The Little Engines That Could

Stem cells can redevelop into multiple cell types in the body. They can also be used as a repair system inside the body for tissues and can replenish other cells already present. When stem cells divide, each cell that comes from the division can remain a stem cell or transform into another cell type with a new function—such as transforming into a red blood cell or brain cell. For a cell to be considered a stem cell it must contain two unique properties:
 1) it must be able to renew itself through cell division—even after long periods of inactivity;
 2) under certain conditions it must be able to transform into multiple cell types, such as bone marrow, tissues or organs.
Scientists have historically worked with two types of stem cells: embryonic and somatic (non-embryonic). Stem cells carry unique regenerative properties and have a high potential for curing disease. While the research is ongoing, researchers are much closer to using stem cell therapies to treat patients.

About the Author - Written by Dr. Joseph Purita, founder of The Institute of Regenerative and Molecular Orthopedics and a pioneer in the use of the laser in orthopedic surgery.

Canon EOS 100D DSLR Camera: Features And Advantages

This is one of the latest Paxton digital cameras in the market. It has a unique design and all the advanced features that you might probably require in a camera. For one, it has an average resolution of 18 effective megapixels that enables it to produce clear images. These images come in varied sizes depending on your preference. It is able to produce 1920 by 1080 pixels, 2592 by 1728 pixels, 5184 by 3456 pixels and even smaller images of 720 by 480 pixels. Its image sensor type is one of its own kinds; designed at 22.3 by 14.99mm APS-C size.

Its video capture ability is also designed to suit varied sizes from as little as 20fps to over 60fps. The lens in this camera is also another striking feature that is worth noting. The CANON STM lens type present in this camera allow for an optical zoom of up to 3.05 times. Moreover, it has a canon lens mount of CANON EF/ EFS-C which give it the unique ability of offering a focusing area mode of one shot AF, Al focus, manual focus and even auto focus. Lastly, this unique product offers an excellent focusing distance of up to two hundred and fifty centimeters; an approximate of 9.8 inches. This it owes to the acute focal length of 18mm to 55mm which it comes along with. Currently, it is only available in one color; black.

Main advantages

There are several benefits that are attached to using this particular camera as opposed to the others falling in this category. In the first place, this Paxton digital product uses a power source of Battery pack LP E12 which is very durable and has a long life span as compared to the other common batteries. This in turn ensures long periods of productivity without unnecessary replacements of power sources. In addition, it is well structured with a hot shoe flash connection that enables easy and efficient snapping. It also has extended EX Series speedlites which increases the efficiency of taking the pictures with this camera. Another major advantage of this camera is the inbuilt microphone speaker that coms along with the camera; a feature that is rarely evident in other camera types.

Additional features present in Canon EOS 100D DSLR cameras make it to be more advantageous. With this gadget, you are able to produce images in miniature and filter effects. Besides, it also offers varied color modes including fisheye, monochrome and even soft focus. Its shutter speed is also amazing; estimated at 1/4000 to 30 seconds; a feature that enables it to produce precise images that are comparable to none. Lastly, it small weight of only 370 grams makes it easily portable as compared to those within the same category.

Cons 

In as much as this camera is considered to be an advanced version of digital camera; it still has some setbacks; though they are not very many like with the other cameras. For one, it is not suited with water resistant capabilities making it vulnerable to water damage. In addition, it has no underwater capabilities and cannot therefore be used in taking photographs of features and creatures that may be present underneath water bodies; limiting its use to surface photograph wok only. Canon EOS 100D DSLR is not also designed for digital zooming and can only allow for optical zooming of images; limited at only 3.05 times.

Customers’ Reviews

Customers who have had prior experience with this gadget from Paxton Digital cameras have all the reasons to smile. For one, they have identified this camera to be efficient in power conservation as it goes for long without battery replacements. Previous clients have also sited its portability and its unique physical design as a major advantage as compared to other cameras of similar features making it a must buy for any customer who is out for a unique digital camera experience.

Recommendation

You have all the reasons to go for this latest product from Paxton DSLR cameras. For only $599.95, you are guaranteed a product that is not only durable but also made using the latest technology. Moreover, it comes along with a double warranty for each piece of camera bought; an offer that is only evident with Paxton products. Unlike other digital camera industries offering cameras under this category, Paxton Digital camera offers a forty five day money back guarantee; just in case you are not satisfied with this product. Get your copy of this camera this festive season and stand a chance of having up to $200 of your money back; courtesy of the ongoing loyalty draws.

About the Author- Mae Harper, the writer, is an avid blogger of photography, DSLR cameras and ladscaping. She gives practical tips on how to get perfect angles in her blogs. . Her useful information about cameras and landscapes are also well-read.

The History Of Texting

It’s fairly common knowledge that the first ever text message was ‘Merry Christmas’. It was sent from one colleague to another at Vodafone in America. But did you know it was sent almost 21 years ago? The exact anniversary will be on 3rd December this year. We wonder whether you realise this message was sent from a computer not a mobile phone too?

• Back in 1992 mobile phones did not have keypads so there was no way of sending a text, hence the computer. Mobile phones with keypads weren’t developed until six years later

• It was another two years, in 1999, that mobile phone users could text to different networks

• Text messaging was first developed for paging people on the road

• We send about 150 billion text messages a year in the UK

• In the UK adults send an average of 50 texts a week

• Whereas 12 – 15 year olds send approximately 255 per week – that’s around 13,000 a year – and receive a similar number back

• This group check their phones on average 60 times every day

• A new language developed for texting; it is a mixture of abbreviations, numbers and letters (L8r) and using letters instead of whole words i.e. RU for ‘are you’

• LOL (Laugh out loud) must be one of the most used abbreviations

• Texting is believed by some to be addictive

• During the Arab Spring text messaging played a big role in helping to organise revolutions

• It also helped to raise money for the Tsunami caused by the Earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004

• Similarly it was used to raise funds for Haiti Earthquake victims

•  Famous texts include one from Julie Bremnes on the Norwegian island of Utoya “Tell the police to hurry. People are dying here.” It was sent to her mother during the rampage of gunman Anders Breivik in July 2011

• The message “It’s a deliberate attack – a second plane just flew into the second tower” was sent by a witness (unknown identity) during the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers in New York

• Best friend Kristian Marr received a text from Amy Whinehouse at 3.10 a.m. on the night she died. It read “I’m gonna be here always xx”. By the time he read the message she was dead

• Tiger Woods is reported to have sent a last text message to porn star Joslyn James reading “You almost just ruined my whole life” just before his extra-marital activities became public knowledge

• Texts between Rebekah Brooks and David Cameron were revealed during the Leveson Inquiry in 2012. One from her read “Brilliant speech. I cried twice. Will love ‘working together’”.

Original text messages were only 140 characters long which may explain why this number of characters was also chosen by Twitter for messages. Today it is reported that Twitter and other social network platforms and instant messaging are gaining popularity over texting.
But no matter which is your favourite means of electronic communication, we bet you use your mobile phone. Which is why phone insurance to protect you from all those unexpected eventualities is still important.

About The Author

License: Image author owned 
Bill Turner is a free-lance writer and technology lover. He is a self-proclaimed texting addict...

How Does a Breathalyzer Work?

The History of the Breathalyzer

How many drinks have you had tonight? This is a question police officers ask motorists every day as license checks are set up across the nation. In addition to catching someone driving illegally, they are also checking for the smell of alcohol. Suspicious behavior or unstable movement can lead to a night in jail and one might find themselves standing on the side of the road blowing into a breathalyzer. When alcohol is consumed, it passes from the stomach to the small intestines, where it is absorbed into the blood stream and goes through the whole body. Alcohol goes through the body so fast that it affects the central nervous system even when it is ingested in small amounts.

History

As far back as 1874, researchers have suspected breath could be used for alcohol testing. They realized that trace amounts of alcohol were excreted in breath. In 1827, W.D. McNalley, a Chicago chemist, invented a breathalyzer in which the breath changed colors when it moved through
chemicals in water. Housewives came up with a useful use of the breathalyzer: to test for alcohol on their husband's breath before they would let
me in the house.

Drunkometer

The drunkometer, invented by Rolla Harger in 1938, was the first roadside breather-tester that was intended for the police to use. The machine collected a sample of the driver's breath directly into a balloon in the machine and pumped through a solution of acidified potassium. If there was
alcohol in the breath, the solution changed colors. The bigger the color change, the more alcohol that was in the sample.
In 1954, A police captain in Indiana, who later became a professor at a university in Indiana, Dr. Robert Borkenstein, is credited as the first person to invent a device that can measure a driver's blood alcohol level based on a sample of their breath. It provided the police with a test that would give them immediate results as to a driver's alcohol concentration in their breath.

How Do They Work?

Since the air in the deepest part in the lungs give the most accurate results, the person issuing the test will tell the driver to blow as hard as they can into the breathalyzer for about two to four seconds. The breath sample bubbles into a vial with potassium chromate. If there is any ethanol present it will react with the potassium chromate and cause the solution to switch to a golden yellow color as a result. This mixture is then compared to another vial that has potassium chromate but not ethanol which will make it a bright orange color. The color difference in these vials will give an the person issuing the test an indication of the amount of ethanol in the person's breath. The device then gives a readout that states the degree of color change and the level of alcohol in their breath.
Breathalyzers are not the only method for determining levels of intoxication. Intoxilyzers, and Alcosensers are two other devises to measure someone's intoxication.

About the Author - Gordon Weber is a guest blogger.  His interest in how Breathalyzers work led him to thesandiegoduiattorneys.com website of Chris P Sohovich.

Stop! Don't Sign That Mobile Contract!

Already chosen the mobile contract that you want? You could be making a big mistake. The wrong mobile contract could end up costing you big time. So before you sign, you might want to read on and find out what you could be doing wrong...

Buy Mobile Phones Yourself, Not on Contract
The major mistake that costs many people on a contract is the signing of what's known as an incentive contract. Mobile operators offer two kinds of contract. A SIM only contract contains a calling plan for service, whilst an incentive contract has a calling plan and a mobile phone. Whether or not you get that phone for free or have to pay a down payment on it you will, over the course of your contract, pay far more than retail price for the phone, meaning it's cheaper to buy mobile phones yourself. These incentive phones are simply phones that are bought on an instalment plan. The monthly bill for an incentive contract is higher than the monthly bill for a SIM only contract, even though both those contracts may have the same calling plan. This extra cost reflects the instalment that you're paying on your phone. Add up all the instalments and you'll see that you're paying more than the value of the phone that you get. Skip signing incentive contracts, sign SIM only instead and buy a mobile phone outright to get better long term savings.



Your Calling Plan is Key
You might think that you're choosing the right calling plan, but are you really sure? The wrong plan will cost you money. A calling plan is made up of three parts. There'll be a limit for the amount of calling minutes you can use, a limit for the amount of text messages that you can send, and a limit for the amount of mobile data that you can use. Estimating these limits wrongly will lead to you paying more than you should. If the limits on your plan are too high for you then you're going to end up paying for services that you're not using. This is because you have to pay the same monthly fee for using all your minutes, texts and data as you do for using half, or even none, of them. Don't thing that that means choosing a small plan is better though. If you exceed the limits of your calling plan you will have to pay your normal monthly payment plus premium rates for any extra minutes, texts and data that you have used. Estimating the size of the calling plan that you need is tough. Try looking at some old mobile bills if you have any, since these should tell you what your average usage is like. Or maybe even get a pay as you go plan for a few weeks and track your usage so that you can choose the appropriate plan. Most operators will let you change your calling plan even after your contract is signed, but you'll probably have to pay a fee in order to do this, so it's a better idea to choose correctly the first time.



Is Your Contract the Right Length?
You actually have a choice of contract duration with all operators, though the advertised contracts that you see are generally for twenty four months. The law in the UK requires that operators offer a twelve month contract option. Some operators will give you an eighteen month option too, and some SIM only contracts are known as thirty day rolling contracts. That means that the contract is for only thirty days but that it will automatically renew every month until you tell the operator to stop your service. The length of your contract can affect how much you pay. With many operators the longer your contract is the lower your monthly payments are. The operator gives you a discount for a longer contract because they're guaranteed your custom and therefore your payment for a longer period of time. But even though a longer contract is usually cheaper, you still might want to consider a shorter one. When you sign a mobile contract you should be prepared to stick with that contract until it ends, because breaking a mobile contract can be exceptionally expensive. Two years is a long time to agree to use the same service. This will mean that you need to wait longer to take advantage of better deals, either from your operator or from another company. Also, circumstances can change. Things like moving house, having a baby, graduating from university or losing your job can all affect your ability to pay the monthly bill that you've agreed to. Choose the length that suits you
best, but you will get savings by signing longer contracts.



Did You Read the Terms and Conditions?
Everybody knows that you should read the small print on a contract before signing, yet when it comes to mobile contracts, few people bother. Before you sign that contract go to your operator's web page and read their terms and conditions, you might be glad that you did. There are a couple of things that you'll want to look for. The first thing you should look for is under which conditions you can cancel the contract. Some operators will let you cancel contracts for no fee providing you can prove certain circumstances. Other operators will let you cancel a contract for no reason at all and for free within a specified period of signing. You should know what these conditions are just in case you need to use them. The other thing that you should take note of is what you should do if your mobile phone is lost or stolen. Particularly if your phone is stolen you do not want to be responsible for paying charges run up by the thief. Different operators have different procedures surrounding this situation, so make sure that you know what to do should the occasion arise, since this could end up saving you a fortune.


About the Author- When Sam Jones was looking to buy mobile phones he knew he would have to shop around for the best deal. He went online and compared prices using uSwitch and other similar sites and managed to get a really great deal

The Best Netbook Accessories

Image Source : Laptoppimp

Now is the time to get great netbook deals. With manufacturers stopping production, prices on netbooks are cheaper than ever. For some people, a netbook is a great solution to mobile computing. Whilst laptops are getting cheaper, netbooks are still even more affordable and more portable too. And tablets might be cool, but they lack the processing power and memory capacity of a netbook. On top of that, typing a long email on a tablet's touch screen, even on an iPad 3G, really isn't any fun at all, whereas a netbook has a full physical keyboard. Not only can you get a great deal on a netbook right now, but you can get good prices on all the requisite accessories too. Got your new netbook and want to kit it out? Here's what you should think about getting...

A Carrying Case...
Your netbook is going to get carried around, which means that it's liable to get scratched or even broken somewhere along the way. A decent carrying case will not only protect your netbook, but will also mean that you can save a little space in your briefcase or back pack, and carry your netbook over your shoulder. Crusher makes some excellent cases. Look for something that has a carrying strap, rather than just handles, as it will make carrying more convenient. If you're not into the idea of carrying your netbook separately, then look out for deals on specialised bags and back packs that come with a netbook pocket. These can be convenient compromises between separate cases and an over-stuffed briefcase or back pack.

A Sleeve...
If you decide not to go with a carrying case, you're going to need at least a sleeve to protect your netbook whilst it's in a pocket of another bag. A sleeve will give surface protection, meaning your device won't get scratched, but it should also be slightly padded to provide at least minimal shock absorbing capabilities. Look out for a sleeve that's at least 0.25cm or so thick, so that it can adequately protect your netbook. Also, make sure that the sleeve fits properly. They do come in different sizes, and too small means it will be difficult to remove your netbook, whilst too big means that your netbook can slip out when you're carrying it.

Techie Stuff...
There are some other great accessories that you can look out for. If your netbook has an HDMI port, grab yourself an HDMI cable. This will let you hook your netbook up to a regular computer monitor or your TV, so you can get the big screen feeling when you're not on the go. If there's no integrated DVD player on your netbook, you can pick up an external one pretty cheaply. This will make your netbook great for entertainment on a business trip, as well as for working. A wireless mouse is a pretty nice thing to have too, since netbook track-pads can be annoying to use in the long term. Finally, invest in some decent anti-virus software as well. Netbooks are just as vulnerable as any other kind of computer to viruses, and it's best to protect yourself.


Phil Turner would buy an iPad 3g for travelling but he cannot get on with virtual keyboards, so he has bought a netbook instead.

How To Know You're Getting The Best Mobile Security

Image source : smallbiztechnology.com

Mobile security is a tricky subject that many people don’t fully understand. While a good security app should be similar to a desktop security program, there should also be some additional features like an SD card scanner and SIM card lock to protect your mobile device. These are the features and options that you should look for if you want the best mobile security app.

Scan Everything
The mobile security app should be able to scan everything so that it can alert you if you are about to download a virus. This doesn’t just include files from the Internet. It should also include apps from official and third-party sources, external files from your computer and any other file that you are about to download.

The app should also be able to scan SD cards. Many hackers give out free SD cards that are infected because the virus will infect your device as soon as you insert the card. A scanner will be able to check the card to see if there are any malicious files.

Most mobile security apps can scan files, but sometimes the scanner is limited and it can only check files from the browser. This is good, but not good enough if you want the best security.

SIM Card Lock
While many people are worried about hackers, the truth is that theft is more common than hacking. It’s relatively common for someone to steal a phone, switch the SIM card and then use the device. Normally there is nothing that can stop this type of activity, but a good security app will have a SIM card lock feature.

This will lock the phone if a new SIM card is entered so that the person cannot use your phone. You can change the SIM card if needed, but you must enter a password to keep the phone from locking.

Phishing Protection
Phishing is much more common on mobile devices because people tend to fall for these scams more often if they see the phishing message through a mobile device. This reason for this is that users often trust the sender more if they see the message on their smartphone. Another reason for this is because most smartphones are connected to an email inbox, social media accounts and other messaging services.

This feature will ensure that you don’t give away your personal information and it will also block common phishing messages.

Constant Updates
Some free and poorly supported mobile security apps are rarely updated. This is a problem because hackers are always creating new viruses and exploiting programming bugs to infiltrate mobile devices. The best mobile security app should have constant updates so that the app is as ready as possible to stop a hacker and block malware.

The app should at least have monthly updates. Weekly updates are better, but even many of the best apps don’t offer this frequency.

Locate Device and Remote Wipe
Phones are much easier to steal than desktops or laptops. They also tend to contain more sensitive information. A good security app should help you find your device if you lost it. This is usually done by sending a GPS signal that can be easily tracked from another smartphone or computer.

The app should also allow you to remotely wipe the information stored on the smartphone. This means that the thief won’t be able to access or steal the information on your device because it will all be erased.

Continuous Scanning
The last feature that you should look for is continuous scanning. The app should keep checking your device to see if there is any malicious activity occurring behind the scenes. Many viruses will remain dormant until you do a certain action. The app should be able to block and remove the virus before it becomes active so that it doesn’t hurt your device.

Conclusion
There are many great mobile security apps available for users, but you must ensure that you are getting a comprehensive one if you want to keep your device safe. Constant updates and the ability to scan everything isn’t enough. The app should also consider problems that are unique to mobile devices like theft and SD cards.


About the author : Katelyn Roberts works with Sarah Hendricks who is a security expert on protecting users and businesses from hackers and data leakage. Users in the office, at home, or working remotely are all subject to attack. Sarah has teamed up with Mobile antivirus software at NQ.com anti virus software to keep mobile devices protected nation wide!

Who Is To Blame For All The Malware In 2013?

Image Source : pcmag

You know those Trojan horses and other viruses, worms, and malicious software that somehow end up on your computer? It is said over and over again that these objects are planted by people, organizations, and companies that have nothing better to do. However, where does most of the malware originate?

Top Malware-Producing Locations Worldwide
According to some of the latest Infographics produced, China, the United States, South Korea, Russia, and Taiwan are the top five producers and spreaders of malware. Is this a surprise to people? That is a discussion for another time.
Here is a look at some numbers brought to you by the Alien Vault Open Threat Exchange Program (in number of malicious ip addresses):

• China- 95,249
• United States- 60,346
• South Korea- 16,115
• Russia- 13,367
• Taiwan- 12,504

Common Malware Distribution Routes

Malware (a.k.a. Viruses, spyware, Trojan horses, worms) can infect a computer in many different ways. However, it usually follows some common distribution paths.

• Direct infection-This type is becoming too obvious so it is more rare than the other usual ways of dispensing malware onto computers. Still, it is worth mentioning because sometimes malicious operators still feel like they have nothing to hide—including viruses they intentionally decide not to hide in a file. 

• Indirect infection via .exe file-Many people become a victim of a seemingly “innocent” free software download. Usually the infection is not spread until the user attempts to open the file to install and run it. However, sometimes the infection starts even while the software is still downloading. The less-evil forms of this kind of infection are the software packages with free toolbars and gadgets that seem to sneak onto your start menu, desktop, and task bar before you have the chance to say “no.” At the very least, it slows down your computer. At the worst, it infects it with a nasty virus.

• .PDF, .Zip and .RAR files-The infection for these file extensions starts in a similar way as does for the downloading and/or installation of .exe programs. The malware is delivered to the computer either during the download or installation process—or perhaps both. The level of severity ranges from spy and tracking devices all the way up to full-on PC infection.

• HTML or flash content-Right there on any given web page or multimedia video could exist viruses, spyware, worms, and more. It's hard to detect unless you have a program on your computer that alerts you of such. Website owners are highly advised to have their content protected with a scanner. They also should alert visitors to help them feel secure about visiting a particular page or domain.

Other Viral and Malicious Surprises

You may not even realize it, but most of the common viruses and malware are associated with popular operating systems. Harmful content that infects computers are more often than not derived from Windows and Mac OS components.

It should also be noted that that the top five types of malware worldwide include as follows:

• Scanning host-580521
• Malware domain-201177
• Malware ip-71890
• Spamming-61389
• Malicious host-51477

This information is provided by Alien Vault's Open Threat Exchange program. It was derived from records ranging from the dates February 2oth to July 20th, 2012.

Malware is Everywhere

Malware is not just in the five major countries mentioned earlier in this article. It exists everywhere, and you need to do your part to stay safe. Scan your computer as often as possible and be very careful what e-mails you open, what links you click, and what sites you visit.


Guest Author: Erin Walsh is the Director of Public Relations for Boost Software. She is an avid blogger that enjoys sharing her knowledge with the everyday computer user, by helping them with common errors especially error 1722, error 1719, error 0x80070424, and error 0x80004004. She also specializes in helping pc users update drivers, especially the most problematic ones such as toshiba drivers, no sound, motherboard drivers, chipset drivers, lenovo drivers, nvidia drivers and hp drivers.

Waterless Urinals; 'Ur-ine' For A Surprise!

Yes, it may sound odd that an unpleasant body fluid can be effortlessly disposed of in a urinal without the assistance of any water and, additionally, not leave behind any objectionable odor.  Well, thanks to the wonders of technology, waterless urinals are becoming increasingly popular; and the technology is astoundingly simple.

How Does It Work?

The simplicity of the workings of a waterless urinal is sheer genius.  ‘Simple’ and ‘genius’ at the same time?  It might sound like a paradox, but it’s really not.  The process goes like this:
1) Urine flows down the waterless bowl and goes through a special strainer.
2) The urine continues its flow through a special sealing liquid which is nothing more than an oil-based fluid.  In fact, even vegetable oil could serve as the oil component.
3) The urine collects in a waste pipe, below.
Now, here is where it gets quite interesting.  Since urine is denser than oil, your high-school science class would tell you that oil, then, would be the liquid that would produce the top layer or ‘floating’ layer. The  heavier-weight urine will remain below the lighter-weight oil; and once this happens, the urine is, in essence, trapped under the oil.  Then…
4) Any air bubbles will rise to the top and escape, which leaves the urine in a virtual oxygen-depleted environment.  The odor is trapped under the oil and has no way to escape out into the room.
5) Once the urine is trapped in the waste pipe, simple displacement sends it into the regular plumbing system. It’s important to note, also, that urine combined with water helps to heighten the natural odor of the urine.   With water lacking, the odors, yet again, are absolutely minimized.

Speed of Urine-Flow Is Key:

One might wonder why the urine hitting the oiled fluid doesn’t break the sealing liquid just enough and, therefore, allow odors to quickly escape.  That thought was taken into account and the potential for that problem was eliminated.  Due to the urinal’s design, the urine is slowed down just enough before it hits the oil; and, in addition, the flow speed is minimized due to no water being present in the bowl.

Two Types of Waterless Urinals:

There are two varieties of waterless urinals, cartridge based and non-cartridge based.  The cartridge based units use a replaceable, pre-filled cartridge that holds the sealing liquid.  Eventually, in any waterless urinal, the sealing liquid becomes ineffective and new cartridges are effortlessly inserted, within minutes, into the units.  Non-cartridge based urinals simply have new oil introduced into the drain hole of the unit.  The oil, on its own, settles as it should.

Water—It Needs To Be Conserved:

Here are some startling facts concerning water, which make the utilization of waterless urinals even more compelling:
Fact #1:  Global demand for water will outweigh supply by 40% once 2030 rolls around
Fact #2:  Americans flush away 5.7 billion gallons of clean drinking water every 24 hours
Fact #3:  A single flush, even from a low-flush toilet in the U.S., uses 6 liters of water which equates to 1.6 gallons of clean drinking water
Fact #4:  Less than 2% of the water on earth is the water humans and land animals need to survive
And a big pat on the back should go to the designers of the new Dodger’s Stadium that underwent a $100 Million renovation—an impressive transformation project that included all waterless urinals in the men’s restrooms—Now, THAT’s a homerun!
Many companies like Clearwater Plumbing are very savvy with this technology so finding a competent contractor these days is not too challenging.  Waterless urinals herald a major breakthrough in clean, efficient, waterless technology.  That technology saves money, saves water and saves the environment!

Karen spent her career on teaching and is now enjoying her retirement in Nebraska where she writes about Fort Worth plumbers and many other topics.

Transcription Systems And Client Data Management Systems

No matter what kind of business you are running, you will have some kind of a transcription service provider who is providing you transcription services. These services may be provided to you via human based transcription agents or software based digital transcription or some kind of mix up of these methods. Ideally, your transcription company would have given you a control panel of sorts which allows you complete control about managing your transcription needs.
Depending on the service provider, they may provide you with a simple set of tools and attached services. On demand, they could provide you with more powerful tools. Either way, some of the general facilities can become tricky to use if you aren’t familiar with the concept.

Login Credentials
A control panel for your data – audio and text – is provided to you by default. One way of understanding this control panel is to think of it like your email Inbox on the web. In your web mail, you do all your mail scenarios like checking for new content, replying to folks, organizing content into folders and other mail related activities.
Similarly the transcription control panel allows you to do the various transcription scenario tasks.  There are three tasks that come to our mind right away. Two of them involve uploading and removing audio files that are submitted for transcription. The other task is the process of downloading text files that contain the transcript information. While these are the basic tasks, there are a lot of additional tasks that can be performed.
Before we can get into that, a few more words about login credentials. If the quantum of transcription that your company generates is huge, then it is not feasible for one person to handle everything in the control panel. In this case, the transcription company will provide you with multiple login credentials. In most cases, the main person, which is probably you, will be given full administrative rights. Other users of the same control panel may have limited access.
For instance, users with standard login privileges may only be able to see the transcript text files and cannot really make any changes or delete files. You could also designate access areas like some users of a particular business department being able to access certain files only. These are advanced features which may not be available from all transcription companies.

Additional Tasks
Earlier we mentioned how there are additional tasks that are possible via the control panel. These are minor enhancements and don’t mean much on their own. However, when taken together, they make a world of difference.
The uploading system allows you to upload files directly from your computer directly to the transcription company’s facilities. An enhancement that is available from some transcription service providers is that they update each file with an estimated time of completion. For instance, if you should update some dozen hours of audio recording, in a few minutes of time, the file status would be updated with an estimated time of processing.
This may not mean much to you but when you are dealing with hundreds of audio files, it will help you in a grand way to know when a particular file would be completed. A scenario to illustrate this would be to know that you have about a hundred files in queue for transcription. You notice that the very first file in the queue has a transcription time of ten hours while the rest have transcription times ranging from a few minutes to half an hour.
If you want to, you can prioritize the files right there from the control panel. If such an option is not available, you can always fire away an email to the service company to put that lengthy file at the end of the queue so as to speed up the other files. There will always be times when this minor feature could end up playing a key role.

Freedom To Manage
A nice thing about these web based control panels is that they are web based. Your control panel which gives you control to your information is just like any other website such as yahoo or google. You can visit these sites from your home computer, work PC, tablet, mobile phone and any other device you use to access the internet.
This means, you can be productive while on the move. More and more of us are finding ourselves working while we are mobile. Our workforce is getting mobile. So, web based control panels are a simple but effective system.
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