Latest Articles by schoolwork

Soundproofing Your Animal Kennel

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

If you own a kennel or manage an animal shelter you know how loud it can get inside. This is not only a nuisance for the occupants such as the employees, but it also can be a nuisance for those who may live within earshot of you. Since it is nearly impossible to eliminate the sound of barking dogs and other such animal noise, reducing noise level by making all of your walls, ceilings, floors and other structures less reflective is the next best solution.

With a kennel, you often may have outside areas to soundproof as well such as dog runs. Similar fixes do apply that are mentioned below.

To control sound levels within the animal shelter itself, you can install a set of acoustic sound panels, ceiling tiles or VET baffles. These fixes are designed to interrupt the reflections of the barking dogs, capture and absorb their energy, and deliver slower reverberation times within the kennel room

Treating your walls will help block the transmission of sound bleeding through a common wall. Your ultimate goal is to impair the wall's ability to conduct vibration. This is accomplished by adding two components to your wall assembly; the first is density, the second is disconnection. The combination of these two ingredients will help force the collapse of your sound wave inside your wall, and can trigger up to a 90% drop in sound transmission.

By following these isolation techniques, a 10-12 dB drop can be triggered. For treating the acoustics within the room, controlled reverberation times will drop background noise and the corresponding decibel level exposure in the room. Remember, the treatment for soundproofing a kennel makes the room less loud, not the dogs. They'll still bark, it just won't sound as loud.

You can also treat the ceiling. There are two goals with sound proofing a ceiling. The first is to combat the bleed of noise through the ceiling for greater sound isolation and privacy between rooms that share this common surface. The second is to improve the room's acoustics with ceiling tile treatments designed to capture unwelcome sound reflections in the room.

A good sound barrier ceiling treatment can deliver up to a 90% reduction in plenum noise, foot noise or noise bleeding into or out of your room through the ceiling. A sound absorption ceiling treatment can restore your room to good quality sound by collapsing your reverberations times down to under 2.0 seconds.

With a little research and even professional consultation if necessary, you can reduce the sound in your animal facility significantly. Your employees and neighbors will appreciate it greatly.

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Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. Discover first hand why so much of NetWell’s business stems from the referrals and repeat orders they receive from satisfied clients around the world.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Federal Loans vs. Private Loans

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

You are ready to go back to college or maybe you are fresh out of high school. If either applies, it is most likely that you have considered how you will pay for your tuition. During your consideration you probably have viewed numerous types of student loans, including both federal loans and private loans.

To give you an idea of the difference between the loans, lets look at what a private loan looks like.

Private Education Loans, also known as Alternative Education Loans, can be used to help bridge the gap between the actual cost of your education and the amount the government allows you to borrow in.

Private loans are offered by private lenders, which means you don’t have to complete federal forms and eligibility often depends on your credit score.

Some turn to private education loans when the federal loans don't provide enough money or when they need more flexible repayment options. For example, a parent might want to defer repayment until the student graduates, an option that is not available from the government parent loan program. (Many PLUS loan providers are starting to allow parents to defer payments on the PLUS loan while the student is in school using an administrative forbearance. Interest continues to accrue, however.)

Private education loans tend to cost more than the education loans offered by the federal government, but are less expensive than credit card debt. The federal education loans offer fixed interest rates that are lower than the variable rates offered by most private student loans. Federal education loans also offer better repayment and forgiveness options. Since federal education loans are less expensive than and offer better terms than private student loans, you should exhaust your eligibility for federal student loans before resorting to private student loans.

Private student loans typically have variable interest rates, with the interest rate pegged to an index, such as LIBOR or PRIME, plus a margin.
The interest rates and fees you pay on a private student loan are based on your credit score and the credit score of your cosigner, if any. Generally, if your credit score is less than 650 (FICO), you are unlikely to be approved for a private student loan. An increase of just 30 to 50 points in your credit score is often enough to get you better terms on your loan.

If you know somebody who can cosign your private loan, you could possibly get a lower interest rate, as such loans are not as risky for the lender. Moreover, the interest rates and fees are usually based on the higher of the two credit scores. So if your cosigner has a much better credit score than you, it could result in a much lower interest rate.

Private student loans may be used to pay for the family's portion of college costs. While some lenders may offer private student loans in excess of the cost of attendance, any amount exceeding the difference between cost of attendance and financial aid is considered a resource. Like an outside scholarship, this will reduce need-based aid. (Some lenders offer non-school-certified private student loans to bypass this limitation by not informing the college about the loan. If the college becomes aware of the loan, federal regulations require the college to reduce need-based aid. Pending federal legislation would require lenders to tell colleges about all private student loans, eliminating this loophole.)

This cost-of-attendance limitation only applies to education loans, which are loans that make enrollment in college a condition of the loan. It does not matter where the loan proceeds are sent (e.g., direct to the borrower vs to the school) or how the loans are marketed. On the other hand, mixed-use loans, such as home equity loans and credit cards, are not considered education loans and as such are not limited by cost-of-attendance.

The pros of private loans is high, but with a little research you can find out what specifically meets your needs.

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Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Why Should You Use A Realtor®

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

We all want to save a few bucks when we can. But there are times when scrimping is not worth it and in the end, it could cost your more than you can save.

Hiring a Realtor® is one of those times when it isn’t wise to scrimp. When the stakes are high, as with the investment of purchasing or selling your home, your want a professional on your side.

So what can a licensed Realtor® offer you?

1. Help you determine how much house you can afford. Sometimes lenders have limited options when it comes to purchasing a home. A Realtor® can help you get more creative and possibly even connect you with a lender who can be more flexible with your funding options.

2. When looking for that ideal home, you either need to have the time to peruse the listings or leave it to a realtor, whose job it is to know all of the listings. By giving your Realtor® an idea of what you are looking for, they can keep their eye open on your behalf while watching the price range.

3. If you are moving to a new city or town, you want to know the ins and outs of the community. A Realtor® can give your local information such as what the zoning rules are, where the local schools are and what the environment is like. All of this can be of great help to you before making your big investment in a town you are unfamiliar with.

4. If negotiating price is your weakness, whether in selling or buying, a Realtor® can help do this for you. The Realtor® can also help you with date of possession, inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. During the evaluation of your property, your Realtor® will follow up with due diligence. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. The Realtor® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property.

6. When selling your home, the Realtor® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

7. When it comes to promoting your home for sale, the Realtor®, who sees people day in and day out looking for property as well as other realtors, can be your perfect marketing strategy. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer.

8. Your Realtor® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your Realtor® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.

9. Last, the Realtor® can answer questions and tie up loose ends before the closing of the house. They complete the paperwork and resolve issues, which can save you many headaches.

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Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal service. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Educating yourself about student loans

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

When it comes to student loans, there is a huge variety to choose from. One of the nation’s leading providers of student loans is Sallie Mae. The Sallie Mae Company has provided numerous federal and private loans, including consolidation loans for undergraduate and graduate students and their parents.

What types of Sallie Mae loans are there? Here are a few:

1. Signature Student Loan – This loan is a popular after-Stafford loan. If grants, scholarships and Federal Stafford loans have not covered the total cost of your education, Signature Student loans can help. To qualify, you must attend a community college or a four- or five-year college at least halftime and be working toward your degree; you must meet credit criteria; and you must be making progress toward a degree.

There are aggregate loan limits with Community Colleges at $50,000, four and five year colleges starting at $100,000 and going up to $220,000. The interest rates are variable and based on the Prime Rate. Fees are usually zero percent and are assessed depending on credit history. Standard repayment term is 15 years with the option to extend to 30 years.

2. Tuition Answer Loan – The Tuition Answer loan helps bridge your education financing gap after federal student loans and traditional financial aide have been considered. The amount borrowed is from $1,500 to $40,000 per year. The borrower must have good credit. Applicants must be able to provide proof that the student is enrolled (full or half time) at an eligible college, graduate, trade, or technical school. This may be any document that displays the student's name, enrollment period, and the name of the school, such as a tuition bill, application, or a printout of an online class schedule. The interest rate for the Tuition Answer Loan is Prime Rate, adjusted monthly, plus a margin depending on your credit history and/or the addition of a cosigner. There is a one-time loan fee and repayment options are varied.

3. Signature Student Loans for Community Colleges - If grants, scholarships, and Federal Stafford loans have not covered the total cost of your community college education, the Signature Student Loan for Community Colleges can help. The Signature Student Loan a popular after-Stafford loan. You must attend a community college at least halftime and be working toward your degree. To qualify, you must meet credit criteria, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and International students are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner.

The Signature Student Loan has a high approval rate. If you have less-than-ideal credit or no credit at all, you can still be eligible for the Signature Student Loan by applying with a creditworthy cosigner. The minimum amount you can borrow is $500 with an aggregate amount of $50,000. Interest rates are variable and based on the Prime rate and there is no disbursement fee; repayment fees are 0%–3% depending on credit history. Standard repayment term is 15 years, with the option to extend terms (up to 30 years) for higher aggregate loan balances.

4. Continuing education loans - The Continuing Education Loan is a private, credit-based loan that provides financing for postsecondary students not seeking degrees and for part-time, degree-seeking students. The Continuing Education Loan has interest rates and fees that reward good credit.

Repayment terms of up to 15 years are available. If you have less-than-ideal credit or no credit at all, you can still be eligible for the Continuing Education Loan by applying with a creditworthy cosigner. You may borrow for both tuition and other education-related expenses. There is no aggregate loan limit.

The Continuing Education Loan has interest rates that reward good credit and are as low as Prime + 0% for borrowers with excellent credit. Interest rates are variable and reset monthly.

Loan fees are 0%–6.5%. As for repayment, you may take up to 15 years to repay your loan. With the standard repayment option, you make level, monthly payments of principal and interest. The minimum monthly payment is $30. With the interest-only repayment option, you make interest-only payments while you are in school and begin standard repayment of principal and interest once school is completed.

The options are numerous, which one will you choose?

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Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Researching scholarship opportunities

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

You are ready to go to college or maybe your child is and you want to know what types of scholarships are available. Maybe you are asking yourself where to start? If so, here are a few tips.

Scholarships are either given by colleges or universities that you plan to attend or by the private sector. But most scholarships are private-sector, that is scholarships that are offered by businesses, professional associations, community service organizations and individuals. Both types of scholarships often requires an application and some type of essay.

Before researching scholarships, know that most have some sort of criteria that you must meet before qualifying. This criteria can be academic performance, financial need or even race, ancestry, sexual orientation and hobbies. Making a list of all of your hobbies, clubs or organizations you have belonged to, whether your parents have belonged to organizations or the armed services, and what your interests are, will help you with your search.

To search for scholarships you can use the Internet, libraries and college counseling and financial aid offices.

Using the Internet and search engines such as Google and directories such as Yahoo! Requires some research skills. Simply typing in the world scholarships and return over 60 million results. Typing in scholarships for women will narrow the results substantially. Add to the search text your major, such as women engineering scholarships to refine results further. Search by all germane academic and personal factors, including your specifics from your list, and combine these where apt; examples include: engineering scholarships, engineering scholarships women, chemical engineering scholarships women, Filipina scholarships, etc.

Most colleges and universities will have a library collection of texts on funding your education and librarians have a great deal of expertise on how to search printed material and the Web. University libraries customarily have larger collections and more resources than community colleges and you can search the catalogs over the Web.

Local public libraries may be useful in several ways. They may have a collection of financial aid and scholarship texts, and the professional librarians may be able to help your search. Public libraries may also have information on local and regional organizations, such as university alumni, association branches, community service clubs and organizations, chambers of commerce, religious institutes, and professional associations that may offer scholarships. Local organizations may offer substantial scholarships, some of which may be renewable. Use the library to get contact information and ask the organization about scholarship offerings and whom to contact for application material.

Check with counselors and professors at your college and the college(s) to which you plan to transfer for scholarship information. Professors in your major may know of scholarships in their field or of professional associations that may offer scholarships.

Check also with employers in your major field. Organizations, such as hospitals, may assist employees who will commit to working for a period of time after graduation. Some hospital work-study programs offer 40 hours pay while the employee works 20 hours and attend a college nursing program for 20 hours work week. Many employers offer tuition assistance programs to help employees gain expertise related to the company’s business or operating areas or needs. Some universities offer free or reduced tuition for their employees.

There are many scholarship opportunities out there, the difference in who finds them is how they conduct their research.

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Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Search For Scholarships

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Students who are about to graduate from high school are already looking ahead toward planning for their first year of college. With this comes the concern for paying their way through college and the search for scholarship opportunities.

So what are scholarships, where do you look to find them, how do you apply and what do you need to watch out for so that you don’t get scammed?

There are a variety of scholarships offered. A scholarship is a gift to a student, one that does not have to be repaid, and is usually given do to the student’s grades, achievements or the student meeting other eligibility requirements. There are popular scholarships that attract a lot of attention and that are quite competitive and there are the off-beat scholarships that require a little more digging to discover, yet are less competitive.

One myth about scholarships is that you have to have a perfect grand point average. There are many scholarships for average students that focus on qualities besides academic merit. There are also many community service scholarships.

To start your scholarship search, first make a list that includes all of your hobbies, clubs and extracurricular activities. Having this information at hand will help when it comes time to ask for letters of recommendation during the scholarship application process. Teachers and counselors can better sell students to selection committees if they have thorough resumes and background information.

You can now match your specialties to eligibility requirements. Don’t waste your time and the institutes by applying for a scholarship you are not eligible for. For instance, if the scholarship is for children of veterans of war, be sure you have proof of this.

There are many small scholarships out there. There's no scholarship that's too low to apply for. The $200 and $300 scholarships add up.

Another way to search for scholarships is to contact schools that you are interested in and inquire about their scholarship programs.

When applying, save your applications so that you can revise them each time rather than having to recreate them. This applies to essays as well. You can make minor tweaks to essays and then use them to apply for multiple scholarships.

Where are the obvious places to start looking for scholarships? To name a few: Online; banks and credit unions; churches, alumni associations at schools the student's parents attended; local Rotary, Elks and Lions clubs; departments that offer the student's intended major, since they may have awards not handled through the university's financial aid and scholarships office; any fraternal or community organization to which the student and immediate family members belong; college and university foundations and student's and parents' employers.

And last, if a particular scholarship sound too good to be true, it usually is. Learn how to recognize and protect yourself from the most common scholarship scams. The number one tip: If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam.

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Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Tips for Starting College

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

You are a senior in high school and you will be starting college soon. There will be some concerns you and your parents will need to look at before starting your first semester?

For parents, you can begin working on helping your student as early as August through December, before your child even graduates from high school. The first thing you want to begin focusing on is pulling together as much information for FASFA or the United States Department of Education Free Application for Federal Aid, as possible. You can begin by collecting documentation you will need to complete the FASFA application and you can even attend a financial aid presentation. Be sure to save your last pay stub for the year in December as well so that completing the FASFA paperwork will be easier. By January you will want to have the application completed and filed, the sooner the better as financial aid can run out.

As parents you also may want to prepare and file your federal income taxes as early as possible so that you can verify income for financial aid.

For seniors in high school, your responsibility starts with signing up for your SAT and ACT tests as early as August. Between August and December you will want to visit with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements. Start collecting personal references from teachers, school counselors or employers early in the year, or at least two weeks before application deadlines. Attend a college fair and begin applying for admission at the colleges you have chosen. Find out if you qualify for scholarships at each college you have applied to and start the financial aid application process. Between January and May you will want to visit the colleges that have invited you to enroll. Keep track of and observe deadlines for sending in all required fees and paperwork and of course continue looking for scholarship opportunities.

College is an exciting time and as a freshman you may be wondering what it is you will need for your dorm.

To start, remember that dorm rooms are very small so take only the essentials. Freshmen typically get the worst rooms in the dorm as the upper classmen get to pick the best rooms before the year is over. Make sure you find out everything there is to know about your dorm and what it has and does not have. For instance, if the dorm does not have carpeting, you may need to take a rug. If the room isn’t air conditioned, taking a fan might be an option.

Find out what is allowed and not allowed in the dorms as well. Some schools do not allow microwaves, hot plates, candles and more. Most schools provide beds, some provide mattresses, and of course most require you to buy your own sheets. Types of items that you might consider taking include: TV, pillows, radio, rug, water filter, hangers, tape, tools and posters.

Freshmen are typically assigned roommates, so try contacting your roommate before the first semester. Moving in can be stressful and annoying so by talking to your roommate ahead of time you can find out what kind of person they are, what you have in common and what you each can bring or leave home.

Last, remember to save your money so that you have some spending cash. You will want to live frugally but there will be an occasion when you need your own money for those extra things.

By addressing all of your concerns before you arrive your first day of college, you won’t find this large life transition so difficult.

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Kara Lilly, a Librarian for over 15 years in College Park, creates the Eduology for schoolwork.org, a leading provider of homework help, college directories with satellite maps and a comprehensive breakdown of student loans. For more information, please visit www.schoolwork.org.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Antioxidants and Free Radicals

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

We often hear how various foods and even drinks are great antioxidants. But what is an antioxidant and how are they connected with free radicals?

The whole concept started with Dr. Denham Harmon, M.D., Ph.D., who first proposed a theory that aging was due to the indiscriminate chemical re-activity of free radicals possibly leading to random biological damage. Dr. Harmon's theory stated that antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which prevent free radicals from oxidizing (removing electrons from) sensitive biological molecules, will slow the aging process. Dr. Harmon launched his theory by showing, for the first time, that feeding a variety of antioxidants to mammals extended their life spans.
By what mechanisms do free radicals cause damage and disease?

Theories suggest that our body’s free radicals contribute to many different diseases.

So what is a free radical? A free radical is any atom or molecule, which has an "unpaired electron" in the outer ring. An "unpaired electron" will also always mean that there is an odd number since "pairing" of electrons goes by twos.

Protons have a positive electrical charge. Electrons have a negative electrical charge. The electrons move around the central mass made up of protons and neutrons. Neutrons have no electrical charge. The word is related to "neutral."

Being neutral, the molecule seeks to attract an electron or positive charge. Free radicals will seek out electrons from another molecule that is more willing to give one up.

The unsaturated lipid molecules of cell membranes are particularly susceptible to this damaging free radicals process and readily contribute to the uncontrolled chain reaction. Oxidative damage, another name for the chemical reaction that free radicals cause, can lead to a breakdown or even hardening of lipids, which makeup all cell walls. If the cell wall is hardened (lipid peroxidation) then it becomes impossible for the cell to properly get its nutrients, get signals from other cells to perform an action (such as firing of a neuron) and many other cellular activities can be affected. In addition to the cell walls, other biological molecules are also susceptible to damage, including RNA, DNA and protein enzymes.

The primary site of free radical damage is the DNA found in the mitochondria. Mitochondria are small membrane-enclosed regions of a cell, which produce the chemicals a cell uses for energy. Mitochondria are the "energy factory" of the cell. Every cell contains an enormous set of molecules called DNA, which provide chemical instructions for a cell to function. This DNA is found in the nucleus of the cell, which serves as the "command center" of the cell, as well as in the mitochondria. The cell automatically fixes much of the damage done to nuclear DNA. However, the DNA in the mitochondria cannot be readily fixed.

When this happens, extensive DNA damage accumulates over time and shuts down mitochondria, causing the cells to die and the organism to age.

The free radical generation process can disrupt all levels of cell function. This is why free radical damage is thought to be such a basic mechanism of tissue injury. It damages us at the cellular level.
The more toxic metals in your body, the higher the free radical activity.

So, to stop the oxidization process of the free radicals requires the intake of antioxidants. Foods highest in antioxidants include red beans, red kidney beans, pinto beans, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, applies and artichoke hearts. These are just to name a few.

So to sum it all up, if you want to slow the aging process, try eating more berries and beans or take your antioxidant supplements.

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R. Fredriksen is the Vice President of Nutrition Dome, a leading provider of Jarrow Formulas, Pioneer Nutritional Forumulas, Lipodrene and other quality supplements. For more information, please visit www.nutritiondome.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Take Your Fiber, Prolong Good Health

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

We hear about having enough fiber in our diet and eating fiber, but what does it mean? What is fiber and why is it important to consume?

We can find fiber in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc). Fiber is the part of the plant that our bodies cannot digest. If we can’t digest it, why do we want to eat it?

Fiber normalizes our bowel function and its effect on transit time and nutrient absorption. Without normalized bowel function, we can suffer from constipation, especially as we age. Constipation is said to be the most common chronic digestive disorder in the United States and it affects 4.53 million people a year and costs over $200 million for prescribed cathartics alone each year

Transit time is the time that it takes food to move through the digestive track. It is generally divided into three phases. Gastric phase (emptying of food from the stomach), which usually takes 2 to 5 hours; small intestine phase (time it takes food to travel through the small intestine) 3 to 6 hours; colonic phase is the longest taking any number of hours. It is here that problems of prolonged intestinal transit results in fewer bowel movements, constipation and disease.

Dietary fiber, in general, prolongs transit time at the gastric phase helping the body to feel fuller longer. This is caused by soluble not insoluble fiber.

What is the difference between soluble and insoluble? Soluble fiber is found in fruit, beans, peas and oat bran. It has a gel-like consistency that improves bowel movements by increasing the volume of bulk in the colon. Soluble fiber is the type of fiber that gets very gooey and sticky when it gets wet. It also binds together cholesterol in the small intestines and takes it out of the body. Certain soluble fibers such as pectin (found in apples) slow down the release of the sugars contained in the foods we eat, thus reducing the risk of diabetes.

Insoluble fiber is found primarily in greens, peels, nuts, seeds, beans and skins of grains. Insoluble fiber is the type of fiber that doesn't change at all when it gets wet. Insoluble fiber under a microscope looks like a sponge, and indeed it serves us as a miraculous sponge, because every piece of it can absorb more toxins than its own volume. Sponges are fibrous; they make the job of cleaning easier by absorbing. So does insoluble fiber. It grabs the toxins and takes them out of the body.

Soluble fiber does a lot of good things for our bodies, such as helping to lower cholesterol.

Insoluble fiber also does a lot of good things for our bodies, such as helping eliminate waste more quickly. Insoluble fiber also helps prevent constipation.

Moving toxins and waste through our body and not letting them accumulate helps prevent colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and other diseases. Being constipated is not only uncomfortable; it also isn’t healthy for our bodies.

So make it easy on yourself, eat your fiber and if you find yourself unable to consume enough, try a fiber supplement to help you along the way.

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R. Fredriksen is the Vice President of Nutrition Dome, a leading provider of Jarrow Formulas, Pioneer Nutritional Forumulas, Lipodrene and other quality supplements. For more information, please visit www.nutritiondome.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Platinum and its Uses

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Platinum has been making its way into American culture as the use of it in jewelry has grown substantially in the past ten years. If you have priced jewelry recently you know this precious white metal is even more costly than gold. So what is platinum and how long has it been around?

Platinum is a member of the ‘platinum metals’ family, along with ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium. Platinum jewelry dates back to Egyptian tombs in 1200 BC where it was imported from Nubia. In 700 BC, the high priestess Shepenupet was buried in a sarcophagus decorated in gold and platinum hieroglyphics. Platinum was also found in South America, dating back to 100 BC; the Incas created ceremonial jewelry from both gold and platinum.

In 1751, Theophil Scheffer, a Swedish scientist, recognized its unique properties and rarity and declared it a precious metal.

The metal started to gain popularity in industrial use because of its strength and that it was chemically inert. Soon, the metal was being used in gun parts, sophisticated batteries and fuel cells, in neurosurgical and dental apparatus and most importantly as an auto catalyst, converting harmful emissions into carbon dioxide and water.

Because of the metal’s ability to help the environment with its emission in catalytic converters, it soon became dubbed the ‘environmental metal.’ And with the growing concern around the environment and emissions, the demand for the metal continues to grow.

Although there have been many uses for platinum, mining the needed amount to meet demand has been difficult. Statistics state that between 5 and 6 million ounces of new platinum are reaching the world market each year, which is less than 5% of gold production. Much of the platinum that is mined comes from South Africa and Russia.

In the late 1990s, when platinum traded at a price close to gold, the U.S. Mint added Platinum Eagles to complement its Gold Eagles and Silver Eagles. Canada also produced a Platinum Maple Leaf and Australia minted the Platinum Koalas. The launch of the Platinum Eagle brought a near doubling in investment demand and the coin quickly became the most popular platinum coin in the world. Proof Platinum American Eagles, when first released sold out.

In 1999, the Chinese platinum jewelry market was also booming. The metal also became the most requested in the Japanese bridal market and later skyrocketed in North America.

Currently, platinum is also being used in electronic devices like iPods and computer hard discs. Asian manufacturers are using the metal to create flat-panel glass in computer and television screens.

With the strong demand for platinum, investors and consumers alike have driven up the price to almost double that of gold. With supply low and demand high, it seems the value of platinum won’t end anytime soon.

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BullionDirect is a leading online source to buy and sell precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars. For more information please visit www.bulliondirect.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com