Go Figure!

Popular Backyard Activities for Adults

2017-09-23T20:45:00.001-07:00

When most of us think of backyard activities, children come to mind. While children may enjoy being outside, they are not the only individuals who enjoy participating in backyard activities. In fact, many adults also enjoy being outside in their yards.

Whether you are retreating your backyard alone or with some friends, you may want to think of some fun or relaxing backyard activities. This can easily be done by examining some of the most popular backyard activities, especially those that are designed with adults in mind.

As previously mentioned, many adults use their backyards to relax. If you are looking to do this, you may want to examine your backyard or patio furniture. The furniture that you have available may make it possible, or even impossible, to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in your yard.

Popular furniture, used to help achieve relaxation, may include lounge chairs or hammocks. If you do not have any comfortable lawn or patio furniture, you may want to consider purchasing some. Most, on and offline retail stores, carry a fairly large selection of patio furniture.

Although many adults use their backyards as a source of relaxation, others use it for excitement. If you are looking for fun backyard activities, there are literally an unlimited number of things that you can do.

These activities may include playing sports games, going for a swim, or having a barbeque. All of these backyard activities are ideal for individuals of all ages, especially adults.

If you are interested in playing sports games in your backyard, you will have to think about the games that you would be interested in playing. You may also want to examine whether or not you would be playing alone or with someone else.

If you are interested in playing a game by yourself, basketball or a single game of horseshoes may be ideal.

In addition to being ideal for singles games, horseshoes and basketball are also great games for when more than one player is participating.

Additional multiplayer games may include soccer, football, tennis, badminton, or volleyball.

The above-mentioned games are ideal because just about everyone one can participate in them. Most backyards are able to accompany a number of different backyard sports games. However, to go swimming, you will have to have a pool.

Even though pools are popular, not everyone has one. If you are unable to have an in-ground or an aboveground pool installed in your backyard, a kiddie pool may be a nice alternative.

While kiddie pools are designed with small children in mind, they are great for wading in hot weather, even for adults.

A barbeque is another backyard activity that is enjoyed by many adults. Since most households already have a grill, you may not have to purchase anything besides your food.

If you do not have a barbeque grill, many small ones can be purchased for around twenty dollars.

Barbeques are great backyard activities, all on their own, but they also work well in conjunction with swimming or other outdoor activities.

In addition to enjoying, the above mentioned, popular backyard activities for adults, you may also want to make up your own.

Whether you create your own unique game or stick to traditional backyard games, it is likely that you will be pleased with your decision to entertain yourself outside.

There are many adults that just enjoy being outside, even if they are not participating in anything particular.

What You Should Know About Athletic Shoe

2017-08-18T13:42:00.001-07:00

Did you ever wonder why there are so many types of running shoes and athletic footwear styles? The main reason is to avoid foot injuries by creating a shape and style of shoe that is appropriate for different sports and activities.

Athletic shoes are made into both standard and sometimes odd sizes for men, women, and children. These shoes are designed to help a person achieve top performance in basketball, football, baseball, golf, bowling or any other athletic or team sport. In addition, athletic shoes are created for running and walking as well. The type of sports shoe that a person needs will largely depend on the chosen sport, activity level and the preference of the person wearing the shoe.

When choosing an athletic shoe, consider how the shoe will be used. If you participate in casual sports activities such as volunteer church baseball leagues or neighborhood football matches, you will not need an expensive athletic shoe. However, if you play sports competitively, you might want to consider specially made athletic shoes. For instance, a person who takes running very seriously is more likely to invest in a higher quality athletic shoe than the average runner.

Higher quality shoes are often needed because they are required to spend several hours a day training to build speed, endurance, and strength as they compete. In order to for runners to do this, they will need a shoe that will last. This is true for those who play other types of competitive sports, as well.

The choice of athletic shoe is also important for moving and protecting the foot while participating in sports. For example, in basketball or football, a person needs to think and act fast as they dribble, pass the ball or run down the field. Therefore, the person needs the appropriate shoe for optimum performance and safety. Basketball shoes often have a strong grip on the bottom that prevents an athlete from sliding. In both football and baseball, each player usually has shoes that have cleats on the bottom of the soles.

This is to help the player grip the ground as they move quickly during play. Cleats are also important because players also have to play in varying outside weather conditions such as snow, rate, sleet, and extreme heat or cold. The right shoe is important because weather conditions can affect how well a player moves around the field, and the player's ability to run without slipping and falling. The wrong shoe can cause falling and injury to players.

There are several companies that make high-quality running and athletic shoes. Nike, Etonic, New Balance, Asics, Mullins, and Adidas are all popular shoe manufacturers. These shoes often come in a wide variety of styles and features. In addition, these athletic shoes often have shock absorbent soles for a softer impact when the runner's foot hits the ground. Furthermore, good quality athletic shoes are often made in wide and narrow styles as well as arched, normal, or flat designs that help fit the overall shape of a person's foot. Along with that, these shoes come in a variety of sizes so that everyone can find a pair that fits their foot well.

Sometimes a person can find a high-quality athletic shoe from a manufacturer or retailer that does not advertise nationally. These types of shoes are often called "off-brand" or "generic". Many times, these shoes are just as durable and dependable as the regular name brand shoes, but often cost much less than name-brand shoes. The fit of a shoe is usually a matter of personal preference, so before purchasing these off-brand shoes, it is important to test them out for fit and feel.

Further information can be found online about generic or off brand shoes. However, it is important to remember that information about these shoes often comes directly from companies whom manufacturer and advertise their shoes. If in doubt about the quality of a generic shoe, it is sometimes not worth saving a few dollars. Buy the shoes from a brand that you know will not let you down, whether it is a nationally known brand of athletic shoe or not.

Athletic shoes can be purchased for both recreational or competitive activity needs either online, in a store, or by mail order. When purchasing shoes online or mail order, there is always the risk of the shoe not fitting right because each brand will fit a little differently. However, you can increase your chances of finding a fitting shoe if you know a little about the brand of shoe that you choose to purchase. Also, consider trying the shoe on at a store before buying online.

When purchasing a shoe in a store, there may be a smaller selection than what is available online. However, the advantage is buying a shoe that will fit properly. This goes for the fitting of athletic shoes as well. If you do a little online research on athletic shoes before shopping at a store, it is easier to make a better decision about the purchase of shoes. When researching shoes online, it is easier to compare shoe brands, prices, and features.

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Glyconutrition: All Eyes On Newton

2016-09-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Glyconutrition and the silence in Parliament:

Sir Isaac Newton is not generally associated with medicine and biology, much less glyconutrition. Newton lived 1642-- 1727, a period now referred to as the Age of Newton. However, you don't get an entire age named after you unless you have done something spectacular...like inventing the calculus...or discovering the law of gravity and the laws of optics.

His impact was so enormous, even in his own lifetime, people of all stations in life wanted to get just a glimpse of him...or hear anything he had to say. Problem was, he was very sensitive and shy, so words didn't come easily, ergo, he didn't say much.

Except in the lecture hall of the University, where very occasionally he did lecture. (Granted, not on glyconutrition but we haven't gotten there yet).

There...he did open his mouth. Imagine, sitting through a lecture of the world's greatest scientist, who didn't know when to stop lecturing on subjects his students couldn't understand. That may be the real origin of the expression, "In every fat book there is a thin book trying to get out."

In any event, because of his enormous popularity as the greatest mathematician and scientist in history, he was elected to the Parliament of England. I guess people just figured if they could get him involved in politics, he might say something which they could go home and quote.

So, he sat in Parliament year after year and never uttered a peep. Not a single syllable. At least, not until one day, in the middle of an intensely debated issue in Parliament, Sir Isaac suddenly stood up. Immediately, Parliament was silent as all eyes were upon Sir Newton. Mustering such abilities as he was capable of producing for the drama of the moment, Sir Isaac turned sheepishly and asked that the window be closed because of the draft.

Not a particularly moving event. But, it became buzz nonetheless.

Glyconutrition: Accessing the nutrients is a key to health.

So what does all of this have to do with glyconutrition?

Actually, we don't remember Isaac having anything to do with glyconutrition. There's a good reason for that. Medical science still hadn't discovered bacteria under the microscope, let alone the 8 sugars which comprise the key molecules in glyconutrition, observable only under the electron microscope.

But, Sir Isaac and the people of "merry ole England" were unconsciously accessing glyconutrition far more readily than we do today...through their diet:

- Glyconutrition supplied the essential ingredients of protection for newborns who were breast fed. The sugars involved with glyconutrion are present in surprising quantities for the baby.

- Garlic, certain saps and quite a few of the herbs rich in glyconutrition, were part of the diet in merry 'ole England of that day.

- England didn't then resort to "green harvests", processed foods, chemical preservatives which destroy glyconutrition. Indeed, our society depletes the soil, processes food for taste and convenience and introduces toxins that overwhelm our immune system. What little glyconutrition we do get, is simply not enough to do the job.

- Instead, glyconutrition was not processed out of the corn, oats, barley, wheat, leeks, carrots, radishes, pears, and red wine of that society. Granted they had other problems (like the Black Death), but not for lack of glyconutrition.

- Fruits are loaded with pectin's (such as apple pectin's) and are instrumental in providing glyconutrition.

It is, for that reason, "merry ole England" did not see the huge epidemics in so many categories of diseases as we do today:

- Overactive Immune deficiencies include food allergies, pollen and grass allergies, asthma, eczema which result from severe lack of glyconutrition, producing a misguided inflammation. In short, because glyconutrition is lacking, our immune system over reacts to certain foreign substances in our body, which normally it should be able to easily handle. Without glyconutrition in proper supply, asthma and allergies produce exaggerated inflammatory responses.

- Under active immune systems - from lack of glyconutrition - can produce colds and flu, cancers of all types, bronchitis, ear infections, shingles, strep, TB, urinary yeast infection, hepatitis B and C, sinusitis, and Candida. Again, lack of glyconutrition leads to the incapacity of the immune system to regulate itself properly. The 1985 issue of Cancer Research, scientists noted the fact that cancer cells in the stomach and colon were associated with a lack of specific sugars (glyconutrition) or deformed sugar molecules.

- Auto-immune disease such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, MS, Psoriasis, and Type I & Type II Diabetes occur when the immune system goes into overdrive attacking healthy cell tissue. Such activity is linked to low levels of specific elements found in glyconutrition.

- Inflammatory disorders such as Fibromyalgia, ulcers, heart disease, colitis, are linked to improper levels of glyconutrition in the diet. For example, in the January-March 1998 issue of Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science, tested subjects took supplements of Aloe Vera extract (containing glyconutrition compounds -especially, acetylated mannans) and reported significant improvement in the symptoms accompanying Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. (Miracle Sugars, Rita Elkins, M.H. woodland Publishing, p. 33).

Glyconutrition: Ho-hum?

Most people of his era were amazed at what Isaac Newton produced. They were so spellbound by anything he did, a whole Parliament stopped mid-sentence to hear what he would say next.

Today, on the other hand, I am amazed at the fact that glyconutrition holds the answer to so many maladies - perhaps thousands- ...and, so few are even aware of the subject. Most doctors don't know about glyconutrion despite the fact that glyconutrition is listed in the PDR (Physicians Desk Reference), the "bible" of the medical world, used by 99% of all doctors.

One thing about good old Sir Isaac. When he made a discovery, he knew what he had and he used it, bettering the world in which he lived. An entire generation could see the progress and named an era for him.

Will we do the same with glyconutrition... What may be the greatest medical discovery in the medical history of the last century?

Sports Injury: An Athlete's Worst Nightmare

2016-03-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

Sports injury...it is every athletes' worst nightmare. For professional sportsmen and women, a major injury could be the end of their career. Breaking an ankle, dislocating a shoulder or hip, or having unbearable pain in the knees could cause an athlete to lose the opportunity to gain honor, fame, and fortune in the field of sports. For individuals who engage in contact sports competition, it could be the end of an athletic dream or a means to stay fit. For many, sports is already a way of life and defines who they are. But getting sidetracked by an injury could make them lose their sense of identity and chance of a lifetime to gain glory and financial independence.

Since sports injuries are inevitable, it is very important to understand how to prevent such injuries from happening or how to administer proper treatment when they do happen.

Acute sports injuries are caused by a single traumatic event and may result from sudden movements like pulling a muscle, spraining an ankle, fracturing a wrist, and many more. A sudden forceful movement may cause damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, or joints. Sprains and strains are the most common among acute sports injuries. A sprain is an injury to a joint and the ligaments. A sprain, on the other hand, is an injury to the muscle tendon unit. Athletic ability hampered by acute sports injuries may be regained after six to eight weeks, but it may take many months or even a surgery to regain full function of the injured body part.

Signs of an acute injury include:

Sudden, severe pain;
Swelling;
Inability to place weight on a lower limb;
Extreme tenderness in an upper limb;
Inability to move a joint through a full range of motion;
Extreme limb weakness; and
Visible dislocation or breaking of a bone.

Overuse or chronic injuries are more subtle and may develop overtime. Training errors like rapid acceleration of intensity, duration or frequency of physical activity is the most common cause of this kind of injury. Overuse injuries may result from repetitive micro-trauma to the tendons, bones, and joints. They may also be developed from abnormal sports or physical activities like going to sports camps, working on new techniques, or being pushed over or beyond one's physical limits. Returning to normal training after a long rest may derail the training phase of the body and cause it to be prone to this kind of injury.

Signs of a chronic injury include:

Pain when performing activities
A dull ache when at rest
Swelling
Every once in a while these sports injuries may be developed. However, with proper treatment they can be back to normal in no time. It is important to consult doctors about possible treatments for various sports injuries. Common treatments for these conditions may include medication and physical therapy. Athletes who sustain sports injuries may use scientifically proven medications for pain relief like Tramadol. Tramadol is a synthetic pain reliever that has gained the approval of many doctors across the United States. It works by binding the receptors of the brain which are responsible for transmitting painful sensations throughout the body.

Several medical studies show that this medication has a low abuse rate compared to other pain relievers. In addition, Tramadol side effects are milder compared to other pain relieving drugs out in the market. These side effects may include nausea, constipation, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and vomiting. Those who want to use pain relievers should consult their doctors before taking more potent forms of the medicine. Although Tramadol side effects are mild and bearable, it should not be used by individuals with certain health conditions and medical history. This drug may also interact with other drugs that may lead to the development of more unwanted side effects.

Rather than seeking medical attention to treat sports injuries, this condition can be prevented by properly engaging in sports training and competition. A well-planned training program which includes flexibility training and warm-up exercises may lessen the development of injuries. If these things fail, ask your doctor about Tramadol.

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They're Watching You in Las Vegas

2015-09-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Vacationing in Las Vegas...

Have you ever thought about going to Las Vegas to experience one of the many world-famous hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip? If you have then chances are that you've been over just which casinos to go to and what hotels to stay at and see. However, an important issue that many people might not realize on their stay is that there are plenty of people watching you while visiting Las Vegas. Whether you are good news or bad news, the authorities in Las Vegas, the federal authorities in Washington, DC, as well as the Las Vegas casino and hotel owners all have their eyes on every little thing that you do.

There are many people who simply disbelieve the fact that cops and federal authorities are able to keep tabs on every single person within the Las Vegas hotel. After all, many people just see themselves as blending in with the crowd. However, this is not how the federal authorities in Washington and others who own the casinos and hotels see you. Here are just some of the thoughts that are running through their head, as well as how they are able to keep so close of tabs on each individual person throughout the hotels and casinos in Las Vegas:

Are you a Good Guy or Bad Guy?

This first question is the very important real question that local and federal authorities have to answer about you to tell whether or not you pose a threat while taking a vacation or living in Las Vegas. In order to get the most basic of information, though, there are thousands of hidden and real cameras within the hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. These thousands of hidden cameras all point towards every person playing within the casino walls and there are hundreds of casino and hotel employees that will do anything just to be able to find the one suspect among the hundreds of thousands of individuals within the crowd.

However, one way in which the Las Vegas casinos and hotels are able to match the faces of everyone in the casino is by the face-recognition software that these highly-intelligible security cameras contain. Face-recognition software and cameras are able to send and share information instantly and directly with other cameras in other Las Vegas hotels and it's just a matter of time before they know your real name!

Another way that Las Vegas casino and hotel owners tend to use the information they gain about you is to give you the ultimate Las Vegas experience. In other words, they are able to tailor your casino experience just the way that they like it. For example, some of the tracking software that Las Vegas casinos use is employed to track your every move, including the bets that you make, wagers that you roll, as well as keeping a tally of all the money that you spent. There is very little information that is not known about you, however, and casino owners can also use that. For example, if you happen to be in a Las Vegas hotel on your birthday, then you just might get a special promotion or end up winning the jackpot on the slot machine, too!

All things considered, though, Las Vegas casinos and hotels are much better off in the way of security than they were just fifteen years prior. Even though it can be scary to be spotted and well-known in Las Vegas hotels, it's also better to say that there is enough security to go around!

How To Save Money: 3 Key Strategies To Save Money

2014-11-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

How to save money is a key concern for many individuals and families. Learning to save money is not about buying books or software. It is not about joining programs. Saving money is about a mindset. If you have trouble saving money, then you will need to change the way you think about money.

This means that you will need to find the ways that you sabotage your own financial goals. Do you equate money with happiness or love? Many people who fall into this category spend money in order to make themselves happy or to make those they love happy. Money does not buy happiness and it does not replace love. Keep your wallet in your pocket (or pocketbook) and focus on giving of yourself and your time. Those gifts mean much more.

Do you believe that you deserve the best? Get over yourself. You do deserve food every day, but that does not mean you deserve lobster or fillet mignon. You do deserve (and need) clothing but it does not need to bear a designer label. You deserve your basic needs for food, clothing and shelter and everything above that is luxury. Just because someone else has it does not mean you deserve it.

Understanding the root cause behind your financial problems can help you greatly with the first key strategy to save money -- Think Before You Spend. This is all about evaluating needs and weighing those needs against desires. You need a winter coat, but you want that cool leather jacket. When I was a college student living in London I had a pretty strict budget. I had to pay my rent plus purchase food. But I wanted to travel too.

So I cut my food budget to the bone and sacrificed meat and rarely ate out except when traveling. My choice was to eat peanut butter so I could travel to Paris. What choices are you willing, and able, to make? It sometimes helps to put off the purchase of those "desired" items. You may find that you do not really want that leather coat enough to brown bag it for a month. And sometimes, anticipation pays off and makes you enjoy the purchase all the more.

Another key strategy for saving money is simple -- Keep Track Of Your Money. Credit cards are a wonderful convenience as are debit cards and checkbooks, but the problem is that unless you are handing over cold hard cash it is really easy to not pay attention to where your money is going and very difficult to keep track of how much you have left. You should never be shocked by your credit card bill and you should not be caught off guard by your bank balance. You may not have it down to the penny, but you should have a pretty good idea of how much money you have on hand.

Finally, the most important strategy for saving money -- Earn It Before You Burn It. This means that whether you are shopping for essentials or luxuries you know that you have the money to pay the bill. Perhaps you choose to use plastic for convenience or rewards, but before you hand over that card to the clerk you better be sure that you have the money to pay the bill when it comes due. Once you start carrying balances and paying interest on your credit cards, then you are destroying your ability to save money.

If you follow these three key strategies to save money, then you will be ahead of the game. Think before you spend, keep track of your money, and earn it before you burn it to save money.

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Can You Really Retire in Thailand On $500 Per Month?

2014-09-16T08:44:00.002-07:00

Find Out How You Really Can Retire in Thailand On $500 Per Month?

When many people retire, they just stop working and continue to live where they currently are. This is not for me. I live in Hawaii and have been here for 23 years and love the islands, but I don't want to retire here.

The cost of living in Hawaii is not conducive to retirement living unless you have a ton of money. I have a nice nest egg, a pension coming and a military retirement, but I don't want to struggle with day to day living in Hawaii.

I prefer to live in a country where it will take about 25% of what it costs me now to live. That place is Thailand.

I have been stationed there as a soldier, participated in military exercises there, and take two or three vacations in Thailand every year. It is my personal paradise and where I will spend my golden years.

If you have ever visited Thailand and been to Bangkok, Pattaya, or Phuket, you will think I am crazy saying that you can retire in $550 per month. But, keep in mind that living in Thailand permanently is different than being there for a two or three week vacation.

During a vacation you tend to spend all of the money that you saved up over the year and have a great, blowout holiday. If you live in Thailand, you won't be going out bar-hopping and just throwing your money around like you do on vacation. Plus, if you live in a place, you tend to know the places to get the best deals and prices.

As I've gotten older and have a lady that I see in Thailand, I don't have the need to go out as much. We still go out for dinners and shopping and sight-seeing, but I spend a lot less than when I am in Pattaya on a single man's holiday.

My last trip I spent three weeks in Khon Kaen, northeast of Bangkok. My hotel room was basic and cost about 12 dollars per day. My lady would cook breakfast for me and then pick up some goodies from the local street vendors for my lunch. We would go out for dinner and have three or four plates of food, a couple of beers, and some water.

My daily expense for this was about $25. This is for meals and my room. Granted, I spent a little more when we went out shopping and I also saved a bit by drinking beer in my room instead of bar-hopping. Movies were bought at the mall for $3 and watching a movie in the room, drinking a beer, and having a pizza was cheap entertainment.

Once I retire in Thailand, I will buy a house, so the hotel bill is gone. My soon-to-be wife will be able to cook for us in the house and we won't go out for meals as much. We will still go out, but it won't be every night.

Even if you don't own a house, getting a monthly rental in a city away from the touristy areas will still be cheap. Getting by on less than $20 a day is easy unless you are out in the bars and clubs every night.

I recommend that you visit Thailand and see what this beautiful country has to offer and see if it is the right place for you to retire.

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Reverse Type 2 Diabetes In 10 Steps!

2014-05-25T11:33:00.001-07:00

Reverse Type 2 Diabetes In 10 Steps

I was diagnosed with type one diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that unlocks the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Having type 1 diabetes increases your risk for many dangerous ramifications. Some complications of type 1 diabetes include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (kidney disease).

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), merged with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

Having type 2 diabetes increases your risk for many dangerous ramifications. Some complications of type 2 diabetes include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (kidney disease). Learn more about these complications and how to cope with them.

Gestational diabetes is treatable
Gestational diabetes affects nearly 4% of all pregnant women - approximately 135,000 cases in the United States each year.

Because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, you need to start treatment quickly. Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to maintain blood glucose levels equal to those of pregnant adult females who don't have gestational diabetes. Treatment for gestational diabetes always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. It may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin shots. You will need help from your doctor, nurse educator, and other members of your health care team so that your treatment for gestational diabetes can be changed as needed.

For the mother-to-be, treatment for gestational diabetes helps lower the risk of a cesarean section birth that very large babies may require. Sticking with your treatment for gestational diabetes will give you a healthy pregnancy and birth, and may help your baby avoid future poor health. (See Diabetes Symptoms)

Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 41 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

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How To Profiting From Online Social Networking

2014-02-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

How To Profit From Social Networking..

This is the second in a series of articles we will be publishing relaying thoughts and ideas from the Internet Retailer Conference in Chicago, which occurred June 5th through June 7th. Peter Kosciewicz, Director of E-Commerce for the Eastwood Company, and Chris Saito, Senior Director, Shopping Products for Yahoo! Shopping, delivered a presentation entitled "Social Networking: The Peer Persuasion Marketing Tool."

According to Kosciewicz, the Web today has grown into an "architecture of participation" that facilitates social networking through devices such as blogs, wikis, RSS, podcast, and more. Forrester Research has published studies that show that traditional marketing is continuing to lose credibility. For example, in 2002, 78% of respondents in a survey said that ads are a good way to learn about a new product. In 2004, that number dropped to 46%. In 2002, 14% of respondents agreeing that companies generally tell the trust. As pathetic as 14% is, in 2004, it had declined even further - down to 7%. Social networking as a means of marketing overcomes this lack of consumer trust because it relies on the word of the consumer rather than the word of the producer. Research from Datamonitor reported that 85% of respondents in a survey indicated that word-of-mouth from friends, family, or colleagues is more trustworthy than corporate-generated content.

So how do you take advantage of social networking to sell more merchandise? Simple - you open yourself up. You plant the seeds of a community to grow up around your site by using devices such as blogs, customer reviews, and forums to give a voice to your customers or prospective customers. The caveat is that you must be high caliber. You must have high quality service and a high quality product. If not, avoid this marketing method.

Kosciewicz outlined four important rules for using social networking on your website:

1. Guide but don't control.
2. Never censor.
3. Don't be afraid of negative comments.
4. Don't be paranoid.

If you open up a forum on your site, but then restrict what people are allowed to say, such as removing posts that are negative toward your company or that mention your competitors, then you will do more damage than good to your reputation. Use negativity as a way to improve your business. If people are negative, look at that as feedback and act on it. Make changes, and then let your community know about it. Don't worry about your community talking about your competition. Your attitude has to be that you are the best, so why worry about it?

As a community develops around your web site, certain members will establish themselves as more influential than others. They will be more outspoken, and will be the ones who often respond to others. Cultivate these members, because they can be powerful allies. Once you have identified the more influential members of your community, inform them regularly, give them free merchandise, become their friend. Feed your influencers information, and they will distribute it for you. But do not make it appear that you are only interested in them because they can help you sell stuff. You need to be genuine.

Measuring the impact of social networking is difficult. Unlike other forms of marketing, there is no direct connect between social networking activity and sells. What you will want to do is track traffic to pages such as customer reviews, referral links, etc.

Social networking can be a powerful marketing tool, if you have a high quality product and are not afraid of an open dialogue with your customers.

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Why Isn't There A Hybrid Pickup?

2013-10-22T19:56:00.002-07:00

Could It Be Finally Here!

One thing that stops Americans from purchasing hybrid cars is the lack of options out there for them. For instance, some people just like to ride in certain models of cars, and when those models are absent from the market, people start to get upset. What the automotive industry needs to do is make sure that every consumer need is satisfied when it comes to hybrid cars. What should it do to satisfy every potential customer's need? Just take a look at what people are buying. And hey, why isn't there a hybrid pickup?

Half of the entire US vehicle market is based on sales of SUVs and pickups. That whole market is comprised of 16 million vehicles. And since pickup vehicles use tons of gas per year, it would be a great idea for pickup hybrids to flood the market. These types of hybrid cars would save pickup drivers tons of money on gas. The savings would make a great case for the hybrid car industry. Alone, those dollars saved would get people curious about hybrid cars. If people saw just how much money hybrid pickup drivers saved on gas, they might be led to rush and get a hybrid for themselves. The dollars saved would provide the perfect visual for potential hybrid car buyers.

But the question still is, why isn't there a hybrid pickup truck. Hybrid car drivers all over are waiting to hear the answer to that question.

Well, actually for a short time, a hybrid pickup truck did in fact exist. Late in the year of 2004, there was a hybrid system on the Silverado and Sierra models. This system was introduced by general motors. However, this truck was not really the market. It was developed, but no one really knew where to buy it. Then in about the year 2006, GM dropped the hybrid pickups known as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. And that's the last the market heard of hybrid pickups. But these hybrid cars or hybrid pickups were let go for a number of good reasons, one being the hybrid pickups created an increase in the fuel economy.

But in the near future, more hybrid pickups will be introduced to the market. And that will be approximately a year from now. So a hybrid car-lovers can get ready for these great utility vehicles. Hybrid cars are already selling fast. So with a new kind of hybrid car like the hybrid pickup, hybrid car sales will take off even more. And then, auto manufacturers would need to produce more hybrid cars. The end result would be that hybrid cars would multiply on the roads because everyone would be driving a hybrid car. And that would do wonders for the environment and the general economy.

So if you want a hybrid pickup, you may just have to wait until about 2008. And that should be fine. Just purchase a different kind of hybrid car while you wait. There are plenty of other hybrid cars available.

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Negotiating Skills: How to Obtain the Salary You Want

2013-08-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Negotiating Skills - Get that Salary You Want

Salary negotiating is an important topic that must be addressed prior to your initial interview with a prospective employer. Knowing your bottom rate, and being able to live with it [or on it?] is an important thing for candidates to uncover before the first interview. Why then do so many of us make the tactical mistake and go to the interview unprepared?

One of the first mistakes - a real killer - is to tip your hand too early in the interview process on what you will accept for a salary. Many interviewers will attempt to screen you out by finding out what your ballpark figure is. To mention that amount too early in the interview process can and will lock you in to a figure you might not be happy with later. Try changing your salary requirements after an offer has been made and you will come across looking flakey or greedy.

You must have a salary range in mind before going on the first interview... you then have to be determined not to reveal it in that interview or you just might find yourself on the outside looking in. In other words, you will be screened out of the selection process before you can show the employer [the person with hiring authority, not the Human Resources (HR) rep.] what you can do for them.

If you are asked on the first interview what your salary requirements are you must stall the interviewer. Chances are the first interview is with an HR rep who is trained to weed people out, oftentimes the salary requirement being one of the "weeds" the rep looks at to eliminate candidates. More than likely the rep is a "no-nothing" regarding your job; he or she is tasked with presenting a certain group of candidates to the person with actual hiring authority [e.g., chief flight attendant, chief pilot, operations manager, etc.] and knows [or cares] little about your background or what you can do for the company.

I have seen the best candidates get screened out prematurely because they tipped their hand too early in the interview process.

So, what do you do if someone insists on a salary figure? The best answer can be summed up along these lines: "my salary requirements are based on the nature and scope of the position." In other words, the more difficult the job, the higher your salary requirements will be. If pressed further -- assuming the rep insists on uncovering your salary range -- you can always announce a figure closer to your bottom rate. For example, if you want 60K and sense that announcing that figure ahead of time will sink you, you can tell them: "my range starts in the upper 40s to mid 50s." That way, you won't be screened out for what the H.R. rep might consider an excessive salary requirement. Most importantly, it will enable you to go to the all important second interview with the person who has real hiring authority.

Your second interview is your opportunity to "WOW" your potential employer. Tell them all the things you can and will do for them. Avoid salary negotiating and let them know they can't live without you. Once you sell them on that point, you will be prepared to give your salary figure of 60K, but only discuss salary if they bring it up [your third interview should be their actual offer to you, however be prepared for an offer earlier than that if you WOW them and they insist on hiring you on the spot. In that case you should be able to secure your upper figure].

Should the remark be made that HR told them you would accept a much lower salary, you must stress that the job responsibilities detailed to you in the interview are much greater than what the HR rep had indicated. Most reasonable people will understand that HR only has a general, not a specific understanding of the job requirements, and will accept this reasoning. Reemphasize your experience, your business acumen, all the points that set you apart from the average candidate, which you are not.

I cannot tell you how often I have heard candidates fail at this important game, which it is -- a cat and mouse game. Do not for a minute think that you will be able to renegotiate your salary later. If you settle for less you will have to live on less. Maybe that works for you, but chances are you will be unhappy and had wished you never caved in.

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Standing Down Hitler, What Did It Accomplish?

2013-07-17T17:26:00.001-07:00

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If you were to ask anybody in this country what was America's "finest hour", you might find many different answers. For most of us, we think of a handful of incidents where the true spirit of what it means to be an American comes forth. And to some, you might hear the answer "America's finest hour is still ahead of it", and that may be true. Nobody can tell that right now.

But in terms of American history, without a doubt when America linked arms with it's allies and stood down the terrible threat Adolph Hitler's Germany was posing during World War II would have to represent the finest show of strength, national resolve and honor in the history of the nation. And that is because during these difficult years, America did not just use its vast resources to save Americans and American interests.

It is not an overstatement that by standing down Hitler, America saved the world. World War II was without a doubt the most devastating war in the history of the world. The death toll worldwide from this conflict reached over sixty million people. The aggression of the axis powers seemed to know no limitations which only makes more dramatic the brave stand that America, England, France and the other allied powers showed to stand in the face of a well armed and ruthless enemy and deny them the world domination they sought.

Its easy to look back now on how the greatest generation, as they often have been called, found the will, the determination to risk everything to stop Hitler's armies. But we forget that at the time, there was no way of knowing if the allies were going to prevail. Early in the war, Hitler seemed unstoppable as he occupied Poland and the invasion of Europe spread to England, France, Norway and beyond giving Germany more and more leverage to spread the war to Africa, into Russia and across Asia as well.

By the time the full allied force was assembled and ready to strike back, Hitler's advances were so deep and the spread of the war so far reaching that at times it seemed impossible to turn back this evil tide of military hostility that threatened to engulf the globe. As often is the case, it was when America entered the war that the allies began to see a hope to stop the horror of what Hitler was trying to do.

It took the bombing of Pearl Harbor to put the American population on alert that the isolation of the American continent did not mean that they would be spared the spread of the war to their homeland unless something was done. By attacking America's ships at harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, the Japanese brought the most potent military machine in the world into the war against the axis powers which eventually spelled doom for the cause of Hitler and his allies.

America's battles on the many fronts of World War II is filled with dozens of stories of courage and strategic brilliance that finally began to turn the war to the favor of the allies. It took courageous decision making at the very top levels of command to make that decision to use the most devastating weapon man had ever known to strike Japan and speed the end of conflicts. The toll of dropping nuclear weapons on Japan was horrific but America's president knew that by ending the conflict, tens of thousands of American lives would be saved.

Only that made it a justifiable attack. But that attack alone did not bring Hitler to his knees. The turn of fortunes began on D-Day on June 5, 1944. This massive assault on the beaches of Normandy France caught the German defenders by surprise. Nevertheless, the cost in lives was tremendous as American and allied troops staged that massive invasion to begin to bring the Nazi war machine down. We can only look back with gratitude to the brave men and woman who fought to keep America and the world free from Hitler's plans of world domination. And by stopping him, we can truly say, this was America's finest hour.

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Mothers Day is Appreciated and Recognized throughout the world!

2013-05-13T00:09:00.001-07:00

Many take both Mother, and Mother's Day for granted. We all have, as children growing up. Mother's Day is more than just a Sunday to send flowers to Mom. Mother's Day is a memorial that serves as just a fleeting moment of the year to show honor and due reverence to one we love so dear. It's only one day, and not nearly enough.

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. -- Mildred B. Vermont

Eight of her twelve children had been baptized in tears of grief. For Ana Maria Jarvis the Civil War was far from civil. It didn't seem fair that a mother should outlive so many children, yet she did. In doing so, Ana left a legacy that was adopted and championed by an unmarried daughter who shared her mother's name.

In 1905, the younger Ana would baptize her mother's grave in her own tears and begin a quest to bring attention to the incredible gift of mothering.

Two years later, Ana Jarvis sought to have Mother's Day recognized on a national level. The second Sunday in May was the second anniversary of the death of Ana's mother so this was a logical choice for Jarvis. Ana lobbied politicians to accept the notion of a day set aside to honor mothers. By 1911 the day was celebrated in almost every state in the union.

The tradition did not stop in America either. This special holiday is now recognized in many countries around the world.

More than a century has passed since the mother of inspiration passed away, and yet it is her legacy that is reflected in the admiration of multiple generations for the tradition of motherhood.

The choice of a Mother's Day gift is a common celebration of that tradition. Special care should be exercised when seeking out a gift that proclaims a willingness to attempt to pay a debt that can never fully be repaid.

A gourmet gift such as an Oil and Vinegar Set can pay homage to the grand tradition of Mother's Day in a way that brings a stroke of brilliant elegance and style to the occasion.

Gifts for the kitchen or that will ultimately tempt the palate are perfect for Mother's Day gift giving primarily because moms spend so much time in the kitchen. Gifts that aid in meal preparations or pamper the taste buds are a welcome departure from more familiar gifts.

A kitchen gift may even indicate a willingness to return for a well anticipated meal with mom. Spending time with our mothers is important in maintaining closeness throughout the years. A Mother's Day kitchen gift speaks volumes in regards to individual thoughtfulness, creativity and degree of kindness.

It's possible to become so caught up in our own worlds that we forget the moments in childhood when our jelly-stained hands would reach for mom's and we'd gaze into her eyes wondering why we couldn't marry her or how much we wanted to be like her when we grew up.

Should you be able to take the second Sunday in May to personally express your appreciation for your Mother, be sure to take along a special gift that says you care. Then, consider investing some of your time with your mom. Grab her hand and look into her eyes and allow yourself to recapture the wonder of childhood. You're in the midst of greatness.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Ana Jarvis for her persistent call for a day to honor the esteemed calling of motherhood. I think Ana would agree that, when it comes to motherhood, a lifetime is not nearly enough time to say thanks, I love you.

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Trying Your Hand At The Online Dating Game!

2013-02-24T18:58:00.001-08:00

Online dating is very popular today with the advances
of technology and the increase of people who use
computers. Online dating is a system for organizing a
date and can be an excellent way to meet that special
someone.

Today, online dating is one of the most popular
systems for meeting someone new to go on a date with.

There are many online dating websites you can visit
and see people who are looking to meet someone new.
You can post your picture and create a profile on one
of them too.

This will allow you to tell everything about yourself.
This way, people can see if you enjoy the same types
of activities they do and you can see if certain
people look to be like someone you might be interested
in.

Online dating has proven to be a successful method for
meeting people and setting up dates. Many people have
continued their relationships and even been married
through online dating methods.

All relationships through online dating aren’t
successful but you may meet a new friend if you are
not compatible for dating.

When you consider online dating, it is important to
remember you need to be safe. The Internet is not
always what it seems and people are not always honest
with everything about themselves.

You should be sure when you go on your first online
date you are somewhere you feel comfortable with and
be sure to protect yourself at all times.

You can have a fantastic experience and meet your
perfect match but you don’t want to be a statistic
because you believed everything the other person said
on the Internet.

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Diabetes Epidemic - What Can We Do To Stop It?

2012-12-17T16:59:00.000-08:00

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Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing problem in this country. With our

population at an all time high in weight gain and a low in

Healthcare, the problem is only growing.

Diabetes is a disease of the metabolism, our metabolism is

what way our bodies use digested food for energy and for

growth.

Most food that is processed through our bodies is broken

down by digestive juices into a sugar called glucose.

Glucose is the fuel our bodies run on.

When we eat, and our food is processed, the pancreas is

supposed to produce the right amount of glucose from our

blood automatically and release the right amount of insulin

into our blood.

In people with diabetes, little to no insulin is produced

or the body’s cells don’t respond correctly to the insulin

that is produced. Therefore the glucose builds up and

overflows into the urine and passes out of the body.

This is how the body loses its main source of fuel even

though the bloodstream contains good amounts of the

natural glucose.

There are three types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and

gestational diabetes. People who have type 1 are known as

insulin-dependent.

This is an autoimmune disease where the body’s natural

system is fighting against another part of the body. In the

case of type 1 diabetes, the system attacks the insulin

producing cells and destroys them.

Therefore the pancreas can produce little to no insulin.

These people are in need of daily injections of insulin to

live. Five to ten percent of diabetes cases are type 1 in

the United States.

Diabetes Epidemic

With obesity levels being at an all time high, the epidemic

of type 2 diabetes is growing at an alarming rate, and will

get worse.

Between 2001 and 2002, the diagnosis of diabetes went from

5.5 percent of Americans to an alarming 6.5 percent. In

just one year!

Overall, twelve million Americans have been diagnosed and

another 5 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know

it. And yet another 12 millions are on their way to type 2

diabetes because of impaired glucose levels.

Not knowing is the worst because risks of untreated

diabetes puts us at a terrible risk of complications

including but not limited to blindness, amputations and

ultimately death.

The stickler is, that type 2 diabetes is almost completely

preventable. Doctor’s say eat less, eat better and

exercise. The numbers show just how many Americans are

currently overweight.

Statistically, people are now living longer, and it has

been on the rise for years. But this will not continue if

type 2 diabetes is not put under control.

We are a gluttonous society and ultimately it is affecting

how we live and how long we live.

And unfortunately, the diabetes epidemic is not just a US

problem. It is spreading worldwide with epidemic reports in

Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

It is estimated that by 2025, the number of diabetics

worldwide will rise to 380 million.

And diabetes is now affecting more of the young and

middle-aged population in developing countries between

the ages of 40 and 59.

Diabetes In Children

Diabetes in Children is also known as Juvenile Diabetes,

more commonly known as Type 1 Diabetes. It is the

most common form of diabetes in children with 90% to

95% of carriers being under 16.

Juvenile diabetes is caused by the inability of the

pancreas to produce insulin. It is an autoimmune disease,

which means the bodies own defense system attacks the

body’s tissues or organs.

In the last 30 years the number of juvenile diabetes had

increased three times over and in Europe and the US we are

now seeing type 2 diabetes in children for the first time.

Obesity easily explains type 2, but not why there is such a

rise in type 1 diabetes in children. It is believed that a

mixture of genetics and environmental factors are what

triggers juvenile diabetes. But the majority of children

don’t have a family history of diabetes.

The symptoms for juvenile diabetes are the same as in

adults. Thirst, weight loss, fatigue, frequent urination is

typical, but diabetes in children can also increase stomach

pains, headaches and behavior problems.

Doctors should consider the possibility of diabetes in

children who have unexplained stomach pains for a few

weeks, along with the typical symptoms.

If you believe your child may be experiencing these

symptoms you should schedule them for a thorough

examination and tell your doctor what you suspect your

child may have. Be sure to tell them about any and all

symptoms your child may be experiencing.

Diabetes Symptoms

All too often we get sick but ignore the symptoms we may be

feeling, shrugging them off to a cold, stress from work, or

just not feeling well.

There are certain symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored if

they develop. These symptoms could lead to blindness,

amputation of limbs, coma or even death.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often come on suddenly and are

severely dramatic. The extra stress of diabetes can lead to

something called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Symptoms of ketoacidosis may include nausea and vomiting,

which may also lead to dehydration and serious problems

the blood levels of potassium. This could lead to a diabetic

coma, and ultimately death.

Other symptoms of diabetes may include extreme fatigue. We

all get tired at times, but diabetes triggers a more severe

fatigue than normal.

People with diabetes also experience unexplained weight

loss. This is because they are unable to process many of

the calories they consume. Losing sugar and water in the

urine also contributes to the weight loss.

Extreme thirst is another symptom of diabetes. Diabetes

develops high blood sugar levels and the body tries to

compensate by diluting the blood, which translates to our

brain that we are thirsty.

With this is also excessive urination. It is another way

our bodies have of getting rid of the extra sugar in our

system. But this can also lead to dehydration.

One of the hardest symptoms to deal with is poor wound

healing. Wounds heal slowly, if at all when the carrier has

diabetes. This along with infections that are not easily

remedied can attribute to ulcers and loss of limbs.

Diabetes Management

As of 2007, there is no cure for either type 1 or type 2

diabetes. This may seem like a dim outlook for many people,

but the fact is that even though there is no cure, there

certainly are ways to manage your diabetes.

Proper management can give you many years of healthy

living.

Diabetes management starts with a visit to your doctor.

first, finding out you have diabetes, what type you have

then arming yourself with as much information as possible

about the diabetes you are diagnosed with.

All management begins with controlling the glucose cycle.

The glucose cycle is affected by two factors, entry of

glucose into the bloodstream and blood levels of insulin to

control the transport out.

Your glucose levels are very sensitive to both diet and

exercise, so change in either should first be discussed

with your physician. Proper management of diabetes can be

very intrusive to the patient.

Proper management requires a complete lifestyle change and

frequent, sometimes multi-daily checks of glucose in the

blood.

It can change as people grow and develop and no two cases

are ever really the same. Today it is easier to measure the

blood sugar level.

Glucose meters are readily available and are quite easy to

use with a little practice and patience.

With a small drop of blood to the testing strip attached to

the glucose meter, the user is given the number, which

represents their blood sugar level. This in turn will let

the user know if and when insulin is needed.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus is also simply known as diabetes. It is

the disease characterized by a malfunctioning metabolism

and a high blood sugar level.

The result can be low levels of insulin or abnormal insulin

resistance. This mixed with inadequate levels of insulin

secretion results in diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus include increased urine

production, excessive thirst, extreme fatigue, and

excessive thirst and weight loss. These symptoms though may

not be present in those people with only mildly elevated

sugar levels.

Diabetes mellitus includes type 1, type 2 and gestational

diabetes, which occur only during pregnancy. Each type has

a different cause and different severity of symptoms.

But all forms of diabetes are dangerous if not treated.

With proper management though, people with diabetes can

live a long, healthy, normal life.

The main cause of type 1 diabetes mellitus is the loss of

insulin producing cells in the pancreas. This ultimately

leads to an insulin deficiency.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is typically found in children and

young adults. It is also termed juvenile diabetes. The

common treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus is daily

insulin injections to replace the insulin the body is not

producing properly, along with careful blood glucose

monitoring.

Without careful monitoring and treatment, complications

from diabetes could include loss of limps such as arms,

legs and feet, blindness and diabetic comas, which can be

fatal.

It is extremely important that if you suspect you or your

child to have symptoms of diabetes, that you visit your

doctor to be tested. If the tests are positive it is not

the end of the world. With careful monitoring and care,

type 1 diabetics can live long healthy lives.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a disorder in which women that

previously did not carry diabetes test positive for high

blood glucose levels during their pregnancy.

Though not uncommon, it is thought that anywhere between

three and ten percent of pregnant women are diagnosed with

gestational diabetes sometime during their pregnancy.

But just what does this diagnosis mean to the health and

welfare of the mother and her unborn child?

Since no specific cause has been identified for gestational

diabetes, scientists don’t know how to prevent it. The

closest they have come to understanding is that it is

believed that hormones produced during pregnancy reduce a

woman’s sensitivity to insulin and the result is high blood

sugar levels.

Every pregnant woman is tested for gestational diabetes

during her prenatal care visits because generally there are

very few symptoms.

If the mother has gestational diabetes, babies are at a

higher risk for complications. These are typically growth

abnormalities and low blood sugar.

The good thing is that gestational diabetes is completely

reversible and women who otherwise have good control over

their glucose levels can decrease the risk of these birth

problems.

In fact, women who can keep their gestational diabetes

under complete control are known to give birth to perfectly

healthy babies.

The down side is women who develop gestational diabetes

during their pregnancy now run a higher risk of developing

Type 2 diabetes post-pregnancy. Some children are prone to

develop childhood obesity and develop Type 2 diabetes later

in life.

Pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes are

generally treated with diet modification and exercise, but

in some extreme cases they are administered an

anti-diabetic drug, such as insulin. The goal of treatment

is to reduce the risks for both m other and child without

endangering either.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes accounts for five to ten percent of

diabetes cases in the United States. A person who is

diagnosed with type 1 diabetes must receive insulin shots

daily in order to live.

Scientists are not exactly sure why the body attacks the

immune system and the production of insulin, but it is

believed that both genetics and viruses are involved.

Type 1 diabetes is most commonly found in children and

young adults, but can appear at any age and symptoms can

develop over a short period of time. Symptoms include

increased thirst and urination, extreme fatigue, weight

loss and constant hunger.

If a person with type 1 diabetes is not diagnosed and

treated with insulin, there is a risk of that person

slipping into a diabetic coma that may prove life

threatening.

The key when first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is to arm

yourself with information. Being diagnosed is not the end

of the world. In fact, most people go on to live normal,

healthy lives as long as they stay aware of their condition

and continue to treat it.

After being diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to

maintain your general health paying special attention to

the care you give your eyes, feet and skin as well as your

heart and oral health.

This basic care could prevent complications brought on by

diabetes later in life. Other recommendations are to stop

smoking and reduce the amount of alcohol you consume.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form found in the US.

Ninety to ninety-five percent of people diagnosed with

diabetes have this type.

Usually developed later in life, it is most commonly

diagnosed in people over the age of fifty-five, but in many

cases as young as forty or even younger.

This is because eighty percent of people diagnosed with

type 2 diabetes are overweight. With obesity at an all time

high, the diagnoses for type 2 diabetes is also at an all

time high.

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is still producing

insulin, but for some unknown reason, the body is not able

to utilize it effectively. As a result, just as in type 1

diabetes, type 2 people develop a dangerous buildup of

glucose in the blood and the body is not able to utilize it

for fuel.

People who have type 2 diabetes may see their symptoms

develop over time. They are not usually as noticeable as

the type 1 symptoms.

Symptoms include fatigue, frequent urination, especially

throughout the night hours, unusual thirst, weight loss,

frequent infections and slow healing sores.

In fact, sores may never heal and if not treated it is

common for people to have limbs amputated. This usually

occurs in the legs, feet and toes.

Also as with type 1, if the symptoms go untreated and

insulin is not administered when necessary, the patient

runs the risk of slipping into a diabetic coma, which can

be fatal.

It is important if you have any symptoms of type 1 or 2

diabetes you speak with a health professional and get

tested.

Diabetes in Pets

It is not only the human kind that can develop diabetes.

Even our beloved pets, no matter how well we care for them,

can develop diabetes.

This is often a scary situation for the pet owner and the

first question that is usually asked of the veterinarian is

-will my pet need to be put to sleep-?

Of course this is a difficult issue and the answer may vary

on the overall age and health of your pet.

Many older pets that are diagnosed with diabetes go on to

live many more happy years, but this takes commitment and

close care of your pet.

Diabetic cats and dogs can live just as long as perfectly

healthy pet if the diabetes is diagnosed and treated

properly by both the veterinarian and the owner.

This takes great commitment from the owner. Pets must be

cared for and watched daily with a high level of care and

patience.

There can be no feeding the cat and forgetting until the

next day. There is no leaving the pet along to go on a

trip. Every day your pet will need medication, fed a proper

diet and his behavior will need to be monitored closely.

This doesn’t mean you will have to give up your job and

stay home full time with your pet, but it does mean you

will have to pay more attention to what his behavior is and

know what to do if the situation should change.

It is also more of a financial obligation to have a sick

pet. So it is something that should be discussed in length

with your vets.

Those Sugar Busters: Is It All The Diet Sensation That Is Being Talked About!

2012-12-03T12:22:00.002-08:00

If you love your sugary sodas and oh-so-sweet chocolate cream pies, you know how difficult it is to restrict the amount of sugar in your diet. However, eliminating sugar can be critical to effective weight loss. That, at least, is the theory behind the diet known as Sugar Busters. While some experts consider this diet to be instrumental in helping people shed unwanted pounds, critics contend that it is just another dietary fad.

There are a number of misconceptions about Sugar Busters. It does not consider carbohydrates to be the enemy, and it is not oozing with fat. The Sugar Busters formula is 40/30/30, or 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fat. That means that the diet does not ban carbs; it simply urges people to consume nutritious carbs. While dieters may consume a great deal of protein, it is not considered to be strictly a high-protein diet.

Those on the Sugar Busters plan eat a fair amount of grain, which enables the intestines to work properly and can also reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. In fact, the amount of fiber consumed is considered to be one of the diet’s biggest attributes. Fiber has also been credited with helping the body to maintain healthy weight loss.

Of course, the key ingredient of Sugar Busters is the reduction in an individual’s sugar intake. While this may be difficult at first, medical experts say that, after an extended period of time without sugar, an individual will no longer crave it. Therefore, you can truly kiss those banana splits goodbye, once you go on the Sugar Busters plan.

What you may not realize is all that sugar entails. It includes corn syrup, dextrose, sucrose, and honey. In other words, to the layman, it includes not only sugar, but a number of sugar substitutes. About the only permitted sugars are the lactose found in milk and the fructose which appears in fruit.

Of course, Sugar Busters has both assets and liabilities. On the plus side, it eliminates unhealthy sugary foods from one’s diet. It allows an extensive array of protein-rich foods; therefore, you’re less likely to feel unsatisfied. It also encourages healthy sugar consumption in the form of fruit. In addition, proponents of the Sugar Busters plan encourage dieters to drink a great deal of water which helps to flush out the system.

But there are also flaws in the Sugar Busters plan. Critics maintain that it places too much emphasis on cutting sugar, and not enough on reducing one’s intake of other unhealthy food. Also, it restricts the consumption of some fruits and vegetables, causing dieters to lose valuable vitamins and minerals. At the same time, detractors say, it encourages far too much consumption of protein, which can result in kidney damage. Moreover, some dieticians maintain that the only effective way to lose weight is by cutting calories, not simply by zapping sugar from the diet.

And there are other things to consider with Sugar Busters as well. For instance, if you follow the program religiously, you may be deprived of vitamin D, as well as calcium. You could also see your bad cholesterol levels skyrocket because of the protein-rich foods you are eating. Sugar Busters has also been linked to heart disease and osteoporosis. And then there’s the obvious problem: it’s simply difficult to give up candy, cookies, bread, and other treats, even if you want to be committed to the program.

It is also important to note that the authors of Sugar Busters do not guarantee a specific amount of weight loss. If you try to follow the program and you fail to lose weight, the plan’s supporters maintain that you have probably indulged in too many carbohydrates. This may or may not be true; the point is that following the program can be a challenge for anyone, even the most disciplined dieter. However, if you’re not fond of sweets, you enjoy high-protein foods, and you can live without many carbohydrates, Sugar Busters may be the right plan for you. The best advice may be to try it and see if it yields results—without jeopardizing your health in the process.

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2012-08-21T17:05:00.001-07:00

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Having a successful California refinance!

2012-07-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Learn what it takes to have a successful California refinance. If you are not careful, you might end up losing your hom You wouldn't want this nightmare happening to you, would you?

Home Improvement Shouldn't Cost You Your Home

You wake up to peeling paint on the ceiling and drab, stained walls. It's another dismal scene but you have no choice. No money is rolling in and until it does, you can't give your house the makeover of the century. Your wife and kids also share this dream, but there's no choice until you've found the right California refinance company to bail you out of a bleak existence.

It's right to be apprehensive about some California refinance companies. You don't want to join the angry mob complaining against unscrupulous companies that took advantage of low bracket earners by allowing them to take out fast refinance and home loans. Some of them only wanted minor improvements, but were hustled to take out loans they could barely afford. These people are on the verge of losing their homes because of adjustable rate loans with rates that kept on increasing.

So proceed with caution if you're dreaming of new painted walls and a larger living room because your dream house makeover should not cost you your home. The loan you need should fit your budget since it will take years before you can fully pay the new loan. There are several things to consider before you hop to the nearest mortgage company, offline or online.

Before Your California Refinance

Whether you're deciding on relocating to California or already residing in one of the state's breathtaking places, arm yourself with the latest home loan trends. If you're relocating, check out the new houses or foreclosed properties in the state's friendly suburbs.

Even at the stage of dreaming of relocating to California, or making minor home improvements in your California home, you should be looking at the facts already. Here are some of the signs to watch out for if you don't want to ride with bust:

1. Will you be able to afford the monthly fees?
2. Will your family be able to live on a slashed budget?
3. Do you have other credit to be paid?
4. Have you discussed the pros and the cons with your family?
5. Are you happy with your current lender?
6. Do you want to switch your loan program to get lower interest rates?

These questions will help you make your decision with your feet firmly planted on the ground. If you're going into a California refinance deal, forcing yourself to risk it, forget all about it.

At these times, nobody should take risks when it comes to the security of homes and their future. Take out a fixed rate mortgage and lock into a low interest rate. You will have an idea of your monthly budget after the monthly fees for the refinance loan.

Avoid companies offering fantastic deals like interest-only loans, no closing fees, and other similar enticements. Check out the different refinance programs before you settle on one. In short, take your sweet time before shaking hands with a loan agent over a clinched deal.

The Morning After

When the California refinance company finally releases your bundle, roll up your sleeves. It's time for you to make your loan. Whether the loan was for a new home in sunny California or a home improvement project, be careful with the money. It's still money have to pay for years. It's time to be frugal and be wise with your money. Face up to the reality that you have a California refinance installment to be paid promptly each month.

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Clothesline Fresh - Country Myth Breaker # 17

2012-04-29T07:58:00.002-07:00

Clothesline fresh, country fresh scent, smells like a country garden, those of us from the city have all seen our share of country clad laundry soap commercials. The token red barn glows in the distance. Closer in, clothes adorn the line. Each piece is so straight and evenly spaced you'd believe a team of sophomore geometry students hung them as their final class projects. Even more perfect, the lightest of breezes launches an 'oh so soft' billow along the stain free front row.

Even I think, who wouldn't want their clothes to be clothesline fresh? And, don't those people own underwear? Ahhhh! I use my clothesline. I must. There is not a man in the five-state region willing to rise to the challenge of touching my daunting propane line and antiquated fuse box. Like my outhouse, my dryer is purely ornamental.

Despite this forced march to my clothesline the results can be startlingly adequate. Yet as a good Cidiot (city idiot), It would be negligent of me if I did not point out a few hazards of clotheslines to budding country converts. Beware, hanging your skivvies in the wild is not all its cracked up to be. Consider these dilemmas.

Seven of Ten Birds Prefer to Defecate Out of Doors - Avian species have a remarkable instinct for textile quality. Anyone doubting this should hang their Thai Silk robe on one end of the clothesline. Put a flannel shirt on the opposite side. At the end of the day tally the results.

Sheets Attract Wind - Kids have a new kite? You can plan your day around it, guaranteed! Just wash your bedding in the morning and place it on your line. Rest assured, Mariah herself will blast through your backyard. Kites, bedding, lingerie, pugs - anything with a flat surface will dance its way through the sky, only to impale itself in full display atop the silo of your local feed mill.

Remember the One Foot Rule - Most educated people know the three second rule. No matter where in your home you drop a piece of silverware, if you can retrieve it in three seconds or less you can eat off it without rinsing first. The one-foot rule, however, is only taught in rural school districts. It goes like this: Any textile on a clothesline that sags to within 12 inches of sweet Mother Earth, via the wind or any other means, must immediately be scent marked by every male canine (dogs, coyotes, wolves or prairie dogs) inside a three mile radius.

Animals Have Hair - Strangely enough farms are inundated with animals. Go figure. With all due respect to clothespins, they do little to remove hair. It takes four fabric softener sheets and a small nuclear plant to fluff out an intricate weaving of fur and feathers. During the spring shed I keep a HAZMAT team on stand by just to clean my lint traps.

Remodeling Your House? - You can save a fortune in costly building materials. Just hang your cotton towels out to dry on the clothesline. Not only will they dry stiff enough to be use as support beams, the bird shit will act as an adhesive for roofing projects.

Remember on that warm spring day, when the cottonwoods are spawning and your best angora sweater has just hit the line, imagine, within a matter of hours it will be more than you ever dreamed possible. And, as always, it will smell 'clothesline fresh!'

Surefire Ways To Combat Rising Gas Prices

2012-04-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

I have heard the rumblings of many of you in Readerland about the recent spike in gasoline prices. In fact it's all I seem to hear about lately. But at least it keeps you from rumbling about the infrequency of my columns and articles. Nonetheless, I have decided to try to help you get through this crisis by generously providing: 3 Ways to Combat Rising Gas Prices!

1. Don't Drive Your Car This is, of course, the most obvious solution. If you never take the old Plymouth out the driveway, then it won't matter that at current gas prices it takes $125 to fill up the 30 gallon gas tank, or that you only get about 2.51 miles to the gallon. If you never drive, you could care less. Of course, I know what you're going to say. "But Tim, I have places I need to go-like work. And the kids have school and soccer practice. And then there's grocery shopping and yoga lessons and dinner at the Richardson's and blah blah blah and...." OK, I get the point. Not everyone can sit around the house writing not-so-funny articles and searching the Internet for Drew Barrymore photos like me. I fully understand that some of you have a life. But just because you don't drive your own car doesn't mean you can't get around. The answer?

2. Carpool It's seems so simple now doesn't it. Instead of using your gas-Use Someone Else's! Have someone else pay $5.50 a gallon for gas to take your kids to school. Make someone else dip into their retirement fund just so they can cover the gas bill needed to get you to the office and back everyday. Make someone else get a second job so that they can have a full tank of gas in their SUV when your daughter needs to cruise the mall. It's so simple.Of course, the concept behind carpooling is that everyone takes turns driving. So in a normal carpool situation you would eventually be required to use your car and spend your money driving others around. But this is not a Normal Carpool Situation, this is a Tim Ward Carpool Situation (TWCPS). In a TWCPS you avoid using your own car by making it so that the other carpool participants would rather walk barefoot on 120 degree asphalt than ride with you. You achieve this by: (a) never washing or cleaning your car. Leave it looking and smelling like the county landfill. (b) Have the worst behaved child in your family sitting in the front seat at all times. Feed the child lots of candy so he/she is always super hyper. (c) Refuse to discuss anything in your car except your spouses bad bathing habits, bodily fluids, hang nails, chest hair, etc. (d) Only play reggae music on the radio. Loud! You shouldn't have to worry about anyone wanting to ride with you ever again.

3. Ride the Bus/SubwayMany cities have a mass transit system that is an alternative to driving your own vehicle. If you live in a city that doesn't have one don't worry-you can always move. Of course, riding public transportation does have a few drawbacks, but these can be easily overcome if you follow these simple guidelines:1. No matter what happens never, ever make eye contact with anyone. Making eye contact is an invitation for someone to mug you.2. No matter what happens never, ever give up your seat to anyone. This is seen as weakness, and will be taken as an invitation to mug you. 3. No matter how tempted you are never, ever strike up a conversation with the person sitting next or across from you. This is very annoying and can be taken as an invitation for someone to mug you. Or worse, for someone to talk back.

4. Always make sure you are alert to get on and off at the right stop. Getting off at the wrong stop can lead to immediate mugging.5. Never, ever take children with you on public transportation. Fellow passengers hate children. Children make you definite mug victim material. Well, there you have it. 3 ways to deal with rising gas prices. Hopefully, you will be able to use these methods to keep from spending twice your car's Blue Book value just going to Walmart. Hopefully, next time your friends are grumbling and ranting about the mounting gas prices you will be able to just sit back and smile, content because the issue no longer concerns you. Hopefully, I've once more helped my loyal readers in a time of crisis. And all I ask in return as a simple thank you next time you see me. Just make sure we're not on the bus. I'd hate to have to mug you...

HIPAA Guidelines - How are they being inforced?

2012-04-06T11:34:00.002-07:00

Your visit to the doctor now contains a page where you sign that you acknowledge that the physician's office has notified you about their compliance with HIPAA laws. More often than not, you probably read through quickly or barely skim the authorization form before signing it. However, HIPAA laws are important, and they are in place to protect you from identity theft, being denied care, and/or health insurance coverage.

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, enacted in 1996. HIPAA laws created a new national standard in protecting your health information. As you see different physicians or become admitted to different hospitals, your health information should follow you. HIPAA delineates the need to properly protect your health information as it flows through to these different channels. As more and more transactions are completed electronically these days, HIPAA laws focus on the protection of your health information specifically through these channels.

So what does HIPAA protect? For you, HIPAA protects personally identifiable health information, such as your Social Security number, birth date, address, etc., as well as current, past, or even future physical and/or mental conditions or treatment. Such information may not be disclosed except for specific uses. Information that HIPAA does not cover must specifically be personally non-identifiable. In protecting this sort of information, there is more protection against identity theft and more recourse if such a thing should happen.

HIPAA also protects how health insurance providers may use your health information. These entities may use your information without your authorization only if they are sending you information, using this information to provide the best treatment or health care, or collecting payment on medical expenses, among other things. If disclosure of your health information does not fall under these categories, you must authorize the transfer of information in writing. Furthermore, because the government understands that highly technical language can be a barrier in understanding your health information privacy rights, any authorization must be in plain language.

This may all seem like unnecessary paperwork, but beyond identity theft, HIPAA laws also help those looking for health insurance coverage. Title 1 of the HIPAA laws oversees the availability and range of health insurance plans for those without perfect health. It outlaws any health insurance plan from creating discriminatory rules to create premium rates or deny coverage. HIPAA laws are quite extensive, but this gives you a look at how your health information is being protected and used. Your department of health should be able to give you further information, or you can search the government's Web site for the entire HIPAA law.

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Is Reality TV Really Reality?

2012-04-02T02:49:00.002-07:00

Part of the appeal of reality TV is that it offers a look into the lives of ordinary folks like you and me. No writers, no actors, just everyday folks using their strength and common sense. Why, we could be the ones up there on screen winning glorious prizes for outlasting our tribe mates or marrying a pseudo millionaire! But just how real is reality TV?

Not very, say some critics and observers. In fact, reality TV producers manipulate reality in several ways. Otherwise, the shows wouldn't attract the ratings they have. After all, who would tune in to watch people in their own homes living a perfectly average day?

The first way that reality is manipulated is that the participants are removed from their everyday environment. Whether they are marooned on an island or housed in a resort, they are fish out of water and their access to resources depends on the goodwill of the producers.

Second, the participants are placed in competition with each other. Only one person can win the grand prize, whether that prize is a cash reward, a television contract, or the love of another person. In order to stay on the show, contestants must face difficult challenges. Each show usually ends with at least one contestant being sent home. Thus the focus of reality TV is manufactured conflict.

The conflict is usually heightened by the selection of participants. Producers know that conflict means ratings, so they try to cast each show with people who are natural opponents such as an out gay man or lesbian and a homophobe or a strong, take-charge woman and a sexist man. Such pairings are almost guaranteed to keep conflict going and provide hours of arguing for the entertainment of viewers.

Finally, even with the controlled environment and the inherent conflict, reality TV shows must still be edited to create a "storyline." Editors sort through countless hours of mundane activities to find the moments fraught with tension and conflict. If two participants get along great for 99% of the day, but exchange sharp words once, it is likely the argument that you will see. Similarly if a participant says many positive things about another participant but adds, "I wish he weren't so controlling," you're likely to see only the complaint about the controlling behavior and none of the compliments that came before.

Careful editing can make smart people appear dumb, nice people seem like villains, and casual friends look like lovers.

Over and above these obvious manipulations, there is some question about whether reality TV producers go even a step further and try to manipulate the results of the competition. In 2001, for instance, Stacey Stillman sued the television program Survivor claiming that the executive producer had encouraged other contestants to vote her off the island instead of a player who was more popular with viewers. CBS, the network that airs Survivor, has vehemently denied these charges. Other series that have been accused of rigging outcomes include The Amazing Race, American Idol, and Big Brother. Even many of the staunchest reality TV fans admit to wondering if the outcomes are really as random as they are made to seem.

In the end, no one has ever been able to prove that the outcomes of these shows are fixed. One thing is certain, though. The situations in which the participants interact with each other are so carefully manipulated that they bear little, if any, resemblance to reality.

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Revolutionary Development thru Visualization and Affirmation

2012-04-02T00:07:00.003-07:00

How accelerated learning can help you visualize your future

Conventionally educational trainers presented to trainees information that allowed them to assess their performance. The assessment test was based on the information conducted in the training.

One of the common methods, combines talking and chalking however, this method lost its reputation. The reputation was lost because most corporate training does not produce any change in a company's performance is because conventional training methods failed to meet common standards.

The following is a four-phase learning cycle that provides practical classroom strategies to allow trainers to focus on true learning. These strategies use accelerated learning techniques and review activities that make understanding and retention far more likely to be interesting.

Accelerated learning is a growing industry that is helping many people overcome learning obstacles by encouraging them to use visualization and affirmation through a repetitive learning option. In the programs, students are encouraged to create a positive environment for learning by using visualization through positive relationships.

The common interest includes submitting preparatory kits prior to class announcement. Students are encouraged to visualize the broader picture while overviews of systematic instructions unfold. Students' curiosity is stimulated by the use of visual aids. Mental and emotional barriers are broke through affirmation or positive persuasion.

Lively musicals and visualization help the students to brainstorm effectively while working to build their skills and abilities. Their mission is to learn quicker by involving themselves in many striking learning styles. Instead of sitting long hours in class, students learn in a structured environment where they have choices and learn in 20-minute intervals.

Students in accelerated courses have alternatives amid physical and passive activities. Visual aids, such as video clips and the audio tapes give them strong visualization that creates effective metaphors. The students enrolled in this course showed that their memory improved.

Personalized learning helps people to develop necessary skills to succeed in the world today. Instead of sitting long hours trying to figure out what your next move is in development, accelerated learning helps you to make the next move through effective exercises and activities that center on visualization and affirmation.

Simple persuasive tactics, such as classroom collaboration makes up a rich interactive social environment amid teams so that they can collaborate to learn effectively. Educators must be certain to provide opportunities for individual work so pupils have time to personalize and reflect on their learning. Classroom games create room for reviews that fill in gaps.

- Use problem solving as a way for trainees to engage with the subject matter.
Interpretation he goal of this phase is to make sure knowledge is retained and learning is continuous.
- Provide activities for trainees to show what they learned. Group trainees in teams to teach the group key points.

- Make evaluations in-class. Self-assessment of training and the trainees' self-assessment of learning are very important. Educators should ensure performance exercises allow the trainees to evaluate learning that has occurred.

- Create post-classroom learning activities and post-session resources.

- Consider measures that could be instated to ensure learning is successful.

Quick tips for enhancing learning

Mind Break
When you take breaks, it helps to improve your learning. You learn faster, since you give your mind the time to digest information learned. When you take breaks at least 15-20 minutes after each study, it helps you to learn faster. The breaks will allow your brain room to relax. You learn new information quicker and it goes into the conscious mind and subconscious mind deeper, which you will retain what you learn.

Action steps
After you finish your break, get your trainees to erect, standing with you and start talking to someone, such as your learning partner, two minutes about the important points they have learned. Accelerated, the students can feel the power of learning as they focus their attention on recalls of learning through various strategies proven to boost memory. Maria Montessio left an imprint in accelerated learning courses.

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The Future Generation of Video Game Systems: What to Expect

2012-03-28T11:04:00.001-07:00

In the past, everybody thought they knew where the video gaming industry was going. Almost all people who love to play with video games thought that video game systems or consoles will become more powerful, faster, and have better graphics and sounds with plenty of cool accessories.

However, this type of perception in the future of the video game system industry changed when the Nintendo Wii came along. At first, everybody thought that video gaming was just about sitting down and pushing a bunch of buttons on their joystick or game pad.

However, this wasn't the case for Nintendo Wii. Instead of the traditional way of playing with video games, Nintendo Wii just had to go to the next level. Even though Nintendo Wii is inferior when it comes to graphics, it didn't disappoint even the toughest video gaming critic out there. In fact, the Nintendo Wii became the top selling video game system.

So, just what is with Nintendo Wii that a lot of people are considering this as the video game system that is paving the way for the future of video gaming? For starters, the Nintendo Wii is highly interactive. It doesn't just require you to sit down and push a bunch of buttons to play the game, but you really need to get up and move your body or at least some of it.

The key feature of the Nintendo Wii is the infrared motion sensitive remote. Known also as the Wii Remote or the Wii-mote, this feature is highly sensitive to movements. And, depending on the game you are playing, you'll need to follow certain movements in order for your character in the game to execute the movements properly. What this means is that if you are playing baseball, you need to do a throwing motion like you would when you throw a baseball if you are the pitcher.

You also need to swing your arms if you are batting. There are also high action games in Wii where you need to swing a katana at your opponent. There's also boxing and a lot more games in Nintendo Wii that will require you to move your body. You will even see the latest innovation by Nintendo Wii called the Wii Fit. This particular accessory and game promotes exercise and healthy living. The game will actually be your fitness trainer and it will monitor your weight as well as your progress in the game.

The best thing about Nintendo Wii is its simplicity. It doesn't have the bells and whistles that the other popular video game system has, such as Blu-ray disc playing capabilities, and better online gaming experience but it has what people are looking for which is highly interactive gaming experience. The future of video game system is already here. With the Nintendo Wii, you will be able to experience something new and unique in playing with video games.

Because of its success, it will not be a surprise that the future generation of video game systems will base on the highly interactive feature of the Nintendo Wii. So, if you are wondering what the future holds for the video game industry, you may want to take a look at Nintendo Wii. This is considered by a lot of people as the start of a great future in the video gaming industry.

EV1 - The first GM Wonder or Blunder!

2012-03-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

Brief History

The General Motors EV1 was an electric car produced and leased by the General Motors Corporation from 1996 to 1999. It was the first mass-produced and purpose-designed electric vehicle of the modern era from a major automaker, and the first GM car designed to be an electric vehicle from the outset. The decision to mass-produce an electric car came after GM received a favorable reception for its 1990 Impact electric concept car, upon which the design of the EV1 drew heavily. Inspired partly by the Impact's perceived potential for success, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) subsequently passed a mandate that made the production and sale of zero-emission vehicles a requirement for the seven major automakers selling cars in the United States to continue to market their vehicles in California. The EV1 was made available through limited lease-only agreements, initially to residents of the cities of Los Angeles, California and Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. EV1 lessees were officially participants in a "real-world engineering evaluation" and market study into the feasibility of producing and marketing a commuter electric vehicle in select U.S. markets undertaken by GM's Advanced Technology Vehicles group. The cars were not available for purchase, and could be serviced only at designated Saturn dealerships. Within a year of the EV1's release, leasing programs were also launched in San Francisco and Sacramento, California, along with a limited program in the state of Georgia.

While customer reaction to the EV1 was positive, GM believed that electric cars occupied an unprofitable niche of the automobile market as they were only able to lease 800 units in face of production costs of US$1 billion over four years. An alliance of the major automakers litigated the CARB regulation in court, resulting in a slackening of the ZEV stipulation, permitting the companies to produce super-low-emissions vehicles, natural gas vehicles, and hybrid cars in place of pure electrics. The EV1 program was subsequently discontinued in 2002, and all cars on the road were repossessed. Lessees were not given the option to purchase their cars from GM, which cited parts, service, and liability regulations. The majority of the repossessed EV1s were crushed, and the rest delivered to museums and educational institutes with their electric powertrains deactivated, under the agreement that the cars were not to be reactivated and driven on the road.

The EV1's discontinuation remains controversial, with electric car enthusiasts, environmental interest groups and former EV1 lessees accusing GM of self-sabotaging its electric car program to avoid potential losses in spare parts sales, while also blaming the oil industry for conspiring to keep electric cars off the road.

In January 1990, GM chairman Roger Smith demonstrated the Impact, an electric concept car, at the 1990 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car had been developed by electric vehicle company AeroVironment, using design knowledge gained from GM's participation in the 1987 World Solar Challenge, a trans-Australia race for solar vehicles, with the Sunraycer, which went on to win the competition. Alan Cocconi of AC Propulsion designed and built the original drive controller electronics for the Impact, and the design was later refined by Hughes Electronics. On April 18, 1990, Smith announced that the Impact would become a production vehicle.

Impressed by the viability of the Impact, and motivated by GM's promise to produce the Impact, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) moved on a large environmental initiative, ruled that each of the U.S.'s seven largest carmakers—the largest of which was GM—would be required to make 2% of its fleet emission-free by 1998, 5% by 2001, and 10% by 2003, in accordance with consumer demand, in order to continue to sell cars in California. The mandate was instated to combat California's poor air quality, which at the time was worse than the other 49 states combined. Other members of what was then the American Automobile Manufacturers Association, along with Toyota, Nissan and Honda, each also developed a prototype zero-emissions vehicle in response to the new mandate.

In 1994, GM began PrEView, a program whereby 50 handbuilt Impact electric cars would be lent to drivers for periods of one to two weeks, under the agreement that their experiences would be logged. Volunteers had to own a garage where a high-current charging unit could be installed by an electric company. Program supervisor Sean McNamara said that he expected at most eighty volunteers in the Los Angeles area, but was forced to close the phone lines after 10,000 people called in. In New York City, 14,000 callers responded before the lines were closed. Driver response to the cars was favorable, as were reviews by the automotive press. According to Motor Trend, "The Impact is precisely one of those occasions where GM proves beyond any doubt that it knows how to build fantastic automobiles. This is the world's only electric vehicle that drives like a real car." Automobile called the car's ride and handling "amazing," praising its "smooth delivery of power". That year, a modified Impact set a land speed record for production electric vehicles of 183 mph (295 km/h). However, according to a front-page article in The New York Times, GM was less than pleased with the prospect of having developed a successful electric car:

"General Motors is preparing to put its electric vehicle act on the road, and planning for a flop. With pride and pessimism, the company, the furthest along of the Big Three in designing a mass-market electric car, says that in the face of a California law that requires that 2 percent of new cars be "zero emission" vehicles beginning in 1997, it has done its best but that the vehicle has come up short.... Now it hopes that lawmakers and regulators will agree with it and postpone or scrap the deadline."

According to the report, GM viewed the PrEView program as a failure, evidence that the electric car was not yet viable, and that the CARB regulations should be withdrawn. Dennis Minano, GM's Vice President for Energy and Environment, questioned whether consumers desired electric vehicles. Robert J. Eaton, chairman of Chrysler, also questioned whether the market was ready for electric cars, and said, "... if the law is there, we'll meet it... at this point of time, nobody can forecast that we can make [an electric car]." The negative positions taken by the automakers was criticized by Thomas C. Jorling, the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation for New York State, which had adopted the California emission program. According to Jorling, consumers had demonstrated tremendous interest in electric cars, but automakers did not want to render obsolete their multi-billion dollar investments in internal combustion engine technology.

Release of Gen I and Initial Reaction

Work on the GM electric car program continued after the end of PrEView. While the original 50 Impact cars were destroyed after testing was finished, the designed had evolved into the GM EV1 by 1996. The EV1 would be the first GM car in history to wear a "General Motors" nameplate, instead of one of GM's marques. The first-generation, or "Gen I" car, which would be powered by lead-acid batteries, had a stated range of 70 to 100 miles; 660 cars, painted dark green, red, and silver were produced. The cars were made available via a leasing program, with the option to purchase the cars specifically disallowed by a contractual clause (the suggested retail price was quoted as $34,000). In similar fashion to the PrEView program, lessees were pre-screened by GM, with only residents of Southern California and Arizona eligible for participation. Leasing rates for the EV1 ranged from $399 to $549 a month. The car's launch was a media event, accompanied by an $8 million promotional campaign, which included prime-time TV advertising, billboards, a web site, and an appearance at the premiere of the Sylvester Stallone film Daylight. The first lessees included celebrities, executives and politicians. A total of 40 EV1 leases were signed at the release event, with GM estimating that it would lease 100 cars by the end of the year. Deliveries began on December 5, 1996.

Some consumer organizations, allegedly funded by oil companies, opposed the use of taxpayer money to build an electric vehicle charging infrastructureJoe Kennedy, vice president of marketing for GM marque Saturn, accepted concerns regarding the EV1's cost, the outdated lead-acid battery technology, and the car's limited range, saying "Let us not forget that technology starts small and grows slowly before technology improves and costs go down." Some anti-taxation groups were against the exemptions and tax credits that EV1 lessees received, which they said constituted government-subsidized motoring for affluent professionals. Some of these groups, such as consumer organization Californians Against Utility Company Abuse (which mounted opposition to the use of taxpayer dollars to build public EV charging stations), were themselves accused of receiving their funding from oil companies interested in keeping gasoline cars on the roads. Concerns were also raised that the car had received only a limited launch, because GM had made a deal with CARB to delay the implementation of the first phase of the ZEV program, which had been scheduled to go into effect in 1998.

In the first year of release, GM leased only 288 cars. However, by 1999, the brand manager for the EV1 program, Ken Stewart, described the response of the car's drivers as "wonderfully-manical loyalty." The lessees had integrated the EV1 into their lifestyle, making the car less a novelty item and more a primary source of transportation. Tom Hanks, a lessee, praised the car on late-night talk shows, saying "Believe it or not, that sucker goes!"

Some EV1 enthusiasts believed that GM was demonstrating ambivalence towards promotion of the EV1 after its initial release. While one of the first EV1 TV spots was nominated for an Emmy award, later advertising was limited to direct mail and print and TV ads in niche channels. While GM remained officially committed to the electric vehicle, enthusiasts were concerned that low public interest would result in the program being scrapped. One driver, Marvin Rush, a cinematographer for the TV series Star Trek: Voyager, became so concerned that he spent $20,000 of his own funds to produce and air four unofficial radio commercials for the car. While the automaker was initially opposed to the action, it later changed its position, announcing that it would make the spots official and reimburse Rush. The company spent $10 million on EV1 advertising in 1997, and promised to increase that amount by $5 million the following year. According to EV1 program brand manager Frank Periera, the car was not suited to a high-profile advertising campaign because it only appealed to a small fraction of the car-buying public, who were unfazed at the prospect of a relatively expensive, limited-range two-seater.

Second Generation: 1999-2003

The EV1 was equipped with a more-advanced NiMH battery pack for the 1999 model year (Toyota Prius battery pictured)For the 1999 model year, GM released a Gen II version of the EV1. Major improvements included lower production costs, quieter operation, extensive weight reduction, and the advent of a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery. The Gen II models were initially released with a 60 amp-hour (18.7 kilowatt-hour) Panasonic lead-acid battery pack, a slight improvement over the Gen I power source using the same 312 V voltage; later models featured an Ovonics NiMH battery rated at 77 Ah (26.4 kWh) with 343 volts. Cars with the lead-acid pack had a range of 80 to 100 miles, while the NiMH cars could travel between 100 and 140 miles between charges. For the second-generation EV1, the leasing program was expanded to the cities of San Diego, Sacramento, and Atlanta; monthly payments ranged from $349 to $574. 457 Gen II EV1s were produced by General Motors and leased to customers in the eight months following December 1999. According to some sources, hundreds of drivers wanted to but could not become EV1 lessees.

On March 2, 2000, GM issued a recall for 450 Gen I EV1s. The automaker had determined that a faulty charge port cable could eventually build up enough heat to catch on fire. Sixteen "thermal incidents" and at least one fire occurred as a result of the defect, destroying a car leased by Ron Brauer and Ruth Bygness as it was charging. The recall did not affect second-generation EV1s.

Over the next two years, approximately 200 Gen I EV1s were refitted with NiMH batteries and re-issued to their original lessees on revised two-year leases, including a new limited-mileage clause. Delays were involved due to design complications resulting from the NiMH pack retrofit. As a result, GM offered Gen I drivers the opportunity to terminate their lease at no charge, or the chance to transfer the lease to one of the remaining 150 second-generation EV1s — ahead of those already on the waiting list for Gen II models.

Program Cancellation

By 2002, 1,117 EV1s had been produced, though production had ended in 1999, when GM shut down the EV1 assembly line.[citation needed] On February 7, 2002, GM Advanced Technology Vehicles brand manager Ken Stewart notified lessees that GM would be removing the cars from the road, contradicting an earlier statement that GM would in fact not be "taking cars off the road from customers." Drivers feared that their working cars would be destroyed after repossession.

In late 2003, General Motors, then led by CEO Rick Wagoner, officially canceled the EV1 program. GM stated that it could not sell enough of the cars to make the EV1 profitable. In addition, the cost of maintaining a parts supply and service infrastructure for the 15-year minimum required by the state of California meant that existing leases would not be renewed, and all the cars would have to be returned to GM's possession. At least 58 EV1 drivers sent letters and deposit checks to GM, requesting lease extensions at no risk or cost to the automaker. The drivers reportedly agreed to be responsible for the maintenance and repair costs of the EV1, and would allow GM the right to terminate the lease if expensive repairs were needed. On June 28, GM famously refused the offer and returned the checks, which totaled $22,000; By contrast, Honda, which had taken similar actions with its EV+ program, agreed to extend its customers' leases. In November 2003, GM began reclaiming the cars; several were donated to museums and educational institutions (e.g. Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan), albeit with deactivated powertrains meant to keep the cars from ever running again, but the majority were sent to car crushers to be destroyed, allegedly with government permission to do so.

The documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car" presents evidence that GM stuck with plans to cancel and scrap the car, despite apparent public interest. The film includes footage of GM employees on the EV1 team discussing a waiting list of people interested in leasing or purchasing EV1s. In 2003, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times attempted to lease an EV1 from GM, but was told that he "was welcome to join their waiting list, along with undisclosed others, for an indefinite period of time, but [his] chances of getting a car were slim." Critics of GM and proponents of electric vehicles claim that GM feared the emergence of electrical vehicle technology because the cars might cut into their profitable spare parts market, as electric cars have far fewer moving parts than combustion vehicles. Critics further charged that when CARB, in response to the EV1, mandated that electric vehicles makeup a certain percentage of all automakers' sales, GM came to fear that the EV1 might encourage unwanted regulation in other states. GM battled against CARB regulations, going as far as to sue CARB in federal court. At the 2000 hearings, GM claimed that consumers were simply not showing sufficient interest in the EV1 to meet the sales requirements called for by CARB mandates. The American automaker, along with Toyota, cited a study they had commissioned, which showed that customers would only choose an electric car over a gasoline car if it cost a full $28,000 less than a comparable gasoline car. Dr. Kenneth E. Train of UC Berkeley, who conducted the study, stated that given a typical retail price of $21,000 for a RAV4 SUV, "Toyota would have to give the average consumer a free RAV4-EV plus a check for approximately $7,000." An independent study commissioned by the California Electric Transportation Coalition (CalETC) and conducted by the Green Car Institute and the Dohring Company automotive market research firm found very different results. The study "used the same research methodologies employed by the auto industry to identify markets for its gasoline vehicles". It found the annual consumer market for EVs to be 12-18% of the new light-duty vehicle market in California, amounting to annual sales of between 151,200 and 226,800 electric vehicles, approximately ten times the quantity specified by CARB's mandate. The results of the Toyota-GM study were questioned in light of the success of Toyota's electric RAV4-EV, which retailed at $30,000 yet had a waiting list of its own. At the hearings, the automakers also presented the hydrogen vehicle as a higher alternative to the gasoline car, bolstered by a recent federal earmark for hydrogen research. Many, including members of the CARB hearing committee, were concerned that this was a bait-and-switch on the automakers' part, in order to make CARB eliminate the EV mandate, and that hydrogen was not as viable of an alternative as it was made to seem.

CARB had already rolled back deadlines several times, in light of car companies not being ready to meet the ZEV requirement. In 2001, it proposed amendments that would grant automakers credit for producing advanced-technology, partial-zero emission vehicles, such as hybrid cars, in place of battery EVs. However, the industry used the relaxation of the rules to challenge the regulation as a whole. General Motors and DaimlerChrysler, backed by the Bush Administration, filed suit against CARB in the US District Court in the Eastern District of California, successfully arguing that CARB's method of determining whether or not a vehicle qualified as an Advanced Technology Partial ZEV (AT PZEV) used the vehicle's fuel economy as one of the standards, in addition to reduced emissions; according to federal law, states are barred from regulating fuel economy in any way. Judge Robert E. Coyle issued a preliminary injunction on June 11 against the CARB, ruling the provision unconstitutional and preventing the implementation of CARB's 2001 amendments. The mandate was modified, with the zero-emission requirement reduced to at least 250 fuel cell or battery-powered vehicles by 2008.

The GM training center in Burbank, California, served as a storage location for many EV1s prior to being crushed, and saw protests and vigils by EV1 drivers and fans.

Reaction

In the aftermath of the program, reactions to the cancellation of the EV1 continued to be mixed. In GM's view, the EV1 was not a failure, but the program was doomed when the expected breakthroughs in battery technology did not take place within the anticipated timeline, citing the lack of availability of the NiMH-technology battery packs, developed by Energy Conversion Devices of Michigan, until late in the production cycle. The batteries improved the EV1's range, but not as dramatically as expected, and came with their own set of problems; a less-efficient charging algorithm had to be used (lengthening charge times), and the batteries heated up more quickly than the lead-acid packs (requiring use of the air conditioner to cool them down, wasting power). The automaker also cited the elimination of the CARB zero-emissions mandate as a factor in the program's cancellation, though the company was widely accused of lobbying against the mandate in an act of deliberate self-sabotage. The media perspective was far less favorable; in 2006, the Wall Street Journal's Detroit Bureau Chief Joe White said, "The EV1 was a failure, as were other electric vehicles launched in the 1990s to placate California clean-air regulators." This opinion as echoed by Time magazine, who in 2008 placed the EV1 on their list of "The 50 Worst Cars of All Time".

In light of falling car sales later in the decade, as the world oil and financial crises began to take hold, opinions of the EV1 program began to change. In 2006, former GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner stated that his worst decision during his tenure at GM was "axing the EV1 electric-car program and not putting the right resources into hybrids. It didn’t affect profitability, but it did affect image." Wagoner repeated this assertion during an NPR interview after the December 2008 Senate hearings on the U.S. auto industry bailout request. In the March 13, 2007 issue of Newsweek, "GM R&D chief Larry Burns . . . now wishes GM hadn't killed the plug-in hybrid EV1 prototype his engineers had on the road a decade ago: 'If we could turn back the hands of time,' says Burns, 'we could have had the Chevy Volt 10 years earlier,'" referring to the forthcoming plug-in hybrid car which was hailed as the spiritual and technological successor to the EV1.

Resurrection

Some of the deactivated EV1s given to universities and engineering schools were reactivated, and driven on public roads. The institutions came under fire from General Motors for violating the agreements of the donation, which indicated that the cars not be "titled, licensed, nor driven on public highways" and could only be restored and showcased. GM has potential legal obligations under laws that require automakers to maintain parts and service infrastructure for consumer vehicles for a period of no less than 15 years.

In 2004 General Motors donated one of the first generation EV1s (serial number 660) to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. It was displayed as part of the "America on the Move" exhibit at the National Museum of American History until it was removed in 2006 during renovations to the museum.While the car remains part of the Smithsonian collection, the EV1 has yet to be redisplayed within the exhibit at the museum.

Technology and Design

The engine bay of the EV1The decades before the release of the Impact and the EV1 had seen little in the way of development on the electric car front. The Henney Kilowatt, which ended production in 1961, was the last time a feasible production electric car of any sort had been released; GM's own Electrovair and Electrovette of 1966 and 1976, respectively, never reached production, amounting to little more than conceptual electric conversion kits for the automaker's popular gasoline models. Technical and production costs difficulties were blamed.

In contrast to these cars, the EV1 was designed from the ground up to be an electric vehicle. It was not a conversion of an existing vehicle, nor did it share a drivetrain with another GM model, which contributed to its high development and production costs. The EV1 program was initially administered by a GM engineer named Kenneth Baker, who had been the lead on the Electrovette program in the 1970s.

Configuration

The EV1 was not only used to showcase the electric powertrain, but also premiered a number of features and technologies that would later find their way onto more common GM models and other manufacturers' cars. The EV1 was among the first production vehicles to utilize aluminum in the construction of the frame. The car's body panels were made of plastic rather than metal, making the car lightweight and dent resistant. Anti-lock brakes, which had just appeared on the production car scene, and a traction control system were among the EV1's advanced driveability technologies. Comfort improvements included a keyless entry and ignition system, a special one-way thermal glass for better heat rejection on sunny days, an automated tire pressure loss warning system, electric power steering, and a time-programmable HVAC system.

To boost efficiency, the EV1 possessed a very low drag coefficient (Cd) and reference area (CdA) of 0.19 and 0.36 m² (3.95 ft²), respectively. Super-light magnesium alloy wheels and seats provided strength despite their low weight, and self-sealing, low-rolling resistance tires developed by Michelin rounded out the EV1's exceptional efficiency characteristics.

The EV1 featured an aluminum frame, dent-resistant plastic body panels, and was sculpted to a drag coefficient of just Cd 0.19At 169.7 inches (4,310 mm) in length, and 69.5 inches (1,765 mm) in width, the EV1 was a subcompact car, with a 2-door coupé body style.

Drivetrain

The car's 3-phase AC induction electric motor produced 137 brake horsepower (102 kW) at 7000 rpm. Like all electrically powered cars, and unlike a car powered by an ICE, the EV1 could deliver its full torque capacity throughout its power band, producing 110 pound-feet (149 newton-meters) of torque anywhere between 0 and 7000 rpm, allowing the omission of a manual or automatic gearbox. Power was delivered to the front wheels through a single-speed reduction integrated transmission.

Battery

The Gen I EV1 models, released in 1996, used lead-acid batteries, and weighed in at 3,086 pounds (1,400 kg). The first batch of batteries were provided by GM's Delphi branch; these were rated at a mere 53 amp-hours at 312 volts, and provided the initially mediocre range of 55 to 75 miles (90 to 120 km) per charge. Gen II cars, released in 1999, used a new batch of lead-acid batteries provided by Panasonic; some Gen I cars were retrofitted with this battery pack. The Japanese batteries were rated at 60 amp-hours (18.7 kWh) at 312 volts, and increased the EV1's range to 75 to 100 miles (120 to 160 km). Soon after the rollout of the second generation cars, the originally intended nickel metal hydride (NiMH) "Ovonic" battery pack, which reduced the car's curb weight to 2,908 pounds (1,319 kg) entered production; this pack was also retrofitted to earlier cars. The NiMH batteries, rated at 77 amp-hours (26.4 kWh) at 343 volts, gave the cars a range of 75 to 150 miles (120 to 240 km) per charge, more than twice what the original Gen I cars could muster.

It took the NiMH-equipped cars as much as eight hours for the cars to charge to full capacity (though an 80% charge could be achieved in between one and three hours). The Panasonic battery pack consisted of twenty-six 12 volt, 60 amp-hour lead-acid batteries holding 67.4 megajoules (18.7 kWh) of energy. The NiMH packs contained twenty-six 13.2 volt, 77 Ah nickel-metal hydride batteries which held 95.1 megajoules (26.4 kWh) of energy.

Driving Experience

The EV1's interiorThe experience of driving an EV1 was unlike a conventional gasoline or diesel vehicle. The EV1's drag coefficient of 0.19 was the lowest of any production automobile in history, while typical production cars have Cd's in the 0.3 to 0.4 range. The EV1's clean shape meant it produced less wind noise at highway speeds, providing a more comfortable driving experience for its occupants. At lower speeds, and when stationary, the car produced little to no noise at all, save for a slight whine from the single-speed gear reduction unit. The car's smooth shape, waterfall tail and rear fender skirts gave it a distinctive appearance, reminiscent of an updated, 2-door Citroën DS. The EV1 had no analog dials, and all instrumentation readouts were displayed in a single thin curved strip mounted high on the dashboard, just underneath the windshield.

Thanks to the on-demand torque output of the electric motor, the EV1 could accelerate from 0–50 mph (0–80 km/h) in 6.3 seconds, and from 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in eight seconds. The car's top speed was electronically limited to 80 mph (130 km/h). At the time of release, the lead-acid battery-equipped EV1 was the only electric car produced which met all of the United States Department of Energy's EV America performance goals.

The home charger provided by GM, which was required for "fast recharging" of the car, measured roughly 1.5 by 2 by 5 feet (0.5 by 0.6 by 1.5 m), and featured integrated heatsinks and a resemblance to a gasoline pump. The charger refueled the car using induction, accomplished by inserting a Magne Charge paddle into the slot between the EV1's headlights. The wireless charging technology meant that no direct connection was made, and charging the car while it was raining did not pose any risks, though there were isolated incidents involving fires starting at the charge port. GM also offered a 120 V AC convenience charger that could be used with any standard North America power socket to slow-charge the battery pack. The convenience charger was not available for EV1s equipped with the NiMH battery packs. Installation of the device took between one and two weeks, at an additional average cost of $2500.

Analysis of Success vs. Failure

The EV1 is seen as both a technological milestone and a business failureThe view of the EV1 as failure is a controversial one in itself. When viewed as an attempt to produce a viable EV product, it was a success, while certainly from GM's perspective not a commercial success as the high profit margins seen with internal combustion engine vehicles remained elusive. If one considers the vehicle as a technological showpiece—a production electric car that actually could replace a gasoline powered vehicle—the program's outcome is less clear. The EV1 was produced for the consumer market, and many lessees found driving an EV1 to be a favorable experience. On that basis, EV1 might qualify as the most successful electric car ever built.

Some analysts have suggested that it is inappropriate to compare the EV1 with existing gasoline powered commuter cars as the EV1 was, in effect, a completely new product category that had no equivalent vehicles to be judged against.

Costs

GM based the lease payments for the EV1 on an initial vehicle price of US$33,995. Lease payments ranged from around $299 to $574 per month, depending on the availability of state rebates.[citation needed] Since GM did not offer consumers the option to purchase at the end of the lease, the car's residual value was never established, making it impossible to determine the actual full purchase price or replacement value. One industry official said that each EV1 cost the company about US$80,000, including research, development and other associated costs; other estimates placed the vehicle's actual cost as high as $100,000. GM stated the cost of the EV1 program at slightly less than $500 million before marketing and sales costs, and over $1 billion in total; a portion of this cost was defrayed by the Clinton Administration's $1.25 billion Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program. In addition, all manufacturers seeking to produce electric cars for market consumption also benefited from matching government funds committed to the United States Advanced Battery Consortium.

Related Development

EV1 shown plugged into charging stationGeneral Motors revealed several prototype variants of the EV1 drivetrain at the 1998 Detroit Auto Show. The models included diesel/electric parallel hybrid, gas turbine/electric series hybrid, fuel cell/electric version and compressed natural gas low emission internal combustion engine version. In addition, during this period, GM reorganized their electronics divisions (amongst them Hughes Electronics and Delco Divisions) into Delco Propulsion Systems in order to attempt to commercialize this technology in niche markets. Several non-affiliated companies purchased inverter and drivetrain systems from DPS for vehicle/fleet conversion purposes.

The new platform was a four-passenger variant of the EV1, lengthened by 19". This design was based on an internal (GM) program for a more "marketable" EV begun during the proof of concept phase of the EV1's development. During the original EV1 R&D period, focus groups indicated one of the major market limiting factors of the original EV1 was its two seater configuration. GM investigated the possibility of making the EV1 a four seater, but ultimately determined that the increased length and weight of the four seater would reduce vehicle's already limited range to 40–50 miles - placing the first ground up electric car's performance squarely in the pack of aftermarket gas vehicle conversions. Understandably, the company elected to produce the lighter two seater design.

For hybrid and electric vehicles, the battery pack was upgraded to 44 NiMH cells, arranged in "I" formation down the centerline, which could fully recharge in just 2 hours using onboard 220 V induction charger; additional power units were installed in the trunk, thus complementing the 3rd generation 137 hp AC Induction electric motor installed in the hood. Hybrid modifications retained the capability of all-electric ZEV propulsion for up to 40 miles (64.4 km).

EV1 CNG

The compressed natural gas (CNG) variant was the only non-electric vehicle in the line-up, even though it employed the same up-stretched platform. It used a modified Suzuki 1.0-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder all-aluminum OHC engine installed under the hood. Due to the high octane rating of the CNG (allowing for a greater compression ratio), this small engine was able to deliver 72 hp at 5500 rpm.

The batteries were replaced with two CNG tanks capable of maximum operating pressure of 3000 psi. The tanks could be refueled from a single nozzle in only 4 minutes. In-tank solenoids shut off the fuel during refueling and engine idle, and a pressure relief device safeguarded against excessive temperature and pressure. With the help of a continuously variable transmission, the car accelerated 0 to 60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 11 seconds. The maximum range was 350 to 400 miles, and fuel economy was 60 mpg (in gasoline equivalent) .

EV1 Series Hybrid

EV1 series hybrid prototype at EVS-16 in Beijing, 1999The series hybrid prototype had a gas turbine engine APU placed in the trunk. A single-stage, single-shaft, recuperated gas turbine unit with a high-speed permanent-magnet AC generator was provided by Williams International; it weighed 220 lb (99.8 kg), measured 20 inches (50.8 cm) in diameter by 22 inches (55.9 cm) long and was running between 100,000 and 140,000 rpm. The turbine could run on a number of high-octane[citation needed] alternative fuels, from octane-boosted gasoline to compressed natural gas. The APU started automatically when the battery charge dropped below 40% and delivered 40 kW of electrical power, enough to achieve speeds up to 80 mph (128.8 km/h) and to return the car's 44 NiMH cells to a 50% charge level.

A fuel tank capacity of 6.5 US gal (24.6 L; 5.4 imp gal) and fuel economy of 60 mpg-US (3.9 L/100 km; 72 mpg-imp) to 100 mpg-US (2.4 L/100 km; 120 mpg-imp) in hybrid mode, depending on the driving conditions, allowed for a highway range of more than 390 miles (627.6 km). The car accelerated to 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 9 seconds.

There was also a research program that powered the series hybrid Gen2 version from Stirling engine based generator. The program demonstrated the technical feasibility of such drivetrain, but concluded that commercial viability was out of reach at that time.