milaeryomina's blog

Probably, almost everyone has dreamed of moving out of town at least once. Owning a house with a plot of land seems like an attractive prospect to many, but such a decision often requires careful preparation. Particular attention must be paid to the choice of construction and remodeling services, the operational characteristics of the building: it is necessary to select suitable materials for construction, take into account the climatic conditions of the region and soil characteristics.

Let's figure out which houses are best to build for permanent residence and why sometimes high costs are not a guarantee of a good choice.

Main criteria

For construction, you will need to take into account a number of important criteria:

• - If you are planning a building for permanent residence, then you need to carefully select the material taking into account climatic conditions. It is important to take into account average winter temperatures, air humidity and a number of other parameters. All this must be compared with the thermal insulation properties of materials and floors.

• - It is important to understand that during construction you will not be able to make major changes to the project. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully approach the development of the project and the preparation of the necessary documentation.

• - The durability and reliability of the structure will depend both on the construction material and on compliance with the work technology. Therefore, it is important not only to choose high-quality building materials, but also to find professional performers.

• - Be sure to take into account the energy-saving characteristics of your future home. For many, it is important that a comfortable temperature is maintained inside both winter and summer. If the wall material is characterized by good energy efficiency, you will be able to save on heating.

• - Another important factor is noise insulation performance. This is especially important if the site is located near a busy highway or railroad tracks. If the wall material does not have good sound absorption, then additional sound protection will be required.

• - The appearance of the building is another important factor, so at the design stage it is worth deciding on the finishing option. Often it will depend on the material of the walls, since the same brick will not require additional finishing, but aerated concrete cannot do without it.

• - An important parameter is the final cost of construction work. This often depends on the region of construction, since taking into account the availability of materials, the price will vary significantly. For example, in some regions, timber and logs are the most accessible, while in others, natural wood must be supplied from neighboring regions, which increases the cost of raw materials by 1.5–2 times.

• - If you are planning to build a house yourself, then the difficulty of working with the selected building material may also influence your choice.

Materials for construction

For a country house for permanent residence, both traditional materials used for centuries and solutions developed in the last 15–20 years can be chosen. There are a lot of options, so when searching it is worth taking into account the positive and negative characteristics, features of the building’s construction and performance qualities.

Let's talk about the most popular building materials that are used in the construction of small-story cottages:

• - Brick. A relatively expensive solution, but it allows you to build a structure with a long service life. Typically, silicate or ceramic bricks with a hollow or solid structure are used for a private house. Solid brick is highly durable, making it ideal for two- and three-story houses. But it also has a drawback - it has high thermal conductivity, as a result of which the walls require additional insulation. Hollow material retains heat much better, so it can be used for external wall cladding. Brick houses are considered one of the most beautiful and respectable; in addition, their service life often exceeds the time limits set during the design. In the production of bricks, environmentally friendly components are used, so the material is safe. For example, the basis for ceramic bricks is clay, for silicate bricks it is sand and lime. Brickwork is characterized by good frost resistance indicators - this criterion shows how long the material is able to maintain its original characteristics after freezing and thawing cycles. That is, frost resistance actually determines the service life of a building material. It is also worth noting another important advantage of brick - its high fire safety. The material is resistant to open fire, does not ignite and does not support combustion. But what you need to be prepared for is high construction costs. The cost of bricks is quite high; even a one-story structure will require a large amount of raw materials. Another important parameter is the need to organize a solid foundation.

• - Foam blocks and aerated concrete blocks. These materials are often grouped together because they have similar characteristics. They are a good choice for private homes for permanent residence, as they have good performance qualities and are more affordable than brick. In the production of aerated concrete, cement, lime, sand, water and aluminum powder are used. Previously, concrete stone blocks were dried naturally, but today autoclaves are used to harden them. The result is a material with a porous structure with open cells. Cement, sand and water are used to make foam concrete. The special structure of the building material is obtained by adding a foaming agent. The cell itself turns out to be closed. Both materials are easy to process, so they can be given any shape during construction work. In addition, they are characterized by good compressive strength. Another advantage of foam blocks and aerated concrete is their low thermal conductivity. Thanks to this, the walls do not need additional insulation, and a comfortable temperature is always maintained inside the house. You can also note the relatively low cost of the material. If we talk about disadvantages, they include the fragility of the blocks. They are easily damaged during transportation or work. Careless handling of the material can lead to cracks or complete splitting of the block. Also, both types of slabs require mandatory external finishing, which means additional construction costs.

• - Natural wood. This category includes logs and beams. Wood has been and remains one of the most popular materials for construction. For suburban properties, coniferous species (for example, pine, cedar, spruce), as well as deciduous species (alder, aspen, oak, birch) can be used. Many people choose wood for its excellent external characteristics and environmental friendliness. With the help of such building materials you can create the most comfortable home that will last for decades. It is worth noting that logs and timber have low thermal conductivity, so they do not require serious insulation. It is also possible not to perform external and internal wall decoration. If we talk about disadvantages, these include the tendency of materials to rot and instability to high humidity. To eliminate these shortcomings, special protective compounds are applied to the surface.

• - Frame houses. Frame buildings are a separate category of houses for permanent residence; their main feature is the combination of several materials for the construction of walls. For construction, panel, half-timbered or frame-frame technology is used. The finished structures are quite reliable and durable, have good thermal and sound insulation, and have an attractive appearance. As for the cost of construction, it can be quite high: the final price largely depends on the methodology and materials used.

What problems might you encounter?

The choice of materials for walls is not the only problem that will need to be solved when building your own home. The following points must also be taken into account:

• - Foundation. Often, the service life of the entire structure depends on the foundation. Therefore, it is important to correctly calculate the expected loads and choose a foundation with optimal strength indicators.

• - Features of interior decoration and roof installation. These parameters can be considered together, as they are interrelated with each other.

• - Heating. It should be thought through at the design stage. For example, if you use a boiler, it is important to make sure that it can provide heat to the entire area of ​​the house.

• - Communications. Their location is also important to consider at the planning stage, so as to ultimately hide all the pipes from prying eyes. But it is important that the systems are easily accessible for periodic maintenance.

• - Presence of a fence. Don't forget to think about the design of the area and take care of the fence. Choose functional solutions that will help protect the territory from uninvited guests and at the same time become a decorative decoration of the territory.

We hope that now you can decide what kind of house to build for permanent residence. Remember that the most important thing is that the potential building is suitable for you and matches your idea of ​​a dream cottage.

Slot machines at https://www.casino-winshark.com/ and gambling have always attracted a large number of people. And if previously you could only try your luck in land-based casinos, today you can spin the reels online. You don't even need to get up from your seat to open the casino website on your tablet or mobile phone.

A large number of portals with gambling games and colorful slots have been created on the network. Anyone can play slot machines on the Internet, provided they are over 18 years old. But this is not all the advantages of playing online. The advantages of playing on casino sites include the following criteria.

1. Availability

As mentioned above, virtual gaming clubs are almost always available to users. The sites operate 24/7. However, there are no restrictions on entry. You can access the casino website from any device. Almost all casinos have a mobile version, and some even have apps.

2. Gifts and bonuses

Another important difference between online casinos and land-based casinos is the possibility of receiving gifts and rewards. It is unlikely that in any land-based casino you will receive such a solid welcome bonus as in a virtual establishment. Online casinos offer their visitors a large number of prizes, gifts and bonuses. You can use bonuses to further play at the casino.

3. Games

In a land-based casino, you are unlikely to find the number of slots that are available in virtual gaming halls. On casino websites you can find hundreds of slot machines of various genres. Even roulette has acquired various variations on these portals. Any player will be able to find entertainment to suit their taste on the casino website.

4. Bet size

Only in a virtual casino can both players making high bets and gambling enthusiasts playing for minimal amounts feel equally comfortable. In these gaming halls it is not at all necessary to spend a lot of money; you can enjoy the game for very small amounts.

5. No restrictions

Getting into a land-based casino can be quite difficult. But on the Internet there are a large number of sites where you can play without breaking the law.

In today's world of business and marketing, partnerships play a key role in achieving success. One important affiliate marketing tool is brand bidding, which allows brands to collaborate with partners to promote their products or services. In this article, we will look at the secrets of effectively using brand bidding affiliate marketing in 2024.

1. Understanding the essence of branded bidding

Before we talk about the secrets to successfully using branded bidding, it is important to understand what they are. A brand rate is an agreement between a brand and an affiliate whereby the affiliate promotes the brand's products or services in exchange for a specified fee or commission.

2. Secrets of effective cooperation in 2024

• Selecting the Right Partners:One of the key secrets to successful branded bidding is choosing the right partners. Affiliates must be carefully selected based on their audience, reputation, and goals to ensure maximum effectiveness of the affiliate program.

• Developing attractive offers:Brands should develop attractive offers for their partners to encourage them to actively promote products or services. These could be generous commissions, exclusive discounts or special promotions.

• Providing Marketing Materials:Brands must provide their partners with necessary marketing materials such as banners, text ads, videos, etc. to facilitate them in promoting products or services.

• Monitoring and Analyzing Results:One of the most important secrets to successful use of branded bidding is systematic monitoring and analysis of the results of the affiliate program. This allows you to identify the most effective partners, successful strategies and possible areas of improvement.

3. Examples of successful use of branded bids

• Affiliate Programs:Many major brands have successfully used affiliate programs with branded rates, offering affiliates a reward for every sale made through their unique links or codes.

• Collaboration with Bloggers and Influencers:Brands actively collaborate with popular bloggers and influencers by offering them bids for mentioning or advertising their products or services.

Using branded bidding in affiliate marketing is a powerful tool for expanding your audience reach and increasing sales. Effective use of this tool requires a strategic approach, careful selection of partners and systematic analysis of the results. Following these secrets will help brands achieve success and stand out in the highly competitive market in 2024.

Portugal é um país rico em cultura, história e paixão pelo jogo. Os casinos online tornaram-se particularmente populares entre os jogadores portugueses nos últimos anos, com novos estabelecimentos de jogo a surgirem no mercado com uma regularidade surpreendente. Neste artigo iremos olhar para o TOP 5 novos casinos online Portugalem 2023 e discutir o importante papel que as classificações desempenham na escolha do casino certo.

1. Cassino Portugal

O Casino Portugal é um dos novos casinos que já ganhou popularidade entre os jogadores portugueses. O site oferece uma variedade de jogos, desde slots a jogos de mesa, além de bônus para novos jogadores.

2. Cassino Solverde

O Solverde Casino é mais um novo casino que está a atrair a atenção dos jogadores em Portugal. Ele oferece uma ampla variedade de entretenimento de jogos e bônus impressionantes.

3. Cassino Bet.pt

O Casino Bet.pt é um novo casino popular em Portugal que oferece uma variedade de jogos e apostas, incluindo desportivas. Bônus e promoções tornam o jogo ainda mais atrativo.

4. Cassino BacanaPlay

O BacanaPlay Casino oferece uma experiência de jogo de alta qualidade e uma variedade de jogos, incluindo caça-níqueis e jogos com crupiê ao vivo. Este cassino também oferece bônus generosos.

5. Cassinos Estoril Sol

Estoril Sol Casinos é outro novo casino que merece atenção. Oferece uma ampla seleção de jogos e promoções regulares para os jogadores.

Porque é que os casinos com slots da Microgaming em Portugal são populares

Os Microgaming casinos são amplamente conhecidos por sua qualidade e variedade. Em Portugal tornaram-se também particularmente populares devido às seguintes vantagens:

• Gráficos e som de qualidade: Os slots da Microgaming oferecem design visual e sonoro de alta qualidade, o que torna o jogo mais emocionante.

• Grandes ganhos: Muitos slots da Microgaming oferecem grandes jackpots e prêmios, o que atrai jogadores em busca de grandes ganhos.

• Variedade de temas: A Microgaming oferece uma variedade de temas de slots, desde máquinas clássicas de frutas até jogos e videogames com temas de filmes.

O papel das classificações na escolha de um cassino

Ao escolher um novo casino em Portugal, os jogadores recorrem frequentemente às classificações. As classificações dos casinos online ajudam a avaliar a sua fiabilidade, reputação e qualidade dos serviços prestados. Fatores importantes a serem considerados ao escolher um cassino incluem:

• Licença e Regulamento: Certifique-se de que o casino possui uma licença emitida pelas autoridades competentes. Isto garante que o casino funciona de acordo com a lei.

• Jogos e Software: Verifique quais jogos o cassino oferece e quais desenvolvedores de software trabalham com ele. Os cassinos com jogos da Microgaming, por exemplo, tendem a ser muito populares devido aos seus slots de qualidade e variedade de jogos.

• Bônus e Promoções: Confira os bônus e promoções que o cassino oferece. Bônus generosos podem aumentar suas chances de ganhar e tornar o jogo mais divertido.

Os novos casinos em Portugal oferecem aos jogadores uma variedade de oportunidades de jogo. As classificações dos cassinos ajudam os jogadores a escolher o cassino certo, e os cassinos de slots da Microgaming são populares devido à qualidade e variedade de jogos que oferecem. Independentemente da sua escolha, é importante jogar com responsabilidade e ficar de olho no seu orçamento para desfrutar ao máximo do jogo.

A successful cybersecurity approach has multiple layers of protection spread across the computers, networks, programs, or data that one intends to keep safe. In an organization, the people, processes, and technology must all complement one another to create an effective defense from cyber attacks. A unified threat management system can automate integrations across select Cisco Security products and accelerate key security operations functions: detection, investigation, and remediation.

People

Users must understand and comply with basic data security principles like choosing strong passwords, being wary of attachments in email, and backing up data. Learn more about basic cybersecurity principles.

Processes

Organizations must have a framework for how they deal with both attempted and successful cyber attacks. One well-respected framework can guide you. It explains how you can identify attacks, protect systems, detect and respond to threats, and recover from successful attacks. 

Technology

Technology is essential to giving organizations and individuals the computer security tools needed to protect themselves from cyber attacks. Three main entities must be protected: endpoint devices like computers, smart devices, and routers; networks; and the cloud. Common technology used to protect these entities include next-generation firewalls, DNS filtering, malware protection, antivirus software, and email security solutions.

Why is cybersecurity important?

In today’s connected world, everyone benefits from advanced cyberdefense programs. At an individual level, a cybersecurity attack can result in everything from identity theft, to extortion attempts, to the loss of important data like family photos. Everyone relies on critical infrastructure like power plants, hospitals, and financial service companies. Securing these and other organizations is essential to keeping our society functioning.

Everyone also benefits from the work of cyberthreat researchers, like the team of 250 threat researchers at Talos, who investigate new and emerging threats and cyber attack strategies. They reveal new vulnerabilities, educate the public on the importance of cybersecurity, and strengthen open source tools. Their work makes the Internet safer for everyone.

Like any popular novelty, cryptocurrency copy trading has a lot of questions. People want to know whether the program really works, whether it is possible to get a stable income with its help. Its major element, the trading strategy, handles the successful operation of the program.

This is a set of parameters that determine which decision you will make. In trading, an automatic assistant analyzes the cryptocurrency platform.

Robots are released to the market with ready-made settings, but some of them can be changed manually. It can change the more parameters the bot has that, the more the trader influences the strategy. But if a professional can make a profit from this, the abundance of parameters will only confuse beginners. The risk of suffering losses increases at the same time.

If you are not yet an experienced trader or a good analyst, it makes sense to choose strategies with the parameters already set. Such bots perform a huge number of operations, for each of which it charged the counterparty a commission. Therefore, many companies even encourage such cooperation.

What is Crypto Trading Bots?

This is a program that performs specific actions for conditions. Here, we are talking about buying cryptocurrencies when the exchange rate drops and selling them when they grow.

Most bots work exactly according to this algorithm. There are also more complex bots. They can analyze the chart of exchange rate changes for a period of. For example, 7 days, and make the purchase of cryptocurrencies without waiting for the maximum drop.

Advantages of Such Bots

1. Saving time. It does not get tired, and it does not need to sleep.
2. Extensive coverage of cryptocurrencies and exchanges (if an arbitration bot is used). To cover such a volume of information, sit at the computer around the clock. With a bot, it is enough to spend one day setting up the bot, and then only observe the profitability of trading and adjust the algorithm.
3. Fast analysis, fast transaction execution. That’s just the time it takes more. Therefore, using a bot allows you not to miss when you need to conduct a transaction.
4. For inexperienced traders, it can become a reference book of various trading strategies. We just watch his work and get new knowledge.

Disadvantages of Bots

1. A deep analysis. The program accords to an algorithm. It has no intuition. It cannot adjust its actions by itself. A person is more flexible. The analysis of the situation by a trading bot is preloaded into the program. While a person can draw information from the outside (for example, very often make weather news from the media).
2. It does not know what to do in emergency situations. We described something similar above. Abnormal situations, in case of correct analysis, can play both in the negative side and in the positive.
3. Instability of the program code. Sometimes bots can hang, lag, crash, and so on. No one is immune from this, so the trader needs to constantly monitor the work of the bot.
4. The probability of using a fraudulent bot. Yes, there are some on the web. They can steal personal information, transfer funds to hackers’ wallets and many other illegal things.

How Trading Bots Work

This is a special program that helps to trade financial instruments, including cryptocurrency. It accords to the set parameters and can free the trader from routine work. The market participant can set the indicators himself. There are several types of trading bots. The simplest ones buy cryptocurrency when the price of it decreases, and sell it with a further increase in value. If choosing a bot is more difficult, it will use additional data.

Such advisors will place an order only if these data correspond to the parameters set by the owner. For example, they can study the digital currency exchange rate chart for a certain time. If the cryptocurrency has fallen within 15%, the bot will buy it. If the drop exceeds 25%, he will refuse to enter a contract.

There are two main types of robots:

1. Trading, designed to work within the same platform. Their income is the difference between buying a cryptocurrency and reselling it.
2. Arbitration. These assistants trade on different exchanges. They can buy, for example, bitcoin on one site, and sell it on another, where it costs more.

Each trader chooses an assistant himself, but both bots bring benefits.

Final Thoughts

Bots are excellent assistants in trading cryptocurrencies. The expediency of using them will depend on the trader’s experience. Experienced traders rarely trust the work of the program. Unless it is a proven product that allows you to configure a flexible algorithm of work. Novice traders will definitely appreciate the bot, and may not want to give up such a convenient tool.

It should be remembered that the quality of any cryptobot is determined by they effectiveness and the actual cost. Stable performance should characterize cryptocurrencies bot on the stock exchange.

We all know that one of the keys to great SEO is making sure you keep your website updated, new and fresh. Whether you do this with a blog, or you change your homepage with new offers, coupons or new products, it serves to show Google that your site is “alive.” For many small businesses

We all know that one of the keys to great SEO is making sure you keep your website updated, new and fresh. Whether you do this with a blog, or you change your homepage with new offers, coupons or new products, it serves to show Google that your site is “alive.” For many small businesses in particular, this is a real challenge.

So you already have great, fresh content on your site—what’s next? Do you know what is coming that may benefit your small business?

Have you heard of QR codes yet? Here is a quick introduction:

What Are QR codes?

They come to us from Japan where they are very common. QR is short for Quick Response (they can be read quickly by a cell phone). They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to your cell phone. You may soon see QR Codes in a magazine advert, on a billboard, a web page or even on someone’s t-shirt. Once it is in your cell phone, it may give you details about that business (allowing users to search for nearby locations), or details about the person wearing the t-shirt, show you a URL which you can click to see a trailer for a movie, or it may give you a coupon which you can use in a local outlet.

The reason why they are more useful than a standard barcode is that they can store (and digitally present) much more data, including url links, geo coordinates, and text. The other key feature of QR Codes is that instead of requiring a chunky hand-held scanner to scan them, many modern cell phones can scan them.

How does the cell phone read the code?

The cell phone needs a QR code reader, like this one from Kaywa. It takes literally 1 minute for someone with an iPhone or Android phone to find and install the reader.

How can you use QR codes to benefit search marketing?

We are only just scratching the surface of how they will be used. We have added one to every business listing in our directory. Here are a few examples of how others are using them.

How will Google see them?

If you add them to your website, the search engines will see that your pages have changed, and that you are updating pages. The search engine will see a new image and index it accordingly. At some point soon, the search engines will likely recognize QR codes and possibly index the content in them.

Will your customers use them?

Today, few may use them, but those that do will certainly appreciate your tech knowledge, and those that don’t will certainly be inquisitive, which may open the door for conversation and a potential sale. Those that do use QR codes will definitely have a high tech know-how and may be more receptive to your presence on the web, your Twitter presence, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube etc.

How could you use a QR code?

Your business, no matter how small or large, could use QR codes in a number of ways. You might auto generate one next to every product on your web site containing all the product details, the number to call and the URL link to the page so they can show their friends on their cell phone. You could add one to your business card containing your contact details so its easy for someone to add you to their contacts on their cell phone.

If you want to feel the rush of adrenaline from accelerating from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds without risking your safety on the asphalt, you have two options: purchase a ticket and blast off on the Space X, or climb onto a high-octane jet ski. 

And since you’re reading this article, you are likely someone that seriously wants to pursue their dream of riding a jet ski. That, and you’ve probably Googled “How to Ride a Jet Ski,” and wound up with us. No matter how you got here, though, you’ve come to the right place. We at Sea the City are happy to have you. Our team has always had a passion for introducing beginners to the thrilling world of navigating the NYC waters by water bike. 

In the spirit of it all, we’ve put together this simple beginner’s guide that will help transform you from a newbie to a seasoned wake jumper in no time! 

How to Ride a Jet Ski

Since you’re new to the sport, starting out with these 10 super helpful tips before throttling up will help. Here are the basics of how to ride a jet ski:

1. Know your Boat-Ed: In New York, you must pass a boating safety course before driving personal watercraft (PWC), including jet skis. 2. Climb on and find a sitting position that is comfortable for you. 3. Place your hands on the bars and plant your feet in the footrests.4. Before turning on your water bike, you must have a lanyard (or something similar) around your wrist that is attached to the key in the ignition. This setup is known as the kill switch cord. In a nutshell, if you fall off, it kills the engine.  5. Turn on the jet ski ignition switch.6. Slowly push the throttle in. Cruise around at about 5 -10 mph offshore until you’re comfortable with the sensitivity of the throttle.  7. After you’ve cruised to a safe distance from the shore…past obstacles and heavy boat traffic, you can accelerate and increase speed. However, stay at a speed you are comfortable with.8. Steadily maintain this slow and steady speed. Lean your water bike in toward the direction of any turns you make. 9. Be mindful that jet skis need acceleration to turn most of the time. To avoid capsizing yours, keep the load balanced and centered.10. Many beginners want to stand up on the ski, but resist the temptation until after you’ve become an intermediate or master rider. You could lose control of the PWC or fall otherwise.

Before we get into the next two tips about riding your water bike for the first time, let’s answer a couple of frequently asked questions we get about jet skiing.

Will I get wet?

Yes! Even if you do not fall in, you’ll likely get a good soaking in one way or another. That’s all part of the fun!

What Should I Wear on a Jet Ski?

Usually, a bathing suit and a coast-guard approved life vest or PFD are enough, but if the water or weather is on the colder side you may want to wear a wetsuit or drysuit. 

Are Jet Skis Dangerous?

Any activity Involves risk. Injuries do occur. However, if you listen to your guides and proceed with caution your risk of injury is greatly diminished. That’s why you have to pay attention to our first-time jet ski rider tips in this article.

What to Bring On Your PWC Outing:

Bring along the following for your first jet ski ride and any after:

• Enough gasoline: If you don’t check your fuel gauge, you can get stranded!
• A whistle, horn or other signaling device 
• A GPS device or map in case you get lost
• All the required safety equipment for the PWC’s Class A certification 
• A Coast Guard-approved PFD or life jacket (it’s the law)  
• The right water specific clothing and gear. Gloves, especially, will save your hands from painful blisters and help you grip the throttle and lines
• Certification from your boating safety course, or whatever certification or license your state requires for operating a PWC
• Proper documentation, including vessel registration with all the displayed decals
• A fire extinguisher (Coast Guard approved). Also, familiarize yourself with handling it since they have their own safety requirements
• A functional backfire flame arrestor & ventilation system

Other Tips for Beginning Jet Ski Riders

Before embarking on your adventure, here are some tips and advice for riding your PWC: 

• Safety First – Know the safety rules and regulations that govern the waters. For instance, a PWC is considered a Class A vessel by the Coast Guard. Because of that, familiarize yourself with rules and regulations that apply to boats under 16 feet. Also, growing overconfident when you’re learning is a common mistake. 

• Keep it Straight! – First time jet skiers often have difficulty keeping the jet ski straight. The good news is this is easy to correct. Riders often stare at the handlebars or the water just off the bow (front) of the ski. Instead, lift your head up and look off in the distance. 

This will allow you to drive straight and enjoy your trip. If you continue to struggle, simply pick a stationary target on land or water (buoy) and steer directly at it.

• Remember, You Can’t Turn Away from Danger Without Throttle – The “jet” in jet ski refers to the water jet that shoots out the back and makes the ski go forward. That jet moves side to side to steer the machine. There is no rudder – so when you slow down or stop giving the machine thrust all together your ability to steer is diminished or you lose it completely. 

So, if an emergency arises and you need to avoid a collision don’t take your finger off the throttle. Doing that will make it impossible to steer away from danger. Rather, keep your speed up and steer away from the threat.

• Splash Down…How to Re-Board Your jet ski – Sometimes people fall off their jet ski. This is typically no big deal and can even be a part of the thrill. However, there is a tried and true method to getting back on. You always reboard a ski from the stern (back). 

Simply reach up to the handle behind the seat and pull yourself out of the water onto the back deck of the ski. If you are riding tandem, only one person should board at a time. Attempting to reboard from the side will cause the ski to flip. 

Don’t rush. Take it slow. If you’re out of shape and have several failed attempts to reboard you can get very tired, very quickly. Relax in the water, think about how you’re going to get back on board and then slowly climb back aboard.

• Relax! It’ll Hurt Less! – Many first time riders complain that their hands get tired or they feel slight soreness in their shoulders. This occurs because new riders often hold on for dear life. Instead, lean forward slightly and relax your grip. 

Keep your elbows slightly bent. This will allow you to ride without fatigue. Don’t lean too far forward and always be careful not to hit your chin or nose on the handlebar.

• Hold Tightly…But Not Too Tight! – We’ve talked about driving, but there is a trick to being a good and comfortable passenger as well. Holding the drivers waist or the back of their life jacket is a good method for staying on. However, don’t hold on so tight that you make it difficult for your partner to drive the ski. 

As with driving, relax. Keep your body loose, not stiff. This will lower fatigue and increase your enjoyment. Also, when the driver leans into a turn, passengers should too.

• The Best Way to Jump Wakes –  Jumping wakes is an amazing experience, but for beginners it can be somewhat intimidating. To maintain your jet ski’s lateral stability, remember to always cross them and large waves at a 90° angle. Also, jump waves instead of pushing through them with high speed.

• Stick with It – Riding jet skis is a blast, but doing it safely and correctly takes time and practice. Follow this guide, and the next time you climb aboard yours, you should be fully prepared!

A physiologist who himself used to use steroids on why Major League Baseball players--now including Yankee Alex Rodriguez--juice

With this weekend’s revelation that baseball superstar Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez had taken anabolic steroids, the furor over rampant doping in sports continues.

A three-time Most Valuable Player, Rodriguez now joins a pantheon of modern baseball greats tarnished by allegations of steroid use, including homerun “king” Barry Bonds and pitching ace Roger Clemens. But unlike those players -- the latter of whom denied steroid abuse under oath at a congressional hearing last year -- Rodriguez fessed up on ESPN Monday night. He apologized, saying that he was “stupid” for having taken performance-enhancing drugs. Rodriguez says he has stayed clean while wearing the signature pinstriped uniform of the New York Yankees as the team's All-Star third baseman, now entering his sixth season.

According to anonymous sources quoted by Sports Illustrated, Rodriguez allegedly tested positive for testosterone and the anabolic steroid primobolan. But the big league veteran told ESPN’s Peter Gammons that he’s not even sure what banned substances he used during the 2001 to 2003 seasons he spent with the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez’s name turned up on the list of 104 major league players tagged for using performance-enhancing drugs in 2003 during tests given to gauge the need for mandatory testing to curb use of banned substances. The names have not been publicly released and none of the players were penalized. But the League imposed random drug testing and sanctions in 2004 after 5 percent of the players tested positive for outlawed substances.

During Rodriguez’s confessed era of doping, his homerun average jumped to a super-slugging 52 per season, compared with 36 during his first four seasons in the league and about 42 since. His runs-batted-in (RBI) statistics and total games played also peaked. Even so, his batting average has dipped over his career, from .315 to .305 during his steroid days to .303 over the past five seasons.

In 2003 – reportedly his last year taking anabolic steroids – the League honored him as its MVP. Rodriguez has continued to play Hall of Fame-caliber baseball, and he won two more Most Valuable Players awards in 2005 and 2007.

Anabolic steroids are not the same as prednisone prescribed by physicians for inflammatory and other disorders. Instead, anabolic steroids promote tissue growth, and, in particular, muscle generation – which is why they have become so popular in athletics.

To learn more about the boosting effects of anabolic steroids as well as their potential health risks, ScientificAmerican.com interviewed Jay Hoffman, a professor of health and exercise science at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. Hoffman, who has a PhD in exercise science, used steroids during his football days in the early 1980s, and he recently met Rodriguez.

Are you surprised by the news that Alex Rodriguez used steroids?
Not at all. I had heard rumors from coaches in the League that he had used them.  What I don’t like is Alex coming off [in the ESPN interview] like he didn’t know what substances he took. I’m sure he knew exactly what he put in his body. I was very impressed when I met him in 2006 during a workout at Yankees Stadium, because he asked a lot of really good questions about training. I also admire his work ethic.

Rodriguez allegedly used a steroid called primobolan. What is that drug and how does it work?
It’s an anabolic steroid, also called an androgen, and it is a synthetic form of the male sex hormone testosterone. It increases muscle mass and strength, and also enhances recovery time after a workout. Primobolan is typically injected in the buttocks with a needle. You want to dissipate the steroid through some fatty tissue, because the steroid is fat soluble, and that way you also slow down the metabolism of it for a more sustained dose.

How can you detect primobolan in the body?
Using a urine test, you can take a look at the ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone in the body, which should be one-to-one in a normal male. If someone is taking exogenous (external) testosterone, the ratio will be skewed in favor of testosterone. Also, you can use chromatography, an elaborate lab technique (involving mixture separation) to detect the specific chemical fingerprint for primobolan.

Rodriguez also supposedly tested positive for testosterone. What does that mean?
The hormone is often used as another injectable steroid that together with primobolan dispenses androgenic metabolic properties. When most athletes take anabolic steroids, they use what’s called a “stacking dose,” where they take several steroids to exacerbate the substances’ effects.

What are the short-term benefits of taking these steroids?
You can have a relatively quick enhancement of muscle strength and size, even if you take steroids and don’t lift weights. But the biggest benefit from using anabolic steroids is that they allow an athlete to train harder and have a quicker recovery. An athlete trains on Monday, then he comes back Tuesday and can have just as good a workout through the end of the week. The workouts for most individuals get less intense as the week goes on because they haven’t recovered completely from their earlier workouts.

Why didn’t Rodriguez’s batting average improve during the years he took steroids?
There’s limited research indicating that he could actually enhance his batting average with steroids. A batting average is more indicative of performance ability such as hand-eye coordination. However, research with frogs has shown that anabolic steroids can enhance androgen receptors on nerve endings, so there’s some potential for increased reactions. Hitting in baseball is all about reaction time, whether it’s a curveball or a fastball.

The key benefit with anabolic steroids is that they can help you be consistent over an entire baseball season. That’s the reason you’re seeing those higher statistics for Rodriguez from 2001 to 2003. If you take a look at good power hitters in April and May (early in the baseball season that runs from April to September, excluding the playoffs), their numbers are going to be pretty good. But these guys aren’t able to maintain that in August and September. Take the New York Mets: If that team was on anabolic steroids the way they were in 2000, they probably would have made the playoffs the past two years instead of running out of gas late in the season. It makes a big difference when having that little extra.

Now a guy like A-Rod – he trains really hard. With the steroids, he is maximizing his potential. Would he be a great player without them? Without a doubt. Would he be as consistent? The answer to that is probably no.

What are the side effects of taking steroids?
It’s all dependent upon the concentration, how much you’re taking, how long you’re on them, and also on an individual’s particular reaction. One common side effect is acne on the back – it’s one of the tell-tale signs that someone is using. In addition, you may get elevations in blood pressure and in your lipid (fat) profile – your cholesterol goes up, for example. Over time, the testicles begin to shrink, because the body is no longer producing its own testosterone. There’s a chance that the sperm count will get lower, too. But in some ways, taking steroids is like a second puberty – there is increased hair growth and aggressive behavior. In particular, women who take steroids can get hirsutism, an abnormal growth of body hair, and develop beards.

Steroids can also potentially increase body size, though we haven’t really seen that with Alex. If you look at Barry Bonds, his very noticeable change in head size is actually due to human growth hormone, which is not a steroid and has different mechanisms in the body. Bonds’ increase in hat size is called acromegalia, and it’s not reversible.

How long do the side effects of steroids last?
All of those side effects are reversible within four weeks of cessation, though women tend to stay masculinized after using steroids. And every athlete who has considered juicing (taking steroids) knows that. Athletes generally go on a steroid-taking cycle for six to eight weeks, and then they come off for about two months before going back on.  And when they’re off, side effects revert back to normal.

The athletes who run into major health issues are body builders or wrestlers who get paid based on their external appearance. They can develop what’s known as muscle dysmorphia, which is basically reverse anorexia. Like a person who considers himself or herself fat all the time, body builders and wrestlers look in the mirror and see themselves as being small. Those are the athletes who never come off the cycle.

Are there other health risks from taking steroids?
Steroids could be lethal to someone with an underlying mental or cardiovascular disease. Anabolic steroids are like any other medication. If you have hypertension and your doctor prescribes you a certain medication, such as an ACE inhibitor, there may be contraindications for using that particular medication if you have, say, kidney disease. If an athlete is suffering from a mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder – which many steroid-taking high school athletes who commit suicide allegedly suffer from – anabolic steroids are the wrong performance-enhancing drug to use. But when given in a clinical setting, steroids are relatively safe.

How are steroids used in a clinical setting?
By themselves, steroids are a very effective clinical tool for treating muscle-wasting diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders. Sports scientists around the world study changes in athletes’ testosterone and cortisol levels. Cortisol is a catabolic steroid produced by the adrenal glands above the kidneys and it breaks down lean tissue in the absence of carbohydrates needed for energy. It’s also released in times of stress. Through high-intensity training over the course of a baseball season, testosterone levels go down and cortisol levels go up. The athlete becomes testosterone-depleted, or hypogonadal, and fatigue sets in. That phenomenon is known as “overtraining syndrome.”

One way to treat this is to restore testosterone levels using an exogenous (external) source. We do that with men over 50 who have a normal decline in testosterone, though not with the super-pharmacological doses that many athletes use. There’s a lot of talk amongst team physicians about whether it should be permissible to use exogenous testosterone to bring an athlete back up to normal levels. But the issue is not being approached right now, because of the witch hunt that’s going on. There’s such a kneejerk reaction in the sports media about steroids and these things get sensationalized. There’s such a lack of understanding about what steroids do. I think we need to look at this more scientifically.

Rodriguez has won two MVPs since he stopped juicing. Can athletes keep the gains in muscle mass without continuing steroids?
The muscles begin to come down, though there’s still a significantly greater difference in size and strength even eight weeks after you’ve taken the drugs. Again, it all depends on how much you’ve taken and how hard you train. But can you keep gains three years later? No.

So the big question people may be asking is if Alex is taking something else. His homerun numbers have declined, but they’re still pretty damn good. The benefit of the doubt for him, however, has now gone out the window. For example, maybe his [lucrative] contract could allow him to buy a designer steroid that’s undetectable. What the people who are involved in [professional sports drug] testing realize is that most athletes in that community are a few years ahead of the drug testing laboratories. Now is Alex on the cutting edge? It’s possible.

What was your own experience with taking steroids?
I started using anabolic steroids my senior year of college in 1982 at St. Johns (in Queens, N.Y.) which is a small school for football – not like their acclaimed basketball program. I wanted the opportunity to play professional football, and I thought I needed to do something to compete with the athletes coming out of Division I (the top collegiate athletic tier). For me, it was important to be as big as possible. It was my dream. And I was very fortunate to be the first athlete from St. Johns to sign a professional contract with a National Football League (NFL) team, the New York Jets. I did not make it past training camp though, and then I was traded to the New Jersey Generals, then the Tampa Bay Bandits (both part of the now-defunct United States Football League). Then in 1984 I signed on with the Philadelphia Eagles.

I used steroids for those three years, from 1982 to 1984. At the time, steroids were not illegal. I had a prescription for them and bought them at a pharmacy, just like any other medication. Most of the guys in the training camps would use, and so we’d discuss whose room we would inject in that night. At that time in the NFL, it was one of those things you had to do to play in the League, I felt.

Team physicians were not involved, as far as I know, but they monitored our health. I had constant exams to make sure my liver enzymes were functioning properly and my heart was doing well, and that all the blood lipids were fine. I did it in what you could say was the right way. I wasn’t abusing steroids or going to two different physicians to get two different prescriptions to double up on dosages. I was doing it professionally.

Did you experience any side effects?
I had the side effects that you would normally see – the acne, the hypertension – but nothing that was too terrible that I couldn’t deal with. My last season, I took a powerful androgen and it was the first time that I really saw significant changes in my personality. And I felt at that point in my third training camp that those types of changes were not worth it to me, and I stopped using. But the experience did spark a lifelong interest in why steroids are effective and also to take a look at alternatives.

What do you think about alternative strength-promoting supplements?
When I played, they didn’t have the type of supplements that exist today, like creatine (an organic acid that helps supply muscles with energy) and beta-alanine (an amino acid that helps regulate pH in muscles) and some kinds of protein. If they did, I’m sure I would have used those instead of anabolic steroids. But I don’t regret at all what I did, because I did it with care. I knew exactly what I was putting into my body. I knew exactly why I was doing it and I knew the price I was willing to pay for that. I would do it again. There are no long-term effects – I have three healthy, beautiful children. I didn’t grow a third leg or become impotent or any of that BS you see on TV. But there are those athletes who have problems, because they never stop using and they have underlying health issues like mental illness or heart problems. That’s why education becomes so important.

What do you think about the debate over performance-enhancement drugs in sports?
We have to keep in mind that these professional athletes are individuals who are at their physiological edge, or limit. These people understand their bodies so well. They know they need something more. So that’s the importance of trying to get them to understand what they can and cannot do. Unfortunately, for many years, Major League Baseball ignored that and didn’t have the appropriate people in the locker room to help provide that sort of education. So the athlete is left alone, and as a result they go to the gym rat and get the wrong information.

We’re almost there! But we haven’t yet considered how the user will interact with the computer, which means providing at least a keyboard and mouse!

Choose a Keyboard

Keyboards come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. They also have categories. The first is whether they are wired (USB) or wireless. After that, there are conventional layouts, curved or ergonomic. There are also special keyboards with extra multimedia buttons or those to help people with conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Some people have a preference for shape or brand, so ask before purchasing for them.

Wireless Keyboards

Wireless keyboards offer the benefit of - well - having no wire, which can help keep a desk tidy. The user can also stow the keyboard in a drawer when not in use.

Let's look at three wireless keyboard options:

• Bluetooth

• Non-Bluetooth

• Multimedia.

Bluetooth Keyboards

Bluetooth (BT) keyboards use the Bluetooth wireless standard to pair with the PC operating system’s Bluetooth service. The PC must have a Bluetooth adapter. You might get one with the keyboard, or you might have to buy your own. You could also choose a motherboard with built-in Bluetooth (it’s not common, so it may be expensive).

The Bluetooth pairing functionality is managed by the operating system (Windows, Linux, etc.), not the motherboard. 

This means that the keyboard will not be ready for use during system startup - which is when you need to press a key to enter the motherboard’s setup pages. In other words: if a PC has a Bluetooth keyboard, you might need to plug in a wired one to set up the machine or perform on-site maintenance later.

The benefit of a Bluetooth keyboard is that you can also pair it with your phone or tablet, should you wish.

Non-Bluetooth Wireless Keyboards

Wireless (non-Bluetooth) keyboards communicate with their receiver rather than pairing with the operating system’s Bluetooth service so that they appear to the computer like an ordinary wired keyboard.

Such keyboards will work during PC startup and can be used to select the motherboard setup program.

Multimedia (Media) Keyboards

These keyboards include controls for audio playback and volume control, usually as an additional top row of knobs and buttons.

Choose a Mouse

There’s a vast array of wired and wireless mice available. Some mice have ergonomic shapes, while others have extra buttons for multimedia applications and gaming.

Some people have a preference for mouse shape or brand, so ask before purchasing one for them.

You can also purchase special mice, which are differently-shaped PC controllers. For example, the trackball mouse, or commercial products, such as the Penguin, are designed for people with wrist difficulties who find conventional mice painful to use after a while.

Wireless mice can be Bluetooth (or not).

Some businesses do not permit wireless keyboards and mice due to the risk of third-party signal interception. You may need to check out the information security policy. 

An Alternative Input Device: The Graphics Tablet

People working in graphic design or video editing may want a graphics (digitizing) tablet, which can be used in place of, or in addition to, a mouse. Graphics tablets can be pen- or puck-input devices and come in various sizes from A5 upwards.

Consider Desktop Ergonomics

Almost all desktop mice use an optical assembly to sense movement. These sometimes do not work well on shiny, plain-colored, or glass-topped desks. In this case, a mouse pad provides a mouse-friendly area.

Pads range from simple, fabric-covered soft foam square to solid rubber ones. You can also find ones made from recycled materials

Your PC user may also need a wrist or wrist-and-elbow rest to take pressure off the nerves, wrists, and elbows while typing. There’s a vast array of these products available as gel-filled and fabric items:

Checklist

Here are some points to consider when shopping for a keyboard, mouse, or alternative input device:

• Which type of interface? Wired or wireless, Bluetooth or not?

• Any ergonomic needs? Does the user need a specific type or layout?

• Any accessories needed? Any need for a mouse pad, a wrist, or wrist-and-elbow rest?