Responsible ridership and safety are the first steps toward personal watercraft fun

One of the easiest and most fun ways to enjoy everything the water has to offer is on a personal watercraft (PWC). Personal watercrafts have taken great strides toward modernization; the PWCs of today are quiet, run on clean four-stroke technology engines, include significant safety features, are more stable, and are designed to accommodate up to three passengers.

Because advances in technology have made personal watercraft options from brands like Sea-Doo, Jet Ski, Kawasaki and WaveRunner more accessible and easier to use, more people are enjoying them each year. PWCs are also incredibly versatile and are becoming popular for towing wake boarders, tubers, and water skiers, exploring waterways and fishing. They can even be used as transportation to and from overnight camp sites.

To fully enjoy a PWC, riders must be responsible, safe and educated about operating one. Before you insert the key into the ignition, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

* Are you of legal age in your state to operate a PWC?

* Do you know your craft and the specific ways it operates compared to other PWCs?

* Have you read all instructional materials and labels from the manufacturer?

* Do you know the “rules of the road” on the water?

* Are you wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) and neoprene shorts?

If you answer “no” to any of these questions, it’s time to head back to the dock.

Responsible riding isn’t just about personal safety. It also includes being considerate of those around you. Be mindful of other vessels in your vicinity and how your rate of speed or wake affects them. And don’t forget about marine life: Respect ecologically sensitive areas.

The Personal Watercraft Industry Association offers important safety tips, rider rules, local laws and PWC etiquette for riders of every skill level. Information on instructional courses and downloadable safety materials, including a brief handbook titled Riding Rules for Personal Watercraft and PWC Orientation Checklist can be found at http://www.pwia.org. Additional information can also be found through the United States Coast Guard. Getting educated about riding a PWC responsibly will ensure you’re equipped to handle the vessel and can enjoy a fun-filled day on the water.

Before you get your feet wet, remember to ride responsibly. Visit http://www.pwia.org to learn more about riding responsibly, or visit us on twitter @PWIA_News.

Courtesy of BPT

Roof insulation makes your home more comfortable

If you are considering taking the plunge and having your home insulated, you may want to consider roof insulation. Just what is roof insulation? It is a product that lives up to its name, and could be called the hidden insulation, because many people do not even know that an outdoors form of it exists- they do research about the best kind of insulation for their home, and make a choice without becoming informed about roof insulation.

Roof insulation works silently to make your living space more comfortable. It has been tested and found to reduce the overall cost of heating your house by an astonishing 13%! This type of insulation can also help to keep your house a great deal cooler during the summer months. That can add up to a nice amount of money in a few years time, perhaps even enough to pay for your roof insulation and installation!

There are two types of roof insulation. One of these types goes on the outside of your home in the area between the roof’s shingles or tiles, and the sheathing used on top of the rafters as a place for the roofing. Normally, a type of foam board is stapled to the sheathing, and the roofing material is then installed on top of the foam board. This gives you a layer of protection from hot and cold air drifting into your home’s attic and then into your living space. Rigid fiberglass insulation can also be used for this purpose. It is a lot easier to install this type of insulation when you are also replacing your roof shingles or tiles, but it can definitely be used on a roof that is already in place or a flat roof as well.

It may only be necessary to place roof insulation in your attic space, which some contractors will call loft insulation. This is the more common type of roof insulation, and you will find that more people have heard of this alternative. Rafter vents are needed to keep any build up of moisture from getting the insulation wet. Once this has been accomplished, the space between the rafters can then be filled with insulation.

Spray foam insulation is one choice that the homeowner has for roof insulation in their attic space. A smaller attic, such as one you cannot stand up in, is a good candidate for this type of insulation. Professionals spray the foam into all the spaces, cracks, and crevices, and it does an excellent job of keeping out air.

Another type of attic roof insulation is that familiar pink colored roll that looks a bit like a huge roll of carpet. These are known as batts, and are usually made of fiberglass, but can also be made from rock wool. The pink batts are flexible, and it is easy to cut and fit them into the needed spaces. It is best to leave this type of installation to a professional, for fiberglass can be rather tricky to work with. It is easy to get some of the fibers embedded into your skin, or even in your eyes. As you might imagine, this is quite painful, and potentially dangerous to your eyesight. There is also the risk of breathing in the glass fibers.

The various types of roof insulation that are available will make your home a comfortable place to live, whether it is winter or summer.

 by: Simon Shannon

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_3754.shtml

Mushroom and Split Pea Soup

(NC)-This hearty vegetarian soup takes longer to cook but only a few minutes to prepare and then you can practically forget about it until it’s done. If you have leftovers it freezes and reheats well too for totable lunches.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: About 1 hour

1 tbsp vegetable oil 15 mL

1 medium onion chopped 1

1 lb sliced fresh Mushrooms 500 g

1 large carrot, chopped 1

1 stalk celery, chopped 1

1 ½ tsp curry powder 7 mL

5 cups vegetable or chicken broth 1.25 L

1 cup split peas 250 mL

1 large bay leaf 1

Freshly ground pepper to taste

In large saucepan heat oil over medium heat, sauté onion, mushrooms, carrot, celery and curry powder for about 4-5 minutes or until onion is softened. Add broth, split peas and bay leaf; bring to boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium low and cook covered about 50-60 minutes or until peas are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Season with pepper to taste.

Makes 6 servings.

Variation: Substitute water for broth and add 1 tsp (5 mL) salt

Nutritional Information:

Per Serving

Calories: 180

Sodium: 833 mg

Protein: 9.8 g

Fat: 3.0 g

Carbohydrates: 29.9 g

Dietary Fibre: 5.0 g

For more delicious recipe ideas visit Mushrooms Canada at http://www.mushrooms.ca.

Courtesy of Newscanada

BCREA Housing Market Update (May 2013): BCREA’s Q2 Housing Forecast – YouTube

BCREA Housing Market Update (May 2013): BCREA’s Q2 Housing Forecast – YouTube.

Secure your information when working in coffee shops and on public WiFi

In a few years, mobile devices including smart phones and tablets will likely outnumber desktop computers in the workplace. Employees are also increasingly spending less time at their desks and on the go or working from home or at coffee shops on public WiFi. Although the atmosphere is relaxing, what many workers don’t realize is that they risk exposing emails and sensitive materials over public, unsecured networks.

To secure your data, consider a mobile internet product like a mobile internet stick, mobile hotspot or tablet. A few of the benefits include:

• Unlike open or shared networks typical of public Wi-Fi hotspots, internet access over a secure wireless network offers a personal connection with automatic encryption to protect your information online

• Mobile hotspots or tablets create password-protected Wi-Fi hotspots where you can customize the password, changing as often as you like.

• Mobile hotspots also display clearly on the LCD screen on the front of the device the number of users connected to the mobile hotspot so you can easily check that the number of users sharing your connection are as expected.

• Mobile internet sticks, like the Rocket stick from Rogers, offer a direct physical connection to your laptop and do not require Wi-Fi at all

To evaluate the best option for your business, talk with a wireless carrier that specializes in small business solutions.

Courtesy of Newscanada

Laminates – Textures, colors, and choices for all your interior needs

Laminates let you create your own world of imagination. You choose from a sea of textures, colors, and choices. Laminates are affordable as well. So, if you are the one who is considering a home make-over, choosing laminates for this job is the best option you have. Plastic laminate products are durable as well as affordable. Whatever your aesthetic preference or budget, plastic laminate products can easily make your home come alive like never before. Give it a try and see yourself.

Plastic laminate products satisfy all your interior needs – kitchens, bathrooms, cabinets, wardrobes and/or edgings. You in fact have all the time on this planet to choose from the entire range of designs, colors, textures, and finishes. Compact grade laminate are robust and ideal for applications that demand long life, minimum maintenance, damage resistance, and hygiene. These laminates give your interiors an all-round finish with a striking design feature. Your home will love it.

You can even check out laminates sitting at your favorite couch. All you need to do is surf several leading sites selling plastic laminate products. Check out the range of textures and colors, and choose what you find the best for your home-interiors. Now, isn’t that easy?

However, one thing that you should keep in mind is to deal with a reliable seller/producer and not a newcomer in the industry. When you deal with a professional and experienced producer of plastic laminate products, you get the top-quality products at the most-competitive prices in the market. So, take you time. Think, compare, ask others, and choose the best for your sweet home. With laminate countertops, give your home a new look. And, your home will thank you for this.

As already mentioned above, laminates come with an impressive long life and minimal maintenance needs, using these laminates are a wise choice. Also, look for the instructions by the manufacturer and follow the same so that you don’t have to face any problem half way. So, make-up your mind, do some research, and give that much needed make-over to your sweet home.

By: Smith, John
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_7296.shtml

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April 2013 Housing Market Update – Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver – YouTube

April 2013 Housing Market Update – Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver – YouTube.