Silver Crosshair

Carbon Fiber: What exactly is it??

January 2005

Who out there has heard of carbon fiber? Do you even know what it is? It has become apparent to me over the past few months that almost everyone in the sport compact scene is aware of carbon fiber as it explodes in popularity. It is being used to manufacture everything from the popular hoods to even fenders and interior pieces now. But another thing that became apparent is that although many enthusiasts are aware of it, very few actually know what it is. Well in this month’s column we will discuss where carbon fiber came from, the properties of the material, and how it is used.

Carbon fiber has been around for over fifty years with its earliest history in the aerospace and military industries. It was normally reserved to these industries as the costs of manufacturing carbon fiber were sky high, and cost consideration is low in these two industries. Only in recent years has production of carbon fiber climbed, therefore lowering the price and making its use more widespread.

Carbon fiber can be produced in one of two ways. These are “wet” lay-up and pre-impregnated lay-up processes. The “wet” process has been used since the beginning of composites. It creates molded shapes from glass or carbon fiber and resin. Do-it-yourselfers use this practice extensively as it is the least labor intensive and expensive money wise. When manufactured in the “wet” lay-up, dry fibers are laid into a mold and resin is poured onto them. The resin is then brushed over the fibers in a relatively uncontrolled manner. Resin is added in layers and layers until the desired thickness is achieved. If this process is not performed correctly the fibers can become saturated with resin which causes added weight, and reduced strength and stiffness. This method can also create inconsistent products as certain areas are saturated and others are not thick enough.

Pre-impregnated lay-up has been refined over the past 20 years to create better products with more predictable results. In this method the fibers are pre-impregnated with resin at the factory. It is then rolled onto spools and then frozen to prevent the material from curing too quickly. Materials made by this method are typically 20-30% stronger than “wet” laminate of the same thickness. Pre-impregnated lay-up materials can be cured in one of two ways: vacuum bag compaction and also vacuum bag compaction plus an auto clave. The composite is placed under vacuum bag compaction and is placed into an oven. The resin will then solidify or “glass.” When the autoclave is used it essentially pressure cooks the fibers. The maximum allowable temperature of the cured laminate is used and the continuous temperature is lower. It is normally is between 250 and 350 degrees.

Automakers first began experimenting with carbon fiber in the 1970s. Ford even built an entire car out of carbon fiber composites in 1977. In the 1990s GM manufactured a concept car out of carbon fiber that got 100mpg. The motivation for automakers is to produce vehicles with lower emissions, lighter weight, lower cost and better fuel economy. The problem carbon fiber has presented though in the past is its astronomical price compared to other materials. At one point, it cost $100 per pound versus .40 cents for steel. Nowadays though, the prices are hovering somewhere in the $5-$10 price range and it is making many other industries experiment with the material. Many enthusiasts purchase carbon fiber products solely for the looks, but they offer other benefits as well. Carbon fiber reinforced materials perform at higher rates for strength versus steel and aluminum.

So the next time you think about purchasing a carbon fiber hood or other products, you will know how to investigate the manufacturing of the product to make sure you are getting what you are paying for. Carbon fiber is just getting started with a bright future ahead.

_________________

Jason Helferich

www.streetstylecustoms.com

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Apartment living finally took its toll on our nerves. Though the rooms were of a generous size, my wife was forced to do the laundry in the cellar and the girl upstairs seemed never to take off her high heels. Click, click, click, all night long. Why couldn’t she wear slippers in the house as we did?

Then one day my mother-in-law came through with an offer to loan us the down payment on a house. Excited, we found a nice ranch style home (my preference) and proceeded to pick out the colors, wallpaper, flooring, etc. I scouted out the land and chose a fairly level plot with a steep bank behind the property leading to a road, ensuring that no-one would build behind us. I even dug down two feet and found rich virgin soil, perfect for growing plants except for the plethora of rocks. The builder agreed (in writing) to fit the large picture window with diamond shaped panes as part of the original price. At extra expense we ordered a three foot extension for the master bedroom/bathroom.

Checking on the progress one day, I noticed that the open foundation contained three feet of water. The builder assured me that this was only rain water coming off the mountain above and the cellar would be dry when the house was built. We later found out that a stream passed under the house, exiting out the back, reappearing on the road behind our property. No amount of pumping would ever completely dry out our cellar and after a rain, the water poured in like a faucet.

One day a neighbor commented that she recognized the paneling in our family room as
the exact wall panels that she rejected for having too many defects. I should have noticed.

On another day, I noticed that the picture window stored in the garage in preparation for installation contained the standard rectangular picture window. I immediately went to the office and confronted the builder. He informed me that diamond panes were much too expensive and I would have to settle for rectangles. I replied that the diamond panes were included in the price of the house and asked to use the phone. I got the window supplier on the phone and asked the prices of both versions of windows. I handed the phone to the builder to hear the answer: little or no difference in price. I got my diamond panes.

Then we found out that though the master bedroom was enlarged, the bathroom was excluded from the extension, making for a tiny bathroom. We elected to have the price adjusted downward to compensate rather than tear down the house. Then one day I observed two huge trucks filled with my nice black topsoil preparing to move out. I went up to the builder and asked him where he was going with my top soil. He got all red in the face and said he was just moving it to the corner of the property for safe keeping. I asked him if he minded if I watched him while they dumped it and he said, “No, but it might be a while.” I said “I’ll wait.” Grrrrrr.

I can’t understand why the builder couldn’t place a fair price on the house and stick to the terms. A deal is a deal and the buyer shouldn’t have to watch him every minute. I guess it takes all kinds.

My main philosophy is to do a good deed every day.

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It is really a wonderful activity to grow tomatoes around your house. You can retain the tomato on the plant itself till it turns fully ripe. But when you are buying them from the stores or in the market you have to sometimes pick up the raw ones. The ripe ones are not always available.

The following is the procedure of growing tomatoes around your house.

Select a pot that will allow the excessive water to drain away. Then fill the pot with compost. Add about an inch of seeds into it. To allow the seeds to germinate, layer the pot with a plastic cover. Then remove it later and pour water into it till it penetrates the bottom. After a few days you will see a small growth. Keep the pot under the sunlight so that it grows rapidly.

When you observe a proper growth, shift the plant to a new pot. Possibly plant it besides a shrub or near a tree so that it is protected from the strong wind. Provide the essential nutrients for the normal growth. Use fertilizers almost after every month and water them at least twice a day.

Wait for about 4-6 weeks to let the tomatoes grow in full shape. If the temperature falls to 50 degrees Fahrenheit then cover it up.

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The discomfort of physically going to a gaming house makes it recommendable to avoid going there unless you have to. All those traffic jams, the discomfort, and tasks called for won’t seem worth the struggle for the opportunity to place your wager at gaming house, on the other hand, in case you are the type of person who ache for card-playing then turning to online games of luck is likely the more obvious answer.

You do not have to go outside to have a go at online texas holdem or related games simply because you will do everything from within your familial household assuming you possess a pc plus a functional Internet connection. Though allowing for that, read on first, for there are a good many recommendations that you’ll need to swot regarding online texas holdem or related games, specifically if you are a neophyte. Got it? Great. So calm down all that testosterone of yours and check the guidelines and details below. Here is a sketch that unravels what to observe if you’re deciding on an honest and trust-worthy online texas holdem or related games Web site. The top priority that a nifty internet risk taker like you is sure to pursue is an online texas holdem or related games webpage of the type that is prepared to offer high winnings. Here are some alternative words of wisdom regarding trying to locate your online casino fun webpage.

Always make sure that the online casino fun webpage holds a license, e.g. by verifying the govt. operating permit on the casino site. If you’re unable to discover any govt. operating permit on that online casino fun webpage, don’t even try to place your wager on that site. In the next step, you should check punctiliously the particular promotional deals that the online casino fun webpage offers you.

Good Predictions for Online Mobile Gaming Industry

Another material piece of advice is to place your bets as a start with negligible amounts in lieu of dole out more than you can afford off the cuff. First of all, check the stability of the online casino fun outfit before going for some severe risk, specifically money loss! Here’s another most vital tip regarding virtual video poker. It can only be never to ignore that online wagering is all about entertainment and less about becoming rich. Wagering is certainly no trade, rather, it is a pastime that is intended to let you feel cheery and life in general satisfying.

So, after having heeded the these facts, you’re at liberty to cede to the call of online casino fun…

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If it is at all possible, you should start your business without any funding beyond what you have available. Do this by starting slowly and in conjunction with present employment. Start your business by working evenings and weekends while keeping your present job as long as practicable. This way, if the business does not meet your expectations, you have not incurred debt and will still have a job!

However, depending on the nature of the business outside funding may be necessary. For example, expensive equipment or initial stock may be required. When determining your financing needs, remember that nearly everyone underestimates what is required, so be careful and do your planning accordingly. And of course, don’t forget to factor in contingency - sickness, bad weather, equipment breakdown, etc. Anything that increases the time line to profits! Best you figure on a year before you see a profit. Here are some items to keep in mind when preparing your startup budget:

• Office equipment (Fax machine, computer)

• Production equipment (for manufacturing)

• Office supplies

• Legal and CPA fees

• Insurance

• Business licenses or permits

• Lease deposits

• Remodeling costs

• Utility deposits (this can be quite large!)

• Salaries

• Shipping

• Advertising and promotion

• and the big one … contingency!

What you want to avoid is having to find additional financing during your startup phase. It is generally easier to obtain financing the first time around!

There are two major forms of business financing.

1. DEBT FINANCING. This simply means you get a loan from someone or somewhere and go into debt! You are obligated to repay the money.

2. EQUITY FINANCING. This involves “selling” a portion of your company to an outside investor. You have no obligation to repay the funds. In general, this type of funding is provided by venture capital firms.

The fact is, 99.99% of all small businesses will utilize debt financing since most “equity lenders” (venture capital companies) are interested in lending large amounts of money, generally a million dollars or more. This article will only consider sources for obtaining debt financing for your venture.

SOURCES FOR DEBT FINANCING

1. YOURSELF! (Savings) You are your own best “lender” if you have the savings. This approach can be quick and easy.

CAUTION: Ensure you have adequate savings for both the business and other life contingencies.

2. FRIENDS and RELATIVES. If they believe in you and your idea, friends and relatives are sometimes willing to fund you. Choose this route with care and ensure you execute a formal loan document stating loan terms (interest, terms of repayment).

CAUTION: Many friends have been lost and many relatives alienated because of a small business failure.

3. BANKS and CREDIT UNIONS. Many banks and credit unions (check with your own first and with you local chamber of commerce for alternate possibilities) will loan money for starting a small business. This approach will require that you present a formal plan to the bank showing justification for the amount you are borrowing.

4. THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA). Check out their website (http://www.sba.gov). Contrary to what many believe the SBA does NOT generally loan money directly but rather guarantees a loan (normally up to 90%). This can make it a lot easier to obtain a bank loan since the bank’s risk is lowered considerably. The exception is that the SBA does provide direct loans to certain groups including Vietnam-era and disabled veterans and handicapped individuals. In general, the SBA will not offer any assistance until you have been turned down for a loan by a commercial bank.

Most loans guaranteed through the SBA are between $25,000 and $750,000. However, there is a “microloan” program for amounts from a few hundred dollars up to $25,000.

5. VENDOR FINANCING. If your business is one that relies heavily on certain vendors, it may be possible to obtain financing through the vendor. After all, they want you to use their product and therefore have an interest in helping you be successful.

6. STATE. Some states have small business financing authorities that issue tax-exempt development bonds that can be used to finance land, buildings and equipment for manufacturing businesses. Check with your local government office for details.

7. HOME EQUITY LOAN. Interest rates for this kind of loan are generally quite low and the interest is fully deductible for the first $100,000 borrowed.

CAUTION: You are placing your home on the line!

8. LIFE INSURANCE. Some types of life insurance policies (whole life and universal) have cash value which can be borrowed at very low interest rates. You are not obligated to pay this money back but if you don’t, your policy payout is reduced by the amount borrowed.

9. RETIREMENT PLANS. Some retirement plans (401K for example) allow you to borrow against vested benefits. Generally, up to 50% may be borrowed as long as this is less than $50,000.

CAUTION: If you quit your employment, the loan must be repaid immediately. If you don’t the amount borrowed is treated as an early distribution and is taxable.

10. GRANTS. Many foundations provide funding in the form of grants. Check “The Foundation Directory” at your local library or visit their website at http://fdncenter.org to find out what foundations may have an interest in your specific business idea. The Foundation Center may be reached at (212) 620-4230.

11. CREDIT CARDS. These should be used with care because of the excessively high rates of interest usually charged.

CAUTION. Remember that many of these loan ideas will require you to sign a personal guarantee. This means that regardless of what happens to your business, you are personally liable for the repayment of the loan amount. Think carefully before signing.

http://www.TotalBusiness.com is a Website that provides business owners with the information they need in order to successfully start, manage, grow, and sell their businesses.

The site features over 3,000 articles and 60 guides on business topics such as starting a business, financing a business, sales and marketing, building a website, setting up an office, hiring employees, and selling a business. The site also contains articles on legal and accounting issues affecting businesses and allows business owners and entrepreneurs to get free expert advice from local lawyers or accountants. The site contains over 1,000 business forms and agreements that are helpful to business owners and provides a business directory with over 1,700 merchants who provide services specifically for small businesses.

Eran Salu, JD,MBA,CPA is the Founder and CEO of TotalBusiness.com

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For how long will you continue with the same monotonous routine of going to work early in the morning, returning home late evening and then going to bed? Aren’t you getting bored off your droning lifestyle? Take a break from work and enjoy the beauty of the world with a dream holiday tour. You will not face the problem of insufficient funds, as there are many lenders in the market who will provide you with UNSECURED LOANS with competitive interest rates.

Unsecured holiday loans are those loans that are especially designed to meet your financial needs for a holiday tour. These loans, being unsecured in nature, are charged with higher interest rates. The monthly installments are also bigger and the repayment period is short and rigid. But these loans are approved very fast, as there is no collateral involved in the deal. It saves much of your time also because you don’t need to go through the process of valuation of your house and the hassles involved in documentation.

The best thing about an unsecured holiday loan is that you are free from the risk of repossession of your property. The lender takes high risk in providing such loan whereas the borrower is at minimum risk. This is why the lender charges a high rate of interest from you. Unsecured holiday loans can be availed even by those people who have a poor credit record. There are many creditors who provide UNSECURED LOANS to people with bad credit history. But the interest rates are higher in such cases and the creditor keeps a strict vigil over repayments by such borrowers So, if you want to avail an unsecured holiday loan you don’t need to run after brokers or visit finance company offices. What all you need to do is to sit before your personal computer, surf through a few useful websites, find a suitable loan provider and fill up an online application form. Your loan amount will be sanctioned very quickly. You don’t even need to bother about journey tickets and hotel booking, as your travel agent can do all this work. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead enjoy a memorable holiday tour.

About the Author: The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Loans Park as a finance specialist.

For more information please visit us at:- http://www.loans-park.co.uk/

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People will often look at me in disbelief when I tell them they are not eating often enough. The logical mind wants to think, “If I skip meals … I am bound to lose weight.” WRONG! There has been a ton of research that has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the body gears down and hangs on when put under this type of stress. I call it “starvation mode.” When your body isn’t receiving nutrients every few hours, your metabolism drops into low, low gear; basically, the rate it maintains while you are asleep. In that state, your body is ultra-conservative. It uses energy very efficiently, and if any nutrients come in, they are immediately stored for fear that it won’t be getting any more for another long period of time. Hence, you will not lose weight and, in fact, may even gain.

On the other hand, if you were to begin eating 5-6 small meals every day, in a week or two your body will be convinced that “more nutrients are always coming … on a regular basis”, and you will begin to drop weight almost effortlessly. Hard to believe but it’s true.

Now, an important key is to eat the right small meals every 2-3 hours. You can’t be eating fast food or double fudge brownies and expect the weight to fall off. Of course you need to eat a balanced healthy diet consisting of 7-8 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2-4 servings of grains, 1-3 servings of good fats, 2-3 servings of dairy and 2-3 servings of lean protein. The actual reality is that you will be eating more food then you have probably ever eaten but, because it is the nutrient-packed food that your body needs, you will lose weight with relative ease.

So, let’s go through a typical day’s food plan.

7 a.m. - 8 oz glass of purified water, 1-2 eggs, 1 slice hardy multigrain bread, 1-2 teaspoons all fruit, 2 slices turkey bacon, 1 cup decaf or green tea.

Midmorning snack - 8 oz water, a small apple or 15 raw almonds.

Noon - Ideally, this is your largest meal of the day with 4-6 oz lean protein, 2-3 servings of veggies, 1/2 sweet potato or 1/2-cup brown rice and more water.

Afternoon snack - Warm or cold herbal tea, 5-7 Triscuits with a thin coating of peanut butter.

Dinner - Very large mixed green salad with all the fixings, put 2-3 oz. of lean meat on it and use balsamic vinegar and olive oil as dressing, more water.

Evening - Finally, if you so choose, an evening snack of a small container of no-fat yogurt or 5-7 strawberries cut up and mixed with 1/3 cup of no-fat cottage cheese and, of course, more water.

This may seem challenging at first, but over the course of a week or two, as you settle into this food regimen, you will notice that your energy level will markedly increase, you will not have sugar or non-healthy carb carvings and you will sleep much more soundly. Give it a try, and mark my words … you are going to feel wonderful and lose weight to boot.

Click on ==>Fitness Tips for more information.

Kim Pye is certified in fitness and exercise by the American Council on Exercise (A.C.E.). Kim Pye currently owns a very successful exercise and fitness studio in Waynesville, North Carolina, Kim’s Gym: http://www.probodyfitnessandnutrition.com/

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As we’ve recently witnessed, natural disasters like hurricanes can strike at any time and decimate treasured home and possessions, leaving homeowners with nothing. But with a little planning and the proper homeowner’s insurance, you can protect yourself, your family and your property.

Disaster Planning

In times of disaster, safeguarding loved ones is top priority. That’s why it’s essential to prepare an escape plan ahead of time and make sure your family knows what to do in the event of an emergency. Emergency phone numbers should also be reviewed with family members and posted somewhere (perhaps on the refrigerator) for easy access.

When it comes to protecting your valuable and hard-to-replace items, you can also plan ahead and protect them. Items like birth certificates, insurance policies, home inventories and other valuables should be placed in a safe deposit box during high risk seasons. That way, if your home suffers significant damage, your valuable items are out of the house.

Prevent and Circumvent

While most natural disasters can’t be prevented, you can circumvent damages from disasters like wildfire, floods and mudslides by carrying out certain safety measures. Often times, damage can be minimized simply with smart landscaping.

If you live in a forested area, you can minimize your risk of wildfire damage by clearing all brush, shrubs, sticks and other debris from your property that could fuel a fire toward your home. “Fuelbreaks” like cement and gravel walk and driveways can also slow a fire’s pathway toward your home.

If you live in an area prone to floods or mudslides from heavy rains or hurricanes, you can plan certain diversions for water through landscaping; sump pumps can also drive water away from your home. Furthermore, planting extra grass can “anchor” the soil after a flood or fire, which helps prevent ground erosion around your house.

Finding the Right Insurance

Of course, insuring your home from these perils is also an essential part of safeguarding your property. If you already have home insurance, you should talk to your agent and go over what’s covered and what’s not covered under your policy. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that flood and earthquake damages are not covered under standard policies. And with the large scope of damages these natural disasters can cause, you’ll want to make sure you’re adequately protected.

So how can you get extra coverage?

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal program through which you can purchase flood insurance. Most private insurers also sell additional flood and earthquake coverage.

If there are certain valuables that aren’t covered under your standard policy, you can get coverage for those items by purchasing a rider. A rider is an extension to your home insurance policy which covers selected items.

When it comes to homeowner’s insurance, knowing what you need to protect your property is the best way to save moneyresulting in the cheap homeowner’s insurance you want and the insurance coverage you need.

Take Action against Disasters

We can’t control natural disasters, but we can plan, circumvent and insure against them. Develop a safety plan, prepare your home to withstand disasters and talk to your agent about finding the coverage you need. You’ll rest easier knowing you’re protected!

About InsureMe

Megan L. Mahan is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, health, life, long-term care and home insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com

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Search engine optimization is the very key to all website
success, and has been a driving force in gaining traffic for my
blog/site. It is key for every website to have a search engine
presence or you will not get the traffic that your site really
deserves, and this goes for both websites and blogs. The reason
that I am writing this article is that I was on a call with this
guy that was asking many different questions about his website,
and he was telling me how he was able to successfully optimize
his website for Google, but was lacking the traffic from Yahoo!
and MSN, that he felt would be nice to receive.

This leads me to another point. Every single search engine is
different, and this may seem like a ridiculous statement because
they are ‘work’ the same way, as in, you search for a keyword
and it brings up all related content that it finds. But I guess
the real question is, how do they retrieve the content? That is
exactly my point, and that is the difference. Although every
search engine works the same way, they gather content
differently, there search spiders work differently. For the most
part it seems that Google is a step above the rest when it comes
to massive content searching, and seems to reveal the more
relevant searches.

Now that we know how search engines work, let’s look at some
ways to help you improve your search engine presence.

The most obvious but not always talked about way to give your
search engine rank a life, would have to be search engine
submission. It is very possible to submit your site or blog into
search engines through very simple submission forms. This is
sometimes a quick way to get your site indexed but not always.
Google, and Yahoo! offer this service, but there are no
guarantees on the amount of time it will take them to index your
site. This isn’t always required because there search spiders
will eventually find your site and index its content. The use of
Meta Tags is of high important in the last sentence, and we’ll
go over that a little later. Here are a couple sites that will
help you submit your site.

TARGET="_blank" rel="nofollow">AddMe.com
HREF="http://www.submitexpress.com/" TARGET="_blank" rel="nofollow">Submit
Express

Another great way to have search engine spiders crawl your site
quicker is have a webpage devoted to links. In other words,
create an entire page that has nothing but links to your pages,
this is otherwise known as a sitemap and is a great optimizer
once it gets indexed. I would highly suggest this, as it is good
traffic booster. You can actually find neat little applications
that will do this all for you.

TARGET="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pingoat Google Sitemap Creator

There are several tags that you can place in your head tag that
will also help search engines see and index you properly. The
first that we will discuss is the