3 Common Energy Efficient Window Treatments

Energy-efficient window treatments can help provide effective insulation that maximize or minimize heat gain as needed.  In this post we’ll discuss 3 common energy efficient window treatments, including: awnings, shades and draperies.

Image Source: Flickr

Awnings
Window awnings can reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65% on south-facing windows and 77% on west-facing windows. You can use an awning to shade one window or have an awning custom-made to shade the entire side of your house.
Awnings require ventilation to keep hot air from becoming trapped around the window. Grommets (eyelets) or other openings along the tops and sides of an awning can provide ventilation. The awning may also open to the sides or top to vent hot air. Source: Energy

Shades
The DOE considers window shades the simplest and most effective way to save energy with window treatments. Proper installment is key. Mounting shades as close to the glass as possible and right up against the adjacent wall creates a tight seal that minimizes both heat gain and loss. Shades with dual layers of fabric — a light color on one side and a darker color on the other— add more functionality. Try reversing the shades based on the season; the light color will reflect heat in summer, while the dark color will absorb heat during winter. Source: Houzz

Draperies
Like shades and shutters, draperies are only efficient when they’re closed. However, if they’re used in conjunction with another window covering, such as a honeycomb shade or a wood blind, you can let sun in during daylight hours and effectively shut out colder air at night. When fully closed, the R-values of thermally lined drapes range from R-3 to R-5, depending on the type of fabric and the thickness of the lining and interlining.
To maximize energy efficiency, Korby recommends floor-to-ceiling drapes that fold back against the wall. This allows the drapes to seal off the window, preventing drafts and loss of heat through convection. Source: HouseLogic

 

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

The post 3 Common Energy Efficient Window Treatments appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/1sKAtNR

Ten More Dive Sites Close in Thailand

In an effort to stem damage done to the ecosystem of popular tourist spot Koh Tachai, Thai officials last week announced its indefinite closure to visitors. The island, which regularly sees thousands of daily arrivals, will close to allow the natural environment, both above and below the water, to recover from its current dismal state.

Since then, three other islands have been added to the list —  Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nui and Koh Khai Nai are now also closed until further notice and, most recently, the government added more than 10 popular dive sites to the list as well, according to CNN. The dives include sites at the islands of Koh Ma Prao and Koh Chumpon, where up to 80 percent of the corals have been reported as severely bleached. The move to ban diving here is deemed necessary if the corals are to have any chance of survival.

Many of the areas close yearly for the monsoon season, but unlike other years, they will not reopen once the monsoon is over. And closures may not stop here; the Thai national park administration is currently deciding if it should close more popular sites, including the Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay and Nopparattara Beach.

Loved to Death

Coupled with this year’s stronger-than-usual El Niño, the overarching problem in Thailand is one of popularity. The country used to be a seasonal destination with the bulk of visitors, mostly backpackers, coming in the high season from November to February. Now, Thailand has become a mass-tourism destination, with daily flights from practically every nation in the world landing at its airports, and yearly visitors counting in the tens of millions. Thailand has also become a year-round destination, with travelers increasingly seeking the lower prices and somewhat smaller crowds of the off-season. This means that the local wildlife, whether land-based or aquatic, has little or no time to rest and recover from the droves of tourists.

While there have been some local initiatives to make Thai tourism more sustainable, these have been few and far between, and have been dwarfed by the mass-tourism trade. Thai authorities have claimed to be caught unprepared for the challenges of the sudden influx of tourists, but critics point out that the government has been well-prepared enough invest in larger airports, develop infrastructure to and from tourist destinations, and issue permits to build more and larger hotels.

A few other countries have taken similar steps to limit the damage to their most popular dive sites. Malaysia has famously instituted limits on visitors to Sipadan Island, and recently even added scuba-diving park rangers to ensure that divers respect the national park rules.

The post Ten More Dive Sites Close in Thailand appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/1XM6fFL

Top 10 Signs That You’re a Scuba Addict

Are you a scuba addict? (If so, you’re in good company). Here we’ve provided a handy checklist in order for you to quantify the depth of your addiction — answer more than five of these in the affirmative, and you’re a bona fide scuba junkie.

1. You wear a big, bulky watch.

Fellow divers will know that your prized timepiece is not only a watch, but a dive computer. Non-divers will wonder why your watch is so big.

2. You have an impressive collection of dive t-shirts.

You’ve been there, you’ve dived it — from the dive centers to the liveaboards to the sites themselves, you’ve got the swag to prove it. Bonus points if you wear your dive t-shirts from different destinations on your current dive vacation.

3. You plan all your vacations around diving.

You might compromise on the specific destination if your spouse or friends don’t dive, so that you can go diving while they do something else. As long as you’re ticking off a box on that giant diving bucket list you’ve got in your head, you’re happy. And when someone tells you about somewhere you haven’t been, your first question is, “do you know if there’s diving, and is it any good?”

4. You have a pet named Nemo, Sharky, or Scubadoo.

(And it doesn’t matter if it’s a fish, dog, cat or hamster.)

5. You have a dive-certification card in your wallet.

Or you’ve got several C-cards in your wallet, right next to the other essentials, such as your driver’s license. You know, just in case you randomly need it (or want to show off a bit).

6. You know an extra language.

It’s 100 percent possible for you to have a full conversation in hand signals with your diving friends.

7. You’re never short of ideas when people ask you what they can get you for your birthday.

We all know you’ve had your eye on that snazzy new dive watch (see above) or that new mask. Because you’ve mentioned it 12 times.

8. You always get into trouble in customs.

You don’t want to check your regulator, camera, or gear in general — we get it. Just know that customs staff is going to make you unpack it all every time.

9. You have an amazing memory…

…at least when it comes to what you’ve seen underwater, and where. You can happily recount when you saw your first shark/turtle/ray/whale, etc. Or your best dive. Or your first dive. Or your worst dive.

10. You use the “OK” sign for everything.

If someone asks you how it’s going, you’re sure to flash them the “OK” signal. You’ll bust it out when you’re happy. Or when you’re ready. Or basically when you agree with anything. You use it all the time, and people can easily confuse you when they give you the thumbs up instead.

The post Top 10 Signs That You’re a Scuba Addict appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/1UozpZ5

A very exciting week.

Happy Monday, my darlings!

I’m taking the day off today for very important, anniversary-related reasons.

Can you believe it’s been an entire year since my wedding? I have some freezer cake I need to figure out how to defrost. But the fun doesn’t stop there…

On Wednesday, I’m jetting off on an exciting adventure: to attend my very first Las Vegas Jewelry week. Ever summer, the jewelry industry converges on Sin City to hold several very important jewelry shows all at the same time. For the next week, that’s where I’ll be.

I’m pausing regular posts while I’m on this spectacular jewelry adventure so that I can focus on gathering new martial to bring home to share with you. I plan to Instagram my way through the shows, so please be sure you follow me there if you want to keep up with my adventures in realtime.

If you get bored without me, please check out all the goodies I have to offer across the internet – on Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram, or check out one of the books I’ve been enjoying recently, either here or at Book Riot.

I’ll be back soon!

xoxo,
Becky

The post A very exciting week. appeared first on Diamonds in the Library.

from Diamonds in the Library http://ift.tt/22u6Z36

Google’s Global Head of News on saving the internet from itself and fighting back against Facebook

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/1REMhpv

How to Sell the Salon Experience

Ultimately, beauty business' are selling an "experience". The way a client feels when they leave is the reason they come back for more. It’s ultimately not the salon’s price point, team skills, education, or relationships - the desire is to make every salon guest for every salon guest FEEL BEAUTIFUL upon leaving your salon. 

Do you have what it takes to be great in your industry? Whether you are a hairstylist, a lash or nail magician, or a waxing or sugaring guru, most beauty bosses were originally drawn to their profession after a lifelong addiction to Vogue and all things fashion. Creating looks clients love is what motivates us, the ultimate goal is to create a satisfied client every single time.

Attitude
Attitude creates success. If clients feel comfortable with you and the services you provide, the majority of new clients will return and ultimately become loyal. Are you making the most of every encounter? Are you greeting each guest? Eye contact relaxes clients and shows you are genuinely happy to see them. Upon meeting new clients, shake their hands and introduce yourself.  Most importantly, smile. Even if you are having a bad day, leave it outside business doors. Your clients are paying for your attention - give each one 100%. 

Ambiance
Creating an atmosphere where your clients feel relaxed and valued is the most important part of being a beauty boss. Determine a "look" for your beauty business and express it by choosing decorations and retail products that tell a story in your special branded way. 

Current Season Focus
Bring the current season into the salon. With some fresh ideas and creativity you can create a salon experience that guests will not find elsewhere. 

Make Clients Feel Good
What makes a loyal client willing to recommend your salon to their inner circle sanctum? Making them feel beautiful. Clients might forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Ask yourself, how do your clients feel when they leave your salon? Do they look and feel fabulous? The desired outcome of every woman visiting a salon is to feel beautiful. Focus on the guest experience and watch your referral rates soar.

Build Trust
A first time guest can turn into a loyal client from conversation and consultation. From the beginning, establish yourself as a beauty authority by creating a “style maintenance prescription”.

Discuss and determine the follow-up required to retain a look or style. Whatever prescription is determined, make sure your client is committed to come back for the necessary follow-up appointments. Pre booking is building trust with that client, committing to the care of your client’s hair or skin.

Target Guest Needs
Begin by tailoring every aspect of your appointment to fulfill your target guest’s needs and desires. The secret is focusing on the client. Differentiate your salon from the competition by anticipating clients' needs and executing superior client service.

Little Things
Make everything you do all about the client, the little things are what makes you stand out. Offering refreshments, feeding the meter, or charging a phone - make your client feel like a VIP.

Permalink

from Beauty Business Blog http://ift.tt/22tlKTO

Diving the SS Arrow in Cape Breton

It’s a contrary kind of morning on Chedabucto Bay. The sun is shining, but it’s cold and there’s a brisk wind blowing from the southwest; it’s churned up the waters here, between Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia. We’re pounding through 4- to 6-foot swells in a 25-foot (8 m) rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB), heading out to dive one of the premier wrecks on the east coast of Canada — the SS Arrow. The ride out to the dive site is turning out to be a bone-jarring experience. All this for dive that still has huge question marks beside it in my mind.

First of all, given the state of sea, I’m not sure whether we’re going to be able to descend. Getting out of the boat isn’t going to be a problem — but crawling back into it when the boat is bobbing through a 10-foot arc is a real concern.

My other question: What will we find? When the Arrow went down on February 4^th, 1970, it was an environmental disaster of massive proportions, one that — at the time — rivaled the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010. The ship was hauling 108,000 barrels of Bunker C fuel. It was old and lacked proper navigational instruments and, as a result, it struck Cerberus Rock at 9:30 a.m. and ran aground. Initially it wasn’t a disaster; the ship’s hull held firm. Attempts were made to haul it off the rock, but before the work could be completed, bad weather hit the coast and it split in two. The resulting oil spill contaminated 190 miles of coastline and ruined the local fishery. Eventually, a salvage vessel managed to extract some of the oil from the hold of the ship, but the question still remains — will I find a thriving artificial reef, or a still-leaking environmental killer?

As we approach the reef where the Arrow struck, the seas flatten out — marginally. Ingo Vollmer, owner of Vipi Lodge and Dive Shop, decides we’re good to go and we’re over the side and dropping down the descent line. My dive buddy is Ingo’s wife Anita, who decides we’ll do a circuit around the superstructure and top deck. The rough weather has churned up the seas and the visibility is poor, but we’re only at 50 feet (15 m), so the light penetration is excellent. Masses of shaggy seaweed cover the gangways of the superstructure, and thousands of small baitfish, a kind of ocean perch called cunners, swarm the top of the wreck. As we work our way down the length of the main deck, Anita points out a wonderful macro feature — the pipes and machinery that used to move the oil are covered in miniature, orchid-like sea anemones. As I approach, some of the pipes they look as if they’re covered with frosty clouds of cotton candy. We hit the far end of the wreck and I notice a couple of very promising swim-throughs — old hatchways that lead down to the forward hold and out the front of the wreck. I make a mental note to revisit them on the next dive with good visibility. We hit our turnaround time and head back for the boat, and I can’t help thinking there’s more to this wreck than I’m seeing under these conditions.

As we hit the surface, the dive gets a little tricky. The winds have picked up again, and the RIB is swinging wildly. There’s no dive ladder; instead, we have to catch hold of a rope and, while hanging on the side, remove our BCDs and weight belts, hand them up to the boat tender and then heave ourselves in. My arm and shoulder get severely yanked around and it takes some real work to hang on, but eventually I manage to get all my gear off and haul myself up over the side. I’m getting too old for this stuff, though I have to admit I feel a little like a Navy SEAL when it’s all over. Ingo asks me how the dive went. When I tell him, he says: “We’ll try again tomorrow.” He fires up the engine and we head for shore.

Diving the Arrow: Day Two

Day two begins on a promising note as I poke my head out of my cabin and see the sun shining. Even better, the wind has died completely. I head up to the dive shop and quickly pack my gear into the RIB. This time the journey out is magical. We blast along on a calm sea, past islands covered with sea birds. Eagles perch in the trees that line the bay. Every time I turn and look, a harbor seal is poking its head out of the water. In the distance, I see the back of a fin whale break the surface. Ingo tells me that sunfish (mola mola) often visit the bay in the summer. Suddenly Chedabucto Bay has come to life.

Our trip to wreck takes only a few minutes today, and we’re over the side of the RIB in record time. As soon as I submerge, I know the dive is going to pay off. I can see the top of the superstructure 50 feet (15 m) below me, and as I descend, I start to get a sense of the scale of the wreck. It’s massive, around 400 feet (122 m) long, 60 feet (18 m) wide and about 50 feet (15 m) high. We swim past the superstructure and head deeper to do a circuit of the main hull. Swimming 30 feet away from the wreck and parallel, I’m dwarfed by size of the structure. With such great visibility, I also start to notice a few other details — the bottom surrounding the ship is covered with scallops and lobster. We circle around to the front of the ship, where the bow of the Arrow tore away from the stern. Jagged and twisted plates and beams poke out from the hull, looking vaguely like a surreal, metallic space squid. There’s enough clearance to swim in for a quick look and I make a mental note to bring a reel or two the next time I come. When we pop back out and head for the main deck, I’m beginning to get a sense of just how alive this artificial reef has become. In the midst of the shaggy seaweed is an abundance of starfish, crabs and cod — it’s little wonder that harbor seals stop at this underwater smorgasbord regularly to feed.

Surrounded by such an abundance of life, it’s hard to picture the wreck as an environmental disaster of staggering proportions, but later Ingo tells me that inside the hull he still occasionally comes across globs of oil. Long before I’m ready to surface I’m out of bottom time. This time it’s an easy pull to get into the RIB and a gentle ride back to shore. I’ve finally gotten a good glimpse of this sunken oil tanker that I was so curious about. If there is any long-term damage in and around the Arrow, then I’ve certainly not seen anything to indicate it. From my brief visits I’m left only with the impression that, given time, the sea has an almost infinite capacity for resilience.

The post Diving the SS Arrow in Cape Breton         appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/25tYF8I

Koh Tachai Closing to Tourists

Thailand is one of Asia’s most popular tourist destinations, and not just among divers. But that popularity has, in the opinions of many, to some extent compromised the country’s appeal. From large-scale resorts along the Phuket waterfront to bleached and damaged corals underwater, the cumulative effect of millions of tourists every year is visible everywhere.

And now the Thai government has taken extreme measures to prevent the total loss of some of their most popular areas. Koh Tachai is one of nine islands within the Similan Islands National Park, one of the most popular dive destinations in the country, and is known for its natural beauty. But now, the authorities have issued a notice that they are closing Koh Tachai to all tourists indefinitely. The entire national park closes yearly from May 15 to October 15 due to unsafe weather conditions, but Koh Tachai will remain closed beyond that point. As of now, there’s no news about when, or if, Koh Tachai will open to tourists again.

Koh Tachai Under Threat

In recent years, many visitors to the island have reported that it was in a harrowing state, with overcrowded beaches, bleached or dead corals, and few fish to be seen on the reefs. As a consequence, the authorities have ended all tourist visits in order to let nature recuperate, “before the damage done is irreversible,” said Tunya Netithammakul, head of Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation, to the Bangkok Post.

Numerous environmental organizations have attempted to draw the attention of the authorities to the problem, but with millions of dollars in potentially lost tourism income at stake, action has been scarce. And according to some, the problem isn’t limited to Koh Tachai, but is widespread among many of Thailand’s most popular tourism and dive spots.

Professor of marine biology Thon Thamrongnawasawat of Bangkok’s Kasetsart University has long criticized the state of Koh Tachai, pointing to the fact that a number of the beaches on the island can only sustainably host around 70 guests a day, and yet the number is often over 1,000. Restrictions on food carts and other vendors have also been lacking, as have instructions for visitors about how to best help protect the corals and wildlife around the island.

In Koh Tachai, a big problem for the reefs is that divers and snorkelers often lather on a thick layer of sunscreen, but when they jump in the water, that sunscreen washes off and coats the corals in a thin layer that essentially strangles them. (For a selection of coral-safe sunscreens, check here).

Thailand received a whopping 29.8 million tourists last year, and this year is expected to be even busier. Without clear, nationwide policies, however, Thailand’s natural beauty and resources are in danger of being loved to death.

The post Koh Tachai Closing to Tourists appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/24dcfaL

Summer Olympics Are Family “Gold”

JumpBunch franchisees across the country are preparing for a “golden” opportunity with this year’s Summer Olympics. For a program like ours that showcases a new sport every week, an event like the Olympics where so many varied sports are on display is perfectly aligned with our message. In all Jumpbunch towns there will be Olympic themed classes, camps, and birthday parties all aimed at embracing the vast options our kids have to simply get active with sports and activities that are super fun!

Do you remember the first Olympics you saw? You were probably a child, and if you are anything like me those memories have stayed with you straight through adulthood. In fact, I vividly remember setting up lawn chair hurdles in my backyard and running loops around that yard until dark simply because I was inspired by those athletes. They had obviously been practicing in order to do so well, so that was the day I started practicing too.  While I was never crowned on a medal stand, there is no doubt my love of sports and choice to lead an active lifestyle was in part due to the joy I saw on the faces of Olympic athletes representing my country. That was just too much fun to not be a part of!

I also remember that it was my family that made those Olympics into such a big deal. Kids follow the lead of their parents, and at this point we all know that whether we always stop to acknowledge it or not. I watched the Olympics because my family did. I got excited about the games because they did. I talked about the athletes because my family did too. And I went outside to begin a life of movement that never stopped because that was the example set for me.

We can’t wait every four years to get kids excited about the benefits of an active lifestyle. That choice must be made each and every week, if not each day. When the Olympics do come around, and in particular the Summer Olympics when it is easy to run right outside to act out what you see, you can’t miss that “golden” opportunity. The memories created will not only be good ones, but ones that can turn into a lifetime of healthy and positive choices.

USA!  USA!

http://ift.tt/Mz8z1X

 

The post Summer Olympics Are Family “Gold” appeared first on JumpBunch, Sports and Fitness Programs for Preschoolers and Young Children, Preschool Fitness Program Franchise.

from JumpBunch, Sports and Fitness Programs for Preschoolers and Young Children, Preschool Fitness Program Franchise http://ift.tt/1qOU8Lc

Pin with me: Jewelry styling inspiration.

Good morning, my darlings, and welcome to another edition of my Pin with me series!

As you already know, my Pinterest account is a vast repository of images of jewelry, organized in various boards by jewelry type, maker, era, etc. But recently I branched out into a new series of Pinterest board, each dedicated to a very specific jewelry-related topic. Last time, we talked about my Painted Jewels board, which is dedicated to jewelry in paintings. Today we’re going to be talking about another specific category board that I launched fairly recently: my Jewelry styling inspiration board.

It’s a good board. It might be my favorite (don’t tell the others).

The majority of my Pinterest boards are filled with jewelry – jewelry of all kinds, from all eras. I recently realized, though, that these were all filled with raw material: and that I didn’t have any archive dedicated to ways of actually wearing jewelry.

Click to view slideshow.

My Jewelry Styling Inspiration board is all about how to wear jewelry. Ways to mix it together, enhance it with clothing, how to play different pieces off of each other. It’s a pretty great selection, if I do say so myself. And definitely the Pinterest board that inspires me the most in my daily life.

A lot of the pins on my Jewelry Styling Inspiration board are actually from Instagram – I find that IG lends itself to style posts better than almost any other social network. But Pinterest is the best way to save and organize those posts. I can already feel myself thinking more outside the box when it comes to styling my own jewelry wardrobe, thanks to the inspiration I’ve been collecting.

Come pin with me! Find all my boards at this link, and a direct path to Jewelry Styling Inspiration here or above, if you too want to see some fabulously styled jewelry.

The post Pin with me: Jewelry styling inspiration. appeared first on Diamonds in the Library.

from Diamonds in the Library http://ift.tt/1TN6e3c

Captain Cook’s Endeavour Found

 

Even though the Great Age of Sail ended more than 150 years ago, famous shipwrecks from that era still turn up from time to time. Recently, marine archaeologists discovered what is believed to be The Queen Anne’s Revenge, the flagship of famous pirate Blackbeard.

Now, an equally significant ship may have been discovered: the HMS Endeavour, the vessel of famed British explorer and naval captain James Cook. Cook is most famous as the man who “discovered” Australia, sighting its east coast (what is today called New South Wales) in 1770, after mapping New Zealand. He also recorded the first official sighting of indigenous Australians, was the first westerner to visit the Hawaiian Islands, and made detailed maps of Newfoundland, making a total of three expeditions to the Pacific, on the ship, HMS Endeavour. On his third expedition in 1779, he was killed by native Hawaiians when he went onshore.

The Endeavour had a few near-misses in its sailing career, not least during its expedition to Australia, where it ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. Following the accident, the crew sailed cautiously into a river mouth, where they beached the Endeavour for seven weeks to make repairs.

However, in spite of Cook’s — and the Endeavour’s — fame forever being tied to the discovery of Australia, the ship was found off the coast of Rhode Island, only a few hundred feet from shore.

Like many ships in the Great Age of Sail, the Endeavour led an interesting life, starting out as a bark called the Earl of Pembroke. The British Admiralty (the non-military merchant and exploratory department of the British fleet) bought the ship about 3 and ½ years after it first launched; it was then that it was rechristened the HMS Endeavour. When the Australia expedition ended in 1771, and after its near-miss on the Great Barrier Reef, the ship, to some extent, disappears into the shadows of history. It is believed that it sailed to the Falkland Islands before being sold to a private company, only to be transferred back again to the British Navy, which used it first for troop transport under the name Lord Sandwich and later as a prison ship.

It is also believed that the Endeavour was part of the blockade of Rhode Island, one of the battles in the American Revolutionary War. A number of ships were sunk trying to prevent enemy ships from reaching Rhode Island, and the Endeavour, or the Lord Sandwich as it was known by then was one of them. A total of 13 ships went down that day, and when the Endeavour was found, it was located in a cluster of four other ships.

So, while the Endeavour discovery is of great marine-archaeological interest, it won’t shed much more light on the ship’s most famous captain, or his global expeditions. However, simply knowing the location of one of the most famous ships in history is of historic significance, as is having some confirmation of its fate.

The post Captain Cook’s Endeavour Found appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/20KqEKF

De Correspondent rewards members for knowledge-sharing

Finding new ways to get an audience to read articles may be quite a challenge, getting them to share their knowledge is another. High audience engagement is crucial for De Correspondent, whose members' insights and expertise are at the core of its journalism. Co-founder Ernst-Jan Pfauth tells us how the platform encourages knowledge-sharing.

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/1TZSM89

Real World Clinical Blog: The Mental Health of Trans People

Successful work with trans people requires a deft awareness of several issues. We must remain aware of our power when working with the trans population. We must also remain aware of the idiosyncratic nature of each client’s transition process.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/25oGzVL

Edible Six-Pack Rings Mean Good News for Marine Life

The images of seabirds and turtles hopelessly ensnared in the plastic rings used to bind six-packs are haunting, but in an effort to limit the brewing industry’s impact on the ocean, Florida-based Saltwater Brewery has been working on a new six-pack ring design that could save the lives of countless marine animals.

After teaming up with ad agency We Believers, the Delray Beach craft brewery recently launched the world’s first edible six-pack ring. The packaging, which is made from brewing byproducts, including wheat and barley, is safe for both humans and animals to eat, transforming what amounts to a death sentence for opportunistic sea life into something harmless. If the rings are not eaten, they are designed to quickly decompose, without leaving behind plastic particles that take hundreds of years to disintegrate, if at all.

According to the company, the new design is just as strong as its plastic model, although currently it is slightly more expensive to produce. However, the company hopes that this will not always be the case. Saltwater Brewery President Chris Groves says, “we hope to influence the big guys…and hopefully inspire them to get on board.” If other, larger companies adopt the new design, production costs could be reduced significantly, making it a win-win situation for the breweries and the environment.

After the success of a small-scale test batch, Saltwater Brewery plans to increase production of the rings to match its current output of 400,000 cans per month. The inspiration for the green design came from the brewery’s team, who, according to Head of Brand Peter Agardy are “fishermen, surfers and people that love the sea.” It seems appropriate that the design should come from Florida, a state that includes the only living barrier reef in the United States and generates much of its annual income from water-based tourism.

This is not the first six-pack ring designed with the environment in mind. PakTech’s Can Carrier eliminates the ring design altogether, instead encompassing the entire top of each can with a solid plastic holder. Although this invention makes it impossible for animals to become entangled in discarded carriers should they find their way into the sea, PakTech’s design uses four times more plastic than conventional six-pack rings. Ultimately, anything made from plastic has the potential to add to the pollution crisis currently threatening the health of our planet.

In a 2015 study published by the journal Science, a group of researchers estimated that as much as 13 million tons of plastic ends up in the sea each year. Another report produced by the Ellen McArthur Foundation at the beginning of this year prophesies that by 2050, there will be a greater mass of plastic in the ocean than fish. Among the worst culprits are plastic bottles and food wrappers, plastic bags and discarded fishing equipment, but all forms of plastic have the potential to harm marine life, either through ingestion or entanglement.

Although six-pack rings make up a relatively minor percentage of the plastic waste we generate, Saltwater Brewery’s new invention sets an important precedent, showing that when companies prioritize environmental responsibility over financial greed, it is possible to find workable alternatives to even the most established plastic products.

The post Edible Six-Pack Rings Mean Good News for Marine Life appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/20Gnzv8

6 Tips For Outfitting Your New Healthcare Clinic

The focus for healthcare facilities is changing. HealthcareDesignMagazine.com surveyed professionals in Healthcare administration and found the important topics going into 2016 are the impact of design on staff satisfaction and on infection control and prevention.  This change reflects the growing consensus in the industry of the need for hospitals to support their staff and the world’s need to take infection control more seriously.

from CME Insiders http://ift.tt/25m6c9G

The Hunt for the Roanoke: Part I

It was late September of 1864, and the Civil War was not going well for the South. Many of the Confederacy’s Naval and supply ships had been captured or sunk by the Northern blockade of the Southern ports. In a bold move, Lieutenant John Braine of the Southern Navy boarded the Northern mail steamer Roanoke in Cuba, along with a number of confederate sailors, all in disguise. They waited until the ship had set sail for New York and then returned to their cabins, changed into their Confederate Naval uniforms and reemerged to take over the ship. The takeover was bloodless, except for a ship’s carpenter, who attacked one of the Southern officers with an axe and was shot and killed for his efforts. The original crew and passengers were by all accounts treated well as they were taken prisoner and the ship was diverted to Bermuda.

The Roanoke arrived off the east end of the island virtually out of coal, with the intention of releasing the crew and passengers and then refueling with coal and supplies to attempt a run through the blockade to one of the Southern ports. The then-governor of Bermuda refused the ship access to the harbor given, what he saw, as an act of piracy. As Bermuda was a British colony and thus neutral, he would not allow a vessel that had been subject to such an act on the high seas to refuel and re-provision. Lieutenant Braine was left in charge of a ship at anchor off Bermuda with no coal for its engines, and so placed all passengers, original crew and his sailors in boats and scuttled the ship so it wouldn’t fall into Northern hands.

Braine was promptly placed under arrest for piracy and tried at the next hearing of the magistrates’ court. The trial, by all accounts, lasted mere minutes as his commission and letter of instructions from his superiors were produced, and it was quickly determined — much to the outrage of the governor — that this was an act of war, and not of piracy. Despite being officially neutral, Bermuda was in fact quite supportive of the Confederacy, due to the fortunes that were being made by supplying war materials to the South. Braine was discharged and he and his crew eventually transported back to the States. For its part, the doomed Roanoke lies somewhere off the east end of Bermuda, suspected to be near Five Fathoms and, for reasons unknown no real effort has been made to find the shipwreck until the last few years. Stay tuned for Part II of our story on the hunt to find the wreck of the Roanoke.

By Mark Diel

The post The Hunt for the Roanoke: Part I appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/1WiuEDO

The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.

The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.

This series is: utterly spellbinding, impeccably crafted epic fantasy that will melt your face off.
Other elements: worldbuilding like you’ve never imagined and a badass ladyhero.
Read it: If you enjoy epic fantasy and don’t have anything urgent to do (because you won’t want to put this down).
Overall rating: 9.5/10

I made a joke in a recent What I’m Reading that I was reading the Mistborn trilogy everywhere, all the time. This was not an exaggeration. I started the first book, Mistborn: The Final Empire on a Monday night. I finished the third book, The Hero of Ages, Thursday over lunch. I’m a fast reader, but that’s 2,201 pages in about three days. I didn’t do a lot of sleeping.

The crazy part is that I’d already read the Mistborn trilogy. I shouldn’t have been able to get so sucked into the plot, because I should have known what happened. I tend to have a good memory for plot points. But the last time I read these books, I read them the exact same way: in a frantic, nonstop binge. The plot is so enthralling, the universe so fascinatingly layered, that I just couldn’t tear myself away. Twice.

As for subject matter: it starts with a revolution and leads to the end of the world, in a universe unlike our own, where the ingestion of particular metals gives special abilities to a lucky few.

If you’ve read Brandon Sanderson’s work before, you’re familiar with his incredible worldbuilding. He creates universes like nobody else. In the Mistborn trilogy, every character, creature, society, and city has its own rich past – it feels like everything the reader glimpses is so intricate that it could easily have its own story that’s not yet written. Nothing is two dimensional. It’s such an fully fleshed-out experience of totally new concepts that it’s completely addictive.

All I want right now is to dive straight into one of Sanderson’s other series, but I’m going to try to resist. I can’t do another marathon so soon.

For more reads anytime, check out my Amazon recommended books store. This post contains affiliate links.

The post The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. appeared first on Diamonds in the Library.

from Diamonds in the Library http://ift.tt/1TWsnry

Tapping the potential of data journalism in Myanmar

For the first time in over 30 years, Myanmar has access to census data, allowing journalists to do evidence-based reporting and fostering a debate on the development of the country. To strengthen the skills of local reporters, the United Nations Polulation Fund (NFPA) set up the Data Journalism Project together with UNESCO and the Myanmar Journalism Institute.

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/25gbLD8

Solutions Journalism: hub launched to encourage collaboration

Focusing on rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems, US-based Solutions Journalism Network has re-launched their website today - including an online members-only hub, and a database of solutions stories called the 'Solutions Story Tracker'. 

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/1s7ViTc

Women and Scuba Diving

In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day, and what better way to honor it  than by highlight how now, more than ever, the scuba industry is overflowing with women photographers, marine conservationists and dive pros, just to name a few ways they’re contributing to the sport. Scuba diving has not always been so welcoming of women; in fact, when I started my career as a Divemaster just two years ago, I wasn’t taken seriously and my abilities were doubted just because I am a woman. So here, we’ll set the record straight about women’s contribution to the sport, and encourage all of you who have yet to try diving. There are countless ways that women and scuba diving go together; here are just a few.

Pushing Boundaries

A sport that is often thought to be dangerous or as appealing just to men has seen an influx of women within the last decade. Women of all ages are trying out scuba diving and realizing that neither of those assumptions are true. Confronting our fears and stepping (or should I say swimming) out of our comfort zone is liberating and almost addictive. And further, women have created all-women dive clubs to encourage others to join in the sport, forming friendships and communities along the way.

Full-Body Workout

Can you get a workout from scuba diving? If you want to get scientific about this; water is heavy than air. What does that mean for your muscles? Resistance without the sweating and heavy lifting. As diving is a low-impact sport, we don’t feel this strain on our bodies like we do at the gym, and can float through the water with ease. A full-body workout with little effort, and the bonus of seeing some of the most beautiful creatures on this planet? Sign us up.

World Travel

As a qualified scuba diver, your world is now 71 percent more open to exploration than it was before – the percent of the planet covered in water. Diving is also a great activity for solo female travelers — you’ll always be paired with a dive buddy on a boat, offering the opportunity to make a new friend. So now that you’ve got your scuba gear, get yourself a plane ticket and see more of the world than ever before.

Fearless Go-getters

We love inspirational scuba stories, and many women have begun to to write about, photograph, and share their adventures with all of us. Some women, such as the CEO of this very website, have been able to make careers of their passion by letting the world into their scuba adventures. As mentioned above, conservationist Andrea Marshall has dedicated her life to protecting manta rays, as well as other marine life, and invites you to join her in identifying these magnificent creatures underwater.

Women Divers Hall of Fame

The Women Divers Hall of Fame recognizes women divers who have made outstanding contributions to the exploration, understanding, safety and enjoyment of our underwater world. From conservationists to photographers to those who catalog and explore shipwrecks, all of these fearless females are advocates for our ocean planet.

With so many role models and opportunities available to female scuba divers, it’s easy to see why our sport is attracting more and more women. If you’re not yet part of our tribe, isn’t it time to give it a try? If you’re already a diver, grab your fins: we’ll see you down there.

By guest author Sarah Richard

 

 

The post Women and Scuba Diving appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/1s77XWB

La Nacion: leading the way with newsroom change (Part 2)

La Nacion, one of Argentina's largest newspapers, started a project called 'Nueva Redacción' (English: New Newsroom) two years ago - aiming to transform the entire editorial operation. Carlos Guyot, its Editor-in-Chief, shares his strategy. 

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/1syKsFU

La Nación: leading the way on data journalism (Part 1)

La Nación's data journalism team, established in 2011, played a key role in investigating the Panamá Papers. Led by Hugo Alconada, a team of journalists, supported by La Nación's data team, took part in the ICIJ investigation from the very beginning. The World Editors Forum spoke to Carlos Guyot, Editor-in-Chief of La Nación, one of Argentina's largest newspapers, to find out more.  

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/1TJh2zl

Social Work Observations

University of Georgia MSW student Chelsea Brooks makes some observations about self-care, competence, policy, and more.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/1TzIePJ

Return of the algorithm: Norwegian publisher tests personalisation

Giving readers the power to personalise what news content they want displayed on their mobile device is nothing new, but Norway’s Polaris Media has taken personalisation a step further and now lets an algorithm decide what users see on one of its mobile news sites. 

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/1WcXt4n

French judge establishes prevalence of freedom of the press on Right to be Forgotten

RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN: Last week the Superior Court in France, arguably one of the most enthusiastic countries when it comes to Right to be Forgotten, rendered a decision that might have come as a surprise for some. As it turns out, the WAN-IFRA report on the topic, published earlier this year, concluded rightly that "for newspapers there should be little cause for concern”. 
 
The court decisions commented in this article are available below. With thanks to Carol Umhoefer and Caroline Chancé of DLA Piper Paris. 

 

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/1qEOR91

Introducing Sophie Ratner jewelry.

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to an exciting new designer and artist, the fabulous Ms. Sophie Ratner.

I discovered Sophie Ratner in what is one of my favorite ways: I opened an email from a stranger and I saw something fantastic.

Sophie Ratner’s jewelry is characterized by a beautifully lumpy, always elegant aesthetic that reminds me of industrial lace. The light, airy designs feel edgy rather than delicate or sweet, creating a barely-there powerhouse of a look in every piece.

A recent graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Sophie designs and creates every piece of the line herself in her studio. She does incredible things with texture and negative space.

Let’s hear from Sophie herself:

As a young jewelry maker, I find that my design aesthetic is constantly evolving. To a large degree, my work is based on patterns and textures inspired by the textiles and architecture I’ve encountered through my travels in India, Turkey, Egypt, and Ghana. My pieces are often inspired by ancient sources, but they are always executed with a modern sensibility. Because I am striving for a balance between delicacy and structural integrity, my jewelry often resembles lace. I am always conscious of the negative spaces within a piece and the possibilities they provide for delicate interactions with the body.”

I especially love Sophie Ratner’s rings, and it turns out that she does too:

My favorite pieces to make are rings, since they afford a great amount of detail in such a small area. I also love the feeling of putting on a ring, an act that imparts symbolic power and inspires real confidence.”

These are the Sophie Ratner Lune earrings. They are the best, and I should know, because I’m lucky enough to own a pair.

A beautifully textured take on the classic hoop made in 18k and 14k gold, they’re my current favorite throw-them-on-and-go outfit making accessory. If you’ve see me around town in a sundress, I was probably wearing my Sophie Ratner Lune earrings too.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what’s next from this new talent.

What do you think of these designs, dears? Are you as intrigued as I am? Which piece speaks to you the most?

Please note: I received a pair of Sophie Ratner earrings as a gift. While this did delight me, it did not affect my opinion of the product. All images c/o Sophie Ratner.

The post Introducing Sophie Ratner jewelry. appeared first on Diamonds in the Library.

from Diamonds in the Library http://ift.tt/1WN7gyM

The Best Dive Gear for Travel

One of the most alluring things about our sport is the possibility of travel to exotic locations. But as a traveling scuba diver, you’ll be well aware of how bulky and heavy the gear can be when you’re lugging it around an airport. And with luggage weight limits constantly shrinking, we divers must be quite creative if we want to bring our own gear while traveling. If you’re both an avid diver and an avid traveler, it may be time to invest in lighter gear. Below we’ve offered our picks of the best dive gear for travel.

BCD

BCDs are one of the heavier, bulkier items we usually bring with us. Fortunately, there are lots of compact, lightweight travel BCDs available. These types of BCDs usually offer fewer pockets, D-rings and padding because these are what add weight and bulk to the jacket. It’s best to comparison shop a bit to make sure you get one that works for you and one that has at least a few of the features you want. Most travel BCDs weigh just under or around 5 pounds, and one of the lightest, simplest ones you’ll find is the Aqua Lung ZumaCressi also offers a number of great travel BCDs.

If you prefer the wing-and-backplate setup, you’re already halfway there — the only heavy item in this configuration is the backplate. Make sure to replace your steel plate with one made of aluminum, or even better, invest in a travel-specific one, such as the Aqualung Ultralight Backplate, which is soft and weighs just over a pound. Alternately, you could pick up a wing-and-backplate complete BCD for travel, such as the Halcyon Traveler BC.

Integrated octopus

One great way to save weight is to bring gear that performs several tasks. A combined low-pressure inflator and octopus is one such jack-of-all-trades. Essentially a low-pressure inflator with a built-in mouthpiece, it doubles as your backup regulator. In case of a buddy’s out-of-gas emergency, you would donate your own primary and switch to the backup yourself, which is essentially the same method used by cave divers. This system is only slightly bigger and heavier than a normal low-pressure inflator, but saves you bringing an entire octopus.

Travel regulator

There are quite a few travel regs out there, such as the Aqua Lung Mikron, that will save you a few pounds compared to the heaviest traditional ones. And if you choose an integrated octopus as mentioned above, you’ll really save a lot of weight by combining it with a low-weight primary. Do note that most of these combinations don’t do well in cold water, though, which makes them ideal primarily for tropical divers. If you’re traveling to Silfra or Scotland, your gear will be under greater demands. Although you may need to go with a non-travel reg if you’re primarily a cold-water diver, eliminating the octopus will still shave off some weight. Another option is to get a non-travel reg, but made from a lightweight material like carbon. One such reg is the Mares Carbon 52X, although this is a somewhat pricier option.

Fins

Even though most fins are already pretty lightweight, there’s still weight to be saved here. Shop around for a good, strong fin that isn’t excessively heavy, and you’ll do fine. Things do get a bit trickier for divers who prefer traditional rubber fins, however, which can weigh up to seven pounds for the pair. Rubber fins are often shorter than plastic fins, so in terms of bulk they’re a solid choice, but weight is a problem. The Hollis F2,  a purpose-made travel rubber fin, weighs only a bit more than half of the heaviest rubber fins at four pounds.

Exposure protection

If you’re diving in cold water, there isn’t much to do except bring a thick, heavy, bulky wetsuit or drysuit, though even here, there are options for lighter-weight versions. A trilaminate drysuit is lighter than a compressed neoprene suit, even with the additional inner clothes you’ll need, though it is likely to be bulkier.
If you’re traveling to the tropics, though, you may find that you don’t need very much exposure protection. A rash guard and swimwear may be enough, or, if you want a full-body wetsuit without the weight, you could explore options like the Fourth Element Thermocline, which boasts the thickness and weight (per square inch) of a rash guard, but the warmth of a 3 mm wetsuit.

Luggage

Once you’ve spent all this time getting your kit optimized, you don’t want to jam it all into a heavy roller suitcase. A lightweight, durable duffle is a better choice in many cases. The lightest I’ve found is the Fourth Element Manta bag, weighing in at just a little over 2 pounds.

With a bit of investment in the best dive gear for travel — including the bag — you can save yourself a lot of weight, bulk and hassle and, considering the cost of excess luggage charges, you may break even more quickly than you think.

The post The Best Dive Gear for Travel appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/1RhEXjm

VA Construction Projects - Managing Equipment Delivery

The Veterans Health Administration operates under government oversight to serve one of the world's largest healthcare populations.  The group currently operates 152 hospitals, 800 outpatient clinics, 126 nursing home units, and 35 domiciliaries.  These facilities serve a large population of veterans and service personnel, and many of them are over 60 years old. The need for new and updated VA facilities has prompted multiple medical construction projects.

from CME Insiders http://ift.tt/1swjIWi

Two exceptional examples of antique portrait jewelry.

I’ve developed an increasing love of antique portrait jewelry.

There’s something magical about a piece of jewelry that can look back at you – and with antique pieces, the degree of mystery is even more fascinating: was the piece inspired by a real person, or is it an abstract representation? If it was inspired by a specific person – who was it? Did they like their portrait? Did they choose to be represented this way? Who was it commissioned by/for?

I was browsing the SJ Phillips website recently and I found these two examples of antique portrait jewelry. They’re very different, but both spectacular. I decided I absolutely had to share them both with you.

The first piece we’re looking at is diminutive in size – only about an inch wide – but mighty in impact: a stunning, highly-detailed colorful example of the Victorian Egyptian Revival style.

This beauty features a fabulously dressed woman in a pink striped dress and glorious feathered Egyptian-style headdress. She’s in front of a richly colored plique-a-jour background in red and gold. She’s set in a border of old-cut diamonds and sapphires, creating a wonderful color contrast and a beautiful silhouette for the piece. As I said: tiny but packs a strong punch.

With a hinged pendant loop on the back, this pretty little brooch can also be worn on a necklace.

While the first piece of antique portrait jewelry is beautiful, the second is even more unique. And mind-bogglingly gorgeous, no?

This beauty dates to 1910 and shows a fantastically glamorous flamenco dancer in colorful enamel with a gold bangle and a diamond necklace and hair accessory. She’s so romantic – the roses in her dark, curly hair, the folds of her green gown, the curve of her shoulder as she turns slightly away from the viewer. She’s incredible. And her glamorous frame only adds to the overall effect of luscious, glamorous beauty.

She’s a signed piece by Fuset y Grau, who I wasn’t familiar with before now. Here’s SJ Phillips’ bio on the maker:

Fuset y Grau was a contemporary of Lluis Masriera, also based in Barcelona, and who worked in a similar artistic style through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The two jewellers were amongst the leading representatives of the Spanish Modernista movement which was the Catalan variant of Art Nouveau. Fuset was a craftsman distinguished by his use of ivory, pearls, colored stones and yellow gold in his work. Although there is very little published about his jewellery, Fuset y Grau’s pieces were shown at the International Decorative Arts Exhibition in Paris, 1925.

After seeing this pendant, I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for more by Fuset y Grau.

These two pieces of antique portrait jewelry are both currently for sale at SJ Phillips. All images and info are thanks to SJ Phillips.

The post Two exceptional examples of antique portrait jewelry. appeared first on Diamonds in the Library.

from Diamonds in the Library http://ift.tt/1TrICj3

Drones remain largely untapped tool in data journalism arsenal

Creating an open dialogue in countries that have otherwise barred civilian use of drones, including the United States, UK, and African countries, is essential for the technology’s application to data journalism, says Dickens Olewe, creator of African SkyCAM and Journalism Fellow at Stanford University. 

Read more ...

from World News Publishing Focus by WAN-IFRA - World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers http://ift.tt/255dYBh

Real World Clinical Blog: The Health of Trans People

As many of us, as social workers, look toward becoming supportive allies of the trans community, we need to truly interrogate what it means to be an ally.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/1qxKtZ9

Simple Surface Survival While Scuba Diving

“Relax” and “stay calm” are pieces of advice you may have heard when you were first taught to dive. Many divers may think this was just a way for their instructor to calm them down, but if you remember them and dive by them, these brief admonitions may save your life one day when it comes to simple surface survival while scuba diving.

When we become stressed or panic, we often suffer from tunnel vision. It’s harder to think clearly, and normal procedures and skills may seem difficult or even impossible. If an incident is not dealt with swiftly and correctly in a scuba-diving emergency, it can quickly lead to a major accident, or even death. Therefore, it’s essential that divers not only master a few basic skills learned during training, but also that they stay calm under pressure.

Obviously there are many different emergency situations that can happen and many skills you’ve been taught to deal with them, but there is one particular problem that dive professionals see frequently: divers struggling at the surface. Most dive accidents occur at the surface, in fact, and because of this, basic Open Water training courses include two important skills.

Establish positive buoyancy at the surface

You may surface for many reasons during a dive, perhaps after losing your buddy or, even worse, in an out-of-air situation. The first thing you must do is establish positive buoyancy. Sound simple? It is a simple skill, but one that divers frequently forget due to stress. The boat crew can often see a diver struggling at the surface, and will yell at you to inflate your BCD. If you’re shore diving, no one may be there to remind you.  So make it a habit to inflate your BCD first once you surface and practice both methods regularly; oral inflation and low-pressure hose inflation. To orally inflate your BCD, press the button you normally use for deflation and blow into the hose at the same time. Don’t forget to kick as you breathe out to keep your face well above the surface and avoid taking in water. Many divers, after their initial training, never practice oral inflation, and then will forget this is an option. Be sure to practice this skill even if you never need it. Making it a habit to automatically inflate your BCD immediately upon surfacing will help if you are ever in an emergency situation.

Emergency weight drop

If you have trouble inflating your BCD for any reason, or you have inflated yet still feel negative — possibly due to being over-weighted — then the next step is to release your weights. This is also an important option if you have no air in your cylinder. All weight systems, whether a weight belt or integrated weights, must be “quick-release,” and you must be able to remove your own. Release the weights, hold them away from your body to avoid entanglement, and let go. You’ll immediately feel more positively buoyant and, if you were attempting to orally inflate your BCD beforehand, it will become much easier. If it’s been a while since you practiced this skill, or if you’ve changed from a weight belt to integrated weights, you should consider a pool or shallow-water session to become familiar with this life-saving skill.

You may be thinking that these tips are common sense for most divers. But when anxiety or panic set in, all common sense can disappear. Staying calm and remembering your training is vital in emergency situations, but you must also practice these skills to keep them fresh in your mind. You’re at a great disadvantage whenever you approach any emergency emotionally, rather than logically. Being prepared, staying focused and remembering these two basic skills will automatically lower your stress and keep you calm in emergency situations at the surface — and may save your life.

The post Simple Surface Survival While Scuba Diving appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/252zczP

Spring Cleaning: 3 Tips and Tricks For Cleaning Window Treatments

Do you have window treatments on your spring cleaning to-do list but not sure where to start ? Check out our expert tips and tricks below!

Honeycombs (Cellular Shades)
These insulating window treatments are a hot pick for their energy efficiency, but they have a secret cleaning advantage, too. “Honeycombs are so easy to clean. Just use the dusting tool on your vacuum,” says Carolyn Forte, the director of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute Home Appliance and Cleaning Products department. “Give them a once-over on low suction, and you’re done.” After dusting, most stains can be lightly blotted with a sponge, lukewarm water, and mild dish detergent. Source: GoodHousekeeping

Curtains and Drapes
Washable Curtains: Some fabric window treatments, like cotton curtain panels, are machine washable. Many fabric shades or custom-made drapes are not. First, check the tag for care instructions. If they’re washable, follow the instructions on the tag, wash and re-hang them.
Non-washable Drapes: For styles or fabric types that can’t easily be laundered, start by removing dust and hair with a vacuum tool or lint roller. If the curtains aren’t difficult to detach, you can even take them outside and shake them like a rug.  Source: PGEveryday

Faux-Wood Blinds
Faux-wood blinds are one of the most popular types of window coverings. If your faux-wood blinds are just dusty, using a vacuum with a dust brush attachment can make cleaning them a breeze. Simply close the blinds all the way, hold the bottom rail, vacuum one side, then turn the blinds the other way and vacuum the other side. When using the vacuum, make sure that the suction is on its lightest setting to avoid twisting or warping the slats. Handheld dusters like a Swiffer can also be effective here.
If your faux-wood blinds are in the kitchen however, they may have collected some grease and grime in addition to dust. This calls for a bit more thorough cleaning, but nothing that can’t be handled with some good ol’ white vinegar. Simply fill a small bowl with a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water, and then use a clean sock or microfiber cloth to dip in the bowl. Turn the blinds one way and wipe them while holding the bottom rail, then turn them the other way and clean the other side. The vinegar will take care of the grease and grime, and your blinds will be looking as clean as the day they were put up! Source: OneGoodThing

Knowing how to clean your drapes is important. Since cleaning your drapes is not something you do every day, don’t hesitate to contact us here for more ideas and suggestions!

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604 ) 559-1988

The post Spring Cleaning: 3 Tips and Tricks For Cleaning Window Treatments appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.

from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/27CplCM

6 Key Features of Direct-to-Site Medical Equipment Delivery

As medical facilities and healthcare organizations across the nation continue to experience dramatic growth and expansion of both services and facilities, they also must grapple with the logistics challenges presented by such developments.

from CME Insiders http://ift.tt/1ssp30X

Poetry Therapy in Group Work: An MSW Student Perspective

I was offered the opportunity to develop a group curriculum at my first year placement.The group, Pathway to Poetry, was meant to be a journey in which clients would find and develop their inner voice.

from The New Social Worker Online — the professional social work careers magazine http://ift.tt/1W2yz7D

Exploring Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

For more than 40 years, national marine sanctuaries have worked to protect special places in America’s oceans and Great Lakes waters, from the Hawaiian Islands to the Florida Keys, from Lake Huron to American Samoa. Backed by one of the nation’s strongest pieces of ocean-conservation legislation, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the sanctuaries seek to preserve the extraordinary beauty, biodiversity, historical connections and economic productivity of our most precious underwater treasures. And — lucky for you — most of these places are accessible to recreational divers. Sanctuary waters are filled with unique ecosystems, harboring a spectacular array of plants, animals and historical artifacts, all waiting to be explored. National marine sanctuaries belong to everyone, so dive in.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Dive into the cold waters of Lake Huron and you’ll lay eyes on one of the best-preserved and nationally significant collections of shipwrecks in the United States. Explore the hull of an old wooden schooner; admire the pristine condition of an early steel-hulled steamer; and even descend to a modern, 500-foot-long freighter.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 4,300 square miles of northwestern Lake Huron and protects over 200 shipwrecks within its boundaries. Nicknamed “Shipwreck Alley,” this area of the Great Lakes experiences unpredictable and intense weather, including heavy fog, high winds and sudden blizzards. As one of the world’s busiest waterways for the last 150 years, fire, ice, collisions and storms have claimed many vessels here. And not only is there an impressive number of shipwrecks here, but also the diversity of shipwreck types makes Thunder Bay a unique and exciting place to dive.

The variety of Thunder Bay’s shipwrecks allow divers of all experience levels, from first-time wreck divers to highly technical divers looking for a new thrill, to enjoy this national marine sanctuary. Visiting the sanctuary with friends or family who don’t dive? You can experience Great Lakes maritime history while snorkeling on shallow wrecks like the wooden steamer Albany, in just over five feet of water. The crystal-clear water of Lake Huron also means that many of the shipwrecks are visible from a kayak or glass-bottom boat.

Lake Huron’s cold, fresh water makes Thunder Bay’s shipwrecks some of the best-preserved in the world, with many sites virtually unchanged since they sank. Still, invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels are altering the appearance of some. Most likely brought to the region in the ballast water of ships, these marine invertebrates are now a fairly common sight on Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s shipwrecks. By inspecting and washing your boat and dive gear, you can help protect these historic wrecks.

You can also help protect these unique maritime heritage resources by using the sanctuary’s mooring buoys to prevent damage to the shipwrecks by boat anchors. Additionally, make sure to always keep a safe distance from all parts of the shipwrecks by streamlining your equipment; in this way divers can contribute positively to their continued preservation for years to come.

Experience the wonders of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and other national marine sanctuaries via our photos, and see more at http://ift.tt/1YhY7zt.

By guest writers Allison Randolph and Elizabeth Weinberg, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Cover image credit: David J. Ruck/NOAA

 

The post Exploring Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/24ZJtwD