All About Retaining Walls - Home Repair Advice

Introduction to Retaining Walls

First, a retaining wall is a structure that holds back, or retains, lateral faces of dirt, water, or other materials. Retaining walls are used to prevent erosion or collapse of higher level ground onto a certain building, structure, or general area. The earth that is retained is often referred to as backfill. The word backfill is also used as a verb to describe placing more dirt behind a retaining wall to make the ground more level.

Retaining walls can be the answer if you are blessed (or cursed) to a contoured lot. They can turn a steep slope into a terraced yard, creating a stair step effect instead of a slope.

Retaining walls can be constructed from many different materials using many different techniques. There are several factors that influence which choice will be the best choice for each situation, including cost, height of the wall, soil characteristics, and ground water conditions.

Generally, most municipalities require that any retaining wall over four feet in height be engineered or approved by a licensed engineer. It is important to check local building codes before starting any retaining wall projects, even if it is below four feet tall. After all, retaining walls should be structurally sound before there is any thought of aesthetic appeal. The retaining wall must be able to stand up to the pressure exerted by the backfill, also called lateral earth pressure. This lateral earth pressure is a majority of the force that the retaining wall will need to bear. Lateral earth pressure is determined by studying the weight of the soil unit, slope of the soil, soil type (for plasticity and adhesion purposes with clay soil types), and ground water levels. Engineers do many calculations with these factors to determine what design to implement with the wall. To homeowners and contractors that do not want to go through engineering steps, it is generally a good rule to overdo it. Many structural methods to build retaining walls with withhold earth, at least temporarily, with a height up to four feet, are adequate, which is why most local building codes require engineering if the wall will be over four feet tall.

However, even methods that may seem adequate for retaining earth can fail if they are not built properly. Many times, it is elements below grade that can make (or break) a retaining wall. Problems including bowing, slanting, or cracking are evidence of retaining wall failure because it was not successful in retaining the dirt. Cutting costs with a bad contractor, insufficient materials, or neglecting the below grade elements can turn out to be more expensive over time if replacement or repair is necessary often or if collapse of earth causes damage to nearby structures. For example, erosion can cause foundation issues if dirt erodes from under the foundation. This is just one example how a retaining wall failure can cause expensive problems aside from the cost to repair or replace the retaining wall.

Another aspect that is often neglected or underestimated that can cause failure of a retaining wall is drainage. Inadequate drainage of retaining walls can mean that water is trapped behind the wall, adding to the weight that the wall must hold back. Usually weep holes and/or drainage pipes are used to flush rain water and ground water from behind the wall. It is important that the drainage system, whatever it be, have a filter barrier to keep dirt from clogging the drain or weep hole.

Options for Retaining Wall Materials

Railroad Crossties Railroad crossties, also shortened to railroad ties, can be used as a retaining wall material; however, as with most every retaining wall material, it must be installed correctly in order to be a solution. For example, most railroad tie retaining walls will need a substantial footer to tie the crossties to in order to keep the bottom from sliding out. Also, there needs to be perpendicular members placed into the ground behind the wall to keep the wall from overturning. These members, called deadmen, should be at least 1.5 times as long as the wall is high and should be placed at minimum every 6 feet or so. Because railroad ties are wood (even though they are treated most of the time), there is a risk that they may rot over time or be subject to termite infestation, which can lead to a weak wall likely to bulge or break. And, even though there are areas for water to slowly seep though, it is still a good idea to have a filtered drain or weep holes designed into the wall.

Treated Wood Treated wood retaining walls offer many of the same risks as retaining walls because over time it is susceptible to rot and termite infestation. It is a labor intensive construction, but it is usually lightweight and decently strong if built correctly. It is recommended to build a concrete footer to attach the wall to in order to keep it from shifting. Construction usually requires a clear area to be backfilled after the wall is built, so it is not always the best material to use if you are replacing an existing retaining wall. This wall still needs weep holes or drains designed into the wall. Standing water behind the wood will only increase risk of rot.

Concrete Concrete is a great material to use for retaining walls. Of course, there is a right and a wrong way to build a concrete retaining wall, which makes choosing your contractor a big job. There are many different designs that can lead to a successful concrete retaining wall, but one thing is for sure: there needs to be a footer beneath the wall to ensure success. Concrete is one of the most durable man-made products known to man. Most concrete poured today is engineered to last for over 50 years. Plus, concrete offers many decorative options as well. Aside from a plain, white concrete retaining wall, you can also pour a colored concrete retaining wall, stain a retaining wall after it has cured, pour into a patterned form, apply a vertical stamp material and pattern after poured, etc. Sealing the concrete wall can lead to an easy-to-maintain surface that rinses free of most dirt and grime.

Blocks or Paver Stones Engineered blocks that stack together to make a wall must be as simple as building with Legos, right? Nope. These retaining walls should also have a significant footer in order to support not only the weight of the dirt but also the weight of the wall. These blocks can be a unique look, but it may even be necessary to place a concrete retaining wall behind the blocks if there immense lateral earth pressure. In such a case, the concrete would be the structural element, using the blocks as a visual feature.

Rock or Brick One of the favorite looks for a retaining wall is natural stone or brick. These materials usually look more permanent and traditionally classy. However, just as we have seen with the other materials, it is necessary to have a concrete footer below grade to carry the weight and ensure success of the retaining wall. Like architectural blocks or paver systems, it may be necessary to back a masonry retaining wall with a concrete retaining wall for structural support.

Tasha Lucas
Monster Constructors - http://www.monsterconstructors.com
Retaining Walls - http://www.monsterconstructors.com/dfw-retaining-walls.htm

Electric Fireplace Stoves

You can transform any room with the stylish flexibility of electric fireplace stoves. They are wonderful for enhancing the ambiance of the room while taking up any space you feel the need to fill and not waste, as well as not taking up any floor space at all depending upon the model that you choose.

Electric fireplaces are essentially space heaters with a hot new twist. They are attractively manufactured and incredibly eye appealing. However, you should keep in mind that since they are enhanced space heaters that they will not produce as much heat as a wood or gas fed fireplace.

You must use your ceiling fans to help distribute the heat to other areas and never expect your electric fireplace to actually heat a bigger area than is intended by its use. Also remember that you do not want to place your fireplace in the same area as your thermostat as the heat from the unit will inhibit the normal start up of your furnace or central heating unit.

Depending upon your personal sense of home or office design you will find there are some delightful features and options available to you when you choose electric fireplace stoves. There are various styles, designs, sizes and finishes of fireplace units to compliment any type of room.

Such options and features may include a 2 speed blowers and distributing fans for heating as well as a programmable thermostat and temperature readers. The visual and audio effects are controlled as well as the adjustable 3D hologram flame feature, the dimmer and down lights. Using these you can create any desirable atmosphere from simply casual to mystic and romantic. You may choose from various styles such as a curio cabinet, television stand or a home entertainment center as a focal point in any area.

Creating an atmosphere that is heartwarming comfortable and visually appealing in every way while doing your part to make the planet a better place to live is an incredibly amazing feeling. You will be pleased with the effects you can achieve while using your new electric fireplace stoves.

View beautiful Electric Fireplace Stoves at EveryElectricFireplace.com. Click Here to find the stylish and beautiful electric fireplace you need to save money on heating costs today!

Cold Appetizers

Cold appetizer recipes are methods of preparing starter dishes that are taken cold. They are easily edible and enable you to wait for the main dish. They require the correct preservation techniques and freezing temperature if the correct flavor is to be achieved and maintained.

Cold appetizers recipes are commonly used in restaurants, bars, and even in our very own homes. They are classified in to various categories. There is the Blue Cheese-Pistachio Grape recipe. This is a five star cold recipe. It is a combination of cheese and fruits. it is a form of wrapper made using seedless grapes that are either red or green.

The traditional salsa with baked chips is also another recipe. This is made of onions, tomatoes, pepper and cilantro lime juice. It can be made at home. There is the Blue cheese and Sun Dried Tomato Dressing. It is prepared using rich blue cheese and dried tomatoes. It is taken with a mixture of spinach salad and croutons made of garlic.

Cold appetizers recipes are available in various magazines, cook books, cooking demos and the Internet. They are a convenience as they enable you to make starter dishes in advance for use at a later time. You will be able to save on time and organize well hence avoid last minute rushes and unwanted mistakes. This will ensure that you have perfect meals every time you use this kind of recipe. You will be confident every time you invite guest over for a meal.

Peter Gitundu Researches and Reports on Appetizers. For More Information on cold appetizer recipes, Visit His Site at COLD APPETIZER RECIPES. You Can Also Add Your Views About cold appetizer recipes At My Blog here COLD APPETIZER RECIPES

Porch And Sunroom Books

From a 5 Elements Point of View, How is Your Luck Cycle in 2009?

Besides using your zodiac sign to determine your luck cycle, you can also determine your luck cycle by using your birth month. Basing on your birth month, you can tell which are your favorable elements.

Basing on your favorable elements, you can easily determine your luck cycle. This is basing on the 5 elements point of view. If you use your 8 characters (i.e. your date and hour of birth), the result will be more accurate as compared to using only your birth month.Let's begin...

2009 is Earth Ox year. It is a pure Earth year. There are 2 types of Earth, Wet Earth and Hot Earth. Hot Earth is more favorable to those born in Autumn and Winter while Wet Earth is more favorable to those born in Summer and Spring.Year 2009 is a year of Wet Earth.

First, let me list out the different periods below...

Spring - 4th February to 4th April - Dominating Element is Wood.

Summer - 6th May to 6th July - Dominating Element is Fire.

Autumn - 8th August to 7th October - Dominating Element is Metal.

Winter - 8th November to 5th January - Dominating Element is Water.
Dragon Month - 5th April to 5th May - Dominating Element is Wet Earth.

Sheep Month - 7th July to 7th August - Dominating Element is Hot Earth.

Dog Month - 8th October to 7th November - Dominating Element is Hot Earth.

Ox Month - 6th January to 3rd February - Dominating Element is Wet Earth.

After determining the period you are born in, let's look at your luck cycle for 2009...

For those born in Spring, you luck cycle will be quite smooth is 2009.As your dominating element is Wood, Metal is your favorable element. As Earth produces Metal, Earth is also favorable to you. If you are born on a Metal day, this will be especially true for you this year.

Next, the Summer people will also have a great time in 2009.Wet Earth can help to reduce the effect of Fire, which is your dominating element.Fire produces Earth. Which also means that Earth weakens Fire. Since Fire is unfavorable to you, weakening Fire will also do your luck cycle good.

Coming to the Autumn people now. If you are born in Autumn, your luck cycle will not be so smooth. Earth produces Metal, which is your unfavorable element.In this case, when Earth produces more of your unfavorable element, it causes your luck cycle to be down.If you are born in Winter, your luck cycle will be average. Earth may help you to reduce to effect of Water, your unfavorable element. But it also reduces the effect of Fire, which is your favorable element.

Lastly, we have those born in the Earth months...

Those born in Earth months may face a lot of obstacles in 2009,as Earth is their unfavorable element.2009 is a double Earth year, which is very unfavorable to them.Among the 2 types of Earth, those born in Hot Earth months will fare better than those born in Wet Earth months.Which means to say that if you are born in Sheep month or Dog month, you will fare better than those born in Dragon month or Ox month.

Now, don't worry if you are one of those whose luck cycles are not favorable. In my next article, I will share with you how you can improve your luck cycle.In Chinese astrology, it is all about increasing the effect of your favorable elements to improve your luck cycle. Even if you can't totally eliminate bad luck, you can still reduce it.

Marco Chong is the author of "The 58 Secret Keys To Home Feng Shui That You Must Know". He practices Flying Star Feng Shui and specializes in home feng shui. Marco has been practicing feng shui and Chinese astrology since 1992.

For more information, visit http://www.58fengshuisecretkeys.com

Hiring Contractors Books

Healthy and Delicious - Tilapia Fish Recipes

There are many tilapia fish recipes, each of which offers a slightly different texture and taste. Tilapia is very versatile and there are several recommended cooking methods, baking being one of the best.

Not only are all baked fish recipes delicious but also tilapia is a very healthy fish and an ideal part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Tilapia is a mild-flavored fish, which means you can feel free to use tilapia fish recipes with strong sauces. Eating Tilapia, twice a week has various health benefits and this fish is available all year round.

A small piece of salmon contains 158 calories and the same sized piece of tilapia has only 85. The salmon contains 7.9g of fat and the tilapia only 1g for the same sized portion.

Tilapia Fish Recipes - Health Benefits

A small portion of tilapia fish has about half the calories of an equal size piece of salmon. The salmon ways in with a whooping 158 calories, which as said is about double! In addition tilapia contains only 1g of fat compared to 7.9g of fat in the same sized portion of salmon.

Tilapia contains no carbohydrates or fiber. It is low in sodium and a good source of phosphorus and niacin. Tilapia is also a plentiful source of selenium, protein, and vitamin B12. The only negatives are that it is quite high in cholesterol and does not contain healthy omega-3 fatty oils but you can make up for this by consuming oily fish such as mackerel or salmon once or twice a week too.

Tilapia fish recipe nutrients vary depending on how the fish is prepared and cooked and what fats or sauces are added. You can marinate tilapia but you should only marinate it for a short time because else the proteins will be broken down, resulting in mushy fish. Grilling is another cooking method although tilapia does tend to be thin and small, meaning it tears easily if you are not careful. It needs only a few minutes grilling else it might dry out. Tilapia has a delicate taste and suits most seasonings. Grilling is a healthy way of cooking tilapia. You might want to grill a whole fish with some seasoning added or you might want to marinate it first.

You can use a baked tilapia recipe too. You will need to add fat by brushing on some oil or melted butter, to ensure the fish remains moist. This type of fish can dry out easily because there is very little fat content, so using butter or oil has great results.

You might like to place the tilapia on a bed of celery and onion or bake some vegetables with it or some thinly sliced vegetables on top of it to add moisture during cooking. If you want to saute the tilapia, this will also require butter or oil. If you do not want to add extra fats, steaming the tilapia is also a good cooking method.

Tilapia Fish Recipes Using Oil

You can bake or saute tilapia in oil or melted butter. If you would rather use oil, peanut, or sunflower oil are good choices, as they will not change the flavor of the fish. Many other oils will add their taste to the tilapia. Olive oil or canola oil can be used but you will be able to taste the oil flavor as well as the fish. Preparing tilapia with fats is also healthy, since fats are one of the major food groups required for overall good health.

Can't find the right tilapia fish recipes we have plenty that are sure to please including plenty of easy fish recipes

House Painting Books

Reflections on Goddess Religion

The renewed interest and critical discussion of the ancient goddess religion open a path to the Perennial Philosophy, a substratum of human culture and consisting of a cluster of ideas, insights, view points, and attitudes about life found in most, if not all, societies. Basic concepts of the goddess religion can also offer insights into Hermes' art, which is still relevant and beneficial today.

Pelasgians are a people and their language who populated the southern Balkan Peninsula, Aegean Islands, and coast of Asia Minor before Greek invasions of the second millennium B.C. They were the last of the Neolithic goddess cultures. The name is even mentioned in some alchemical texts. Fulcanelli, the Master Alchemist of the twentieth century, specifically states that the hermetic cabala, Hermes' language, maintains the essence of the Pelasgians' mother language. Hermes' language birthed from the Neolithic cultures, if not earlier.

The goddess has many images linked to her: cave, moon, stone, serpent, bird, fish, and tree; spiral, meander, and labyrinth; wild animals such as lion, bull, bison, stag, goat, and horse; rituals of fertility; and journey of the soul to another dimension. Each historical goddess has many of these characteristics and often several different ones.

Isis, the greatest goddess of Egypt, was worshipped for over 3000 years. Her attributes are the tree of life, cow, serpent, pig, bird, underworld, Sirius, words of power, and great mother goddess of the universe.

According to the twentieth century scholar Marija Gimbutas, the serpent crown refers back to the Neolithic snake goddess, who wore such a crown. These snake crowns symbolize wisdom and wealth. Struggling with a huge white snake will gain the seeker a crown. Wearing the crown, the initiate knows all, is able to find hidden treasures, and can communicate with animals. Hermes knows that the serpent goddess is the living water, the philosophical mercury, and the white queen. Gimbutas' book, The Living Goddesses, is filled with many insights and presents an excellent comprehension of Neolithic culture and the goddess tradition.

The ancient rock art in Australia that depicts hermaphroditic figures is similar to some goddess images in European Neolithic art. Humans have lived in Australia for more than 40,000 years, arriving there during the Paleolithic. The hermaphrodite (the word is a blending of Hermes and Aphrodite) is an important alchemical concept.

The discussion about the stone symbol in Anne Baring and Jules Cashford's The Myth of the Goddess is profound. A stone lasts a long time and can symbolize eternity or timelessness. During the Neolithic, or earlier, it represented the foundation or essence of life, such as the soul or spirit that endured after the death of the body. The stone is, of course, a dominant symbol in alchemy: its goal is to obtain the philosopher's stone.

Two major themes of religious ceremony, starting in the Neolithic if not earlier, are the sacred marriage and birth of the child. A union with a divine spirit is inherent in all mystical ceremonies and practices. Initiation into the great spiritual mysteries has been a human activity for thousands of years, perhaps since the beginning of time. The female signifies the continuous pattern of birth-death-rebirth, which is the principle of regeneration. The male signifies the life of the individual, the short span of temporal life beginning with birth and ending with death. The neophyte enters the hidden subterranean recesses and dies a first death and only then does rebirth occur. Now the worldly and spiritual realms remain open to each other. The goddess was the portal into the hidden dimension through which the dead passed on their way to rebirth.

The dying god, a religious theme originating in antiquity, symbolizes physical life that is constantly changing, and the goddess illumines the principle of life that endures by eternally renewing itself. The goddess represents continuity while the god, sharing in the impermanent essence of the seed, dies annually.

More insight is revealed in The Myth of the Goddess. In goddess culture the manifest is the physical emanation of the unmanifest. So time is cyclical, a movement of manifesting to non-manifesting to manifesting and so forth. This is the lunar cycle. Because patriarchal culture sees time in a linear fashion of conflict with and conquest of opposition or the other, war and warriors are the central theme of history. Conquest in battle is the primary means of overcoming separation, but it never completely solves the problem because some opposition continues and remains hidden until it grows strong enough to challenge the victor. Thus, life is viewed as a perpetual struggle, battling foes and winning victories or being defeated, an onerous happening.

The goddess trinity comprises a young woman, a mother giving birth, and an old woman. The trinity is an ancient concept, probably in use before the Neolithic.

The trinity or three goddesses are the three visible phases of the moon. The hidden fourth-the dark or new moon-is the goddess of the night or of the unmanifest. The child born to the mother is signified by the sun born from the moon. At new moon the night sky is dark. Afterwards, the sun is gradually resurrected until full moon when its full light illumines the night sky. Then daily the sun dies away until its light is gone.

The goddess as mother of life sends her children forth into the world and as mother of death gathers her children unto her as they return from the world. The natural cycles signify this process of life and death.

The visible part, the son or daughter, comes from and returns to the invisible: the whole is the mother goddess. This idea is found in the Bronze Age. Based on the observation of natural phenomena, the idea no doubt is primeval in origin.

The ancient Middle Eastern cultures of Sumer, Babylon, and Egypt demonstrate the change from goddess religion to god religion. Inanna, a Sumerian goddess who later becomes Babylonian Ishtar, is the Great Mother Goddess, who holds the caduceus and double-headed ax as symbols of her power. The lunar cycle represents her power of life and death. The queen of heaven and earth, she has these attributes: the tree of life (palm tree), dove, owl, lion, dragon, serpent, scorpion, planet Venus, and Sirius. In Sumerian times Sirius was known as the Bow Star and rose in conjunction with the sun at sunrise during the month of July. Dumuzi or Tammuz is the son-lover, consort of Inanna-Ishtar. The caduceus and double-headed ax become his symbols; he is also imaged as a fish-god and a shepherd and sometimes wears a skirt with a net pattern. The son-lover possesses some of his mother's features.

The great cosmic cycle of life and death can be described in this way: the soul comes from or is born from the goddess, and its life cycle resembles the lunar cycle; at death the soul returns to the goddess. This cycle is very conducive and supportive of reincarnation.

So much evidence leads to the conclusion that the Paleolithic moral order as encompassed in the goddess religion did not die but lives now albeit underground renewing itself. It will assert itself when the times beckon. An important cosmic principle is that the seed must die for it to live.

2009 All Rights Reserved

Having been a Humanities and English college teacher for thirty-six years, I now manage Ye Olde Consciousness Shoppe which presents ideas about transforming consciousness and reaching a higher level of reality. The website has information about my three books: Hermes Beckons, a tale of alchemy and magic; Foundation for a New Consciousness; and Reality Inspector, a novel of chess and computer-hacking.

Ideas About Your Religion and Trees - Something To Think About

Powerful Life Changing Thoughts

From Pain To Power: Suicide, Part One; The Big "Why?"

Just last week, I heard of another friend who committed suicide.

I can think, offhand, of about five people, not including him, whom Ive been somewhat close to, whove made that choice in my lifetime of 55 years. Sad to say, but my immediate thought when writing this was, That aint bad, considering the state of the world and the challenges of living!

Corey (name changed) was special to me in that I had been a part of a healing ceremony with him where, essentially, he was baptized by fire. I believe I witnessed his physical transformation from a man hounded by personal demons into a man willing to face life squarely. It was a phenomenal experience that happened in an instant. Youd expect someone like Robert DeNiro to pull an instantaneous, visible, change like that off, but the actor would be doing it so we could see it, whereas what we witnessed in Corey was the choice to be it.

Transformations like that happen all the time. We say to ourselves, Well, in Coreys case, it didnt hold very well, did it? But who are we, who keep on going, to say?

What I havent mentioned is that Ive been an integral part of one or another stage of two hundred or more suicides. I was in emergency services as an ambulance paramedic for twelve years, and I doubt theres a phase Ive missed in whatever process there may be. In those and subsequent years, Ive counseled many on the brink. Of those whom Ive counseled, I dont know that any have followed through on the act. Usually, the encounters were flashes of despair that dissipated over time (more on this, later).

But the first thing I say to someone whom I counsel is Yes, suicide is an option.

I come from the point of view that it happens enough, it is such an integral part of the experience of being human, that it could not be otherwise than an option. No matter how much you may try to regulate it, you cannot stop it. You cannot even stem its tide by promising eternal damnation. Its something we do, and some of us more happily than others.

Yes, I said more happily. In conversation, Im sure youve heard of the term shit-eating grin. In the ambulance trade it refers to a look of complete relief and contentment on the face of a dead body. I have encountered these kinds of facial expressions most often in suicides.

With most everyone else, if there is any clearly definable expression at all its in the vein of What the Hell? Get me outta here! The grins of these suicides, however, speak, Ive made it!

Generalization is a trap, of course, and by no means am I saying that suicides are a happy thing. The point I wish to make is that suicide can be as much a vehicle of personal empowerment as it appears to be evidence of resounding defeat.

To live is to get scarred. No one gets out alive -- in the form we have right now, anyhow. The only difference for any of us is when. There is not a one of us who isnt doing something to hasten our own deaths, if nothing else than clinging to a belief in it.

What we do with our lives is a function of choice, which is so sacred even God doesnt mess with it. Free will has no limitations, which means even causing our own deaths (which happens all the time) is a gift offered by life.

What our impressions of life are what our interpretations of our circumstances are is what our lives become. If we interpret our lives as intolerable, with the only outlet remaining to be death at our own hands, then that is exactly what it will be. To the person who commits suicide, it is a by-product of their considered, not casual interpretation of their circumstances.

By no means am I advocating suicide. I am just suggesting that those who are left behind make room to see the world through the eyes of the person who has cashed in his or her chips. If you begin from the place that, for the individual, her world-view was valid, under the circumstances you may be able to grasp that taking her own life was appropriate.

Its funny how we use phrases like, those who are left behind, or, we, who carry on, or, the ones remaining to describe who is left after the dying go and these not being specific to suicides. The implication, as Buddha says, is that life is suffering. We all know and experience this. Perhaps the wonder is not that so many people commit suicide, but that so many more of us dont.

Next, walking in the others shoes.

Russ Reina shares over 35 years of experience in the healing arts through his web site http://mauihealingartist.com. It is a potent resource for those wishing to deepen their abilities in connection and develop their powers as healers. For a powerful free tool to explore your inner world, please check out his adjunct site http://thestoryofthis.net

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

Questioning Old Testament Stories From The Bible

Value Of Change In Your Life

Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven? - The Good People Get to Go to Heaven Also

I found a website that was recommended to me and it had the comment, is Jesus the only way to heaven at, Gotquestions, seems like your typical Christian website that replies with biblical quotes and simple to follow information. If I was lost, they will help me find a way. There's even a button at the bottom that states, I have accepted Christ today. I guess if I was to push that button, I get to go to heaven and be with Jesus. Hard to imagine, avoiding a life of burning in hell could be as simple as pushing a button and uttering a few simple words.

I found this question and began reading their comment. The first comment is from somebody answering as a nonbeliever in Christianity. It states something like, if I'm basically a good person and live a moral life, I get to go to heaven, right, only the bad people like murderers go to hell.

Now the answer that the website gives, seems to create fear if you do not belong to Christianity and provide you with hope if you join the group.

It mentioned Satan as the ruler of the world, and he can plant these thoughts into your head if you're not a Christian. He also controls your mind and let's you believe, that it would only make sense to any rational person, they get to go to heaven if they're good.

Now this is what makes sense to me but according to this information, I am doomed to rot in hell for eternity, even if I am a pretty good person. All I have to do is accept Christ as God and I get to go to heaven. That seems pretty easy and I wonder why more people don't do it. Just push the button.

I wonder if Satan is controlling, non-Christians minds and that's why there's brutality and war throughout the world. If everyone was a Christian, would our world be better.

Here's a quote from Wikipedia The Crusades were a series of religion-driven military campaigns waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents. Crusades were fought mainly against Muslims, though campaigns were also directed against pagan Slavs, Jews, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, Waldensians, Old Prussians, and political enemies of the popes.

These Christian Crusades killed thousands of people. To give you an idea how many people were killed, all I had to do was type the word crusades into a search engine and it took me to the Christian Crusades.

I guess that rules that out, it seems like the Christians a long time ago were pretty aggressive towards their enemies, I wonder if most Christians would refer to these people as enemies today or are they just being controlled by Satan. Do these Christians from the Crusades get to go to heaven? If people like this get to go to heaven, may be hell is a better place anyway.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended books, Mere Christianity

Here's something to think about, go to heaven

You Shouldn't Believe Everything In The Bible - Spare The Rod

Don Miguel Ruiz

Spirituality and The Bottom Line

Whadda ya know?

Seriously. With absolute certainty, what do you know?
Put aside all opinions, beliefs and theories for a moment and address this one straight question: What do you know for sure? Or, as Thoreau put it:

"Let us settle ourselves, and work and wedge our feet downward through the mud and slush of opinion, and prejudice, and tradition, and delusion, and appearance, that alluvion which covers the globe... through church and state, through poetry and philosophy and religion, till we come to a hard bottom and rocks in place, which we can call reality, and say, This is, and no mistake; and then begin..."

In other words, let's cut the crap and figure out what's real. The cogito does exactly that, and it's very simple. The question is: What do you know?

The answer is: I Am.

All other so-called facts are really non-facts and belong in the category of consensual reality and relative truth, i.e., unreal reality and untrue truth.

::: Cogito Ergo Sum

Cogito ergo sum is the equation that proves the fact. But first, before we go on, let's ask what else we know. What else can be said for certain?

Nothing. We don't know anything else. And that's the real point of the cogito. The importance of I Am isn't that it's a fact, but that it's the only fact.

I Am is the only thing anyone has ever known or will ever know. Everything else, all religion and philosophy, is nothing more than dream interpretation. There is no other fact than I Am. The cogito is the seed of the thought that destroys the universe. Beyond the cogito, nothing is known. Beyond the cogito, nothing can be known. Except I Am, no one knows anything. No man or god can claim to know more. No God or array of gods can exist or be imagined that know more than this one thing: I Am.

We can't avoid letting this topic drift briefly into the Christian realm. When Moses asked God His name, God answered, "I am that I am." The name God gives for Himself is I Am.

Note that I Am is unconjugatable. It allows of no variation. God doesn't say, "My name is I Am, but you can call me You Are, or He Is." The cogito, the I Am equation, does not extend beyond one's own subjective knowing. I can say I Am and know it as truth, but I can't say you are, he is, she is, we are, they are, it is, etc. I know I exist and nothing else. Understood thusly, I Am, aka God, truly is the Alpha and the Omega; the entirety of being, of knowledge, of you.

::: The Line Is Drawn

The cogito is the line between fantasy and reality. On one side of the cogito is a universe of beliefs and ideas and theories. To cross the line is to leave all that behind. No theory, concept, belief, opinion or debate can have any possible basis in reality once the ramifications of the cogito have fully saturated the mind. No dialogue can take place across that line because nothing that makes sense on either side makes sense on the other.

We all think we know what the cogito means; this is an invitation to challenge that assumption. If professors of philosophy truly understood it, they wouldn't be professors of philosophy. Alfred North Whitehead said that all philosophy is a footnote to Plato, but all philosophy, Plato included, is rendered obsolete and irrelevant by Descartes. Nothing but the subjective I Am is true, so what's the point of prattling on?

The cogito isn't a mere thought or an idea, it is an ego-eating virus that, properly incubated and nurtured, will eventually devour all illusion. Once we know the cogito, we can begin systematically unknowing everything we thought we knew, and unraveling the self we aren't.

::: Life is but a Dream

There is no such thing as objective reality. Two cannot be proven. Nothing can be shown to exist. Time and space, love and hate, good and evil, cause and effect, are all just ideas. Anyone who says they know anything is really saying they don't know the only thing. The greatest religious and philosophical thoughts and ideas in the history of man contain no more truth than the bleating of sheep. The greatest books are no more authoritative than the greatest luncheon meats.

No one knows anything.

::: Disprove it for Yourself

Anyone wishing to deny these statements about the meaning of the cogito need merely prove that something, anything, is true. By all means, give it a try, dash your head upon it, but it can't be done. Cogito ergo sum, however, isn't the endpoint of inquiry, it's the starting point; it's a tool that helps us see, without intermediaries, exactly what is true and what isn't.

How great is that?

::: About the Author

"Jed McKenna is an American original." -Lama Surya Das

Jed McKenna is the author of "Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing" and "Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment", published by Wisefool Press. Coming in 2005: "Spirituality X" and "Jed McKenna's Notebook". Visit http://www.WisefoolPress.com to learn more.

Examples of Prayer and Their Effects on Your Life

Mental And Physical Abuse

Christmas - The Birth of the Christ Consciousness Within

The Christ is not just one person. The Christ is an "office" or "position" we ALL attain to. The word Christ means, "the anointed one." Jesus came to show us the way to be a vessel for the Love of God to manifest.

When the Christ Spirit entered Jesus he had perfected His soul in many lifetimes to be a worthy temple for Love incarnate. Edgar Cayce said that Jesus was Adam. In the "fall" was the promise of full redemption.

The Christ Consciousness is part of the Trinity, known by different names in many religions. The Father is the Will and Power of God, the Son or Daughter, the Christ, is the Love of God, and Holy Spirit Mother is the Thought, Wisdom, Understanding, Truth, Faith and Wisdom of God Goddess.

Where did the concept of the Christ come to mean just one person? Was it a matter of control?

The Christ of our time was Jesus. In every age the Christ Spirit enters an advanced soul to bring higher learning to the people of that time. Moses, Abraham, Buddha, Krishna, and Mohammed, have all come to teach their people a more advanced connection to the Great Spirit. There is always a great teacher who comes to show us the way and the great possibilities of us as Human/Divine beings.

The biggest secret is that God is within each one of us, and also in every atom of space and in every form we see.

This Christmas, let us pray to truly forgive anyone who we may be angry with, including forgiving self. Let the power of Love heal all wounds.

Enjoy Christmas and observe the 12 Holy Days December 26-January 6, as a dedication to the 12 months ahead. Let this devotion bring you ever closer to the possibility of the Christ of Love being born within.

Let this sacred season bring us joy, peace and healing of all conditions. Let the Christ Consciousness of Love be born within each one of us so that we may usher in the 1,000 years of peace!

2008 Merry C. Battles

Merry C. Battles has worked in the healing arts since 1977. She has practiced the art of massage, Jin Shin Jyutsu (an ancient form of Japanese Acupressure), CranioSacral Therapy, Reiki, and foot reflexology. Merry is the author and illustrator of Christmas Meditations on the Twelve Holy Days December 26-January 6 Merry's book is a compilation of her 26 year meditation journey with the twelve holy days. Her book can be used all year as we travel through each sign of the Zodiac.

Merry has been a student of the ancient mysteries for as many years. Her greatest joy in life, along with her grandchildren, is to learn about the spiritual. This is reflected in all of her work.

http://merrybattles.com/

http://walkingthespiritualpath.com/

Do You Read The Bible Regularly

Spoiled Children

Laws of Attraction Break the United States Documentary Record!

Laws of Attraction may still be new to some, but the phrase is definitely not new to those who have been practicing the laws or the secret laws.

In the US, the Secret film that popularizes the "Laws of Attraction" was apparently the "third highest grossing documentary of all time". Does it surprise you at all? Can you remember the buzz that the film has created? It is expected that the movie will help changing even more lives!

The Secret movie though does not tell you anything new. It just reveals an ancient concept of the laws. Laws of Attraction say that thoughts become things and your thoughts will come to you when you visualize them. The laws obviously exist and they work both positive and negative ways. When you visualize negative, you receive negative; when you visualize positive, you receive positive.

In order to make sure that attraction principle work for you, you must remember that positive thinking precedes the laws. It is true that positive thinking does work, but when you mix that "positive thinking" with "emotion", your "visualization" becomes even more real than ever. That is why it is important to be able to attract positivity!

Take desire for wealth as an example. You may want to visualize the exact amount of money you want in a specific amount of time and what do you want to do specifically with that amount of money. When you focus on your desire, you are half way through your journey. Remember to actually apply the principle of attraction in your life. You cannot have a result without action. That is a fact. Period.

When you want to attract beautiful things into your life, you must feel how wonderful it feels to live the life you want and live it within your mind throughout the day. If you haven't practiced the attraction principle yet, I suggest you go do them soon.

I also have news for people who do not believe in the power of attraction - is silly for one not to accept the laws since there is no harm in believing and applying them.

Look, before the whole laws of attraction craze came along in the last three or four years, most people had no idea what they are. People just heard of "positive thinking". As we have established that "positive thinking" works, but it is even more effective when we apply the attraction principle. Remember that positive affirmations are simply statements that represent a goal or intention you would like to realize while the Laws of Attraction represent your whole being as you live and breath the Laws!

John Lee is an entrepreneur, who has found successes using the Laws of Attraction Not only he built his business from 5-figure debts to 5-figure passive income, he helps others to do the same. He is also a student of Bob Proctor and learn The Secret directly from Bob. Visit http://www.mylawofattraction.com/11-forgotten-laws/laws-of-attraction/ to claim his FREE 52 email series revealing the secrets of his making 5-figure profit-pulling business on auto-pilot every month for the last one and a half year.

Was Jesus Really Born On December 25th - Video

Ignorant Excuses Who Needs Them

How to Implement a Home Built Wind Generator Power System

With fuel and power costs rising, it makes sense for people to search for ways to save on their electricity bill. One of the best ways to do this is to develop a renewable energy solution. By doing so, an average household can see a dramatic decrease the cost to power their home. In fact, when several energy sources are combined, it may be possible to eliminate the bill altogether!

There are a few renewable energy methods including solar or geothermal energy, but this article will focus on the steps one should take to implement a home build wind generator power system.

The first step to take is to find out where to acquire windmills or wind turbines. There are many contractors out there who will charge a lot of money to install windmills, so it might be a good idea to search for do-it-yourself instructions. Although there are times when going the cheap route can end up being disastrous, there are enough high quality instruction kits with step-by-step clear instruction kits that this will not be a problem.

Many of these instruction kits can be found on the internet for under $50. Make sure to select on that includes video tutorials and instructions that you can print out. Many of these products have limited time guarantees as well, so be careful to select a product that does.

Once it has been decided how you are going to generate the power, the next step is to make sure it is legal to have a windmill or turbine on the desired property. Windmills generate noise and are unsightly, so plans for wind power systems may have to be cleared with the city planning and zoning department or even the neighborhood homeowners association.

If you are cleared by the local government to go ahead, you should determine how you are going to store the energy. This can be done by running the electricity to battery packs that can collect the power until ready for use. DO NOT try to connect the power generated from the windmills directly to your main circuit box. This is extremely dangerous and should only be performed by a licensed electrician AFTER the appropriate permits are given.

This article presented a plan for how to implement a home built wind power system. It may sound like a difficult journey to take to have wind power, but the savings could definitely be worth it. Many times power companies will pay you back for any excess energy your wind power system might generate. Not only can you save money, you may even be able to make money from your renewable energy system.

Did you find this article helpful?

For more helpful tips and reviews of do-it-yourself renewable energy solutions, visit http://diyrenewableenergysolutions.blogspot.com/

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Spiritual Connection to the Earth

From an oversea's show, spliced to view the message from one elder (Floyd Red Crow Westerman)...how america has come and is destined to go. .. added the Elders Speak to the title

Life of Jesus

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Buddhism For Teenagers
Time Off With Backyard Vacations

Renewable Energy - Lesson 10 - Being Green Feels Good

The environmental movement and the general feeling toward environmental responsibility has been gradually increasing for the past 10 years and has increased dramatically in just that past 4 years. Renewable energy, pollution control, environmental responsibility are all becoming mainstream concepts and goals.

As people become more conscious of the environment and are motivated to save money by using renewable energy by the ailing economy, a new type of lifestyle seems to be emerging; living green. The term "green" is now a mainstream term that indicates environmentally responsible or pollution free, or energy efficient.

Living green or "being green" has become such a high profile issue, that it has actually become a defined lifestyle that for many people living it, feels very good on a number of different levels. Someone who is living green:

1. Usually spends much less money on utilities, food, and fuel. Being green usually means that one drives a hybrid vehicle, or at least a vehicle that gets superior gas mileage. They don't spend as much money on gas.
2. Being green means that one most likely has a renewable energy system in their household such as solar or wind power that saves them an amazing amount of money in electric bills.
3. Being green feels good because they tend to eat healthier than the average person. Many people living the green lifestyle ear many all natural and organic foods that contain no toxins, preservatives and have little or no saturated fat content. These people are eating significantly healthier than the average person, and in many cases are spending less money on their foods.
4. The green lifestyle has an emphasis on exercise and outdoor activity. Many people being green have gardens in which they grow their own organic or all natural vegetables to eat. This not only saves money but is a good past time that provides exercise.

In short, being green feels good for health, financial, and social reasons. The green lifestyle is inherently connected to health and well being, so people living green will exercise more and eat healthier. Being green usually means that ones household is as energy efficient as possible, which by definition means that they are saving a ton of money in utility bills.

Being green is a lifestyle choice that has a positive impact on the general environment, which helps give many people a positive sense of purpose that sustains them and gives their lives added meaning. As the economy has grown worse, many people have adopted the green lifestyle out of desperation to save money and to become more efficient.

Many people will pick up the principles of being green for purely financial reasons and will then become enamored with the entire lifestyle and will adopt the idealism of the entire green movement in general. Being green is becoming a powerful force for change in this country, on a social, financial and environmental level. As more and more people adopt the living green lifestyle, the economy and the environment will gradually improve.

To learn more about solar power info please visit: http://www.RenewableEnergyForUs.com

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How to Make Wind Power & Save Tons of Cash on Energy Bills

Wind power is being used from ages and a windmill is not a new concept. People in historic times used windmills to draw water from wells, grind corn and wheat and even as an irrigation process for farms, where it was used to pump water out into the fields. The technology is pretty simple. When the wind blows the blades on the mill, it turns and spins a turbine installed inside and it generates electricity just like any coal plant would do.

For example a windmill that is located on the farm can generate enough power to run all the machines used on the farm. For farmers this is an ideal solution, because they do not have to buy additional power for their farm. However, can you do the same thing for domestic usage? Absolutely yes! It is simple enough and all you have to do is buy a windmill installation kit from the market. This kit will have specifications based on the amount of electricity you want to generate.

Keep in mind that this home purpose windmill is not going to replace the conventional power supply, unless you build a really big windmill, but an regular mill can cut down your conventional power consumption quite a lot. Once you get the kit, you will also get detailed instructions on how to install each component. The windmill does not have many components and all it has is the rotor blades, axle to rotate the fans, tower instructions and base instructions. The tower and the base are made of wood and you will have to make it yourself in most cases. The fans can be made of wood or light weight plastic material. Companies that sell green power usually have big farms full of fans so that they can generate enough power to supply several homes. People in the big cities also use wind power to go greener and save money.

You should also start using wind power, if you want to get free electricity and save cash on your energy bills. It's pretty simple to make a windmill, as long as you have the instructions. To get the manuals, and more info about how to get started, please click here.

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Doreen Virtue appeared discusses the Crystal Children part two

Doreen Virtue appeared discusses the Crystal Children, a type of child born since 1995 that has unusual attributes such as very large eyes, telepathy, and fearlessness. Virtue had previously studie

Life of Jesus

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a spiritual help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Pay Attention To Your Intuition
Creating Success For Teenagers

Top Ten Reasons to Consider Renewable Energy

During the election, I kept hearing about renewable energy. In today's economy, people are looking for ways to cut cost out of their budget. I am too, so I started thinking - Renewable Energy - what a concept!

I have trimmed back on my telephone service to the bare minimum, saving $40 a month. I cut my trash bill by $26 a month, by taking my trash to a dumpster at the local gas station for $2 a bag. Now for the Biggie... Renewable Energy. I'm in the process of eliminating my electric bill! That alone will save me about $1800 a year. Over the next ten years, I can save $18,000! I will probably save more than that though, because that's figuring it at today's rates.

These are the reasons that I came up with. You may come up with even more.

1. The obvious one will be that I won't have to pay for electricity any longer... Instead, the power company will pay me, if I produce more than I can use, I can sell it to the electric company. That will be too Kool - getting a check, rather than sending one!

2. I found out that it won't cost me an arm and a leg, like I originally thought it would. I can actually build it myself for around $200

3. The time is right. The economy worldwide is in a heap of trouble. By making my own electric, I won't have to rely on others.

4. With the ever-growing shortage on fossil fuels, I'm not waiting around for someone to tell me 'Sorry We Ran Out', so I figure now's as good a time as any.

5. I looked into it and found out that it's not hard to do. If I create renewable energy, than anybody can!

6. This is great for our environment and our children and grand children will thank us for it. There may be some gas left when they reach driving age! Knowing that I am doing my part to conserve our planet feels great!

7. When I can make renewable power (my own electricity) for less than $200, I would be foolish not to!

8. I will be able to spend the money that I save on more important things, like food, making my mortgage payment, and other things I might need.

9. I won't have to scramble any more during 'Power Outages' - I can be warm and comfortable.

10. When I install my renewable energy system in my home I will increase the value of my home by thousands! Can you imagine telling a potential buyer - Oh by the way, you won't have an electric bill if you buy my house!

I always sit down and make a list of the pro's and con's, before I do something. I really can't find any con's in this one though. The only one I had in the beginning was the initial cost, and I found a way around that. After making my list, I decided that there is definitely a huge incentive to get started right away.

After making my list and checking it twice. I found a way to save a fortune and accomplish my goal of cutting $1800 a year out of my budget. That extra money will sure come in handy. You can do it too, unless you like forking out for electric bills every month - for the rest of your life! Why not start saving today.

http://www.energymoneysavings.com

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Video Clips on the the Secret Movie

the Movie the Secret Was a Big Success, Watch Some Clips from the Oprah Winfrey Show on This Video

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religious help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Creating Success For Teenagers
Pay Attention To Your Intuition

Tankless Water Heaters - Do They Really Save Energy?

Tankless Water Heater Marketing Is Everywhere

If you have had a reason to think about water heaters lately you have probably heard a lot about tankless water heaters. In the last couple of years the tankless water heater manufacturers have really stepped up their promotional campaigns and spent some big bucks building consumer awareness and interest in their products. Tankless water heaters have been portrayed as providing huge energy savings and endless hot water. How much of this is true?

Just The Facts, Ma'am

Today we are going to start cutting through some of the marketing hype and find out exactly how tankless water heaters stack up in the energy savings arena. Just how efficient are they, anyway?

Electric Tankless Water Heaters

Now is a good time to go ahead and say that we will be discussing gas (or LP) tankless heaters. Electric tankless heaters really make no sense 99% of the time. They just don't do the job in most cases and usually require extensive (and expensive) rewiring. Electricity is really a fairly expensive way to heat water in most cases.

While we are on the subject of electric water heaters lets clear up one more thing. Even though most electric tank type water heaters are rated with a higher efficiency factor than similar gas models, they are not usually an good choice to lower your energy bills.

It's true that electric water heaters are technically more efficient, because there is no energy wasted up the flue pipe common to all gas water heaters. The problem is that, at least for now in most places, the electricity required to operate a water heater costs more than either natural gas or LP. So even though it takes less energy, the energy used costs more. Enough said.

Gas Tankless Water Heaters

Let's talk about the possible energy savings with gas tankless water heaters. It is a fact that gas tankless water heaters are rated almost 50% more efficient than a standard tank type gas water heater. The reason tankless heaters beat tank type in efficiency is because there is no energy used keeping a tank full of water hot. The only time any energy is used is when hot water is actually being used. As soon as the faucet is turned off the heater stops heating the water. This is one of the big selling points for tankless water heaters.

It's Not All Hype

So it's not all hype, tankless water heaters really are more efficient, but the payback period that is often stated in marketing literature is probably based on the best case scenario. In the real world, the more frequently hot water is used the smaller the gap in efficiency between tankless and tank type water heaters. This is because there is less "non use" or "temperature maintenance" energy use as the frequency increases of "hot water usage events" (a fancy way of saying a hot water faucet was turned on).

Basically, if you are using hot water any type of heater will be using energy. It takes the same amount of BTUs to heat a gallon of water in either type of water heater. In plain English, the more often you use hot water the less a tankless will save you on your gas bill.

Check Your Usage Pattern

So, are tankless water heaters really more more efficient? The answer, strictly speaking is, yes. How much more efficient depends on your individual usage pattern. If you are thinking about going tankless you should probably pay attention to when and how often you use hot water now. The more frequently you use hot water, the less money you will save in energy costs.

Copyright 2008 Bryan Stevens

Bryan Stevens is a Licensed Master Plumber and Certified Green Plumber with a knack for teaching homeowners how to do their own basic plumbing repairs themselves. He has a step by step mini-course called "How To Unstop A Toilet And Other DIY Plumbing Tips". To claim your FREE copy visit How To Unclog A Toilet

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Life Lessons About Paying Rent
Bookshelf4u

Green Gift Ideas - For Someone Who Wants to Go Green

Getting going on going green can seem like a daunting task. It seems like everyone is feeling pressured to do their part to be a friend to the environment, but it can be difficult to know where to even begin. If you have a friend who has expressed an interest in going green, the items described in this article might be a good place to get started.

Did you know that 8 out of 10 plastic water bottles used in the U.S. become garbage or end up in a landfill? If you purchase a Nalgene water bottle for your friend, you will enable her to refrain from contributing to this statistic. These water bottles are friendly to the environment because they are reusable and produced by an environmentally conscious company.

Because the average adult receives about 41 pounds of junk mail each year, there are now companies who are in the business of removing junk mail from your mailbox. Purchase this junk mail removal service for your friends at 41pounds.com.

Interesting fact: About 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable. Unfortunately, the percentage of households that recycle is considerably lower. Contact the city in which your friend lives and ask to pay for their recycling service for the year. The cost and availability of this service will vary from one city or county to the next, but where we live this gift would cost only $48.00 for the entire year.

Are you aware that an energy saving light bulb uses about 75% less energy than a standard light bulb? Being friendly to the environment doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality; these energy saving bulbs also put out about the same light and tend to last longer than a standard bulb. Help your friend get started on conserving energy by purchasing a starter kit of energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs that they can begin using throughout their home.

You know those single use plastic bags that we all use to cart our groceries to and fro? Sadly, those bags weigh heavily on our environment. It takes a lot of oil to make those bags, they cause marine animal deaths every year and they will remain on the planet long after we've left it. Help to eliminate the use of these bags by purchasing reusable shopping bags for your friend. Inexpensive and easy to tote, these bags can be purchased at Reusablebags.com.

You can also help your friend go green by limiting their carbon footprint on the planet. Go to Terrapass.com, click on gift ideas and see all of the ways that you can give the gift of carbon offsets for your friend. Spend some time on the website to see all of the other gift ideas and environmentally friendly products the company has to offer.

Another nice way to make your friend a greener person is to plant a tree in their honor. Treesinstead.com is just one of the many organizations that offer this service as a gift option. And finally, if you are passionate about the environment and want to jumpstart your friend in her efforts to go green, you can always make a tax deductable donation to your favorite organization in the name of your friend.

Any one of these gifts will be appreciated by the friend in your life who is making an effort to be a friend to the environment.

This article was written by Amber Contant. Visit her website to discover more unique gift ideas including hints for Valentines day gifts.

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Meditation Postures Video

You Have Got To Read This Book
Game Of Life And How To Play

Build a Wind Generator - How to Make Your Own

We figured learning how to build a wind generator was our best option to make power for our off grid home.

We found some great wind generator plans too.

Our choice was a hard one. We could either diversify our Renewable Energy System, a choice between hydro power from our small stream or put up a wind generator. We also had the option to just buy more solar panels. We decided to learn how to build a wind generator and here is why - You may want to build your own too.

There are times of the year when even a hundred solar panels and 10 times our present battery storage would not run our home. In the fall and winter the sun may not shine for weeks at a time. Thus, no power is produced from the solar panels, no matter how many we would have. We really wanted to smooth out the wrinkles in our charging cycle as well as produce more power for our home, that meant adding more solar panels just wouldn't work for us.

Hydro power is probably the most cost effective option if you have enough running water with an adequate drop to produce power. Water power will produce 24/7 , but we had a problem with this option. From November until April our stream freezes solid and in order to produce power we need running water. Unless we could figure out a way to run ice through the hydro turbine that is.

That left us with the wind generator option. A quick assessment of our site told us we had wind energy potential. Open space and a site that was free of obstructions for over 300 yards. We would only need a 40 foot tower to get up to the good wind.

So, we started shopping for a wind generator. The wind definitely went out of our sales, so to speak, when we started looking at the price of new and used wind turbines.

During our search for a wind power turbine a friend of ours suggested why not build one. He had done just that recently with some plans he had downloaded from a website called Homemade Wind Generator. We took a look at the nice job he had done on his wind generator and decided to download our own plans.

We learned how to build a wind generator that cost us less than $100 , including the small cost of the plans (still under $20), but compared to the price in the thousands for a new or used wind generator to meet our needs it was a real bargain. The plans were simple and easy to follow and provided sources for all of the material we would need. Isn't it time you built your own. Just check out the following link for more information:

Build a Wind Generator - Once we knew where to look, the DC motor used for a generator was quickly located, as well as the free PVC pipe we used for the blades. Our family is quite happy learning how to build it and It produces about 1000 watts of power at 24 volts. We have plans to build a wind generator for the front yard next.

Our family has been living off the grid since last year, and loving every minute of it. You can find some really helpful information at the Homemade Wind Generator website that we found, you can even learn how to build a wind generator.

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Homemade Power Made Easy For You

People around the world are becoming increasingly aware of alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar power. Not only can these alternative sources of energy help in reducing energy bills, they also help in reducing pollution, thereby helping our planet to become a better place to live in. Going green is an option that many homeowners are willing embracing for these reasons nowadays. There is a popular misconception prevailing among people that generating homemade power is an expensive proposition. Nothing could be further from truth, since you can easily generate either wind or solar power without having to spend a fortune these days.

One of the best sources for homemade power is windmills. You can now build your own windmill and generator by following instructions from detailed guides. The internet is full of such useful guides wherein you can find step by step instructions to build a windmill.

Homemade power can also be generated using solar panels. The sun's immense energy is captured by these solar panels and then converted into electric energy. Just as in the case with homemade windmills, homemade solar panels too can be made using supplies from a local hardware store.

Whatever may be your choice for homemade power, you will first of all need to have a detailed plan ready with you. For instance if you are building a solar panel, you will first of all need to have all the things ready with you. Similarly in the case of a windmill, you will need to have all the parts, such as the blades and motor ready with you before you begin the process of building one for your home.

If you want further information on homemade power, you can find it over online sources. earth4energy is a detailed online guide that can provide you with extensive information on building your own windmill or solar panel.

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DIY Solar Energy - How to Build Your Own Cheap Solar Panels

Its no secret that solar energy has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent times.

With increasing power costs and decreasing incomes in these unstable economic times people are looking for ways to save some of their hard earned and increasingly hard to come by dollars by slashing their power bills.

One of the long standing problems with employing solar energy for out energy consumption needs is the large initial expense we must out lay to have a solar energy system installed (this cost is often in the high thousands of dollars).

It was with this in mind I set out on a journey to try to discover a way to build cheap solar panels.

I fired up Google and entered "cheap solar panels" in the search field and proceeded to be amazed by the number of search results, there were literally hundreds of companies selling guides to build your own homemade cheap solar panels.

The First link I clicked through lead to a page that proclaimed to have a simple step by step guide to building your own cheap solar panels for under $200!. After a bit of humming and haring I figured I would give it a try. I downloaded the guide, printed it out and headed off to the hardware store. Some 20 minutes later I walked out of the store armed with materials that came to the total of a tad over $200 (the price you pay for living in a small town).

Over the course of the next week, in my spare time, I put together my very own solar panels. The process was relatively painless for a DIY project and I recruited my youngest son, which made the process a breeze and a lot of fun. The guide was very informative, set out in a manual type of format, that included a lot of clearly drawn diagrams and photos as well as videos from the vendors site.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the whole experience, I've bought things online before only to find they fail to deliver what they promise, but in this case it was an easy and painless process that fulfilled its promises, I now run several appliances off solar energy, including the laptop I'm typing this up on, and intend to add a lot more, the sense of freedom you get from knowing that your energy usage is unmetered and free is very satisfying. Perhaps one of the best things that result from building my own cheap solar panels was the awareness it raised in my son, he now drives us crazy with telling us off for leaving the lights on when we have left the room!.

If your reading this article you more than likely are looking into ways to build cheap solar panels, my advice to you would be not to hesitate, it really is s fun and educational experience you can share with the whole family, not to mention the fact you are doing your bit to help the environment. The following link will take you to a site with reviews of DIY solar power kits as well as a plethora of information on solar energy. Cheap Solar Panels guide.

If your serious about saving money on your energy bill and you want to do your bit for the environment, check out the following link DIY Solar Power Kits reviewed.

Jon Elsdon is a Solar Energy Consultant and Environmentalist. Jon is editor of DIY Solar Power

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The Sun God Of Christianity

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Five Marvelously Simple Ways to Save Energy

With the economic slowdown, more people are wisely slashing down their budgets. But saving doesn't have to be painful. Try these five easy tips to save on home energy costs and you may actually free up enough cash for that cute dress you saw at Macy's or that long overdue vacation to the Caribbean!

The Tips!

1. Lights out

There are not enough ways to stress the importance of turning off a light to save energy. When you leave a room, remember to turn off the lights. And try to turn in early. This way, you not only save electricity but you also get a decent night's sleep.

2. Stay "disconnected"

You can save energy at home by turning off unused electronics such as the fan, the TV and your computers. Make sure you pull out the plugs too. Although they're innocuously in "off" mode, plugged equipment are still consuming energy, albeit at smaller amounts. These small amounts, when combined, can be substantial. If you hate pulling out the plugs, you can buy an adaptor with a switch. I use several at home. Then, you can simply flip the switches to allow or discontinue the flow of electricity.

3. Go CFL

Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). There are CFLs that give off that warm, sunny glow you so love in your energy-hungry incandescent bulbs. CFLs are also more durable than incandescent ones. With CFLs, you save up on both electricity and bulb replacement costs!

4. Insulate

Covering up all the little holes in your room can also cut down on heating and cooling costs. A lot of heat exchange occurs at these sites and this puts a strain on your air conditioner and heater. Foam strips can readily obliterate all these nasty openings and they're very affordable too. In the winter, simply use thicker blankets and snuggle up. You can then set your heater at a lower temperature and save energy.

5. Let the sun shine

Work during the day and open the blinds! This allows you to work without lights, set your monitor at a dimmer setting, and stay warmer in the winter. What more can I say? These are energy saving habits that you can acquire without altering your lifestyle. What's more, these simply marvelous ways require little or no effort to do. So save energy now and free up some of your budget!

If you like this article, check it out at Squidoo and visit Toni Joanne's other Squidoo lenses!

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Religious Fundamentalism Can Create Problems

Religious groups can easily justify their actions by using religious text to benefit and promote their beliefs. The Muslims can sling quotes out of the Quran to justify their treatment towards women as second-class or even third class citizens in society, often removing certain rights from them because they weren't born men.

Shouldn't these women be treated equally. This is where religious fundamentalism evolves into religious fanaticism.

Christians can often use the same tactics to justify their beliefs and Christianity. This list goes on and on and has created hardships in the past on some people in our civilizations and will continue to do so in the future. As long as people continue to turn a blind eye to evil religious and government leaders, atrocities will take place and some of them will even be supported by those who eventually will become accused are victims of their own wrongdoings.

Does anyone remember the Ku Klux Klan? If you live in the south eastern part of the United States, there is a very good chance that you have heard of them or even know someone who belongs to this organization. The Ku Klux Klan was responsible for hanging African Americans throughout the early 1900s to prove that the white race was superior to the race of black people. Their religious beliefs fueled them with righteousness.

If this going on anywhere in the world today, may be issues about abortion or gay marriage. It seems like an oxymoron, if we allow gay people to get married, we won't have to worry about the abortion issue.

Some Christians, but most Americans look at this as a shameful part of our American heritage. It's not something that most Americans would ever support today. I would like to point something out about the Ku Klux Klan, they started out as a Christian organization and made examples out of other white people who weren't conforming to their ideal Christian society.

There are stories of people that abused their wives and the Ku Klux Klan set them straight, one way or another. If it required beating the crap out of them or killing them, something needed to be done and they are morally obligated to perform the task as Christians. These people took their Christian beliefs to an extreme.

When are we as a country and the world going to start fighting religious fundamentalism at its core and stop the atrocities that are going on today, using religion to justify their wrongdoings.

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You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

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Saving Money in the Garden With Solar Solutions

Gardening is a relaxing, productive and fascinating hobby. People can grow their own food, create a wonderful natural habitat for birds and animals or simply improve the appearance of their home by installing and maintaining their gardens. Unfortunately, gardening is not a completely cost-free past time and many people feel that they are unable to commit any financial resources to such a hobby, especially in the current economic conditions.

This is too bad because there are many ways of enjoying a garden without spending a lot of money. For example, exterior lighting in the garden can be purchased, installed and operated for very little expense if the home or property owner investigates the amazing number of solar fixtures and systems available. A yard can be quickly and easily outfitted with a large number of lights that illuminate pathways, water features, specimen trees and shrubs or even spotlight flag poles for no more than the cost of the equipment.

How is that possible? Because solar lighting fixtures require no special skills or tools, unlike their "hard wired" cousins that may even need the services of a professional electrician, they automatically save a consumer a lot of money. Installation is not the only area where solar lights save a home or property owner money however, since they are controlled entirely by solar energy their ongoing use and operation cost the consumer absolutely nothing. Additionally, most solar lighting fixtures are outfitted with LED bulbs rather than traditional fluorescent bulbs that require frequent replacement. This could mean that a consumer could install their solar lights throughout their yard or garden and never need to do another thing for almost twenty years. This is because the LED bulbs have an expected life span of ten to twenty years, and the solar lighting system requires nothing else!

Of course a gardener could also enjoy such things as fountains and small fish ponds that are entirely operated by solar energy as well. In fact an ever increasing number of garden suppliers are making solar powered pumps and fountains available. This would allow a seasonal water feature to be operated for no more than the cost of the equipment. A gardener could create an entire evening garden with solar fountains, lighting, and illuminated pathways that all operate from the power of the sun. While the initial expense would have to be addressed, the ongoing operation would more than likely pay for the equipment in a single season. What better way to demonstrate a love of the garden than through the installation of fixtures and equipment that require nothing but the sun.

Jonathan Gal is a solar lighting expert and owner of YCA Solar Lights, an organization dedicated to promoting clean, energy efficient solar lighting technology. To find out more about how solar technology is changing the way we live, especially with respect to lighting, you are invited to visit: http://www.ycasolarlightstore.com

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What Green Building Means

There's a lot of talk in real estate about green building lately, but the phrase is still a little vague. Here's a guide to understanding a few key terms, so you can investigate whether or not a potential home is truly eco-friendly.

Insulation and Building:

Many new buildings are being insulated with recycled materials, such as old blue jeans or blown-in fiberglass. Proper insulation now goes a long way toward saving on energy bills later. Walls can be made of steel and concrete, rather than more expensive and volatile treated wood. Many cities have lumber yards and "re-stores" where you can buy recycled or left over building materials that are strong, cheap, and often antique or authentically vintage.

Appliances:

Look for low flow shower heads and low flush or composting toilets. Consider energy saving washers and dryers, or put a line in your yard to hang wet clothes on sunny days Make sure your HVAC unit is sealed and clean, and look for gas stoves and instantaneous, or tankless, water heaters.

Flooring:

Rather than use expensive hardwoods that endanger the land and deplete forests, many real estate builders have found inexpensive and beautiful alternatives in bamboo (which is technically not a wood but a grass, and yet one of the hardest and most easily replenished flooring materials) and cork (also easily replenished). Concrete, too, can be a sturdy and inexpensive alternative, as can old fashioned linoleum, which is actually made from linen and other natural fibers.

Paint and Other Materials:

Many paint manufacturers are looking for green alternatives to oil and latex; one such option is the use of milk-based paints (which upon application smell like milk instead of harsh chemicals, and which don't have any carcinogenic ingredients.) Recycled glass is now being made into kitchen and bath tiles, and countertops are being made with recycled materials that look even more beautiful and unique than mined granite.

Solar Energy:

Solar energy doesn't just mean expensive panels that sit on your roof (though that's one kind, called active solar energy). Considering a solar home can mean investing in thick-paned, glazed windows or in more complicated photovoltaic cells. Though solar tends to be an expensive investment, upfront, the rewards show up every month in your energy bills.

Landscaping:

Look for Xeriscaped yards and common areas with plants that require little watering. Consider getting rain barrels (many cities sell them through their water and energy programs) or converting your outdoor water system to "graywater" (which involves using recycled water from dishwashers and washing machines to water your lawn or wash your car). Looks for trees that are native to your area, and plant them so they shield your windows from too much sun during hotter days.

Neighborhood:

While a lot of green building means being aware of what is going into your home, you might also want to check out your neighborhood. Are there recycling programs or community gardens? Public transportation? Bike paths so you can have the option of avoiding traffic? Are there shops and restaurants close to you, to encourage walking? While thinking about these things may seem unimportant now, our global climate and community with thank you later. (Oh, and don't forget the federal tax deductions.)

If you are looking for property in the Austin Texas Real Estate market Ki Gray can help you in your search. A broker with a long background of helping clients in the Austin market. His site Escapeso Austin Texas Real Estate is a source for information about the real estate market and current events in Austin Texas. It also provides a description of the different Austin Condos going up in downtown Austin.

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