately after.

Wood tends to swell, so it you have wooden handled knives, it is best not to immerse them in water for any period of time. You can rub mineral oil on wooden knife handles to help them keep their luster. You can also increase the lifetime of your wooden handled kitchen knives by rubbing lemon oil or furniture polish into the wood handle occasionally.

Stainless steel cutlery should not rust in the humidity and it can withstand acids that it is exposed to in daily use. However, stainless steel does not mean 100 percent rust proof. The coarser the stainless steel surface is, the more likely it is to corrode. To ensure your stainless steel cutlery is corrosion resistant, you want to purchase knives with finely ground or polished surfaces.

Another option for kitchen cutlery is ceramic knives which are durable and long lasting. However, ceramic knives should also not be put in the dishwasher. They are very easy to clean; a wipe and a rinse is all that is needed to keep them in great condition for years to come.

When storing your knives, it is best to choose a knife block to protect the blades. Never put your knife into the wooden knife block wet – wood absorbs water and you could introduce mold and mildew into your knife block which could effectually ruin your kitchen knives. If you are going to keep them in a drawer, be sure that they are not tossed around too much. Jostling against other knives or instruments could cause your knife blades to chip or dull unnecessarily. It is fine to keep them in a drawer, but they should be sleeved or in compartments to avoid colliding with other utensils or inadvertently cutting you as you search in the drawer for the knife you need. Forged cutlery or stainless steel cutlery should be properly stored to ensure it lasts a long time.

Taking care of your kitchen knives is quite easy if you follow the steps outlined above:

- Keep knives out of the dishwasher
- Wash kitchen knives right after use and dry them immediately after washing
- Store them in a wooden knife block, in sleeves or in a compartmentalized drawer

Taking good care of your knives and using them properly will ensure that you will have great kitchen knives for years to come.

Ben Anton, 2007




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Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes for Discount Lights and Knives.
Learn more about the superior quality of kitchen knives available with DLK on our quality discount Lights and Knives website.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/you-dont-have-to-be-a-pro-to-benefit-from-pro-team-cycling-clothes.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/you-dont-have-to-be-a-pro-to-benefit-from-pro-team-cycling-clothes.html Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Whether you cycle competitively, for fitness, or just for personal pleasure, you should consider acquiring European styled custom and semi custom clothing from manufacturers like Santini. Original team issue apparel like long sleeve cycling jerseys that permit excess moisture to evaporate, cycling shorts and bib shorts that won’t bunch up on you and cause irritation while cycling, and stylish cycling jackets work in these uniquely superior ways because they are custom team issue. Santini custom cycling clothing boasts smooth lines for maximum mobility, smart European designs that flatter the wearer, and high quality, easy to care for, wrinkle-resistant materials.

Maybe you are just about to start a new exercise program or have decided to ride your bike more often for fitness or to better the environment. Santini custom and semi custom cycling clothing and accessories can give your cycling confidence and motivation a much needed boost. The clothing, though specifically made for competitive cycling by experts, is also necessary for general cycling, road biking and mountain bike enthusiasts. The custom cycling apparel allows all wearers to exercise and compete without clothing becoming an impediment or restriction. The sleek designs of the long sleeve jersey, bib shorts, cycling shorts, windproof cycling jackets, cycling gloves and other cycling clothing will not create the ballooning and speed hampering that clothing not made to be worn while cycling often causes.

Original team issue Santini long sleeve jerseys, bib shorts and other cycling clothes are made for men and women in various styles and sizes. Whether petite or extra-large, the usability and benefits of owning custom cycling clothing will improve your cycling experience. The colors and styles available today are varied to allow individuality and comfort no matter what type of cyclist you may be.

Whether cycling is a new activity for you or if you have been competing for years, it is important that you consider your comfort and safety as it relates to your equipment and attire. Clothes that do not hug your body and move easily as you move can become a hazard. Clothes that do not conform to your body may get caught in your bike or get snagged on branches and bushes. Clothes that do not move easily with you can create irritation and make riding uncomfortable or impossible depending on the severity. It is important that one does not cut corners when it comes to these types of details.

Enjoy your cycling and other athletic activities to the fullest by taking the time and care to invest in equipment and apparel that will make it fun and exciting for months and years to come.

Ben Anton, 2007



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Based in Portland, Oregon, Ben Anton is a writer for TSC.

We invite you to view the Team Sales Cycling website and learn more about AGU and other brands of bib shorts, custom bicycle clothing, and original pro team issue bicycle jerseys.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/computers/moppel-invasion-taking-the-world-by-storm.html http://www.articletrader.com/computers/moppel-invasion-taking-the-world-by-storm.html Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
From the Helper Moppel with its hand attachments that can hold letters and pens to the Dino-Moppel, each of these lights has its own distinctive personality sure to suit any person, room or situation. They’re sure to be a big hit at the home or office, in your dorm room and even in your car. These versatile LED lamps are precision-engineered in Germany and are well made and very easy to use.

All Moppel lights are equipped with magnetic feet and suction pads that help them stick to virtually any surface. The Moppel can attach firmly to most smooth surfaces - glass, metal, paint, plastic or rubber - and stay attached until you move it. There is no need to fumble around in the dark. Just stick a Moppel on the closet or nursery wall for a quick and easy light source. Moppels run on AAA batteries or from your desktop PC or laptop USB port, making them useable in almost any environment.

Moppel lights are eco-friendly, energy-saving lights. The LED that powers each Moppel has a service life of more than 100,000 hours. How long is 100,000? You’d have to run the light continuously for more than eleven years before the LED would ever need replacing!

Since you can choose between batteries and computer power to light up your Moppel, there’s almost no limit to what you can do with them. They make a great addition to your workstation as an all-purpose light or as an additional item to put in your laptop bag while traveling to use on planes or in hotel rooms. Light, compact and portable, your Moppel can go anywhere your laptop goes.

Six Great Ways to Use Your Moppels:

• Closets: Moppels don’t take up a lot of space and you can direct the light wherever you need it so they are a great addition to a poorly lit closet or cabinet with little room for a major light source.
• Home office or computer desk: A Moppel is a quick and easy way to add light to a small work area or a badly lit cubicle. They can also be useful for IT managers and technicians needing extra light as they work on the internal workings of a PC or laptop.
• Bedroom: Attach a Moppel to the wall next to your headboard or on the night stand for a simple reading light or in the kid’s room for a fun night light.
• Travel: Since your Moppel can plug right into a USB port on your laptop, you can add this to your travel kit for a portable light no matter where you go.
• Tool Box: The Moppel light can be pointed in any direction, so a Moppel is a great tool for working under the sink, in the garage or in any other dark space.
• Automobile: Passengers can use the Moppel as a reading light on long road trips and drivers can use one if there is an emergency need to check under the hood. The Moppel can attach to the underside of the hood to give you a hands-free light source that you can direct anywhere you need light.

Moppels are creative and interesting but most importantly, they are a superior source of long-lasting LED lighting. Enjoy the whimsy of them but appreciate their excellent capabilities!

Ben Anton, 2007




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Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes for Discount Lights and Knives.
Learn more about the key features that make up a superior LED light on the web at our quality Light and Knife website.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/cycling-clothing-conundrum-knowing-what-cycling-apparel-to-choose.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/cycling-clothing-conundrum-knowing-what-cycling-apparel-to-choose.html Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
You might think that you could never afford the pro gear that riders everywhere are turning to in large numbers with but these cycling clothes are available to cyclists at all levels for reasonable prices. The comfort and durability of items like the sleeveless jersey from Santini are worth owning. The item will last longer than a lesser brand and you will perform better in a product that is designed for professionals. Looking into owning a few pieces of biking gear used by the pros is a step toward better biking performance and a more enjoyable experience.

As you consider purchasing cycling attire for your self or family members, look for brands such as Inverse, Santini, Ms Tina and BioRacer. These brands offer original team issue clothing sure to get any cycling enthusiast in the pro biking mindset. As you train and begin to understand the powerful benefits of owning quality gear, evaluate what areas you could use help with and consider additional pro gear pieces to help you move up in your training. Look for pro clothing when it comes to your cycling jerseys, both long and short sleeved. Look for the right bike shorts, such as Santini bib shorts, and get the comfort and style that the pros have.

Don’t forget about the little details when it comes to your biking style, either. While you are checking out the best cycling jackets on the market, look for a cycling cap as well as knee warmers and arm warmers to keep you on the trails even when it the temperature dips as the evening sets in. You will be feeling the burn and keeping cozy as well with the best riding gear on the market to back you up. The pros trust these brands for good reason. You too can rely on them to get you through the rough patches of your training in great condition.

Let’s not forget, you will love the way that you look in original team issue clothing from brands like BioRacer, Inverse, Santini, or Ms Tina, as much as you love the way that you feel. There is nothing like knowing that you have all of the advantages behind you to help you step up your training and really push the limits of what you thought you could handle. Original team issue gear is more comfortable, more durable, and the kind of gear trusted by the pros to help them get through the toughest races like the Tour de France as well as their daily training and practice. With the power of the pros behind you, you will be ready to take on any race.

Ben Anton, 2007



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Ben Anton is based in the Northwest and is a regular writer for Team Sales Cycling.

To learn more about the benefits of a pro cycling jersey, please visit the TSC website. The website features pro issue products and customer testimonials praising the benefits of bib shorts and other Santini custom clothing.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/sleep/dust-mites-and-other-micro-toxins-in-your-bedroom.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/sleep/dust-mites-and-other-micro-toxins-in-your-bedroom.html Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
It’s a fact: the average person spends a third of their life (220,000 hours) in bed. Coupled with the reality that the average mattress can contain millions of dust mites and the implications are worrisome – those millions of microscopic dust mites can cause a little more than a few irritations over a lifetime.

Here are a few more dust mite facts:
• One dust mite will produce 20 waste droppings in a single day and females can produce upwards of 2000 fecal particles during their lifetime.
• Dust mite droppings are small enough to get lodged in a human lung’s bronchial tube, which results in asthma and skin irritation.
• Ten percent of the weight of a two-year-old pillow can be attributed to deceased dust mites and their excretions.
• Since they do not drink water but instead absorb moisture thru their shell, humid climates and seasons allow them to breed and thrive at a much higher rate.
• The average life span of a female dust mite is ten weeks; during this time she will lay 60 to 100 eggs.

Many families assume that simply washing their sheets once a week will solve the dust mite problem. This assumption is wrong in that bleach and soaps do not kill dust mites because they actually live in mattresses and pillows, not in the sheets or pillowcases that are being washed.

One way to kill dust mites is to either freeze or heat up your mattresses and pillows to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This has to be done for over an hour and needs to be repeated frequently, as dust mites reproduce in less than a five week span. However, constantly burning and freezing a pillow or mattress is dangerous and cumbersome, if not downright impossible (you’d need access to a meat locker to freeze a king-size mattress). Additionally, dust mites are not confined to your mattress or pillow, as they can be transported via minor air currents created by normal household activities.

Vacuuming your mattress or pillows also bears little effect, as dust mites have the ability to climb deep within your mattresses’ fabric. Put simply, cleaning, washing or vacuuming will not rid the average American household of dust mites and their enormous amounts of dust mite excretions.

With over 50 million Americans suffering from allergies or asthma, finding a sustainable method to combat the dust mite problem has to become a priority for households across the country.

Encasing your mattress and pillows in allergen-impermeable mattress encasements and pillow covers is the most simple and realistic way to protect your sleep. These encasements will trap existing dust mites inside your mattress and pillows and protect you from future dust mite infestations. It should be noted that one should search for an allergen bedding product that has a pore size of less than one micron to insure the highest level of protection from these known micro toxins.

Allergen-impermeable mattress encasements and pillow covers are relatively inexpensive and are widely available online and in most large or chain stores. These bedding encasements offer protection against dust mites, and help avoid allergy outbreaks and asthma attacks.

Ben Anton 2007

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Want to learn more about protecting your sleep from harmful allergens?
Check out the CleanRest website to view the full line of quality mattress and pillow covers.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>