Any practical home handyman can melt metal in the backyard hobby
foundry, all you need is a simple, well-designed melting furnace. A low cost melting furnace can be built form scrap metal and a few bits and pieces

If you’re just beginning your backyard metal casting journey, you will have questions to ask and if you follow the right advice, your learning time will be greatly reduced. The furnace is the most important piece of
equipment for your hobby foundry set up. To avoid any frustration &
disappointment make sure you build it right the first time.

You may have to spend a few dollars to buy high temperature resistant
refractory, which is used to line the furnace walls with, plus a few brass
connectors for the gas feed line, if you are handy with a welder you will
also be able to make your own gas burner. And if you have metal working skills, making many of your own tools and equipment to use in your hobby foundry will be a snap.

Once you have a furnace built, you will need to gather some sand so that you can pour the molten metal into. One of the most common moulding mediums used is green sand, this has long been one of the all time favourites because of its ease of use and predictable results. Green sand will also sit and keep moist for weeks in a plastic garbage bin waiting the next moulding session.

Green sand is the most efficient, low cost way for the backyard
metal caster to make moulds for metal casting. Green sand does
require maintenance and looking after to get the best results, but it
will last for many years for hobby use and can be used over and over
again.

Another easy to use backyard moulding system to use is the silicate,
sand & Co2 Gas system. This really is an easy system for the backyard
worker to use; it is frequently used in trade schools and colleges for foundry practice instructions because of its ease of use, small batches of moulding sand can be quickly made up.

However there is one thing that can be detrimental to using the Co2
system and that is of excess moisture is in the sand, moisture levels above 0.5% will give poor moulding results. There is also a rental cost of the Co2 gas bottles, plus the purchase of gas cylinder regulators required for correct gassing of the sand moulds.

With the right kind of knowledge and know how the backyard
metal caster will soon begin to see some great results, many beginners are quite amazed at what they can achieve once they have learnt the right way to go about backyard metal casting.

Backyard metal casting can be a lot of fun, but you also need to be aware that injuries can easily happen if you are not careful, this is a serious engineering hobby, and you will be dealing with hot metals.

For best results, learn from established proven methods, or you
will spend many months floundering around by yourself, not knowing what to do. To dramatically reduce you’re journey to metal casting success; learn from fourteen years of metal casting experience, visit our web site now. http://www.myhomefoundry.com

As winter draws near, the threat of colds and the flu looms large. If you happen to be pregnant right now, doctors say you should be doubly careful, since even a simple virus can leave you feeling more stuffy, as well as achier and crankier than usual.

One reason is because the high estrogen levels present in pregnancy cause mucous membranes to dry out, and swell - making any congestion from a cold or even an allergy feel much worse. As your pregnancy progresses and your baby pushes harder against your diaphragm, lung capacity is also reduced, making it harder to breathe. So, even a slight respiratory infection can seem disastrous. Although pregnancy doesn’t increase your susceptibility to the flu, if you do get sick you are up to 5 times more likely to develop a serious complication - including pneumonia or bronchitis. If you’re like most women you may feel a bit hesitant about using any medication while you are pregnant, since even doctors prefer to stick with natural treatments, particularly during the first trimester. However, in the event that you do need more help, don’t hesitate to check with your obstetrician, since there are a number of safe and effective medications you can try.

Your Pregnancy Medicine Chest: What’s Safe, What’s Not

If a hacking cough or chest congestion is getting you down, talk to your doctor about over-the-counter products like Robitussin, Robitussin DM and Vicks plain cough syrup. These medicines are considered relatively safe to use during pregnancy, and most will offer at least some relief.

If you are running a temperature - particularly 101 degrees or more - the March of Dimes says Tylenol is your best defense. And, it might also be crucial to insure the health of your baby. Studies show that letting a high fever languish during pregnancy increases baby’s risk of neural tube defects, a life threatening malformation of the brain or spine. Sustaining a temperature of 102 degrees or more during your first trimester might also increase your risk of miscarriage.

While the recommended dosage for Tylenol is 2 regular strength tablets every four hours, be sure to check with your doctor first. Also important: Keep taking your prenatal vitamins, especially while you are sick. A study of some 2,000 pregnancies conducted at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities in England found that women who took a multi- vitamin high in folic acid during pregnancy were able to reduce their baby’s risk of birth defects, even if they ran a fever.

If your flu or cold is complicated by diarrhea, don’t be surprised if your doctor doesn’t prescribe anything for the first 24 to 48 hours. As long as you drink plenty of fluids to reduce your risk of dehydration, it’s usually safe to wait it out. In the event that you do need treatment, drugs like Donnagel and Kaopectate are often recommended. Since neither one is absorbed by the body, they never reach your baby

What you want to avoid: Any of the newer anti-viral medications for the flu. Most have not been tested in pregnancy . Also pass on most decongestants unless specifically prescribed by your obstetrician.

For all natural treatments, nothing works better than pampering bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and in particular, have yourself a bowl or two of chicken soup or two. Not only is this a great comfort food, studies have documented the soup stops the movement of immune system cells to the site of inflammation - which in turn helps reduce symptoms like coughing and sneezing.

You can also try hot tea with honey, particularly if you have a sore throat. The steam from the hot liquid will decrease your congestion, while the tea can act as a mild anti-inflammatory. Studies have also shown honey has mild antiseptic qualities and could help control the local growth of bacteria.

Pregnancy Cold and Flu Alerts:

While in most instances you can ride out a cold or even the flu on your own, do make certain to call your doctor immediately if:

Your cold produces green or yellow nasal mucous, or if it lasts more than 7 days - you could have sinusitis, a bacterial infection that does require antibiotic. You are running fever, even if other symptoms seem mild. Diarrhea or vomiting continues for more than 36 hours, if cramps are severe; if diarrhea or vomit contains blood; if you exhibit any of the signs of food poisoning including fever, chills, and other flu- like symptoms.

For more detailed information on all pregnancy health concerns visit http://www.PamperingMom.com

I don’t know if dogs love God, they don’t hate Him, I do believe; perhaps dogs have better sense than their mastersthey don’t stare into the woods like so many humans do, trying to figure out the secret of existence. They simply live life, and for the most part, let live. Maybe us humans have too much, too deep an imagination. We want it allthe root and the stem (do we not)? And once we have it, it is still
not enough.

There is magic in evolution, there needs to be, it is simple a final cry into a black hole for empty souls to shovel something into. Devoid of God, one must put something other than silence into it; something, anything, lest they acknowledge God, and that would not do.

Uninfluenced by light, and logic, something is better than nothing, thus, making it transcendent and recognizing it as something, makes it something, for some folks, everything. He know has the stem and the root, and a filled hole that was once empty; the pathway has been raked and cleared of all stones, what more can one ask for; indeed God is replaced with a prize, humble karma from the once pitied, who now rules the day. The dog, he watches all this; give him a mind to reason, he will give man good advise, perhaps suggest to bury righteousness, to shut up and stop playing the fool.

#1281 3/23/2006

See Dennis’ web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Chanel Reporter handbags have been around for quite some time and remain one of the most popular styles of Chanel handbags. Out of all of the Chanel handbags that are available on the market now and have been in the past, the Reporter handbag is one of the most widely recognized, even by those that do not own a single Chanel bag. While the Reporter bag changes slightly from year to year, it has remained largely the same because it has been so successful and seems to have a very wide appeal stretching even to those that do not typically buy designer handbags.

If you aren’t quite sure what Chanel Reporter handbags are or how to distinguish them from other Chanel handbags, they are commonly described as the puffy looking bags with several pockets. The look is understated by stylized at the same time. Many of the bags have an almost quilted look, although that would be quilted leather, far from anything that you would put on your bed to sleep with! Chanel Reporter handbags are generally made of leather on the exterior and then the interior is either satin or brushed leather for an all over classy look and feel. The outside of the bag is often stitched in a pattern as mentioned above and has two to four pockets on it. Overall the bag has sort of a square look to it with 10-12 inch handles on it. Most of the Chanel Reporter handbags also have at least one zipper pocket on the inside so that you can hold valuables or even a wallet in a secured pocket.

Not only do Chanel Reporter handbags look great and have a great reputation as being very fashionable, each one is unique. Every reporter bag is issued its own hologram authorization number and card. This is the way to ensure that the Chanel reporter bag that you have purchased or that you are looking into purchasing is not a replica. With so many knock offs out there today, this hologram is one of the best ways to ensure that you are buying Chanel and nothing less. If in doubt, you can always look at the stitching and the overall craftsmanship of the handbag to see if you are dealing with the real deal or not. Chanel is very detail oriented and because the reporter bag does have many small details you will likely be able to discredit the fakes before you even consider paying for them.

If you want to buy a real Chanel Reporter handbag for less than retail price you will not have a hard time doing just that. At the end of each season you’ll find that your Chanel dealer will mark some of the bags down to make room for some of the newer bags. You can find that retailers will mark their Chanel bags down up to 30% or more when they need to make room for more products, and you can take advantage and save a couple hundred dollars. You can also shop on the Internet and find that many people are either selling their own personal Reporter handbags or there are discount or wholesale dealers online that will offer you a handbag at a great price. Of course, when you are buying online you should proceed with care to ensure that you are getting a real Chanel Reporter handbag, but generally you’ll have an easy time of it.

The Chanel Reporter handbag really is one of the most beautiful that you can find, whether it is new or old. Not only is it very stylish, it is also very functional. Whether you are a fashion guru, a businesswoman, or a stay at home mom, the Chanel Reporter will work for you and your life quite well.

Planning to make your costume complete with a pair of Halloween contact lenses? Then there are a few things you should know before you order yourself a pair of scary special effect contacts.

1. Can I see when wearing costume lenses?

Yes: the center of most special effect lenses - including black-out lenses - is clear, so you can see. The only exceptions are white-outs, frost and other designs that have to hide pupils. These lenses must be worn only one at a time.

2. Do special effect lenses come with or without corrective power?

People with good vision can get any special effect contact lenses for Halloween with zero power (plano lenses). Some collections come with corrective powers as well - for example, costume lenses from Wild Eyes and Crazy Lenses. Usually only minus corrective powers are avaliable, though, and they never go farther than -6.

3. Are Halloween special effects lenses comfortable?

If you get high quality lenses like Crazy Lenses or Wild Eyes, they will feel comfortable in your eyes. However, don’t expect that you won’t feel the lens at all, especially if you are not used to wearing contact lenses. Also because of the opaque color layer, costume lenses block the flow of oxygen to your eyes, so they might feel irritating after several hours of wear. Eight hours is the recommended upper limit, for wearing costume contacts.

4. How long do Halloween costume lenses last?

Most special effect contact lenses are traditional replacement lenses, which means that they last for a year. Actually, if you don’t wear your lenses every day and take good care of them, brand-name lenses like Wild Eyes can last up tp 18 months.

There are also monthly disposable Crazy Lenses by Cooper Vision, which last for about 30 days. These lenses are a great choice if you plan to wear your scary contacts only during Halloween. They are also cheaper than yearly lenses.

5. Are there any health risks related to contacts for Halloween?

There are a lot of FDA warnings about Halloween contact lenses. However, most problems occur because people don’t follow a few simple rules, which any contact lens wearer should know. Here they are:

• Visit an optometrist before you get your lenses. Contacts are not a one-size-fits-all proposition - a doctor needs to measure your eyes for the best fit
• Buy your costume lenses only from registered contact lens retailers. Never buy them from a gas station or beauty salon.
• Never share your lenses with anybody - it is a sure way to pick up an eye infection
• Don’t wear your special effect lenses for longer than 8 hours in a row and never sleep in them
• Wash your hands with soap before handling your lenses
• Carry a contact lens case filled with solution with you, so you can take out your lenses if your eyes start to feel irritated
• Never wear a damaged lens

If you follow these rules and the care instructions that come with all brand name special effect lenses, your scary contacts should not give you any health problems

6. What is the price range of Halloween contacts?

Mass produced lenses like Wild Eyes and Crazy Lenses are quite affordable. You can get a pair cat eyes, hot red, spirals or black-outs for $60-$80.

There are also companies that offer handpainted special effect contact lenses with hundreds of very interesting designs. These lenses are called theatrical contact lenses and would cost you $200 or more, per pair.

7. Where is the best place to order costume contacts for Halloween?

Your optometrist can get them for you, but this way you will pay more than necessary. Your best bet is to order your special effect lenses from an online contact lens store. You just need to be careful and make sure that you are dealing with a trusted online contact lens retailer.

Tanya Turner is a color contact lens expert and a founder of Contact Lenses Consumer Guide, which provides you with information about all types of contact lenses including Halloween contacts reviews and photos

Style and glamour are often restricted to those in the showbiz. We frequently endeavor to imitate their outfits and make-up, yet are unable to acquire those happening looks. But I think that most of us are born with sense of fashion and self-grooming. Some of those who lack this feature can be trained to do so. In other words celebrity’s appearance is not the only parameter in looking good.

Attire is one factor that owes utmost in our prettiness. All of us are not equivalently charming by face, well shaped like Jennifer Lopez or possess a robust built of Arnold; we tremendously vary physically as well as psychologically. But however bodily odd we may be, we can look good if not great. A very basic and hassle free step in this direction is to wear matching or contrasting clothes that complement your other accessories for the day like shoes, bracelets etc. A good fit pair of jeans that goes perfectly with your well -designed sandals/slippers/shoes is an excellent idea in this regard. The ‘True Religion Jeans’ a product of Active sandals is a superb and most appropriate working example. The company Active sandals manufactures a gamut of sandals that are ideal for wearing on beach and in outdoors for instance while shopping, going on picnic, trekking and so forth. The Active sandals are that largely vary not just in names and colors but also in designs and patterns perform the functions of comforting and embellishing your sensitive feet uniformly without bias. But the best part about this is the appealing pair of jeans that active sandals provide to dignify their pretty sandals all the more. True Religion jeans, as I said is one such recommendable label.

Unlike many other jeans that are available in the market today, True religion jeans have been successful in creating their own place in the hearts of people.

• First and foremost these jeans are known for the numerous and distinguished shades they come into. The band of colors is sufficient to gratify everyone’s need. The range is enough to accompany especially your stylized sandals and other accessories.

• The fine and durable material used in making the jeans is highly acclaimed by men and women globally. It imparts the jeans not just a wonderful fit but also great comfort while walking, sitting, running and jogging…all in all a beautiful experience for those wearing it. True Religion jeans can be worn at the beach, while you are partying with your friends and family, any other occasion or just going out for a stroll. The excellent fabric used neither gets wet soon nor gets thickened and hard once it soaks. This quality makes True Religion jeans immensely popular amongst the beach aficionados.

• At the end of the day, nothing impresses the mob more besides reasonable costs. Most of us want things that fall in our budget and so are easy to purchase. While this is hard to happen with some of the top jeans producing brands, it is not the case with True Religion jeans. These jeans come at a very affordable price range so that anyone who wills it can take it home.

• Purchases can be made online too and shipping is absolutely free in this case.

Mansi aggarwal writes about religion jeans. Learn more at http://www.active-sandals.com/true-religion-jeans.html.