Archive for June, 2007

Posted on Jun 20th, 2007

Did you know there were serious risks to your health when working with a computer at home or at work?

The rise in general computer usage in modern society using keyboards that permit high speed typing have resulted in an epidemic of injuries of the hands, arms, and shoulders. Use of pointing devices like mice and trackballs are as much a cause, if not more so. The thousands of repeated keystrokes and long periods of clutching and dragging mice slowly accumulates damage to the upper body limbs.

The symptoms of RSI known as Repetitive Strain Injuries include aches, pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness and cramps. RSI is caused by a combination of overuse and repetition, awkward or static posture and insufficient recovery time. RSI is preventable and treatable. It is vital not to ignore the early warning signs. If you have any of the symptoms of RSI take action now on prevention. If symptoms persist seek treatment immediately.

If you are encountering any of the following ailments including Tingling, coldness, or numbness in the hands at anytime even after a period of using your keyboard,some loss of strength and coordination in the hands, Pain that wakes you up at night sometimes , Feeling the need to massage your hands after keying in data, wrists, and arms and Pain in the upper back, shoulders or neck, this will be most likely due to the repeated use of a computer.

If you are encountering any of the ailments described above and you use a computer for more than three hours a day whilst at work, then your employer is not preventing your health problems,you can actually win considerable damages in a court of law for this breach in regulations.

The Display Screen Equipment Regs 1992 sets out what an employer must do, by law to protect your safety whilst at work using a computer. Your employer can be prosecuted in a Civil & Criminal court of law if the employer knew, or ought to have known, that the employee was exposed to risk of injury from using a computer. This is obvious as Health & Safety in computer usage has been well communicated to all employers through the promotion of health and safety and common sense.

Also given that the foreseeable risk, that the employer failed to take reasonable steps to prevent or reduce the risk of injury to the employee and that the employees injury was caused, or contributed to, by the work the employee was required to carry out and the employers breach of duty.

So how can you and your employer protect your safety whilst working with computers whilst at work? The most important tool for anyone to use in this instance is to complete a Computer Usage Risk Assessment otherwise known as a DSE assessment or Workstation assessment.

The areas risk assessed include how long you work on a computer, do you take regular breaks,are all your computer equipment set up correctly to prevent injury, is there glare on the monitor screen, seat and posture ,space to move legs, space in front of the keyboard to rest your arms, noise distractions,can your feet touch the floor, can you place all your equipment around you without needing to stretch etc.

If your employer does not know how to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to your health whilst at work, then recommend they do so immediately to prevent further damage to you and your colleagues health whilst using computers.

Do not become one of the may thousands of people suffering from the painful condition of RSI and other computer usage related health conditions in the world today, act now before its too late!

For helpful information on how to carry out a DSE / Workstation assessment on the risks to your health when using a computer at home or at work, visit our Free Information site below now:

Did you know there are serious risks to your health from using a computer regularly, if you want to know more click here:

Risks to your health from using a Computer

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Posted on Jun 19th, 2007

Contact lenses can change the way you see the world. Using lenses drastically alters your vision and appearance. But for maintaining the health of your eyes and protecting your vision you need to care for your lenses. Protein deposits or fungal growth can prove detrimental to your eyes.

Once you have had your eyes checked by the doctor and ordered your lenses, request your eye care professional to instruct you on how to care for your lenses. Educate yourself by reading articles and tips on web sites devoted to the care of vision health. Make a list of doubts you want to clear and find out answers to the questions.

Many lens providers give a detailed booklet along with the lenses. Read the booklet thoroughly and understand what needs to be done. Remember, lens care is not standard different kinds have a different regimen. So, the care required would depend on whether your lenses are daily wear, disposables, soft lenses, hard lenses, or continuous wear. Daily wear lenses must be removed at the end of the day, continuous wear lenses at the end of six days and disposable lenses must be discarded.

Basically lens care means:

1. Washing your hands thoroughly with mild soap, then rinsing the hands well and drying with a lint free towel before handling the lenses. Your hands must be free of pollutants and foreign bodies at all times. Never use cold cream, cosmetics, face powder or lotions just before handling the lenses.

2. Always handle lenses with your fingertips. Keep fingernails short and well filed.

3. After removal, the lenses must be cleaned, rinsed, and disinfected well. The solutions used must be approved by the FDA and manufactured by reputable companies. Never compromise on quality, remember you must protect your eyes. Clean lenses immediately after you remove them from the eyes.

4. The lens care solution must be fresh not expired and follow carefully the chemical system of sterilization.

5. For rewetting lenses only use recommended solutions not saliva or any other alternative. Never lick your lens or use tap water.

6. Fix your routine and follow it carefully. Remove lens 1, clean, rinse, disinfect and then place in its chamber in the lens storage case. Then repeat procedure for lens 2.

7. Lenses should always be completely immersed in disinfecting solution when not in use. Never leave lenses exposed to dust or air.

8. Learn the correct method of storing lenses.

9. If recommended use a lubricating solution while the lenses are in use. This will give comfort.

10. If you experience stickiness, discomfort, or any other problem immediately consult your doctor and replace the lenses. No lens with bacterial or fungal growth should ever be worn.

If you experience any irritation from household cleaning fluids, gardening solutions, flying particles, or chemicals rinse your eyes well with tap water and go immediately to the doctor’s clinic or hospital. Treatment must not be delayed.

Andrew Bermam is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Contactlenses.com, the premier website for cheap prospective contact lenses online services to buy all brands of contact lences like Freshlook contact lens, soft contact lens, bifocal contact lens, solutions and more. He also freelances for the premier Search site http://www.Bavoo.com

Posted on Jun 18th, 2007

There are many conspiracy theorists, isolationists and detractors of the Texas Corridor Highway. It will be a huge undertaking and it will go from north to south right through Texas. Many people believe it will allow cheap imported goods from Mexico and Mexican truck drivers to rule our highways and it will cause security concerns as well. I humbly disagree with all this and see all the benefits to our economy and our nation.

Many people who are detractors of this project say that it will cause security concerns, but actually it will protect our nation because all the traffic will be in one place. Recently, in talking with OK, NM, AZ, TX and CA state troopers and all the people on the border trying to watch all the back roads, I learned just how bad it is with foreign truck drivers on our two-lane highways and back roads.

If all the Mexican truck drivers come along the Texas Corridor Superhighway and all come into the country in one place on one Highway with super electronic sensors this would solve the security issues and allow units to pass thru all the way while staying on the roads, go to a terminal FTZ and switch.

Indeed, I have been listening to all the debate on Talk Radio and quite frankly I disagree with the arguments against it. I am a Free Market guy, I know what works and what stifles our nation, I have seen it all, local on up to the top. Please consider all this in 2006.

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Posted on Jun 17th, 2007

According to studies using a PC, laptop or mobile phone for text messaging can increase eye strain and fatigue. This can cause eye and headaches and in extreme cases it can even affect your vision. As a result optometrists are treating more and more people for digital related eye problems.

A national study of optometrists revealed the worrying fact that over 14% of patients’ eye problems were directly related to computer use. This figure is even higher amongst contact lens wearers.

Staring at a computer screen all day makes your eyes dry and this problem is exacerbated by contact lenses which also dry eyes. However, for most of us not using a computer for work is simply not an option. Luckily there are some things that can be done to alleviate the problem.

One of the reasons that working at a computer dries your eyes out is that you blink less often than normal. About three times less than normal in fact. In the case of contact lens wearers this can make the surface of the contact lens dry out which can be very uncomfortable.

You could try blinking more but chances are when you are concentrating hard on your work you will forget to do this. An alternative might be to use lubricating eye drops during the day to keep your eyes moist.

If you find that your vision is impaired by working at a computer and you wear contact lenses, it might be advisable to speak to your optometrist about the problem. He or she will examine your eyes and might be able to recommend a different make of contact lenses that might suit you better.

Optometrists advise those using computers for work to look away from their computer screens for 20 seconds every twenty minutes. This should reduce eye strain and soreness.

You might also try and adjust your computer to help alleviate your discomfort. The glare from computer screens can cause eye strain. You can combat this by using an anti-glare screen. You can also try and sit further away from your computer screen. According to optometrists, the ideal distance is between five and nine inches away from your face.

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Posted on Jun 16th, 2007

An optician provides lenses for the correction of vision defects.

The lenses may be contact lenses, or held in a frame in front of the eye, most frequently as a pair of classes or spectacles.

Opticians, also known as dispensing opticians, analyze and interpret prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists to determine which eyeglasses or contact lenses are best suited for the patient.

As compared to ophthalmologists and optometrists, opticians are the least qualified in the field of eye care.

They usually work with either of the former and help filling in their prescriptions and/or dispensing eye wear in the form of lenses or glasses, according to the patient’s lifestyle and personal needs.

The most important job of an optician is to fix eyeglasses and/or lenses for people needing vision correction.

Therefore, they are authorized and certified to cut and modify lenses to fit the frame chosen by the customer.

Some opticians manufacture or grind these lenses from the basic raw materials, others just cut to fit.

It is also their job to ensure that the placement of the lenses is proper and accurate without any distortion.

For this they take measurements individually, because they differ from person to person.

Verification of the accuracy of the final finished product is also a responsibility of the optician.

For contact lenses, the optician needs to first examine the patient’s eye carefully to measure the eye curvature.

For this purpose a special microscope is used. The optician also guides and instructs the patient in the handling and care for his/her contact lenses.

Lim Zheng Yang has dedicated countless hours researching on eye problems related issues. He also specializes in information about eyewear. For more information on cool sunglasses, kindly visit his site.

Posted on Jun 15th, 2007

Blurry vision can be caused by several different things. Almost everybody has experienced it at some point in there lives, and often blurry vision is caused by our own stupidity. Not always, but most of the time. That’s probably why I’ve experienced blurry vision several times in my own life.

The easiest way to get blurry vision is to walk around without your glasses on. This may sound stupid, but lots of people refuse to go to the eye doctors and get their eyes checked or re-checked. The result: blurry vision.

You can also get blurry vision from consuming too much alcohol or taking illegal drugs. I’m sure most of you have had a few too many beers and had your vision go wacko as a result. I’m also sure that none of you have ever done illegal drugs, so you wouldn’t have any first hand experience with blurry vision because of it. Guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.

If you have high blood pressure you may experience some blurry vision. This is explained in depth in the articles on high blood pressure found on at our site.

Blurry vision can also be a result of over exerting yourself. For instance, if you go jogging and push your body to the limits, it’s only a matter of time before you aren’t getting enough oxygen to fuel your body and so your vision may blur.

If you have a cold or viral infection you may get blurry vision in short doses. If your body is fighting off an infection of some type, it saps your resources and sometimes you end up with blurry vision. It could also be secondary to allergy symptoms.

Some prescription drugs have the added bonus of giving you blurry vision. If you are experiencing blurry vision from a prescription drug, you might want to consult your doctor. They may change your prescription to one that doesn’t give you blurry vision.

I suffer from migraine head aches occasionally. Often, when I’m suffering from one of these episodes, I get blurry vision.

You may experience blurry vision at steep altitudes. I’m sure that most of you don’t mountain climb so you will never have to worry about this side effect. You never know for sure though, so I thought I’d add it in for good measure.

I’m also afraid of heights. If I’m up high (high for me may not be high for you. Anything over ten feet is a major accomplishment for me. I’m such a wimp.) I tend to get blurry vision. Funny how the body works. I’m afraid of heights because I don’t want to fall, so naturally my body gives me blurry vision. Who says nature doesn’t make mistakes?

Sometimes blurry vision could be a symptom of a more serious health problem. If you suffer from blurry vision frequently, you should see a doctor and get checked out. Perhaps, you might also think about seeing your friendly neighbourhood eye doctor for good measure.

As a website dedicated to advancing the understanding of men’s health and male sexual performance issues facing men everyday, 4-Men.Org is considered a leading authority on the issue of male health.

Posted on Jun 14th, 2007

Have you ever though that you are having some eye disorders? If so, prescription eyeglasses is one of the ways you can go for. Actually, the need for prescription eyeglasses can come from several different eye conditions. The most common eye disorders are Farsightedness, Nearsightedness and Presbyopia.

Nearsightedness, also known as Myopia, is supposed to be the most common eye disorder these days. It happens whenever the light focuses in front of the retina instead of focusing on the retina. Blurred vision on objects that are in the distance is the main symptoms for Myopia. When you squint the eyes, you can see the object clearer. This vision can be corrected by using prescription eyeglasses with a bifocal or trifocal lens.

Farsightedness, or called Hyperopia, is very different from Myopia. The light focuses behind the retina rather than in front of the retina. One of the common symptoms of Hyperopia is your eyes will feel more tired from reading or having headaches. In fact, it is pretty difficult to see things clearly that are within a short distance. As for the children, having crossed eyes is the most common symptom for them. Fortunately, this eye disorder can also be corrected by wearing prescription eyeglasses.

Apart from above mentioned, Presbyopia is another type of most common eye disorder that can be corrected by wearing prescription eyeglasses. This disorder is where the lens or eye cannot focus. Actually, this usually happens to us when we become old. The common symptoms for Presbyopia are that people finds themselves have to read newspaper or other reading materials farther away in order to see clearly. Moreover, eye fatigue is a common symptom.

As a matter of fact, it is very important to get regular eye exams in order to make sure your eyes are in good conditions. Or else, it is highly to get worsen later on.

During the eye exam, the optometrist will also give you a glaucoma test. Glaucoma is the build up of fluid on the eye that will pressure the retina. The feeling is irreversible if left untreated, and can cause total loss of sight. It is very dangerous and this is the one eye disorder that cannot be treated by wearing prescription eyeglasses. However, this condition rarely has symptoms, therefore the importance of routine eye exams cannot be overstated.

Rashme Wong is a successful Internet Marketer and publisher of Discount Contact Lenses.com. She provides more eye surgery solutions, contact lens and discount prescription eyeglasses information that you can search and learn on her website.

Posted on Jun 13th, 2007

If you think about it, calling it ‘pink eye’ does makes this eye infection sound less serious than it should be.

Then again, we should never be too worried about any condition, and instead stay calm and search for the appropriate steps to treat any eye problems. It’s better that way, isn’t it? ;)

Also known as conjunctivitis, it occurs when our conjunctiva is inflammed due to infection. (If you’re like me and don’t know what conjunctiva means at first, it’s the part where your eyeball and eyelids meet).

The three most common forms of pink eye are viral, allergic and bacterial.

When this happens, your eyes appear red, watery and you also feel irritated. Sometimes, your eyes may feel itchy as well.

Treatment is relatively simple, and varies depending on the type of conjunctivitis.

For mild cases of the allergic type, cool compresses and artificial tears can be used. If it’s more serious, your eye doctor might prescribe antihistamines and medication (non-steroid) that help reduce inflammation. Those with more persistent conditions may require topical steroid drops instead.

Anti-biotic drops, that help fight a broad spectrum of bacteria, is commonly prescribed if the condition is bacterial.

The treatment for a viral eye infection is similar to that of an allergic one, and the infected person usually gets better within three weeks.

To be doubly sure, it’s always better to consult an eye care professional to determine the exact type, and receive proper prescription treatment

Lim Zheng Yang has dedicated countless hours researching on eye care related issues, including, but not limited to, eye problems, eye surgery, eye doctor, eyewear etc. For more information on eye health, kindly visit his site.

Posted on Jun 12th, 2007

There are many benefits to buying contact lenses online. However, since lenses are worn to improve your eyesight and it is important for you to protect your eyes from any damage. You must always ensure that your prescription is up to date and you have got your eyes checked by a qualified eye doctor.

You must also find out from your doctor whether it is safe for you to order lenses online and whether he has any recommendations. When taking information from online sellers ask for: the brand name, lens nomenclature, and the power. They must give you details such as sphere, cylinder, axis, diameter, base curve, and peripheral curve. There are today over 36 million Americans wearing contact lenses and the estimated sale of contact lenses is well over USD 1 billion dollars a year. And, a substantial amount of the sales is generated by the internet.

1. Online sites offer a consumer greater selection as well as lower prices. Often the savings can be as much as 70%.

2. By choosing to buy contact lenses online you have the right to choose. Instead of just buying what is stocked by a shop close to where you live you can explore different sites that offer contact lenses from major manufacturer’s online and compare not just prices but things like durability, lens care, and safety measures. Sites like shopping.com and froogle.com among other shopping sites will permit you to check prices as well as types.

3. Online sites do not just sell contact lenses. They take eye care a step further and host a number of articles on the different kinds of lenses, lens care, the eye and problems, what solutions exist for any vision related problems and FAQS.

4. Many manufacturers are also selling contact lenses at the company website. So, if you have already used a certain make of lenses and are comfortable with them then all you have to do is, order replacements. Many company sites also offer cleaning solutions at competitive rates.

5. Most online sellers of contact lenses have experts who will answer your every question and guide you through you choices of lenses. The sites explain details like which lenses are suitable for sports, when contact lenses are not recommended for use, and how you must choose a contact lens.

6. Many online sellers waive shipping costs if your order exceeds say USD50. So, apart from making a great saving on the cost of the lens you get the advantage of the lenses arriving at your doorstep for no extra charge.

As a discerning consumer try and buy from a reputed store. Always check out whether there are any complaints against the online store with the better business bureau or in forums or blogs. Find out whether the address, and toll free number given at the website actually works. Most trustworthy websites have a clear customer policy in place.

Since you will be paying online you must ensure that the website’s payment gateway is secure. Check and see whether the site has the Verisign SSL seal. And, never buy a lens because its cheap, x, y, or z recommended it, or because the website has posted a huge advertisement for it. Only buy an established and reputed brand. Follow your eye doctor’s recommendation.

A reputed site selling contact lenses will make the effort of checking your prescription with your own doctor. However, you must also check that the lenses that arrive are the ones you need.

Andrew Bermam is a freelance writer for www.1888Contactlenses.com , the premier website for cheap prospective contact lenses online services to buy all brands of contact lences like Freshlook contact lens, soft contact lens, bifocal contact lens, solutions and more. He also freelances for Job Search Site www.1888jobsearch.com

Posted on Jun 11th, 2007

The cut and thrust of the gasoline industry is not for the faint. Only the strong survive. How refiners work the gasoline industry exposes them as a unique bunch.

Certainly, there is unforgiving stress involved in such a withering competitive arena. Normal people like us would fall by the wayside very early in the game.

This article will expose the role of refiners in this highly competitive industry. We will briefly touch on Refiners, Integrated Refiners, and the Refinery.

Refiner

A refiner processes (or refines) barrels of crude oil into various products. Gasoline is one of those products. 20% of every barrel of crude provides our gasoline needs.

Refiners ensure that their gasoline makes it to the Retail Gas Outlets. They distribute gas through pipelines, they truck it to various destinations, and they even send it via rail.

Some refiners supply gasoline to independent dealers. Others supply gasoline to jobbers. You can believe this or not, some refiners even own their own gas stations. These have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too-kind are called integrated refiners.

Integrated Refiners

Giant firms like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Sunoco, and Chevron Texaco are integrated refiners. As you can see, some of these brand names are heavy hitters in the marketplace.

Yep! Some still have the best of all worlds. Integrated refiners own their very own refinery. In addition, this special breed also owns their very own Retail Gasoline Outlet.

In the US, almost 80% of the refineries are owned by… you guessed it right, integrated refiners.

Here’s a surprising statistic. Those gasoline outlets we have been discussing? Well, a whole heap of them have disappeared. In 1994, they exploded to around 205,000. Nine years later they plunged to around 168,000.

Where did they disappear? I couldn’t find any figures indicating how many of the integrated refiners’ gas stations did a Houdini during that period?

However, it must be remembered, anytime you lower your margins while taking the corners, you must make it up by increasing your volumes on the straightway. Maybe physical constraints had a part to play.

Refinery

Refineries ingest a barrel of crude in one end. And out the other end flows a myriad of petroleum products. Of which one is gasoline. Refineries also distribute their wares to the retail outlets.

Refineries are a horse with a different color. I say this because over the years refineries have been shrinking, while at the same time expanding. Roughly, over the last 60 years, the number of refineries has dramatically decreased from 399, way down to 149.

While at the same time, the remaining refineries have been expanding. Technology has played a major role in this expansion. Refineries have jumped from producing 5 million barrels per day, to producing 16 million barrels per day. It’s called, doing more with less.

It is well known, that of late, refiners have been smiling all the way to the bank. This doesn’t have to be. You can make a difference. You can take action now.

Wycliffe Williams travels a great deal for his job. He took positive action to curb his appetite for gasoline. Isn’t it time for you to take some positive action to curb your appetite for gasoline too? Take action now! Click the link time4u2savegas. Its on my website www.wyclefinnovations.com above the dotcomology banner. You can make a difference.

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