Martini Glasses look great and are so much fun. There are so many styles to choose from that you are certain to find the ones you love with just a little bit of shopping. In fact here are 12 terrific martini glasses to buy.

1. Chillin - If chilling those martinis just right is always an issue then you absolutely need these Swank Martini Company glasses which are a solution to the problem and so fun and funky!

2. Swerve - The Sweve glass is a real gem and so unique and fun that it make every other martini glass look plain. They measure 6 ½ inches tall and hold 6 ounces.

3. The Aristocrat - Ooohh la la! This is a glass that’s fit for royalty and why not feel like royalty? In fact why not strut your stuff? You will certainly get noticed with these glasses!

4. Deco - It’s always fun to take a trip back in time and down memory land and these deco glasses will do just that. They are gorgeous, fun, and they really are perfect for your favorite martini. You’re gonna love them!

5. Zeus - The Gods of Drink will be smiling down on you with these gorgeous glasses. And don’t be surprised if lightening strikes because these are gorgeous enough to bring things crashing down. Get ready for the attention.

6. Giant Swank Tank - If when you think martin you think big and if when you drink martini you drink big, this huge sexy glass if for you. It’s awesome with the art glass base and "big" glass. This is a must have!

7. Omega - Looking for a little sophistication? A little modern air? Love color? Then check out the Omega. It holds 6 ounces and it’s so modern! It’s a must have for the modern and trendy bar.

8. Confetti - Confetti anyone? Why not spice up those glasses with some fancy colored confetti in the red, green, blue, and yellows. It holds 16 ounces so this one will keep you sipping for a while. There’s a lot of fun here!

9. Cosmo - Never pass up the opportunity to sip martinis with your friend. A Cosmo experience awaits you. It holds 8 ounces and measures 4 inches tall. Check out the jeweled colors which include green, red, blue, and purple. And then there are those fabulous neon colors which include lime green, purple, orange, and oh so hot pink.

10. Swinger - Are you tired of being a couch potato and looking for something a little more outrageous? The swinger could be the glass for you with it’s lively and colorful design. It holds 8.5 ounces and measures 6 ¾" tall.

11. Metro - Looking for a little extra energy and style. They you are going to want to check out the 10 ounce Metro. You’ll have it happening here!

12. Satin Breeze - These sensual soft satin martini glasses or beautiful and you can choose from pink, yellow, clear, blue, turquoise, and purple. You’re going to love them!

With more than a dozen terrific martini glasses to choose from the hardest part is picking one. Heck why pick one. Why not mix it up a bit and add a terrific mix to your bar?

April used to be a bartender with over 7 years of experience. She later retired to become a freelance wine critic and a writer for a number of wine books. In these books, she specializes on finding the right glassware and utensils for your bar. Visit http://www.ebarware.com for a list of "must haves" such as plastic barware for your bar.

The home of the U.S. corporate headquarters of Ford, General Motors, and Daimler-Chrysler, the Detroit area has long been known as the auto capital of the world, and many of the sights in and around the city reflect this.

Henry Ford Museum
One must-see attraction is the Henry Ford, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, which encompasses the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village and an IMAX theater. Visitors to the Henry Ford Museum can see vehicles where history was made, like the car President Kennedy was assassinated in and the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat. There are also displays of airplanes, old household appliances and more.

Greenfield Village
Greenfield Village is designed to resemble a small village of the late 1800s with farms, shops, and people in historical costume. Historical buildings like Thomas Edison’s workshop have been relocated to the Village. Kids will enjoy taking the steam engine around the complex, riding the carousel or going for a spin in a restored Model T.

Tour Fairlane
Tour Fairlane, the beautiful home of Henry Ford located on the campus of the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Even more impressive is his son’s mansion, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford home located in Grosse Pointe. Don’t miss the “playhouse” that belonged to the Fords’ young daughter, and brick structure built in the 1930s complete with electricity and running water.

For Art Lovers
The Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., is a fine collection of art with works spanning the generations, from ancient sculpture to modern painting. The centerpiece of the museum is the Detroit Industry mural executed by Diego Rivera on four walls in a hall near the entrance of the museum. It is considered to be one of Rivera’s finest pieces.

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History explores the journey of African Americans in the United States. The museum offers interactive displays, films, live performances and more.

Nightlife
For nightlife head to Greektown, where you’ll find bars, restaurants and one of the city’s three casinos, Greektown Casino.

Shopping with different budgets?
For shopping, most of the locals head to the suburbs, although the open air Eastern Market at 2934 Russell St in Detroit is a popular destination for shoppers seeking fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables. The upscale Somerset Collection in Troy is located in two separate building and contains major department stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue as well as many smaller boutiques and shops.

Twelve Oaks Mall
Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi is another popular shopping destination. The downtown area of Royal Oak is filled with shops and trendy restaurants, while Birmingham’s downtown district holds a number of clothing, furniture, and gift shops.

There are just about enough attractions for you and your family to enjoy over the weekend. For more ideas for , be sure to visit Last-Minute-Vacation-Guide.com.

Copyright Statement
This article was written by Jonathan Tan and may be reproduced on any travel-related website provided this copyright statement is displayed unedited in its entirety at the foot of the article and you use the exact same HTML code to ensure a clickable link back to the author’s site. Further articles are also available. Contact the author for more information.

Copyright www.last-minute-vacation-guide.com

As a business traveler, Jonathan has traveled extensively within America, across Asia and Europe. Last minute travel is the norm for him, you can check out his site, Last Minute Vacations Guide for affordable last-minute all inclusive deals.

Micro Current Stimulation (MCS) Therapy

Micro Current Stimulation (MCS) Therapy is perhaps the most promising treatment currently being investigated for dry age-related macular degeneration. It is a non surgical procedure which involves stimulating the macula and nerve fibers with a very low intensity current using a FDA approved battery operated device. The current is delivered at different electrical frequencies through electrodes applied over closed eyelids. The treatment causes no discomfort or pain and is administered twice each day. While a very effective form of treatment, MCS Therapy is not a cure for macular degeneration and must be continued for the life of the patient. Overall, no side effects or adverse reactions related to this procedure have been observed. Micro Current Stimulation technology has advanced to the point where individuals can learn to apply their own Micro Current Stimulation therapy with a home unit. In many cases, a patient undergoing MCS Therapy will experience an improvement in vision in as little as four days. For individuals with a more severe form of the disease it may take several months.

Human cells are not unlike batteries. They sometimes have low energy stores or are unable to hold energy. Micro Current Stimulation Therapy provides the cells with the “energy” it needs, similar to recharging a battery. Studies have also shown that MCS Therapy increases microcirculatory blood flow, increases ATP concentrations and stimulates amino acid and nutrient concentrations into cells.

Every living cell in the body has an electrical charge. It is theorized that part of what causes macular degeneration is a loss of the energy source in the cell, or loss of the electrical charge. Just like a flashlight will not work without a charged battery, the photoreceptors in the retina will not function without an energy source. MCS Therapy is believed to increase the energy source within the cell.

The Macular Degeneration Foundation determined in preliminary pre-clinical trials by pioneering ophthalmologists and researchers that micro current stimulation therapy can improve visual acuity, sharpness and color perception in 68 percent of patients with dry macular degeneration and 58 percent of those with the wet form. Reports from Russia suggest similar benefits.

A study published by Dr. Merrell J. Allen and Dr. Leland D. Michael entitled Nutritional Supplementation, Electrical Stimulation and Age Related Macular Degeneration showed that 60 percent of patients showed an improvement in visual acuity following a combination of micro current stimulation therapy and nutritional supplementation.

Drs. Grace Halloran and August L. Reader studied thirty individuals diagnosed with typically untreatable eye diseases including macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, CMV-retinitis, and diabetic retinopathy. The patients were treated with a combination of micro current stimulation therapy and nutritional supplementation. Overall results showed remarkable increase in visual function in visual acuity in most and clearly established the safety of the combination of MCS therapy and nutritional supplementation.

Frequently Asked Questions About MCSTherapy …

How Does MCS™ Therapy Work?

In general, the electrical current gently wakes up the cells from sleep and stimulates the healing process. Simply put, cells are like batteries. When the energy level runs low or runs out, the light goes out. MCS Therapy replaces the electrical charge within the cells of the eye to promote healing and regeneration.

The second way the therapy works is to boost the cells’ ability to rid themselves of waste products. A cell with "stuck" waste products becomes a dead cell and interferes with cellular communication throughout the area where it is located. Cells need to take in nutrients and eliminate waste like all other living organisms. The energy supplied by MCS Therapy stimulates the cells to become vital and less sluggish.

The third way MCS Therapy works is by increasing blood supply to the area stimulated. By increasing blood flow to the area cells and tissues are nourished, refreshed and oxygenation is increased.

Is MCS Therapy Safe?

No side effects or adverse outcomes related to this treatment have been seen. No increase in the conversion to the wet form of AMD has been seen to those who have been treated.

What Is The Treatment Like?

MCS Therapy can be administered in a doctors office or through a home treatment unit. Even if you start your therapy in a doctors office, continued therapy with a home treatment unit is necessary in order to retain any vision improvement and to keep AMD from getting worse.

After learning how to self-administer treatment, you will perform treatment in the convenience of your home with the home treatment unit. This is easy to learn and apply. Once starting with the treatments you will need to continue with treatments twice daily. Each treatment takes 6 - 12 minutes. Those who have discontinued therapy have had their vision deteriorate.

How Much Improvement In Vision Can I Expect With MCS Therapy?

The results have been remarkable, with over 68% of the people treated with Dry AMD showing statistically significant improvement in one or both eyes and 58% of the people with Wet AMD showing improvement. 52% of patients experience an improvement of two or more lines as measured with the standard Snellen visual acuity chart.

Why Doesn’t My Optometrist or Ophthalmologist Know About MCS Therapy?

The majority of eye doctors in practice today were told that macular degeneration was an untreatable disease and that nothing could be done to restore a damaged retina to a healthier state. It is also interesting to note that most of the doctors in practice today were also trained to believe that nutritional supplements were a waste of time and money. After 20 years, they have finally admitted they were wrong regarding vitamins. Medicine, as a profession, is slow to change or admit its mistakes.

Micro current stimulation therapy is currently viewed by most doctors the way vitamin supplements were viewed 20 years ago, as an “unconventional“ therapy. While small studies have been published in the literature showing the effectiveness of MCS Therapy, admittedly, there have not been any large-scale scientific studies published in the traditional journals. These large-scale studies are what most doctors depend on to guide them in their recommendations to patients.

Several large scale studies are either underway or are currently being developed and they should prove MCS Therapy’s effectiveness once and for all. However, it will take 2 - 4 years and millions of dollars in research funds to complete the studies. In the interim, there is no reason that this option should be withheld from patients. The early reports are showing positive results in 65 to 90 percent of patients treated, there are no known side effects or contraindications, the treatment is relatively inexpensive, and there is no alternative treatment. Why should a patient with an otherwise “incurable” disease not try this option?

Scientific Facts For Doctors On MCS Therapy …

How Does MCS Therapy Work?

MCS Therapy works by increasing intracellular ATP (adenosine triphosphate) concentrations, enhancing protein synthesis, and stimulating the cells ability to absorb nutrients (Ngok Cheng, M.D.). It is theorized that through these mechanisms, MCS Therapy improves RPE efficiency and thereby may restore and/or improve macular function.

ATP is synthesized in the mitochondria process known as the Kreb’s Cycle, the sequence of reactions in the mitochondria that complete the oxidation of glucose in respiration. Kroll and Guerrieri have shown age related changes in mitochondrial metabolism resulting in a decrease of the ATP synthase activity. Guerrieri has gone further to show functional and structural differences of the mitochondria F0F1 ATP synthase complex in aging rats. It is theorized that many retinal diseases, at least in part, is due to a decrease in mitochondria function and the subsequent decrease in intracellular ATP. This decrease in mitochondria function results from free radical damage and the mutation of mtDNA (mitochondria DNA).

It is interesting to note the genetic link between ATP and retinal disease. ATP Synthase (ATPase) is an enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of ATP. A genetic defect in the ATPase 6 Gene has now been implicated in Retinitis Pigmentosa.

What Is The Difference Between The Micro Current Simulator And Other Devices On The Market?

Research by Cheng demonstrated a very significant difference between the types of electrical stimulators known as TENS devices and those classified as micro current stimulators. The research showed that by treating with currents below 1000 micro Amps (less than 1 milli Amp), there was a 75% higher amino acid uptake and up to a 400% increase in intracellular ATP concentrations. In those treated with more than 1000 micro Amps (more than 1 milli Amp), there were actually depressed levels of these substances, often less than the non-treated controls. It is critically important to note that the less expensive TENS devices do not treat in the safe and effective milli amp range and treat at much higher levels, some as high as 80 milli Amps. This is dangerous and can potentially deplete intracellular ATP and shut down the Kreb’s Cycle, having the reverse effect of MCS™ Therapy. A micro current stimulator has 10 times the circuitry of a standard therapeutic electrical stimulator and is regulated to prevent treatment above the safe milli amp range. Furthermore, make sure any device that you may use is FDA approved. Many on the market are not.

What Is The Legal Status Of MCS Therapy With The FDA?

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the sale of medical devices (an example is the use of the lasers used for LASIK surgery). Before a medical device can be legally sold in the U.S., the person or company that wants to sell the device must seek approval from the FDA. To gain approval, they must present evidence that the device is reasonably safe and effective for a particular use, the “indication.” Micro current stimulators were generally approved for the following indication: the symptomatic relief of chronic intractable pain and as an adjunctive treatment in the management of post surgical traumatic pain problems. Once the FDA has approved a medical device, a doctor may decide to use that device for other indications if the doctor feels it is in the best interest of a patient. The use of an approved device for other than its FDA-approved indication is called “off-label use.” MCS Therapy is considered an “off-label use.”

Dr Edward Paul - America’s Eye Doctor - www.DrEdwardPaul.com

Dr. Edward Paul http://www.DrEdwardPaul.com

Eye redness was the clue that something was happening to Celia Ramirez’s vision. Although she wasn’t having trouble driving or doing other tasks, her children urged her to have a checkup. It turned out she was in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that attacks a person’s central field of vision.

Mrs. Ramirez, who lives in Mission in the Rio Grande Valley, had surgery that successfully controlled her eye pressure, but her central vision continued to deteriorate. Her specialist is William E. Sponsel, M.D., associate professor and director of research in the department of ophthalmology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC). Dr. Sponsel’s research led him to prescribe treatment with new combinations of medications. "These last two medicines he’s had me on, they have really worked," Mrs. Ramirez said. "We’ve done a lot of praying. This is somewhat of a miracle."

The miracle involves carbon dioxide, which is crucial for vision. The healthy eye produces enough carbon dioxide to dilate blood vessels around the retina and maintain proper blood flow. The ailing eye does not produce enough. This holds important implications for the treatment of patients with blinding eye diseases such as AMD and glaucoma, which are marked by diminished circulation of blood in the back of the eye. Eye pressure also is a conventional barometer of eye health.

About 60 of 65 patients have seen their vision improve while receiving treatment at UTHSC’s teaching hospital, University Hospital. "The patients are receiving combination drug therapy, including agents that trick the eye into retaining more of its carbon dioxide," Dr. Sponsel said. "We have patients with glaucoma and no AMD, patients with AMD and no glaucoma, and patients with both disorders. All appear to demonstrate benefit in the central visual area, regardless of the cause of that visual loss."

The Health Science Center is the first medical center to initiate this combination therapy for patients with central visual loss, Dr. Sponsel said. Considerable research yielded the conclusions that now help patients. "You don’t expect these patients to get better, you expect them to get worse," he said. "We have seen dramatic results that bode well for treatment of these disorders in the future."

The researchers measure patients’ sensitivity to light on visual function tests. An increase of 10 points represents more than a million-fold increase in actual visual acuity. Mrs. Ramirez’s vision in the macula — the central visual area that enables perception of letters and colors — was scored as virtually zero on early tests. After the recent treatment, her score is now 24.

The miracle agents are called "carbonic anhydrase inhibitors" (CAI’s). Given as eye drops, CAI’s reach the back of the eye rapidly and slow the clearance of carbon dioxide while increasing the supply of nutrients. They help dilate blood vessels within and behind the retina, which is the structure that receives, processes and transmits visual images relayed from the brain.

Dr. Sponsel pursued this line of research in an intriguing way — after discovering that adults who hyperventilated and rapidly blew off their body’s carbon dioxide showed decreased vision, eye pressure and circulation in the back of the eye. He was treating subjects one week with a CAI called dorzolamide and the next week with placebo eye drops. During hyperventilation, the subjects on dorzolamide maintained good light sensitivity in their central field of vision, while the same subjects during placebo treatment showed central visual loss. Dr. Sponsel holds two U.S. patents on this work. One valuable aspect of the research is that it proves increased eye pressure is not necessarily the definitive indicator of eye vessel disease.

Mrs. Fernandez is seeing more light at the end of the tunnel these days, thanks to the combination therapy Dr. Sponsel is testing. "Vision is precious," he said. "Despite the odds, she has had a beautiful retention of her ability to see."

The drugs used in this novel therapy, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI’s) are only available by prescription and must be prescribed by your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Dr Edward Paul - America’s Eye Doctor - www.DrEdwardPaul.com

Dr Edward Paul http://www.DrEdwardPaul.com

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

Make £100,000 profit in less than Five years from Buying a cheap property in Bulgaria: Cheap Bulgarian Property

Are you suffering from baldness, treat & cure baldness & Alopecia today!

Treat Baldness Now!

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.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance in the Online Think Tank and solve the problems of the World; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

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.

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.

Many patients classified as blind today actually have some sight remaining and, thanks to developments in the field of rehabilitative vision, also known as low vision, they can be helped to make good use of it.

Anyone with reduced vision is visually impaired, and can have problems functioning, ranging from minor to severe difficulty. There are two general classifications of low vision in use today:

• partially sighted – visual acuity that with conventional prescription lenses is still between 20/70 and 20/200 (a person with 20/70 eyesight must be 20 feet away to see clearly an object that a person with 20/20 eyesight can see clearly from 70 feet away);

• legal blindness – visual acuity that cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 with conventional lenses and/or the patient has a restricted field of vision less that 20 degrees wide. (Note that some definitions of "partially sighted" include the legally blind.)

Low vision impairments take many forms and exist in varying degrees. It is important to understand that the visual acuity alone is not a good predictor of the degree of the problem a person is having. Someone with relatively good acuity (e.g., 20/40) can be having a very hard time functioning, while someone with worse acuity (e.g., 20/200) might not be having any real problems doing the things that they want to do.

The common types of low vision are:

Loss of Central Vision – the center of the person’s view is blurred or blocked, but side (peripheral) vision remains intact. This makes it difficult to read or recognize faces and most details in the distance. Mobility, however, is usually unaffected because side vision remains intact.

Loss of Side Vision – typified by an inability to distinguish anything to one side or both sides, or anything directly above and/or below eye level. Central vision remains, however, making it possible to see what is directly ahead. Typically, loss of side vision affects mobility and slows reading speed because the person sees only a few words at a time. Sometimes referred to as "tunnel vision."

Blurred Vision – objects both near and far appear out of focus, even with the best conventional spectacle correction possible and even when the target is very large.

Generalized Haze – the sensation of a film or glare that may extend over the entire viewing field and may produce various patterns or areas of relatively severe vision loss.

Extreme Light Sensitivity – exists when standard levels of illumination overwhelm the visual system, producing a washed out image and glare disability. People with extreme light sensitivity may actually suffer pain or discomfort from relatively normal levels of illumination.

Night Blindness – inability to see outside at night under starlight or moonlight, or in dimly lighted interior areas such as movie theaters or restaurants.

Doctors of Optometry who specialize in low vision care are skilled in the examination, treatment and management of patients with visual impairments not fully treatable by medical, surgical or conventional eyewear or contact lenses. Each type of low vision problem requires a different therapeutic approach. A thorough examination by an optometrist, which will also include tests to determine the patient’s current vision status, may also include a vision rehabilitation program to enhance remaining vision skills.

The low vision specialist will ask for a complete personal and family general health and eye health history. In addition, the optometrist will discuss the functional problems with the patient, including such things as reading, functioning in the kitchen, glare problems, travel vision, the workplace, television viewing, school requirements, and hobbies and interests.

Preliminary tests may include assessment of ocular functions such as depth perception, color vision, contrast sensitivity, and curvature of the front of the eye. Measurements will be taken of the person’s visual acuity using special low vision test charts, which include a larger range of letters to more accurately determine a starting point for gauging low vision. Visual fields are usually evaluated, and each eye will be examined. The optometrist may prescribe various treatment options, including low vision devices, as well as assist the person with identifying other resources for vision and lifestyle rehabilitation.

There is a wide variety of optical devices and adaptive products available to help people with low vision live and/or work more productively and safely. Most people can be helped with one or more of them. Unfortunately, only about 20-25 percent of those who could benefit have been seen by a low vision specialist and had treatment options, including low vision devices, prescribed specifically for them. The more commonly prescribed devices are:

• Spectacle-mounted magnifiers – A magnifying lens is mounted in the individual’s spectacles or on a special headband. This allows use of both hands to complete the close-up task, such as reading.

• Spectacle-mounted telescopes – These miniature telescopes are useful for seeing longer distances, such as across the room to watch television, and can also be modified for near (reading) tasks.

• Hand-held and stand magnifiers – Serve as supplementary aids. They are convenient for reading such things as price tags, labels, and instrument dials. Both types can be equipped with lights.

• Electro-optical aids – Closed-circuit television (also called CCTVs) enlarge reading material on a video screen. Some are portable, while some can be connected to a computer. The user can adjust the image brightness, size, contrast and background illumination.

In addition, there are numerous other products to assist those with low vision, such as large-type books, magazines, and newspapers, books-on-tape, talking wristwatches, self-threading needles, and more.

If you, or someone you love, suffers from low vision, your optometric low vision specialist can provide the help and resources needed to gain back the independence and freedom that once seemed lost. People with low vision can be taught a variety of techniques to perform daily activities with what vision remains. There are government and private programs that offer educational and vocational counseling, occupational therapy, rehabilitation training, and more.

Experts agree that low vision does not have to diminish the quality of life. As of October, 1999, both the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology have called for Medicare coverage of low vision rehabilitation services. As changes occur in Medicare policies and coverage, we will update this site to provide you with the latest information.

Help is available today – don’t wait to learn how low vision rehabilitation and your optometrist can make all the difference! For referral to a doctor who specialized in low vision, you can contact the American Optometric Association at 314-991-4100.

Dr Edward Paul - America’s Eye Doctor - www.DrEdwardPaul.com

Dr Edward Paul www.DrEdwardPaul.com

Years ago, my school division sent me in Southern Ontario to follow a course that would prepare me to teach Braille to one of my future students. While studying over there, I did not only learn so much more than Braille but I also met two friends that were legally blind. One was using a white cane and large print while the other was blessed by the precious assistance of a guide-dog.

That is when my knowledge became not only practical but also part of my everyday life with them during my stay there. Believe me, I did not only learn about reading and writing Braille but also how to guide, play, prepare activities, explore and experience everyday tasks and activities like someone that either was born or became legally blind.

What is the difference between being visually impaired and legally blind? Well, being visually impaired means that your vision is either affected by visual problems such as having no peripheral vision, having very low eyesight while it is superior to 5% or having problems seeing in certain areas of your vision such as in front, in spots, not seeing in 3-D or in color, etc.

What does “legally blind” means? All that it means is that your vision is 5% and less or that your visual impairments are so severe that the percentage of actual vision also fits in this category.

One thing that I soon discovered was that despite poor eyesight, it is amazing to see how acute other senses become with time. My friends made me pay attention to all the information that other senses give you but unfortunately as most people rely so much on visual cues, we tend to be oblivious to details and information that we come to take for granted.

My friends also explained to me how to describe an activity without forgetting important steps, how to guide someone effectively, how to act with and around a guide-dog and so much more.

As time went by, I also learned the emotional ups and downs associated with facing the difficulties related to gradually becoming legally blind, how to become independent and not depend on solely on others. And finally, dealing with the mourning involved with the loss of sight and the fact that they will never be able to enjoy fully the beauty of a sunset, butterflies and other visual treasures that we take for granted.

The most important lessons that I actually learned during this course is the fact that not only people should learn to appreciate the countless benefits of sight but also how to appreciate and live in visually impaired and legally blind people’s shoes by using a blindfold or specially designed goggles.

My name is Sylvie Leochko. As a teacher, I had both the opportunity and the experience to learn about Braille, visual impairments and blindness. If you wish to learn more about the visually impaired, I encourage you to visit the following site: http://visually-impaired.blogspot.com