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Tiles: What They Are}

Tiles: What they Are

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Rio CalvenHow does one clean the tiles, grout lines and stone floors in one’s house? If you think the usual scrubbing and lubbing, bleach solutions, custom cleaners and anti-mold solutions is enough, think again. Cleaning your tiles is a very tedious task. Cleaning grout is another story. Cleaning, restoring, and maintaining them is a whole new dimension. As there are different types of floors like terrazo, slate, cement, marble, travertine, gravel, porcelain, and ceramic; there are different cleaning methods which would suit that specific floor. From whole floors, to tiled ones; you should also take note whether grouting exists or not. This radically changes how you maintain your floors to keep it in a pristine condition.

Keeping your floors shiny and clean requires maintenance checks every now or so often. These can be done by your lonesome or you can hire floor and grout professionals to do scheduled checks for you. Of course, if you plan to do it by yourself, you’d need certain things and specific instruments to make your checks as accurate as possible. Floor polishers, machines and grinders all require some level of technical know-how.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu3VDXQpfMU[/youtube]

These machines also require their own form of maintenance too, though not necessarily at a more frequent level than that which the floor requires. Take note of the risks too, if you somehow misuse these machines, as they can be a double edged sword that can, not only clean, but also break or weaken your floors. This is where I emphasize the importance of having professionals do the job for you.

Tiled floors look lovely at their best, but are as fragile as they are beautiful to look at. Marble tiles, porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles, and even stone tiles; they can easily break, chip, or weaken because most of them are cut thin and will always support weight a thousand times heavier than their own.

Tiles are also more easily abused because of gravity. Heavy objects can crack or destroy them, liquids can spill and stain them, and dust often refuses to leave, because of the nature of gravity.

Searching for a good tile cleaning company? Rio Calven recommends

Richmond Tile and Grout Cleaning

for your tile and grout problems. They also deal with other floor related stuff, like restoration, renovation and even marble polishing. Invest in your home. Visit

Richmond Tile and Grout Cleaning

for your concerns.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

Wikinews interviews Eric Saussine, director of the James Bond fan film Shamelady

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Wikinews interviews Eric Saussine, director of the James Bond fan film Shamelady

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The James Bond film series is one of the most popular and successful, having grossed over US$4 billion worldwide. The suave, sophisticated secret agent has secured his place in popular culture as the definitive action hero that has appeared in twenty-three films between 1954 and 2006.

Daniel Craig was announced as the seventh actor to portray 007 in late 2005, making his debut in the 2006 smash hit Casino Royale. While fans await Craig’s second outing in Quantum of Solace, due later this year, they have been able to watch Shamelady, a fan film made by the French film production company Constellation Studios.

Shamelady is a tribute to Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels on which many of the films are based, and EON Productions, the makers of the official 007 films. The film was first released in 2007 and runs just under an hour long. It can be downloaded from Constellation’s website or viewed on YouTube.

Legally, the filmmakers cannot profit from Shamelady, but they didn’t make it for the money, rather the thrill of creating an original Bond film. The plot is fairly simple, and reminiscent of Casino Royale. Bond is sent to a casino to nab a vicious crime lord, but gets betrayed by a fellow agent in the process. Viewer reaction to the film was positive for the most part, and Constellation Studios has now planned a sequel to Shamelady, which director Eric Saussine speaks of in the interview below.

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George Mason University upsets UConn, advances to Final Four

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George Mason University upsets UConn, advances to Final Four

Monday, March 27, 2006

The George Mason University Patriots of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) defeated the University of Connecticut Huskies today in overtime, 86-84.

GMU becomes the first team from the CAA to reach the Final Four in a NCAA Division I basketball championship, and only the second 11th seed (LSU was the other in 1986). The Huskies were the number one seed in the Washington Region. GMU is also the first true mid-major to reach the Final Four since 1979 with Penn State and Indiana State.

This year held the Patriots’ first NCAA Tournament game victory, where they beat Michigan State (No. 6 seed) and the University of North Carolina (No. 3 seed) in the first two rounds. They defeated Wichita State in the third round, setting up today’s match against UConn.

Although GMU lost to the University of North Carolina – Wilmington in the CAA Championship bid, the NCAA selection committee awarded the team an at-large bid. This drew criticism from sports commentators such as Billy Packer, who felt it was more appropriate to give at-large bids to schools from major conferences, like the Big East, Big 10, or ACC. Packer argued that the tougher schedules during the regular season in those conferences gave more legitimacy to teams in those leagues.

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Easy Ways To Reduce Your Car Insurance Premium

Easy Ways to Reduce Your Car Insurance Premium

by

Jarrod Meehan

Are you looking for ways to cut expenses? Do you think you are paying too much for your auto insurance? If so, there are some easy things you can do to make certain that you have the best possible rates. This article has some great ideas you can apply to make sure you have the coverage you need at a price you can afford. ~ Seeking ways to reduce your expenses? Start with your car insurance. There are some quick and simple ways to reduce your premiums while maintaining great coverage. Read on to learn how.

First, you need to determine what type of coverage you want for your vehicle. Find out the laws in your state. If you are still making payments on your car, the finance company generally has their own requirements. Also, you need to determine what other types of coverage you may need, such as SR-22. ~ Start by assessing your needs. What kind of coverage do you really need for your car? Check your state\’s coverage requirements. Or, if you\’re financing your vehicle, check with the finance company as they likely have their own requirements you must satisfy.

Once you know exactly what you want to purchase, begin shopping around and comparing rates. In addition to local insurance companies, you can also compare quotes online. Make sure that the coverage is the same with each quote. Often, there are variables that can have a significant impact on the final cost. ~ After you assess your needs, start comparing quotes. You can check online comparison sites as well as local agencies, but ensure that the coverage is the same on each quote so you know you\’re comparing apples to apples.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fUlZVipfFs[/youtube]

One variable that can really save you some money is the deductible. Choosing a higher deductible will significantly slash your rates but, will also increase your out-of-pocket expenses should an accident occur. ~ The deductible on your policy can make a large difference in the premium you will pay. Selecting a lower deductible will increase you rates, but decrease the amount you must pay should you file a claim.

Check the policies of each company to see what types of discounts for which you may be eligible. These can be related to age, driving history, or even membership in certain organizations. Some companies have benefits that build over time with the company. ~ Be sure to investigate as to whether you qualify for any discounts. These are often dependent upon things such as age, driving record, grades (if a student), special safety features on the vehicle, etc.

Check to see if a local safe driving course is available that may reduce your rates with some companies. These are often available for new and older drivers. ~ Find out if a safe driver course is offered in your area. Some providers will offer a premium reduction for drivers who have completed such a course.

If you do not drive much, you may also get lower rates. Check with each company to see how your vehicle mileage influences rates. ~ For those who aren\’t out on the roads a lot, it may qualify you for lower premiums as well. Ask each provider how your rates will be affected by your annual mileage.

Before you sign up with any company, you should also check their reputation for customer satisfaction. A low rate is no discount if the company does not fulfill their obligations. Check online reviews to what kinds of issues, if any, other policyholders with the provider have experienced. Of course, any large company is going to have its share of disgruntled customers so consider each complaint carefully. Was it what you would consider a \”serious\” issue? If so, did the company work to resolve it to the policyholder\’s satisfaction? ~ Prior to obtaining a policy from any carrier, be sure to research reviews from their current/past policyholders. If they don\’t come through for you when you need them, any amount you pay is too much.

Once you have selected your company, you may still want to look around each year to ensure that you are still getting the best rates. Your old company may even meet the new quote. ~ After choosing a provider, don\’t get complacent. Check quotes again at renewal time to make sure they are still the best option for you.

It is well worth taking the time to shop around for auto insurance. Though the complexities may be daunting at first, being well-educated can save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. So, start comparing those rates today. ~ Shopping around for car insurance is well worth the time. Becoming an educated consumer when it comes to auto insurance is something that will pay dividends for as long as you drive.

Affordable-Auto-Insurance-Quotes.net helps drivers find cheap auto insurance. Using one short form, quotes from the nation\’s top providers can be quickly compared in a matter of minutes. Visit us now and discover just how

inexpensive auto insurance

can be.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

New Jersey to legalize medical marijuana

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New Jersey to legalize medical marijuana

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

New Jersey’s state legislature has passed a bill that will legalize medicinal marijuana for patients with chronic disease. The state’s outgoing Governor, Jon Corzine, said that he will sign the bill before he leaves office next week. Upon passage of the bill, New Jersey will become the 14th state in the nation to permit medical marijuana.

Patients with a prescription would be able to purchase up to 2 ounces (56.7 grams) of cannabis per month. The bill specifies that only certain chronic diseases are eligible, ALS, AIDS, cancer, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis. The bill specifically bans the unlicensed growing of cannabis, driving under the influence of the drug, and only allows six licensed dispensaries in the state.

One of the supporters of the bill, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora said that “I truly believe this will become a model for other states because it balances the compassionate use of medical marijuana while limiting the number of ailments that a physician can prescribe it for”.

Opponents of the bill point to California where they say that cannabis is too loosely regulated. Governor-elect Chris Christie said that “I think we all see what’s happened in California,” he said. “It’s gotten completely out of control.”

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“Genius” award recipient and other luminaries campaigning for worldwide renunciation of war

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“Genius” award recipient and other luminaries campaigning for worldwide renunciation of war

Friday, January 13, 2006

In a recent ZNet Commentary, Howard Zinn wrote that a group of people, including Gino Strada, Paul Farmer, Kurt Vonnegut, Nadine Gordimer, and Eduardo Galeano, are promoting the creation of worldwide gatherings to renounce war. Their intention, according to Zinn, is to make worldwide renunciation of war so popular that halting existing wars and preventing the beginning of new wars is politically irresistible.

In his article, After This War, Zinn asks, “should we not think beyond this war? Should we begin to think, even before this shameful war is over, about ending our addiction to massive violence, and using the enormous wealth of our country for human needs?” He goes on to talk of ending not just “this war or that war but war itself. Perhaps the time has come to bring an end to war, and turn the human race onto a path of health and healing.”

The five people have been actively involved in global issues for many years and have a solid track record of accomplishments on the world stage.

Dr. Gino Strada is a war surgeon and the founder of Emergency, a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to providing assistance to civilian victims of war. His recent book Green Parrots: A War Surgeon’s Diary helped persuade Italy to abandon the use and manufacture of a flying anti-personnel mine.

Dr. Paul Farmer is a Harvard professor and practicing physician. In 1987, he helped found the worldwide health organization Partners in Health, which treats some of the poorest people on Earth. Dr. Paul Farmer has received a “genius” award from the MacArthur Foundation.

Kurt Vonnegut is an American writer and humanist, currently serving as Honorary President of the American Humanist Association. As a WWII prisoner of war in Dresden, Germany, Kurt witnessed the fire bombing of Dresden. This event formed the core of his book Slaughterhouse-Five. In a column for In These Times, he began “… our leaders are power-drunk chimpanzees … the morale of our soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East … like so many bodies, is already shot to pieces. They are being treated, as I never was, like toys a rich kid got for Christmas.”

Nadine Gordimer from South Africa received the 1991 Nobel Prize in literature and 1974 Booker Prize. She received worldwide praise for her leadership for South Africa to re-examine and replace its long held racist policy of apartheid.

Eduardo Galeano’s books combine history, political analysis, journalism and fiction. “I’m a writer obsessed with remembering, with remembering the past of America … condemned to amnesia. The Open Veins of Latin America is one of Galeano’s works covering the exploitation of Latin America by foreign powers from the 15th century onwards.

Both Nadine and Eduardo’s books are recognized by the Great Books Foundation as among the top 40 books in Citizens of the World: Readings in Human Rights. We Say No by Eduardo Galeano and Comrades by Nadine Gordimer are listed there along with the Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, Independence by Mahatma Gandhi, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr.

Howard Zinn is a U.S. historian, political scientist and author of fifteen books. Howard writes, “In a world of clashing interests—war against peace, nationalism against internationalism, equality against greed, and democracy against elitism—- it seems to me both impossible and undesirable to be neutral in those conflicts. I do not claim to be neutral, nor do I want to be… . I will try to be fair to opposing ideas by accurately representing them.”

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Woman with world’s longest fingernails loses them in car crash

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Woman with world’s longest fingernails loses them in car crash

Sunday, February 15, 2009

A woman who held the Guinness World Record for having the world’s longest fingernails has lost them in a four-car accident in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States.

66-year-old Lee Redmond was seriously injured after she was ejected from the sports utility vehicle (SUV) she had been a passenger in. It had collided with one car, causing it to collide with two other cars on Tuesday February 10. She is expected to make a full recovery.

“[Her nails] were damaged beyond repair,” reported the BBC, quoting Guinness World Records, who also said that Redmond’s nails were “a fundamental part of her life and unique character”. The cause of the crash is not yet known and an investigation is ongoing.

Redmond is credited by the Guinness Book for having a combined fingernail length of 28 feet, the longest on record. She has been growing all eight fingers and two thumbnails since 1979. Her longest of all nails was her right thumb, which was 2ft and eleven inches long.

Before Redmond was named as the record holder in 2006, Shridhar Chillal from India had the longest at a combined length of just over twenty feet.

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Modular Lights Illuminating The Path Of Darkness

Submitted by: Jef Fray

Illumination in today s tech savvy world is the deliberate application of the light which construes the need of the world for a practical effect as well as for a sense of simplicity coupled with extravagance. With such a need the technology was used in to introduce modular lighting instruments. Many homes have attractive curb appeal during daytime, including nicely manicured lawns, lush flower gardens and beautiful landscaping. Then, the sun goes down and all goes dark with it taking away the beauty and the aesthetic feeling of the home, all of the nice features are lost in the shadows of street lights and cars driving by. The piece that is missing here, to keep the curb appeal and add security to the home all night long, is outdoor lighting.

Such lights are generally used to lighten the pavement area, pool side area, walkways, driveways or the gardens around. With competition around the globe there are finite numbers of industries in such businesses which not only illumine the darkness around but even enhance the aesthetic beauty of the area creating a status symbol. Artificial lightings are available in several designs and patterns which include uplighting, downlighting, shadowing so on and so forth.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwoPtQevOTE[/youtube]

Such lights with proper design provide not only safety, security, visibility but even reduce light pollution, enhancing the beauty in the homes and in the environment around. Modular lighting instruments are easily installed resulting in low cost and are custom made with number of designs pleasing to the eyes.

One light may be the cause of different types of pollution. There is wastage of energy, nuisance to adjacent properties. According to the International Dark Sky Association badly installed artificial lights can create a deeper contrast of shadows in which criminals may hide. According to the Medical Research such badly designed lights may even cause ill health problems like headache, stress, fatigue, anxiety etc.

Just as there are two sides to the same coin, every aspect has its own pros and cons. To reduce the harmful effect there are ordinances passed in various countries. Compliance with such ordinances will create a safer and better home and environment to live in. Beauty of home along with the beauty in the environment helps grow up a society a better place to live in.

There are various precautions listed like use of motion detectors for security matters. Consider the colour rendering index which is a scale which describes the visual effect of light on coloured surfaces, consumption of energy by such lightings around, proper installation of such lights. Install low voltage lighting this will keep the electric bills within the pockets limit.

The piece that is missing here, to keep the curb appeal and add security to the home all night long, is outdoor lighting. There is wastage of energy, nuisance to adjacent properties. According to the International Dark Sky Association badly installed artificial lights can create a deeper contrast of shadows in which criminals may hide. According to the Medical Research such badly designed lights may even cause ill health problems like headache, stress, fatigue, anxiety etc.

About the Author: Buy lighting products from Quality Brand. Order modular lighting instruments from our online store which provides fast delivery at affordable prices.For more information visit the website :

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Source:

isnare.com

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‘Criminal in uniform’: Senior London policeman jailed for attempting to frame Iraqi

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‘Criminal in uniform’: Senior London policeman jailed for attempting to frame Iraqi

Monday, February 8, 2010

Commander Ali Dizaei of London’s Metropolitan Police Service today became the most senior officer anywhere in the United Kingdom to be convicted of offences by a court. Dizaei, who was branded a “criminal in uniform” by Independent Police Complaints Commission chair Nick Hardwick, has been jailed for four years after he attempted to frame an Iraqi businessman.

It took a Southwark Crown Court jury under three hours to find Dizaei guilty of misconduct in a public office and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The charges carried a maximum of life imprisonment.

Dizaei, 47, who is head of the National Black Police Association, had gone to the Yas Persian restaurant, run by one of his friends, and taken his wife Shy with him. They then went to their car and struck up a conversation through its open window with the restaurant’s manager. During this conversation they were approached by Waad al-Baghdadi, an Iraqi website designer in his twenties. He requested that Dizaei pay £600 that he owed Baghdadi, who had constructed his website.

According to the Crown, this dispute had been ongoing for months and Dizaei had been attempting to intimidate Baghdadi. He told the Iraqi to depart when he entered the restaurant; although the businessman did, he stayed nearby and rang the 999 emergency number.

The exact content of the argument that led up to this is unclear. Dizaei and his wife testified that Baghdadi was abusive and threatening, telling the officer he would “extract the money out of your throat” while the owner of the Yas said he was “a crook basically… His history … everybody knows he’s not a good gentleman,” said owner Sohrab Eshragi. Eshragi said that the request Baghdadi leave the premises was due to concerns of trouble, claiming Baghdadi had been in a previous fight. Baghdadi denied the allegations and the court rejected Dizaei’s version of events.

Everybody knows he’s not a good gentleman

While Baghdadi was making his emergency call, Dizaei arrested him and made a 999 call of his own. He requested assistence from other officers, and said that Baghdadi had assaulted him by stabbing his stomach with a shisha pipe. He maintained this account when police arrived and kept it up in written statements, but although Baghdadi was found to be carrying such a pipe examination of Dizaei’s wounds by a police doctor concluded he had inflicted them upon himself.

A Home Office pathologist questioned this finding for the defence. Dr. Nat Cary said it was based on a “fundamentally flawed approach,” and that the injuries were consistent with Dizaei’s version of events. He has helped investigate the assassination of former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto, and the death newspaper seller Ian Thomlinson, the latter of whom died during a G20 protest.

The Crown further alleged that Dizaei told Baghdadi “I’ll fuck your life… You think I don’t know what you do in London… I’ll find every single detail of your life in London.” The prosecution case was presented by Peter Wright QC, who has prosecuted in trials over serial murders of Suffolk sex workers and a plot to bomb transatlantic airliners. He said that Dizaei’s actions were a “wholesale abuse of power by a senior police officer for entirely personal and oblique motives.”

Judge Justice Simon said that Dizaei had committed a “grave breach of public trust” and told him “This sentence needs to send a clear message that police officers of whatever rank are not above the law.” A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said outside the court that “He abused his power and ignored his responsibility,” and that while corruption was unacceptable in any police officer it was particularly so in a senior member of the forces. “The public should have confidence that we will prosecute anyone, regardless of their position, if they commit serious offences. We believe justice has been served for the victim and the public.”

The greatest threat to the reputation of the police service is criminals in uniform like Dizaei

“[I]f he [Dizaei] had been successful, Mr al-Baghdadi may have been sent to prison,” noted Hardwick. “Mr al-Baghdadi has shown tremendous strength of character throughout this case ? from the moment he was confronted by Ali Dizaei, throughout our investigation, and finally when giving evidence at court. We are grateful for the confidence he placed in the IPCC and, as a result of that, justice has been done today.”

Dizaei has been a policeman for 24 years, and at one stage was rumoured to be destined to take control of the Metropolitan Police, although the Metropolitan Police Authority may now choose to end this career. His trial, which began this month, is his second this decade. He was prosecuted in 2003 but cleared of any wrongdoing. The incident with Baghdadi was in June 2008 and Dizaei has been suspended on full pay since September of that year. Hardwick said that “The greatest threat to the reputation of the police service is criminals in uniform like Dizaei.”

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Queues form outside struggling UK bank; calm urged

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Queues form outside struggling UK bank; calm urged
By Admin | Posted in Uncategorized

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Nervous savers have re-formed queues this morning outside many branches of Northern Rock, after the £2.68 billion bank took an emergency loan from the Bank of England, the UK central bank.

Shares in the bank had dropped 25% by lunchtime yesterday in London – and stood nearly 60% lower from their high of February – after the Bank of England acted in its capacity as “lender of last resort” to provide Northern Rock with short-term financing to enable it to continue operations.

The Bank of England hasn’t acted as lender of last resort since 1973, when the collapse of Cedar Holdings – a pioneer of second mortgages to UK home-owners – threatened a crisis in the country’s banking industry.

Northern Rock has been hit hard since June this year by the turmoil in world credit markets. Although only 0.24% of its assets are exposed to subprime US housing debt, the bank’s business model saw it grow its loan book by 43% in the first six months of this year. Rather than lending money deposited with it by savers, Northern has borrowed aggressively in the short-term capital markets.

“Northern Rock is not a reckless lender,” said Angela Knight, head of the British Bankers Association on national radio this morning. Urging the bank’s savers not to withdraw their money in panic, “the mortgage lending it does well and it does in a high quality, high calibre way,” she added.

But savers queuing to withdraw their money from Northern Rock today said they were “horrified” by the Bank of England needing to step in.

“I am going to take out the lot, every penny,” said one Northern Rock saver to Bloomberg as he queued outside the bank’s West End branch in London.

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