For most people who live in a home that has more than one floor, the need for a stair chair lift is not an issue as negotiating the stairs is not generally a problem. But for people with limited mobility such as those with physical disabilities, the elderly, those with incapacitating illness or injury, a flight of stairs represents an insurmountable barrier to the parts of their home that healthy people take for granted.
For this reason, the prototype to today's stair chair lift was originally invented back in the 1920s by engineer and practical thinker C.C. Crispen. The general idea behind this device is to allow the user to sit on a sturdy seat that is raised or lowered the length of the flight of stairs on a rail fixed to the risers or to the wall by means of an electric motor installed in the base of the unit which operates along a chain or belt to move the unit up or down the stairs. The idea was and still is very simple, as often the simplest solutions to any problems turn out to be the best. In this case, the simplicity of the modern chair lift for stairs is its strength and makes it easily usable and accessible to almost anyone.
These fantastic devices are very easy to use. When at rest at the base of the staircase, most models have the chair facing toward the user, so the simply sit in the chair and then operate a swivel action that turns the chair through ninety degrees so that the user is now sitting with their back to the staircase wall. This is the travel position and is this way as it was found to be the most comfortable way of ascending or descending the stairs in the seat. The seat locks in position so that there is no lateral movement while the chair is in transit up or down the stairs. When it gets to the top, the chair is unlocked and swivelled a further ninety degrees so that it faces the top of the stairs making it easy and safe for the user to get off the chair. Going down the stairs is simply the opposite procedure to going up.
The movement of the stair chair lift is operated via a lever or toggle mounted on the armrest of the chair. This is so that the user can stop at any point during the journey up or down the stairs, or even reverse direction should they change their mind and decide not to go up or down the stairs at that time.
Installation of a handicap stair lift is generally carried out by professional fitters, as this is not recommended for the homeowner to undertake themselves unless they have skilled knowledge and experience. This ensures maximum safety of the unit as well as covering it under the manufacturer's warrantee should anything untoward happen.
A residential stair lift is a marvellous addition to a home where there is a family member who needs assistance in climbing the stairs as it gives them the freedom of movement around the entire house. The ability to move around at will in comfort and with dignity is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of having a stair chair lift installed in the home.
Published in
Home & Family
For men there are many signs of aging and perhaps the most frustrating sign is a receding hair line. On average two thirds of men will suffer from some sort of hair loss and practically all of them will experience a degree of frontal or temple hair loss. As a result there umpteen different products on the market intended to reduce the rate of hair loss and/or to reverse the hair loss altogether. The success of these products is dubious to say the least but men continue to spend hundreds of dollars every year in an attempt to regain their beloved hair.
The reason genetic hair loss can happen is due to a hormone that men produce called dihydrotesterone (DHT) which goes on to attack the hair follicles causing them to shrink over a period of months and even years. Eventually they will shrink so much that they simply fall out and won’t ever be replaced. Men can actually lose about half of the frontal hair before realizing that this genetic hair loss is happening to them.
If you have spent any time looking at anti-hair loss products you will see that some of them claim that hair loss is caused by poor circulation, clogged pores and even a lack of oxygen. However these claims are unfounded so be very careful about this fact before you part with your hard earned cash. These products aren’t always very cheap so you don’t want to be ripped off. 95% of hair loss is caused by DHT with the other 5% being caused by other factors such as cancer treatments.
Be aware that the FDA has approved only four different hair loss treatments which are hair transplants, flap surgery, Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia).
Hair Transplant - At first hair transplants can appear very expensive however over the long run they work out pretty cost-effective. You are also more likely to achieve the appearance you are after. 99% of the hairs that are transplanted are successful and are actually taken from the area of your scalp that has resisted the DHT hair loss.
Flap Surgery - Despite the fact that flap surgery has improved in recent years it is still considered to be the least effective of all the hair loss treatments on the market. Basically a part of your scalp is rotated however this results in a very unnatural hair line so don’t choose this treatment unless you really know what you want from it.
Finasteride (Propecia) and Minoxidil (Rogaine) - If you decide to undergo either of these treatments you need to understand that it doesn’t work for receding temple hair however it does work for frontal and mid-scalp anterior regions. When going on the Finasteride or Minoxidil program you will need to take it for life in order to enjoy the benefits.
Any kind of hair loss treatment is going to require a lot of research before you commit yourself to it. Not only is there a lot of money involved, there is also a lot of time in going through the treatment. Please think about it carefully and consider what treatment is most appropriate for your type of receding hair line. It might be that a hair transplant is the best course of action so talk to a few surgeons for their advice.
The reason genetic hair loss can happen is due to a hormone that men produce called dihydrotesterone (DHT) which goes on to attack the hair follicles causing them to shrink over a period of months and even years. Eventually they will shrink so much that they simply fall out and won’t ever be replaced. Men can actually lose about half of the frontal hair before realizing that this genetic hair loss is happening to them.
If you have spent any time looking at anti-hair loss products you will see that some of them claim that hair loss is caused by poor circulation, clogged pores and even a lack of oxygen. However these claims are unfounded so be very careful about this fact before you part with your hard earned cash. These products aren’t always very cheap so you don’t want to be ripped off. 95% of hair loss is caused by DHT with the other 5% being caused by other factors such as cancer treatments.
Be aware that the FDA has approved only four different hair loss treatments which are hair transplants, flap surgery, Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia).
Hair Transplant - At first hair transplants can appear very expensive however over the long run they work out pretty cost-effective. You are also more likely to achieve the appearance you are after. 99% of the hairs that are transplanted are successful and are actually taken from the area of your scalp that has resisted the DHT hair loss.
Flap Surgery - Despite the fact that flap surgery has improved in recent years it is still considered to be the least effective of all the hair loss treatments on the market. Basically a part of your scalp is rotated however this results in a very unnatural hair line so don’t choose this treatment unless you really know what you want from it.
Finasteride (Propecia) and Minoxidil (Rogaine) - If you decide to undergo either of these treatments you need to understand that it doesn’t work for receding temple hair however it does work for frontal and mid-scalp anterior regions. When going on the Finasteride or Minoxidil program you will need to take it for life in order to enjoy the benefits.
Any kind of hair loss treatment is going to require a lot of research before you commit yourself to it. Not only is there a lot of money involved, there is also a lot of time in going through the treatment. Please think about it carefully and consider what treatment is most appropriate for your type of receding hair line. It might be that a hair transplant is the best course of action so talk to a few surgeons for their advice.
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Hair Loss
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Artistic Ways To Make Money
Written by April
There are numerous methods of making money and there are simply too many to mention in one article. However if you are an artistic person then you will perhaps want to find ways of making money by tapping into your artistic juices. Here are a few ideas you might want to pursue.
Pet Portraits - So many people have pets these days, whether it’s a cat, dog, parrot , horse or rabbit they will often want to commission a portrait of their beloved pet so that they can remember them forever. There are many styles that you could choose to do and it really depends on your own strengths. Many pet portraits can be done in pastel, charcoal, pencil ,oil paints, acrylics and watercolours.
To begin with you could do portraits of your friends’ pets or photos of pets that you find in magazines or on the internet. This way you can build up a portfolio to show potential clients. If you create a simple website you can place scanned images of the portraits onto your website. If for instance you live in San Diego you could have the title of you website something like “Pet Portraits in San Diego” because this is probably what people would type in when they are searching for this service.
Mural Painting - Again, if you have a flair for painting you could offer your services to those who want a mural in their home. It could be that someone wants a waterfall scene in their sunroom or Disney characters in their child’s bedroom. Again, creating a portfolio is important for this sort of thing because clients want to know the quality of your work. A mural doesn’t even have to be huge. You might offer to do some simple ivy trailing around the picture rail or you could even paint pretty designs onto mailboxes.
Face Painting - Kids simply love having their faces painted in all sorts of different patterns from a pretty butterfly to a scary zombie. Offering your services as a face painter at kids parties can bring in some extra money for you. You could even set up a stall in a busy area offering face painting. Find out what festivals and sporting activities are taking place and enquire about setting up a stall. When it comes to actually painting faces you will need to make sure that you have practiced a number of different designs to ensure you are competent enough. You will also need to buy face paints in a variety of colours. You could also diversify into hair braiding and temporary tattoos.
Remember that whatever method you use to make money as an artist you ought to conduct your activities in a professional manner. This means turning up on time, being polite, communicating with the client about what they are looking for and when the work will be completed and such like. Be careful about taking on too much work because you might end up disappointing people in terms of quality and promptness. And don’t undervalue your work. Too many artists undercharge and sell themselves short. You should also have business cards made up along with a simple leaflet explaining what you do. Many artists receive work because previous clients have been so happy that they have recommended you to their family and friends. Don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth.
Pet Portraits - So many people have pets these days, whether it’s a cat, dog, parrot , horse or rabbit they will often want to commission a portrait of their beloved pet so that they can remember them forever. There are many styles that you could choose to do and it really depends on your own strengths. Many pet portraits can be done in pastel, charcoal, pencil ,oil paints, acrylics and watercolours.
To begin with you could do portraits of your friends’ pets or photos of pets that you find in magazines or on the internet. This way you can build up a portfolio to show potential clients. If you create a simple website you can place scanned images of the portraits onto your website. If for instance you live in San Diego you could have the title of you website something like “Pet Portraits in San Diego” because this is probably what people would type in when they are searching for this service.
Mural Painting - Again, if you have a flair for painting you could offer your services to those who want a mural in their home. It could be that someone wants a waterfall scene in their sunroom or Disney characters in their child’s bedroom. Again, creating a portfolio is important for this sort of thing because clients want to know the quality of your work. A mural doesn’t even have to be huge. You might offer to do some simple ivy trailing around the picture rail or you could even paint pretty designs onto mailboxes.
Face Painting - Kids simply love having their faces painted in all sorts of different patterns from a pretty butterfly to a scary zombie. Offering your services as a face painter at kids parties can bring in some extra money for you. You could even set up a stall in a busy area offering face painting. Find out what festivals and sporting activities are taking place and enquire about setting up a stall. When it comes to actually painting faces you will need to make sure that you have practiced a number of different designs to ensure you are competent enough. You will also need to buy face paints in a variety of colours. You could also diversify into hair braiding and temporary tattoos.
Remember that whatever method you use to make money as an artist you ought to conduct your activities in a professional manner. This means turning up on time, being polite, communicating with the client about what they are looking for and when the work will be completed and such like. Be careful about taking on too much work because you might end up disappointing people in terms of quality and promptness. And don’t undervalue your work. Too many artists undercharge and sell themselves short. You should also have business cards made up along with a simple leaflet explaining what you do. Many artists receive work because previous clients have been so happy that they have recommended you to their family and friends. Don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth.
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Business Ideas
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Most people own a car these days and if yours is starting to get a bit old you will more than likely see some rust appear. This is perfectly normal however it's important that you set about getting rid of it ASAP in order to prevent the problem from getting any worse. Removing a small area of rust is considerably easier than removing a large area. Also, if you leave it so long the rust can get so bad there is little point in repairing it. When it gets really bad you might just need to replace that particular part of the car.
In order to get rid of the rust you need to sand the affected area using sand paper. Then you can use a wire brush or wire wool to get rid of any flaked areas of paint and debris. You might feel that the affected area is too large to sand down by hand. In which case a wire brush attachment for your electric drill will be better. Bear in mind that the rust you see with your naked eye can simply be the tip of the iceberg meaning than when you chip away the surrounding paint you will notice the rust covers a larger area than you might have first thought. So make sure you sand down the entire rusty area to guarantee a job well done.
Then you need to apply a primer such as Permtext Extend Rust Treatment or Mar-Hyde's One-Step Rust Converter Primer Sealer. Apply a couple of coats of primer before you go onto the painting stage. When you apply paint for your car make sure it matches the rest of your car. You can buy paints specifically for different car colors so you don't have to worry about it not matching up. Benjamin Moore and Rust-Oleum both offer auto paints that prevent rust.
Remember, treating the rust early on will save you a lot of time, effort and money in the long-run. There's no point in ignoring it because it will just get worse and worse. If the rust is so thick that if you removed it all a hole would appear, then you need to replace that automotive body part. There are also car rust repair kits on the market that contain all the equipment and instructions that you need to carry out the job professionally.
In order to get rid of the rust you need to sand the affected area using sand paper. Then you can use a wire brush or wire wool to get rid of any flaked areas of paint and debris. You might feel that the affected area is too large to sand down by hand. In which case a wire brush attachment for your electric drill will be better. Bear in mind that the rust you see with your naked eye can simply be the tip of the iceberg meaning than when you chip away the surrounding paint you will notice the rust covers a larger area than you might have first thought. So make sure you sand down the entire rusty area to guarantee a job well done.
Then you need to apply a primer such as Permtext Extend Rust Treatment or Mar-Hyde's One-Step Rust Converter Primer Sealer. Apply a couple of coats of primer before you go onto the painting stage. When you apply paint for your car make sure it matches the rest of your car. You can buy paints specifically for different car colors so you don't have to worry about it not matching up. Benjamin Moore and Rust-Oleum both offer auto paints that prevent rust.
Remember, treating the rust early on will save you a lot of time, effort and money in the long-run. There's no point in ignoring it because it will just get worse and worse. If the rust is so thick that if you removed it all a hole would appear, then you need to replace that automotive body part. There are also car rust repair kits on the market that contain all the equipment and instructions that you need to carry out the job professionally.
Published in
Maintenance and Repair
Stretch marks can appear on many parts of the body including the stomach, thighs, breasts, arms, hips and buttocks. The reason for the stretch marks appearing can be due to weight gain, weight loss and also pregnancy. If the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) has been torn it will result in what appears to be stretch marks.
Whenever stretch marks appear you ought to have them treated as quickly as possible because when you catch them early on you will find they disappear much easier. If your stretch marks are red, brown, pink or purple then you will find it easier to treat than if you allow them to become white or silver.
When it comes to treating red stretch marks you will see that the products on the market vary greatly in terms of the type and the price. More and more products seem to be entering the market place so knowing which ones to try is very tricky. If you want an at-home treatment option then you can look for creams that contain any of the following ingredients:-
Tretinoin - reduces the size of the stretch marks
Centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) and collagen-elastin hydrolysates - used to prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place
Cocoa butter - moisturizes the skin and increases the elasticity
retinoids retinol and retinaldehyde from Vitamin A can increase cell regeneration and can lessen the marks
If you think that you may get stretch marks in the near future because of pregnancy or weight loss it’s a very good idea to try and prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place by using products that moisturize the skin and repairs the collagen. Lanolin, cocoa butter and wheat germ oil are all good for this purpose.
Although there are so many products on the market they haven’t necessarily been proven to work. If you want a proven treatment then you need to look at laser therapy. A beam of light is utilized to remove layers of skin in the affected area is not as scary as it might appear. The healing time is very quick however there will be some tenderness to begin with. A single treatment can cost in the region of $200 and how many treatments you require will depend on the stretch marks you have. A dermatologist can have a look at your skin and give you an idea of how many treatments you are likely to require.
If your red stretch marks are really a big problem to you, it’s a good idea to fully research every treatment out there. Just because a treatment is expensive doesn’t mean it will automatically be more effective. You might want to start out with cocoa butter with Vitamin E and see how you get on. Of course, taking to a dermatologist means you will receive advice tailored to you.
Whenever stretch marks appear you ought to have them treated as quickly as possible because when you catch them early on you will find they disappear much easier. If your stretch marks are red, brown, pink or purple then you will find it easier to treat than if you allow them to become white or silver.
When it comes to treating red stretch marks you will see that the products on the market vary greatly in terms of the type and the price. More and more products seem to be entering the market place so knowing which ones to try is very tricky. If you want an at-home treatment option then you can look for creams that contain any of the following ingredients:-
Tretinoin - reduces the size of the stretch marks
Centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) and collagen-elastin hydrolysates - used to prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place
Cocoa butter - moisturizes the skin and increases the elasticity
retinoids retinol and retinaldehyde from Vitamin A can increase cell regeneration and can lessen the marks
If you think that you may get stretch marks in the near future because of pregnancy or weight loss it’s a very good idea to try and prevent the stretch marks from appearing in the first place by using products that moisturize the skin and repairs the collagen. Lanolin, cocoa butter and wheat germ oil are all good for this purpose.
Although there are so many products on the market they haven’t necessarily been proven to work. If you want a proven treatment then you need to look at laser therapy. A beam of light is utilized to remove layers of skin in the affected area is not as scary as it might appear. The healing time is very quick however there will be some tenderness to begin with. A single treatment can cost in the region of $200 and how many treatments you require will depend on the stretch marks you have. A dermatologist can have a look at your skin and give you an idea of how many treatments you are likely to require.
If your red stretch marks are really a big problem to you, it’s a good idea to fully research every treatment out there. Just because a treatment is expensive doesn’t mean it will automatically be more effective. You might want to start out with cocoa butter with Vitamin E and see how you get on. Of course, taking to a dermatologist means you will receive advice tailored to you.
Published in
Skin Care
Tagged under
Plenty of people have trees cut down in their garden. Perhaps the tree has become too big, diseased or have been blown down in a storm. Whatever the reason, you will want to have the stump removed too. It's very easy to have the tree felled but having the stump removed is a whole lot more difficult. There are a number of techniques that can be employed when getting rid of a tree stump. The easiest method would simply involves paying for a tree stump removal service to do the work for you. However this isn't a cheap option so you might want to do the work yourself, in which case you should look at grinding, digging and chemicals.
The amount of work involved in getting rid of your tree stump can really vary depending on what type of tree you have, the age and the type of soil. For instance a pine tree has very wide and flat root systems whilst an oak tree has deep roots making it more difficult to kill off.
If you have a tree which is relatively small and has a shallow root system then digging the stump up by hand will not require too much hard work. You will need a shovel, axe, loppers and root saw. You then need to dig around the area to expose the roots and cut them away.
Normally nature will take care of removing the tree stumps by rotting it down but the problem is that it takes such a long time. If you don't want to wait decades for this process to be completed you can use chemicals to speed up the process. Don't expect the chemicals to work magically overnight however it is a good technique that doesn't require an awful lot of work.
If you have an old stump that has been around for more than a year just use a chainsaw to cut the stump as close to the ground as possible, ensuring the blades don't actually come into contact with the ground. You then use a drill to create holes in the stump that are a few inches deep and also good and wide. Having them as deep and wide as possible is going to be better. Then pour in some stump remover chemical along with some water. In about 6 weeks the stump should have rotted down.
Removing the rotten stump is then pretty easy if using an axe. However there are those who set fire to the stump rather than removing it from the axe. In order to burn the stump you need to pouring kerosene or fuel oil down the holes. You will need to wait for the wood to become saturated before putting a match down into one of the holes. This is a slow-burning technique so you don't have to worry about it going up in a ball of flames however you should keep kids and pets away from it.
Make sure you don't use gasoline and also keep an eye on the stump now and again to make sure everything is OK. Having a bucket of sand to hand might be a good idea too just in case you need it. In terms of safety it's probably better just to remove the stump with an axe. Also check to see whether you are allowed to burn tree stumps where you live.
A more mechanical method of removing a tree stump is to use a grinder. If you want to do this yourself you can hire a tree stump grinder but be careful to follow the safety advice otherwise you could easily hurt yourself. The grinder simply turns your stump into wood chips and the grinding will occur to about 10 inches underneath the ground. This will allow you to plant any other plant, shrub or tree there as you wish.
Whatever method you bring into force for getting rid of tree stumps, it's going to be hard work and you need to have the right equipment. Don't do anything stupid, make sure you read the instructions and if you don't know what you're doing - get a professional tree removal service in!
The amount of work involved in getting rid of your tree stump can really vary depending on what type of tree you have, the age and the type of soil. For instance a pine tree has very wide and flat root systems whilst an oak tree has deep roots making it more difficult to kill off.
If you have a tree which is relatively small and has a shallow root system then digging the stump up by hand will not require too much hard work. You will need a shovel, axe, loppers and root saw. You then need to dig around the area to expose the roots and cut them away.
Normally nature will take care of removing the tree stumps by rotting it down but the problem is that it takes such a long time. If you don't want to wait decades for this process to be completed you can use chemicals to speed up the process. Don't expect the chemicals to work magically overnight however it is a good technique that doesn't require an awful lot of work.
If you have an old stump that has been around for more than a year just use a chainsaw to cut the stump as close to the ground as possible, ensuring the blades don't actually come into contact with the ground. You then use a drill to create holes in the stump that are a few inches deep and also good and wide. Having them as deep and wide as possible is going to be better. Then pour in some stump remover chemical along with some water. In about 6 weeks the stump should have rotted down.
Removing the rotten stump is then pretty easy if using an axe. However there are those who set fire to the stump rather than removing it from the axe. In order to burn the stump you need to pouring kerosene or fuel oil down the holes. You will need to wait for the wood to become saturated before putting a match down into one of the holes. This is a slow-burning technique so you don't have to worry about it going up in a ball of flames however you should keep kids and pets away from it.
Make sure you don't use gasoline and also keep an eye on the stump now and again to make sure everything is OK. Having a bucket of sand to hand might be a good idea too just in case you need it. In terms of safety it's probably better just to remove the stump with an axe. Also check to see whether you are allowed to burn tree stumps where you live.
A more mechanical method of removing a tree stump is to use a grinder. If you want to do this yourself you can hire a tree stump grinder but be careful to follow the safety advice otherwise you could easily hurt yourself. The grinder simply turns your stump into wood chips and the grinding will occur to about 10 inches underneath the ground. This will allow you to plant any other plant, shrub or tree there as you wish.
Whatever method you bring into force for getting rid of tree stumps, it's going to be hard work and you need to have the right equipment. Don't do anything stupid, make sure you read the instructions and if you don't know what you're doing - get a professional tree removal service in!
Published in
Gardening
Tagged under
