- 2009
- Jan
- 12
Exit
Exit signs are mounted in almost every building we go into, like high schools, grocery stores, movie theaters and shopping malls. Many exit signs contain tritium, the radioactive form of hydrogen. Mixing tritium with a chemical that emits light in the presence of radiation, known as “phosphor in a tube” (a sealed source), creates a continuous, self-powered light source. This useful property of tritium can be applied to situations where a dim light is needed but where using batteries or electricity is not possible.
Using tritium in exit signs ensures that the sign will remain illuminated in the event of an electrical outage or a fire. If the tubes in the exit signs are severely damaged, the tritium, which exists in the sign as a high temperature gas, might escape into the local area but most likely will quickly disperse in the air. Because a damaged exit sign will have relatively high levels of tritium in it, you should not handle it.
While damage to tritium exit signs is rare, it is most likely to occur when a sign is dropped during installation or smashed in the demolition of a building. If not damaged during demolition, tritium exit signs can be broken when they are illegally dumped in community landfills.
Tritium is naturally produced by the interaction of cosmic rays with the atmosphere. Tritium can also be produced by man-made processes, as is the case of tritium exit signs. Tritium decays by emitting a low-energy beta particle that cannot penetrate the outer layer of human skin. Therefore, the main hazard associated with tritium is internal exposure by inhalation. Internal contamination occurs when people swallow or breathe in radioactive materials, or when radioactive materials enter the body through an open wound or are absorbed through the skin. Some types of radioactive materials stay in the body and are deposited in different body organs. Other types are eliminated in blood, sweat, urine, and feces.
As with all ionizing radiation, exposure to tritium increases the risk of developing cancer. However, tritium exposure is likely to have a limited biological impact because it emits very weak radiation and leaves the body relatively quickly. In addition, because of tritium’s short half-life, tritium must be ingested in large amounts to pose a significant health risk.
- in General, Science, Medical
- 21 comments
- 2009
- Jan
- 12
Is A Small Business Franchise Opportunity For You?
Small business franchise opportunities are definitely not limited to food kiosks and carpet cleaning. There are literally hundreds of businesses franchised in the United States, ranging from automotive and children’s franchises to pet and travel service franchises. Whatever kind of business you might be looking for, the spectrum of choices is limited only by your imagination and level of determination.
But how do you determine if a small business franchise opportunity is really right for you?
Franchise versus business opportunity
Perhaps the best place to begin your research is to briefly explore the difference between franchises and business opportunities.
A business opportunity is purchased outright. You, and perhaps your partners, own it and operate it under the name you have chosen. Typically, the seller makes his profit by delivering the equipment, real property, training or service that you just purchased. In some cases, the seller might earn residual income from your success (as is the case in a network marketing business). In most business opportunities, though, your relationship with the seller ends when you purchase the business. Basically, you are on your own at that point.
A franchise, on the other hand, is an ongoing relationship between franchisor and franchisee. The franchisor collects a fee up-front and also receives ongoing royalties in exchange for brand name recognition, an established business model, training and support. The franchisee receives the benefit of this brand name recognition and proven-successful business system. In exchange, the franchisee is required to follow established guidelines and policies regarding the operation of the business in order to ensure consistency from store to store.
Home business franchises are booming
One of the really marvelous benefits of a small business franchise is the ability to run it from your own home. In fact, many franchise companies encourage you to do so.
A home business franchise, allows you to enjoy the enormous benefit of an established company while avoiding the expense and headache of a storefront environment. Plus, many franchise companies invest their time in training you to run your franchise business from home. Your success is certainly in their best interest, so they will make sure you are properly trained and equipped.
One of the great benefits of being a home business franchisee is the ability to drawn upon the experience of other franchise owners. You will find that this network can provide a wonderful source of advice, encouragement and camaraderie.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses are important when considering a small business franchise
While small business franchises have a considerably higher success rate than start-up businesses, you need to consider your natural strengths and weaknesses when deciding whether this is a good fit for you.
For example, being a team player is an essential factor in running a successful franchise of any kind. While you may be your own boss, you do not make the rules. You must be able to carefully and completely follow a system that someone else created. If you are willing to do so, you can successfully avoid many of the pitfalls responsible for the early demise of thousands of businesses.
Another necessary trait is the willingness to ask for help when it is needed. Again, this is the beauty of the franchise environment in that the small business franchise wants and needs you to succeed. In fact, the motto of the franchise industry is that you are in business for yourself, but never by yourself.
Do you consider yourself a “people” person? Do you enjoy providing a service or product that brings satisfaction to others? As a small business franchise owner, you will need to build loyalty and trust among your customers. The best and probably only way to accomplish this is by developing relationships with these important people. The good news is that if you answered “yes” to these two questions, you already possess two of the most valuable assets a franchisee needs for success.
Now, how do you feel about risk-taking? If the idea of having the safety net of minimum risk when starting your business appeals to you, then a solid, well-researched franchise is probably your best way to go.
After taking a serious and honest look at each of these personal characteristics, you should have a really good idea about whether investing in a small business franchise opportunity would really be your best choice. If so, do not be afraid to take the next step and begin carefully examining your wide variety of choices within the rapidly expanding world of franchising.
With so many highly successful niche markets to choose from, you are sure to find just the right fit.
Remember, a small business franchise requires much less capital than a traditional start-up business and certainly much less than a mega-franchise like McDonald’s, while providing a recognizable brand name and a business system that works.
- 2009
- Jan
- 12
Home Theater Seating
Whether you have just installed a fancy new home theater in a box from Denon or Sony, or you are simply excited about a more comfortable and ergonomic TV watching experience, here are some tips for constructing an ideal home theater seating setup. First, bear in mind that there are numerous types of seats, including rockers, loungers, and traditional furniture adapted to theater watching.
Typically, single and dual chairs are often priced higher than rows (three pieces or more interlocked) because it is easier (per unit) to mass-produce theater seating. Legacy theater seats can be bolted to the floor using butterfly screws, such as the Tapcon screw. Loungers and rockers can be moved around for your viewing convenience.
Where should you set up your home theater seating? Experts recommend taking a measurement of the diagonal length of your HDTV or movie screen. Double this length, and then measure from the base of your screen out into the viewing area. Center your seating. Once you have made these measurements, connect your audio system accordingly, so that you do not distort the sound field by putting any one speaker too close to the sitting area.
Once you have decided your sweet spot, it is time to shop fabrics and consider ergonomic choices. Leather, suede, and velour fabric options are all available. Assembling, un-boxing, and installing your own theater seats can take at least half a day, so be prepared to invest the time. Since there are practically no showrooms in the world designed to house theater seats, your best bet is to find well-priced theater furniture on the Internet.
- 2009
- Jan
- 11
Cell phone signal boosters
Cell phone signal boosters, including wireless repeaters and inline cell phone boosters or cell phone amplifiers, extend cellular service in poor coverage areas by amplifying both transmit and receive signals. These cell signal booster amplifiers reduce problems with dropped calls and signal fades while improving service range, voice quality and access. These multi-mode amplifiers are designed to offer a cost-effective solution for use in buildings and mobile installations.
Cell phone repeaters are an emerging technology of bi-directional cellular amplifiers. If you are suffering from weak cellular signal, then a cellular repeater system can help you by improving the cellular reception that you experience. It does this in two ways:
1. A cellular repeater system will include an antenna which sits outside your building, where the cellular signal is stronger, and feeds this strong signal into your building through a low loss cable.
2. The cellular repeater system actively boosts this signal through the bi-directional amplifier. It is a bi-directional amplifier because both incoming and outgoing signals are boosted.
After a rocky start, cellular repeater technology has much improved and now there are a variety of repeaters which are licensed by the FCC, the body which monitors the communications industry. Be sure to look for this endorsement when buying a repeater, but rest assured that all cellular repeaters from the established manufacturers such as Wilson Electronics, Clear Voice and Wi-Ex zBoost have this accolade included. Cellular Repeaters come in a number of different flavors e.g.. In-Vehicle versions, Large building versions and standard home/small office versions.
Cellular Repeaters (Wireless)
Wireless boosters improve the cell signal for multiple users simultaneously without a physical connection to the phone or device. Models are available for vehicle, home, office, RV and marine applications. Amplifiers are available both standalone and as part of complete repeater kits.
Inline Boosters (Direct Connect Amplifiers)
Inline boosters connect directly to a cell phone or cellular data card providing improved signal to a single user at a time. When combined with the appropriate cellular antenna they provide optimum cellular signal enhancement.
- 2009
- Jan
- 11
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops within the mesothelium of the body. The mesothelium is the protective covering in the body. It covers various organs, including the lungs. The mesothelium is made up of two thin layers. When cancer develops in the mesothelium it is between these layers. The narrow space makes it very difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages.
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat. Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the majority of patients will not live longer than eighteen months. There are a variety of reasons for this, including the advanced nature of the disease once it is diagnosed and the lack of an effective surgical method of removing the tumors.
While most cases of mesothelioma occur around the lungs, it can also occur in the abdominal mesothelium, called the peritoneum, or the pericardium. While mesothelioma is most common in the lungs, it is important to differentiate between mesothelioma and lung cancer. They are two very different types of cancer and require different types of treatment.
How Does Asbestos Exposure Occur?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for centuries in various products. Asbestos has many attributes that make it valuable, including fire resistance. Asbestos was used in many products that were made for protection from heat and flame. This included actual clothing, such as gloves, to stuffing asbestos insulation into electrical conduit, to using asbestos to make fire proof cloth for use in power plants or petroleum refineries.
Asbestos also has excellent insulation and noise deadening qualities. This meant that asbestos was used in many construction products, including floor and ceiling tiles and wall board. Any home built before 1978 probably contains asbestos somewhere.
Asbestos exposure occurs when the asbestos that is in the products becomes damaged. Once damaged, the asbestos fibers are released into the air. The fibers are microscopic, smaller even than a grain of pollen, and invisible to the naked eye. The asbestos fibers, if inhaled or ingested, can become lodged into the body where it can create severe medical problems.
What is Asbestosis?
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammation of the lungs. The inflammation is a direct result of exposure to asbestos. Asbestosis is a progressive disease with no cure. The inflammation causes shortness of breath, which will get progressively worse as the disease progresses. Physicians can treat some of the symptoms of asbestosis with auxiliary oxygen, but it will not cure the disease. Death due to asbestosis occurs by respiratory failure.
Your Long Term Health
Asbestos related diseases, including asbestos cancer, do not show up until decades after exposure. Because of the long latency period between exposure and illness it can be hard to determine if you will suffer from asbestosis or mesothelioma. While asbestos exposure is the only way to develop these health problems, you may reduce or delay their development by taking care of your lungs today.
To protect your breathing:
* If you do smoke, stop. In addition to mesothelioma and asbestosis, there is research that indicates that those who suffer from asbestos exposure and smoke are at a greatly increased risk of developing lung cancer.
* Stay physically fit. Everyone’s definition of physical fitness is different, but up to thirty minutes of activity most days of the week will provide the most benefit. Physical fitness is important for healthy lungs.
* Eat well. While there is no direct correlation proven between diet and mesothelioma or asbestosis, filling your meals with leafy and fibrous vegetables as well as whole grains has been proven to reduce the risk of other types of cancer.
What to do if you Think You May be at Risk?
If you think that you may have been exposed to asbestos at any time, it is important to share your concern with a physician. While asbestosis has no cure, early intervention can slow the progression of the disease. Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer, and one of the reasons that it has such a low survival rate is because it is not typically diagnosed until the disease is fairly advanced.
If you worked in an industry that has a high rate of asbestos exposure, you should consider yourself at risk of developing an asbestos related disease. Some occupations that had high rates of exposure include ship builders, petroleum plant workers, power plant workers and construction workers.
If you are concerned about asbestos in your home you should research the best remediation methods or hire an experienced contractor to do it for you. Although the remediation is not difficult, you must be careful and follow specific guidelines to reduce the risk of suffering from accidental exposure.
Asbestosis and mesothelioma are both serious conditions that can be a death sentence. While you may not be able to undue previous exposure to asbestos, you can commit to reducing your risk of exposure in the future, and take care of your body so that it will have the best chance of battling any disease that you may develop.
- in General, Science, Medical
- 19 comments