What's So Special About WordPress

Image source: http://www.sewmanywayskimi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/freefemininewordpresstheme1.jpg

Since its introduction in 2003 and up until now, WordPress has become powerhouse blogging platform and more importantly CMS (Content Management System) of choice for many web developers. Just to illustrate how popular WordPress actually is, let's just mention stats from April 2016, according to which WordPress is powering impressive 26,4% of all pages on the Internet. Even highly traffic sites such as The New Yorker, Forbes, Variety, Fortune, Reuters Blogs, to name a few, are using WordPress for content management. But what's so special about it?

WordPress Is Open Source Project With Great Community

WordPress is a free open source project. That means that it is free to use and modify all of its components. Source code is available to anyone curious enough in finding out what is happening beyond the curtains. In fact, since WordPress is open source project, it is updated and improved on daily basis by thousands of dedicated and talented individuals. Not only that, but over the time WordPress has build the community of users ready to help out anyone who might stumble upon any type of issue with the platform. At this point knowledge base is quite in detail and cover almost any problem you might come across. But if you still get stuck, feel free to ask away, you'll get the answers in no time.

Wordpress Is User Friendly

One of the main reasons for the popularity of WordPress is its ease of use. Let's talk about installation first. For start, all you need to do is have hosting place supporting PHP programming language and MYSQL databases. If you are passing these two requirements you are free to start building your first page. But don't be afraid if you are not too skilled in coding, as WordPress will allow you to set up everything without writing a single line of code. Although, let's be clear that if you are well versed in coding, you will reap many additional benefits. Its dashboard is clean in design and it won't take you too much time to get used to it. Adding content and writing posts on your page has never been this easy.

WordPres Is Highly Customizable

Wordpress offers plethora of plugins for bringing your page to the next level. In reality, these plugins are small programs that once installed can greatly improve functionality of your page, both front-end as well as back-end. For example with plugin you can add simple things like Twitter feed, image gallery, social buttons to your page. But plugins can greatly help with more complicated functionality like adding web site security, setting up web shop, generating special XML sitemap, creating contact forms, scheduling back-up and so on. Sky is the limit here.

Additionally, if you want to change visual style of your page, you can do so with plethora visual themes for WordPress available all around web. Just like with plugins, these themes can be both free or sold as premium products. All you need to do is to find suitable theme that matches style of your web site well, and just apply it through the dashboard.

WordPress Is Search Engine Friendly

Out of the box WordPress is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) friendly thanks to using standard compliance high quality code. That basically means that you won't have to put much effort into optimizing your page to finally appear among search results on Google and similar search engines. Although, according to SEO experts, this can be further improved with additional use of popular plugins such as All in One SEO Pack and Yoast SEO, which will teach you how to write good articles attractive to search engines.

As you can see, WordPress is a powerful platform. You can use it for almost any type of page, whether that might be personal blog, web shop, online portfolio, magazine or something else. With visual themes and plugins taking care of look and functionality of your site, you can focus on bringing your ideas to life.

What Can Small Business Owners Learn from the Lean Startup Concept

Image source: http://www.spectacledmarketer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screenshot_15.png

The Lean Startup methodology is not a new concept in the startup world, but it just might be for some small businesses. The idea was first introduced by Eric Ries in his book The Lean Startup, and now these methods are taught in entrepreneurship courses at universities and startup mentorship programs nationwide.

So what's the Lean Startup all about? According to the Harvard Business Review, at its core, Lean Startup methodology favors experimentation over elaborate planning. It values customer feedback over intuition. And it focuses on iterative design (changing and refining a design over time) rather than traditional big design up front development. The goal of applying Lean Startup methodology to your business is to eliminate waste and learn whether your idea will work in the real world with customers before spending all of your money on it.

At ezClocker, theyve benefited tremendously from implementing Lean Startup concepts, like focusing on a small set of features and developing a product that people will use to run their businesses every day.

But how do Lean Startup methods apply to non-tech small business owners? How would these ideas be used in consulting, fitness, or retail businesses?

In any business there are risks involved when you introduce a new concept to market, so to help mitigate these risks, you need to test your idea first. Most importantly, you need to prove that its valid and that people will actually take money out of their wallets to pay you for it.

Here are a couple of Lean Startup methods that can help small business owners:

Create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

The purpose of creating an MVP is to test whether or not an idea will work before building a finished product, writing a 30-page business plan, or opening a store. The goal is to learn the answers to these basic questions: Will people use it? Do they need it? And most importantly, will they buy it? Because as we all know, people vote with their wallets.

For example, if you wanted to open a bakery, you might create sample cakes and sell them at a local fair or farmers market to figure out which product sells the best and test out your pricing. Or if youre thinking of writing a book, you might write one chapter of the book first to see if anyone signs up to be notified when the next chapter is released.

I once met a lady who owned a service-based business, and she was working on a training video to promote it. At a meeting, someone asked her if the video was out, and she replied, No, its not ready yet.

I realized that this probably wasnt the first time shed been asked this question. She wanted the video to be perfect and she wanted it to look professional before she released it. What she didnt realize was that the time she spent trying to perfect the video could have been spent getting feedback from clients and learning how to improve it. Its very rare to get something right the first time, which brings us to the next idea that small business owners can implement...

Experiment and Measure

One of the primary steps of the Lean Startup method is to run experiments. This can be applied in marketing or in running your daily business.

The first step is to come up with an assumption, and then run a few low-cost experiments to validate it. By measuring the outcome, youll know if you should run another experiment or whether the product or service is good enough.

Say you want to run a marketing campaign for your janitorial company. Instead of putting all of your money into one big campaign, run several smaller campaigns for a specific time period instead. Measure the results of these experimental marketing campaigns and tweak them as necessary. Rinse and repeat.

The same process would apply if you were a business coach who wanted to develop an instructional course. Before spending months developing the course, think about experimenting. Maybe you could use a web page to collect email addresses. Provide a basic description of the course, and then add something like, Be among the first to take advantage of this opportunity! Sign up to be notified as soon as the course is available! Even better, another approach would be to pre-sell a course before youve even started developing it.

All of these low-cost experiments will allow you to verify the main goal of any business idea, which is Will it work? and Will anyone buy it?

Conclusion

The Lean Startup methodology provides great tools not only for the startup world but for big enterprises and mom-and-pop businesses as well. These steps can be used to reduce risk and help you learn if your idea or product will work in the real world before spending too much effort, time, and money on it.

What Are The Different Types Of Surgeries

Image source: https://www.nationalbariatriclink.org/images/Types%20of%20Bariatric%20Surgery.jpg

Surgery is a branch of medicine that engages operations in the treatment of diseases or injuries. It can involve a range of activities like cutting, suturing abrading or changing of different body tissues and organs.

Development of technology has influenced the medical arena dramatically. New kinds of surgeries have come into existence to treat a number of diseases that were not possible in earlier times. Highly trained surgeons are becoming more equipped to deliver the best possible outcome for the patient. There is an overall enhancement in skill, technical expertise, and surgical technology.

In order to guide you in more detail, here is an alphabetical list of the most common surgical operations performed all over the world:

Appendectomy

This is a removal of appendix through surgical means. The appendix is a small tube that comes out of the large intestine. It is done to treat acute appendicitis. This is precisely acute inflammation of this tube due to infection.

Bariatric Surgery

This is commonly referred to weight-loss surgery. It is an ideal option for people encountering extreme obesity.

Breast Biopsy

This is a diagnostic test which entails removal of tissue or cells for further examination under a microscope. The same technique is also used to remove abnormal breast tissue. It may be performed using a needle to extract the tissue.

Cardiovascular Surgery

This is a surgical treatment of diseases and disorders occurring in heart and blood vessels. Such examples include open heart surgery like coronary artery bypass and vascular surgery like femorotibial bypass grafting.

Debridement of Wound, Burn or Infection

This involves removal of foreign material or dead, damaged or infected tissue from a wound or burns through surgical means. Removal of damaged tissue allows it to heal more effectively.

Endocrine Surgery

This is a sub-category of general surgery that targets predominantly on conditions relating thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands.

Free Skin Graft

This involves removing healthy skin from one part of the body to repair damaged parts. These are performed as a result of burns or injuries. They are usually performed when the area is too large to be repaired by natural healing or stitching.

General surgery

This is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs like intestines, colon, liver, stomach, and gallbladder. It even entails breast surgery and hernias.

Gynaecology

This refers specifically to surgical dealing with female reproductive systems like uterus, ovaries, and vaginas.

Low back pain surgery

This can have a number of causes including abnormal development of backbone, stress on the back or a physical disorder that negatively impacts the bones of the spine. This surgery is dependent on the diagnosis.

Neurosurgery

This surgery is associated with the treatment of mental disorders, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Ophthalmology

This is a medical specialty mainly targeting treatment of eyes. Conditions can include conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Orthopedics

Orthopedic surgery is for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of injuries of the musculoskeletal system including bones, spine, joints, ligaments, and muscles.

Otolaryngology (ENT)

This is the medical and surgical treatment of head and neck including ears, nose, and throat.

Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery

This is a surgical specialty that mainly targets the repair, restoration, and improvement of conditions or injuries to skin external features resulting from disease injury or natural defects.

Thoracic

This surgical specialty primarily focuses on treatment of disorders relating to the chest which includes the ribs and the lungs.

Urology

Problems that are associated with the urinary tract including kidney, prostate, and bladder are addressed through means of urology.

Vascular surgery

This surgery treats diseases of vascular system or veins, arteries and is managed by minimally-invasive catheter procedures and of course, surgical reconstruction.

What Are the Car Problems That Are Too Expensive to Repair

Image source: http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2012-ford-mustang_100341765_l.jpg

When buying a new car all of us are very excited with the fact of getting a set of wheels that is free from any issues.  But as the vehicle gets older and travel more miles many problems can arise in it because of several different factors like lack of maintenance, manufacturing shortcomings, etc. Some of the repairs are certainly worth doing, but when the cost of repairs gets too close the vehicles actual value, it should be avoided.

But whatever is the reason for a car problem, it is always a good idea to know what auto problems are very expensive to fix. Here we have given a list of car problems that may be too expensive to repair and it may be even smarter to just give on your automobile. 

Replacing a damaged engine

There are many engine problems that are fairly common. Some of them even damage the engine so much that it needs replacement. Sometimes the repairs are likely too expensive to go after. You may have a blown engine that may be due to rod problems or broken valves. Some of the most common problems that lead to engine failure are overheating of the vehicle for an extended period or having very little oil available for efficient lubrication. When an engine gets damaged, the cost of replacement may range between $1k to $4k. However, in some cases, it can go all the way up to $7k depending on the extent of the damage.

Additionally, if you already have a vehicle that is bit older and has covered large miles, then its engine replacement
may cost you more than the actual value of the automobiles. As a high odometer reading decreases the overall resale value of a vehicle.

Failing transmission

When your vehicle refuses to go into gear, fails to move in a reverse or forward direction, slipping out of a gear and delaying in acceleration. All these problems can result to a failing transmission. Sometimes transmission failure can be also caused due to problems with incorrect levels of transmission fluid. When a transmission failure occurs, it would cost you around $3500 for its replacement.

On the other hand, if you have the option of repairing your auto transmission, you can still expect to pay around $2,000. Although you should change your transmission fluids after every few years, but it should still be examined on a daily basis.

Blown or leaking cylinder head gasket

When it comes to repairing a blown cylinder head gasket it requires a lot of efforts and labour and so it is very expensive to repair. A leaking or blown head gasket problem is usually caused by engine overheating, manufacturer or timing issues. If only your head gasket has been damaged, you can expect to pay up to $1,200 to $1,600 for its repairs.

AC Compressor

Because the compressor is the heart of the Air conditioning system, it can be very expensive to fix it when it starts to break down or stop functioning properly. Generally, it can cost you around $600 to repair a damaged AC Compressor.  However, the compressor replacement may be accompanied by extra repair work like the addition of a new refrigerant, which can increase the overall repair costs.

Bad or damaged Timing Belt

When a timing belt breaks down while you are driving your vehicle, it can damage the pistons, rods, and valves in your vehicles engine. Most of the times it can even affect the crankshaft of the automobile. It needs extensive efforts to replace a broken timing belt and it can generally cost up to $3,000.

Whenever you have any car problems, make sure to know the cost of repairs before deciding whether to fix the vehicle or not. However, in some cases, it may be a good idea to simply upgrade your vehicle to a newer one. Calling your local car removal company is the great idea to do, in case of your vehicle cannot be driven.

The History of Commercial Artificial Grass

Image source: http://www.easyturf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Pedigree_PeFC_1.jpg

Nowadays, commercial artificial grass is far from an uncommon sight in back gardens and sports pitches the world over. The synthetic material seems to well and truly have gained space over its natural counterpart, with traits such as its durability and ease of maintenance endearing it to the general public.

Time was, however, when the situation was markedly difference. Outside of a sporting context, commercial artificial grass was regarded as tacky and an inferior substitute for the real thing, and even when used to cover playing surfaces for sports it was far from consensual.

In the midst of all the disapproval, however, turf always had a few admirers, and it is them who are largely responsible for its eventual expansion and success. This article harks back to a time before commercial artificial grass existed, to give an overview of its origin, evolution and eventual rise to popularity worldwide.

1960s: Origins

The origins of commercial artificial grass date back to 1960s America. The material was first researched and devised by a team of scientists from the North Carolina State University College of Textiles, under the supervision of the dean himself, David Chaney. Together, these men came up with a material which looked and felt somewhat similar to grass, but without any of the shortcomings this material possesses; in short, what is nowadays known as turf.

Having created and perfected this material for optimal performance, Chaney and his team began searching for parties potentially interested in a test run. It did not take them long at all to find a considerably prominent guinea-pig, in the form of baseball team the Houston Astros, based out of the city of the same name in Texas. In 1966, the Astros home field, the Astrodome, became the first sports pitch in the world to be covered in commercial artificial grass. It was the beginning of a story which would only go uphill from there.

1970s: Expansion

Once commercial artificial grass had proven its mettle as the playing surface for the Astros, and become known as Astroturf as a result, other sports team owners across North American began taking an interest in the material. The late 1960s and early 1970s would see synthetic turf carpets spread across both major and minor league baseball fields, and eventually make their way into American football stadiums as well. Franklin Field, home to the Philadelphia Eagles and the University of Pennsylvania varsity football team, was the first venue to feature commercial artificial grass, but other pitches would soon follow suit, further cementing awareness for the material in public consciousness.

1990s: Landscaping

As popular as it was becoming with sports fans, however, commercial artificial grass still had one hurdle left to jump: the residential and landscaping market. Among home-owners, turf continued to be considered a cheap-looking, shoddy material, not at all an alternative to a real grass lawn. This generalised opinion stemmed from the first few artificial turf carpets looking somewhat less than realistic, as well as from the materials connotation with lower-income homes. As such, commercial artificial grass faced a challenge when trying to prove its worth in the home market.

This challenge would eventually be overcome, but not for another two decades. It was not until the 1990s, more than twenty-five years after it had first been invented, that commercial artificial grass finally gained traction as a valid alternative within the home and garden market. This was largely due to the vastly improved appearance and realism level of modern turf carpets in relation to their predecessors, which helped do away with many of the concerns and prejudices keeping commercial artificial grass from establishing itself a landscaping alternative.

For the following two decades, commercial artificial grass saw its popularity continue to rise, until it could stand side by side with natural grass. Nowadays, many people even consider the material superior to its natural counterpart, at least for certain purposes, and it is expectable that this trend will continue in years to come. It is interesting, however, to think of a time when commercial artificial grass was not as popular as it is today, and to learn exactly how it came to achieve its present standing in society.

The Fear of Spiders

Image source: http://www.wikihow.com/images/d/d5/Overcome-the-Fear-of-Spiders-Step-12-Version-2.jpg

As amusing as it may sound to many people, Arachnophobia--the fear of spiders, is a traumatizing reality for millions of Americans and people worldwide.

If you or someone you know personally has this phobia, then it should be brewing in your mind to find the answers that bring freedom from this evil web of fear.

Even though to the phobic it may seem impossible at first, the fear of spiders, like most fears, can most certainly be overcome.

There are a variety of treatments, exercises, and therapies that can help and the World Wide Web...oops...sorry...offers a vast array of resources and material that can be of assistance.

Most phobias are established to have developed from a traumatizing childhood experience that grew with the phobic so that it eventually becomes a part of him. At times when traumatizing childhood experiences cannot be established, psychologists were known to venture into the realm of reincarnation and past life regression.

Phobia is not the same as "fear". A "fear" is a sense of impending danger or evil established by inherent logics and reasoning or by gut instinct. A "phobia" on the other hand is an inflated and disproportionate perception of reality.

Some researchers theorized that spiders were once a threat to the human race somewhere in evolutionary history and that panic attacks resulting from phobias were a defense mechanism that could save the life of persons. Such theories, however, have no solid foundations.

Is the fear of spiders rational? Almost everyone would agree that the answer to that question is a resounding "no". It is in fact, somewhat "mystical". An arachnophobe would be dreadfully afraid of a spider that is really harmless, and poisonous spiders are not really a threat if seen.

Experts agree that knowing more about your phobia helps you overcome it since most phobias grow out of fear of the unknown. Following are some "fun" facts about spiders.

The fear of spiders actually has its roots deep in Greek mythology. "Arachnophobia" comes from the Greek words, "arachne", meaning "spider", and "phobos", meaning "a fear". Arachne was a beautiful Greek maiden. She studied weaving under Athena, and had extraordinary skill. When her skills were later recognized, she denied any training given by Athena. Athena turned herself into a bitter, old lady. She approached Arachne, and tricked her into a weaving contest. Arachne wove portraits of the gods performing evil deeds. Athena and Arachne finished their weaving in an extremely short amount of time, but Arachne's work was much finer than Athena's. Athena was furious that a mere mortal had beaten her in a weaving contest and had portrayed the gods in a disrespectful way. Overcome with rage, she beat Arachne to the ground. Arachne was so upset, she hanged herself. Athena realized what she had done, regretted her actions, and sprinkled a magic liquid onto Arachne, turning her into a spider, so she could keep her weaving skills.

The feared tarantula isn't poisonous. A tarantula's bite can be painful, but it isn't any more dangerous than a bee sting.

Under a spider's abdomen, near the rear, are tiny stubs called spinnerets. The spider uses its legs to pull liquid silk made in its abdomen from the spinnerets. The silk hardens as it stretches. Since silk is made out of protein, a spider eats the used silk of an old web before spinning a new one.

On an American one-dollar bill, there is an owl in the upper left-hand corner of the "1" encased in the "shield" and a spider hidden in the front upper right-hand corner.

Most spiders belong to the orb weaver spider family, Family Aranidae. This is pronounced "A Rainy Day."

In the 1960s, animal behavior researchers studied the effects of various substances on spiders. When spiders were fed flies that had been injected with caffeine, they spun very "nervous" webs. When spiders ate flies injected with LSD, they spun webs with wild, abstract patterns. Spiders that were given sedatives fell asleep before completing their webs.

Horseshoe crabs and spiders are actually close relatives. The horseshoe crab belongs to the large group of invertebrates (animals without backbones) called Arthropods. This group also includes lobsters, crabs, insects, spiders, and scorpions. Even though it looks crab-like, with a hard shell and claws, the horseshoe crab is more closely related to scorpions and spiders than to crabs.

Many cultures believe that spiders bring good luck. The spider was popular with the Romans, who had a favorite mascot in the shape of a precious stone upon which a spider was engraved. Also they were fond of carrying little spiders of gold or silver, or any of the fortunate metals, to bring good luck in anything to do with trade.

Spider silk can stretch up to 50 percent of its original length. A strand of spider silk the width of a pencil could stop a Boeing 747 in flight.

On average, people fear spiders more than they fear dying. However, statistically, you are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by the bite of a poisonous spider.

We'd probably all be dead without spiders. Their sheer number makes spiders vital in maintaining the balance of nature. Because they structure insect communities wherever they occur, spiders play a vital role in the terrestrial food chain. Without all those hungry spiders, insect populations would explode, food crops would be decimated, and ecological balances ravaged. Humans would probably starve within a matter of months--if they hadn't already succumbed to various insect-borne diseases. No spider, incidentally, has been found to transmit disease.

Spider venom can be used to treat certain neurological and mental disorders. A research group in Utah has isolated components from the venom of many species of North American spiders, which may help reduce brain damage following strokes.

The Benefits of Barcode Technology for Inventory Management

Image source: http://www.advancenet.com/Portals/0/Netstock/Ten%20benefits%20of%20Inventory%20Management%20website.png

Companies are faced with increasingly complex inventory management systems due to rapidly growing businesses, new customer demands, greater market opportunities, and a trend toward availability of more diverse products. With this complexity, trying to stay on track with where products are located and how much is on hand has become a significant challenge. This is especially difficult for companies that are still trying to get by with some manual processes.

Enter barcode technology  a system that includes a database, scanner, labels and printers which is proving that it can revolutionize the inventory management process, helping to address the complexity through automation and reduce the confusion and inaccuracy that manual processes have caused. Here are the benefits of barcode technology:

Increased Speed

Automation has always been known to speed up any process because it removes many steps that were previously used in a manual system. Every step within a process incrementally adds that much more time before it can be considered complete. The more steps that can be removed, the faster it can be finished. This applies to the process of orders that have many steps and people involved. With barcode technology, information can be quickly added to a database, analyzed, and processed that no human could ever achieve. It only takes a matter of minutes, which dramatically increases the inventory process, allowing you to take on more business and satisfy customer expectations.

Greater Security

To ensure no one can steal products or items from the inventory, a barcode system provides a much higher level of security to reduce shortage issues. The barcode on each item in the inventory provides a way to track everything and know where it is at all times. This reduces the risk that employees will take merchandise from the warehouse, which means that unnecessary costs are not eating away at profitability. At the same time, employees are held more accountable for their action.

Fewer Mistakes

Barcodes much of the human process from inventory management by taking over what employees might have handled. No matter how good your staff is, the fact is that there are still bound to be errors. Barcoding technology processes information about the inventory for employees so there are fewer mistakes. Scanning barcodes also means that numbers are not transposed like might happen when doing these processes manually.

Effective Decision Making

Barcoding works like an analytics tool and offers a wealth of data on inventory use and ordering preferences. This data helps to then identify spikes in demand or changing purchase trends that provide a way to make better decisions about what to keep on hand in the warehouse or how to restructure the warehouses layout for more efficient processing and picking. Better decision making can also be applied to tracking and collating costs, inventory inefficiencies, and labor costs.

Labor Reduction

Companies can save money by automating the inventory management process because they will need fewer hours to get the work done and even fewer employees. Thats because the barcoding eliminates manual data entry and increases parts checkout, reordering, and recordkeeping.

Real-Time Information

Barcoding automatically updates the information in the system so there will always be a real-time count on quantities. This updated information is also available across all devices within the warehouse so everyone has the latest data to use for their tasks.

Growing Preference for Barcode Technology

As more types of businesses that keep an inventory recognize the benefits of barcoding technology, its use grows and replaces all the manual processes. Even small companies on limited budgets realize that barcoding technology is an affordable investment that offers a return in as little as the first year of using the equipment and processes and adds liquidity to your operations.

Romantic Weekend Getaway to Washington, DC

Image source: https://fthmb.tqn.com/2UUa3qYZlfr-K17NSvrTQVp79J0=/960x0/filters:no_upscale()/about/Homestead-56a236393df78cf7727351a2.jpg

Washington, DC and cherry blossom trees are the perfect ingredients for a romantic weekend getaway. Spring is finally on its way. After months of waiting for the sun to come out and the temperature to be warmer, it is finally here. Join the hundreds of thousands of other people and welcome spring with the blooming flowers at the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event that commemorates the 1912 gift of Japanese cherry trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC to enhance the relationship between the United States and Japan. To accommodate all the prepared events, the festival has stretched into a 2-week event from March 29 until April 13 this year, scoping three weekends - that gives you three chances to go to Washington, DC and have your romantic weekend getaway while the festival takes place.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in the city, surrounding the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin. One of the first things you might want to do for your romantic weekend getaway is to go for an early morning walk and picnic on the Tidal Basin to avoid the rush of the crowd. You can bring your own breakfast and enjoy each other's company and the beautiful weather. After this, rent out a 2-passenger paddle boat for only $8 per hour and view the Jefferson Memorial and Japanese Cherry Trees from the water. Or, if you want to know more about the history of the cherry blossom trees and the festival, you can have a Cherry Blossom Tour with a National Park Service Ranger for free! If you still have enough time before the scheduled event in the morning commences, take the 3-hour City Scooter Tour to see the memorials and monuments along the Tidal Basin and National Mall.

From the first to the very last day, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has special events for everyone to enjoy. The Opening Day Festivities is a day-long event with dozens of activities, special performances and ceremonial speeches by the city officials and other dignitaries. Other activities include sports competitions, tree planting, art shows, concerts and cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, the Washington Savoyards' rendition of The Mikado, fireworks display on board the Spirit Cruises, marching bands, a Gala Dinner Cruise and more! Whatever weekend you choose to have your romantic getaway, you are both sure to find something interesting for you to do together.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is the largest event of the year in Washington, DC. It will be a great romantic weekend getaway to actually experience it. The parade consists of decorated floats, huge colorful balloons, clowns, antique vehicles, horses, marching bands from different schools across the nation and celebrity performances or appearances.

Experience a different kind of street party at the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival. It is one of the major events of the National Cherry Blossoms Festival, and the biggest Japanese street gathering in the whole country. Have a look at the one-of-a-kind Japanese gardening display and floral arrangement from the exhibits of Japanese bonsai trees and more. Through this street festival, your romantic weekend getaway will allow you to learn some culinary techniques with a cooking demonstration of Japanese cuisine. Some highlights of the Sakura Matsuri are koto music, classical and folk dances and taiko drums performances, martial arts demonstrations of disciplines that originated or are developed in Japan, Japanese arts and crafts, Japanese Beer Gardens featuring the Kirin Ichiban beer and more.

Of course, romantic weekends are not complete without romantic dining. Enjoy special meals at any of Washington's Cherry Picks, a number of restaurants around Washington, DC that add cherries to their menu and to their recipes during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Then, take your partner for a horse-drawn carriage ride. A lot of couples specifically choose this romantic way to enjoy the cherry blossoms, that is why reservations are highly recommended for this.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an experience to remember. The scent of the cherry blossom trees and all of the other flowers that bloom in springtime are the kind of aroma perfect for a romantic weekend getaway.

Replacement Kitchen Doors When Wisdom Meets Aesthetics

Image source: http://www.rwcnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/doors.jpg

Introduction

Replacement kitchen doors are perhaps the wisest way out of your present woes. Those old kitchen doors of yours have actually started appearing shabby as a result of which you feel that the entire layout needs to be jazzed up. It happens. The stickler for perfection that you are you would always want every nook of your house to be visually appealing. However, let us tell you that funding an entire remodeling project is an expensive proposition.

Do you need to settle for renovation every time a unit starts showing cracks?

What do you decide after having a good look at those forlorn doors? A thorough facelift? Right? No! This is where our overdrive for aesthetics gets us. It is difficult for us to see different components of our kitchen in isolation. The doors, cabinets, worktops, splashbacks and other units together make for the entire kitchen. True! However, there are avenues to save on renovation projects as well. You are not required to remodel the entire kitchen just because those doors have started looking old or for that matter because the worktops have started showing cracks. You can just concentrate on individual components instead of mulling a huge renovation project.

Concentrating on individual units

If its the doors that have started affecting the visual appeal of the kitchen then make sure you are concentrating on replacement kitchen doors (kitchen doors) only. It is definitely a feasible alternative to renovation. Ripping apart an entire kitchen would mean you are shelling almost 5 times the money than what you are spending on a simple kitchen door replacement. Replacement doors allow you to work just with what you have instead of causing a major upheaval of sorts by replacing every unit by a new one.

In Sync!

You need not worry about the possible disruption of symmetry or synchronization of your kitchen. You can jolly well settle for new doors that complement the existing design of your kitchen as efficiently as your old doors did until the time they retained their luster.

Versatility is key!

Irrespective of whether youre rooting for a contemporary look or a Shaker style kitchen you can choose replacement options in accordance. It is important to choose craftsmen who will be able to transform your vision into reality. In fact, it has been maintained that replacing kitchen doors is the easiest way to provide a revamped look to your kitchen just because you feel like you need a fresher looking culinary corner. None of the units needs to look shabby in this case.

Credentials decoded and more

The role of a credentialed craftsman in pulling off a dreamy design cannot really be undermined at any cost. You need to invest a substantial amount of time in your bid to get a credentialed professional on board. Try to work with those who have the long experience of designing bespoke kitchens. The new doors thus chosen should duly comply with the existing look of your kitchen i.e. complementing the existing cabinet, splashbacks, worktops and the overall paint.

It may take the time to choose the right design keeping so many factors in mind but fret not! The craftsman will be able to bail you out of confusions (i.e. only if you have taken the trouble to choose someone who is capable of doing so). For added inspiration, you can always browse through home decor blogs, or turn to the popular lifestyle magazines.

Conclusion

You can compare costs of replacement projects online or personally acquire quotes from manufacturers. Choose to settle for the ideal combination of cost and quality instead of attaching too much importance to cost. Your culinary paradise deserves way better than questionable craftsmanship availed at lower prices.

Importance of Photo Identification and its Supplies

Image source: http://slideplayer.com/7276787/24/images/5/Learning+outcomes+%28continued%29.jpg

In todays world photo identification is very important whether you are traveling out of station or overseas having some photo ID important that will keep you safe and secure. Photo Ids normally show name and picture, but in some cases, it shows very important information i.e. youre driving license shows your age, address along with your name. It can be helpful for you to keep it if you are going to buy alcohol or buying tobacco products.

Usage of photo cards

Photo ID cards can be used for various purposes, and it all depends on the type of card and how they can be used. Some of the most commonly used photo ID cards are national identity cards, driving licenses and workplace or university cards. Using any of the cards mentioned above Identity of a person can be proven.

Benefits of Photo Cards

Keeping the Identity card can bring many benefits and few of them are

To prove age whenever needed i.e. buying alcohol, tobacco or entering a night club

To prove Identity like in Banks or security checkpoints

To prove that you are eligible to drive a vehicle

Security and sense of community

Security of a workplace or office is very important, and it is normally associated with the reputation of the company. Staff wearing their ID badges shows that company does not tolerate any laziness on the security of its establishment. If employees are wearing ID badges, it creates a sense of community among them and it also helps the staff members to each out for each other easily including senior members of the staff.  If someone is in the workplace without ID badge, any security guard can ask him for the reason he is on the premises.

Fraud Reduction

The main reason behind the excess application of Photo Identity card around the globe is to reduce the identification frauds. Photo Cards helps keep confidential information secure, and its released only to the person who it belongs to.

Photo ID supplies

Making an ID card without a photo is easy but adding a photo increases the level of security as well as systems used to make an ID card. It also reduces the risk of ID card getting stolen because of the photo it is useless for anyone else.  Any firm needs to have all the essentials to make an employee badge or ID card whether they make it single sided or double sided. Fargo C50 single-sided direct to the card are economical and user-friendly. If you choose all entire cards printing system of Fargo, it will save you a lot of money. They provide all in ribbons, supplies, and software as well.  You can also enjoy environment-friendly ribbons and save ion your cartridge refill in the long run. ID Wholesaler is the best place to buy all the supplies relating to the printing and installation of photo ID card printing. The company also sells Dual sided, laminating and retransfer printers from Magicard, Evolis, Zebra, IDP and data card printers. ID Wholesaler also sells photo ID systems of all four types, and you can get massive discounts by using ID wholesaler promo codes on your purchase. Any company issuing Photo Id card to their employees or visitors needs to have a software for tracking of employees i.e. check in, check out or attendance of the employees.  Best software to use for this purpose are cloud badging, Asure Id and card studio which are also on reduced price at ID Wholesaler. Id wholesaler also sells Tripods, Camera backdrops, Card holders badge clips, and badge reels. You can also buy data capture products like barcode scanner, fingerprint scanner or signature capture from ID Wholesaler

Hardwood Floors In Kitchen - Yay Or Nay

Image source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e1/05/d8/e105d85e14d9e040161e08e16a9f46dc.jpg

Hardwood is the most desired flooring material and for a good reason. It is beautiful and durable natural material which doesnt require much in the way of maintenance. Even more, it brings a sense of style and atmosphere which synthetic alternatives cannot provide. I mean, why go for a product mimicking another instead of the real thing?

Hardwood, however, has its problems. It is not perfect and there are places where you might be better off with something else. There is no universal type of flooring capable of working everywhere equally well. The key to a truly good home design is to combine both modern fashion trends and practical considerations in order to create an atmosphere you would like to have around.

The Dangers for Hardwood in Kitchens

The biggest threat to any wooden floor is water damage. This means that installing a wooden floor in any environment where such type of damage is likely to occur, is not advisable. The kitchen is one of those places. However, this doesnt mean it cant work.

The most likely source of potential damage in the kitchen is, of course, liquid and food spills. Those shouldnt be a problem at all as long as you wipe them fast. A much more serious threat can come from leaking pipes or broken refrigerators. Even this, though, will not be much of an issue as long as your finish holds and the water cannot get between the floorboards.

Generally, if your wooden floor has been properly installed without any gaps between the boards and youve chosen a quality finishing product kept in good condition, you have nothing to worry about. What is a good finish, you ask? Well, if I was to get a hardwood in my kitchen, I would definitely go for a polyurethane lacquer/ varnish. These offer arguably, the best possible surface protection.

Choice of Wood and Finish

Naturally, you want to go with harder types of wood like oak or ash. Exotic species are even harder but they tend to darken over time and frequent changes of humidity can cause them to crack. Generally, polyurethane lacquers are the ones offering more protection. However, for exotic hardwood, its best to use an oil finish which will reduce the chance of cracks to appear on the surface.

What to Avoid!

First, despite their popularity and higher overall value, avoid installing solid wood flooring in kitchens or bathrooms. Solid wood is very susceptible to moisture and water damage. If you want a natural flooring material, you can go for engineered hardwood which is more dimensionally stable and offers higher moisture resistance. Bear in mind that they are difficult to sand and you can refinish very few times depending on the thickness of the wear layer. If you are about to take this step my advice is atleast to consult with some experienced floor sanding company, otherwise there is a big chance to mess up everything.

Second, do not purchase pre-finished floors for the kitchen. Why? Unfortunately, since the finish is applied in the factory, not on site, there is no way to put a sealing agent between the planks. They are virtually unprotected which makes them vulnerable to water penetration.

Can You Install a Hardwood in a Kitchen?

If you take a look at a magazine, you can find a lot of pictures of wood flooring in the kitchen. At the same time, you often hear that hardwood in this area is not traditional. Kind of controversial, isnt it?

The short answer is yes. If you desire, you can install engineered hardwood in your kitchen and it will perform reasonably well as long as it has been properly laid. Keep in mind it can work but is there are better options. I would also suggest trying vinyl flooring for your bathroom and kitchen instead because it is completely waterproof, easy to install and much cheaper.

Editorial Guidelines

Image source: http://www.awarenessmag.com/marapr08/editorial_guidelines.jpg

When submitting your articles to ArticleCube, the following guidelines must be followed:

Content

Preferred type of content:
List style articles (ex: top 10...,5 ways to...)containing picture galleries/videos/gifs/visuals
How-to articles. Case studies. Actionable Content.
The articles that you submit must be your own work
You may not submit articles written by other authors and the content must be original. Articles written by a ghost writer are perfectly acceptable as long as they are being used only by yourself. If you don't know how to write, we recommend iWriter for your articles.
The articles that you submit must be useful and valuable to the reader
Full or partial content found somewhere else on the internet (duplicates or near-duplicates) will not be accepted. The articles must be high quality and UNIQUE content. Not posting unique content will get your account flagged or deleted.
. Keyword stuffed articles are not allowed.
Keep your keyword count in the article body around 4-6 per article (1 kw/100 words is recommended). Write your articles for humans and not for search engines.
The articles must not contain any advertising
This means no press releases, ads, sales copy, self-promotion and article spamming.
Articles must be spellchecked and proofread for grammatical errors prior to submission
Do not submit articles filled with spelling errors and bad grammar. Use a free tool like Grammarly to proofread your articles. We monitor all new submissions.
Articles that contain the following content are not allowed:
No articles about pornography, hate, violence, racial, advocate against any individual or group, hacking, hunting, weapons, guns, alcohol, drugs, tobacco-related, steroids, escort services, sex toys, illegal, replica products, selling term papers or essays to college students, gambling, betting, illegal video streaming services, online pharmacies, viagra, diet pills, weight loss pills, penis enlargement, packers and movers, politics, religion
Don't post derivative content
Rewriting an article in multiple versions is not allowed. Your account will be deleted immediately.
No links in title or summary allowed
Only use the article body for live links back to your websites.
No affiliate links allowed
No affiliate links allowed in your article. No URL redirects. Don't use URL shortening services to mask or redirect your affiliate link.
Articles and outgoing links must be in the English language.
We only accept English articles and external links to English sites at this time as we do not have the resources to accept articles in other languages.
Articles must be added to the most appropriate category.
Choose a category that best fits your article. Not even attempting to choose a relevant category will get the article rejected. (example: an article about weight loss should not be posted in a category about cars)
NO location stuffed articles
We don't accept articles stuffed with locations and that contain anchor text with locations. (ex: Limos Toronto, Plumbers Denver, cleaners Manchester).
Image & Embedded content
Every article must have a top image. Upload options are below the body container. Embedded content (images, videos, gifs, tweets, Instagram, ...) in the body of the article will enhance your artilce and is allowed but not mandatory.

Format

Article Title
The first letter of the words of the title must only be capitalized.
No URLs, email addresses, author names allowed in the title
No HTML tags allowed in the title

Article Summary
Summary must contain a minimum of 120 characters
no URLs, email addresses or author names allowed in the summary
Don't repeat the title in summary

Article Body
Must have a minimum of 600 words.Driving the word count up by using duplicate paragraphs/sentences will get your IP/URL/accounts deleted and banned from our website.
tags allowed in body h2, h3, p, b, i, u, strong, ol, ul, li, img
tags not allowed in body h1, hr, font, color, javascript, table, span, tr, td, br
must not contain hard line breaks on every line of the article. Is allowed only with a small list of items.
must be formatted with paragraphs to make it easier to read. Use white space between paragraphs. A block of text will be declined
2 self-serving links allowed with anchor text within content, don't post URLs on their own (ex: www.articlecube.com). When referencing a source, you can post a URL on its own.
live links to high authority sites allowed (Wikipedia, NYTimes...). Linking to authoritative sources can help your article visibility.
no email addresses, author names or contact info allowed in the body
don't repeat the title in body
outgoing links must be related to the content of the article, example: an article about golf must link to golf related content!
don't ask visitors to visit your link (ex: click here, visit us, check out...)
don't add a resource box or author bio. Use your profile page to talk about yourself and add your facebook, twitter, and google plus account

Profile Page
pen name must be a person, not a company name or keyword. Please use your own picture instead of a company or website logo
ideal image size is 280px wide
don't use your profile page just for the backlink. Profiles without articles will be deleted after a certain amount of time

Images
you must have full rights to the images you post
ideal image size for the top image is minimum 880px450px. If larger, the system will crop the image. Use a tool like Canva or Picmonkey to adjust your image. Images in the body can be maximum 880px wide. If needed, add attribution in italic under each image or at the bottom of the article.
Example: Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
file types: jpg, png, jpeg, gif
no promotion on the image: ex. your website or company.

After reading these guidelines, you can signup here.

(Latest update: 13th July 2017)

Double Deep Pallet Racking - Your Complete Guide

Image source: http://www.atlanticrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Drive-In-Pallet-Rack-System-test.jpg

As the name suggests, Double Deep Pallet Racking enables palletised items to be stored two rows deep and provides superior storage density to alternative systems such as wide aisle. These storage systems are either installed against a wall or back-to-back. The racking design consists of steel beams and upright frames and can be purpose built to accommodate light, medium and heavy duty loads, as required. Loading and unloading items requires the use of specialised attachments or purpose-built forklifts such as reach trucks or articulated forklifts.

The system operates using the FILO (first in, last out) method of storage. Whilst retrieval of pallets located at the backend can lack the efficiency of other systems, this can be overcome through the use of an intelligent inventory management software that will allow you to take full advantage of the enhanced storage capacity.

What Are the Advantages of Double Deep Pallet Racking?

High density storage solution that maximises floor space
Front and back row items can be loaded and unloaded from the same aisle
Low initial costs, high level productivity
Upper storage levels can be equipped with rails to help forklift operators retrieve items and decrease the likelihood of human error
System can be custom built to support light and heavy weight loads
Ideal for use with a diverse range of industries including hospitality, manufacturing and industrial
Reduction in aisles results in less time spent travelling between different picking areas
Perfect for storing bulk items
Improves the overall efficiency of a storage facility
Ideal for inventory that has a medium to long shelf life
Great for storing food items with a high turnover

What Are the Disadvantages of Double Deep Pallet Racking?

Selectivity is not as efficient as some other storage systems
Access requires forklifts that have special telescopic fork attachments or are purpose built for double deep rack systems, such as pantograph reach trucks or articulated forklifts

What Type of Forklifts Are Required for Double Deep Pallet Racking?

The two most common types of forklifts for double deep systems are reach trucks (pantograph and non-pantograph) and articulated forklifts. Non-pantograph forklifts can be modified to work with double deep systems through the addition of telescopic fork attachments. 

Below is a list of pros and cons for each:

Telescopic Forks:

The telescopic attachment enables non-pantograph forklifts to use double deep systems. The attachment is powered by hydraulics, which enables the operator to move the forks backwards and forwards, independently of the forklift itself, allowing pallets to be placed and retrieved along the back row.

Pros

Less expensive than pantograph reach trucks
Telescopic attachments enable forklift to operate in narrower aisles than standard manual ones
Enhances materials handling ability, while reducing risk of inventory damage
Doesnt obscure forklift operators vision, unlike pantograph reach trucks

Cons

The attachment causes a reduction in lifting capabilities

Pantograph Forklift

Pantograph reach trucks are purpose built for double deep rack systems and offer superior performance to telescopic fork attachments. 

Pros 

Able to operate in narrow aisles
Quicker loading and unloading times
Ensures safer handling of pallets, decreasing chances of stock damage

Cons

Operator visibility is inferior to telescopic forks
More expensive than telescopic forks

Additional Safety Options

Every storage system benefits from the addition of pallet racking protectors that help to protect storage racks from forklift damage, while preventing injuries to personnel. These include rack end protectors, safety mesh, timber and metal decking, extra heavy duty beams, corner barriers, column guards and more.

Its important to always have appropriate load signs and safety labels, and other relevant signage in place, as well. Consult with your local parts supplier for advice on the best protective equipment for your double deep pallet system.

Cheaper Diesel Fuel

Image source: http://img.cheap-diesel.com/upload/product_img/20140803/Shiyan_Sunon_Cummins_6CT8_3_diesel_fuel.jpg

In order to understand how it is possible to get better fuel economy from your diesel engine, sometimes it is good to go back to basics to understand a little more about the fuel itself.

By doing this it is easy to see how cost savings can be made and how a better fuel consumption rate (miles per gallon, or mpg) will give you an overall cheaper diesel fuel cost.

Perhaps one of the most important things to understand is that a smooth running, well maintained engine is just about the most important factors in getting better fuel economy. Further, many of the problems that occur with diesel engines relate to fuel quality, which can occur in several ways.

1. It can vary from shipment to shipment

Even if you use the same vendor each time you fill up with diesel, there can be changes in the fuel they are providing. The diesel quality can change, even in a small way, with each shipment your vendor receives. The key variables are:

* Cetane: this is the level at which the fuel will self ignite, with acceptable levels being between 40 and 45. Because the levels can change with every delivery, the are not widely known. The cetane level can affect the starting and combustion roughness of your engine.

* The specific gravity or 'weight' of the diesel affects the fuel's heat content. Lighter fuels (Type 1) have a lower cloud point and is generally regarded as better in colder temperatures. The heavier diesel (Type 2) has good lubricating qualities, and if they are both the same price, the heavier fuel generally gives better fuel economy.

* The viscosity of the fuel governs the efficiency at which fuel travels through the high pressure parts of the injection pump. Type 1 tends to have more fuel leakage - reducing your fuel economy.

Buying diesel fuel from truck stops is often the best way to ensure you are getting a high quality product. These retailers would go out of business fast if they began to supply inferior fuel.

2. Using a fuel reformulator

After millions of miles of road tests around the world, there can be no doubt that using a fuel reformulator will reward you with better fuel economy resulting in cheaper diesel fuel costs.

These reformulators, like Ethos FR, should not be confused with 'fuel additives' - the type sold in automotive retailers. These are alcohol or gasoline based products that actually increase your fuel costs because of the quantity you need to add to each tank.

The main reason for treating diesel is to provide better lubrication, to ensure all the desired working parts of the engine are lubricated, running smoothly. Many drivers don't realise that since low sulfur fuel was able to be used on road vehicles, the life expectancy of the fuel injection system has dropped by up to 25%.

The cleaning and lubricating esters in this fuel reformulator are groundbreaking technology in action. Its use results in fuel burning more completely, and gives an appreciable net gain in mileage per gallon - meaning cheaper diesel costs overall.

Bronchial Pneumonia Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Treatment

Image source: http://pediaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Difference-Between-Pneumonia-and-Pleurisy-infographic.png

What is Bronchopneumonia/ Bronchial Pneumonia? 

Pneumonia is a class of lung toxicities. It transpires when a virus, bacteria, or fungi causes irritation and contagion in the alveoli (minute air sacs) in the lung. Bronchial pneumonia, or lobular pneumonia, is a sort of pneumonia that likewise causes soreness in the bronchi. These are the air passageways that pave way for air to move into our body.

The science behind it:

In this ailment, there is an intrusion of neutrophils into the air route in reaction to the occurrence of a large number of bacteria. The provocative reaction leads to the stuffing of the passage of a fluid. This procedure, by which airways are substituted for fluid, is named consolidation. With austere coarse infection, the inflammation can cause the damage or reformation of the air sacs.

Causes:

The reasons of bronchial pneumonia are identical as those of pneumonia that only distresses the lungs. It is a transmissible illness; consequently, the transmission of microorganisms from one person to another via fluids in the mouth and nose is the most common way of spread. Furthermore yet, pneumonia can be contracted in hospitals, where it is habitually much more austere, from contact to compounds and contaminants and similarly ancillary to other respiratory ailments. In numerous circumstances nonetheless, similar microbes are accountable for triggering the cold and the flu is what succumb to pneumonia in the long run. The same is correct for pneumonia in kids, which can frequently result following an upper respirational infection.

Symptoms:

1. Fever, Cough and Breathing Difficulty: 

Bronchial pneumonia is concomitant with a low-grade temperature generally about 100 degrees F. The high temperature is typically supplemented by shudders or perspirations. Pursue medical care punctually if the fever escalates to 102 degrees or more.

2. Chest Pain and Fatigue: 

Piercing chest pain mostly occurs during a mouthful of air and can be existed with or without commotion. Chest uneasiness hinders deep breathing effort, and marks of oxygen deficiency may be witnessed in acute cases; for instance, lips and nails might have a bluish color.

3. Secondary Symptoms:

Casual symptoms that might befall with this disease include the following: headaches, biliousness, and retching, in addition to gastroenteritis.

What are the risk factors?

1. Time of life:

The kids who are 2 or younger, as well as the individuals who are 65 or elder, have a greater threat for evolving bronchopneumonia and technical hitches from the disorder.

2. Environmental:

People who work in, or regularly visit, hospital or hospice services have an advanced menace for acquiring bronchopneumonia.

3. The standard of living: 

Smoking, pitiable nourishment, and a past of hefty alcohol use can upsurge your possibility for bronchial pneumonia.

4. Medical conditions:

Some medical circumstances can intensify your chances for developing this type of pneumonia. These include asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV/AIDS having an enfeebled immune system owing to chemotherapy or the usage of immunosuppressive drugs etc.

Treatment:

1. Oxygen:

People cured at home for minor cases of bronchial pneumonia dont need supplemental oxygen; but if you are hospitalized, you may call for oxygen through nasal points or masks. Some requisite motorized ventilation and aid breathing with the support of a synthetic respirator, which powers air into the lungs.

2. An incentive spirometer:

It uses an artificial device to reassure deep breathing and out the breath, supports slackening the phlegm in the lungs. Regular breathing and coughing help you relax and cough up oozes by pitter-patter on the chest, then deep breathing and coughing vehemently.

3. Antibiotics:

Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria most regularly causes bronchial pneumonia upsetting people not hospitalized or those with a destabilized immune system. Bacterial pneumonia reacts to antibiotic treatment, given through ingestion if pneumonia is minor enough to be cured at home; and injections are given if a person necessities hospitalization.

BMW Company Strategic Analysis

Image source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/bmwredefiningpremiumbrand-121023000415-phpapp02/95/bmw-a-strategy-built-on-premium-brands-38-638.jpg?cb=1350950764

BMW faced competitive rivalry in the United Kingdom most especially from Mercedes who are their biggest rivals. Mercedes have the second largest market share of cars in the United Kingdom, hence making them a strong competitor against BMW who are the first in market share in the United Kingdom. BMW has had to introduce more brands of cars in the United Kingdom market in a bid to being able to deal with their biggest rivals Mercedes who are a strong in terms of production and quality of the cars that they bring into the United Kingdom market.

Threat of New Entrants
BMW faces a threat with the introduction of new entrants into the car manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom. This has been evident with the recent introduction of Ford into the market which has taken over some of the market share that was previously owned by BMW due to the quality and affordability of the cars that they bring into the United Kingdom. Other car manufacturing companies have also started bringing cars into the United Kingdom market which is a very big threat to BMW which is one of the biggest car manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom.

Threat of Substitute
Offering BMW is faced with a threat because there was the availability of public transport in the United Kingdom which was an alternative for buyers of car. Most people in the United Kingdom will often opt to use public transport means because it is cheap and affordable which has had a drastic effect on the sales of BMW which is the leading car manufacturing company in the United Kingdom. Some of the people in the suburbs in the United Kingdom opt to walk to work or school rather than buy cars which they consider being expensive which has had a huge impact on the reduction of sales for BMW.

Buyers' bargaining power
When car buyers in the United Kingdom are not happy with the quality of cars that BMW brings into the market they will choose not to buy the cars which make them have bargaining power over BMW. BMW has to make sure that the cars that are being sold in the United Kingdom are of the best quality and standards so as to be able to decrease the bargaining power of the buyer. BMW has had to deal with cases where the customer is not satisfied with the customer service offered, and this will make the customer not to come back next time, he/she has to buy a new car which in turn has a drastic effect on the profit margins of BMW (Quam, 2012).

Suppliers' bargaining power
BMW has a lot of suppliers who supply them with accessories such as aluminum, steel, plastic and cables. There being many suppliers who would like to supply them with these accessories then BMW will have the upper hand in negotiating for prices of these accessories. This will then have a positive impact on the profit margins that will be faced to the reduction in the cost of production of the cars. Most of the suppliers of these accessories do not have a choice because BMW has an option of having to buy the accessories from other suppliers of the same accessories.

Value Chain Analysis
Value chain analysis is a process that is used by corporate companies by which they understand the systematic factors and conditions that are necessary in a bid to achieving the biggest market share. In this case, BMW has used the value chain analysis in a bid to achieving a bigger markets share in the United Kingdom through understanding the systematic factors and conditions.

The use of information systems by BMW has promoted the value of the cars that are manufactured and brought into the United Kingdom. BMW has also introduced a system that enables customers to have their cars serviced at least twice a year free of charge. This is all in a bid to acquiring a bigger market share in the United Kingdom. In addition to that, BMW has also used the technological advancements in a bid to improving customer interactions which has in turn helped in capturing a bigger market share in the United Kingdom.

This has helped BMW so much in that most of the car buyers' today check to see how much and where to find the cars through the internet before actually going out of their way and buying the new cars. E-business solution also allows BMW to be able to advertise their branches / suppliers and where they are found across the United Kingdom in a bid to telling their customers that in case they encounter any kind of problem, they should contact the specific branches / suppliers so as to be able to get the help that they may need.

BMW is also using the Application Service Provider solution which enables the headquarters of BMW company to be able to contact and share electronic information with other specific branches / suppliers in a bid to saving time and energy. It would have been a time consuming task if one is to travel from the headquarters to the specific branches / suppliers just to be able to pass information.

The directors of the company in the headquarters of the company can be able to pass / convey a message to the suppliers who are in the field in a bid to solving the queries that are brought forward by the customers. If a customer raises a query with regard to the cars that are being sold by the suppliers, then the supplier will be able to pass the information to the headquarters and thereby the information will be solved effectively and quickly. On the other hand, BMW has introduced a program that enables its employees to be trained with regards to new programs that are introduced into the market which is a major factor that has helped it to be able to capture a bigger market share in the United Kingdom.

Competitive Strategy Analysis When it comes to competitive strategy, BMW uses the Porter's generic strategy in a bid to being able to capture a bigger market share in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom BMW uses cost leadership for it as a company to be able to capture a bigger market share, as opposed to its biggest rivals Mercedes and Toyota.

BMW has taken advantage of the scales by which the economy of the United Kingdom run and have reduced the cost of its products significantly so as to be able to capture a bigger market share. BMW has taken the leadership in cost as opposed to its major rivals Mercedes and Toyota. By reducing the prices of the motor vehicles that are being sold in the United Kingdom, most of the car buyers in the United Kingdom have opted to buy cars from BMW which are cheaper and more luxurious, as opposed to those that are offered by their rivals.

However, the use of cost leadership has had a drastic effect on the profit margins of BMW considering the amount of money that is used to produce the cars and the amount of money they bring in. This has reduced the profit margins significantly in the United Kingdom market. For BMW to be able to increase their profit margins they must be able to integrate their cost leadership strategy in that the cars that will be sold in the United Kingdom will have to be increased a little bit in price so as to be able to cater for the cost of production and in turn increase the profit margins.,

BMW is a major leading car manufacturing company from Germany and controls a bigger market in the United Kingdom than any other car manufactures in the world. The capturing of the biggest share in the United Kingdom has been affectinged by some factors which include politics. In the political factor, the government has made legislations that have affected the cost of production. Other factors have been economical which include the fall in the value of the Dollar as compared to that of the Euro. In addition to that, some of factors have been social which include clients tending to go for eco-friendly and energy saving cars. Other factors are environmental which include people in the United Kingdom opting to buy cars rather than going with the public transportation. Other factors have been legal which include the subjection of automotives to pollution control measures.

Benefits of Using Salesforce CRM for Cement Companies

Image source: https://www.centile.com/images/stories/screenshots/myistracRM/myistraCRM.png

Salesforce CRM has come up as an admirable game changer for thousands of businesses worldwide earning them high ROI graphs and a leading edge over their competitors. Owing to its undeniable perks over automation of sales process many businesses have switched to the cloud solutions among which one of the greatest industries is the finance industry. Another industry that claims a great support for the Salesforce automation software is the Cement Industry.

Serving such a huge market demand Cement Industry has been employed with large sales teams and sales representatives along with a wide network of dealers and retailers who work under sweat-inspiring pressure conditions to earn a good market share for their concerned Cement companies. Here is where the need of capable Salesforce Consulting Services arrives, which can help the Cement companies to track the sales management and the lead management process with a more effective and optimized way.

Here we throw light upon the perks promised by Salesforce CRM for Cement Companies and present our readers with a brief Case Study of the results of using Salesforce automation Software by a leading Cement Manufacturer-

:

1)    Better Lead Management:

One of the biggest issues faced by the Cement companies is with the management of leads generated due to their conventional working procedures, which lack quick access to leads and access to the lead data, etc. A capable Salesforce Implementation Partner can help you with it by promising the following benefits-

Remote access to the lead data
Instant notification alerts from mobile supported Salesforce system for effective lead tracking
Transparency in the sales procedure by balanced distribution of sales territories and leads among the sales team

2)    Effective Management of Sales Network:

Every Cement manufacturing company is connected with a large network of dealers and retailers, which needs to be served in good faith by the sales team of the company so as to get a competitive edge over the competitors. Here you need to hire a Salesforce Implementation Partner who can help you manage this large sales network appropriately by employing an optimized Salesforce solution for your Cement Company. Some perks a capable Salesforce Consultants claim in this area-

Automated dealer, retailer network management through Salesforce CRM
Real-time inventory and order management and alerts in the concerned area

3)    Reliable Sales Forecasting:

Many Cement companies still following the conventional working procedures fail to formulate accurate statistics and sales estimates for analysis and thus fail to create effective business strategies based on reports and analytics. Serving as a quintessential feature of Salesforce automation software a Salesforce Consultant can help you with accurate sales analytics and reports over Salesforce dashboard.

A well-chosen Salesforce Consulting Company can help you here with the following perks-
Automatically generated sales reports based on sales data
Automated sales estimate based on sales data from previous months
Analysis of productive sales territories
Explicit analysis of the performance of sales team based on territories, sales representatives and month

Based on the proper use of these reports and other analytics your business development team could create productive business strategies to gain higher ROI graphs for your Cement company.

Brief Case Study of A Leading Cement Manufacturer of India, Which Serves About 40,000 Customers Daily

Problem : The company faced the issue of poor lead management and drop in expected sales graphs due to its poor dealer network management owing to its conventional working procedure.

Solution: The Cement company was served with optimized Salesforce services and the automation software was integrated over the existing procedure.

Result: With the help of the Salesforce CRM implementation the sales process of the leading Cement manufacturer was optimized with perks like effective lead generation, productive lead management, better sales network and the company was able to track the sales with effective business development strategies. Thus, the company gained eminent ROI graphs within 6 months of Salesforce implementation. With this, the company today is a chief Cement manufacturing unit in India.

The case study proves the great potential of business growth by using Salesforce CRM for Cement Industries, so if you crave to get peerless Salesforce solutions from an authorized Salesforce Implementation Partner in India or Overseas.

A DIYer's Way to Fix a Brick Driveway

Image source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/fa/6a/e3/fa6ae37d32e52061626b070eda249730.jpg

Brick driveways are quite common for American homes, as brick pavers are among the most affordable landscaping materials, which, in addition to that, looks really classy and provides different options when it comes to the size, the color of pavers and the installation pattern. But, as pretty much any kind of driveway surface, brick pavers get damaged after a while due to the high traffic. They may crack and chip, requiring a repair or replacement.

Theres the way to prevent such damage or at least prolong the life of the brick paved surface. In order to do that, masonry contractors recommend sealing brick driveways, patios or walkways immediately after their installation. The sealer will ensure that the bricks on your driveway look as good as new for a long time, as well as protect them from the wear and tear caused by the influence of the weather conditions. As the sealer coat doesnt last the lifetime, its necessary to reapply it every few years to keep the surface, paved with bricks, constantly protected.

Unfortunately, sealer, applied onto the brick pavers, isnt able to prevent the mechanical damage. In other words, the cracks and chips which appear if, for instance, something is dropped on the brick pavers, are inevitable. Obviously, such damage is quite selective and far from being crucial, as its totally possible to pull a few cracked bricks out of a paved driveway and replace them with the new ones.

This simple guideline will help you do conduct a solid repair and secure the new pavers in place without ruining the surrounding pavers.

Steps to fix a damaged brick driveway

Clean the area

The first thing you want to do after collecting the tools and materials listed below is cleaning the driveway, at least around the damaged area to make sure that the mortar sticks to the neighboring pavers and the quality of the installation, as well as the durability of your repair, isnt undermined by the grime, dust, and debris accumulated on the driveway.

Thus, take a broom and thoroughly sweep the driveway to get rid of the dust and debris. Be quite particular about the mortar seams around the pavers. This is also a good chance to remove the oil stains on your driveway that have been bothering you for a while. Rub them off using the mixture of room temperature water and white vinegar. If theres some dirt or grime left on the pavers after you swept them, get rid of it using a wet soft-bristled brush.

Once thats done, wash your brick driveway using a garden hose, so that the water under the strong pressure removes the rest of the dirt and dust and leaves the surface crispy clean.

Make sure that the driveway is completely dry before proceeding to the next steps.

Examine the damage

While your driveway is drying, find the damaged bricks, mark them with chalk not to miss any and inspect them to figure out whether youre able to repair them or they have to be replaced. Masonry contractors note that even if the brick paver has a few cracks on its surface or its corner is chipped, you might be able just to turn in upside down and reinstall with the pretty side facing up. But, youll have to extract the pavers to know that for sure.

Remove the damaged brick

Using a hammer and a chisel, break down the mortar around the damaged brick until youre able to pull it out of its place. Assess the damage and, if the brick appears to be quite crumbly or if the entire paver is covered in a web of cracks, toss it away, as you wont be able to reuse it. If you may turn the damaged side inwards, save the brick for later.

Dont forget to remove the mortar crumbles and clean the holes in your driveway left after the brick extraction.

Prepare the mortar and match the replacement brick to the rest of the driveway

Sometimes its quite difficult to find the brick pavers, which would match the ones that are installed on your driveway just due to the discoloration that happens to the brick after a long-term exposure to the sun and precipitations.

Thus, if you dont want your patchwork to be too obvious, you might have to treat the replacement brick to match its color to the rest of the driveway. If the new pavers turn out to be a few shades darker than you need, brush them with milk/yogurt and let them dry to lighten their surface. If theyre too light or dont look as weathered as the rest of the driveway, make them look so by brushing some dirt or ash into its surface.

When thats finished, prepare the mortar mix following the instruction on its package.

Install replacement pavers

Grab some mortar mix with a trowel and apply approximately a 3/4-inch layer of it onto the hole the brick will go into. Then, take the replacement brick, spray its sides (apart from the top one) with some water, spread a thin layer of mortar on them and press the brick down in place so that it is level with the surrounding pavers.

Remove the excess mortar around the freshly installed brick, clean the seam to make it crisp and youre done. Additionally, you may apply a layer of sealer onto the repaired areas to prevent the premature weathering.

Tools and materials required for the project:

Replacement brick pavers
Mortar
Pointing trowel
Chisel
Drill
Hammer
Paintbrush
Soft-bristled brush
Broom
Bucket
Garden hose
Water
White vinegar
Sealant for brick pavers

13 Ways You Can Repurpose Household Items

Image source: http://diyinspired.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Can-Storage-Containers.jpg

In past decades, it was common to fix what that got broken or no longer worked. Today, our society has made a habit of quickly replacing products at the slightest sign of a defect or scratch, which has significantly increased the amount of waste that accumulates each year. Most purchased items are thrown away within six months. To reduce the amount of waste generated and care for the planet, there are a few alternate uses for common home items.

1. Plastic Straw
Colorful drinking straws can be used to prevent too much water from coming into contact with the flower stems in a vase. Use straws either in bright colors or those that blend in with the stems to extend the lifespan of your flowers and allow them to thrive.

2. Mouse Pads
Mouse pads can be used in more ways than what they were originally intended for. They can also be cut into fun designs and coaster shapes. The material is durable and will prevent moisture from coming into contact with the surface of a coffee table. The pad is also an insulator of heat and will prevent hot cups or mugs from damaging your tables. There is a number of different color mousepads, which can also make it easy to create decorative trivets to use in the kitchen.

3. Rubber Bands
Rubber bands are a household item that is extremely versatile and can be used in a number of ways. They were originally patented in 1845 and continue to be used for their ability to bind different items. Use rubber bands on glassware if you have children around, because their little fingers will need a better grip. At childrens parties, use different color rubber bands to mark each individual childs glass. In the summertime or spring, you can wrap them around hangers to prevent light shirts or blouses from slipping off.

4. Bread Box
Although bread boxes were commonly used in the '80s and '90s, they are now somewhat outdated, but a new purpose is all it needs to make them cool again. Upcycle your bread box by turning it into a charging station for smartphones and tablets. Drill holes in the back where the cords can fit through and insert an MDF board as the divider. Label each slit to make it easy to find each charger.

5. Toilet Paper Roll
Instead of tossing out old toilet paper rolls, use it to suck up dust and dirt in windows and doors by placing it over the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner.

6. Plastic Bottles
Ever been a student away on college or moved to a new home? Cutlery may be hard to find in all that mess. Make your own forks, spoons and knives out of old plastic bottles that are lying around the house. You can bend the plastic and create smooth edges by using a lighter.

7. Lotion and Shampoo Bottles
A common inconvenience in the home is having your phone lie on the floor as it charges next to an outlet. Use a lotion or shampoo bottle that will fit your device, decorate it as you wish and cut a hole at the top you will use to hang that charging station.

8. Old Trays
Create a vintage setting in your home by displaying old food trays on the walls, which will give your kitchen or dining room that antique and eclectic look everyone who visits will be jealous of.

9. Cheese Graters
You can create a work of art out of old graters by nailing the kitchen tool to a wood plank and turning it upside down to use as light sconces or lampshades. The innovative product will look unique in your home and stand out in the kitchen or dining room.

10. Old Frames
Take out the matting and glass in old frames to use the product as a necklace or earring holder. Install hooks on the frame to hold necklaces and old lace or thread where earrings can be secured.

11. Old Chairs
Instead of tossing out old chairs that are no longer used, transform the standard household item into a flowerpot holder after adding a fresh coat of paint.

12. Changing Tables
Parents sometimes have a difficult time separating from all their kids essentials like toys, strollers and the like. Create a decorative wine cart out of the old changing table that is no longer used in nurseries, but which will stay with you for a long time to come.

13. Outdated Computers
With the right safety equipment and tools, you can transform outdated computers into fish tanks. Remove the CRT, make a plexiglass tank and add a large hole at the top of the monitor as an access panel. Use aquarium sealant used after removing the wires, fill the tank and watch your screen saver come alive.

Upcycling home items will allow you to reuse household products that can contribute to the functionality of decor of your home. The items may be considered junk, but you can transform them into one-of-a-kind treasures. Think about how you can create something new out of old valuables and prevent more products from being sent to the junk yard.

7 No-Fail Party Topics

Image source: https://i.pinimg.com/736x/96/b5/fd/96b5fd7ba7007f604c4afab7d1a94b34--gender-party-gender-reveal-parties.jpg

Whether you organize a little home-warming or a huge black tie event, gangster parties have been, are, and will always be popular among guests. This is a perfect opportunity to dress up for your guests and feel extravagant. For you, as a host, gangsters left a wide range of menu and beverage options as well as entertainment opportunities. 

The process of party organization is always exciting and hectic. If you decided to throw a party, then topic is one of the most crucial things to consider. There are millions of parties that have been thrown in the history of mankind, but the most successful ones had their them and idea behind.

A lot of people ask themselves why bother creating a topic if everything anyway comes down to drinks, food, and dance. The truth is it does come to these three elements, yet the theme will make each of them memorable. With the help of a topic you can make people remember and talk about your event for a long time in the future. Specific menu and entertainment options will open to you once the topic is decided upon.

There are hundreds of party topics that are used by event planners every day, however only a few of them are always a guarantee of success. Below you can find 10 topics that will suit any kind and scope of party that you are about to organize.

#1 Gangsters

Photo by Steph and Mike McDowell

Whether you organize a little home-warming or a huge black tie event, gangster parties have been, are, and will always be popular among guests. This is a perfect opportunity to dress up for your guests and feel extravagant. For you, as a host, gangsters left a wide range of menu and beverage options as well as entertainment opportunities. 

#2 Arabian Night

Photo by The Big Booth Photography

This theme sets the tone and type of traditions that will be present. Unique elements, such as shisha or belly dancers, will add to the spirit of the evening while Turkish sweet dessert buffet will be etched in the memory of your guests.

#3 Disney World

Photo by John Allen

Everyone likes fairytales, so why not let people become their childhood heroes for a night? Disney World parties are best for proms or young people, who enjoy costumes and interplay. Dont forget about decorations that are obligatory for a perfect Disney world!

#4 Wild-Wild West

Photo by TotalEvent

This theme will never lose its power! The beneficial side of Wild-Wild West party is freedom of costumes for your guests and a possibility to eat plain though tasty food created by an ingenious catering chef.

#5 French

Photo by Spencer and Kylie

French charm with sparkling wine and soulful food will not leave your guests indifferent. For small parties you can hire a chef for some culinary workshops, while for big parties some background music or entertainers will be of great addition. 

#6 Ancient Greece

Photo by Berlin Blues Explosion

Ancient Greece parties are all about wine and togas. This can be a perfect theme for a wine tasting ceremony or plain-air parties taking place near the sea or in hot climates. Dont forget to invite little Cupids that would serve love and sweets to your guests!

#7 90s

Photo by Chelsea Boyd

While the 90s themselves have just been here, people continue making fun of the fashion trends conquering our hearts at that time. So give your guests a little moment of nostalgia with paper clips and funny haircuts. Dont forget about the music choose the DJ who knows all the hits of the 90s to literally travel back in time.

7 Energy Saving Tips for the Commercial Kitchen

Image source: http://cdn.rainbowintl.com/sites/default/files/styles/full-0-lg/public/rb-waterconservationinfographic.jpg?itok=Hrls1GVK

Working hard is an efficient way of guaranteeing success, but working smart is the surest way of saving money. The commercial kitchen is one of the major energy consumers in a restaurant. Food preparation represents approximately 30% of a restaurants annual budget. Commercial kitchen equipment such as the refrigeration units, meat processing equipment, food processing equipment, commercial kitchen range, vent and exhaust hoods, water heaters, heating and air conditioning are the main energy guzzlers. These costs are necessary and increasing annually at a rate of 6-8%, but with the right measures, can be minimized and save a lot of money. Below are some of the energy saving tips that you can undertake and increase efficiency in your kitchen while saving a staggering amount of money and protect you from inflation.

Use of energy efficient equipment

The number of energy efficient commercial kitchen equipment is increasing. Your kitchen should be equipped with this high-efficiency equipment to cut down on costs and conserve energy. A typical restaurant can save up to $15000 annually by installing the energy saving appliances.

Audit and Monitor

Regularly get an assessment of your restaurant kitchen equipment. Record the energy consumption of the kitchen and set reasonable targets for reduction. Monitor the electricity, gas and water consumption separately to measure usage and look for areas that can be improved to maximize conservation. For large, power consuming appliances, you can install individual meters to monitor. If you notice changes in the amount of energy usage, it could mean that the equipment requires maintenance. These steps will help you monitor the efficiency of each aspect of the restaurant.

Maintain your equipment

Besides using the right commercial kitchen equipment, maintenance is critical for the safety reasons and for the efficient running of kitchen equipment. Ranging from kitchen equipments, food packaging machines, and other equipment, the best way to handle them is scheduled maintenance. Clean the equipment regularly, install new air filters whenever necessary and check gaskets and seals regularly to maintain energy efficiency as well as to ensure the longevity of the equipment. Most equipment comes with their service manual with recommended maintenance and cleaning schedules.

Conserve hot water

Conserving hot water will help lower two of your utility bills: the heating bill and the water bill. Use of cold water whenever possible will reduce the heating bill. Dish racks use the same amount of water to wash even when not fully loaded, thus is it advisable to always fill it up while washing. Do not thaw food under running water. Instead, put the food in the refrigerator to thaw. Insulate hot water pipes and regularly check the water temperature to ensure everything is working efficiently. If you notice water leaks, have it repaired immediately since even the smallest of leakages can lead to a huge water bill.

Air conditioning

Many may take it for granted because it is invisible, but air in your commercial kitchen impacts a lot on the efficiency of the kitchen equipment. Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning accounts for up to 28% of a modern restaurants energy expenses. With energy efficient solutions, you can save thousands of dollars annually. You should invest in an energy efficient air conditioning unit and ventilation hoods, as well as a programmable thermostat, to turn off the air conditioner when it is not needed. Ensure the ventilation hoods are always properly cleaned. Grease and dirt can build up in the unit and cause it to require more energy to work.

Reduce appliances' operating hours

Eliminate idle time for all appliances and conserve energy. Only use what you need when you need it. Only turn on heating and cooking equipment a few minutes before you begin using it. 10-20 minutes should be enough for the equipment to preheat. Invest in appliances that have sleep-mode capability. While in sleep-mode the appliance consumes less power, but it can still be turned on quickly when needed. Lights, hoods, signs, ranges and fans should all be turned off when not in use.

Rearrange your kitchen

Separate your cooling equipment from your heating and cooking equipment. Cooling equipment will use more energy around hot appliances, so grouping the heating appliances together will save energy. The heating equipment should also be as close as possible to ventilation units.