Soft Power

Hydrogen From Water – Hydrogen Power Your Car

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:17:53 +0000

Gas prices have stabilized somewhat over the last few weeks and even dipped a bit. That’s great news for folks who have long commutes, or who operate vehicle fleets. Most of us seem to relax when gas prices go down ten cents or so, if only because that means that they are at least not rising. In doing so we lose sight of the fact that gas is still really expensive.

The current national average price of gas is $3.94 a gallon and while that is somewhat better than the $4.07 a gallon a month ago, we quickly forget that a year ago gasoline was $2.89 at the pump. That’s a 27% increase in price. Can you imagine if other things in your life were to go up 27%? Most people exist with less than a 10% margin between their income and their bills. An increase of that size in too many things would drive most people irreparably into the red.

So what are we going to do about it?

Well, to start with, we know that it’s energy in general that is becoming more expensive. While there are certainly people standing to profit from this increase the main cause is that more nations are becoming industrialized and starting to drive cars. China and India represent 1/3 of the world’s population and their booming auto industry is creating unheard of demand for gasoline. On top of that most of the easily accessible hydrocarbon fuel deposits are gone and it costs more money to get at coal and other power and heating fuels. Since many power plants run on oil, this brings the price of all fuels up.

It’s the unfortunate downside to the global economy.

One of the fuels that is being heralded as a potential savior is hydrogen. It is the most common element in the universe and is available in abundant supply on earth. It’s one of the core components of water, H20. Through a process known as electrolysis, the hydrogen can be extracted from water and made available as a fuel. The byproduct of this process is oxygen, not a bad thing to have a refinery spit out at all.

Many car manufacturers have recognized Hydrogen as a promising fuel source and vehicles such as the BMW Hydrogen 7 and the Honda FCX Clarity have been produced. While they are currently only available in limited numbers and markets where there are hydrogen fuel stations, they are out there and it is a positive step for the economy and the world in general as their only exhaust is water vapor.

BMW’s Hydrogen 7 Car uses a fairly regular car engine.

The engines that our car’s use are called Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) and essentially they simply burn something inside of themselves. An example of an External Combustion Engine would be a steam engine where the fire is outside of the engine itself. While these engines have been refined to burn petroleum based fuels, they are capable of running on many other fuels, the only concern being that some fuels are more corrosive, or may be a solvent to some of the elements of the car’s engines.

Luckily hydrogen is not corrosive and none of a car’s components will dissolve in it. In fact with not a lot of alteration, most car engines could run 100% on hydrogen.

How would you store enough hydrogen to run your car on it entirely? Well, quite simply you wouldn’t. It’s not that you couldn’t, but the cost of getting a fuel tank for your car that could safely store that amount of hydrogen is somewhat prohibitive.

So is there an alternative that can help out?

Interestingly enough, there is. The engine in your car would be perfectly happy to get a mixture of Hydrogen and gasoline. In fact, the hydrogen and the extra oxygen that you get from electrolysis actually help the gasoline to burn better. Some people get as much as a 42% increase in their mileage by simply adding a moderate amount of hydrogen to their car’s engine.

That’s the same as paying $2.20 a gallon for gasoline.

So how is this done, you ask? The process is achieved by using a device that you can install under the hood of your car and using electric power from your car’s alternator to power an electrolyzer that produces hydrogen on the fly as it is needed. This means that there is no storage of hydrogen and no issues with having to find a gas station that sells hydrogen as there are less than 200 worldwide. The only thing you have to add to the device is water!

By: Michael D Cooper

Develop Strength, Endurance, and Power for Your Golf Swing

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:27:25 +0000

In part one of this article we discussed the core and its relation to the golf swing. A quick review of the information in article one will indicate a definitive connection between the “athletic movements” of a golf swing and the core section of the body. Prior to beginning this article let us take a brief moment to review information provided in the first article on this topic.

A quick review will indicate that the core is an anatomical region of the body. This region of the body consists of all the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and neural structures, located from the hips to the lower chest. This comprises all of the structures of: the hips, abdominals, low back, and obliques (side abdominals). In addition to describing the anatomical region of the core, part one of this article described the following: the relationship between the core and golf swing in the specific areas of range of motion, coordination, speed of motion, and balance. Part two of this article will discuss core flexibility, strength, endurance, and power. We will relate these three additional topics to the golf swing as we did in part one.

Recalling from the first article, range of motion is directly related to distance. Distance that a body moves in a specific amount of time when discussing biomechanics. Relating range of motion to the golf swing indicates that the greater range of motion that the core mechanism of the body can move through, the greater amount of force can be created to deliver into the club head.

The second topic discussed in article one was speed of motion. Remember, speed of motion is directly related to range of motion. Speed of motion is essentially adding a component of time to range of motion. The faster that an object or the body can move through a specific range of motion, the greater amount of force can be created through this range of motion.

Thirdly, we introduced coordination. Coordination is the ability to time the movements of the body in the correct sequence to perform the activity desired. This requires the body to move through the required ranges of motion with the correct speed of motion.

The final topic discussed in section one of this article was balance. Balance is the ability of the body to maintain a center of gravity during a movement. Increased balance allows for greater accuracy with athletic activities. Moving forward into section two of this article, we build upon the information discussed in article one. Relevancy to the core and the golf swing is easily seen when connecting these topics (range of motion, speed of motion, coordination, and balance) to the athletic movement associated with the golf swing.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the range of motion around a joint and is influenced by skeletal structures, ligaments, muscles tissues, and joint capsule type. Range of motion is a result of the deformation of soft tissues (i.e. muscle tissue, ligaments, and tendons) surrounding a joint. Flexibility is essentially the ability of the neuromuscular to create a desired range of motion by the body. The golf swing requires the core, and the entire body, to move through a specified range of motion to create contact with the golf ball. Limitations in flexibility can create the inability of the body to move through the required ranges of motion at the correct speed to perform a golf swing. This will result in numerous problems as a result of poor mechanics in the swing. A direct connection exists between range of motion, speed of motion, and flexibility. If flexibility is limited the result will be limitations in ranges of motion and speeds of motion.

Strength

Strength can be defined as the ability of the neuromuscular system (neural system, muscular system) to create and exert force. A lack of strength limits the ability of the body to create force for a given athletic movement. In relationship to the golf swing, strength is a required component of the core. A large proportion of the force created in the golf swing is a result of the lower body and core musculature system. As a result, creating the force needed to develop club head speed is directly related to strength levels within these structures of the body. A lack of strength lessens to a degree the amount of force that can be created in the golf swing, thus reducing the amount of club head speed available to the golfer.

Endurance

Endurance is the ability of the neuromuscular structures (muscular system, neural system, ligaments, and tendons) to perform the same athletic movement repeatedly over a specific amount of time. The golf swing is a repetitive athletic movement requiring the neuromuscular system to perform the same neuromuscular activity over and over again for a given number of swings, time, etc. This requires the body to move through a specific range of motion, with the correct speed of motion, coordinating the movements in the correct sequence, with the required force outputs (i.e. strength), and correct levels of endurance. A lack of endurance in the neuromuscular system will limit the ability of the individual to perform the components required of the golf swing listed above.

Power

Power is the ability to create the greatest amount of force in a specified amount of time. Power is contingent upon the combination of strength and speed of motion. These two components working in conjunction create power. A decrease in strength or speed of motion limits the ability of power production by the neuromuscular system. The golf swing requires the body to produce power to deliver into the club head. The amount of time to perform this is limited and contained within the ranges of motion through which the body moves during the golf swing. The point to be made is that a direct connection exists for power production between range of motion, speed of motion, and strength. These three components working together determine the power outputs created by the body during the golf swing.

Summary

This article discussed an additional four components that are relevant to the core structure of the body and the golf swing. The key point to make between the topics discussed in this article and article number one is the connection between all of these components. Range of motion, speed of motion, balance, and coordination are contingent upon the points discussed in this article. The ability of the body to swing a golf club requires the ability of the body to have the required ranges of motion, speeds of motion, balance, and coordination to perform the swing. The development of flexibility, strength, endurance, and power within the body allows for these activities to occur. Thus all eight of these components (range of motion, speed of motion, balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, endurance, and power) are interconnected to perform a golf swing. The relationship to the core and these activities is a follows: the core region of the body is a main component of the golf swing. It is utilized greatly in all aspects of the golf swing from maintaining balance to creating power. The core can be considered to be the “engine” of the golf swing.

By: Sean Cochran

Get Sporty With Dish Tv Channels

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:22:17 +0000

Dish TV sports channels offers a variety of non- mainstream sports. Before the advent of satellite TV people watched mainstream sports like football, hockey, basket ball and base ball. The satellite TV sports channels give you action packed entertainment which you can never experience through cable TV. Gain a lot and learn a lot with dish TV sports channels.

The Dolby digital effect of the satellite TV sports channels keeps you captivated as long as a particular match is being aired. Thanks to the dish TV sports channels that showcase the day to day routine of your favorite sports stars. Sounds interesting?

NBA League Pass: Witness around 40 dish TV season games of basketball per week in HD mode.

How to Make Plastic Fishing Lures

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:23:15 +0000

How to make plastic fishing lures is one of the easier tasks when it comes to tackle making. It doesn’t require a lot of tool, and the items required in order to make them are relatively inexpensive such as liquid plastic. Once these items are acquired you can make soft plastic worms and other plastic lures for pennies a piece.

The most expensive part about how to make plastic fishing lures is obtaining a mold. Molds are used to speed the whole process up and they make a more uniformed plastic worm. You simply pour the melted plastic inside holding the mold at an angle to insure the mold fills from bottom to top that way you do not get any air bubbles inside your plastic worms. Then you let the mold sit to cool so that the plastic sets, then removing the plastic worm carefully place them inside a small container of water to finish cooling and curing. Adding things like glitter etc are ways you can jazz up your own homemade fishing lures.

But what if you don’t want to bother with purchasing a plastic worm mold? Can you still make soft plastic lures? How to make plastic fishing lures without a commercial mold is not that difficult to do. Here’s how I go about making a mold from common Plaster of Paris. The first step is to simply create the two halves of the mold. You can use anything you like to hold the plaster, aluminum foil, small cardboard boxes, pie plates etc. The trick is to let the 2 halves partially set before actually creating your mold. I like to let my molds set for about 30 minutes to an hour depending on the thickness of the plaster.

The next step in how to make plastic fishing lures is to use a master worm. Now a master worm can be anything really, the easiest is to use a worm from your tackle box or make one from modeling clay, either way works. If you do choose to use a plastic worm from your tackle box make sure as you set the worm into one half of the mold to line up the seam on the worm with the top of the plaster otherwise you’ll land up with 2 seams in your new plastic fishing lure. One from the master and one from your newly made mold.

Ok before setting the master worm inside one half of the mold it is important to coat the worm in either some Vaseline or vegetable oil. The purpose here is so that the worm doesn’t stick to plaster once it is fully set. Now carefully set the plastic worm into the mold halfway. Again paying attention to any seams that may exist on your plastic worm.

Next we need to make registration pins in the mold so that it will line up the way we want when it comes time to pour in our melted plastic. The easiest way here is to use some finishing nails I like to use about 3 and set them into the semi set mold. Then put the other half of the mold on top, clamp it together and let it set overnight to insure the plaster fully sets.

All is not done yet, there are still a couple steps yet to do in how to make plastic fishing lures. Now after we have removed the master worm and the plaster is fully set you need to cut a sprue channel so that you have somewhere to pour in the melted plastic. Finally we need to seal the mold. Plaster is porous and even if it’s fully set you will have all kinds of little leaks inside the mold if you do not take the precaution to seal your mold. Any kind of epoxy or mod podge will work. Don’t get carried away just a light coat will do. Now our mold is finished.

As you can see how to make plastic fishing lures isn’t that difficult and there are creative ways we can get around the more expensive parts to making plastic fishing worms by making our own molds. There are a few other pointer to make mention and you should be able to pour out your plastic worms without any trouble, and that is before pouring the melted plastic into the mold, coat the insides lightly with some vegetable oil or Vaseline just so its easier to remove the finished product.

By: Tony Bolton

The Power of the Subconscious Mind and Internet Marketing Riches

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:27:40 +0000

One of the great things about being human beings is our ability to make decisions that can affect the course of our lives, positively or negatively.

Take a very simple example….what are you going to have for dinner tonight? You could have fish, poultry, steak, almost any thing you want and cooked almost any way you want it cooked. A very positive thing and you will enjoy eating what ever you decide to eat. Now that is power.

But, you make eating decisions several times a day, every day. If you choose to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables with most of your meals your body is going to perform better now and for years to come. But how many of us actually make the choice to eat healthy? Very few. Most of us choose to eat what tastes good and give us enjoyment in the moment, with little regard for the long term effects of eating hamburgers, and drinking soft drinks. Over the years we get fatter and fatter, our bodies begin to malfunction, and we get sicker and sicker.

This is not an article about healthy eating habits. But, the above is an excellent example of using our human power of choice in a negative and destructive way. But, we can use the power of our minds, our power to choose, in positive constructive ways too.

So, you have tried several online businesses and you are not rich yet, right? Why do you think that is?

Some of have convinced yourselves that it is too hard, too difficult to make money online. Yes, making money, online or offline can be challenging. You need to find a way to convince yourself that by doing the right things often enough and for a long enough period of time you will be successful and make money.

Some of you believe that you don’t know what are the right things to do and if you could only find a mentor who can teach you the right things to do you could be successful and make money online. If you are in this category I have excellent news. Later in this article I am going to tell you exactly what you need to do to sell any product or service online.

The unfortunate truth is that most of us already know what we need to do to sell products or services online. We just choose not to do those things. Why? Because we do not believe that we will be rewarded for the effort. We are afraid that we will waste our time and have nothing to show for it. We then decide we will only decide to work a business that proves itself to us before we put any effort into it. But where do you think you are going to find a business that will pay you an income, to prove itself to you, without you putting anything into it? Doesn’t exist. Ain’t gonna happen.

Our logical “conscious” mind knows that if we advertise any product or service often enough and for a long enough period of time we will eventually sell that product or service. The more we advertise our product or service, the more of those products or services we will sell. If we advertise that product or service often enough and for a long enough period of time, we will become what some people consider rich.

So if you believe my above statements, then why aren’t you (most of us) out there advertising your product or service and making a lot of money? I believe we all limit ourselves by our own belief system and that affects the decisions we make every day, business related or otherwise.

In some articles I refer to this as the power of positive (or negative) self talk. In some articles I refer to this as our inner programming we have received since childhood. In this article I will refer to this as the power of our subconscious minds and how we can use this power to positively influence any area of our lives we want to influence.

Being human beings, we have the power to change our thoughts, change our beliefs, and change our actions which will directly affect the results we achieve. Try this exercise:

Think about how much money you have in the bank right now. Do you have enough to retire today? Do you have enough to buy a new home?  Or even a new car? Heck, do you even have enough to fly to some big city, spend a long weekend, have a wonderful time? And, how much debt do you have?  If you are like most people, you have more debt than money in the bank. How are you ever going to retire?

Kind of depressing, huh?

Now, think about how things would be different if you won a couple of million dollars in your local lottery. What would you do tomorrow if you had $2,000,000? Pay off your measly little debt?  Buy a new home or a new car?  Travel, in style?

Feeling better? Your thoughts control your feelings and most people reading the above two paragraphs will get somewhat depressed after reading the first paragraph and then a little bit excited after reading the second paragraph. But, winning the lottery is not a realistic thought for most of us and after a brief period of excitement, reality sets back in.

Let’s try a more realistic thought pattern…..something that would actually work if we choose to implement those thoughts in our lives. If you are like most people you really don’t have that much debt…..banks won’t let you get so far in debt that you can’t get out of debt. You just have to do the right things (pay off debt, little by little) over a long enough period of time to eliminate your debt. That will take a conscious choice on your part to create some excess money – we all spend money every month on wasteful things – and use that excess money to pay off our bills. How much better would your life be if you were able to eliminate your debt in three years?  Then a few years later how much better would your life be if you began saving that excess money you used to pay off your debts, and had $50,000 in the bank or investments?

This should be popping positive thoughts into your mind but the unfortunate reality is that most of us make short term decisions to spend our money (or credit) to buy things that decrease our wealth, rather than increasing our wealth. Psychologists tell us that we do these things to receive instant pleasure and that makes a lot of sense, right? The pleasure of buying that new dress feels good right now. Using that money to pay off a bill won’t feel good until perhaps years from now. Instant gratification. So do we really have control over our own lives?

Your conscious mind knows buying that dress, or eating that McDonald’s grease burger and fries is not the right thing to do but your subconscious programming wants, needs that short term feel good feeling – and your subconscious internal programming usually wins out.

Can we change our subconscious programming? Yes, we can. If you attempted the exercises I offered above, you experienced changing a feeling of frustration with a feeling of happiness or excitement, simply by changing your thoughts. That should convince you that you can do this – replace negative/fearful thoughts – with positive, powerful thoughts anytime you choose to. But, just like building an online business it takes a conscious decision on your part and effort over an extended period of time to get good at changing you internal programming from too many negative thoughts to primarily positive thoughts.

If you want to change your life from lack to abundance, from negative to positive, from poor to rich, here is how to do that:

Spend just a few minutes each day, practicing changing negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Some people refer to this as meditation or active visualization. I don’t intend to suggest that simply by visualizing something you can have it, although there is a lot of recent research that would suggest that meditation or positive visualization does work.

No, my point is that if you become good at changing negative thoughts into positive thoughts you can have anything or be anything in this world that you want. And, you will be a lot happier.

Do an exercise similar to the one we did earlier in this article for just a few minutes every day. Start by sitting in a quiet room by yourself and think about any aspect of your life. Your finances, your goals, your dreams, your marriage, your children…..any aspect of your life that you would like to be better. Undoubtedly, some negative thoughts will creep into your mind. Then, as soon as you notice yourself thinking a negative thought, instantly replace that thought with a positive thought and experience how much better you feel when you replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts.

It is almost magical and anyone can do it any time they want to. And, the best part is the more you do this the better you get at it. Any time you are having a bad moment, just force yourself to turn your negative thoughts into positive thoughts. You will feel better immediately and you will begin to take actions on those positive thoughts which will further improve your life.

Your positive thoughts don’t even have to be realistic, at least not at first. I used to play really lousy golf. I thought I should be better than I was but I kept mishitting the ball and throwing my clubs. Then one day, I said to myself, either find a way to enjoy playing golf or stop playing. Golf is too expensive if you are doing nothing but frustrating yourself.

I didn’t want to stop playing golf…..I enjoyed most of the time I spent on weekends with a few close friends playing golf…..I just hated playing lousy golf. So, I decided right then and there I would have to practice if I wanted my game to improve. And, I believed that if my golf game were just a little less embarrassing I really would enjoy playing more.

So, I did some research and came up with a practice plan that would help me improve key aspects of my game and if I practiced enough I could shoot around 90 most of the time. It wasn’t quick or easy but I now shoot between 85 and 95 most of the time and that is enough to allow me to beat most of the people I play against.

I did the same thing in building my online business. I figured out a way that I can put a lot of small ads out there for my business where people will see them (articles just like this one), and at the same time I can motivate myself and others to do the right things to build/grow their businesses, and I can teach people what the things are that they need to do to build/grow their businesses.

By: Don Merrill