Browsing articles from "June, 2010"


Tips for Your Pet Bird’s First Month Home

Author: Stacy Richford
Source: download

For any new pet moving to a new home can be a very traumatic experience and in some cases even more so for a pet bird. Many times if bird was hand fed as a baby it may have stronger attachments then other birds. However if you take the time setting up your birds new environment properly with some extra care, it will a bit easier for your pet bird to make the adjustment to it’s new home.
One of the most important things you should first do when you bring your new bird home is to place its cage in an area that does not have an over abundance of activity or confusion. Even though we are trying to make sure our new friend doesn’t feel like he is caught up in the middle of all the household action. We also want to make sure that he does not feel all alone by putting him in some unused room by him self. Ideally you want to find a spot in your home where he can still interact with you, but there won’t be constant loud noises or lots of sudden movements that can continually startle him.
In situations where you already have another bird in your home, it would be best to segregate your new arrival for about thirty days. The reason you want to do this is to help ensure that if your new bird has an infectious disease, you won’t infect your original bird. When creating a quarantine for your bird, it would be best to keep him on floor in a completely different room of the house. Also make sure to keep their food and water dishes apart and do not interchange them even after washing. If your home has a central air conditioning system, you may have difficulty being able to ensure a true quarantine. Since these kinds of air conditioning system employ air duct systems which carry the air from one room to other rooms in the house. Regardless it is still a good idea to quarantine the new bird than immediately putting exposing him to your original pet even if you have air ducts.
You should also make sure that any new bird you bring home is in good health. So be sure to take him to your local avian veterinarian for a general check up. Your veterinarian will be able to check and make sure that your new pet bird is free of any contagious diseases, worms or bacterial infections. This is even more important in cases were you have a hand fed baby bird, the reason being is that if the bird wasn’t properly hand fed it is at a higher risk for having a bacterial infection.
When ever you bring a new bird home you should closely monitor their eating habits during their initial adjustment period. If you notice that your bird doesn’t seem to be eating at all during the initial twenty four hours, you should try and offer him some spray millet. Spray millet is pretty much a dessert for birds. Another option is to offer him a whole grain cereal which may coax a frightened bird into eating. If you just brought home a newly weaned baby bird and he is not eating and is also making various squalling noises, your new bird may have regressed some and will need to be hand fed slightly longer. In these situations call your breeder for assistance.
If for some reason you cannot get in contact with your breeder, odds are you can buy some hand feeding formula from your local pet shop. To use the formula simply mix up a tiny quantity of the hand feeding formula until it reaches a consistency close to that of pudding. Then offer some of the mixture to your bird by putting some of the formula on a plastic spoon. If all is well he should eat it right off the spoon.
Lastly, you should not be afraid to interact with your new pet bird, just make sure you don’t get out of hand and overdo it. At first you should only try to work with him for 10 minutes at a time and no more. If he continually flies away and you notice your self having to chase and catch him, Just put him away back in his cage for a bit until he starts to calm down. Every time you chase and catch your bird it cause him some stress, which is something we are trying to minimize for our new friend.
For more information on caring for your parrot or parakeet or any pet bird visit us at http://pet-birds.lifestyle-web.net

Home & Family
Jun 1, 2010
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Drywall Compound Dust – You Need To Know!

Author: Bill Prudehome
Source: download

If you are contemplating a home renovation project that involves drywall taping then there is something that you need to be aware of and pay strict attention to.
The compound used to cover drywall joints creates a very fine and highly abrasive dust when dry and then sanded. Have you ever seen a professional drywall taper using a power sander? I doubt it. If you use a power sander to level drywall compound the dust will definitely find its way into the motor windings and bearings and you can write the tool off in a matter of minutes.
Not using power tools to sand drywall compound may seem obvious, but there are other motors in your home that can also be affected by the drywall compound dust.
If you have a central air furnace or air conditioning system the dust will be sucked into the return air vents and although a lot of the dust will get trapped in the filter a portion will make it through the filter to the fan motor and the bearings on any pulleys that may be within the system. Other motors or bearings that can be easily affected are located in bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.
In the case of central air conditioning systems the dust will land on the coils and be washed down into the condensation drain lines where it will solidify and eventually block the free flow of the water.
Window air conditioners will draw the dust through the exhaust portion of the unit and clog filters and damage motors and bearings.
Using a home vacuum rather than an industrial vac to clean up the drywall compound dust will damage any of the moving parts and the motor.
If drywall compound dust lands on fine furniture or hardwood floors be extremely cautious in the methods that you use to clean up as the dust will leave scratch marks on lacquer or polyurethane finishes. The same situation applies to products made from acrylics such as bathtubs and bathtub and shower enclosures.
Last, but by no means least, you should always wear a dust mask and goggles when sanding drywall compound.
For additional information on renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.

Home Improvement
Jun 1, 2010
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Why To Use Evaporative Coolers For Commercial Purposes?

Author: Matthew Anderson
Source: download

Evaporative coolers for commercial purposes? It may sound strange since we all are used to personal evaporative coolers. The concept of commercial air coolers is the same as the one that you use at your home. The difference lies in the size of the unit and the area covered. Industries need big sized air coolers that are capable of cooling larger areas. Moreover, the evaporative coolers used for commercial purposes require good quality durable cabinets, usually made of stainless steel with long lasting wet pads and heavy pumps. They are efficient in providing area and spot cooling within no time.
Air Coolers In Workplace
It is believed that to work properly in your workplace, you need to have a room temperature of around 23 – 24บ C, failing which the work efficiency decreases. But in most places, the need to cool the room temperature is felt only for a few months. Thus, installing heavy air conditioners is unnecessary in those regions. The three basic things that commercial houses consider in an air cooler are its speed, flexibility and cost. The evaporative coolers are a popular choice for commercial purposes because compared to air conditioners; they are less expensive and suit well in ventilated places like workshops and factories.
Features Of Commercial Air Coolers
The commercial coolers comprise powerful motors and premium pads. The pads are so prepared to provide extra protection against harmful pollutants and excess cooling. The throw of commercial coolers is larger as they are designed to cool large areas. Most of them are provided with heavy wheels for ease in movement that can be locked. The diameter of the fan and the water retention capacity is larger than the personal coolers.
Made out of stainless steel, they are durable and provide years of service and maintenance. The best part is, depending on the application, the units can be custom designed. In most cases the powerful blowers have backward incline or forward curve to manage high volume of air and static pressure. The commercial coolers are available in up discharge, down, side and various other configurations.
Standard Sized Air Coolers
The standard size of the commercial evaporative coolers can go up to 60,000 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute). There are a few things that are to be kept in mind while selecting commercial evaporative coolers. Avoid coated or galvanized steel and use a stainless steel of grade 304 to enhance durability. These economic coolers not only decrease the cost of operation, but also ensure the constant supply of cool and fresh air in and out of the area where it is placed.
Matthew Anderson adds regularly reviews on air coolers to http://www.evaporative-air-coolers.com, an online information magazine about the basics of how evaporative air coolers work and some of the advantages of the technology for a good air conditioning . Read more about how to maintain evaporative coolers for different models and commercial manufacturers as well as the range of prices and at his specialized website

Home Improvement
Jun 1, 2010
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Top Customer Service Speaker Says: Beware of Aversive Conditioning in Customer Service!

Author: Dr. Gary S. Goodman
Source: download

I was just pouring some dry creamer into my coffee when I noticed something for the second time.
I say the second time because the first time around, this perception didn’t stick with me.
The creamer I bought, at a substantial discount at my grocery store, contains the same basic ingredients as the well known brand.
But it costs one-third of the famous brand’s price.
Why doesn’t EVERBODY buy the cheaper and “just as good” alternative?
Trust is one factor. We have been conditioned to believe a brand-name is more reliable, that it will deliver value, time and again.
But the creamer people, who probably sell the premium stuff at a deep discount for private labeling to retailers who plunk their own labels on the packages, also do something else to stack the deck.
The cheaper container has a screw-off cap, while the more costly has a convenient, pop-open and closed spout.
Functionally, this is a big deal.
If you have to go through two or more operations instead of one to cream your coffee, by twisting off and then spooning the product, you’re being discouraged from preferring the cheaper, but harder to use, product.
This is aversive conditioning and you see it all the time in customer service. Rarely does it penetrate our consciousness that sellers are trying to make us “pay” for their discounted goodies with hassles, instead of dollars.
That customer service rep that says, “We’ll make an exception, but only once!” is using aversive conditioning. She is training you to not ask for “exceptions” or special treatment in the future. She’s giving you service, a reward, but she’s bundling it with a punishment at the same time.
In most cars you can buy a climate control system that will be thermostatically operated and it will maintain a comfortable cabin temperature throughout your trip. But you have to pay extra for this.
If you don’t, you’ll get the same air conditioning unit with one exception: you’ll have to keep adjusting the air manually, to remain comfortable.
You’ll save a few bucks with the manually operated version, but you’ll pay for it everyday with continuous pushing of buttons and spinning of dials.
What would it cost for manufacturers to offer the superior control system in every car? A minor amount, but why give it away when you can sell it at a premium?
Buy on the cheap, and you’ll pay, one way or another. This is the tacit message that aversive conditioning sends to customers.
If you’ve ever left a transaction feeling compromised, slighted, or even moderately insulted or unappreciated, you may have been a victim of this tactic
What sellers don’t understand is that they’re breeding resentments that are below the threshold of consumer consciousness. The moment we find other sources that lavish ease of use on us, we’ll switch our loyalties without looking back.
That’s our own version of aversive conditioning, also known as “shock treatment.”
Best-selling author of 12 books, including MONITORING, MEASURING & MANAGING CUSTOMER SERVICE and more than 875 articles, Dr. Gary S. Goodman is considered “The Gold Standard”–the foremost expert in sales development, customer service, and telephone effectiveness. Top-rated as a speaker, seminar leader, and consultant, his clients extend across the globe and the organizational spectrum, from the Fortune 1000 to small businesses. He can be reached at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

Business
Jun 1, 2010
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Don’t Let the Weather Take Your Breath Away

Author: D Kane
Source: articleage.com

There are several weather related conditions that increase the risk of asthma attacks. Hospital admissions for breathing problems often increase as pollen counts rise and there have been many well-documented asthma epidemics following thunderstorms. In these cases many of those admitted were hay fever sufferers with no previous history of breathing difficulties.
A combination of thunderstorms and high pollen counts can trigger asthma. When thunderstorms develop they draw up air over a large area. If there has been a dry spell of five or more days there will be plenty of pollen lying around that will be drawn up with the air. As clouds are created ice forms around each pollen grain. The grains circulate within the cloud, going through several freeze and thaw cycles. This shatters the grains, breaking them into even smaller pieces. When it rains the shattered pollen plunges downwards. The pollen is now smaller, more concentrated and effectively more allergenic because the smaller particles can get deeper into the lungs.
Smog is also a weather related asthma trigger. Despite its name it is seldom a mixture of smoke and fog. It is the effect of heat and sunlight on car fumes and solvents producing high levels of ozone at ground level. Although ozone high in the atmosphere blocks dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun, ozone at ground level affects those with respiratory problems. Elevated levels of ozone and nitrogen dioxide seem to make lungs more sensitive to allergens and can also be an irritant.
Often the people most at risk are those who have not been diagnosed with asthma. They do not know what to expect and have no medication. If you work in or near a city the worst storms are those that occur in the afternoon or evening when ozone and pollen levels can be high. The situation is worsened if there is little or no wind to sweep away the pollutants. If you are asthmatic or a hay fever sufferer and thunderstorms are expected in your area, make sure you are using any preventive treatment and that you carry your reliever medication with you at all times. Stay inside if possible and avoid strenuous exercise.
Heat and humidity are other factors that can trigger asthma attacks. Stay indoors, ideally in air-conditioned areas and keep your inhaler nearby. If you cannot avoid the heat try to reduce other factors like tobacco smoke and dust. Often it is not the heat itself that affects people with asthma, it is the allergens that are present in greater numbers when the weather is hot.
Pollen counts vary throughout the year, but many plants do pollinate heavily during the summer months. Molds reproduce by releasing spores that can be allergenic, especially during damp, warm weather. Dust mites breed heavily during hot, humid weather.
If you are susceptible to exercise induced asthma you will also need to take care when the weather is cool and dry.
Even when the weather is calm there are potential problems. Airborne pollution like smoke and other particulates can build up in areas where the air is not moving the pollution away.
If you want to keep track of your triggers there are many websites that give details of allergen distribution and air quality forecasts. If you do not know what triggers your asthma or allergy it is vital that you find out as soon as possible.
David Kane is the author of ‘Stop Asthma Now’ and is giving away copies of his ‘Guide to Allergy and Asthma Relief’. To get your copy visit the Stop Asthma Now – Asthma Relief eBook site while the offer lasts.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Kane

Health & Fitness
Jun 1, 2010
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