Another luxury way to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month, comes from Mikimoto. They have created new designs for their Everything Is Possible With Hope?line which has raised thousands of dollars for charity. The 2006 collection includes an Akoya cultured pearl bracelet and necklace strung with pink silk thread with a ribbon charm in 18K rose gold and finished with a Mikimoto clasp in 18k rose gold and two Akoya cultured pearl and pink sapphire pins. This is the first time that Mikimoto has used a color other than that of the pearls being strung and the pearls give off a subtle pink hue. The 18K white gold ribbon lapel pins include pearls as well as pink sapphires. Prices start at $400 and 5% of the sales goes to breast cancer charities.

Sweet Friday before Valentine’s day! Did you know the new moon on Sunday also rings in the 2010 Lunar New Year? A few of my favorite indie flavored posts from around the blogosphere are listed below.

Hide Your Arms: The Forbidden Tree hoody by Badashell
Bright, bold and golden – the tattoo flavored design is engaging.

Alternative Consumer: skateboards made from scrap wood
FunkinFunctionalLongboards made of 100% repurposed, premium, local, hard wood scrap.

Indie Fixx: Pretty Knickers & Things
Lovely hand-made panties and other sweet underthings.

Cool Hunting: Happy Goat Caramels
Free-range goat milk caramels – unusual, tasty and lower fat than cow milk based candies.

DVice: Glow in the dark tub puts bathing in a cool light
Photoluminescent tiles – I’d like many things in my life covered in said tiles.

Design Spotter: Ventricle Vase
Looking to expose your heart to others – bring it out full of flowers!

Green Muze: Fish Bowl Plant Filter
The perfect tiny bit of symbiotic life for your work space.

Geekologie: I’ll Be Glued To The Television: Discovery Airing Valentine’s Day Special On Dino Sex
Tyrannosaurus Sex!!!

The Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance is now law. Introduced on August 17th, 2009 by City Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney, the original Fa?ade Ordinance bill passed unanimously on Dec. 10th last year. The structural engineering firm O’Donnell & Naccarato provided professional expertise in the drafting of the Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance amendment.Three incidents in the summer of 2009, where pieces of building facade crashed to the sidewalk in Center City, combined with Philadelphia’s extensive inventory of historic structures necessitated a Fa?ade Ordinance mandating a regimen of property maintenance to ensure public safety.O’Donnell & Naccarato’s 150 years of combined experience in fa?ade restoration in Philadelphia brought real-world knowledge to the table as the City of Philadelphia and building owners worked to craft a safe, comprehensive but reasonable Fa?ade Ordinance.The Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance (http://webapps.phila.gov/council/detailreport/?key=9641)
details a staggered cycle of inspections every 5 years by a “licensed Professional Engineer experienced in the practice of structural engineering or a licensed Registered Architect knowledgeable in the design, construction and inspection of building facades”. Buildings 6 stories and higher or with appurtenances in excess of 60 feet are covered by the Fa?ade Ordinance, which primarily mandates an inspection report, based upon: A review of previous reports, inspections or repairs. A review of the building’s history, materials, wall construction and water management. A physical examination of the building fa?ade, testing and photographs.?The structure’s fa?ade, or portions of it, are then graded in the Fa?ade Ordinance: Safe Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Plan UnsafeConditions determined to be Safe with a Repair and maintenance Plan or Unsafe are probed for probable causes and recommendations for repairs. The Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance mandates repair work within 10-days of filing the inspection report.Most of Center City Philadelphia’s tall building stock is in the 60 – 120 year old range, adorned with massive cornices, ledges and balconies that overhang the street. The Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance recognizes that water infiltration is the hidden cause behind most deterioration scenarios. Yet deterioration can go unnoticed for years without the professional inspection mandated by the Fa?ade Ordinance. Fa?ade restoration engineering, the heart of the new Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance, is an evolving subspecialty of structural engineering that focuses on the particular dynamics of facades and how they relate to the aesthetic, structural, envelope and building environment performance of a structure. Water infiltration, trickling through cracks and holes in a facade, can do substantial damage particularly during the freeze/thaw cycle so prevalent in the Philadelphia climate region. Masonry joints crack and crumble, metal fasteners holding terra cotta in place corrode and rust, stone, masonry and brick loosen, delaminate and shift. Eventually, if not caught in time, something will detach and fall. The new Fa?ade Ordinance is precisely tailored to preventatively identify and remediate such conditions before they become dangerous.
O’Donnell & Naccarato’s Fa?ade Engineering department has been in existence for over 30 years, gathering invaluable knowledge of historical building systems, materials and techniques no longer used or taught in modern university engineering departments, but very relevant in light of the new Fa?ade Ordinance.
A case in point was O&N’s involvement with the landmark Wanamaker building on Market Street. A 12-story, 1,500,000 SF structure, built in 1911 in the Florentine style, the Wanamaker is a steel frame structure on concrete slab with a fa?ade consisting of marble, granite and painted cast iron. An ornamental terra cotta cornice decorates the 3rd story elevation. O’Donnell & Naccarato has, in its long-term relationship with the building owner, employed many of the proactive provisions of the Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance. In particular, crafting a comprehensive annual inspection/repair regimen that implemented fa?ade restoration strategies to correct potential deficiencies before significant structural repairs were necessitated. This was enhanced by creating and maintaining a digital archive of the original building drawings, another provision of the Fa?ade Ordinance presaged by the long experience of the O&N Fa?ade Restoration engineers. ?The Philadelphia Fa?ade Ordinance was amended on January 28th, 2010 and the final version of the amended Fa?ade Ordinance was passed unanimously by City Council on Feb. 4th, 2010 and signed into law by the Mayor on Feb. 17, 2010. Please contact Joel Darras (jdarras@o-n.com) at (215) 925-3788 for additional information.

Cheltenham Spa is a picturesque town in the heart of the Cotswolds. Cheltenam is easily accessible by car (M5 and A40) or by train (trains running to Bristol and the South West, Cardiff and the rest of Wales, Birmingham and the Midlands and North, and London and the South East). Whether you are visiting Cheltenham as a couple, as a family, or on your own discover what Cheltenham has to offer!

Pitville Pump Room

Pitville Pump Room is one of the best examples of regency architecture in Cheltenham. Originally built to pump the pure spring waters up out of the ground, it is what puts ‘Spa’ into Cheltenham Spa. It no longer pumps water up, however it is used for many high class functions such as jazz and classical concerts. Around the Pump Rooms are beautiful gardens containing lakes that you can hire a boat on in the summer months!

Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse is home to national hunt racing. The most famous set of races are the Gold Cup Festival races, where thousands of people come from all over the world to see the horses race. Outside of the race season, Cheltenham Racecourse is home to events such as the Wychwood Festival.

Holst Birthplace Museum

The Holst Birthplace museum was built to celebrate the life of the famous composer Gustav Holst. The museum gives an insight into the life of Gustav Holst (1874 to 1934), and an insight into Victorian era life.

Cheltenham Art Gallery

Cheltenham Art Gallery has a collection of art and crafts that are world renowned. Their collection includes paintings, and artefacts that give insights into the history of Cheltenham town.

Cheltenham Festivals

Cheltenham hosts many festivals, including: The Wychwood festival (family friendly music festival of mixed genres), Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, The Greenbelt Music Festival, and many others.

Imperial Square

The Imperial Square is in the centre of Cheltenham town. It is encirled by The Promenade. Imperial square is home to thousands of plants and flowers and is a very beautiful place to walk around.

Prescott Speed Hill Climb

Just outside Cheltenham, Prescott Hill Climb is a great motor racing venue. Prescott Hill Climb is host to many classic car and bike weekends. If you are a car enthusiast, this is a must visit!

Nature in Art

The Nature in Art museum is home to all kinds of art inspired by nature. They feature artists working away on their creations as well, so you can meet artisits inspired by nature!

Sudeley Castle

Sudeley Castle was built in the 10th century AD. Henry VIII’s sixth wife Catherine Parr lived there for some time and is buried in the grounds. The castle is well preserved, and has fantastic gardens to walk around. Sudeley castle is a short drive away from Cheltenham.

Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle is another good castle to visit. Out near Gloucester it is also a short drive away.

Chedworth Roman Villa

Chedworth Roman Villa is set in a wooded Cotswold Combe. The site was uncovered in 1864. It includes two bath houses, shrines, and many fine mosaics.

Park House Toy and Collectors Museum

Park House Toy and Collectors Museum has one of the best private toy collections in the world spanning many eras. It is located in Gloucester a short drive from Cheltenham.

Looking for the cheapest hotels in Cheltenham? Visit the HIEX site.

Grandparents! Help Your Grandkids Do Math!

by: Kenneth Williams

This may come as a surprise.

But despite all the advances in education, many kids still struggle in the math class.

Math is an important subject, yet many kids just don’t “get it”.

Teachers can only devote a limited amount of personal attention to each student.

And parents are so busy with their own work nowadays, they don’t have time to help their children with school work.

That’s where YOU, the grandparent, come in!

Grandparents teach their grandchildren through example and play a role in encouraging them to be successful and set goals.

Grandparents are naturally forgiving and patient, and children sense that.

As a grandparent you can help right from the time your grandkids are toddlers, by asking them questions involving numbers, and showing them how important math is to our lives:

Ask them number-based questions, like: “How many books do you want to read tonight?”

Or: “How many miles to grandma’s house?”

Show them basic fractions by dividing groups of jelly beans into halves and quarters.

Bake cookies together and teach them how to measure ingredients.

Make something in the wood shop and teach them how to use a ruler.

The time you spend with your grandchild is a blessing for both of you. If you work with your grandchildren and teach them the simple basics of math, they will develop a natural talent for it and move to the head of the class.

It is important to be positive, patient and enthusiastic. You have a whole lifetime of experiences to share with them. You can be there for them if they become discouraged in school.

Don’t be negative about math – be positive and enthusiastic. Your attitude will greatly influence them. You can help them over the bumps by showing them that math is simple if you break it down to the basics and build from there.

Show them that math is nothing to fear, but rather something to enjoy. Show them how good it feels to solve problems and how wonderful learning is.

Teach your grandchildren that math is a tool we use everyday from working at our jobs, using checkbooks, going to the store, furnishing our homes, eating in restaurants, planning vacations and converting our currency.

Being a grandparent is one of the miracles of life. There is a natural bond of human affection between grandparent and grandchild that brings a lifetime of joy and love to you both.

Spending time with them and really helping them will make all the difference in the world, and it will make math fun for them, too.

Successful students will remember spending time with their grandparents and learning life’s lessons.

From precious baby to challenging teenager, they will remember you were there every step of the way.

About The Author

Kenneth Williams is a math teacher with over 31 years teaching experience. He is also author of the popular “Fun With Figures” mental math course, which shows anyone aged 8 to 80 the easy way to do impressive mental calculations. Visit the website today for more details at: http://FunWithFigures.com

Attention Webmasters / Ezine Publishers:

Please feel free to publish the above article on your website or in your ezine.

You may also be interested in joining the ‘Fun With Figures’ affiliate program (it’s free) and earning 50% on all sales you refer.

You can get your affiliate link here: http://funwithfigures.com/affiliates/

As an affiliate, you may replace the website link in the above article with your own ‘Fun With Figures’ affiliate link.

Car is one of the basic necessities of each and every men of today. It gives full support to one who wants to roam for some specific purpose. It serves the job to be done in seconds by taking in a fastest way than any other means which we want to depend on others. Getting a car may not be a big thing but its maintenance works our more than any other thing. It needs the kits in hand so to make the job easy by not going shop by shop.

VW Golf Plus especially goes in its introduction from 2005 and sometimes people can find in chaos of finding different parts of it. The easy way to get is going in online at VE, Volkswagen radio installation kits. The kits are reliable in the sense makes the car to run freely for years together when changed. Such reliability makes one to go for it in VW peacefully. The fitting after getting is very easy that the installation guidance is given in the manual which the owners too can install and after finishing the professional look comes for it. Such a trend gives ample pleasure when finished up. A more accurate instruction is the enhanced feature of the kits supply manual.

VW Golf Plus from all models the radio installation kit along with fitting kit for the set along with aerial adapter is an added advantage over other radio installation kits. When one is interested one can get in touch with the range of selections available online. Especially for VW Golf Plus the kit could be got from 2005 with unique identity to serve the different model of car that come out after the first model. The functionality it provides gives a wide range of selection to play the kit. VW Golf Plus cars usually come with head fit of apt placement over the panel provided. It gives value to the money it fetches for its manufacturing and making it to reach us. The quality to say is not quenchable as it gives life to it for a long time. Its sound effect gives more pleasing which makes to fit in its own inner environment. Variety of cars requires variety of requirements based on the sophistication it has. But the common provision of having a radio set in VW Golf Plus is something important which every one expects to have. The most fitting head units with adaptor for aerial coverage, harness adaptor and removal keys make it likeable by any one.

VW Golf Plus fits from 2005 model onwards with the basic necessity it makes out. As usual it is also supported with removal keys and harness adaptor. VW Golf Plus first should hook up all the wires as it is given in the manual. The fuse if any has to be checked before hand and the kit has to be attached well as given in manual. Though has passed with few years in releasing this uniqueness never fails in this kind of kits.

A metallurgical microscope is an optical microscope which differs from other microscopes in the method of specimen illumination. Since metals are opaque substances they must be illuminated by frontal/reflected lighting, therefore on metallurgical microscopes the light source is located within the microscope tube. This is achieved by a plain glass reflector installed in the tube. The image quality and its resolving power are mainly determined by the quality of the objective. The common magnification of a metallurgical microscope is in the range of 50x – 1000x.Metallographic microscopes are used for a variety of applications such as semiconductor silicon wafer manufacturing, inspection and quality control, crystallography, and analysis of sand castings in iron metal foundries. They can also be used for metallic grain microstructure analysis and identification, measurement of thin films, microscopic analysis of opaque surfaces, study of prehistoric stone age tools and artifacts, historical preservation, the study of metallurgy, and metal patina analysis.There are two designs of metallurgical microscope: upright and inverted. The upright microscope is used for examining smaller specimens mounted on slide material. The inverted model is used for applications that range from the examination of thick and large metal or raw material samples to big or heavy samples.There are different illumination accessory options available on most metallurgical microscopes which include dark field, polarized light, interference contrast. Dark field illumination is used for producing images with dark background and bright non-flat structure features. Polarized light is used for viewing metals with non-cubic crystalline structure (magnesium, alpha-titanium|, zinc and others) responding to cross-polarized light. Polarized light is created by a polarizer which is located before the illuminator and analyzer, and placed before the eyepiece. Interference contrast system (DIC), enables the user to observe features not visible in brightfield. It also can create a three dimensional view in some samples.Quality metallurgical microscopes are offered by VanGuard in their 1240MM series. The VanGuard 1241MM is a trinocular industrial microscope featuring reflected illumination as well as long working distance objectives. It is perfect for the inspection of integrated circuits, wafers, electronic components, metals, polymers, paint, textiles, and essentially any opaque sample. Since the 1241MM has a trinocular design you can add a digital or video camera system to help document your findings. The VanGuard 1242MM offers similar features with the addition of a base illuminator for transmitted light. National Microscope Exchange has been in business since 1991, selling and servicing refractometers, microscopes and inverted microscope. The service staff has 30 years of experience with microscopes, and is the authorized United States service facility for Atago brand refractometers,metallurgical microscope.

A recent Forbes article, entitled “How To Wear Fall Fashion’s Top Trends,” discussed the latest fall fashion trends and offers advice on how to take the runway trends and make them work with your everyday wardrobe.

According to Forbes, wearing runway looks can “pose a risk: What won applause on the runway can get you hooted off the stage of real life. Says David Wolfe, creative director of The Doneger Group, a fashion-forecasting firm in New York City, “For the designers, it’s an exciting time; but for consumers, figuring out how to wear these trends without looking foolish can be problematic.”

Yellow and other bright hues were a major trend to hit the runways in designer’s menswear fall collections. Forbes advised that the best way to incorporate these brighter colors into your wardrobe is to “use sparingly.” A great way to pull this look off is to incorporated brightly colored accessories such as a tie or pocket pocket to your outfits.

For women, the major color trend is grey. But for those who are looking for a little more color, geometric patterns are the way to go. Forbes warns that you can “run the risk of looking a fool, though, if you wear too loud a print in too conservative an office. And to wear more than one patterned item at a time is definitely a no-no: You’ll look like a test-pattern.”

To learn more about the right way to wear this season’s trends check out “How To Wear Fall Fashion’s To Trends” at http://mt.corpblogsite.com/mt2/www.forbes.com

The skin is the outer barrier of the body and the first line of defense against what they perceived as a threat the sunlight too. But some people have sensitive skin, for all kinds of substances and conditions that are not usually the case with people react with normal skin.

What is Sensitive Skin?

But how exactly is the definition of sensitive skin? It’s tingling, expand or painful to touch. That reacts strongly to the simple procedures of everyday life such as shaving and stress. And it reacts violently to certain natural products and chemicals .Every time there is a reaction in sensitive skin, redness, plain and often inflamed.

The skin changes, either temporarily or permanently, to let it grow and sensitive .For example, prolonged use of creams with Retin make sensitive skin. Some cosmetic treatments have the same effect with repeated treatment with laser or chemical peels.

Normal skin of a very different type of sensitive skin is the type of irritants and allergens, the result is not sensitive. This occurs in patients with eczema, contact dermatitis, rosacea, acne, psoriasis and Odem.

Different types of Skin

The skin of these people will be red and inflamed when the allergen or irritant in the vicinity or in contact with skin. For example, people with contact dermatitis are hypersensitive to jewelry the nature of the material used and can have allergic reactions to soaps and detergents as the chemicals in them .The skin of these people are often dry, is red and scaly and itchy.

There is a way for sensitive skin? There are many natural herbs to soothe the skin and development of resistance. One of them is eating the right kind of diet and avoids foods that cause a reaction.

What are the precautions?

Moisturize skin with plenty of drinking water is also important. Herbs such as almond oil and jojoba oil to cleanse your face, rub the face with a mixture of grapefruit and oatmeal, or a mask of fresh cucumber and yogurt.

Did you know that green tea is building resistance to infections, Aloe Vera, which is made from the sap of a type of cactus that is very soothing to the itching?

There are several current applications, such as creams, gels and lotions applied at regular intervals to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy and are a great way to build resistance to sensitive skin.

1. Choose powder when possible.
Powder cosmetics are not the only lights up the removal of large have very few preservatives and contain ingredients that can cause very low which can cause skin irritation. This means powder cosmetics are much less likely to cause problems for women with sensitive skin than their liquid counterparts.

2. Avoid waterproof cosmetics.
While cosmetics such as waterproof mascara are great for tearful moments, they need to remove a solvent also removes sebum, the oily substance from the sebaceous glands of the skin. This is not oily barrier skin is exposed to potential irritants that can cause a rupture of beauty.

3. Check out old cosmetics.
Some normal life cycle of the product is: one year for foundation and lipstick, three to four months for mascara, and two years for powder and shadows. It is also important to wash makeup brushes and sponges regularly since they exacerbate the dirt and germs from the port, sensitive skin.

4. Use black eyeliner and mascara products.
Find black women with sensitive skin, with dramatic, it is best when it comes to eyeliner and mascara product colors are displayed. Dermatologists feel that black is the least allergenic of all colorants.

5. Keep eye shadow in earth tones.
Lighter earth tones like brown, cream, white or beige seem to cause less upper eyelid irritation in women with sensitive or itchy eyes.

6. Use pencil eyeliner and eyebrow fillers.
Pencil eyeliner and eyebrow pencils are wax and contain pigment and minimal preservatives. It contains many fewer problems than liquid eyeliners latex which may cause problems and lead to people sensitive to latex. These forms cosmetic pencil water is also removable, which makes the skin surface.

American prescription medication is among the most costly in the world, and many U.S. citizens are unable to pay for the medicine required to keep them alive and healthy. With more individuals being laid off and fixed income retirees barely affording basic necessities, the situation is becoming detrimental and life threatening to those who are unable to receive healthcare. It is because of this that online pharmacies have grown in popularity as they can provide patient assistance programs to alleviate costs without requiring the traditional healthcare plans of brick and mortar pharmacies.

Depending on the program, most reduce the cost of medication through special memberships, participation in online communities, and utilizing international pharmacies to fill prescriptions. However, the best assistance allows for deep discounts without the worry of age, income status, or current health condition, while still providing the highest quality in medication and customer support. The result is the spectacular benefit of providing individuals who are unable to qualify for cheap healthcare with a low cost alternative.

Unfortunately, with the growth of a market built around helping people has also led to the growth of moneymaking schemes driven by heartless individuals who have no qualms in harming people just to make a quick buck. This means that buyers should be wary of the companies they do business with and spend a little time investigating the claims, certificates, and quality of the medication they are purchasing. Many times, the unscrupulous practices of online pharmacies that do business with no prescription drugs or provide substandard medication from fly by night operations are reviewed and well documented by previous customers who have since been burned by the company.

To verify the quality of the pharmacies included in the patient assistance program, third party websites, known as pharmacy research companies, perform the necessary research of all accreditation and licensing, detailing their results for all potential consumers to see. In addition, customer reviews and advice boards provide firsthand experience, potential complications, and possible resolutions that may arise with any particular pharmacy.

As more individuals find the benefits and cost savings of online pharmacies, the pharmaceutical industry in the United States will continue to evolve, and may eventually lead to a full revolution. In the meantime, families who require legal drugs for health problems will find that a patient assistance program with a free membership will provide a cost savings so large that they may never have another reason to return to the archaic form of utilizing health insurance to pay for prescription medication.

About the Author :–

As an entrepreneur, Tony Baker has had to deal with the complications of overpriced medication without the benefits of a traditional healthcare plan. As such, he has spent much time on researching the many available patient assistance programs available from online pharmacies and pharmacy research companies. Through his findings, he has come to understand that the only patient assistance program worth joining provides free membership, discounts of 40-80%, and the highest quality standard available on the internet.