Tuesday, April 21, 2009

History of Hydroponics Gardening

By Paul J. Easton

History reveals that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is a big evidence of a hydroponic garden. Moreover, the Aztec Indians in the now Mexico had a system of growing crops on rafts. These rafts are in shallow lakes that you can still see in floating gardens near Mexico City. Therefore, history shows the great significance of hydroponic system of growing plants even in ancient times.

Developments with hydroponics did not however take place in Europe until 1699 when Woodward discovered it. He found out that he can grow plants in a solution of water to which soil had been added.

On the other hand, Liebig, a German scientist, originated using nutrient solutions to study the nutritional requirements of plants in the 1850's. It was then followed by Sachs in 1860. Knop also did some studies of nutrient elements in water solutions in 1861. They grew plants in nutrients-rich solutions with mineral salts. This does away with the soil as a main requirement for growing crops.

Many researches on the nutritional requirements of plants extended through even until the 1870's. By 1925, practical applications of hydroponics were being introduced for the vast development in the greenhouse industry.

The next decade followed with the wide growth as scientists grown mindful of the prospective development of producing hydroponically to sustain the food supply with rapid growth in population. Developments remained and the commercial use of hydroponics opened worldwide gradually. But it was the N.F.T. method by Dr Alan Cooper in the 1970's, along with improved nutritional formulations, that successfully made the hydroponic growing of a wide range of plants commercially possible.

Hydroponics has grown rapidly since the Aztecs and it has become an important method of producing crops in areas of the World where water is precious and land futile for growing plants. With conscious, well maintained hydroponic crops, we can be assured that farming high quality crops can be environment-friendly for tomorrow.

Are you interested in hydroponic gardening? Learn more with this hydroponic system website to check out the necessary tools you need to succeed with this type of gardening. Learn more with tools like pH meter to Grow Hydroponic now and help yourself with sustainable year-round fruit harvest.

Take a look at this Homemade Hydroponic System Basics Blog for More Detailed Information on how to get started for beginners planning to have their very own Hydroponics Garden.

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Monday, April 20, 2009

Careers Choices with Associate Degrees

By Sophie Peters

An associates degree is often awarded through junior and community colleges as well as some 4-year institutions. To be awarded an associate degree you generally need about 60 credit hours.

If you enroll in courses full-time you can expect to earn your associates degree in about two years. Nonetheless as a part time student you have the flexibility of online classes as well as a wide choice of courses that you can complete within your program of study. Generally there are two options in associate programs.

There are two main categories of associates degrees: Those that prepare you for your professional degree and those that you can use to earn your four-year degree as transfer courses. The second type helps you work toward your general education (Gen. Ed.) courses or foundational coursework. Typically, programs are made up of general education requirements, major requirements, and electives. Full time study is equal to 4 semesters or 15 semester credit hours. Some accelerated distance two-year programs are also available online and most associate degrees online have many of the same requirements as on-campus or in-classroom courses.

Two-year degrees are available in a variety of areas in business and management, education, and liberal arts. Some online degree options to consider are business, accounting, nursing, criminal justice, education, early childhood development, computer and information systems, health administration, medical administration as an example.

Classes in general education are a major part of your associates program. More than likely you will be required to take classes in communications, mathematics, English composition, humanities, and social sciences. With this you will either get an associate in arts (A.A.) or an associates in science (A.S.) depending on the track you elect.

Professional and occupational degrees give graduates the option to get be qualified for entry-level jobs in the areas of computers programming or networking, graphic design, nursing, medical assisting, paralegal etc. Therefore they offer graduates the advantage of quick entry into their chosen career field.

In general, you would need to have a GED or high school diploma to be accepted into a degree program. In addition, ACT or SAT scores would be required. However, some colleges may accept equivalent or relevant work experience if you do not have a diploma. Check with your college of interest if this is the case.

As many working adults continue to enroll in college, there is a growing demand for online degree programs. You can research many of these schools online. Many have great programs and they give students the option to apply for financial aid and scholarships.

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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Learn To Speak Spanish Fast

By Jerry Brown

If you are keen to learn a new language, the first thing to remember is that it needs your hundred percent attention. No matter how easy you find learning a new language is, you should not just take it for granted, because then you will just end up having a hard time. One of the most popular language courses taken is that to learn how to speak Spanish as it is often considered the most useful after English.

In case you think that you might be over age to join classes with a bunch of young people, then opt for their language programs. To help further, most schools and colleges also organise courses during the summer breaks which can be easier for some people keen to learn quickly.

For people looking for a position where speaking Spanish is a requirement, some languages companies can arrange 'crash' courses and help with finding that job afterwards. In case you do not have any time, many bookshops sell dictionaries, which can also help you learn the language. You could also avail several self-help books, which contain Spanish phrases and sentences with simultaneous English translations written at the bottom. Free tutorials are there for you to take help from which are available on the net from Google and Yahoo. Teaching your self how to pronounce a word or reading a language is not the end of learning, though speaking Spanish should not be a problem since it is more based on phonetic. Web casts and pod casts today help you listen to the language via the Internet and some sites even allow you to download it, so just type and you can learn.

Yet it is far simpler to learn a language if you listen to it so do not depend too much on books as there are plenty of materials for you to listen and watch, like songs, movies and tele-novels. Pictures would help, as well because you will remember the Spanish word more easily if you know what it looks like. If you have lots of money, go, travel and explore because there's no other fun and exciting way to learn a new language but to really experience it by interacting with the people who really speaks it. Once you get closer to the people, their culture and ethos, you would be speaking Spanish in the quickest possible way.

Just remember never to put too much pressure on your self, as it would only delay your learning process. Remember not just say the words when you are speaking Spanish but to use an accent as well - it will improve the sound. You might sound outlandish but never mind, when you are learning a language for the first time you are not expected to speak it fluently. In fact, you can only learn the hard way when you make mistakes, so be carefree, and enjoy your learning process throwing caution to the winds.

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Saturday, April 18, 2009

How To Start Your Real Estate Foundation Development

By C Bolden

Before you pursue your real estate investing, it's important to set up your real estate foundation development. This means studying the real estate market in your area and finding people you will need to work with (real estate agents, mortgage brokers, loan officers, repairmen, and so on). Set a firm foundation so when you see a great real estate opportunity, you can hop on it right away. These following seven steps can get you started on your real estate investing career:

(1) Fix your credit rating score. Your credit rating score can directly affect your ability to borrow money, so it literally pays to have good credit. If you have a poor credit rating, you can still invest in real estate. You just will have a tougher time getting a loan than someone with a better credit rating. The first step to fixing your credit rating is to pay off your credit card debts as much as possible because when banks see that you're making regular payments, they'll gradually boost your credit rating.

(2) Decide where to invest. You know your neighborhood better than any anyone else, so that's the best place to start investing. If your neighborhood is getting worse, choose a nearby area where you believe the opportunities are better. Just make sure you begin with the most promising area with real estate prices that you can comfortably afford.

(3) Build your investment team. You will need help from other people. You'll need and escrow officer or mortgage broker to help you apply for and process a loan. You'll need a real estate agent, who can often give you background information about a piece of property. You'll need an appraiser to tell you the value of the property. A home inspector can help you spot problems. An accountant to help with your taxes. An insurance agent to insure any properties you buy. An attorney who can advise you on legal matters and you will need a home improvement contractor.

(4) Get prequalified for a bank loan. Nothing is more frustrating than finding the perfect real estate opportunity but not having the money available to take advantage of it. That's why you should get prequalified for a loan so you know the maximum amount of money you could borrow from a bank.

(5) Apply for a home equity line of credit. If you own your own home, apply for a home quity line of credit. This will determine how much extra money you may have available. If you don't own a home, find someone who does and who would be willing to work with you in real estate investing. Then find how much money they could borrow on their home equity.

(6) Find other sources of money. After you've identified how much money you can borrow through traditional sources, it's time to discover how much money you can borrow through nontraditional sources, such as friends or relatives. The more money you can access right away, the faster you can move when you spot a real estate bargain.

(7) Review how promissory notes work. Promissory notes are legal documents that let you borrow from other people. A promissory note is no different than a traditional bank loan. You need a lawyer to help you write a promissory note. It's a valuable tool that can help you borrow money quickly from sources other than banks. The more you understand how promissory notes work, the more they can work to your advantage.

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Friday, April 17, 2009

Patent Your Invention Help

By Gordon Graham

You probably hear the word 'patent' in court cases when two companies are fighting over some designs or products. Patent is the right of an inventor or creator of a product or design that prevents others from using, copying, or selling their invention or creation for a period of time. Any abstract concepts or theories, which have not yet been concretized, cannot have a patent.

You need to know that getting a patent is a very long process and may take years before you can get what you are requesting for. It is also very expensive. But think about the big profits, which you will earn from your creation.

Also, requests for patent are not always granted. In these cases, you should ask for appeal. To discuss more on how to get a patent, read the following steps.

You should have a design or an invention that is really original. It should not be a mere copy or imitation of another invention. It should be something that you can call your own.

And you have to make sure about your product's originality to avoid the hassle of undergoing the long, tedious process of patenting only to find out later that your supposed-to-be original design or creation has been invented before by some unknown person several years ago.

Prepare all the necessary creative requirements such as the drawing of your design and the presentation on how your creation works.

You cannot request for a patent by yourself. You should seek the help of a professional who is an expert on these matters-a patent attorney. Of course, the professional fee varies from one attorney t another.

However expect a high professional fee. He will be the one to represent you in front of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) of the United States and he will be the one to explain your case before this organization.

Review the guidelines in applying for a patent. You can see this in the official website of the PTO. File your application and pay the required fees.

The decision might take a few years, and sometimes your application is still not approved. For a disapproved application, you can still make an appeal but of course you will have to pay for another set of fees.

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Thursday, April 16, 2009

How To Qualify For Medicaid Health Insurance

By Don Bethune

If you fall into a low income group, you may very well qualify for Medicaid. People who donat have medical insurance or who have inadequate medical insurance may qualify. The guidelines for Medicaid are established by the Federal Government and administered by each state individually. For this reason, your eligibility will be determined by your State Agency, and that is who you must contact.

KEY ELIGIBILITY GROUPS Every state provides service to the members of particular, established eligibility groups. A state may also decide it wants to include additional groups for service with Medicaid. There are some groups that the state is required to consider. They are: Categorically needy, medically need, and special groups. Letas explore the criteria that defines the required key eligibility groups that must be included in a Statesa plan. You wonat find all the answers here. To know more, be sure to contact your State Agency.

CATEGORICALLY NEEDY Families who meet this qualification must qualify for the states eligibility requirements established for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) that was put in place on July 16, 1996. Pregnant and children under the age of six are included in this category. A family income that is less than one-hundred and thirty three percent of the Federal poverty level must also be in evidence. Additionally, children who are between the ages of six to nineteen and whose family income is no higher than one hundred percent of the poverty level will qualify for this category. Couples or singles who live in medical institutions and have a monthly income no greater than three hundred percent of the SSI income standard (Federal benefit rate) will also qualify.

MEDICALLY NEEDY
1. Children under age 21, 20, 19, or under age 19 who are full-time students. If a state doesnat want to cover all of these children, it can limit eligibility to reasonable groups of these children.
2. Aged persons (age 65 and older). Blind persons (blindness is determined using the SSI program standards or state standards).
3. Disabled persons (disability is determined using the SSI program standards or state standards).

SPECIAL GROUPS Medicare Beneficiaries who qualify under #8221Medicaid are paid Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. These people are termed as Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB). Under #8221 people whose income that falls equal to or less than a hundred percent of the Federal poverty level with resources that are also equal to or less than two times the allowable standard in accordance with SSI might qualify. Furthermore, some groups may qualify for Medicare related expenses that are to be paid by Medicaid. Under #8221, Medicare beneficiaries whose income is greater than a hundred percent while remaining less than one hundred and thirty five percent of the Federal poverty level might also qualify.

When your eligibility has been determined, it may be possible for you to receive retroactive payments for up to three months prior to the time your application was filed. This determination will be based upon whether or not you could have been eligible during those three months. Naturally, if your circumstances improve and you become ineligible, your coverage will cease at the end of the month during which the improvement happened. A lot of states have a astate-onlya program in that supplements Medicaid. This program is especially designed to provide medical assistance to people who fall through the cracks. These are the people who have limited resources and income but canat qualify for the Medicaid program. This sort of state-only program does not get any Federal funding.

Mainly, the people who are eligible for getting Medicaid are people with low income levels or families with low household income as stated in the rules and eligibility requirements set by the state you are a resident in. You need to meet these requirements in order to qualify for the Medicaid insurance coverage.

So, before you apply for Medicaid, the best thing that you can do is check with your state laws regarding the rules and eligibility requirements on getting Medicaid.
For more details visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/eligibility or http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/whoiseligible.asp).

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Make the Power Company Pay You By Developing Your Own Energy

By Michael Fleischner

Is the idea of becoming your own creator of green energy something that excites you? Well your not the only one. More and more individuals are turning to their own energy production in order to lower expenses and be kind to the environment. The good news is that doing so is easier than its ever been thanks to the help of simple to follow instructional guides and resources.

If you want to have less of an impact on the environment, then building your own source of energy is ideal. Many people want to take better care of the environment but are afraid to start. But that's not always true. More individual home owners are venturing out on their own to create independent energy sources that can break their dependence on paying more and more to large power companies.

One of the most common forms of alternative energy is wind energy. Harvesting the power of the wind and converting it to power is more common than ever. This is due to the ease at which wind turbines can be created and deployed for generating electricity on a daily basis. Much of this power can be stored and utilized when necessary. There are a number of resources available today for creating wind turbines for personal use at very low cost.

Solar panels are also a common source of green energy. Solar panels take the energy of the sun and converts that energy into electricity. Even though solar panels have been around for many years, they have improved their power and efficiency most significantly in the past 2 - 3 years. Building your own solar panels is also very easy if you have good documentation and access to the right parts for assembly. When used in conjunction with other energy sources, solar panels are a great way to achieve energy independence.

There are a number of options for anyone interested in generating electricity or power using solar energy. Long gone are the days of expensive solar panels that cost thousands and require professional installation. Building and installing your own solar panels is easy to do and requires only basic parts. Furthermore, building your panels for less than a few hundred dollars is not only possible, it's the norm. So before you dismiss the possibility of using solar to generate electricity for your home, consider a DIY kit that provides the guidance for finding solar parts and building your own green energy resource.

If you've ever considered developing your own energy or doing your part to save the environment, then energy creation is your ticket to freedom. Don't be overly concerned or worried about getting started. There are plenty of resources available to help you acquire the proper materials and start building your power generators. The most important thing to do is to get started today. Energy independence won't be given to you. Find a place to start. This could be as easy as building your own solar panels or wind turbines. The energy you create will be green, saving you money and the environment.

When looking for a do-it-yourself guide, be sure to find one that meets the following criteria: A detailed instruction booklet, how to videos, a checklist of required parts, an estimate of all related costs, and resources for finding components and scaling your energy generation system. Most importantly, be sure that the site you're purchasing form offers online or phone support as well as a money back guarantee. Doing so makes good business sense and can get you off to a good start.

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