ray bands

It seems like there is a worldwide plot to alter trends in sunglasses on a nearly yearly basis. It fails of course, but eventually something that should have never been in the first place becomes a trend through sheer persistence. Growing up we had a drawer in our house that held nothing but sunglasses of every size, shape and color. My parents finally sold that house and while moving them recently we rediscovered the drawer. Inside was a fifty year history of sunglasses in America. My sisters inspected each pair recalling who they belonged to and what vacation they were from or what boy they were dating at the time. My two daughters were of course ecstatic and gleefully picked out the ones they wanted, which was nearly all of them.

Back then only a few designers had gotten into the sunglasses game. We of course had Ray-Bans and Oakleys, which cost plenty, but there were no Dior, Gucci or Armani sunglasses to be found when I was growing up. Today you can’t throw a stick in an optometrist’s office without hitting a dozen designer frames. I’m not so vain that I will only wear the latest fashions, but if I’m dropping some money on a pair I prefer to get something that’s at least in style right now.

Oversized sunglasses are still in for better or worse. I tried a few frames by Gucci and Prada and laughed because some were so big they looked more like a mask than sunglasses. No, I don’t have an especially small face. Like all designer trends, they’ve taken it a step closer to ridiculous in an attempt to be unique. What is new is the variety of lens shapes and colors. I still can’t look at them without thinking of Charlie’s Angels.

Aviator glasses are also still in, but have undergone some kind of fashion inflicted mutation. Double frames, rose tinted gradient lenses, oh my. These have never been my go to as they just simply look like dude glasses. It doesn’t matter how well you do your hair, how sexy you dress or even how red your lipstick is, you still look like you’re wearing your brother’s sunglasses.

Of course cat eye sunglasses are back because they’re fabulous. I’m hoping this is a style that never goes away and even if it does I’m still wearing them until the day I die. I had a pair of black and green Armani’s with full tint lenses that made the beach at noon look like the dark side of the moon. I tried to find another pair after mine were lost somewhere between Nassau and Chicago, but they don’t sell that model anymore which is horrible.

If you do pick up a new pair of sunglasses this summer, remember not to throw your old ones out. Put them in that drawer with all the others so that someday you can pass them on. Plus you never know, they could come back in style.

Source by Sally Hamilton…

Once upon a time, if you wanted to build a sunroom onto your home, you would have to hire and pay a contractor to do it for you. But with the introduction of sunroom kits, that is no longer necessary. You can order a do it yourself sunroom kit from any number of sunroom manufacturing companies, who will then ship to you the elements that are necessary to put the room together. The idea behind sunroom kits is that you should be able to save money on getting your sunroom installed by putting it together yourself. Not only are you providing the labor, but you are also cutting out the 'middle man' in the process of building your sunroom. This allows you to save money on the materials as well. Plus, depending on the do it yourself sunroom kit that you choose, you can also save money on future energy and maintenance costs.

First, understand that the price of a do it yourself sunroom kit will vary depending on your home's particular situation. For example, if you are choosing to build a small, aluminum sunroom on top of an existing deck or cement slab, it will be much less expensive than building a block foundation sunroom with more windows and wood framing. If you have an existing deck or slab, then it makes sense to choose that location for the sunroom because it is already properly graduated and prepared. In that case, you can measure the deck or slab and get the proper measurements for ordering your kit. But if you do not have a slab or deck already, then you will need to decide on the proper location for your sunroom. You will also need to grade and prepare the area before you can begin construction. This obviously changes the amount of work that you will be requiring of yourself when installing your do it yourself sunroom kit. Of course, you could always hire a contractor to put in the slab for a block foundation sunroom, and then build the rest of it yourself.

Choosing the Type of Do It Yourself Sunroom Kit

When you are ordering a sunroom kit, realize that it is typically designed for a sunroom that is not going to be connected to your HVAC system. If you want your sunroom to be heated or cooled by your existing system, then that is probably not a project you will want to take on with your do it yourself sunroom kit. Otherwise, you'll be relying on fans and portable heaters or coolers to keep your sunroom comfortable. Depending on the climate where you live, this may be just fine for you.

Getting a Quote for Your Sunroom

Companies that provide do it yourself sunroom kits have a number of standard sizes and types that they are ready to provide for you. These are the least expensive options because they are able to mass produce them and package them at a savings to them, which they will then pass on to you. However, that does not mean that you can not find the right kit for you and the design that you have in mind. If you find that the standard kits you can find do not fit the sunroom that you are looking to create, then you can certainly get a custom kit created, but you need to realize that it will cost more to do so. In order to get a quote for the sunroom kit you want to order, you will have to provide them with the measurements that you have selected for the design. This does not just include the dimensions of the sunroom itself; it also includes knowing how many windows you will have and where they will be placed. You will then also have to choose the materials that you want the sunroom to be built from, and the types of windows that you want. Will they all be stationary or will they be movable? What kind of glaze will they have on them? If this looks like it's an overwhelming number of decisions to be made, do not worry; you can get a great deal of help from the sunroom manufacturers themselves. Many of them have online design pages that will walk you through all of the choices you will need to make for your custom sunroom kit. The final kit, based on the design that you created, will be shipped to your home and will include customized installation plans as well.

Possible Problems With Do It Yourself Sunroom Kits

Probably the most common problem with a do it yourself sunroom kit is that the person who ordered it is simply not prepared for the type and amount of work that is involved. If you are not absolutely certain that …

Source by …

Loans in particular have a lower rate of interest. Loans are issued subject to credit approval and equity requirements. Loans are issued subject to credit approval. Personal loans can be a godsend when you face a huge tax bill, an unexpected car repair bill, or another large expense.

Credit

A loan officer must determine your credit worthiness, even in the face of your bad credit history. Unfortunately, these rates often will be available only to borrowers with great credit who also have a credit worthy cosigner. Often the interest rates, fees and loan limits depend on the credit history of the borrower and co-signer, if any, and on options chosen by the borrower such as in-school deferment and repayment schedule. It is unclear how many borrowers qualify for the best rates, although the top credit tier typically encompasses about 20% of borrowers. Borrowers with bad credit can expect interest rates that are as much as 6% higher, fees that are as much as 9% higher, and loan limits that are two-thirds lower than the advertised figures.

Legally, a loan is a contractual promise of a debtor to repay a sum of money in exchange for the promise of a creditor to give another sum of money. If only one rate is listed, it is the best rate offered by the lender, and actual rates for borrowers with inferior credits cores will be much higher. Students may also be eligible for government loans that are interest free while in school on top of this line of credit, as private ones do not count against government loans/grants. By consolidating your credit card, loan and other debts you could end up with just one manageable amount to pay each month.

Interest

Interest rates are unlikely to drop enough over the next year or so to make it worthwhile to wait to consolidate. Interest rates for federal consolidation loans, fixed interest rate, weighted average of the interest rates of the loans consolidated, adjusted up to the nearest 0. Interest Relief is granted for periods of six months, up to a maximum of 30 months. Interest would normally be charged periodically according to the annual percentage rate (APR). Interest is then charged at a rate of 5% on the unpaid balance. Interest rates, which are periodically adjusted according to conditions, reflect the costs incurred by the IDB in borrowing funds, plus charges and spreads.

Many student loan providers offer low cost government and private loans with consistently high quality servicing and flexible repayment terms. Bank loans and credit are one way to increase the money supply. These may be available from financial institutions under many different guises or marketing packages: credit card debt, personal loans, bank overdrafts credit facilities or lines of credit corporate bonds. There are two types of auto loans, direct and indirect. Predatory lending is one form of abuse in the granting of loans. Grants may supplement these to aid students who face particular barriers to accessing post-secondary education, such as students with permanent disabilities or students from low-income families.

Source by Terrence Turner…

Sometimes little things on an office chair are really annoying and they can drive you nuts trying to solve them. In this article I look at the top 7 annoyances and how to easily fix them.

Chair Keeps Sinking

Office chairs sink for 2 reasons, first because the pneumatic lift is worn out and is no longer able to carry any weight. When this happens the only answer is to replace the faulty lift and you need to contact the chair supplier to get a replacement.

The second reason this happens is usually because the height adjustment lever is damaged or out of alignment as a result what happens is the gas lift is permanently set to release any weight applied and so forces it to sink.

Turn your chair over and see if the lever is misaligned, sometimes all it needs is for the lever to be pressed back into position.

If the chair is a number of years old you may be faced with having to replace it where parts aren’t available or the overall condition of the chair is poor.

Squeaking Office Chair

When your office chair squeaks it can be really frustrating, especially when you can’t work out why it’s doing it.

Squeaks and creaks commonly have 2 sources, first any metal to metal contact typically where the back attaches to the chair seat. If this is the case try exposing the moving parts and coat those with a light spray of WD40 be careful not to get any on the chair’s upholstery.

The other common cause is loose fixings securing either the back or the mechanism to the seat, look for any large fixings and tighten them all up. Some of these may be concealed and not readily accessible with the risk of damage attempting to remove covers, so take care when trying to take them off.

Loose Gas Lift Post

This most commonly affects new chairs, when you pick up the chair to move it the top falls away from the bottom.

The gas lift post is made to wedge into the base or chair seat, if it’s come out, wipe off any oil or grease place it back together and sit down heavily in your chair and this should jam them together properly.

Static Shocks Getting Out of Chair

Static electricity shocks are unpleasant and can be quite difficult to resolve as they sometimes originate from your chair’s upholstery, clothing and more frequently from your office carpet.

Air conditioning can make things worse as it dries the air and increases the build up of static and the chance of getting a shock.

A portable humidifier can help reduce static as the moisture released lowers the likelihood of static building up. Some clothes are also more likely to create static problems, so see if a change of outfit helps.

If all else fails try gripping a metal part of your desk or chair before you get up and continue holding onto it before moving, this can ground the electrical charge.

Office Chair Height Setting Issues

Most office chairs are made to fit the average person which generally means people between 5 foot 6 inches and 6 foot.

However, people either side of these heights often find the seat’s height doesn’t work for them. Tall people end up with their legs pointing uncomfortably upwards whereas small built people discover their feet can’t be placed firmly on the floor.

Neither is desirable often all thats required is to replace the gas lift with a higher or lower version, so speak with the chair supplier and ask if they offer different lift options.

A foot rest is another alternative for smaller built individuals.

Office Chair Back No Longer Reclines

When you have an office chair where the back has stopped reclining it’s highly likely the back has been accidentally set to the locked position. A lot of chair backs are designed to move back and forward as you move and also include a function letting you lock the back in a pre-set position.

If you are having this problem it’s highly likely the chair back has been set locked. To release it try moving the control levers on the chair’s underside, you may need to lean back slightly to apply some weight before the locked position can be released.

Chair Back Won’t Stop Reclining All the Time

There are 2 possible problems here, first if the back doesn’t move and is leaning back significantly it’s likely the back is locked off at full recline so just follow the suggestions in the previous topic to release it.

The other situation happens when leaning back in you chair it just seems to fall away immediately with little or no resistance. This could be the result of a faulty mechanism, …

When we talk about eastern clothing culture, what reminds of us is traditional Chinese clothing. However, to western clothing, it seems that we know fewer things. What we will think of is either western-style suit or luxurious noble clothes. Actually, the difference of western and eastern clothing culture is not simple. A clothing culture of a nationality is based on the culture of this nationality. After long history of culture, western and eastern clothing culture form unique characteristics and systems of each other. Now let me tell you something about that.

The first is the difference of color. On the one hand, the characteristic of a nationality reflects the love of colors. In ancient China, black was regarded as the imperial color. The colors of imperial clothes in ancient dynasties were black. With the development of feudal central power, people worshiped the earth instead of the god. Therefore, color of clothing was mainly in yellow. On the other hand, in west, white and purple were the most popular color in Roman times. People held the view that white was pure and honest while purple represented elegance. However, since the Renaissance, clothes developed faster and faster. With the development of luxury, bright colors were popular with people. People of Spain like rose and grey while people of England like black.

The second is the difference of the shape. In one hand, Traditional Chinese clothes emphasized the vertical feeling. This design can make people look thin and tall. The most important is that this design can make up the short stature of easterners. In the other hand, classical western clothes emphasized lateral feeling. Extravagant outline of shoulder will have radiative effect. What is more, this design was fit into the passionate temperament of westerners. In the meanwhile, this design was fit into the tall and strong stature of westerners.

The third is the difference of pattern. On the one hand, we can see many patterns in Chinese clothes. People hold the view that lucky patterns show the propitious wish. From ancient time till today, propitious patterns were used widely. No matter expensive silk or common printed cloth, these patterns can be seen easily. These patterns not only show the totem worship but also express the feeling of descendants of the dragon. On the other hand, with the development of history, patterns in western clothes changed continually. In ancient time, people liked to use flowers and other plants. However, in recent generations, animal patterns were popular.

These are three main difference of western and eastern clothing culture. Wish they are useful for you.

Source by Kong Ella…

Urdu is part of the Indo-Aryan group, which is a subgroup of Indo-Iranian Languages. The language itself is a hybrid of Turkish, Persian, Pashto, Arabic, Sanskrit and Hindi. The largest influences are from the Turkish and Persian languages, followed by Arabic and Sanskrit. Urdu is very similar to Hindustani (commonly referred to as Hindi). Hindi has a greater Sanskrit influence as opposed to Urdu, but Urdu and Hindi speakers can communicate easily with little effort.

Urdu is pronounced "Or doo" which means Army or Hordes; This language was created in the Indo-Pak sub-continent around 1000 years ago, when soldiers speaking different languages ​​like Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Hindi and other local languages ​​combined together in arms of the rulers of India during those time. This is the times when the Aryan invaders from central Asia came and conquered large territories of India. These were the Moghul rulers who came with Turkish cavalry passing through Afghanistan and into India; recruiting soldiers from the areas they passed through. Since then, there were so many languages ​​spoken within this army that a new language evolved. With its roots in the army barracks, it came to be known as Urdu. The first Mughal ruler was Zaheeruddin Baber and when he attacked India he had ten thousand Turkish Cavalry sent to him from the Ottomans. Baber's army was predominately Persian speaking, with a large group of Pashto speakers who combined with Turkish speaking cavalry before they attacked India. Over the years Urdu evolved in the barracks of these soldiers and eventually found its own being stolen in most parts of the Moghul Empire, especially by the Muslims and often in the Moghul courts, where Persian was spoken.

Urdu is very close to Hindi and the grammar is almost exactly the same. Urdu uses the Persian script with a few additions to cater for the phonetics of local languages. The script is also referred to as Nastaliq style, which is really the Perso-Arabic script. It is written from right to left unlike the Roman script which is written from left to right.

Urdu is spoken by over a 100 million people as a first or second language. Urdu is the National language of Pakistan and one of the 23 official languages ​​of India. The official language of Pakistan is English, but Urdu is also used officially by the Law enforcement agencies and local governments. It is also spoken broadly in parts of Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Urdu speakers are also found in Europe, USA and the Middle East. It spread in these regions as people increased to these parts looking for work.

Urdu has four main dialects Pinjari (Pin Ja ree), Rekhta (Ray kha ta), Deccani (Duck nee) and Khairboli (Khai Boalee). Pinjari, Deccani and Rekhta have almost disappeared, but most probably merged with the modern day accent which is Khairboli. Rekhta had the highest Persian influence, followed by Khairboli and Deccani. Rekhta is the language of Urdu poetry and is there considered a dialect. Khairboli is the Modern Vernacular Urdu and is spoken in Karachi, Delhi and Lucknow. Pinjari and Deccani which were spoken in Hyderabad and Anderpardesh regions of India have almost disappeared.

The modern day dialect is the Modern Vernacular Urdu. People who speak this language are also referred to as Ahal-e-zuban, (People of the tongue or language). People who have Urdu as their first language are referred to as Urdu speaking in most parts of Pakistan. The people who actually speak Urdu as their second language have a very different accent, especially people from the Punjab and Pashto speaking regions. The accent in the Punjab regions is influenced by the Punjabi language and many Punjabi words form the common vocabulary of Urdu in these regions. Pashto speaking people have a very neutral accent and are very clear; however most Pashto speakers who speak Urdu very commonly confuse gender in the language. There is also a considerable English influence on Urdu in Pakistan and in India. Words like import, export, genuine (pronounced gen yun when used in Urdu), kitchen, glass, chicken, table, latrine and many more words are used as part of modern day Urdu.

Urdu was given its name in 1751, when a very famous writer Saraj-uddin Aarzoo referred to this language as Urdu. The first Urdu book is called "Woh Majlis" (means that gathering of literary activity) in 1728 and the first Urdu Poet was Ameer Khusro (1253-1325 AD)

Source by Neil Payne…

[N.B.: All of the following movies are public domain movies – available online and free to watch.]

Suddenly (1954)

Tod Shaw (Sterling Hayden), the sheriff in the small town of Suddenly, has fallen in love with the beautiful widow Ellen Benson (Nancy Gates). Ellen lives with his only son Pidge (Kim Charney) and father-in-law Peter (James Gleason). Her husband was shot to death in Korea during World War Two. Tod Shaw hears that the U.S. president himself will be stopping by their small town for a visit. In the meantime, John Baron (Frank Sinatra), a psychopathic sniper, arrives in town with his two assistants. John is involved with a plot to assassinate the US president. He takes over Ellen’s house and holds the Benson family hostage. Thus it becomes a rush against time to stop the three hired hit men and save the president.

Main casts are Frank Sinatra, James Gleason, Kim Charney, Nancy Gates and Sterling Hayden. This film is also known as “Der Attentäter”.

More Info:

Director: Lewis Allen

Country: USA

Total Runtime: 1 hr 15 min

Filming Location: Santa Clarita, California, USA

D.O.A. (1950)

California accountant Frank Bigelow (played by Edmond OBrien) goes to Los Angeles police station and tells them that he has been murdered. What actually happened is that he was poisoned by someone. Doctors have already informed him that he is living on borrowed time.

Someone switched his drink and gave him a fatal dose of luminous toxin while he was hanging out at a bar, The Fisherman. Frank is bewildered, furious, tired and sick. Yet he makes up his mind and strides off to find his killer.

Main casts of the film – Edmond OBrien, Beverly Garland, Luther Adler, Lynn Baggett and Pamela Britton. This film is also known as “Dead On Arrival”.

More Info:

Director: Rudolph Maté

Country: USA

Total Runtime: 1 hr 23 min

Filming Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Thirteenth Guest (1932)

Young and lovely Marie Morgan (played by Ginger Rogers) is the daughter of a wealthy millionaire. Her father was killed by a mysterious person walking in the house during a dinner party. The Morgans then abandoned the house. On her twenty-first birthday Marie arrives at her family manor in order to get her inheritance. But she finds out that someone hired a woman to impersonate her. The family lawyer is later found murdered in the house. Captain Ryan and private detective Phil Winston try to solve the mystery. Thirteenth Guest is a low-budget movie but it is the puzzling mystery that makes it worth watching.

Main casts of the movie include Erville Alderson, J. Farrell MacDonald, Lyle Talbot, Paul Hurst and Ginger Rogers. The filming locations include Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. This film is also known as “A Convidada”.

More Info:

Director: Albert Ray

Country: USA

Total Runtime: 1 hr 9 min

Source by Saidur Rahman…

With so many designers and trends targeting the svelte body
of the twenty-something, is it possible to look fashionable
as the years pass and your body begin to tell the tale?

Absolutely!

In fact, with a little ingenuity and sleigh-of-hand, it's
easy to be fashionable and stylish regardless of how many
candles are on your birthday cake.

Now let's be frank: unless you work out religiously, you
probably do not have the same body at 40, 50, or 60 that you
did at 25. Time, gravity, and pregnancy all take their toll
on the female body, as does menopause. And when you mix a
mature body with fashions obviously made for a younger
person, it can lead to self-doubt, frustration, and
confusion.

But it does not have to be that way. Getting older also
means getting wiser, and like a fine bottle of wine, you're
improving with age. So you do not have the same body as
those twenty-somethings you see in magazines or on TV. So
what? Would you REALLY trade everything you've learned
Since your twenties for the body you had back then?
Probably no sooner than you'd like to re-live puberty,
thank you very much.

So how can you be fashionable without wearing all those
body-conscious clothes so en vogue these days? By
remembering the "3 C's" when you dress: clean, classic, and
coverage.

CLEAN

Clean lines create a clean silhouette which makes the body
appear more youthful by skimming the trouble spots instead
of calling attention to them. Complicated cuts, seams, and
details usually call for a killer body to pull off, so if
you have not got it, steer clear of those styles.

CLASSIC

Classic styles are called classic because they remain in
style year after year. Why? Because they look good on so
many bodies! Sheathes, A-line skirts, flat front pants –
all tend to flatter a variety of shapes. What's more,
because they remain in style year after year, classics are
easier on the budget than trends.

COVERAGE

Covering approbably is the key to aging gracefully. If
your upper arms, thighs, and décolletage have all seen
better days, it's time to cover them up a bit instead of
sharing the wear-and-tear with the world. Now I'm not
talking about draping yourself in a tent for the rest of
your life. Far from it. I'm talking about wearing short
sleeves instead of going sleeveless, Capris instead of
shorts, and modest necklines instead of plunging necklines.

Now I know that covering up the parts that used to turn
heads and draw envy can be tough to take for some women.
Which is precisely why beautiful jewelry and fine fabrics
are the revenge tools of choice for many well-dressed
mature women.

So your bustline is not as perky as your twenty-something
daughter or granddaughter. So what? Add a beautiful
necklace and draw envious glances from women of all ages.
Do not have the same backside you did as a teen? Encase it
in a fine fabric and see how many men go out of the way to
hold the door open for you. People will look where you
focus their attention, so use that knowledge to redirect
their interest to the parts you want them to see.

Or, as actress Cybil Shepard once said, "I like to flaunt
what I have left. "

Do not flip through fashion magazines and bemoan the fact
that you do not look like the models. Instead, look at the
various fashion elements to determine what will and will not
work for you. Are printed scarves all the rage this year?
Grab a few and be trendy. Are mini skirts the style of
choice? Pass and bank your money.

See how easy this is?

"A woman has the age she deserves," Coco Chanel once said.
You do not have to go under cover and dress "like a little
old lady "just because that's what your mother or
grandmother did. You're your own person.

If you remember to dress in clean lines and classic styles
and cover appropriately, you can still be fashionable – AND
draw long, lingering glances from handsome men – whatever
your age. And if THAT does not make you feel like a
blushing girl again, then honey, nothing I can say will!

Source by Diana Pemberton-Sikes…

As an Architect, in designing new homes for clients, they first come to me with standard tastes you would see on any house in any neighborhood. What I try to do is to expand their architectural vocabulary and be bold in what they’re trying to do, without spending a lot more money. Part of that is to make their house look bigger from the street and live bigger inside. You can get a lot of “wow” factor if you try some simple things in your home design.

1. Make your house longer, not square. Most people want to make their houses more square in design, in the preconceived notion of saving costs. While this may be overall true, it also makes your house very small looking (and boring). For a 2500 square foot house instead of designing it 50 foot by 50 foot, make your house longer like 75 foot long by 33 wide. You’d be surprised how much more elegant and more expensive it looks for not that much more money. It also gives you a bonus of giving windows into almost every room in your home, giving light and visual space to them.

2. Use the Split level home concept. The split level home was more prevalent in the 1960’s than it is today, but it has a lot of advantages if you modernize it. The Split Level pulls the basement out of the ground. In most of the northern part of the country (I’m from Indiana), you need at least a 30″ or deeper footing to get below the local frost line. Well, let that be the staring point of your basement (or as I like to call it, the Lower Level). That means the Lower Level is 2 feet below grade, which means you can have full size windows. The Lower Level foundation wall is 30″ tall, the rest of the wall height can be wood instead of concrete (whether 8′ or 9′ tall) which saves costs. If you use 8′ tall lower level (to reduce costs) there is a design I like to use to eliminate bulkheads for HVAC;…incorporate the ducts in a floor truss system. I love to use 16” high floor trusses, 24″ on center, and keeping the trusses in the same orientation throughout the house. It gives plenty of space for the HVAC ducts in the floor truss system, and no bulkheads, meaning less cost since you have flat ceilings and no extra framing for those bulkheads. If you need space for the HVAC to “step over” each other, do that in the mechanical room.

3. With the split level home, The 2nd Floor (or the “Main Level” as I like to call it) it anywhere from 7 to 9 feet above grade, not only giving it a commanding view of the property all around, it also looks like a 2 story building, for a 1 story price. You can leave windows open at night because the window sills are 10 feet above grade. You have a lot of visual privacy because people on the street don’t have a direct view into the house. When you sit down they can’t see you, even if you have lots of windows. On the Main Level I love to use vaulted roof trusses on the Main Level to give more visual height in the rooms.

4. Use wide overhangs. Wide overhangs were more prevalent during the Prairie Style period This may seem strange, but wide overhangs (like 4′ wide) make you house look bigger both inside and outside. As I stated above, I love vaulted roof trusses. I start with an 8′ tall wall (rather than 9′). With a 4 foot overhang and vaulted roof trusses, the wall height on the inside is now 10′ (8′ wall, 2′ in the roof truss), with the ceiling peak at 15′. This is because the roof started “going up” further away from the exterior wall. I’m getting 10 to 15 foot ceilings for an 8 foot tall wall price. The wide overhangs also help in summer, by shielding the windows in shade, keeping direct sunlight outside.

5. Incorporate decks and screen porches into the design. Don’t make decks and screen porches an afterthought, but incorporate them into the design, that is, put brick or siding on them, put a roof over them, and make the openings look like windows, but don’t put in the glass. And consider putting them on the front of the house, not the rear. I designed a house for my parents which was 1300 square feet on the Main Level, but added the screen porch on the front of the house. The house was 72 feet long in the front (24′ screen porch, 16′ Great Room, 8′ Entry, 24′ Garage) and it looks huge. …

When I was asked by the Department of Health and Welfare in the state of Idaho to parent two foster children I assumed parenting them would come naturally. I had three children of my own so how difficult could parenting children really be? My foster daughters had an abusive, controlling father but their bi-polar mother loved and cared for them the best she could. Their mother had purposely placed the girls in foster care to make sure they were well cared for while she dealt with her husband's recent incarceration, her pending divorce, her recent miscarriage and long-term mental health issues.

I soon learned that because of the trama foster children go through both before coming into foster care and while in foster care, they often need more medical, dental and mental health care than children who are raised from birth by their biological parents. Foster children often have learning and social difficulties that may affect their relationships at school with teachers and peers. As a result, it takes an extreme amount of patience and love to care for foster children properly. There are five smart things you can do to ensure your foster parenting success.

Be Honest with Yourself

Be honest with yourself regarding your parenting limits. Since you have a choice about the types of foster children you will allow into your home make a list of the specific child-related criteria that you know you can handle successfully. For instance, decide whether you feel comfortable parenting infants, toddlers, grade-schoolers, or teens. Also list out the specific types of physical and mental health impairments you feel comfortable addressing. Remember to consider the various backgrounds (history of abuse, exposed to drugs, neglected, mentally ill parents, etc.) a foster child may come from, take note of the parenting issues that may arise from these situations, and write down which issues you feel confident handling.

Common Law Liability

Before becoming a foster parent make sure you research the laws of your state regarding common law liability. In many states, under common law foster parents can be held accountable for the violent or malicious actions of the foster children in their care just, as their biological parents would be. You have the right to know the background of the children or teenagers you will be bringing into your home. Make sure to find out if the child or teen has a history of violence, sexual abuse, or criminal activity. For specific statistics about how this law affects current foster parents in your state seek legal counsel.

Avoid Sexual Abuse Accusations

If you choose to take a foster child or teen into your home who has been sexually abused, you must have several rules in place that will keep the foster child safe, your own children safe and will also prevent the abused foster child from accusing you or other relatives living in your home of abusing them. First, all men and boys in your home must never be left unaccompanied with a girl who has been sexually abused. Secondly, foster children with a history of sexual abuse must have their own bedroom for dressing and sleeping. Third, set clear standards about sexual-related topics such as modesty, privacy, and physical contact. Set up consequences for all the children living in your home if the rules regarding modesty, privacy, and physical contact are not kept.

Make sure any discrepences you set up for children in your care are legal and ethical. Finally, avoid joking, tickling, pranking, wrestling, and the use of sarcastic or suggestive language. What may seem like harmless humor to you and your family members can be taken the wrong way by a child that has been the victim of abuse. As a result, the abused child may accuse you of abuse when your intentions were to be funny and get the child laughing.

Spare the Rod Spare the Law Suit

In all 50 states foster parents are prohibited by law in state-managed family foster care systems to use physical punishment on a foster child. However this does not always stop some foster parents from spanking or using other means of physical punishment to discipline a foster child. The reason that physical punishment is so devastating to a foster child is because they have likely experienced physical, sexual, emotional, or a combination of abuse in their biological family. Not only does physical punishment cause the foster child to lose trust in you as a caregiver but physical punishment can also be misinterpreted as physical abuse and accusations against a foster parent by the foster child are kindly.

Document! Document! Document!

If you've ever rented anything from a tool to a home you know that it is important to meticulously document the initial condition of the item you're renting. This protects you from paying …

The roommates you choose when you are looking for an apartment can have a huge effect on the outcome of your living experience and the joy that you feel when you have found the place that you live. There are a number of factors that go into the type of roommates you have and you may want to consider the following things about people you live with when you are considering your roommates for an apartment in Fort Collins.

1. Loudness : Loudness can affect you on many levels when considering the type of person you want to live with. Personally, I do not like it when I have a roommate that is blasting music for hours on end, watches TV way too loudly, or all I can hear is the sound of grenades and shotguns going off. Apartments are built to keep noise reduction on the low, especially in Fort Collins where competition is fierce. However, this does not stop the noise from coming through. You should hang out with the person you want to live with before hand and see how loud they can really be considering moving in with them.

2. Cleanliness : The cleanliness of an apartment will drive you absolutely nuts depending on how strict you are about it. There's two factors in the cleanliness issue that can have an effect on the relationship between you and your roommate or roommates. The first factor is that you should consider if your roommate is a very clean person or not. If the roommate you choose in your apartment is very clean or not clean, you should be aware of the fact that your behaviors will affect this person in your cleanliness or lack of. If your apartment roommate becomes upset with your regards for cleanliness, you will begin to see some hospitality between the both of you. The other factor to consider is that if you think you will care about the cleanliness of your roommate. You may think you do not care if your apartment looks a certain way or not, but after living with someone for a long period of time and you are consistently picking up their messes or you having issues, you will begin to see your own behavior change around that person. Be sure to find out more about your roommate ahead of time to know that your behaviors match.

3. Attitude : I'm saving the best for last. When you live in apartments in Fort Collins , there is bound to be a lot of drama. An unbelievable amount of drama actually for our Fort Collins community. It really depends on where you live and who you live with, but this should definitely be considered when choosing who to live with. Remember, you will be seeing this person for a long period of time and you want to make sure you get along with them before you consider moving in with them. Fort Collins is a big town and you may think you get out a lot, however, you still will be living at the apartment. You are spending money to live there, remember! Be sure to hangout with your new roommate a lot and see how you connect before you decide on the final decision. You do not want to make the wrong choice!

Source by Raymond Dummer…

Lighting cost is an area many people concentrate on especially when building. Everyone yearns for cheaper, more user friendly and environmentally friendly lighting options. Facility managers and even homeowners who are conscious about costs want modern solutions that still serve their purpose efficiently. LED retrofit kit make a very popular lighting solution for all. This is because the kit is long lasting, efficient and calls for minimal maintenance. The retrofit kits are popular options for both commercial and residential settings because of the following benefits.

1. The kits are energy efficient

Compared to conventional lighting systems such as incandescent bulbs, LED retrofit kits consume lee power with a huge percentage of high light output. The retrofits are therefore not only energy efficient, but also more economic. They make amazing choices for offices and showrooms among many other settings.

2. They are versatile

The LED retrofit kits can be used in a wide range of applications. They come in handy in offices, commercial buildings, garages and even homes. The kits are designed to fit almost any given place with illumination needs.

3. The kits are long lasting

The LED lights do not easily burn out compared to bulbs and fluorescent, they last thousands of hours thereby becoming an inexpensive lighting solution. The need to keep changing them every once in a while is eliminated.

4. The retrofit kits have exceptional dimming capacity

They offer maximum brightness immediately as compared to other lighting systems. In addition, you can easily regulate the brightness according to your demands and what you find most appropriate for the given setting. It means, therefore that you can still enjoy even lower energy use by dimming to the right levels.

5. They are free from UV rays and infrared

LED retrofit lights do not have ultra violet rays as compared to infrared rays and fluorescent tubes. They are free from UV transmission, thereby making the kits suitable for environments that are sensitive, such as museums, art galleries and archaeological sites.

6. They come with less maintenance needs

LED retrofit kit offer flawless lighting for years and there is no need for regular replacement. The kits are functional and do not require much maintenance to keep them functional as they are designed to do.

7. The kits do not flicker or make humming sounds

For this reason, the retrofit kits keep the lit area peaceful and quiet compared to conventional lights that keep flickering and make noise causing eyestrain and headaches because of these characteristics. An LED retrofit kits saves you from these annoying effects. When used in industries, the kits have shown to have positive effects on performance, wakefulness and mood.

LED retrofit kits come in different sizes and designs in that you can choose an option that suits your settings and lighting needs best. It is best that you get your kits from reputable suppliers for quality purposes to enjoy all the benefits they have to offer. There is so much to enjoy the energy efficiency.

Source by Jovia D'Souza…

Red Wing shoes can be worn with jeans, in fact it is actively encouraged! Boot-cut style jeans look the best as their slightly flared bottoms give plenty of space to comfortably fit over the shoes and allow them to naturally show off their shape and form.

Generally speaking, you should avoid skinny-fit and slim-cut style jeans when you wear Red Wing shoes. Skinny jeans are designed to fit straight to your skin, giving no room for your boots or to move around in. One exception to this rule, is if you’re going for an alpine-punk look, in which case distressed skinnies would look great with your Red Wing shoes. If you have a pear shape body, or if your legs are a little chubby, you can wear slouchy or baggy jeans. Pear shaped and larger people should generally try to avoid skinny and tight jeans as they fit to your legs very tightly and so it’s a very unflattering look for them. If you’re in doubt, leave them out!

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the best look comes from boot cut jeans as they have a slight flare at the bottom which allows even the largest models of Red Wing boots to fit snugly underneath. However, if you do not like boot cuts or feel that the weather is too hot or otherwise unsuitable for them, there are a couple of other options. Firstly, you can wear cropped jeans or pants – these are jeans that are designed so that they stop above your feet, often just three quarters of the way down your leg. When paired with Red Wing shoes, these will appear to stop just above where your shoe begins, giving a very natural looking transition from pants to shoes.

The second way of getting around the boot-cut jeans problem is to roll the bottoms up. This can be done on any style except for the tightest styles of jeans and pants, but is especially good on straight-cut jeans as they give an even roll-up. If your jeans are a raw denim style, dark color or feature a very distinctive or dominant selvage, it is already very on-trend and fashionable to wear your jeans with roll-ups. The best roll-ups are those about 3-4 inches in height, and sit just on the peak or slightly below the top of the shoe. If you are wearing Red Wing boots rather than shoes, take take to overlap a few inches of the boots as otherwise you will look unbalanced and disproportionate. If you’re wearing Red Wing shoes, feel free to wear the jeans rolled up so that they are sitting just above the top of the shoe.

If you’re wearing your Red Wing shoes in a casual way, be sure to accessorize correctly. Try to wear a belt that matches the shade of your boots or shoes. They need not be an exact match, but avoid mistakes like wearing a green belt with a mahogany colored shoe. If the weather demands it, do not forget to match up your outfit with a hat and scarf. If you are not sure what color your hat and scarves should be, try this to begin with. Match your scarf with your belt – the more exact the match the better. For the hat, you’ll need a similar (but not identical) color and a similar ‘spirit’. Extravagant scarves require extravagant hats. Do not match a 3-tone, goose feather, body-curler scarf with a blue and red baseball cap. Keep things simple to start with too. Once we you gain a little confidence you can start experimenting with different colors and styles. If you insist on wearing gloves, try to get those that match with the belt and scarf.

When shopping for Red Wing shoes, it is vital that you get the right size. They must not be too tight around your feet and legs as that would detract from the flexibility it would offer. On the other hand, they must not be too loose so that they slop behind you as you walk. This would lead to blisters, uncomfortable feet and potentially risking falling over and injuring yourself.

Source by Dave Kerr…

To decide whether non prescription glasses are bad for your health, you first need to consider which definition of “non prescription glasses” you are using. This particular term is used in two different ways. It can mean “fake” or fashion glasses, which do not have corrective lenses; they are similar to normal sunglasses, except they are not shaded. The second definition of “non prescription glasses” means that they are vision-correcting glasses that were acquired without a prescription.

If you are using the first definition, and want to go shopping for fashion glasses that have no corrective properties, then you will be perfectly fine, as they will not damage your eyes at all. After all, people have worn sunglasses for many years without ill effects, and of course sunglasses may also protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays, depending on which ones you buy. The main danger for people who wear non prescription fashion glasses appears when vanity overrides sanity. It is ill-advised to drive at night or in dull conditions wearing dark sunglasses, and although there is no danger to your eyesight from wearing the glasses, you are at increased risk of having an accident due to decreased visibility.

A little care needs to be taken if you are going to wear the corrective type of non prescription glasses. If the wrong strength of lenses is selected, the result can be eyestrain and associated headaches, and over a period of time this can cause damage to the eyes.

If you suffer from presbyopia – a condition involving the deterioration of eyesight due to aging – you will be more likely to benefit from cheaper non prescription reading glasses. However, it is still important to go to a reputable store, such as a pharmacy, where you will be able to try a wide selection of glasses of differing strengths. Once you have found the optimal strength of lenses, you will be able to pick out a pair in a style of your choosing.

For people younger than 40 years old, and particularly in cases where blurred vision develops rapidly, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches, it is vitally important to see an optician or optometrist in the first instance. There are well documented cases where people have developed vision problems, to find that the underlying cause was a more serious health condition. Eye specialists are trained to spot these problems – though in the vast majority of cases, the cause of the vision defect will be normal and benign.

Some of the possible health conditions that have been noted to affect vision include diabetes, where rapidly changing blood sugar levels can affect the quantity of fluid in the eyes, causing swelling which results in distortion of vision. Another, potentially fatal, condition is extreme hypertension which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Such an underlying problem may be spotted by an optometrist because it can lead to swelling of the optic disk. Even brain tumors have been identified by eye specialists during examinations for the cause of blurred or double vision.

So to answer the question whether non prescription glasses are bad for your health, in general they are not. If you are healthy and are positive you do not have any underlying medical conditions, they will be perfectly fine. However, all cases where there is a sudden change in your eyesight should be investigated by an expert to rule out anything more serious than a vision defect. In general, once you have been prescribed your first pair of corrective glasses, usually fairly early in life for shortsightedness, it is recommended that you see an optician for a retest every two years. If you are over 40 years old, though, and your sight has slowly deteriorated over a long period, then non prescription glasses will be fine, though there is no reason to avoid seeing a specialist if you are concerned about any other accompanying symptoms.

Source by Len Grinder…

There’s a brand new aviation headset that’s just recently been released. It’s made by the David Clark company, and it’s called the DC Pro-X. Actually, there are two types of these headsets – an active noise reduction model and a passive noise reduction model. This article will be reviewing the active noise reduction model.

The David Clark DC Pro-X headset is a different type of headset for the company, in that it’s extremely light. Most pilot headsets weigh between 12 and 17 ounces, but this new headset weighs only 7.5 ounces. This can really make a difference in comfort, especially on longer flights.

Another feature that pilots like is the Bluetooth connectivity. A cell phone or an ipod can be connected wirelessly to the headset. This is very convenient for pilots when they need to make a quick call while still on the ground and don’t want to go through the hassle of donning their headset and adjusting it all over again.

It’s also a nice feature to be able to listen to music while flying a long cross country trip. It can help make the time pass more quickly.

The style of the ear cups is known as “rest-on-ear”. The idea is that the ear cups don’t completely envelope the ear and cause discomfort to the pilot’s ears. Sometimes the squeezing effect can cause some real pain after several hours.

The active noise reduction (ANR) technology works well to cancel out surrounding noises in the cockpit. This technology requires batteries, but the DC Pro-X has dual-coil drivers in their mics so communication won’t be lost in the event of battery loss.

Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of the David Clark DC Pro-X:

Pros:

• Extremely lightweight, good for long flights
• Easy to use
• Has Bluetooth connectivity
• Collapses easily to fit into flight bag
• Well made – they feel like they’ll last
• 5 year warranty
• Excellent customer service
• Affordable – Priced at $637.00, they’re less than comparable headsets

Cons:

• Some pilots complain that they don’t block out noise adequately
• There were also some complaints that the headset didn’t fit over their sunglasses

Because the DC Pro-X was only released a few months ago, it’s difficult to find a lot of reviews, but so far pilots who have purchased them have been quite happy with this newest headset from David Clark. This company has been around a long time and has been producing great aviation products since 1941.

Source by Joseph B Wood…

Not real: Nice guys are too nice. No one can always be that nice unless they’re a saint. They are busy being nice instead of being real and women instinctively don’t trust that. Bad boys “keep it real”. Nice guys don’t want to upset the apple cart.

Respect: No one respects a doormat. Nice guys don’t set boundaries or make any real demands. A bad boy doesn’t let a woman walk all over him or control him. Women can’t respect a man they can control. No respect = No attraction.

Predictable: Most people lead boring, predictable lives, so they’re attracted to people who are exciting and unpredictable. Bad boys are always a challenge. Nice guys are never a challenge. Predictable = No excitement = No challenge = I prefer a bad boy.

Mother Nature: Women are designed to nurture. However, instead of doing this with children, they often end up doing it with bad boys. They think their love will save them. Nice guys rarely need to be saved.

Fixer-Upper: Nice guys don’t usually need to be fixed. Bad boys usually do, so they become a project. Women think if they can “create” the perfect man, he will never leave them. Also, if they’re busy fixing someone else, they don’t have to look at what needs to be fixed in their own lives.

Sperm wars: Women are designed to procreate with the strongest possible genes. Bad boys are sending an unconscious message that they have great genes, so they’re not afraid of losing the woman by misbehaving. Nice guys are sending a message that they don’t think their genes are good enough, so they won’t misbehave.

Fear of intimacy: If a woman is afraid of intimacy, she subconsciously knows she can avoid it with a bad boy, since she can never get close enough to him to have to go there. A nice guy will eventually want a commitment, and that’s scary.

Low self-esteem: We don’t feel comfortable with people who treat us better than we treat ourselves. If you don’t think much of yourself, the bad boy is simply reinforcing your negative belief. A nice guy is treating you in a way you’re unfamiliar with.

Sex: Women feel a nice guy won’t be good in bed. They like to be manhandled sometimes and think a nice guy won’t be able to take control and get the job done. A bad boy comes across as being able to get the job done, even though that may not always be the case.

Hot: Have you ever seen a bad boy who wasn’t hot? I’m sure there are a few, but they wouldn’t be able to get away with half the stuff they did if they didn’t look so good. Meanwhile, when a woman describes someone as a nice guy, she means, “He’s not hot”.

Charm: Nice guys don’t always know what to say, and are sometimes at a loss for words. Bad boys can be very charming and know exactly what women want to hear. However, they eventually switch over to being selfish. By the time they reveal their true colors, the woman has fallen for them and has a hard time letting go.

Protection: Historically, men have protected women – physically and otherwise. Bad boys give the illusion of being able to protect women, while with nice guys, women aren’t so sure.

Life is about balance. Most men fall into either the bad boy or the nice guy category. The ideal man is neither, but walks that fine line between the two. Until men learn how to do this, more often than not, women will choose the bad boy.

Source by Lucia Demasi…