Maintaining Your Body's Energy and Sharp Mind

When we're feeling tired and stressed, it's easy to reach for a “quick fix”, strong coffee in the morning, chocolate in the middle of the afternoon, a caffeine-based energy drink to keep us powering through the night. There's no doubt these provide the immediate perception of a lift, but they don't help the body deal with the underlying cause of energy deprivation. The key to proper management of stress related fatigue is about providing the nervous and adrenal system support that enables the body to deal with fatigue.

Eating for energy.

When you consider the rapidly expanding of special “energy” foods and drinks in our supermarkets, you would think we should be bursting with energy. Yet the reverse is true. That's because most “energy” foods and drinks rely on sugar or caffeine to give our bodies a quick boost. Real, long lasting energy comes from simpler (less enticingly packaged) foods.

Try to eat regular meals comprised of fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals, brown rice, beans, fish, lean meat and eggs. B complex vitamins are necessary to metabolize food into energy and to help the adrenal system to function properly. A multivitamin and mineral supplements is also useful in delivering the many essential vitamins and minerals we require daily.

A good night's sleep.

There's nothing like deep, restful sleep to help your body recover from one day and prepare for the next. However, that's easier said than done when your mind is racing at a million miles an hour. There are number of herbs that act as natural sedatives. They include skullcap, valerian, passion flower and hops.

Exercise for stamina.

“Don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing”

It might seem strange, but exercise can actually give you more energy and consequently relieve stress. Even if you're not the athletic type, try to walk for 30 minutes a day at least three to four times a week . You'll notice a big difference in the way you feel after just a few week.

In previous centuries, people didn't worry so much age related brain conditions. Forgetfulness, speech problems and confusion were simply considered part of getting old. Now that our bodies are remaining fit and strong for much longer, it's increasingly important that our minds also remain active, as much for our families sake as our own. Caring for a person suffering the effects of degenerative brain disease can be extremely draining both physically and emotionally.

Think about our brains.

The brain is the center of our nervous system and the most metabolically active organ in the body. It is made up of some 100 billion neurons and weight about 1.3 kilograms.

The brain utilizes about 20% of the total oxygen used by the body, so a good blood supply to the brains is crucial. Under normal circumstances, the brain uses a continuous supply of glucose as its source of energy. Without constant replenishment, the glucose reserve of the brain will be used in approximately ten minutes.

Food for the brain.

A healthy brain needs a healthy diet. Start the day with breakfast, there is increasing evidence that eating breakfast is associated with better memory function later in the day. A diet high in foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds is important for brain health. Additionally, DHA, an essential fatty acid found in deep sea fish (exp. Tuna) aids the proper function and development of the brain.

Take Ginkgo.

Herbs such as Ginkgo Biloba have long been used to help improve memory and learning ability, and may help slow progression of age related memory loss.

Ginkgo appears to improve cognition in a number of ways including its ability to affect blood flow to the brain and free radical scavenging. It is recommended as a long term solution for improving cognitive function.

Exercise for your brain.

Exercise increases blood flow and nutrition to the brain. Research indicated that regular exercise is associated with significant reduction of risk of several forms of cognitive decline. Even low intensity exercise such as walking can be helpful. A study found that you only walk 10,000 steps to enjoy the benefits.

Alternate Energy Sources For Your Home

The amount of energy used in the home is at an all time high, and being consumed at an alarming rate. Many people use electricity more than they really need to, and the pay for it without complaining. Others think the cost of it is too high and they want to use it as little as possible. Either way, there are various alternative energy sources that you can use for your home. This can help slow down the depletion of natural resources and save you money.

As technology continues to change and move forward, consumers are being offered many alternatives. While many of the ideas that are being promoted today as alternative energy sources aren’t new, there are more ways to incorporate them than ever before. There is also a way to calculate the savings that these alternatives offer, and that is generally the motivating factor that causes people to move forward with implementing them.

You may have discovered windmills popping up in various locations, and that is due to the fact that wind energy is a great alternative to offering you power instead of using electricity. The windmill has come a long way from the days when it was used to grind up grain. They are more appreciated as a source of energy than anything else.

The energy from the sun, called solar energy, is a great alternative to electricity. You can easily install solar panels on your roof to collect energy. You will only use electricity as a back up source when all of the energy has been used up. The energy from a solar source is able to heat your home, dry your clothes, and run various household appliances. Many people are able to use solar power to supply all the energy they need for their entire home.

Of course this is a different type of solar energy than our parents used when they hung clothes outside on the line to dry. Yet the introduction of the clothes dryer is just one more device that uses up electricity.

Water can also be a valuable alternative source of energy. Hydropower is the ability to use water currents to operate generators. Hydropower is another concept that goes back to the era of grinding up grains into flour.

One type of alternative energy source that you may not be aware of is biogas. This is the process of decomposition of various materials. This is a great way to save money on the cost of heating your home, especially if you live in a cold weather area.

There are plenty of different resources for you to consider when it comes to alternative energy sources. They are a great way to save the resource of electricity as well as to save money on the cost of your energy sources. Take the time to find the one that is the most practical and cost effective for your home. Many people don’t live where they can install a windmill but they do live where the sun shines all day long.

We all need to do our part to make the environment cleaner, and you can do yours by choosing an alternative energy source. It is important for us to keep as many of the natural resources for future generations as possible. Once you compare the price of installing the alternative energy source to the amount of money you will save, you will see why it is a win/win situation for you personally and for the entire environment.

Solar Energy: Home Made or Purchased?

Want a Home Solar Energy System?

The thought of not relying on the local power company for electricity, saving all that money in the process by using your won home solar energy system is quite interesting to me. They call this being "off the grid". It is really a feeling of independence, in a way that puts the environment back in our hands, almost like the early settlers of our country.

When you own your own home solar energy system, that makes you independent and free. Just think about as if you were embarking on a whole new frontier like Lewis and Clark, except in the arena of solar energy. You own your own electricity. I mean the sun isn't going to send you a bill, is it?

The home solar energy system can be costly up front. Perhaps that is a problem for you. Some can afford to have a professional install the home solar energy system for them, others will have to install it on their own, if they can. Some will have to install their home solar energy system piece by piece. If you are having trouble financing such a solar system here is a place to go to, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/related_links_financing.html

If you are looking to convert your home over into using a home solar energy system you can. It may take time but use the available information resources from your local state government's office to provide such info. Don't let cost and inexperience wish away a great opportunity to help the environment and get your independence back, at least in this area.

Try Home Made Solar Energy

There are a lot of benefits to home made solar energy and when we say home made solar energy we mean the kind of systems installed by professionals but made for your home. If you do not have home made solar energy yet, consider converting your home to solar energy. When you have converted over you will notice the difference between the cost from what you had with the local power company to the cost of home solar energy. The difference in your bill and the environment will speak for itself.

Solar energy in the home is a win win situation. You are doing the environment a favor as well as increasing the influence for others to have solar energy homes. In this day of energy conservation and concern for the effect that human activity is having on our planet you want to get a home made solar energy system installed and let your wallet and help our environment relax a little.

Converting your home to solar energy is costly. But the overall cost in the long run will make your new home made solar energy home be free of local electricity, saving you money and making you money because you can store excess power and resell it back to the local grid as they call it..

Which would you rather have, a solar energy system for your home, or the local power company making electricity the old fashioned way that will continue to omit harmful gases into the atmosphere?

Using home made solar energy is a great way to save money and the environment at the same time. If more people took the initiative to convert their home to solar energy this world would become a cleaner place.

Spa Covers And The Energy Star Program

The Energy Star program is run by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. It is a great idea and has helped manufacturers move toward more energy efficient products in many different areas. Unfortunately though since it is a program paid for with tax dollars it has to be limited in scope or targeted so that the products it covers would be something that the majority of tax payers could see a benefit in.

It would be really great if Every product or innovation that reduced the energy required could be considered however such is not the case. Understandably the program is focused on general energy consumption of household products, washing machines, refrigerators, and materials used in home construction that reduce energy needs.

Some products used in the home, for example computers are included, others in particular pools and spas are not. Unfortunate considering the percentage of household energy consumption that goes into a pool or spa. We have even seen the Energy Star logo used in advertising spas even though the Department of Energy has clearly stated that it will not consider such a product for inclusion as an Energy Star Partner since the majority of taxpayers would not benefit from such a product.

Personally I would prefer that every tax payer would own at least one Hot tub. I can only see this as good for the country. If more people were spending more time in their spa they would be using less fuel driving around and have a lot less stress.

According to the findings of a 2004 study conducted by the Davis Energy Group sponsored Pacific Gas & Electric Co., pool and spa pumps are almost always the largest single electrical end-use (appliance in a home), using more than three times the energy of a new refrigerator. This same study found that the average residential pool pump consumes 2,600 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually with portable spas not far behind at 2,500 kWh per year.

With an estimated 1.2 million pools and about half a million spas the State of California by itself has to have the entire yearly output of one nuclear power plant plus one conventional power plant just to feed the consumption of pools and spas. It’s no wonder the California Energy Commission has recently approved new appliance efficiency regulations that for the first time include portable spas and a maximum allowable watt per hour usage.

As spa manufacturers struggle to meet these new requirements the bottom line for you the spa owner is how do you reduce the expense of operating your already purchased hot tub? Since most of the energy used in the spa is used keeping the water warm for the next time you want to dip into it, getting that water insulated is the key. If wrapping your water heater can make a difference in your energy bill, imagine what “wrapping” your other water heater (your spa) would do.

Your hot tub uses the same type of heater your household water heater does only your household water heater may have twice as many elements to heat up about forty gallons of water while your spa is trying to heat four hundred gallons. Good insulation around the sides and bottom of your spa play a vital role in helping keep that spa water warm. However most of the heat lost from your spa water is going straight up. Insulating the water with the best insulating cover makes the most sense.

With the new amendments of the California Appliance Efficiency Regulations, that state is taking the lead in setting tougher standards for the energy consumption of portable spas. Other states will no doubt follow suit. With the biggest use of energy going straight up out the top, looking for the best insulating spa cover will be the answer for the seriously energy conscious spa owner. The Energy Star may never be offered to spas or spa covers but it won’t be long before meeting the California Regulations for spa energy consumption will be equal to the best endorsement.

Real Solutions For America’s Energy Crisis

America’s insatiable demand for oil, combined with soaring gas prices, has led to happy days for the oil companies. The money is rolling in so fast that they don’t know what to do with it. The spike in demand resulting from the economic ‘awakening’ of the populous Asian countries is also putting pressure on global oil supplies, and more oil fields are becoming depleted.

ExxonMobil, Shell Oil, BP and the other major oil companies don’t want to, or are not equipped to, deal with the reality that their market is slipping away. They know that alternate energy sources will soon be coming on line. But they’re happy with things just the way they are.

Their lobbyists are making sure Congress is aware of this. Just as the tobacco Industry in the 1970’s tried to disassociate smoking and cancer, the oil companies’ incessant TV, radio and newspaper ads are pushing “Junk Science” to retain their business model.

Despite clear evidence that America’s oil dependency is unsustainable, the major firms are determined to “stay the course.” They remain focused on finding oil, natural gas and coal, refining it to use in a multitude of products, and selling these products at a good profit.

How can we break free of this deeply destructive cycle? Fortunately, it’s an election year. We need to make our voices heard at the ballot boxes, through letters to the editor, by call-ins to talk radio, and by contacting our Congressmen and Senators.

Environmentalists and concerned citizens need to tell all Americans that:

• Global warming is a reality.

• Maintaining a continuous oil supply, at any price, is an increasingly difficult challenge. If you don’t believe this, just wait for a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico that shuts down our oil platforms.

• The cost of oil is hurting the economy of the entire world, not just the United States.

Energy Solutions

America needs a portfolio of energy solutions, because no single technology is enough to guarantee immediate success and reliability. This portfolio includes:

• Conservation: Using the energy that we have more wisely as both a short and long-term solution. For example, Europe uses less than 1/2 the energy per person than we do in North America. If we copy their proven technologies, we could cut our oil usage in half. Then, we’ll have 12.5 million barrels of oil per day available to reduce oil imports and pay for the cost of new technologies. These new technologies include: more efficient and smaller cars and appliances, more efficient lighting, better building insulation, plus heat and moisture recovery from HVAC systems in large buildings.

• Renewable energy: Creating intermediate and long-term solutions through policy decisions that focus on developing renewable energy sources that don’t increase the amount of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. We can decide to develop and use geothermal (heat from the earth), solar, wind, and tidal (ocean wave) energy.

• Improved technology: Discovering ways to use less energy per unit of production as a short-term initiative. One example requires the cooperation of companies that own mineral processing plants. These plants, which manufacture lime, Portland cement and other materials by cooking minerals in a kiln, can be optimized by using sophisticated mathematical modeling. They can use the information from the models to better control and reduce the amount of oil or natural gas needed to heat the minerals. However, these companies will act only when they are unable to recover their fuel costs from their customers.

Getting The Word Out

We need a massive worldwide energy education program which focuses governments and private investors on:

a) Generating renewable energy at a competitive cost -- including solar, geothermal, wind, tide, nuclear, and biomass energy (ethanol) -- which does not contribute to greenhouse gases. As we invest in developing these energy sources, the prices will come down and their reliability will increase.

b) Eliminating the emission of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) from carbon-based energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas.

c) Providing generous financing for renewable energy sources.

If you’re worried about the environmental health of our planet and your children’s and grandchildren’s future, it’s up to you to speak out. Now is the time to make our case to the media, elected officials, political candidates and big business.

The owner of an energy conservation company in the 1980s, Pat Benjamin is also an expert on political issues and independent politics. She is the author of The Perot Legacy: A New Political Path.

Contributions to this article were made by Dr. Milton Benjamin, an energy specialist.

Save on Home Heating Energy

To say that you can save on your homes heating system and energy isn't an understatement. Reduced bills on your electricity, maximized heating system, and a whole lot of energy saving phenomenon are things you don't see everyday but desire to obtain.

Everybody longs to reduce his or her expenses on energy and heating system and save more money for the future. Besides, people don't work just to pay the utility bills alone. There are still many things that have to be considered when disbursing money.

The greatest reason for this dilemma is the on-going increase of the commodity prices as well as energy consumption charges. Everything seems to have high prices nowadays. It is best to trim down the other expenses in which you have control of, such as energy consumption.

One of the best examples that utilizes energy more are the home heating systems. Heaters are used by homes that are situated in cold countries.

However, heaters can eat up bigger portions in your electricity bill. In fact, statistical reports prove that heaters are one of the largest energy consumers in every home, that is, more than half of the consumption rate in a given year.

For this reason, it is imperative to think of ways to save on heating systems so as to save on energy consumption as well. As you save on these items, you get more value for your money.

But how? Things are, most of the time, easier said than done. So if you think that it is easy to maximize your heaters and save more on energy, think again.

To help you, here is a list of some energy saving tips that will help you cut back on your heaters energy consumption.

1. Use solar energy

Natural is always the best. To save more on energy, it is best to use solar energy when using water heaters in your homes heating system. In this way, you trap natural heat coming from the sun. You will consume less energy.

With the solar energy utilized in your homes heating system, you can start heating your water for showers or revolutionize your homes heating system and still reduce your electricity bill.

2. Inspect your home

To maximize your homes heating system, it is best to inspect your house for any leakage. Leaks will let the heat seep out from your home, thus, absorbing cold from the outside. Most of the areas that leakage starts to develop are in the windows, doors, and fireplaces.

Once identified, it is best to take some proper actions as soon as possible so as to cut back any unnecessary costs on energy.

3. Sue heaters on frequently used rooms only

To save more energy, only use heaters on areas that are frequently visited and used by your household. For rooms that are not being used, try to turn off the thermostat or close the windows to utilize natural heat.

By doing so, you can cut back your energy consumption through your heater by as much as 50%.

4. Insulate

One of the biggest secrets in maximizing your homes heating system is insulation. A properly and well insulated home can guarantee a comfortable home without using too much energy. Thus, you can save more money by cutting back your energy consumption.

It is best to use some insulating devices on your roof, windows, and other areas that need padding. This will block the heat in and keep it from escaping the house.

5. Get a good heating system

Of course, you can never guarantee lower energy bill if not for an efficient heating system. Defective heating system can utilize twice as much energy as those that are functioning properly. The tendency is to use more force just to boost more heat, and the more force the heating device use, the more energy it will consume.

Besides, defective products would require frequent visits to repair shops and that would be additional expenses for you.

All of these things can help you maximize your heating system and save more energy. In this way, you can save more money and use it on other things that need prioritization.

Kids And Energy

I’m not sure why, maybe because it’s summer, I’m getting a lot of questions and stories about kids and energy. I’ll put them all under that broad category but there have been several different subcategories discussed: kids and ADHD, kids and anger management, and kids and computers.

Kids and ADHD

Let’s start with kids and ADHD. There seems to be a big trend here in the US of drugging our children so they can “control” their behavior in school. I am NOT in favor of this practice.

Why is there such an epidemic of ADHD diagnoses in our children? I don’t want to oversimplify but I believe one reason is that our children don’t have the opportunities they had in previous generations to run around and expend their energy.

In years past, kids got to play in the parks, in the streets and in their own yards. Today, that happens less and less. Parents are too afraid to allow their children to be outside unsupervised, and rightly so! There are predators out there who would do your children harm. However, kids still need to expend their energy, somehow.

So, many times the activities available to them at home are sedentary, such as playing video games, watching television, talking on their cell phones or using the home computer. None of this provides opportunity to release energy, unless your children are like my niece who paces vigorously while talking on the phone.

Then we send them to school and expect them to sit down and be quiet. In addition, many schools are reducing the amount of physical education time for our kids and I’ve even seen recently that some schools forbid children to run at recess or use certain playground equipment because they fear of physical injury lawsuit. Is it any wonder our children are having difficulty?

Now I know there are parents and teachers out there who have stories of children who have been helped immensely by the addition of Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta or Dexedrine to their daily diet. If you know a child who is being helped by his or her medication, I’m not saying to discontinue it but for every child who is being helped, I believe there are at least three others who are still exhibiting all the ADHD behavior the medication was designed to reduce.

There have been studies done on placebo medications that show that in double blind studies, when neither the patient nor the doctor knew whether the patient was getting the actual drug or the placebo, the ones getting the placebo actually did better. Is it possible there is a placebo effect with some children?

If your child displays what you or the teachers believe is an excessive amount of energy, do your best to create situations where that child can expend energy. I have two boys who could both have been diagnosed with ADHD as children. They were very physical. Luckily, I lived in the country during a time when parents sent their kids out the door to simply “play.” I also spent a lot of my spare time running them around to different athletic events—YMCA soccer, wrestling, flag football, T-ball, basketball, you get the idea. This definitely helps.

Kids and Anger Management

I spoke with a woman over the weekend whose son is 10 years-old and she says has anger management issues. We didn’t really get into his specific behaviors but it caused me to reflect on some inherent differences between males and females.

I think that from very early on, boys and girls deal with their anger differently. As a general rule, girls need to talk about it to feel better, while boys need to work it out physically.

So if you have daughters, you want to teach them verbal skills to be able to work out their frustrations but with boys, you will need to provide opportunities for them to work out their anger physically—maybe with a punching bag, racquetball, running, or martial arts. The list of possibilities is truly endless but don’t expect your boys to “talk about it,” at least not until they’ve had the opportunity to release the anger in a safe physical manner.

Kids and Computers

This week, a mother contacted me about her child disobeying her limits with the home computer and sneaking time beyond her allowed limit.

In this situation, the mother had a need to protect and nurture her child. She wants to be able to loosely supervise her daughter’s time on the computer to possibly prevent her from falling prey to adults who victimize children by finding their victims on the Internet. She also wants to support her child’s need for physical activity so she restricts her computer usage and encourage outside physical activities instead. Is this mother wrong? Absolutely not.

Her daughter, on the other hand, has a desire to be on the computer. All her friends are on there and want to know why she isn’t. They don’t have limits while this girl does. This girl is quite accomplished on the computer and can build website pages for her friends. She also has a high need for freedom and doesn’t like being restricted and the computer is plain fun to her. She gets her love & belonging, power, freedom and fun needs met with the computer. Is she wrong? Absolutely not.

How does it get resolved? I think the way to resolve this issue is for the mother and daughter to sit down and talk about what each other needs and wants in the situation. If the child can convince her mother that she has the skills and knowledge necessary to protect herself from predators and she agrees to engage in other healthy activities each day, then her mother could relax her restriction on the amount of time she has on the computer.

In this case, and many others like it, the daughter wouldn’t be able to meet her freedom need with the computer if there wasn’t a rule to break. Sometimes we create the very behavior we are trying to stop with the rules we make. When a person has a high need for freedom, they will inevitably break the rules, particularly the ones they don’t like or that don’t make sense.

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever do and the stakes are incredibly high. We all do the best we can and hope for good results. Fortunately, when we have good intentions are kids generally survive in even thrive.

The Nuclear Energy Booster Club

Some Friendly Economics For The Nuclear Energy Booster Club

I would like to begin this brief exposition with a bizarre fairy tale that was confected by two well known energy experts, Amory Lovins and Joseph Romm, and published in Foreign Affairs (1992-93), which is the prestigious journal of the (United States) Council on Foreign Relations. It goes like this:

"For example, the Swedish State Power Board found that doubling electric efficiency, switching generators to natural gas and biomass fuels and relying upon the cleanest power plants would support a 54 per cent increase in real GNP from l987 to 2010 - while phasing out all nuclear power. Additionally, the heat and power sector's carbon dioxide output would fall by one-third, and the costs of electrical services by nearly $1 billion per year. Sweden is already among the world's most energy-efficient countries, even though it is cold, cloudy and heavily industrialized. Other countries should be able to do better.

I called that statement completely wrong the first time I saw it, while in my new energy economics textbook (2007) I suggest that it and similar contributions are misleading bunkum. For example, there are a number of questions that must be answered in detail before biomass can unambiguously be classified a large- scale fuel of choice for the near or distant future. As for renewables such as solar and wind, and probably hydrogen, they will undoubtedly increase in quality and quantity, but it will not be at the expense of nuclear.

As David Schlageter pointed out in the important forum EnergyPulse (2008), "Renewable energy sources only supplement the electric grid with intermittent power that rarely matches the daily electrical demand." He continues by saying that "In order for an electric system to remain stable, it needs large generators running 24/7 to create voltage stability. Wind and solar generation are not on-line when needed to meet energy demand, and therefore to help decrease system losses." In the promised land of wind energy, Denmark, voltage stability is attained by drawing on the energy resources of Sweden and Germany (and perhaps Norway). The Danes pay for the imported electricity, but not for the stability.

Every member of the nuclear booster club, to include myself, should make it his or her business to memorize the quotations in the previous paragraph, because they provide an excellent contradiction to the tiresome delusion that it is economically feasible to largely supplant nuclear energy with 'renewables'. They also suggest why - with electric demand on the verge of increasing faster than supply in many parts of the world - more nuclear capacity is now scheduled for introduction than at any time during the past 3 decades.

Deeper Meanings

For those readers who have been exposed to secondary school algebra, the above reference to things like voltage stability is superfluous. Sweden and Norway produce, on the average, the lowest cost electricity in the world. Norway, however, generates almost all its electricity with hydro, which is generally recognized as the lowest-cost power source, while Swedish electricity is produced in almost equal amounts by hydro and nuclear. As I show in a forthcoming paper (2008), with this as a background, elementary algebra indicates that the unit cost of Swedish nuclear power is equal to the unit cost of Norwegian (and Swedish) hydro. This is not a welcome conclusion for many pseudo-scholars.

But what about nuclear waste, which is repeatedly portrayed as a malicious and unavoidable cost of nuclear based electricity because, ostensibly, it will have to be locked up for hundreds of thousands of years? An argument that is sometimes presented however is that the costbenefit of no carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from nuclear facilities. For instance, the International Energy Agency has calculated that for France - the country with the largest production of nuclear energy (as a per cent of the total output of electric power) - the average person is responsible for 6.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which e.g. is one-third of the U.S. average. of disposing of nuclear waste is balanced by the

The cost-benefit trade-off mentioned just above is probably worth remembering, however I prefer for students (and anybody else) to inform me that France intends to treat its 'waste' as a potential fuel, and to explain why. (A similar strategy has been proposed in the UK by their energy minister.) For that reason a law has been passed in France stipulating that toxic waste is to be stored in such a way that it can be comparatively easily accessed and recycled if, at some point in the future, "new" technologies appear which will allow it to be used as a satisfactory input in the nuclear fuel cycle.

The latter provision is, as the reader might guess, partially intended to appease or possibly bewilder nuclear sceptics, because technology is already available for recycling this 'déchet', and in the event that the price of newly mined and processed uranium escalates, it would almost certainly be utilized without further debate. Of course, as noted by many comments to EnergyPulse, few persons who work with or near uranium believe that there will be a shortage of this commodity in the foreseeable future, even if the forthcoming nuclear revival eventually assumed the dimensions of a Manhattan Project.

There are occasionally long discussions of the cost of nuclear relative to the cost of renewables in the technical literature. An item that frequently appears is the capacity factors of windmills and solar generators. In simple terms, the capacity factor gives the amount of energy (in e.g. kWh) that is actually obtained, as compared to that made available if maximum output (= 'nameplate' capacity x time) were realized. It appears that in the U.S. wind generation works at maximum efficiency about one-third of the time, but this is confusing. With capacity factors between 0.25 and 0.35, the energy actually obtained as a percentage of maximum energy is less than one-half for many long periods.

It might also be useful to cite some figures for the cost of nuclear relative to gas and coal. The Economist (July 9, 2005) presents estimates from several sources for average electricity costs. For German utilities the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) gives 1.5 cents/kwh for nuclear, 3.1-3.8 cents for gas, and 3.8-4.4 cents for coal. Similarly, they give 1.7 cents/kwh for nuclear in the US, 2 cents for coal, and 5.7 cents for gas. The International Energy Agency (IEA), employing a discount rate of 5%, argues that nuclear is $21-31/Mwh, while gas ranges from $37-60/Mwh. Other sources (e.g. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Britain's Royal Institute of International Affairs) disagree, however I specifically make a practice of ignoring everything originating with the energy economists of MIT and the RIIA, especially the latter, and advise everyone reading this to do the same.

So much for cost, but what about price of nuclear electricity - especially to private enterprises and households? In the case of Sweden, the low cost of nuclear and hydro power, and fairly smart regulation, made it possible to provide electricity to the industrial sector at perhaps the lowest price in the world. This being the case, nothing is more offbeat than hearing about the "subsidies" paid the nuclear sector. Cheap electricity meant the establishment of new enterprises, and just as important the expansion of existing firms. The tax income generated by these activities, and used for things like health care and education, more than compensated taxpayers (in the aggregate) for any 'subsidies' that might have been dispensed by the government.

An antithetical situation may prevail for wind and biofuels. In Germany the energy law guarantees operators of windmills and producers of solar energy an above-market price for power for as long as 20 years. This is an explicit subsidy, although it may be both economically and politically optimal due to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. More important, inexpensive electricity for plug-in hybrids is made available.

A more complex subsidy involves the exploitation of biofuels. Research newly carried in the United States, and reported in the influential journal Science, claims that almost all biofuels used today result in more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the pollution directly and indirectly caused by producing these 'green' fuels is taken into consideration. In addition, there would be a substantial loss of 'consumer surplus' throughout the world due to a likely increase in food costs. Some of the intricacies of this important issue have been examined on an elementary level by Clay Ogg (2008).

In these circumstances, it might be argued that France's total acceptance of nuclear power makes a great deal of sense. As noted in the Financial Times (October 6, 2006), nuclear power has provided "an abundance of cheaply-produced electricity, made the country a leader in nuclear technology worldwide and reduced its vulnerability to the fluctuations of the turbulent oil and gas markets." France can also supply some electricity to neighbouring countries, which helps counterbalance the short sighted and unthinking foolishness being promoted by the European Union's directors and its Energy Directorate.

Strange Behaviour

I'm a social scientist, Michael. That means I can't explain electricity, or anything like that, but if you want to know about people I'm your man.
--J.B. Handelsman in Cartoonbank.com (The New Yorker Collection, 1986)

My situation is somewhat different, Michael. I knew enough about electricity to work on power lines for the U.S. Army during a brief period, and later to design terminal installations for the U.S. Navy, but although I have taught social science (i.e. economics) in 14 universities, I am still unable to understand why so many people are willing to risk the economic futures of themselves and their families because of the drivel being put into circulation by persons with a psychotic hatred of technological excellence, although they are quite capable of enjoying its material advantages. Something to be aware of here is that the rich will never be without reliable and plentiful energy, regardless of its availability or lack thereof to the less fortunate. One of the reasons that they will never be without it is that they are fully aware of its importance.

Perhaps the clearest argument for nuclear power has been presented by Rhodes and Beller (2000), which is similar to the basic contention of this article. They say that "Because diversity and redundancy are important for safety and security, renewable energy sources ought to retain a place in the energy economy of the century to come." The meaning here is clear, especially if you add that we probably will never possess what is known in intermediate economic theory as the optimal amount of nuclear power. But they do state that "nuclear power should be central….Nuclear power is environmentally safe, practical and affordable. It is not the problem - it is one of the solutions."

Making Your Home Energy Efficient Adds Up To Big Savings

Government statistics report that conserving energy costs in the home can save a household several hundred, even several thousand, dollars per year on their utility bills. Replacing your older appliances and elements of your home’s structure, such as older windows and doors, with more energy-efficient alternatives, such as products that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines, is an important step to maximizing the amount of money you can save.

ENERGY STAR is a government program that identifies products – including appliances, home electronics, and home improvement products – that meet energy efficiency guidelines that exceed the minimum federal standards, as determined by the U.S. Department of Energy. You can identify a product that meets the organization’s guidelines by looking for the signature blue ENERGY STAR logo.

The ENERGY STAR program began as a voluntary labeling tool to "identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." It started with the labeling of computers and monitors and more than a decade later, has expanded to identify all types of products used in homes and offices that conserve energy. The result: Consumers and businesses have saved billions of dollars since the program began – $12 billion in 2005 alone.

Energy-efficient appliances – such as refrigerators and freezers, clothing washers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers and window air conditioning units – can cut consumer utility bills in half when compared with standard models. And home improvement products with an ENERGY STAR rating – such as vinyl replacement windows, doors, skylights and siding – help to better maintain your home’s temperature control, cutting heating and cooling costs anywhere from $20 to $400 per year.

If you’ve been searching for a product in any one of the more than 40 categories rated by ENERGY STAR, you may have come across the organization’s blue logo. That seal of approval indicates that the item can perform as well as, or better than, comparable products, but save you more money than if you purchased a less energy-efficient option.

A refrigerator meeting ENERGY STAR’s energy conservation guidelines today: Uses 40% less energy than models sold in 2001, saves its owner 15% in energy costs when compared with other models (freezers save 10%) and compact models, with volumes less than 7.75 square feet, save 20%. A washing machine that meets ENERGY STAR guidelines: Saves its owner up to $110 per year, requires 50% less energy than standard washing machines, uses up to 50% less water and has more efficient spinning cycles to reduce drying time.

Energy-efficient appliances provide an obvious cost savings for a household’s energy expenses. And other products that meet ENERGY STAR standards, such as vinyl replacement windows, doors, skylights and siding, make a significant contribution to keeping those costs down as well. Replacing your existing windows and siding with newer, better designed vinyl replacement windows and insulated siding can quadruple the insulation value of your home and save an average of 30% on your utility bills.

In addition to saving money, vinyl replacement windows with this rating create a more comfortable living environment by eliminating drafts, blocking heat, Offering protection from sun damage and reducing interior condensation on windows. In the winter, energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows keep the interior glass warmer for better temperature control. And the warmer the window, the less interior condensation that, over time, can damage your window sill and paint job, and encourage mold growth.

In the summer, these windows also block 45 to 70% of the sun’s heat and provide "sunscreen" to your home by blocking ultraviolet light that can reduce fading up to 75% without compromising visible light.

Whether you are looking to add to the beauty of your home and lower your energy bills by installing vinyl replacement windows, or you want to make a smart decision when choosing your next dishwasher or window air conditioning unit, products that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines offer an economical alternative that leaves more money in your pocket.

Monstrous Content Of Monster Energy Drink

After a hard day’s work, you feel like you have lost all your body energy. You just want to rest on your couch or bed and take a sleep, yet you still have activities you need to accomplish. You have to report on your regular exercise routine on a nearby health gym. After which, you will be having dinner with your husband or wife later on. Just how you will handle these activities if you are running out of energy?

Every one of us is releasing energy everyday. We use our stored body energy derived from foods that we eat first thing in the morning and throughout the day in order to mobilize our bodies on performing our daily task, whether in the office, school, gym, or anywhere. In addition, energy keeps our minds active as well so that we can think and act quickly on different tasks involved.

Aside from the foods that are the primary source of our body, there are also energy-boosting beverages that you can drink to replenish the energy that has been lost due to everyday activities. There are different varieties of energy drinks available in the market, and one of which is the Monster energy drink. Of what it is and other attributes of this popular energy drink will be discussed in the preceding sections of this article. Read on and learn more about the “monstrous effect” of Monster energy drink.

About Monster Energy Drink

Monster energy drink is manufactured by Hansen Beverage Company situated on Corona, California. It was among the pioneers of drinks that have marketed their products on a 16-ounce can, which is twice as large as the regular bullet-size energy drink, yet offered in the same price. Presently, Monster energy drink market is now on most convenience stores and supermarkets within the United States and Canadian territories.

The packaging of Monster energy drink, in case you do not see it yet, is black 16-ounce can with the neon green-colored letter “M” (the logo for Monster energy drink) shaped like a claw. In addition, it has also a green pull tab located on the top of the can, making it easier for you to drink the contents without exerting too much effort on opening it.

Monster Varieties

There are two basic varieties of Monster energy drink. These two are the following together with their ingredients and nutritional contents:

1. Classic Monster Energy Drink

a.Ingredients:
i.Carbonated water;
ii.Glucose;
iii.Citric acid;
iv.Sucrose;
v.Natural flavoring;
vi.Taurine;
vii.Sodium citrate;
viii.Panax ginseng root extract;
ix.Potassium sorbate;
x.Niacinamide;
xi.Caffeine;
xii.Ascorbic acid;
xiii.Sodium benzoate;
xiv.Potassium;
xv.Guarana seed extract;
xvi.Sodium chloride;
xvii.I-carnitine;
xviii.Inositol;
xix.Pyridoxine hydrochloride; and
xx.Riboflavin

b. Nutritional Content:

i.Serving size is 8 fl oz;
ii.2 servings per container;
iii.100 grams calories;
iv.26 grams sugar;
v.60 milligrams vitamin C;
vi.1.7 milligrams Riboflavin;
vii.20 milligrams niacin;
viii.2 milligrams vitamin B6;
ix.6 milligrams vitamin B12;
x.180 milligrams sodium;
xi.1000 milligrams taurine;
xii.200 milligrams panax ginseng; and
xiii.2500 milligrams energy blend.

2. Low-Carb Monster Energy Drink

a. Ingredients- the same as the classic Monster energy drink

b. Nutritional content:

i.Serving size is 8 fl oz;
ii.2 servings per container;
iii.10g calories;
iv.3g total carbs;
v.3g sugars;
vi.60 mg vitamin C;
vii.1.7 mg riboflavin;
viii.20 mg niacin;
ix.2mg vitamin B6;
x.60 mcg vitamin B12;
xi.180mg sodium;
xii.1000mg taurine;
xiii.20 mg panax ginseng; and
xiv.2500 mg energy blend.

Once you have drink Monster energy drink, you will notice the improvement of your stamina as well as your physical performance. So, what are you waiting for? Pick a can of Monster energy drink today and replenish your body with energy!

Energy Efficient Home Improvements

Rising energy costs affect every homeowner. If you are planning a home improvement project, it's important to look at ways to incorporate energy efficient changes as well as merely cosmetic ones. The money you invest today can quickly pay for itself with savings on monthly utility costs, and on your mortgage as well.

Of course, it takes money to save money, and energy efficient home improvements do require a certain amount of cash outlay. Even if you don't have the budget on hand, there are options available to you. If you are planning on renewing or refinancing your mortgage, talk to your bank about borrowing a little extra to invest in making your home more energy wise. Energy efficient home improvements will immediately lower your monthly energy bills, and the interest on home equity loans and home mortgages is usually tax deductible.

Energy Efficient Mortgages

Another good option is to consider an Energy Efficient Mortgage. Owning a car involves real costs like maintenance and operating expenses; the same holds true for a home. Rising utility expenses must be factored into the costs of owning a home. An Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) can increase your comfort and save you money whether you are buying, selling, refinancing or remodeling your home. These plans can be applied to most home mortgages, and provide special benefits to borrowers who are buying energy efficient homes or are planning to install energy efficient improvements. Homeowners with lower utility bills have more money in their pocket at the end of each month, and are able to allocate a larger portion of their income to housing expenses.

There are many benefits to financing your energy efficient home improvements through an EEM:

* Qualifying for a larger loan amount allows you to purchase a better, more energy efficient home.
* You can finance your cost-effective energy saving measures as part of your mortgage.
* Older homes can be improved and updated to become more comfortable and efficient
* Stretch your debt-to-income qualifying ratio with a loan for energy-efficient homes.
* Increase your overall buying power.

Other Financing Options

Many utility providers and energy-related businesses are now offering loans and incentives for property owners to install energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems, insulation, windows and other energy efficiency improvements.

Further, utility companies are beginning to offer a range of improvements to help customers enjoy greater efficiency. In the United States, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) offers a list of member company programs that offer efficiency services to homeowners, businesses and industrial plants.

More energy efficient services and ideas are available a number of websites, including the National Energy Affordability and Accessibility Project (NEAPP) site.

If you're thinking of renovating, make energy efficient home improvements your first priority. Your monthly savings will quickly make up for the initial building costs, and you'll be helping to preserve our priceless energy resources.

Fat Burning Cardio Workouts with Heart Rate Monitors

When it comes to weight loss the first thing many people think about is that they have to do tons of cardio. Many people spend hour after hours counting the calories burned on their treadmill. Others are using a heart rate monitor to stay in their fat burning zone for hours hoping the fat will burn away. One of the number one questions I get is "I do 6 hours of cardio a week and can't lose a pound." With proper hear rate monitor training, a person can optimize their workout to raise their metabolism and burn more fat not just during your workout, but all day long.

To understand heart rate training, we first have to understand how our bodies produce energy. We have two major processes that produce energy within our bodies. First, our aerobic metabolism utilizes oxygen combined with carbs and fat to produce our long lasting energy and the energy you are using to read this article. Your second way you produce energy is anaerobically. Your anaerobic metabolism creates energy for short durations of intense activity. Your only source of energy for your anaerobic metabolism is carbohydrates in your blood stream or carbs stored in your muscle cells. So aerobic burns fat and carbs, and anaerobic burns carbs only.

Proper heart rate training has three distinct training zones each designed to challenge your metabolism to become faster and more efficient which leads to burning more fat. Most people only exercise in one of them. When we train in the same zone everyday our body adapts to that workout and we stop getting the weight loss and fat loss we are after. To optimize your fat burning results we want to do each zone's workout once a week.

To create your optimal fat burning heart rate zones we have to find your anaerobic threshold. Your anaerobic threshold is the point at which your physical activity becomes so intense that your body is unable to produce enough energy aerobically. Your anaerobic metabolism kicks in to produce more energy to continue the activity. During intense cardio workouts both your aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms are producing energy to keep you moving. Online personal training website Liveleantoday.com utilizes a customized online profile to find your anaerobic threshold and create your fat burning heart rate zones. If you have the ability, the best test for your anaerobic threshold is a treadmill test where you are hooked up to an oxygen mask connected to a metabolic cart. The most common place to get this test done is at certain universities around the country.

Fat Burning Zone

The first zone (zone 1) for optimal fat burning cardio consists of working out at a moderate intensity level. You want to workout at an intensity that you can sustain for long periods of time, greater than 30 min. consistently. With training, it is good to work up to consistent cardiovascular exercise for 60 min. The goal in zone 1 is to train your body to burn fat efficiently. Don't be so concerned about how many calories you burn during the workout. A proper fat burning zone workout trains your metabolism to burn more fat by efficiently training your body to release more fat out of your fat cells all day long while you are not exercising.

Anaerobic Threshold Zone

For the second zone (zone 2), we want to train as close as we can to our anaerobic threshold. A measure to find this point is the highest constant heart rate you can sustain for 15-20 min. The goal of zone 2 is to train your aerobic metabolism to burn energy as fast as it can. Your metabolism then adapts and you burn more energy 24 hours a day. Zone two is the workout that I see that every exerciser skips. Most people either spend all their time in the easy zone 1 or do high intensity training all the time which we are going to talk about next. Working out at the moderately high intensity in zone 2 is essential to training our aerobic metabolism which is our major source of energy all day.

High Intensity Zone

The third zone for optimal fat burning cardio is training at high intensities (zone 3). Another name for this zone is interval training. Interval training is where we workout for short burst of time, 1-3 min., and then walk or rest for short bursts of time, and then repeat the high to low sequence again. Zone 3 workouts train your body to produce energy greater than it has ever done before for short durations of time. It is more important about the rate of burning energy than total calories. Which means the faster you go the more calories you burn in a short period of time the better. One key to interval training is you have to be able to repeat the same speed and heart rate for each interval. Often people train to hard for the first interval and though their heart rate goes up they slow their speed down with each interval. Zone 3 workouts are considered the most efficient way to raise your metabolism and burn more fat. You actually burn 100% carbs during the workout as a source of energy. People that do consistent interval training on a weekly basis burn more fat 24 hours a day, even on days they don't exercise.

Each zone has key aspects to your total fat burning program. An optimal program consists of workouts in all three zones each week. Every person's heart rate is going to be different for each zone. Liveleantoday.com uses it customized profile to create the individualized heart rate zones to optimize your fat burning workouts. Heart rate zones between people can vary by over 20 beats, so training at your friend's zone doesn't work. Start training at all three zones each week and start burning more fat 24 hours a day.

Balance your Energy with Yoga

From energy drinks to energy bars, energy is something sought by people each day. Everything is made up of energy. Energy is pulsation - a pulsation that moves in a wave-like rhythm flowing up and flowing down. We may think we need to grab for energy outside of us in order to have more energy inside to function. What we really need is to learn how to balance the energy that is pulsing within us. While it may seem easy and convenient to purchase an energy product on the way to work, consuming it as you sit in traffic, quick energy fixes only lead to crashes later on. Instead, balance your energy with yoga a natural way to keep you invigorated throughout your day.

Practicing yoga is a great way to energize your day. Yoga helps release tension and clear blockages, allowing energy to flow freely, creating an overall sense of vitality and well-being. Yoga poses don't create energy, they release energy and they also keep us from expending energy in activities that don't do anything for us. Often we have so much tension stored in our bodies that we are forced to use our energy for support. If we can release that tension, we will be free to use this energy for whatever we really want to do.

Yoga helps you Manage Stress

Stress is a natural part of life’s pulsation. Stress can be motivating or disabling. Poor stress management drains energy out of the body, leaving you tired and unmotivated. Yoga helps you manage the accumulation of stress by helping you consciously release it.

The mindfulness aspect of yoga trains the mind to focus on body sensations, to bring the body-mind back into synch. Naturally stress begins to rapidly diminish. Restoration and rejuvenation arise from the body's ability to self-regulate as the mind-body duality diminishes.

Yoga Tones Muscles

Life is movement and movement is life - how we move can bring balance or imbalance to our muscle tone. The practice of connecting to your breath stimulates the body’s natural intelligence to move into alignment when performing yoga poses. Therefore, the integration in the body develops balanced muscle tone and increased energy. A person’s energy level is dictated by their metabolic rate, the rate at which their body is able to convert substances into energy. The expedience of this rate is based on a person’s metabolism, a process that is contingent on their muscle mass; a person with more muscle tone will have a vastly higher metabolism than someone who has a small amount of muscle mass. In other words, a person with good muscle tone will have much more energy that someone whose muscular tone is minimal.

Yoga Stimulates Blood Flow

Yoga stimulates a person’s body into an open highway, unclogging avenues through which blood, oxygen, and nutrients - all elements of energy - can travel. The way yoga does this is by cultivating balanced action when performing yoga poses... Balanced action is when we engage enough muscular energy to create stability and strength in a pose balanced with organic energy, extension through the bones, to create freedom in the joints. The breath always leads the way- it is what fuels the vehicle of the body into contraction and expansion of the body’s natural pulsation.

Balanced action helps your body to become flexible. Because a person may have a restriction that they are unaware of, gaining flexibility helps energy get to its destination with ease. Breathing, along these lines, helps oxygenate the blood, helping drive the life force of energy to muscles, organs, and any part of the body that is need of some reserves.

Yoga is Vitality

Yoga provides a direct route for tapping into your true self: a self that, by nature, is fluid and vital, not rigid and dull. All yoga postures are expressions of your true self. When the postures are practiced with mindfulness and meaning they naturally shift you out of a habitual negative rut or help you celebrate the joy that you brought to the mat. Yoga brings self awareness to our habitual patterns that either support the expression of one’s true heart or not. From this place of clarity we can then make life-affirming choices.

People can find energy in many things - protein shakes, energy powders, even energy pills - but yoga remains one of the most natural and effective ways to balance the energy in your body, giving you the ability to make the most of each and every day.

About us: TWISTED is a medical yoga studio at the Center for Osteopathic Medicine in Boulder, Colorado. Twisted integrates osteopathic medicine, Hatha yoga and mindfulness practices to teach optimal balance between physical, mental, and emotional health. It aims to educate and help people to live a healthy life from the inside out. Rehabilitation programs offer a comprehensive treatment regime for the whole being,empowering each person one breath at a time to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential

Take Advantage of Your Child's Energy Levels

“Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.”
-Josh Billings

If parents want to be able to make best use of time with their children, then it is crucial for a parent to start becoming alert to the state that their children are in. Tired? Satisfied? Bored? His shoe hurts him? She has a stomachache from the spaghetti? And so on....This applies particularly during the time that children are playing with toys. They want to be happy. And you want them to be happy too..

Here’s one way of looking at it: it’s a bit like dealing with a baby. Your baby cries. So you figure, usually and probably it’s one of four things. One, the baby is hungry. Two, the baby needs a diaper change.Three, the baby is tired. Or four, the baby wants to be held. You would probably test each of these out to see if the baby will stop crying. What’s happening here is a continual process of trying to figure out and be sensitive to the the baby’s needs. Right? So we are dealing with a sensitivity to the child, and a willingness to experiment to find out exactly what the baby needs. Once the thing is done (for example, changed a dirty diaper and put on a clean one) and the baby stops crying, and is now smiling and gurgling, you think: “Bingo! I did the right thing there!”.

So the checklist is a key to a parent’s success, because it provides the parent with the various possibilities of dealing with a baby’s (or child’s) needs.

As babies turn into toddlers who turn into pre-schoolers who turn into kids (and so on), their needs naturally get more sophisticated. In order to keep up with their kids, parents need to increase their checklist. Not only that, but to change the checklist as the kids grow, as some needs get taken off the list and others get put on. So it helps to start off with this idea of a checklist for each of your children. It can be simply a mental checklist. For those who are more organized, they can write it down.

An example of a checklist for a 6 year old can be:

1. Parents
2. Food
3. Friends
4. Clothes
5. Sleep/Fatigue
6. Homework
7. Entertainment
8. Siblings & Family (relationships)

For each of these items you can ask yourself- is my child happy and fulfilled in these areas? What areas does the child need help in? It would be difficult for them to be having fun playing if they have problems elsewhere.

In dealing with each of these items, here’s an example of dealing with a checklist item: Energy Levels/Fatigue: Let’s take a closer look at this. Children naturally have routines during the day. Wake-up, get dressed, breakfast, school, after-school activities, suppertime, homework, evening snack, bedtime. Yet you cannot expect children to have the same energy level in the afternoon after a long day of school/play as they would have in the morning when they are fresh from a full night of sleep. Many experienced parents know that when children are tired, especially little children, they just do not function as well in being able to do activities, in listening to their parents, or even at times to behave normally (!!). So this is a good item for the checklist: How tired is your child?

“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.”
John Burroughs

For parents, the same can apply for the time spent with their children! Parents who want to get the most out of being able to build relationships with their children should consider (as difficult as it is) to schedule their day around the times that children have high energy levels.

An example of a good time to be with the children is after supper. Often children are well-fed, and the time spent sitting at the dinner table allows them to recharge their batteries. They are refreshed and well-fed and ready for some evening activity.

The time that is well-spent with children is like depositing a lot of value into a bank account of love and trust with your child. And what could be more valuable than that?

“Life is half spent before we know what it is.”
George Herbert

Monster Energy Drink Side Effects

Two Faces Of Monster Energy Drink Side Effects—ally Or Enemy?

For those individuals who have tried Monster energy drink, for sure they have experienced its monstrous effect. Designed to replenish lost body energy, Monster energy drink is really a trusted ally when it comes to activities or task which requires thousands of calories to be used. Whether you are an athlete, student, or working man, such energy drink is relatively helpful when it comes to increasing your stamina and improving your performance, no matter how many calories your body is burning.

However, along with the growing popularity of Monster energy drinks to the market, there is also growing concerns over the potential side effects of taking it. Others are saying that there are ingredients in the energy drink, although considered to be a legal stimulant, which can create adverse effects once its intake is at large quantities.

In discussing the side effects of energy drinks (not just only Monster brand), there are two important concepts that you need to remember. These are as follows:

1. First concept is that every energy drink has its own side effects, based on the mixture of its ingredients. In the case of Monster energy drink, it has its own combination of ingredients that creates various side effects. Take a look on the following discussions:

a. Monster energy drinks has high levels of carbohydrate contents. It makes more difficult for the body to absorbed foods and necessary nutrients into the bloodstream. There are also cases where difficulty in absorbing food and nutrients results to distress and gastro-intestinal problems.

b. Since the absorption of nutrients is slower, there is a large chance that the fluid absorption rate of the body is also slower. Difficulty in natural re-hydration of the body during workouts can cause danger to his/her health. Athletes, who lose great quantities of fluids during games and practices, should be aware of this circumstance for they are one the target markets of Monster energy drink.

c. The sugar content of Monster energy drink poses certain side effects. It causes so-called laxative effect as well as sudden crash in energy level when sugar leaves the bloodstream. Although it is not necessarily a dangerous effect, but it can create other adverse effects.

d. Excessive intake of Monster energy drink can produce severe health problems. You are aware that one of the active ingredients of Monster is caffeine. Higher caffeine contents mean more energy it can give. Since caffeine is a stimulant, it can cause problems in your sleeping habits (insomnia) and can trigger several ailments such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

2. Side effects are not just about negative impacts. Remember that the boost of energy that Monster gives you is considered to be side effect already. The feeling of invigoration after exercising or doing a heavy-duty task is another side effect. Therefore, side effect can be both positive and negative.

Before taking Monster energy drink, you must be aware of the active ingredients as well as the side effects mentioned above. It will help you evaluate if energy drink is really meant for you. Studying the side effects as well as your health condition can assure you that you are on safe hands. Although it is a trusted ally in providing the increased energy for your body, it can also be your worst enemy as well.

The Energy Policy Of This Nation

What Movie May Have Helped Shape The Energy Policy Of This Nation

The Three Mile Island accident was the most
significant in the history of the American
commercial nuclear power generating industry.
Living in Pennsylvania at the time of the
accident, I remember it as if it was yesterday.
It began on Wednesday,the 28TH of March 1979.It
took local, state and federal officals five days
to decide what to do with the residents of local
communities.

But on March 16th of that same year,just 12 days
before this incident at Three Mile Island in
Pennsylvania, a new movie "The China Syndrome"
had benn realised.

The China Syndrome is a thriller film which tells
the story of a reporter and cameraman who discover
safety coverups at a nuclear power plant. It stars
Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, Scott
Brady, James Hampton, Peter Donat, Richard Herd,
and Wilford Brimley.

Basically the storyline of this movie is about a
reporter who finds what appears to be a cover-up
of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant.

TV news reporter Kimberly Wells (Fonda) and her
cameraman Richard Adams (Douglas) visit the
Ventana nuclear power plant outside Los Angeles as
part of a series of news reports on energy
production. While viewing the control room from an
observation room, the plant goes through a reactor
SCRAM. Shift supervisor Jack Godell (Lemmon)
notices what he believes to be an unusual
vibration during the SCRAM. Checking their gauges,
the control room staff finds that water levels in
the reactor core have risen to high levels; they
begin opening relief valves in an effort to
prevent too much water from damaging the plant.

Eventually Godell takes matter into his own hands
and ends up dead after being shot by members of
the local swat team after he took over the control
room.

The implication that the company's security
people are willing to kill to silence a
whistleblower echoes allegations made about the
death of Karen Silkwood, who died in a 1974
automobile accident while on her way to meet with
a reporter to disclose nuclear power safety
violations.

In the film, a physicist says that the China
Syndrome would render "an area the size of
Pennsylvania" permanently uninhabitable. It
resulted, however, in no deaths or injuries to
plant workers or members of the nearby community.

However, following the event, the number of
reactors under construction declined every year
from 1980 to 1998. The TMI accident, along with
the release of this movie, had a psychological
effect on the nation. Before the accident, 70
percent of the general public approved of nuclear
power. After it, support for nuclear power across
the country fell to about 50 percent, where it
remained for decades.

Ambit Energy Review-Real Residual Income

Ambit Energy Review-Real Residual Income Opportunity or Fraudulent Scam

Discover The How Ambit Energy Home Based Business Opportunity Will Make You a “Residual Millionaire” and Create “Generational Wealth”!

That’s quite a statement for any company to make these days. But, it is exactly what Ambit Energy claims can be done if you follow the blueprint and compensation plan laid out for you.

Anybody knows, in order for that to happen, first, you must have a perfect product to be able to “Battle It Out” and compete in this treacherous marketplace.

Ambit Energy professes to have the “Perfect Product” that every household needs. Yes, that’s right; it is Energy (and Natural Gas).

Independent Ambit Energy Rep Jewel Brown states, “Thanks to deregulation and that fact that large monopolies have been broken up, I finally have a chance to create real residual and generational wealth that can be passed down to my children. I can actually get paid for work I do now in the future.”

In Jewel Brown’s opinion, capitalizing and starting a business in the utility industry makes perfect sense. Energy is what makes the world go around; we live with it and never want to live without it. So why not get paid for something we already use.

Here is Brown’s brief analysis of the signup process and getting setup in the business back office.

After putting up only $399 (with no annual renewal) and $19.95 (per month) for four personal company websites, first of all, it was refreshing that the initial upfront cash for such a prestigious business is so low. Expectations are moderate, but hopes of financial success are running at an all time high.

Setting up was a cinch and took only minutes. It was truly amazing discovering all the marketing tools in the back office, which made marketing and advertising easy to start making money immediately. Everything you need is available and ready to print in your back office. You also will receive a physical box of professional marketing goodies delivered directly to your door that are fantastic.

Here is an expert opinion of the compensation plan.

Simplicity is the name of Ambit’s game and to achieve maximum success it is best to start as a Marketing Consultant. As an Ambit Marketing Consultant, you can achieve fast quick start bonuses by immediately bringing in a small gathering of customers.

You may become a rep anywhere in the United States, but currently may only sign up as a customer in Texas and New York. Illinois is actually in its pre-launch phase and will be fully ready to activate in February of 2008, additional states will follow.

So, in order to achieve your first bonus (and this is subject to change) you must gather four customer points preferably in the first 24-48 hours.

At this point, you have already signed up as a rep and you already have your four websites which count for 2 customer points.

Next, this is really easy especially if you live in Texas or New York because you become you first customer for 1 customer point. It is ok if you don’t live in either state because now you just have to sign up someone who lives in those states.

Finally, sign up just one (or two if you do not live in Texas or NY) family member(s) or friend(s) which counts for one (or two) customer points to equal 4 customer points and “Bam” your first $100 bonus is direct deposited to your bank account (or you may choose to receive a check). (*Customers are subject to verification.)

To get your first promotion you must follow Ambit’s trademarked & blueprinted plan called “5-2-6”. This means you must gather five customers, two personally sponsored reps and six reps in your first group total and you are promoted to your first level of success as “Regional Consultant”.

As Marketing Consultant, when you sponsor you first two reps you want to make sure that each persons you have personally sponsored have there first four customer points and you will be paid $100 dollars for each MC.

Ok, when you hit the “5-2-6” you are promoted to RC you have 5 customer pts, 2 Personally sponsored reps, and you help your 2 get 2 personally sponsored reps for a total of six you have now increased you level of pay by $55 dollars on top on the $100 and the same efforts that are just basically being repeated.

There three more leadership levels for a total of four in all that increase your pay. Additionally there are:

• Leadership bonuses $190
• Customers Gathering Bonuses $400
• Personal Sponsoring Bonuses $100
• Residual Payout Levels (6)
• Monthly Energy Residuals $9-45
• Customer Residual Bonuses $2.00

With so many ways to get paid and make money it definitely proves that becoming a “Residual Millionaire” is truly possible.

In conclusion, the Ambit Energy opportunity has an astronomical potential to make an awesome income and it will sweep the nation across the internet. It is so simple; a newbie can run this business with ease. It is the “Best Choice” business for 2007, and the sooner one takes advantage and coming aboard the better the income potential will be. That is the key advantage to guarantee your success.

Join Ambit Energy with the Top Industry Leaders of this team such as Ronny Kirkland who has been in the business for a little over a year, but in the last 5 months have exploded his income to over $70,000+ of monthly residual income. To find out more information on this opportunity and how to change your financial future today, for tomorrow and many years to come please call Jewel Brown @ (209) 808-9363 or visit:

Boost Your Energy Levels

I've been taking a CoQ10 supplement every morning for a while now. I started taking it after reading about all of the heart health benefits it offers. CoQ10 is one of the most widely studied supplements in history. The japanese have been using it successfully since the '70s for its ability to keep the heart healthy and protect it after surgery.

Yes, its great to know you're keeping your heart healthy but its something that happens behind the scenes. its hard to keep taking any supplement when you can't see a noticeable effect in your every day life. So what keeps me taking it every day? My energy levels are noticeably higher now. What a nice side effect of taking a CoQ10 supplement! After taking it for only a few days, you'll realize that you have more energy than you used to. I'm not talking about the jittery kind of boost you get from coffee that leaves you feeling drained two hours later. You get a nice sustained feeling of extra energy that lasts all day long. You'll have more stamina to enjoy activities too.

Let me give you a little background information about CoQ10 just so you know what it is and why it works so well to promote energy and health.

Besides helping to keep your heart healthy, CoQ10 (also known as CoEnzyme Q10 or Ubiquinone) is also a potent antioxidant and energy booster within all cells, particularly in the heart and brain. its in every cell in your body and is an essential component of the mitochondria, where it helps to metabolize fats and carbohydrates and maintain cell membrane flexibility. CoQ10 is also involved in the production of several key enzymes that are used to create ATP, which is burned by your body for energy, and in the energy transfer between mitochondria and cells. Without CoQ10, you would not be able to walk around or even raise your arm.

Your chances of getting run down due to a lack of CoQ10 rise dramatically as you age. Blood levels of CoQ10 decrease after age 21 and by the age 80 may be lower than at the time of birth. People who suffer from heart disease are likely to have abnormally low levels of CoQ10 in their body. If you take cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) they can be robbing your cells of coQ10, making your more vulnerable to the muscle-weakening side-effects of these drugs. People who take statin drugs sometimes take 100-200 milligrams of CoQ10 daily as insurance against the possibility of developing muscle pain and weakness from lack of coQ10, that can result in disability and even death,

So that's three reasons why you might want to take a CoQ10 supplement. One, its good for the heart. Two, its great for promoting enhanced energy. And three, its a powerful antioxidant that helps to fight cellular damage caused by free radicals in your body.

One other point I'd like to mention is that when choosing a CoQ10 supplement, quality is very important. The highest quality CoQ10 in the world is produced in Japan where the Japanese government oversees a rigorous 16-step manufacturing process. You'll want to make sure your CoQ10 comes from Japan so you know you're getting the absolute best quality supplement you can get.

So if you want to take CoQ10 for your heart and its proven antioxidant properties, great. But I think you'll keep taking it when you see what it does for your energy levels.