Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a vision defect that happens when one’s eyes are unable to focus the light from distant objects correctly onto the retina. Someone with myopia is able to clearly see objects that are close, but objects that are far away are blurry. 

Myopia generally first arises in elementary-aged children, though it can also develop in adults. Research indicates that it is a hereditary trait – children whose parents are nearsighted are more likely to be as well. Although the inclination to acquire nearsightedness is likely inherited, the development of the condition can be affected by how one uses their eyes. For example, a person who spends a lot of time reading or who does extensive work on the computer or other close visual work may be at higher risk of developing myopia.

Myopia has become increasingly more common over the past 50 years, and it is estimated to now affect around 1.6 billion people worldwide, with numbers expected to climb to 2.5 billion by 2020, according to the Institute of Eye Research. In the United States, nearsightedness (myopia) affects nearly 30 percent of the population.

The increase in myopia cases is thought by a team of Australian researchers to be a result of more children being raised in environments where they don’t see objects far away and their eyes aren’t adapted to focus on distant objects as they develop. Global myopia cases are most prevalent in societies where children watch television and play computer games instead of playing outside, they say. In cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo, 30 to 50 percent of 12-year-old children are myopic; in the United States, it is around 20 percent for this age group.

A report published in the January issue of Optometry and Vision Science found that children with myopia spent an average of 8.3 hours per week outside and children without myopia spent an average of 12.6 hours outside. The study also found that children with myopia watched several additional hours per week of television, on average.

The researchers, from The New England College of Optometry, said that sunlight could expand the range that objects are clearly visible. The effect appeared to be similar with both active and passive outdoor activity.

Myopia symptoms and correction

Common symptoms of myopia in children include squinting to see distant objects, difficulty reading the chalkboard at school, sitting close to the television, and disinterest in playing outside.

Myopia doubles the risk of glaucoma and retinal detachment, both of which can lead to vision loss later in life.

A basic vision test will determine if an individual is nearsighted. Myopia is relatively easy to correct with contact lenses or eyeglasses. The lens bends the images that enter the eye and focuses the image properly. Depending on the severity of one’s myopia, wearers may only need to wear their lenses for certain activities. Adults can also consider laser surgery, which can only be done after the eyeball is fully developed.

Another option for treating myopia is called orthokeratology, or corneal refractive therapy. With this treatment, myopic patients wear specially designed rigid contact lenses that gradually reshape the cornea.

For more information on myopia, or other eye health [http://www.contactlensking.com/eyehealth.aspx] topics, visit Contact Lens King.

Travel does to the heart and mind what exercise does to the body – it makes people healthier and happier.

But, travelling to far off places doesn’t hold a place in everyone’s to-do list (even thought it should actually) and this is simply because people are just so busy making a living that they forget to make a life that’s worthwhile.

But, being one of those people who started travelling with family, friends and even alone at a very early age I am still writing to convince you to travel and explore what you never though existed. Here are some really amazing reasons why you should travel, and once you’re reading these make sure you have a list of your favorite places on your list.

1. Travel makes you a better person – Staying indoor is fun (kind of) but when you travel you understand the world is a better place and people are fun all around the globe. You develop a deeper sense of relationship with your body and mind – you become a better and a calmer person at heard and someone strong outside. Also, if you’re up for travelling alone mark my words you’re up for some serious fun of your life.
2. It makes the world a smaller place – All of us have places marked on the globe that we aren’t really aware, some heard and some just seen in pictures – how about you visiting one of these on your own? For years I thought these places are cold or hot or humid or just full of too many people, but nothing like that really happens once you’ve packed your travel bags – the world shrinks.
3. Open your brain cells – Travel means an alternate universe and when you see the many things your brain cells kind of open and give you an idea of all the things that are even more beautiful than you ever imagined. Those who haven’t travelled until now have literally clogged brain cells; so, it’s best you travel now and see how things happen across the world – there is so much for you to see and learn from.
4. Helps you build meaningful relationships – The best kind of relationships are the ones that are built with the people of similar interests like yours and travel brings such people closer. You just cannot sit inside the four walls of the house thinking you will one day find someone who is just like you are, because that someone is sitting behind the four walls of his house thinking exactly the same thing. Personally speaking, I’ve made the best kind of friends while travelling, some of which have had the best kind of interests like mine. Today we can all sit together and laugh at our adventure stories.
5. Sets new language goals – Travel as far as you can and set a goal to learn new languages – there is so much left unexplored and a new language should definitely be on the list of the many important things you should do in this life. Further, wouldn’t it be just amazing if you can say hello in as many possible languages? Travel and call for a learned lifestyle!
6. A life full of adventure – This life’s too short to lead a mundane lifestyle so make it one that is full of classic adventure stories and something that you can take along for a larger period of life. The best stories come when you can recall them and laugh at how things turned up at a particular event – that is the kind of life you wish to lead.
7. Gives you a perspective – The kind of life you’re leading now is a lot different than the one you could possibly live; plus, holding yourself in a zone of things isn’t a smart idea ever. Travel gives a different perspective on things and how you could possibly make them happen. This perspective is very different from the one you’re currently living, and that is exactly what you should plan to change – a change every day.
8. Travel is education – The world is a huge place and education comes from all the sources, even the ones that you’ve never touched and experienced. The kind of education that comes with travel is true and positive – you get to experience the highs and the lows of life and touch the things that you never though existed. Seeing the world provides an education that’s absolutely impossible get in school. Travel teaches you economy, politics, history, geography, and sociology in an intense, hands-on way no class will. Fortunately, the school of travel is always taking applications, no entrance exam required.
9. The coolest stories happen when you travel – One day long after you’ve travelled you can sit with your kids and grand kids, dictating the times you’ve lived the good and the bad while travelling. If fortunate you would have travelled a lot of places and would have definite stories to tell – of the time you spent at a desert, or when you encountered an animal, or how the snow fell that night, or how you just sat there murmuring the lyrics of your favorite song – just anything at all.
10. Appreciation towards you and others around – As human, we have the tendency to appreciate almost everything except the life we’re leading now; but, travel brings about that sense of appreciation within us. People who have travelled endlessly state that after years of travelling they’ve begun to appreciate the life they’re living, the good sense of belief and everything that possibly surrounds them. That is exactly what appreciation is all about and what travel does to one’s life after years.

Travel as much as you can, travel as far as you can – you’ve got just one life, make the most of it now!

Typography, or the way text looks on a website, is a crucial component of website design. Far too many designers ignore the typography, creating text that is difficult to impossible for visitors to read. If you’re looking for easy and fast ways to improve the typography of your website, use the following tips.

Increase the Contrast of the Text

It’s all too common for light gray text to be used on a white background or for dark text to be used on a darker background. This makes it far more difficult to read, even if it looks great. Instead, increase the amount of contrast between the text and the background. This helps it pop out more, making it easier for anyone to read.

Correct the Spacing Between Words and Lines

Headlines should have tighter letter spacing and word spacing, though just by a small amount. This helps prevent the letters from being forced apart by the amount of whitespace around the heading. In text, words and letters can be spaced a little further apart, making it easier to read. Lines should be spaced appropriately, as well. Too close together makes the text unreadable and too far apart introduces too much whitespace.

Choose the Right Line Length

The length of a line can make it easier or harder to read the text. If it’s too long or too short, most people aren’t going to read it. Instead, keep the line length at about 60 to 65 characters. Make sure the line length is consistent throughout the text, with the exception being offset quotes that are indented from the text.

Keep Styles Genuine

Faking italics, bolded words, and more are going to end up disrupting the flow of the text and will cause issues with readability. Instead, keep styles used genuine and, if this is not possible, create emphasis in alternative ways instead of trying to fake them. Use color instead of italics or bolding, for instance, instead of switching the font or slanting the word to make it look italic.

Break Words Between Lines Properly

When a word does not fit within the line length chosen, make sure it is split properly. Don’t just skip and put the word down on the next line, as this leaves whitespace in the middle of the text, which can be distracting and make it more difficult to read. Instead, use a hyphen to split the word in half, putting the first half at the end of the line and the second half at the beginning of the next one. This keeps the text line length uniform, making it look better and easier to read.

Use a Minimal Number of Fonts

Keep the number of fonts in the text to a minimum. It may look great to have one font for the heading and another one that’s easier to read for the main text, but there shouldn’t be a ton of different fonts used throughout the text. Each paragraph shouldn’t be a different font and words or phrases can be emphasized without having to change the font. Leave the text itself as a single font, as this makes it easier for visitors to read and gives a cleaner impression to viewers.

Opt for Standard Fonts

Standard fonts are a much better option, as they are more familiar to visitors and easier to read. The font will likely be adjusted in size for the headings, text, subheadings, and more, so make sure the text is easy to read no matter what size it is. Also, remember that fonts are viewed smaller on smartphones and tablets versus computers, so opt for a font that is still easy to read when they are viewed on these devices. Fancy fonts may look amazing, but they’re going to be very difficult to read when they’re small.

Avoid All Caps

Using all caps is not a way of getting someone’s attention. It’s akin to shouting through the computer. Avoid using all caps, even to emphasize a point. It’s far better to emphasize by using italics or through bolding specific words rather than to use all caps and make it seem like the writer is shouting at the readers.

While the content of the text on your website is crucial, the content doesn’t matter at all if it’s unreadable. It won’t matter how long you spent crafting the perfect content if visitors find it’s difficult to read and leave the website before they get through the first paragraph. Make sure your visitors can read the content you create and get the information you want them to have. Keep it simple, as this is the best way to improve readability and make sure viewers stay long enough to read the content. Use these tips today to improve the typography on your website quickly and easily.

Are you in a relationship with an older woman? Is there a woman at work you find incredibly sexy, and want to get to know a bit better? What do experienced women prefer in bed? Are there things that “older” women like when it comes to sex, that younger women don’t? Any of these questions sound familiar? If you are anything like the millions of men who find older women incredibly sexy, this article was written with YOU in mind! Curious to know more? Continue reading as we take a closer look below.

1. Sex. Cougars are far more experienced than younger women

The simple truth is, just as a function of age, older women have a lot more sexual experience. They’ve had far more time to explore, experiment and even fantasize about what they want, need and LIKE in bed. This can be a mixed blessing. Why? Some men find older women much more assertive, aggressive and even “demanding” sexually, which can be intimidating. TIP: Try to get a good idea of what she likes, wants or needs BEFORE you get into bed with her. Some “cougars” are more likely to want YOU to take the lead sexually. Others are ready to be the aggressor. This has very little to do with YOU, and much more to do with HER, and how and why her previous relationship failed, or was unsatisfactory, at least from a sexual perspective.

2. Carnal pleasure is FAR higher on her totem pole of priorities!

While many women enjoy sex for many unique reasons, an older woman, or a more experienced woman, may be far more likely to simply enjoy sex because it FEELS great! A cougar may feel a much lower need to be emotionally connected to you, or even want to see you again AFTER you are intimate. Many women over 40, for example, who often lead busy lives as professionals, moms, community leaders and otherwise, just want to let their proverbial hair down once in a while, and enjoy the physical contact and connection that sex offers. As a matter of fact, many women will say that once we hit 40, our sex drive is much more like an 18 year old man, than a younger version of ourselves! (good news for all of you who enjoy no commitment sex)!

3. Her orgasm is important! (make her climax if you want to see her again)

Cougars are going to have far lower tolerance for bad sex, or un fufilling sex. Why? The chances are, she’s had plenty of that already in the past. A woman who has come of age is going to be much more interested in her own pleasure, and yes… that DOES include an orgasm. While many younger women are far less confident when it comes to “claiming” our right to climax, a cougar is most likely, going to either have one with YOU, or move on to someone else who can offer her what she needs, wants and craves from an exciting night out with her man.

The use of hand-held mobile phones while driving was banned (in the UK) back in 2003, and for good reason. The latest statistics show that phone-driving is far more dangerous than first anticipated. Several studies have been undertaken by government departments and driving charities to learn more about the effects of this increasing trend whilst driving.

Studies show that the reasons for phone-driving being dangerous are the two fold, firstly physically breaking contact with the vehicle steering wheel & taking your eyes from the road for prolonged periods (Obviously far more dangerous when texting). Secondly lapsing in concentration when being involved in the conversation. The second although as serious as the first, is some what of a null point as many other distractions can cause the driver to lose concentration, e.g chatting to passengers, changing the radio (or CD’s) or even applying make-up while driving.

These lapses in concentration are now considered more dangerous than drink driving and you are as likely if not more likely to cause an accident. The lack of concentration on driving the vehicle severely reduces our reaction speeds when on the phone, therefore when we need to react to an incident on the road we have far less time than we would when driving normally.

There are obvious advantages to having a mobile phone present in the vehicle, 9/10 people carry them as a social habit anyway . However being able to contact people in the case of a break down or other emergences can be vital in any situation. Its the work of road safety charities and government departments to try ensure this is the only time mobiles are used in the vehicle (by the driver) with out the aid of handsfree buletooth car kits.

Police are now able to hand out on the spot fines of £30 and points on your licence for careless and dangerous driving. The police force however do recommend the use of handsfree car kits when driving as they cut out the first set of problems when using the mobile. Calls can be received & answered via steering wheel controls or voice commands, on a lot of new bluetooth car kit products allow the user to browse the phone book, messages and settings with out having to pick up the phone.

Driver safety is paramount, if you do anything dangerous whilst in control of a vehicle you are likely to penalised at the very least. If you think their is no problem using a mobile phone while driving remember this; you are more likely to cause or be involved in an accident while using a mobile as you are drink driving, and i know must of you look down upon that.

Government & charity campaigns are starting to sink in with the majority of people and handsfree bluetooth kits are becoming very popular, however not enough of us are using them.

The solution to this problem is simple. In the form of handsfree bluetooth car kits. These kits are readily available and come in two forms, an integrated kit that connects into the vehicle’s stereo & speaker system, and unviersal bluetooth kits that can be swapped into different vehicles. The integrated system has far better sound quality and more functions than the universal kits however both reduce the chances of having a accident significantly.

A sauna is a bathroom, house or hut especially constructed so that someone can enjoy a steam bath. Generally, temperatures are more than 80 degrees C in these structures. Taking a sauna is a relaxing experience that leads to sweating, which has many health benefits. The word sauna is derived from Finnish “savuna” that means “in smoke.”

In the early days, saunas were huge holes in the ground that could accommodate entire communities or tribes. In the center, there was a pit for fire. The hole was covered with a roof to prevent rain, cold, and heat from entering. Saunas have been in use since 1700 when public bathhouses were equipped with sauna facilities.

Saunas are used in both hot and cold climates. Though sauna use is a national tradition in Finland, it is also popular in other countries under different names. These include bania/banya in Russia; thermae in Rome; hammam in Turkey and sweat lodge in North America. Today, saunas are common in public sports arenas and physical education complexes of universities and colleges in North America. Very low humidity levels in the Swedish and Finnish Saunas, combined with high temperatures make the heat bearable for us as our bodies can not withstand temperatures over 100 degrees C.

Saunas have many health benefits. Sweating releases toxins from the body. Heat promotes white blood cell generation and improves the immune system. But saunas could be harmful for people with high blood pressure. A cool shower after a sauna may increase blood pressure. Saunas could cause heat stroke. In America, the sauna industry is expected to grow with increase in health awareness.

Wood saunas of the past have generally been replaced by electric and gas saunas, which are more environmental friendly. Finland dominates the global sales of saunas.

After crossing a river, get as far away from its bank as possible and move on. When an invading force of the enemy is crossing a river, never engage it in the midst of the river itself. Rather, let half of its force cross the river first, then attack it so that you can gain the advantage. If you are eager to attack an invading enemy, never engage him at the point where he plans to cross a river. For a commanding view and to ensure better chances of survival against the enemy, occupy high grounds. Never move upstream to engage an enemy. These are the principles for deploying troops in marine battles. – Chapter Nine, Sun Tzu Art of War

Above are the principles when engaging enemies in marine battles. Let us look at how these principles can be applied to business.

Business Application

After crossing a river, get as far away from its bank as possible and move on.

The reason why we need to get as far away from the bank after we cross the river is because we do not want to trap ourselves between the body of water and enemy’s troops. If we do, we cannot move forward or backward.

In business, before you venture into overseas market, detailed planning is required, especially in the area of marketing. You have to quickly establish a ‘beachhead’ in the targeted market and try to capture as much market share as possible (analogous to getting away from the bank). If you are not able to capture enough, you might be forced out of business by competitors easily.

When an invading force of the enemy is crossing a river, never engage it in the midst of the river itself. Rather, let half of its force cross the river first, then attack it so that you can gain the advantage. If you are eager to attack an invading enemy, never engage him at the point where he plans to cross a river.

The reason why we engage the enemy when half of its force is crossing the river is because firstly, he would not be able to attack you with his full strength.

Applying the principles above in business, if you are not able to come up with the necessary capital to set up the infrastructures for a new market that is not tapped by competitors, it would be appropriate to wait and see. If there are other competitors who are building or have built certain infrastructure, tap them and try to use it for your own assault on the new market. Do not signal to them that you also want to attack the market (attack him before he crosses the river). This would result in the both of you in a wait and see battle.

Never move upstream to engage an enemy.

Why should we not engage an enemy in the upstream? As we know, water flows from high places to low places. If your enemy has conquered the higher grounds, it is advocated by Sun Tzu, that you do not engage it. (Please see Sun Tzu Art Of War – Three Business Lessons From Deployment Of Troops In Mountainous Region) Because firstly, you are not able to catch him unaware and secondly, the enemy has the help from the terrain to create momentum.

In business, as mentioned before, do not go head on with a rival that has the benefit of the trends that are developing in the environment. You must know which enemy to choose to fight taking into consideration the market, industry, resources and competitive advantage.

So above are the three lessons we can learn from Sun Tzu’s principles of deploying troops in marine battles.

If you need a steady supply of roller bearings for your work or business, sourcing directly from one of the most trusted roller bearings suppliers in the city instead of bulk ordering from your nearest hardware store will be the best solution for you.

Of course, like every other dealings, choosing which supplier to do business with is important. There are some factors you will need to consider. Naturally, you want your supplier to be a company that specializes in bearings. Besides that, you will want that company to have already been in business for decades – experience and expertise is a huge plus.

A reliable bearing supplier will make sure that all its products are manufactured in compliance with the international quality standards, and its reputation should precede it as a leading bearing company in the region. To help you choose a trusted roller bearing supplier, here are some of the must-have characteristics you need to check:

Product range – besides roller bearings, the company should have other kinds of bearings, as well as other related products like universal joint, tools, grease, and oil seals, essential in giving their customers a one-stop shop for all their bearing needs.

Brand variety – look for a company that offers different bearing brands. In many cases, it is also important to look for ones that are the exclusive distributor of the most in-demand bearing brands. NSK, MBS, KBC, and ILJIN are among the most popular and in-demand bearing brands in the market. They are known for the product quality and if you find an exclusive distributor for these types of brands, then the company is the answer to your search. These types of company also usually has their own brand of bearings.

Business terms – companies should have customer-friendly business terms that can offer easy and convenient payment terms to its customers as well as allow them to place orders of any quantity.

Distant reach – companies that can reach is far allowing for delivery of goods anywhere in the world is important. Especially if you require a very specific type of bearing of a brand, you may only find one that is available overseas, hence the importance of a company’s far geographical reach.’

Competitive prices – suppliers that have reliable means of procurement as well as a long standing relationship with different manufacturers can offer lower prices for their products.

If you are in need of bearing suppliers for your business, looking for a company that meets the above-mentioned description will guarantee for a satisfying customer experience.

This is the Bonding Company’s worst nightmare. In this 160th article of our surety series, we will cover the situations in which no Performance or Payment Bond is needed! Some of the projects are big and federal, some are private, ALL are unbonded. Here we go!

As a point of reference, you may expect that federal, state and municipal contracts demand a Performance and Payment (P&P) Bond equal to the contract amount. Normally they do. General Contractors working for a private owner, such as the construction of an office building or apartment project, may face the same requirement. This can apply to subcontractors, too.

Federal Projects

This area includes all branches of the federal government. Examples: Army Corps of Engineers, General Services Administration, Dept. of Energy, etc. Their contracts are administered following the rules of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

The FAR says that no P&P bond is required on contracts under $150,000.

For contracts $150,000 and higher that require security, there are times when the bond requirement may be reduced below 100% or waived entirely. These include:

• Overseas Contracts
• Emergency Acquisitions
• Sole-Source Projects

If the bond requirement is mandatory, the FAR lists acceptable alternatives:

• US Government (investment) Bonds
• Certified Check
• Bank Draft
• Money Order
• Currency
• Irrevocable Letter of Credit

Here’s another option: For contracts performed in a foreign country, the government can accept a bond from a non-T-Listed surety. (Circular 570)

State and Municipal Contracts

The bonding requirements may vary by state, but generally their flavor is similar to federal.

Private Contracts

Anything goes. On private contracts, the owner has complete discretion to set the bonding requirements – including no bond needed. Keep in mind, the cost of the bond is added to the contract, so the owner can save some money by not requiring a bond. They may take other precautions to protect themselves. Some examples:

• Require a retainage. These are funds that are held back from the contractor and only released when the project is fully accepted
• Lien releases may be required each month to prove suppliers and subcontractors are being paid appropriately
• Funds Control / Tripartite Agreement – a paymaster is employed to handle the contract funds
• Joint checks are issued to the contractor and payees below them – to assure the funds reach the intended parties
• Physical site inspections to verify progress

The Nightmare

In these articles we talk a lot about how contractors can obtain surety bonds and manage them. But it is interesting to note: A construction company could go forever, performing state and federal projects – and NEVER get a bond. It’s true!

If everyone did this, it would be the surety’s worst nightmare. But in reality, there are financial advantages to using P&P bonds, so bonding usually is the first choice.