School science laboratories seem to always be designed by accountants. They are generally poorly laid out and ill-equipped to serve their purpose. I have taught in many of these disasters and have designed other labs that have been a pleasure to teach in. It would be nice if price was not a constraining factor in all school building design, but it is. The best way to approach the design of your lab is from the stand-point of what you need, then pare it down if the total cost is over-budget. A school laboratory is usually larger than the average classroom. This is because it may have 35 students moving around it, flames from Bunsen burners, sinks, electrical equipment and glassware all at the same time, as well as writing materials, computers and boards. The whole setup sounds impossible. Ideally you need to separate student writing areas from student experimental areas. The easiest way to do this is to have sinks, electrical outlets and workbenches around the three sides of the room. Cupboards for glassware and electrical equipment will slot underneath these workbenches. There needs to be a clear walkway all around the room in front of these workbenches, so that students can move about safely. The fouth side of the room will be where the board and teacher's bench are. You will need fume hoods, or fume cupboards, with extraction facilities to the outside. School fume hoods are not used very often, because the chemicals used in school labs are not aprticularly noxious. Fume hoods are best situated on the wall with the board and the teacher's area. Using a fume hood with a class is largely impractical because of the logistics issues involved with 35 students wanting to use one or two small spaces at the same time. These areas will be used infrequently and only briefly. You will also need desks or benches for students to sit at to write at and for non-practical lessons. These workbenches will are best situated about five feet away from the perimeter work benches. The exact arrangement of these workspaces will depend on the dimensions of your laboratory. A fan arrangement works well, with the desks end on to where the taecher stands. Other possibilities include joined groups of desks and desks tee-ed off the teacher's desk. Groups of desks make for more chatter amongst your students. If you are installing an LCD projector, then consider mounting it from the ceiling where it projects to the board at the front. That gives you your perfect school laboratory. You will almost certainly be overbudget at this point. How can you reduce the cost? * Cut the number of sinks - A large cost saving, but disastrous in terms of increasing student movement during experimental work. Consider long sinks at the back of the worktop though. * Cut the number of electrical outlets - Small savings * Cut the number of cupboards - Large savings possible, but increases student movement around the laboratory, and where do you put all the equipment? * Have just one fume-hood - Large savings, and you will rarely use it anyway.
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Outdoor landscape lighting as a security system
Outdoor landscape lighting can be a very decorative addition to any garden. But what about the additional benefits of the security and safety that it can also provide. Security Outdoor landscape lighting is one of the best security systems you can install. Landscape lighting can be used as a deterrent to residential crime. Correct proportions of outdoor landscape lighting surrounding your home, has been shown to minimize crimes by as much as fifty percent. Landscape lighting has two great uses to aid in the security of your home. The lighting can intimidate possible intruders to avoid trespassing on to your property. Should this fail, the illuminated areas will also make it possible for you or your neighbor’s to see any intruders as they trespass. As well as lighting an intruder visually, they will also create shadows. At night when vision is limited a moving shadow is easy to see. Even though you probably won’t clearly make out the intruder in the darkness, your eye will be drawn to the movement straight away which will put you on alert immediately. When designing your outdoor landscape lighting it is a good idea to light the pathways separately as to lighting individual garden features. This can be done using separate wiring circuits. To save power the feature lighting can be turned off very late at night, say after 1.30 am and the pathway lighting can remain on for safety and security. Also remember when wiring your outdoor landscape lighting, make sure to bury the wiring. It is common for intruders to see this wiring an cut it knowing that it will blow the lighting fuse which will turn off all of your lights. Safety Typically low voltage lighting systems are used for outdoor landscape lighting around the home. The preferred light fittings used to create outdoor landscape lighting, are low voltage, weather resistant fixtures. The low voltage used reduces the risk of electrocution if live wiring or terminals are touched. Also if power supply transformers are used to reduce the voltage, then they also isolate the low voltage system from the mains voltage which increases safety. Low voltage lighting outdoor systems around the home garden also use low wattage lamps. These do not heat up as much as the larger sized lamps commonly used inside the home. The risk of burning anyone is reduced. Also the risk of burning and damaging plants by the directed light is also greatly reduced. Maintenance Always check your low voltage outdoor landscape lighting regularly. Say once every week. Lamps eventually burn out and require replacement regularly. Another problem is that plants outgrow their original shape and form and you will need to re-aim the lighting again to suit. The neighbor’s cat or dog may also knock your lighting over if it is loosely installed.
2009 Buick enclave from concept to reality
General Motors has been taking a beating for over a year now due to sales dips, make/model image problems, and labor and legacy issues. Truly, if there was a better time to jumpstart the company, I don’t know what it would be. Fortunately, someone in GM’s walnut-trimmed boardroom is getting the message: build what we want and we will buy it. The Buick Enclave, a luxury SUV making the rounds of the U. S. auto shows, appears to be one such winner. I realize that I am in the minority of car critics, but I think that Buick is on the right track. The Lucerne, a full sized car based on the Cadillac DTS, is a beauty and Buick’s next newest model, the mid sized Lacrosse, is another attractive looking car. Still, Buick’s remaining fleet has been scaled back with only two SUVs and one crossover vehicle, the Terraza, left. At times it isn’t clear what plans GM has for its “near luxury” division, but if the Enclave is one example, then Buick has a promising future. Without having pictures available to show you, it can be difficult to describe the Enclave. When I viewed pictures on various web sites, I couldn’t help but think that the Enclave was similar to the Subaru B9 Tribeca. Before you get your knickers twisted in a wad, the Enclave is a swan in comparison to the ugly Subaru. Sporting a front end akin to the Lucerne, the back end looks a lot like the Tribeca. Overall lines are somewhat car like but the Enclave certainly does sport an SUV look with calmer lines. What we know about the Enclave at this point is fairly limited. The vehicle sits on a 119 inch wheelbase and is powered by a 3.6L V6. So, it appears that Buick will replace the smaller Rendezvous with the Enclave and keep the larger Rainier. Or, perhaps, the Rainier will be retired altogether. The Enclave has all the amenities a Buick owner is accustomed to including: leather appointments, power everything, OnStar, a variety of entertainment options, responsive handling, and a quiet cabin. Pictures reveal 21” tires with seven spoke wheels. Seating is for six, spread out over three rows. No couch seating either; individual bucket seats are planned for all six passengers. There is no official word yet whether the Enclave will see the light of day at least in its present interpretation. Still, the vehicle is a fresh look for a refreshed division, something that Buick certainly needs in order to keep the momentum going.
Credit card fees. the credit card companies strike back
Spending on plastic has never been more popular as more and more rely on cards instead of cash. Indeed experts believe carrying cash could soon become a thing of the past. High Street spending on debit cards outstripped cash for the first time in 2005 according to Precious Plastic 2007, the latest study of the UK consumer credit market from accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers. Our reliance on cards comes at a price though. The PwC research also revealed that credit card firms are feeling the pinch and their profits continued to this year as the industry came under unprecedented scrutiny from watchdogs such as the Office of Fair Trading, the Competition Commission and the Financial Services Authority. Clamping down on credit card charges has got to be good news? Unfortunately the combination of falling profits for card firms, tough action by watchdogs and the soaring popularity of cards is not necessarily good news for the majority of credit card users. Experts estimate that new consumer protection rules cutting the fees charged by card firms for going over your limit and missing payments to a straight Ј12 could cost the firms Ј1 billion a year. What goes down comes up elsewhere in what experts call a 'waterbed effect'. That means charges pushed down in one area pop up somewhere else. The credit card lenders will ultimately look to recoup these losses so you need to be aware of where these charges could come from and how to avoid them. They're out to get you There are a variety of ways that the lenders may try and recoup costs and they include Annual fees. Keep an eye on your credit card statements for announcements on the reintroduction of the annual fee by your lender. It's the most obvious way firms try to get their money back. Increasing interest rates. Two Bank of England interest rate rises in the last six months can mean that rates will be higher across the board. Lenders offer three different rates - one for purchases, another for cash advances, and yet another for balance transfers. The rates for cash advances and balance transfers are sometimes higher than those for purchases. The general rule is to not use your credit card for cash withdrawals as these rates are usually the highest and the way lenders tend to make most of their money back. You need to be aware of tiered APRs also as some cards have different rates to varying levels of outstanding balances for example 13.9% on balances under Ј3,000 and 15.9% for balances over Ј3,000. Some cards also have a penalty APR. This is where the APR may increase if you are late in making payments. Increased balance-transfer fees. It is common practice for credit card companies to levy a fee on balances you transfer and these are likely to increase in 2007. At present this is likely to be between 2% and 3% and not many firms at present cap these fees so transferring a large balance can be very expensive. No more long interest free periods - With the rise of so called 'rate tarts' who move credit cards regularly to get the best deals many of the lenders may start to reduce the length of their interest-free periods. Usually you do not pay any interest if you clear your card debt every month. That may change. Increased interest rates for going over your limit. Lenders could introduce much stricter penalties if you go over your credit limit such as increasing your rate or cutting your credit limit. A savvy credit card user is a happy one! If you are aware of all the possible penalties when you take out a credit card and keep an eye on any changes to your statements you can avoid paying more for your credit card usage. Common sense tells us that the less you have on a credit card and the more you pay off each month the less you will be penalised but as we know this may not always be possible. This is why we look at all the credit card offers for you to ensure you get a deal which matches your spending habits without costly penalties. What Next? We compare all credit card providers to find you the best deal for your circumstances. Find your perfect credit card below and compare providers in our best buy tables 0% Balance Transfer Rate Credit Cards - moneyexpert/Search/Introductory-Balance-Transfer-Credit-Cards. aspx 0% Purchase Rate Credit Cards - moneyexpert/Search/Introductory-Purchase-Rate-Credit-Cards. aspx 0% Balance Transfer & Purchase Rate Credit Cards - moneyexpert/Search/Introductory-Balance-Transfer-Purchase-Rate-Credit-Cards. aspx
What is buzzworthiness how do we create a marketing buzz
What pops into your mind when you hear the word buzzworthy or even just buzz? Well for starters, when I hear the word buzz on its own, I think of bees swarming around a hive full of honey. If I think a little further I get an image of a busy New York street, a mall full of people, or even a festival/parade. These things also bring me back to the image of the bees buzzing around a hive of honey, the only difference is that they're people, and the honey is something that attracts them there. The honey in New York would be business opportunities, social opportunities, and entertainment. In a busy mall, it's the stores with the products and services they offer. A festival or parade has festivities, extravagant performances, or entertainment value. All these things are what we could call buzzworthy, because they attract a crowd of buzzing bustling people excited and active. So now let's put these images in the frame of business and word of mouth/buzz marketing. When we're trying to develop a viral marketing campaign, we need something buzzworthy. So let's look for some honey that'll get the bees swarming. Since we're probably not selling honey to bees, we'll need to find something that is sweet enough that will attract a swarm of buzzing excited customers for a feeding frenzy. This is where things could get challenging though. It would seem that there are so many products and services out there, with so many marketing campaigns, that the swarms have scattered and become uninterested. They've headed for the honey one too many times with the thought of how sweet it will be, only to discover a bitter muck or molasses at best. This causes them to become discouraged, untrusting, and wary of the next guy who advertises honey. Don't let this get you down, or stop you from releasing a product. The fact that there are so many dud products out there can be your opportunity to release a good one. According to the contrast principle, those dud products can actually boost your recognition just by your ability to be so much better than the competition. Now I can sense that some of you are probably thinking "How can I be sure my product is better than the competition?" It's simple; just make a product that is buzzworthy, which means making your product sweet enough to attract a swarm of buzzing customers. How? Through excellence! People talk and get excited about excellence, and that is buzzworthiness. Here's a breakdown of how to be sure your product is excellent. - Don't overhype your product and then underdeliver. You may get a swarm on the initial product launch, but when those buzzing bees find out that your honey is really molasses, the buzz will be silenced, and you can say goodbye to your customers, because they won't be coming back for more. Only amateurs focus on the first sale. - Give your customers a high return on their investment. This means deliver what you promised, at a fair price, and then overdeliver. Give them more than what they asked for. Add value to your product where-ever value can be added. Stick behind your product, give support for your product, guarantee your product or their money back, and tack on some bonuses for buying your product. - Create a good Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Your USP is an attention grabbing phrase that addresses a few of the following: What you're selling, how much, key benefits, &/or why buy from you. This is an important part of your product creation process and is best if it's short, sweet, catchy, and enticing. Pay attention to the word "unique" in there, because you need to have a unique quality that makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd. You also want to make sure that your USP is believable. Most people know the old saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is", and if that pops into their mind when they read your USP, then you're sunk. Hype your product, and then overdeliver! Excellence is buzzworthy, and if you go that extra mile for your customer, and if you exceed their expectations, then they will be excited about you and your product, and they will tell others about it. Q) What is buzzworthiness? A) Buzzworthiness is something that is buzzworthy. Q) How do we judge what's buzzworthy? A) If it's buzzworthy, then it will create a buzz. Q) What defines a marketing buzz? A) If customers are excited about a product, telling others about it, and coming back for more with a swarm behind them in a feeding frenzy. So there you have it folks. I hope this gives you a better idea of how viral/word of mouth/buzz marketing works, and how you can create a buzz with your product/service. Just one more key to note is that you should study the concept here, then innovate, and improve upon it. Some of the biggest buzzes I'm sure are still to come, and you might just be the one to start them buzzing.
Artists biographies on film top movies about visual artists
Visual artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world. Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big screen. Here you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual artists biographies. Lust for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952 Vincent Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone, who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which also had appeared on the silver screen. If you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for Life, which features almost 200 of Van Goghs original paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert Altmans Vincent and Theo from 1990. Surviving Picasso directed by James Ivory in 1996 Like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive, manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death, Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works. With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso, Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an artist as a cruel, self centered genius. Girl with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003 Comparing to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in evoking Vermeers perception of light and color. Basquiat directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996 The most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol. Frida directed by Julie Taymor in 2002 Like most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions of depicting artists on film.
Choosing a company name
When forming a limited company the name of the company can be an important decision. Some people may choose the first name that they think of and others may select a ready made company for speed or because they like a particular name. However, many businesses may prefer to select a company name that either clearly distinguishes itself from its competitors or contains something unique or personalpany names can be chosen for different reasons. One of the most common ways of selecting a company name is to use something personal. A quick look through your local newspaper will probably introduce you to many personalised business names. Johnson Consulting Limited, T Smith & Son Limited, Stephens & Barley Limited are some fictional examples of what may be found. This may instantly make a company recognisable locally, it can be deemed as more personal by its customers, and often works well within geographical areas. However, it does little to tell new customers what your company does. A popular choice for a small business is to choose a name that is ‘descriptive’. This tells prospective clients exactly what your company does. Examples of this may be to call your business The Window Company Limited, City IT Consultants Limited or The Advertising Agency Limited. Whilst this does serve to reinforce your primary business it offers little differentiation and may easily be adapted by competitors. A less personal option is to use a company name that is ‘associative’. This type of company name helps to create an image or connection to your business activity. It is less direct than using a descriptive name but helps to position your company’s name within the market through peoples understanding of what words mean. For example a flick through the Yellow Pages will offer plenty of examples of this. A hairdresser called Classic Cuts or a printer called Selectaprint Limited are examples of what may be found. These names offer some differentiation but may not ultimately set your company aside from its competitors. An alternative is to choose a company name that is ‘freestanding’. These names are completely abstract and not related to the companies business activities. A fictional example may be to call your catering company Zedoc Limited. There are many popular brand names that illustrate this point. Consider, Kodak, Gillette, or Mars, these names will probably be instantly recognisable to you and conjure up a particular product or business. This is a good way of setting your company aside from the competition but it is important to consider the market that you operate in. Will your prospective clients know what your business is offering? Choosing a company name may be a simple process, but it is not uncommon for people to deliberate over names for quite some time. Whilst company names can, and often are, changed during the life of the company most people like to choose a name that they like from the outset. Therefore consider your market, how much you want to differentiate from your competitors and what your company name should say about your organisation. Once the decision is made focus on the important business of making your company a success.