The Five Practices for a Glittering Toothbrush

by Unknown
Toothbrushes – they have been busy cleaning our teeth for a long time now, around 5000 years. The science of cleaning teeth has been handed down through generations – From the ancient “chew stick” to ivory, wood, or bone handled devices having hog or boar bristles. But do we know how to take care of our toothbrushes? Although, there are many dentists and scientists who have asked this question time and again, but are there any dentists or scientists who have given an answer that normal Americans can relate to. This is where Dr. Gerry Curatola comes in to save the day. An oral health and wellness expert, Dr. Curatola puts forth some simple practices that are so simple that most people perhaps have never given a thought to them.
The remaining portion of this blog put forth these practices in a simple manner.
DISTANCE FROM THE TOILET: SIX FEET?
Is your toothbrush stored within a distance of six feet from your toilet? If it is, then you should change its location simply because a toothbrush which is kept within a distance of six feet from the toilet is susceptible to fecal matter and microbes which are harmful.
WHERE DO YOU STORE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH: A PLASTIC CONTAINER?
Did you know that plastic containers act as ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and microbes? You would be inviting all those nasty microbes to infect your teeth if you keep your toothbrush inside a plastic container.
A fabric toothbrush shield should be an ideal choice for storing your toothbrush. This choice is also a good one according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta which has recommended the use of fabric toothbrush shield for storing toothbrushes.
ARE YOU USING THE MICROWAVE FOR DISINFECTING YOUR TOOTHBRUSH?
You are certainly committing nothing short of a debacle if you are using the microwave for cleaning your toothbrush. Remember, toothbrushes these days are normally made from microwave-susceptible materials: Plastic, nylon or silicone. The bristles themselves are mostly made of nylon irrespective of brands. Extensive damage is done when toothbrushes are subjected to microwaves. Nylon bristles certainly become ineffective.
Furthermore, a plastic toothbrush inside a microwave can also lead to the creation of bisphenol-A (BPA), which is a chemical plastic notorious for causing a variety of health-related problems with cancer being one of them.
Take your dirty toothbrush and clean it by rinsing it with soap in lukewarm water. After that, store it inside a fabric toothbrush shield.
Ideally, you should keep yourself in the habit of buying a toothbrush at least four times in a year.
WAKE UP! THE TOOTHPASTE IS NOT A DISINFECTANT FOR THE TOOTHBRUSH!
Pondering over which brand to select? Will it be the one that you usually select? Will it be the new brand that seems quite promising by a cursory look at the product packaging and the product itself? Do not be intimidated by this triad of questions. Instead just invest some time and look at the advertising content present on the product itself or on those huge banners. Do they say that contain the word: antibacterial? There’s your one definite answer. Toothpastes which claim to be antibacterial should not be bought. Toothpastes have no impact on the brush and those antibacterial ones are not the actual guardians against harmful bacteria.
THE FRIENDSHIP OF EMULSIFIERS AND TOOTHPASTES IS NOT GOOD!
A fact about toothbrushes using toothpastes that are chemical-intensive is that they end up being harmful rather than being protective. Sodium lauryl sulfate and triclosan copolymer are some of the chemicals that should be watched out for.
Sodium lauryl sulphate is an emulsifier leads to irritation to the mouth and has been known to cause canker sores. Triclosan copolymer is an antibacterial and antifungal agent and can lead to an increase in the strains of resistant bacteria.
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Megathrust Earthquakes: The Horror!

by Unknown
11th March 2011, 2: 45 PM, local time Japan, a day, a time, a moment which saw what can be termed as the worst natural disasters for Japan – A magnitude-9 earthquake ruptured the fault line that spreads across 500 km along the northeastern coast of Japan. This earthquake was the fifth largest in the world as per some reports by eminent scientists. The earthquake was followed with a giant tsunami whose size was so overwhelming that the 18-feet tsunami walls near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was literally “drowned” by waves which were, according to some horrified eyewitnesses, around 25-feet high. The death toll still remains unconfirmed as of this day and so do the number of missing persons. The capital city of Tokyo was witness to swaying skyscrapers which were reputedly built with “earthquake-safety” mechanisms.
The above paragraph is by no means a proper account of the destruction that took place on 11th March 2011 but it certainly gives an idea about the destructive power of an earthquake. So it certainly makes sense to know about megathrust earthquakes and their potential power for untold destruction.
Residents of Seattle, one of the cities falling under the Pacific Northwest belt (A huge stretch from Northern California to Canada) along with Vancouver and California are standing right next to the gates of destruction.
Californians certainly need to start preparing for a megathrust earthquake on a proactive note. The San Andreas Fault is right next door for them and if a megathrust earthquake does take place (let’s hope it never does take place) then California will be the first city in the path towards absolute destruction.
These days, everyone is talking about the next megathrust earthquake and what is more alarming its possibility of taking place along the Pacific Northwestern belt. In other words, the poem of Hellenic savagery can be written right here.
The government has certainly been on a proactive note for preparing the general public for this possible megathrust earthquake. But have the preparations started too late? Authorities have started conducting mock-evacuation drills and situational-awareness about earthquakes has begun to be taught to children in schools. Emergency services are in full swing with trainings and preparations for the “big one.”
But can a megathrust earthquake really happen in USA? Well, a lot of people think that such a quake can indeed take place. The numbers do not seem to be too appalling. However, scientists are speculating that the chances for a megathrust earthquake in the near-future are quite high. According to them, the Cascadia subduction zone present underwater of the Pacific Northwest coast is on the verge of reaching their maximum tolerance point.
A subduction zone is a huge gash in the earth’s crust and is the zone where one of the tectonic plates making up the earth’s crust is pushed under the other. And a megathrust earthquake happens when the strain on the tectonic plate that is pushed under reaches the point where this plate slips to bulge upwards and slide suddenly.
Are there any corresponding effects? Yes, there are many and the one that strikes out the most goes by the name of Tsunami – A mammoth wave. A Tsunami takes place when the energy from the sliding motion results in a huge amount of energy getting transferred on to the sea bed and resulting in the corresponding creation of a wave having a magnanimous oscillation rate.
Hence, a deadly combination of a megathrust earthquake and a tsunami is certainly a troublesome aspect to worry about. And this combination is more likely to take place in a subduction zone. Hence, with the speculations now in place about a possible megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest in the Cascadia subduction zone the cause for concern is quite high.
  
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Does learning take place in multiple ways?

by Unknown
As a parent, I certainly would wonder about the best way in which my child can learn and move ahead. This mindset fortifies its place in those little grey cells dwelling within our craniums from the time our children start their formal education. A probable question that arises is that learning starts only from the time our children start their formal education?
Studies have shown the rampant stupidity of this question as many scientists and professors vouch for the fact that learning starts from infancy. Some of them, notably Dr. Rita Dunn and her husband Dr. Kenneth Dunn maintain that learning happens in multiple ways, or styles.
Dr. Rita Dunn is the Director of the Center for Study of Learning and Teaching Styles, St. John’s University, New York and Dr. Kenneth Dunn is the Professor and Coordinator, Educational Leadership Program, Department of Educational and Community Programs, Queens College, New York.
Together, they share nearly 25 years in the study and analysis of learning styles prevalent in the world today. According to them, the styles which are most commonly seen are:
  • Auditory
  • Visual
  • Tactile
According to their findings, learning starts right from infancy and the actions and reactions of infants give way to their preferred style of learning: Auditory, visual or tactile.
Infants who prefer the auditory style are more attuned to learning by hearing. Infants who are visual learners get attracted to motion, color, and shape. Infants who are tactile learners are ones who learn by quenching their curiosity about the world through crawling, standing and walking towards the objects of their attention.
The Dunns have in fact formulated a learning model called the Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Model which is designed on the basis of the theory that children learn in different ways and styles. The fact that this model is a valid one can be seen from its inclusion in the International Learning Styles Network.
Learning therefore does take place in different ways and another proponent to this theory would be the Felder-Silverman Learning Style Model. Formulated by Dr. Richard M. Felder and Dr. Linda K. Silverman, this model classifies the preferences of learners under the following dimensions:
  • Active learners and reflective learners
  • Sensing learners and intuitive learners
  • Visual learners and verbal learners
  • Sequential learners and global learners
The Index of Learning Styles (ILS) has been created as an online instrument for assessing the preferences of learners given in the aforementioned list. This model has been developed by Dr. Richard M. Felder and Barbara A. Soloman of the North Carolina State University. It goes without saying that the presence of this online instrument is statement of the fact that learning does take place in different ways.
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A Tornado: Know About It but Never Forget To Stay Prepared For It

by Unknown
A grim outset:
March 18th, 1925 – The Tri-State Tornado – 695 deaths
May 11th, 1953 – The Waco Tornado – 114 deaths
May 7th, 1840 – The Natchez Tornado – 317 deaths
April 5th, 1936 – The Tupelo Tornado – 216 deaths
April 6th, 1936 – The Gainesville Tornado – 203 deaths
April 9th, 1947 – The Woodward Tornado – 181 deaths
April 24th, 1908 – The Amite/Purvis/Pine Tornado – 143 deaths
June 12th, 1899 – The New Richmond Tornado – 117 deaths
June 8th, 1953 – The Flint-Beecher Tornado – 116 deaths
May 27th, 1986 – The St. Louis Tornado – 255 deaths
Note: Figures have been taken from: www.spc.noaa.gov
Do the figures tell the horrific tales and endless misery of countless families destroyed? There might not be a soul that would differ. However, for all those who still beg to differ I would request them to have a look at the next few lines.
May 20, 2013: Who can forget those evening hours of May 20, 2013 when the Moore Tornado wielded its destructive force across its path starting from the west side of Newcastle and then following a east-northeastward path across the city of Moore and certain parts of South Oklahoma city and ending at Lake Stanley Draper. Classified as an EF-5 (EF stands for Enhanced Fujita and refers to a tracking scale followed for measuring the intensity of tornadoes), this tornado ended the lives of 23 people and left its mark on many others. It was not the only terror that day because several other tornadoes made their presence felt in Stephens and Lincoln counties.
April 26, 1989: Perhaps the darkest day in the world when it comes to human deaths due to tornadoes. This day witnessed the appalling Daulatpur–Saturia tornado in Bangladesh taking around 1300 lives and causing destruction to the extent that in some places the existence of any building were made through skeletons of trees.
The title sure does make sense now after the information presented in the above paragraphs. The next few lines are a humble effort for laying down some of the basic rules required to be followed for surviving a tornado.
Tornado spotting: Unpredictability! This is the word that goes well with tornadoes. Because a tornado can happen at any time of the year and during a tornado a single twister can lead to twin twisters as well. A tornado also has quite an uncanny knack of changing its path hence a tornado heading west may suddenly change direction and head east.

Can a tornado be spotted at the time of formation? Yes! It is visible as a transparent funnel shape until the time it starts accumulating dust and debris.

Look out for the standard warning signs for a tornado: a dark, often greenish sky; a constant roar, somewhat resembling the sound of a freight train; a hailstorm; and large, dark, and low-lying clouds.
Preparation: The most important thing to remember while preparing is the element of reality. Preparation with a hyper-enthusiastic attitude or a reluctant attitude will not be helpful. One has to be realistic while preparing for a tornado.
Allocate specific tasks for your family members. For example, your son will be in charge of deciding the emergency meeting spot. Your daughter will have to take care of your pet dog while your father will be in charge of stocking the storm-shelter with emergency rations.
Note the following important points:
  • Do not forget to assign a family member with the tasks of switching of electricity mains, water, and gas.
  • Keep a first-aid kit (make sure it is not short of medical supplies).
  • Keep a flashlight and lots of batteries for it.
  • Get impact-resistant windows for your house.
  • Get doors having at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock with a 1-inch long bolt.
  • Get permanent wooden or metal stiffeners for your garage door.
  • Strengthen your roof covering and the sheathing beneath it so that they are capable of resisting high-velocity winds.
  • You may love your garden but replace the garden landscape with mulch and shredded bark and do away with gravel and rock.
  • Be a responsible and far-sighting gardener and trim the adjoining trees and shrubs. Cut down the branches trees that seem weak and therefore capable of breaking and falling on top of the roof of neighbor’s house or your house.
That “moment” before the tornado:

  • There are many precautionary acts depending on the geographical location but some of the common points are listed below.
  • Do not switch off the weather channel! Monitor the tornado-warning announcements made there and also on the local television and radio broadcasts.
  • Move loose furniture to a secure location (ideally the basement) and remove all grills from doors and windows
  • If you choose to stay within your house then lean a mattress against the wall of the room you are in
  • Get lots of flashlights and lots of batteries. Do not forget to get a hand-cranked/battery-operated radio too.
  • If you reside in a mobile home then do not waste time in making these preparations. Simply, drive quickly as you can to the nearest shelter you can find.

Moments after the tornado:

Listed down below are the most important points and considerations for you to take note of after a tornado:

In case, you had to leave your house then:

  • Do not forget to check for structural integrity of the house before going inside (i.e. check for the severity of the crack in walls, dangling wiring, broken window panes etc.)
  • DO NOT USE A CANDLE OR A LIGHTER IN CASE OF DARKNESS. LEAKING GAS MAY IGNITE WITH THE SLIGHTEST SPARK! Use a flashlight instead.
  • Get an electrician to check the electrical system and only after that turn on the lights!
  • Document a list of damaged items and create an inventory for evidence. Gather your insurance papers and go to the insurance office for damage claims.

This blog post does not claim to be an exhaustible document for tips on tornado survival. However, should a tornado ever strike within your vicinity and you should benefit from the information given here then my pen will have served its purpose.
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Bitcoin - What does the world think about it!!

by Unknown
Our super-ancient ancestors fought over clubs and shells – Our brother and sisters (do consider the word “us” from the species standpoint, i.e. “us” as in human beings) have been fighting over rectangular pieces of paper and circular-shaped objects made from gold, silver, and bronze. The fight still rages with the former being termed as a banknote while the latter being termed as a coin.
Now why did I give this financial-type snippet of a history lesson?
Simple – the human mind needs to get harbored in a methodical manner when taught something new. It would pain the fingers that are lucidly flowing across the keyboard while typing this blog if someone says that what’s new in money?
Bitcoin is what is new in good-old-money and technically it is termed as cryptocurrency.
The point of providing information is to enable human beings to use that information for either their benefit or enhancing their knowledge base. After all, the revolving planet that we call our dear-sweet-home houses lots of countries where lots of changes take place on a consistent basis. Hence, it does make sense to stay – as one says – with the pace of the changing world.
What is the latest change that has taken place in this ever-changing world? If I put it in absolutely layman terms then this change took place February 25, i.e. Tuesday in the early hours when Mt. Gox – one of the biggest exchanges for bitcoin – filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan.
Quantified information always gives a complete idea about the staggering situations that take place in the event of any landmark event. Hence, this paragraph is the correct platform for giving the reason for filing bankruptcy: A loss of nearly half a billion dollars worth of bitcoins. Quite an unfortunate event after hackers managed to hack the secure bitcoin system.
What is the impact of this change on a global scale? According to a news-portion posted on moneymorning.com the price of bitcoin went up to a humongous figure of 9.100% from December 2012 to December 2013.
The whole world is talking about this change because it has impacted most of the major economies of the world. Let’s see the responses of some economies of the world as examples:
USA: According to leading experts, bitcoin will probably limit the authority of the U.S Federal Reserve. This is an idea so revolting to the European Central Bank and the Internal Revenue Service that a meeting was actually held to determine the possible impact of the bitcoin crisis on the U.S. dollar. This meeting consisted of the former Secretary of State Advisor, the Vice President of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Communications Director of the International Crisis Group and many other well-known personalities from the world of macroeconomics. There have been reports of the meeting coming to a conclusion that the U.S. dollar will certainly have a tough time owing to this bitcoin crisis.
China: China, according to latest reports published in well-known online news websites and portals, has certainly seen something worthy to look for in the bitcoin crisis. A bitcoin retail store was opened by the Asia Nextgen Bitcoin Exchange (ANXBTC) exchange in the city of Hong Kong. China’s Beijing-based bitcoin exchange Houbi.com saw it daily-basis trading volume increase by 69% of the global trading volume. ANXBTC CEO Ken Lo certainly had an optimistic outlook when he said that Chinese markets are seeing a huge demand for this “cryptocurrency.” The reason being more and more number of people who are learning about bitcoins and then placing their preference more on them. In fact, according to the latest statistics present on bitcoinity – a tracking service website for tracking bitcoins – huobi.com is the market leader with a market share of 50.92% with 3.93M bitcoins. The numbers sure do tell a tale of enthusiasm among the Chinese people for bitcoins.
Japan: Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso showed forth a clear situation when he was reportedly to have said that the Japanese government is still trying to figure out a reason behind the collapse of Mt. Gox – probably one of the biggest bitcoin exchanges in the world. However the damage can’t be nullified and only actions that would prevent a reoccurrence can be taken now. According to latest reports, the Japanese government has been thinking along the same lines and has decided to formulate and implement trading rules for bitcoins, including imposition on taxation on bitcoin transactions.
France: Bitcoin Central, one of the leading bitcoin exchanges of France trading between bitcoins and Euros certainly put the situation in a lucid manner in terms of its statistics posted on its website: bitcoin-central.net. According to the latest stats, the trading pattern is following a downward trend with 0.86049433 BTC getting traded for an amount of 484.00000 €. (As per the stats displayed at 8: 47: 52 am on the website) However, Bitcoin Central has kept a cautious approach by entering into a partnership with payment-processor Aqoba and the French bank Credit Mutuel Arkéa. As per this partnership, security of bitcoins will be incorporated by creating customized bank accounts for users. Customization lies in the fact that the funds cannot be used for investments and the users will not get any overdraft features. This is certainly a secure implementation considering the fact that bank accounts in France are protected under Garantie des dépôts – the French equivalent of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in USA. According to this “deposit guarantee,” Euro deposits are liable for insurance coverage up to EU $ 10,000.
The situation sure has fetched a variety of responses and actions as can be seen from the examples given above. Time will be the guiding light here for all those who are thinking about the possible future of bitcoins. We certainly have time as our guide on the path of our query: Will bitcoin stay or fade away!
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From Treasure Island to the Port of Stockton: A short cruise of the Google’s Mystery Barge

by Unknown
It is still a mystery as to what exactly will the proposed barge of Google house. Will it function as a floating showroom showcasing the primary products of Google? Will it be a private showroom for high-end clients? Will it be a vessel floating across different ports and acting as an interactive technology domain for the general public?
The questions still remain unanswered however the latest development is that this mystery barge is on the move. This barge was currently stationed at Treasure Island – a man-made landmass near San Francisco – and will be moving to the Port of Stockton.
The reason behind the movement is said to be a regulatory order issued on Jan 31. According to this order, Google does not have building permits on Treasure Island.  
According to the Treasure Island Development Authority, the date on which the barge will have to leave port is March 7.
The current situation is such that neither Google nor the Port-of-Stockton are not available for comment.
0 comments

GPS Devices: Are They Still Required?

by Unknown
Travelers certainly have what it takes to make their way around the world with a smile and a relaxed brow. This is because there are smart phones present that provide lots of interesting features: Camera, Video calling, Internet browsing for example.

However, a traveler always requires accurate travelling directions and this is possible with smart phones which are featuring mobile applications that are created simply for serving as navigational tools around the world. Hence, it does make sense to have a smart phone for every traveler.

However, does this mean the era of satellite navigational tools are over? Do people no longer require SAT NAVs? Does a Garmin or a Tom-Tom cease to feature as an essential item to have? These questions fetch a simply reply: It still makes sense to have a standalone GPS unit. The five main reasons beefing up this reply are given below:
 
Battery life: The logic is quite simple. GPS-based apps in smart phones use A-GPS (Assisted GPS). In simple words, A-GPS means GPS assisted with cellular signals. Now at any time, any smart phone obviously does not have a single application running. Hitherto, it has multiple applications running at the same time. For example, wireless radio apps running along with a GPS app. This literally makes the smart phone have an extremely low battery life. 

In contrast, a standalone GPS device is not a platform hosting multiple applications. Hence, the battery life is naturally higher. This is certainly a preferable feature for travelers who would always prefer a device which would stay “on” for a longer period of time.

Multitasking: Multitasking is certainly a preferable feature for most devices however it is a feature not welcome when GPS devices are concerned. After all, these devices are used for a simple reason – Seeking out directions for places. Hence, if a smart phone is chosen over a GPS device then the boon of multitasking certainly has the risk of becoming a bane. Consider a simple situation: What would happen when the user need to take a call but also wants to reach the next petrol pump that is couple of minutes away. He has two simple choices: First is to not take the call and keep the directional app switched on while the second choice is that of taking the phone call but having to switch off the directional app. Neither one is a welcome choice. 

What is the solution to this problem? It is a simple one and lies in using a smart-phone for other tasks and a GPS device for seeking directions.

Screen size: A cumbersome handset is not a welcome selection irrespective the magnificent array of features it may contain. However, at the same time, a bigger screen enables the comprehension of a route with just a single glance. Most of the latest releases among smart phones are featuring bigger screen sizes however the increase in size is done while keeping in mind the device free from the adjective “cumbersome.”

GPS navigation units that are getting released these days come with screen sizes falling in the range: 4.3 – 5 inches. This large screen size is further complemented with the fact that a standalone GPS device comes packaged together with its very own dashboard or windshield mount. Hence, getting directional assistance through a quick glance is quite possible.

Servicing: The world that we live in is quite an unpredictable one because anything can happen anytime and anywhere. Hence, should a smart phone get lost or stolen then what happens to directional assistance? Null-and-void if put in standard technological jargon is what happens to the traveler. The question now arises that a GPS device can also break down or get stolen/lost. Yes, this is a possibility, however the probability of possibility becoming a reality is far less if compared to the probability of a smart phone breaking down or getting lost or stolen.

Compatibility: The word compatibility is a golden word and bears a lot of importance in the world of electronic products. Hence, a particular GPS-related application may or may not work on multiple smart phones. Furthermore, there is always the hassle of having to install the application and then calibrating it once again to receive accurate instructions regarding navigation.

A GPS device is free from such hassles and that too for a simple reason. This is because it can be simply given to one person by another. For example, if a wife has to attend a business meeting at a certain location that she is not aware of then what is the solution? Again, simplicity and basic logic would make any sensible husband give his GPS device to his wife – No installation or calibration required.







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Thursday, 13 March 2014

The Five Practices for a Glittering Toothbrush

Toothbrushes – they have been busy cleaning our teeth for a long time now, around 5000 years. The science of cleaning teeth has been handed down through generations – From the ancient “chew stick” to ivory, wood, or bone handled devices having hog or boar bristles. But do we know how to take care of our toothbrushes? Although, there are many dentists and scientists who have asked this question time and again, but are there any dentists or scientists who have given an answer that normal Americans can relate to. This is where Dr. Gerry Curatola comes in to save the day. An oral health and wellness expert, Dr. Curatola puts forth some simple practices that are so simple that most people perhaps have never given a thought to them.
The remaining portion of this blog put forth these practices in a simple manner.
DISTANCE FROM THE TOILET: SIX FEET?
Is your toothbrush stored within a distance of six feet from your toilet? If it is, then you should change its location simply because a toothbrush which is kept within a distance of six feet from the toilet is susceptible to fecal matter and microbes which are harmful.
WHERE DO YOU STORE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH: A PLASTIC CONTAINER?
Did you know that plastic containers act as ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and microbes? You would be inviting all those nasty microbes to infect your teeth if you keep your toothbrush inside a plastic container.
A fabric toothbrush shield should be an ideal choice for storing your toothbrush. This choice is also a good one according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta which has recommended the use of fabric toothbrush shield for storing toothbrushes.
ARE YOU USING THE MICROWAVE FOR DISINFECTING YOUR TOOTHBRUSH?
You are certainly committing nothing short of a debacle if you are using the microwave for cleaning your toothbrush. Remember, toothbrushes these days are normally made from microwave-susceptible materials: Plastic, nylon or silicone. The bristles themselves are mostly made of nylon irrespective of brands. Extensive damage is done when toothbrushes are subjected to microwaves. Nylon bristles certainly become ineffective.
Furthermore, a plastic toothbrush inside a microwave can also lead to the creation of bisphenol-A (BPA), which is a chemical plastic notorious for causing a variety of health-related problems with cancer being one of them.
Take your dirty toothbrush and clean it by rinsing it with soap in lukewarm water. After that, store it inside a fabric toothbrush shield.
Ideally, you should keep yourself in the habit of buying a toothbrush at least four times in a year.
WAKE UP! THE TOOTHPASTE IS NOT A DISINFECTANT FOR THE TOOTHBRUSH!
Pondering over which brand to select? Will it be the one that you usually select? Will it be the new brand that seems quite promising by a cursory look at the product packaging and the product itself? Do not be intimidated by this triad of questions. Instead just invest some time and look at the advertising content present on the product itself or on those huge banners. Do they say that contain the word: antibacterial? There’s your one definite answer. Toothpastes which claim to be antibacterial should not be bought. Toothpastes have no impact on the brush and those antibacterial ones are not the actual guardians against harmful bacteria.
THE FRIENDSHIP OF EMULSIFIERS AND TOOTHPASTES IS NOT GOOD!
A fact about toothbrushes using toothpastes that are chemical-intensive is that they end up being harmful rather than being protective. Sodium lauryl sulfate and triclosan copolymer are some of the chemicals that should be watched out for.
Sodium lauryl sulphate is an emulsifier leads to irritation to the mouth and has been known to cause canker sores. Triclosan copolymer is an antibacterial and antifungal agent and can lead to an increase in the strains of resistant bacteria.
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Megathrust Earthquakes: The Horror!

11th March 2011, 2: 45 PM, local time Japan, a day, a time, a moment which saw what can be termed as the worst natural disasters for Japan – A magnitude-9 earthquake ruptured the fault line that spreads across 500 km along the northeastern coast of Japan. This earthquake was the fifth largest in the world as per some reports by eminent scientists. The earthquake was followed with a giant tsunami whose size was so overwhelming that the 18-feet tsunami walls near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was literally “drowned” by waves which were, according to some horrified eyewitnesses, around 25-feet high. The death toll still remains unconfirmed as of this day and so do the number of missing persons. The capital city of Tokyo was witness to swaying skyscrapers which were reputedly built with “earthquake-safety” mechanisms.
The above paragraph is by no means a proper account of the destruction that took place on 11th March 2011 but it certainly gives an idea about the destructive power of an earthquake. So it certainly makes sense to know about megathrust earthquakes and their potential power for untold destruction.
Residents of Seattle, one of the cities falling under the Pacific Northwest belt (A huge stretch from Northern California to Canada) along with Vancouver and California are standing right next to the gates of destruction.
Californians certainly need to start preparing for a megathrust earthquake on a proactive note. The San Andreas Fault is right next door for them and if a megathrust earthquake does take place (let’s hope it never does take place) then California will be the first city in the path towards absolute destruction.
These days, everyone is talking about the next megathrust earthquake and what is more alarming its possibility of taking place along the Pacific Northwestern belt. In other words, the poem of Hellenic savagery can be written right here.
The government has certainly been on a proactive note for preparing the general public for this possible megathrust earthquake. But have the preparations started too late? Authorities have started conducting mock-evacuation drills and situational-awareness about earthquakes has begun to be taught to children in schools. Emergency services are in full swing with trainings and preparations for the “big one.”
But can a megathrust earthquake really happen in USA? Well, a lot of people think that such a quake can indeed take place. The numbers do not seem to be too appalling. However, scientists are speculating that the chances for a megathrust earthquake in the near-future are quite high. According to them, the Cascadia subduction zone present underwater of the Pacific Northwest coast is on the verge of reaching their maximum tolerance point.
A subduction zone is a huge gash in the earth’s crust and is the zone where one of the tectonic plates making up the earth’s crust is pushed under the other. And a megathrust earthquake happens when the strain on the tectonic plate that is pushed under reaches the point where this plate slips to bulge upwards and slide suddenly.
Are there any corresponding effects? Yes, there are many and the one that strikes out the most goes by the name of Tsunami – A mammoth wave. A Tsunami takes place when the energy from the sliding motion results in a huge amount of energy getting transferred on to the sea bed and resulting in the corresponding creation of a wave having a magnanimous oscillation rate.
Hence, a deadly combination of a megathrust earthquake and a tsunami is certainly a troublesome aspect to worry about. And this combination is more likely to take place in a subduction zone. Hence, with the speculations now in place about a possible megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest in the Cascadia subduction zone the cause for concern is quite high.
  
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Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Does learning take place in multiple ways?

As a parent, I certainly would wonder about the best way in which my child can learn and move ahead. This mindset fortifies its place in those little grey cells dwelling within our craniums from the time our children start their formal education. A probable question that arises is that learning starts only from the time our children start their formal education?
Studies have shown the rampant stupidity of this question as many scientists and professors vouch for the fact that learning starts from infancy. Some of them, notably Dr. Rita Dunn and her husband Dr. Kenneth Dunn maintain that learning happens in multiple ways, or styles.
Dr. Rita Dunn is the Director of the Center for Study of Learning and Teaching Styles, St. John’s University, New York and Dr. Kenneth Dunn is the Professor and Coordinator, Educational Leadership Program, Department of Educational and Community Programs, Queens College, New York.
Together, they share nearly 25 years in the study and analysis of learning styles prevalent in the world today. According to them, the styles which are most commonly seen are:
  • Auditory
  • Visual
  • Tactile
According to their findings, learning starts right from infancy and the actions and reactions of infants give way to their preferred style of learning: Auditory, visual or tactile.
Infants who prefer the auditory style are more attuned to learning by hearing. Infants who are visual learners get attracted to motion, color, and shape. Infants who are tactile learners are ones who learn by quenching their curiosity about the world through crawling, standing and walking towards the objects of their attention.
The Dunns have in fact formulated a learning model called the Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Model which is designed on the basis of the theory that children learn in different ways and styles. The fact that this model is a valid one can be seen from its inclusion in the International Learning Styles Network.
Learning therefore does take place in different ways and another proponent to this theory would be the Felder-Silverman Learning Style Model. Formulated by Dr. Richard M. Felder and Dr. Linda K. Silverman, this model classifies the preferences of learners under the following dimensions:
  • Active learners and reflective learners
  • Sensing learners and intuitive learners
  • Visual learners and verbal learners
  • Sequential learners and global learners
The Index of Learning Styles (ILS) has been created as an online instrument for assessing the preferences of learners given in the aforementioned list. This model has been developed by Dr. Richard M. Felder and Barbara A. Soloman of the North Carolina State University. It goes without saying that the presence of this online instrument is statement of the fact that learning does take place in different ways.
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Thursday, 6 March 2014

A Tornado: Know About It but Never Forget To Stay Prepared For It

A grim outset:
March 18th, 1925 – The Tri-State Tornado – 695 deaths
May 11th, 1953 – The Waco Tornado – 114 deaths
May 7th, 1840 – The Natchez Tornado – 317 deaths
April 5th, 1936 – The Tupelo Tornado – 216 deaths
April 6th, 1936 – The Gainesville Tornado – 203 deaths
April 9th, 1947 – The Woodward Tornado – 181 deaths
April 24th, 1908 – The Amite/Purvis/Pine Tornado – 143 deaths
June 12th, 1899 – The New Richmond Tornado – 117 deaths
June 8th, 1953 – The Flint-Beecher Tornado – 116 deaths
May 27th, 1986 – The St. Louis Tornado – 255 deaths
Note: Figures have been taken from: www.spc.noaa.gov
Do the figures tell the horrific tales and endless misery of countless families destroyed? There might not be a soul that would differ. However, for all those who still beg to differ I would request them to have a look at the next few lines.
May 20, 2013: Who can forget those evening hours of May 20, 2013 when the Moore Tornado wielded its destructive force across its path starting from the west side of Newcastle and then following a east-northeastward path across the city of Moore and certain parts of South Oklahoma city and ending at Lake Stanley Draper. Classified as an EF-5 (EF stands for Enhanced Fujita and refers to a tracking scale followed for measuring the intensity of tornadoes), this tornado ended the lives of 23 people and left its mark on many others. It was not the only terror that day because several other tornadoes made their presence felt in Stephens and Lincoln counties.
April 26, 1989: Perhaps the darkest day in the world when it comes to human deaths due to tornadoes. This day witnessed the appalling Daulatpur–Saturia tornado in Bangladesh taking around 1300 lives and causing destruction to the extent that in some places the existence of any building were made through skeletons of trees.
The title sure does make sense now after the information presented in the above paragraphs. The next few lines are a humble effort for laying down some of the basic rules required to be followed for surviving a tornado.
Tornado spotting: Unpredictability! This is the word that goes well with tornadoes. Because a tornado can happen at any time of the year and during a tornado a single twister can lead to twin twisters as well. A tornado also has quite an uncanny knack of changing its path hence a tornado heading west may suddenly change direction and head east.

Can a tornado be spotted at the time of formation? Yes! It is visible as a transparent funnel shape until the time it starts accumulating dust and debris.

Look out for the standard warning signs for a tornado: a dark, often greenish sky; a constant roar, somewhat resembling the sound of a freight train; a hailstorm; and large, dark, and low-lying clouds.
Preparation: The most important thing to remember while preparing is the element of reality. Preparation with a hyper-enthusiastic attitude or a reluctant attitude will not be helpful. One has to be realistic while preparing for a tornado.
Allocate specific tasks for your family members. For example, your son will be in charge of deciding the emergency meeting spot. Your daughter will have to take care of your pet dog while your father will be in charge of stocking the storm-shelter with emergency rations.
Note the following important points:
  • Do not forget to assign a family member with the tasks of switching of electricity mains, water, and gas.
  • Keep a first-aid kit (make sure it is not short of medical supplies).
  • Keep a flashlight and lots of batteries for it.
  • Get impact-resistant windows for your house.
  • Get doors having at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock with a 1-inch long bolt.
  • Get permanent wooden or metal stiffeners for your garage door.
  • Strengthen your roof covering and the sheathing beneath it so that they are capable of resisting high-velocity winds.
  • You may love your garden but replace the garden landscape with mulch and shredded bark and do away with gravel and rock.
  • Be a responsible and far-sighting gardener and trim the adjoining trees and shrubs. Cut down the branches trees that seem weak and therefore capable of breaking and falling on top of the roof of neighbor’s house or your house.
That “moment” before the tornado:

  • There are many precautionary acts depending on the geographical location but some of the common points are listed below.
  • Do not switch off the weather channel! Monitor the tornado-warning announcements made there and also on the local television and radio broadcasts.
  • Move loose furniture to a secure location (ideally the basement) and remove all grills from doors and windows
  • If you choose to stay within your house then lean a mattress against the wall of the room you are in
  • Get lots of flashlights and lots of batteries. Do not forget to get a hand-cranked/battery-operated radio too.
  • If you reside in a mobile home then do not waste time in making these preparations. Simply, drive quickly as you can to the nearest shelter you can find.

Moments after the tornado:

Listed down below are the most important points and considerations for you to take note of after a tornado:

In case, you had to leave your house then:

  • Do not forget to check for structural integrity of the house before going inside (i.e. check for the severity of the crack in walls, dangling wiring, broken window panes etc.)
  • DO NOT USE A CANDLE OR A LIGHTER IN CASE OF DARKNESS. LEAKING GAS MAY IGNITE WITH THE SLIGHTEST SPARK! Use a flashlight instead.
  • Get an electrician to check the electrical system and only after that turn on the lights!
  • Document a list of damaged items and create an inventory for evidence. Gather your insurance papers and go to the insurance office for damage claims.

This blog post does not claim to be an exhaustible document for tips on tornado survival. However, should a tornado ever strike within your vicinity and you should benefit from the information given here then my pen will have served its purpose.
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Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Bitcoin - What does the world think about it!!

Our super-ancient ancestors fought over clubs and shells – Our brother and sisters (do consider the word “us” from the species standpoint, i.e. “us” as in human beings) have been fighting over rectangular pieces of paper and circular-shaped objects made from gold, silver, and bronze. The fight still rages with the former being termed as a banknote while the latter being termed as a coin.
Now why did I give this financial-type snippet of a history lesson?
Simple – the human mind needs to get harbored in a methodical manner when taught something new. It would pain the fingers that are lucidly flowing across the keyboard while typing this blog if someone says that what’s new in money?
Bitcoin is what is new in good-old-money and technically it is termed as cryptocurrency.
The point of providing information is to enable human beings to use that information for either their benefit or enhancing their knowledge base. After all, the revolving planet that we call our dear-sweet-home houses lots of countries where lots of changes take place on a consistent basis. Hence, it does make sense to stay – as one says – with the pace of the changing world.
What is the latest change that has taken place in this ever-changing world? If I put it in absolutely layman terms then this change took place February 25, i.e. Tuesday in the early hours when Mt. Gox – one of the biggest exchanges for bitcoin – filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan.
Quantified information always gives a complete idea about the staggering situations that take place in the event of any landmark event. Hence, this paragraph is the correct platform for giving the reason for filing bankruptcy: A loss of nearly half a billion dollars worth of bitcoins. Quite an unfortunate event after hackers managed to hack the secure bitcoin system.
What is the impact of this change on a global scale? According to a news-portion posted on moneymorning.com the price of bitcoin went up to a humongous figure of 9.100% from December 2012 to December 2013.
The whole world is talking about this change because it has impacted most of the major economies of the world. Let’s see the responses of some economies of the world as examples:
USA: According to leading experts, bitcoin will probably limit the authority of the U.S Federal Reserve. This is an idea so revolting to the European Central Bank and the Internal Revenue Service that a meeting was actually held to determine the possible impact of the bitcoin crisis on the U.S. dollar. This meeting consisted of the former Secretary of State Advisor, the Vice President of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Communications Director of the International Crisis Group and many other well-known personalities from the world of macroeconomics. There have been reports of the meeting coming to a conclusion that the U.S. dollar will certainly have a tough time owing to this bitcoin crisis.
China: China, according to latest reports published in well-known online news websites and portals, has certainly seen something worthy to look for in the bitcoin crisis. A bitcoin retail store was opened by the Asia Nextgen Bitcoin Exchange (ANXBTC) exchange in the city of Hong Kong. China’s Beijing-based bitcoin exchange Houbi.com saw it daily-basis trading volume increase by 69% of the global trading volume. ANXBTC CEO Ken Lo certainly had an optimistic outlook when he said that Chinese markets are seeing a huge demand for this “cryptocurrency.” The reason being more and more number of people who are learning about bitcoins and then placing their preference more on them. In fact, according to the latest statistics present on bitcoinity – a tracking service website for tracking bitcoins – huobi.com is the market leader with a market share of 50.92% with 3.93M bitcoins. The numbers sure do tell a tale of enthusiasm among the Chinese people for bitcoins.
Japan: Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso showed forth a clear situation when he was reportedly to have said that the Japanese government is still trying to figure out a reason behind the collapse of Mt. Gox – probably one of the biggest bitcoin exchanges in the world. However the damage can’t be nullified and only actions that would prevent a reoccurrence can be taken now. According to latest reports, the Japanese government has been thinking along the same lines and has decided to formulate and implement trading rules for bitcoins, including imposition on taxation on bitcoin transactions.
France: Bitcoin Central, one of the leading bitcoin exchanges of France trading between bitcoins and Euros certainly put the situation in a lucid manner in terms of its statistics posted on its website: bitcoin-central.net. According to the latest stats, the trading pattern is following a downward trend with 0.86049433 BTC getting traded for an amount of 484.00000 €. (As per the stats displayed at 8: 47: 52 am on the website) However, Bitcoin Central has kept a cautious approach by entering into a partnership with payment-processor Aqoba and the French bank Credit Mutuel Arkéa. As per this partnership, security of bitcoins will be incorporated by creating customized bank accounts for users. Customization lies in the fact that the funds cannot be used for investments and the users will not get any overdraft features. This is certainly a secure implementation considering the fact that bank accounts in France are protected under Garantie des dépôts – the French equivalent of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in USA. According to this “deposit guarantee,” Euro deposits are liable for insurance coverage up to EU $ 10,000.
The situation sure has fetched a variety of responses and actions as can be seen from the examples given above. Time will be the guiding light here for all those who are thinking about the possible future of bitcoins. We certainly have time as our guide on the path of our query: Will bitcoin stay or fade away!
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Monday, 3 March 2014

From Treasure Island to the Port of Stockton: A short cruise of the Google’s Mystery Barge

It is still a mystery as to what exactly will the proposed barge of Google house. Will it function as a floating showroom showcasing the primary products of Google? Will it be a private showroom for high-end clients? Will it be a vessel floating across different ports and acting as an interactive technology domain for the general public?
The questions still remain unanswered however the latest development is that this mystery barge is on the move. This barge was currently stationed at Treasure Island – a man-made landmass near San Francisco – and will be moving to the Port of Stockton.
The reason behind the movement is said to be a regulatory order issued on Jan 31. According to this order, Google does not have building permits on Treasure Island.  
According to the Treasure Island Development Authority, the date on which the barge will have to leave port is March 7.
The current situation is such that neither Google nor the Port-of-Stockton are not available for comment.
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GPS Devices: Are They Still Required?

Travelers certainly have what it takes to make their way around the world with a smile and a relaxed brow. This is because there are smart phones present that provide lots of interesting features: Camera, Video calling, Internet browsing for example.

However, a traveler always requires accurate travelling directions and this is possible with smart phones which are featuring mobile applications that are created simply for serving as navigational tools around the world. Hence, it does make sense to have a smart phone for every traveler.

However, does this mean the era of satellite navigational tools are over? Do people no longer require SAT NAVs? Does a Garmin or a Tom-Tom cease to feature as an essential item to have? These questions fetch a simply reply: It still makes sense to have a standalone GPS unit. The five main reasons beefing up this reply are given below:
 
Battery life: The logic is quite simple. GPS-based apps in smart phones use A-GPS (Assisted GPS). In simple words, A-GPS means GPS assisted with cellular signals. Now at any time, any smart phone obviously does not have a single application running. Hitherto, it has multiple applications running at the same time. For example, wireless radio apps running along with a GPS app. This literally makes the smart phone have an extremely low battery life. 

In contrast, a standalone GPS device is not a platform hosting multiple applications. Hence, the battery life is naturally higher. This is certainly a preferable feature for travelers who would always prefer a device which would stay “on” for a longer period of time.

Multitasking: Multitasking is certainly a preferable feature for most devices however it is a feature not welcome when GPS devices are concerned. After all, these devices are used for a simple reason – Seeking out directions for places. Hence, if a smart phone is chosen over a GPS device then the boon of multitasking certainly has the risk of becoming a bane. Consider a simple situation: What would happen when the user need to take a call but also wants to reach the next petrol pump that is couple of minutes away. He has two simple choices: First is to not take the call and keep the directional app switched on while the second choice is that of taking the phone call but having to switch off the directional app. Neither one is a welcome choice. 

What is the solution to this problem? It is a simple one and lies in using a smart-phone for other tasks and a GPS device for seeking directions.

Screen size: A cumbersome handset is not a welcome selection irrespective the magnificent array of features it may contain. However, at the same time, a bigger screen enables the comprehension of a route with just a single glance. Most of the latest releases among smart phones are featuring bigger screen sizes however the increase in size is done while keeping in mind the device free from the adjective “cumbersome.”

GPS navigation units that are getting released these days come with screen sizes falling in the range: 4.3 – 5 inches. This large screen size is further complemented with the fact that a standalone GPS device comes packaged together with its very own dashboard or windshield mount. Hence, getting directional assistance through a quick glance is quite possible.

Servicing: The world that we live in is quite an unpredictable one because anything can happen anytime and anywhere. Hence, should a smart phone get lost or stolen then what happens to directional assistance? Null-and-void if put in standard technological jargon is what happens to the traveler. The question now arises that a GPS device can also break down or get stolen/lost. Yes, this is a possibility, however the probability of possibility becoming a reality is far less if compared to the probability of a smart phone breaking down or getting lost or stolen.

Compatibility: The word compatibility is a golden word and bears a lot of importance in the world of electronic products. Hence, a particular GPS-related application may or may not work on multiple smart phones. Furthermore, there is always the hassle of having to install the application and then calibrating it once again to receive accurate instructions regarding navigation.

A GPS device is free from such hassles and that too for a simple reason. This is because it can be simply given to one person by another. For example, if a wife has to attend a business meeting at a certain location that she is not aware of then what is the solution? Again, simplicity and basic logic would make any sensible husband give his GPS device to his wife – No installation or calibration required.







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