Archive for the 'Society' Category

Case Study of Building a Skateboard Park Located in a 120 MHP Typhoon Wind Zone

A skate park in Guam needed a new light system. They initially contacted RLLD through our international phone number. To help save them money on international calls, we were able to immediately begin protecting their budget by working out most of the details on this project through email correspondence.

The client faced a number of challenges due to both the geography of their location and the design of the skate park itself. Lighting was severely limited due to the skating area’s basic “bowl-like” design. Lighting levels varied extremely in different elevations, and some areas toward the bottom were even covered in shadow.

Additionally, the skate park faced another challenge as a result of their location in a typhoon zone. Guam lies in a 120 MHP wind zone, which limits the height of lighting pole options they could choose from. A new system had to be developed that could evenly distribute light throughout the skate park without using poles that would become unstable in the high winds of a Pacific typhoon.

Design Considerations

Our work consisted of determining a number of key factors relative to equipment recommendations that would ultimately address each of these concerns. We had to use fixtures with superior forward throw capability which could be tilted in a manner so as to deliver luminance at all elevations in the skate park. Light fixtures had to chosen that had the proper wattage and reflector types to deliver a 30 FT candle distribution throughout the facility. We had to determine the wattage of the luminaires we would ultimately recommend to the client, and then factor in pole height versus the limitation of wind zone safety requirements. Determining these factors, and the actual number of skate park light fixtures we would need to ship to the client, required the use of our photometric design software.

Photometric Analysis Software Helped Us Develop A Custom Skate Park Lighting System Unique To This Challenging Environment

We were fortunate to be working with a client that had already taken photometric readings and itemized the dimensions of the park. We then entered this data into our design program and generated a series of drawings and schematics that helped us select new skate park lights with a remarkable degree of precision. The first thing we created was a 3D CAD file that allowed us to render an exact model of the park, specify the desired lighting levels at varying elevations within the bowl, and manipulate foot candles and luminance angles accordingly. This data was then interpreted into scientific/numeric formulas which told us exactly how many fixtures to use, what wattage to select, and what angles of incidence to direct the light into the skate park.

Final System Proposed

The system RLLD finally proposed to the client was Spartan in both size and delivery power. The new system rested on six 25’ round tapered poles that we galvanized to protect them against salt air. Since we needed a bit more height than 25’ to place the luminaires at just the right position, we worked around the limitations of the wind zone by installing the skate park light poles on rugged 3’ concrete bases which elevated the fixtures to exactly the right height.

We chose shoebox, sharp cutoff fixtures because of their remarkably streamlined design which minimizes wind drag. These fixtures were then tilted at 20 degrees and arranged in a 90 degree pattern from one another. The luminaires themselves contained 1000W lamps and were fitted with reflectors to throw as much light into the skate park as possible.

Expeditious Shipping Was Provided To The Client

Because this was an offshore job that required reliable and expeditious shipping, we actually arranged for a two-part process to make certain the skate park received its new lighting system with the least amount of wait-time. The products were all made in Texas, and then shipped by ground freight to California, where they were then loaded onto a ship and taken to Guam. We coordinated the ground and ocean freight all on behalf of the client and completed everything from order to delivery in only 1

Tags

Get To Net-work

Before the arrival of the internet, if any of us can remember that prehistoric period of life, how did people arrange to meet each other? We were limited in options; the telephone was and still is a fundamental tool for contacting, but is now a trailing second place to the mighty internet. The letter is almost extinct and the fax is ‘so 1980’s’, with both being just nostalgic memories for our parents and generations before.

What is distinctive about these methods of communicating is that before we initiated the connection, we knew who we were communicating with. In the sense that even if we didn’t really know that person well, we did possess clues as to who they knew, what they did and where they were located. This knowledge provided us with reassurance, yet restricted us to meeting people within our social circles. The internet and its infinite resources has blown these limitation into tiny cyberspace particles and forming new and wonderful relationships – all around the world – has never been so easy.

So easy in fact, that the way we now communicate has changed forever. Friendships and relationships can be made in a day and can last a lifetime. Here are three illuminating case studies of how the internet helped flourish these memorable, lasting bonds.

Simon, 28 and Toby, 26, have known and lived with each other for four years. Before they met, they shared two pertinent things in common; they had great jobs that dictated their lives and; they had just discovered social networking.

“I came back from work one day and my old housemate suddenly announced he was moving out,” recalls Simon. “All of my mates were settled and I didn’t know of anyone who was looking for a room. I was fairly picky about the kind of person who I wanted living with me, so finding someone similar was essential. For the first time in my life I went on the internet to see what the social networking fuss was all about.”

“That’s when he found me!” interjects Toby. “I was also reluctant to use the internet, but I found I could be honest about myself and speak to like-minded people without any pressure or stress. I saw someone was looking for a housemate one day and this guy sounded cool. Now look at us! We’re best mates and have met other great people online.”

Aline, 26 and Emily, 25 have been best friends for two years. Aline is a fashion designer and Emily is a media consultant. They live in London and are both ardent social networkers.

“Most of my good friends I’ve met in the last two to three years have been generated through social networking,” Aline declares. “When I left University I gradually lost touch with old friends and I found myself dipping in and out of new friendships due to me travelling a lot with my job. But, while I was away, I joined a few websites and started talking to some really nice, interesting people. Then I met Emily and our friendship blossomed!”

“We did get on very well from the off-set,” recalls Emily. “I knew of people who used the internet to meet people, but I was never drawn to it. Then I joined a local networking website, as I was working very long hours and felt my social life had almost vanished. Aline was in the same boat as me and we just made each other laugh. Not only have we got each other as great friends, we managed to pick up each others friends too!”

Jess, 31 and Kris, 28 met while travelling around Australia. They both arrived in the country as single, happy travellers and they left as an even happier couple four months later.

“You obviously meet lots of people when you travel, particularly if you go on your own, but the intrigue of meeting people like yourself on the internet was too hard to resist,” Jess says. “People are very honest and candid online – in a good way – so when I first met Kris he was cheeky, but lovely. We were both in Brisbane at the time, so after about a week of chatting a group of us met for drinks.”

“We all got on really well, especially Jess and I, and it all went from there,” recalls Kris. “We decided to stay in Oz for a while longer as we didn’t want the experience to end. Jess and I will never forget that part of our lives and we are both advocates for meeting new people on the internet. Give it a try!”

Six people, three very different scenarios, but one reason why they’re all together: social networking. The internet is a vast space where people can meet and talk openly and freely.

One social network that brings together outgoing people across the UK, both online and offline at social events and activities is CitySocialising – a hub of 20 to 30-somethings that are experiencing a restricted social life due to relocating and accumulating work demands.

Sanchita Saha, CEO and Founder, says: “Life for young professionals is now more fast-paced and busier than ever, mostly due to increasing demands at work. There’s often just not enough time to organise your social life and create opportunities to meet new like minded people beyond the office walls. CitySocialising’s success at connecting people with new life-long friends comes from creating a trusted community of users from similar backgrounds, who can connect firstly online according to shared interests, and then meet and socialise in the real world to forge genuine friendships, joining in with local social events and activities that appeal to them, without the hassle of organising it themselves.”

Matt Crick is writing for City Socialising, one of the coolest and easiest ways to meet people in London and make the lost of your social life. City Socialising will make it possible to meet other like minded professionals, explore London nightlife and events, and meet new friends in London. They promote London social networking so you can meet new friends in a safe and relaxed environment.

Tags

Can Eating Less Red Meat Really Save the Environment?

We have all heard some pretty outrageous things in our lives and one of the more surprising things is about our diets. It seems that new research is proving that what we eat for dinner can actually have an impact on our global environment. Studies show that the processing of different foods causes a high amount of carbon dioxide emissions to be released in to the environment. Depending on the food, the amount of toxic emissions will vary but these studies suggest the processing of beef is one of the highest producers of carbon dioxide emissions.

It is also been proven that keeping livestock for purposes of food production increased the toxic chemicals being released in the air because the animals themselves produce methane gases through natural bodily functions. Cows can produce more harmful toxins that your average car! A standard cow farm can literally produce tons of carbon dioxide and methane in a year. These are two major greenhouse gases that contribute to the global warming epidemic.

Experts state that if consumers would reduce their meat consumption by 20%, It would help the environment considerably. There would be less need to raise herds of livestock for food production and therefore cut down on the amount of gases released into the air. If your diet changes would grow to include primarily vegetarian dishes, the destruction of the global environment can be reduced dramatically. There are critics who pan the studies results and deny that reducing meat consumption can save the planet but in reality, what’s so terrible about eating a healthier diet of fresh vegetables and trying new recipes?

Eating red meat has been linked to some risks of cancers and as it is, consumers are just not getting enough nutrients in their current diets. The consumption of proteins has doubled in just a short period of time. Nutritionist warn that unless you change your unhealthy eating habits and reduce the amount of meat you eat and replace it with fresh vegetables, grains, and fish, you are subjecting your body to various illnesses and disease.

There is more of a global interest in improving the environment and the state of our overall health. If reducing the amount of meat-centered meals will help solve heath conditions as well as global warming problems, there is no harm in trying. Start incorporated different dishes into your daily diet, one new meal at a time and don’t be afraid to experiment with new recipes. Eating healthier does not mean forgoing flavors and good taste, it just mean changing how you eat and how you think about eating. Preparing your own more health conscious meals at home also can help save you a bundle on your grocery bill.

Bad health and a damaged environment are two issues that are not going away anytime soon. Take the initiative to explore new avenues of food and food preparation. Take a class or two to learn new ways to prepare your new favorite dishes and chances are you won’t be sorry with the changes that you have made.

Georgina White has developed ways to make great tasting food using healthier methods. She feels that it’s important to be kind to your body and provide it with healthy foods while letting the taste buds enjoy it too!

Tags

Shopping For Cycling Gloves – Consider Carhartt Gloves

Cycling is the best form of complete exercise to our body and helps in improving the blood circulation as well as the general fitness. Some people may tend to think that cycling gloves only serve as image builders rather than lend any utility value. But, several cyclists would agree that cycling gloves do form an important component of their gear. Carhartt Gloves understand this and has a wide selection of cycling gloves to choose from. Let us understand the importance of Carhartt Gloves to you as an avid cycling enthusiast.

1. Carhartt Gloves To improve Grip and easy control

During humid and warm days, you have experienced the amount of sweat while cycling. This in turn make your hands wet. In such a situation, it is the pair of good gloves that can help you with dry hands and afford better control on your bikes. At Carhartt Gloves, you will find some of the best cycling gloves around. It is not just your hands that the gloves would protect. Consider the moisture from the perspiration with a high degree of mineral content dripping on to your shifters, causing deterioration over time.

2. Carhartt Gloves For Protection and Comfort to your Skin

Have you ever noticed that cycling can be pretty hard on your hands, particularly when you are at it for long hours? The pressure on the palms and the wear on fingers (while using shifters and gears) without gloves, you could soon develop blisters. The carefully crafted bike gloves at Carhartt Gloves can provide the added protection necessary for your comfort even when you are on one of those long, very long rides.

3. Carhartt Gloves as a shock absorber

Have you noticed the recent trend in providing a cushioning in the gloves, like a gel padding? The function of this useful padding is to absorb shocks while you are on the road, which can otherwise transfer on to you, the rider. This thought has been well incorporated into the cycling gloves at Carhartt Gloves for your comfort.

4. How the shocks can hurt you

Talking about the shocks, have you experienced the impact when you hit bumps? From the front fork, it travels through the arms right into your shoulders. This is among the major reasons for you to develop ache in the back, or neck after long rides. With the cycling gloves so meticulously crafted at Carhartt Gloves, the cushions in the gloves do the function of shock absorbers, and the energy that flows into your body when you hit bumps etc. get dampened. Thus, while you enjoy a higher quality of ride, you can also be free from most of those aches when you ride without the gloves.

5. Carhartt Gloves in Inclement weather conditions

Yet another reason why you should choose Carhartt Gloves is the inclement weather conditions. During the winter months, even if you are packed with all the warm clothes, safe pair of boots and socks, you still need the Carhartt Gloves to protect your hands. Your hands have a major role in your cycling effort and will need protection not just from the biting cold but also possible frost bites.

Carhartt Gloves are great for cycling or working outsite. Visit workwear 1 at http://www.workwear1.com for Carhartt Insulated Gloves.

Tags

The Morning Dilemma – What Carhatt Jeans go With What Shoes?

The morning dilemma – what Carhatt jeans go with what shoes? Matching tips to make wearing a pair of jeans easier

Jeans have become necessity clothing in everyone’s wardrobe. Everyone is sure to have at least one pair, if not a few. Some buy regular brands like Carhatt jeans and regular styles while other prefer to make a statement with ripped, faded and ‘bling’ jeans. Then there are those who treat jeans like a one stop solution where anything you wear with it matches and there are those who meticulously plan what they wear with their jeans depending on the kind of style. Here are some tips to make your life easier where wearing the right kind of shoes with your Carhatt jeans is concerned.

Tight fitting or slim Carhatt jeans

Slim or tight fitting Carhatt jeans go best with thin shoes of any type, be it a high top or a slip on. Thin canvas shoes also look great on these kinds of jeans whatever the color. What you need to keep in mind is that since these jeans are thin and slim, bulky shoes are an absolute no no! Whatever the kind of shoes you shoes you choose to wear; if you can feel your feet on the outer side of the shoe they will look great on these jeans. Running shoes and low top skateboard shoes are also a great choice for these jeans as these shoes generally have a lot of details on them that need to be seen.

The regular straight fit jeans

The Carhatt jeans are the most bought. Everyone will have a regular straight fit pair of jeans in their closet as these are the most common fit that you will find in any store. These kinds of jeans are also the easiest to match shoes with as any kind will look good with them. They look great with any kind of walking, running or canvas shoes. Low top walking shoes are commonly available with most of the big brands. Thin shoes also look good with this type of style as long as you do not let your jeans drag. This will look sloppy and ruin the end of your jeans quite badly.

Baggy jeans

Baggy Carhatt jeans look great on large high top shoes and basketball shoes. Most baggy jeans cover the shoes nicely and accentuate the size of the shoes will. These jeans can also look great with low tops provided you pull out the tongue so that the jeans rest behind it. Boots also go well these jeans if they have a large cuff compared to skinnier jeans.

Relaxed fit jeans

These jeans are not a popular choice and it is very strangely so, especially since they look good on almost any type of body and are the easiest to wear. These kinds of Carhatt jeans true to the name of their style look great on kind of low top without much effort and therefore a good for a day where you just want to throw something on and get out of the house.

Whatever the style of the jeans you will always find that there is a particular kind of shoe style that compliments it perfectly. Follow these few pointers and you should have no problem getting you pair of Carhatt jeans noticed.

Carhartt Jeans come in slim, regular, and straight fit jeans. Come to http://www.workwear1.com for Mens Carhartt Jeans.

Tags

Good Reasons to Shop Online For Carhartt Clothing

In today’s fast-paced world, you may want to go your local store and purchase some Carhartt clothing but that might not be the most practical option available to you. There are plenty of excellent reasons why you might be better off shopping online for the Carhartt clothing you want and need. Here are a few of them.

Convenience

After you’ve worked all day, the last thing you want to do is spend your evenings and weekends driving all over your city to find a dealer for Carhartt clothing in your area. Even when you do, you’ll still have to beat the crowds and stand in slow checkout lanes before you can even get home with your newly purchased items. And that’s not even including the traffic you’ll have to contend with as you try to reach that retailer.

If you buy online, you can simply sit down at your computer, go to the online retailer’s web site, search for what you want, and place your order immediately online. It’s safe and convenient. Of course, you do have to wait a few days to have your Carhartt clothing delivered to your home but that’s a small price to pay.

Selection

Although there are a number of brick and mortar retailers who carry Carhartt clothing, the problem is that their selection is often limited. Part of the reason is that most retailers don’t just carry Carhartt clothing – they also have a lot of other brands and products. That means only a limited amount of floor room can be dedicated to their items. As a result, your local retailer isn’t always going to have the sizes, colors, styles, and even specific clothing pieces you want.

When you shop online, that’s not going to be the case. You’ll find a much broader selection from which you can choose. Plus, most online dealers of Carhartt clothing are updating their catalog regularly so you can find new items each time you return.

No Risk

Let’s face it – most of us hate trying on clothes in the store anyway. It’s a nuisance and it makes most of us feel uncomfortable. That’s not a good reason to avoid shopping online for the Carhartt clothing you want. When you buy online, you always have the option of returning the merchandise for a refund.

Of course, if this is an issue you feel strongly about you can always try on some Carhartt clothing in your local store to determine the right sizes for your body and then order online. That means you’d only have to try on clothes in the store once instead of having to repeat the process every single time you want to get new Carhartt clothing.

Hassle Free

The best thing about shopping online for Carhartt clothing is that you’ll have a hassle-free experience. You won’t have to deal with other customers or moody checkout people or bad parking lot drivers. You get the Carhartt clothing you want with none of the stress you don’t want.

Shopping online is the only way to go for Carhartt Clothing. Carhartt Work Clothes are defined at http://www.workwear1.com

Tags

The Gift of Life a Little More Organised

Every year as birthdays and Christmases pass, the age old question of “What can I get for them this year?” rears its ugly head. No matter for whom you are buying: your mother, your best friend or even your cat, you’ll want to make sure that you get them a present that is special, is useful for them. Hopefully something memorable to maybe earn you some brownie points! So, if you’ve got a particularly difficult friend to buy for and you are looking for something a tad more imaginative than the pair of socks or smelly soap you’ve gotten them for the last 3 years running, a personalised calendar may be just the thing for you.

Ever since Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, recording dates and scheduling time has become essential for personal as well as business use. And with the pressures of modern day life, juggling a whole range of commitments has become ever more complex. Without it, how on earth would we stand any chance of remembering our Great Aunt’s birthday, our cousin’s anniversary or that meeting with the bank next Wednesday? Any of these things can so easily slip from our minds! Not only is giving a calendar a subtle way in which to ensure that your birthday is announced in plenty of time, reducing the chance that the recipient will forget about it, but it also ensures that you won’t be receiving a bouquet of droopy looking petrol station flowers and a hurriedly scribbled card from the other half. Sound familiar anyone?

Whilst most of us know that calendars are essential for organising our time and scheduling where we’re going to be, we all know someone who is yet to see the light and as a result is always running late, missing appointments or double booking their time. A calendar will give them the opportunity to manage their time more effectively. Not only will they be able to plan their lives so that they can achieve so much more in one day, but they might stand half a chance of being on time to meet you, saving you many an hour waiting outside the cinema or cafe on your own wondering if you’ve been stood up!

Now just because a calendar is functional, doesn’t mean that it can’t also be a special and unique present for someone as well. Whilst a calendar with 12 images of the latest actor, sports personality or pouting pop band draped over various props may be attractive to some, think of how much more unique and original a calendar adorned with their own name will look hanging in the kitchen or in their bedroom, catering for even the world’s vainest friend or partner. With any number of different themes, there’s definitely going to be something to suit even the fussiest of tastes. For those who have always dreamed of being a rock star, why not opt for getting their name put onto a gold disc with the personalised ‘Music Legend’ calendar.

Alternatively, for your significant other, if organising a plane to spell out your names in the sky is a bit too over the top and would blow the budget, why not use the calendar to make a different romantic gesture each month with the personalised ‘Romance’ calendar? Each calendar provides you with twelve unique images with the name of your chosen friend or loved one, cleverly incorporated within each via digital imagery and will guarantee a truly unique and one off gift. And as they come in a choice of two different sizes, you can either proudly display it on the wall for everybody to see with an A4 sized calendar, or be the envy of the office with a smaller desk size calendar.

It is also possible to specify at which month you wish the calendar to start, allowing you to make an even more personalised gifts, not only at Christmas, but for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentines Day — in fact for just about any occasion you care to think of! No longer will giving calendars be confined to simply the New Year: you could try getting one for your son or daughter at the beginning of the academic year or getting one for your partner on the month of your anniversary.

So, forget the cute Scottie dogs, puppies in drawers, the racing cars or last week’s pop sensation. Personalised calendars really are gifts that keep on giving and are the perfect way to regularly tell that special someone just how special you think they are. And of course in future they’ll be on time to hear you tell them!

To explore our range of Personalised Gifts further, please visit our website at http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.

Tags

Presenting - The Real Christmas Elves and Santa’s Little Helpers

There don’t appear to be many accounts of people having ever spotted a real Christmas Elf or helper, though we know they must exist otherwise how else would everything get done at Christmas time? Well, here are just a few tips on how to organise yourself this Christmas, with or without the help of these present pixies.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Though December the 25th might be the official Christmas day, we all know that lots of preparation must be put in beforehand. Spread the season of goodwill around early this year with some Handmade Christmas Cards. They could be given as early Christmas presents for the little ones or just special Christmas Presents for those on your Christmas Card list; either way, they are sure to add a bit of festive cheer to anyone who gets one. Before you start shopping for the other Christmas presents, why not really sprinkle a bit of Santa’s magic around the home with an official ‘Christmas Letter to Santa Kit’? These Christmas presents are surely the best way of passing on that all important information to those hardworking Christmas Elves.

Deck the Halls

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a little bit of tinsel or that all important tree. Unfortunately the Christmas Elves are likely to be a bit busy arranging the Christmas presents so you’ll have to enlist the help of your own little helpers on this one. You could add a few special tokens to the tree this year with the ‘12 Days of Christmas Decoration’ or a ‘Snowlace Christmas Glass Decoration’ for that really Christmassy feel. They can make lovely Christmas presents for someone else or even just a little treat for your own family this year.

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

If you’re going to be hosting the festivities this year then why not push the sleigh out and make it a really magical experience for the whole family. They should be able to amuse themselves once all the Christmas presents have been opened, and if a vat of mulled wine or a festive ‘Snowball’ doesn’t keep them entertained, then you may need a backup plan. ‘The Christmas Game’ can make wonderful Christmas presents or stocking filers for the whole family these little tins have a host of jokes and games that will keep the troops entertained whilst you peel the potatoes and season the sprouts. After dinner, why not play something that the whole family can get involved with such as a game of charades, or ‘Who’s in the Bag Game’? These Christmas presents offer hours of fun and are guaranteed to give the family a very merry Christmas.

Let Them Know It’s Christmas Time

“Feed The World” so said the members of band Aid, but surely feeding a family at Christmas is hard enough! If it’s your turn to make the Christmas dinner this year then fear not, help is hand with a number of Christmas presents. Get the kids involved by treating them to a ‘Kid’s Recipe File’. With a little luck, these Christmas presents might even relieve you of all cooking duties next year and let Santa’s little helpers do most of the hard work! If you’re after something a bit more traditional this year then how about some tradition recipes from ‘Mrs Manley’s Christmas Treats’, or some tips from the famous ‘Mrs Beeton’s Everyday Cooking’? These ladies are surely the real Santa’s helpers and make for some truly welcome Christmas presents. If you’re going to someone else’s house this Christmas then why not treat them to some special Christmas presents that might even help them out. There are a selection of personalised champagnes, wine and spirits to choose from which can be shared by everyone or make wonderful keepsake Christmas presents. Luxury Christmas hampers can do a lot of the work for you, and make lovely Christmas presents either for your own family or someone else.

Merry Christmas Everybody

When all of the festivities are drawing to a close and you finally have a few moments to yourself, why not enlist Santa’s little helpers to do the washing up whilst you kick off the new slippers and enjoy your own Christmas presents. Treat yourself this year with some Christmas presents that you can really enjoy such a ‘Pamper Me Bathroom Bundle’ or ‘The Ultimate Chocoholics Indulgence’ a great way to start the countdown for next year’s big day.

To explore our range of Christmas Presents further, please visit our website at http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.

Tags