One of the most common questions about retractable awnings is “Can it handle rain?” And, depending on the climate of the customer, the rain question is quickly followed by questions about whether retractable awnings can handle snow, strong winds, sleet and other atmospheric conditions.

The most accurate answer, is it depends. It depends mainly on the type and severity of the weather. The good news is that retractable awnings have options to respond to almost any weather condition.

Why Weather Affects Retractable Awnings

Anything outdoors is subject to some kind of exposure to weather; when looking at retractable awning options, part of the decision lies in determining what the options are for responding to weather.

Fixed awnings, canopies, and gazebos are fixed in place. The fabric is stretched taut across the frame and supported by stanchions. This inflexibility is what makes them vulnerable: sun damage wears out the fabric, the frames become weather-beaten and weak. The posts and frames offer limited support against wind, though it leaves the fabric more vulnerable to the weight of snow and rain.

Retractable awnings are fixed in place only at the base; their support is from tension springs in the arms of the retractable awning. High-quality frames are lightweight aluminum, which is strong and durable. However, because they aren’t supported externally, anything that puts heavy stress on the frame – like heavy weight or sharp movements – can potentially cause damage.

Retractable awnings have a significant advantage, though. Fixed canopies simply wear out after exposure to weather; retractable awnings can retract into a hood and be protected.

The Impact of Rain and Snow

The biggest danger of both rain and snow is the weight. Very light precipitation – drizzle, fog, a very light dusting of snow – doesn’t have enough heft to damage a high-quality retractable awning when it’s extended. But steady rainfall or snow can cause problems.

Rain has the biggest impact on the fabric. The rainwater pools on the fabric and, over time, causes the fabric to stretch, sag, and possibly tear. There are two ways to prevent damage from rain:

o Adjust the pitch of the arms, so that the angle of the retractable awning can be made steep enough to cause the water to run off.

o Use a rain sensor which, when the retractable awning has a motor, will automatically retract the retractable awning when it begins to rain.

Snow impacts retractable awnings differently than rain. Snow and ice tends to build up, layer on layer. Along with putting stress on the fabric, snow and ice can put enough weight on the retractable awning frame to bend and damage the lateral arms and the mounting (torsion/square) bar.

There isn’t a “snow sensor,” but having a motor with an indoor switch or radio remote control makes it easy and comfortable to retract the awning even in cold weather.

The Impact of Wind and Motion

Good quality retractable awnings are designed and tested to withstand winds up to 35mph, so almost any day is safe. The rule of thumb is this: if it’s too windy to sit outside, it’s too windy for the retractable awning to be extended. However, wind gusts can be a hidden danger. Sudden, sharp wind shears can cause immediate damage to retractable awnings, twisting and wrenching the frame.

There are sensors for both types of wind. A standard wind sensor measures the current wind speed and retracts the retractable awning when it gets above a certain user-defined point. A motion sensor can detect abrupt movements, something common as a storm kicks up. Both sensors recheck wind conditions, so the retractable awning can be automatically extended as soon as it is safe.

Design Makes a Difference

The shape of the retractable awning makes a difference in how well it handles the elements. Traditional awning styles are flatter, with a taut stretch of fabric between arms (called lateral-arm). Dome retractable awnings, however, are steep, rounded, and closer to the building (due to shorter projections), providing good run off and protection from precipitation as well as making them more resistant to winds. Dome retractable awnings are ideal for windows, doors, and walkways.

The key part is, assess your climate. Do you get heavy rains? Does snow linger or melt off? Is there a lot of wind or storms? With a motor and the appropriate sensors, retractable awnings can be safe in any climate.

Drainage is the disposal of excess water on land (either used or in form of storm water). It must be distinguished from flood control which is the prevention of damage as a result of overflow from river. There are two type of system adopted for waste water collection. Separate sanitary and combined system. In separate sanitary system, there is a separate sewer that collects the household, commercial and industrial waste water and disposes them while a separate sewer collects the storm water and disposes it separately. In the combined system, both the storm water and domestic water are conveyed through the same pipe network.

Sanitary sewers should have a self cleansing velocity of (.6-1

m/s). This self cleansing velocity is achieved by laying the drain on a steep slope. Manholes should be placed at interval of 100-120m for the purpose of maintaining and servicing of the sewer. It should be noted that waste water in the sewer are usually transported by gravitational force rather than mechanical means (pumping) for convenient sake. This is why in laying sewer pipes; the topography of the area should be well understood.

The storm water flow can be estimated by .278CIA where C is the coefficient of runoff, I is the rainfall intensity and A is the catchment area. C is usually got from table which is a function of factors that affect infiltration. From rainfall data I can be estimated.

A can be estimated by using planimeter or superimposing scaled grid paper on the map and note the grid that fall within the boundary of the map . The waste water from industry, commercial centers and domestic uses are usually estimated by knowing the quantity of waste water the users’ discharges through the use of questionnaire and personal interview. The population of people and number of industries should be noted for this estimation.

The overall steps in layout sewers include:

• Establish comprehensive map of the area including road contour, topography and utilities
• Drains are shown with a single line with arrows for direction
• Manholes are shown with a dot at all its necessary locations as the junctions and its intermediate point of 100-120m interval
• Sewers are design to follow natural topography
• Sewers are mostly branch network
• Sewers or drains are usually located along the road
• Design approach for sewers is as follows;
• Estimate manning constant and select slope
• Compute the section factor
• Get the best hydraulic section either rectangle or trapezoid
• Check the satisfaction of minimum velocity
• Addition of adequate freeboard to avoid overflowing

The disposal of the waste water could be treated or not treated. However, the treatment is usually by biological method. The disposal of waste water is of immerse important for economic growth. The treated or untreated waste could be used as a source of irrigation, supplement stream or river flow and could be used as a source of recharge for ground water.

It is obvious in the cities of the developing countries that the most of construction industries do not take note of all the above mentioned process. As a result storm water follows drains that are not specified for them or overflows the drains there by causing erosions. On the other hand, some of the storm water are stagnant in the drains there by becoming a breeding place for mosquitoes and toads. This could result in increase of malaria and water related disease in the vicinity. All this is because; most government in such cities have not yet understand the important of drainage systems and the role it plays in social- economic development.

Plagiarism on the Internet is a bruised cloud hovering on the horizon for many Web site owners. You may have been a victim. After spending hours creating, polishing and fine tuning your site’s content, the brutal plagiarism storm hits. You discover that someone has lifted that content and published it on the Internet as though it were their own. What can one do to prepare for and ultimately defuse the storm?

5 Strategies to Defend Against and Fight Plagiarism

How does one defend against and fight plagiarism? The following strategies will help in preparing for and confronting plagiarism storms.

1. Fortify – Build a defense by legally fortifying before the storm hits. Have your work officially copyrighted by the U.S. Government Copyright Office. Download form TX and submit the basic registration fee of $45.00. This will ensure that you have the legal fortification in the event you discover your work has been plagiarized.

2. Inhibit – Clearly state on your website that your work has been legally copyrighted by the U.S. Government to inhibit word scrapers. This will act like a sign on a house warning thieves that it is protected by a security alarm.

3. Guard – Strengthen your defense guard by subscribing to a service that will notify you when someone copies the content of one or more web pages such as Copyscape at http://www.copyscape.com. This service will be your security alarm alerting you that work has been stolen. The company offers free and subscription based services.

4. Have A Plan – Devise a plan to address the offender when you discover that your content has been lifted. Effective plans include the following:
   1. Contact the offending site by using the site’s contact information and ask politely for the removal of the copyright material.
   2. If there is no response, contact the web hosting company.
   3. If there is no response, send a formal “Cease and Desist” letter by registered mail to the offending website owner or company. Examples of Cease and Desist letters may be found throughout the Internet.
   4. If there is still no response from the offending website owner, you may contact the various search engines to report the copyright infringement. For example, see Google’s policy on responding to alleged copyright infringement, Digital Millennium Copyright Act, at http://www.google.com/dmca.html.
5. Take Action – Follow through with your action plan and keep records. If you have difficulty obtaining the offending party’s contact information or web hosting company, investigate a whois database such as CentralOps.net.

A passionate defense against plagiarism is the first step to fight against copyright infringement. A practical predetermined plan of action is a proven and effective solution to combat the storm of plagiarism when it strikes.

In order to determine which metal beyblades are best within the Beyblade Metal Fusion series it is necessary to understand the plot and characters of the series. It is also important to know what the numbers and letters after the names on the actual metal beyblades mean. According to the Beyblade website beyblade.com the plot of the Metal Fusion series is centered around the hero called Ginka. In the cartoon series, Ginka embarks on a dangerous mission where he is in search of strong beybladers to help him in the battle against the evil group called the Dark Nebula. Ginka is the main character and has a beyblade called Storm Pegasus.

You can purchase a Storm Pegasus for use in your spinning tops battle game and arena set. This particular beyblade is considered to have special moves in the series. The moves that it has includes the Pegasus Starblast Attack, the Pegasus Tornado Wing, the Meteor Shower Attack, and the Pegasus Storm Bringer. When playing the spinning tops version of the game, the Storm Pegasus is not considered to be as strong as some of the other beyblades. For example, it is listed on the diagram that comes with the Storm Pegasus that it has a performance tip listing of 6 attack, 1 defense, and 0 stamina. When using the beyblades, the level of stamina is the best indicator of the top’s performance.

With approximately 42 metal beyblades available, determining which ones are the best can be a bit overwhelming. According to feedback on the website from players of the game, the strength and performance of the actual metal beyblades depends on the performance tip. The best metal beyblades are ones whose tips allow them to spin faster and longer. These rubber tips can be interchangeable on certain models making a seemingly weaker type of metal beyblade perform better than a stronger one. Some beyblades include different performance tips in their packages when you purchase them.

Another important aspect in determining which of the metal beyblades is best involves the actual release of the spinning top. Different base types allow for various releases. For example, the instant release/first clutch blade base type triggers the engine gear at the beginning of the battle. This causes the blade to have a large burst of speed almost immediately after it is launched. A steady release blade base type also triggers the engine gear at the beginning of the battle. However, it releases earlier than the instant release type because the weight of the beyblade used is greater. This type is used with metal beyblades that have a larger or wider revolving base such as the Rock Bison or Wolborg 4 beyblades. The hit release/final clutch blade base type triggers the engine gear when the blade base collides with an object or when the beyblade is running out of spin. Once that happens, the engine gear releases a quick burst of speed.

In the eastern region of the magnificent and forbidding Storm Peaks, there exists creatures of such power and might that even the evil forces of the Scourge does not give them any anxiety. It can be said that they are one of the few creatures in Northrend, and perhaps all of Azeroth, that can sleep in peace at night without any worries about the Scourge’s impending invasion, that is, if these creatures even sleep at all. The creatures that I’m talking about are the Frost Giants. They live in huge, frozen castle fortresses known as the Dun Niffelem, structures that take over the mountain’s eastern region. The Frost Giants that live there belong to a faction known as the Sons of Hodir.

In World of Warcraft’s latest expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, the Frost Giants in Northrend are said to be related to Azeroth’s lesser giants, such as the Frostmaul Giants. They share the same passion for fighting, although there has been some rumors that the Frost Giants of Dun Niffelem are more closely related to the Storm Giants. If so, this means that they are less into fighting and more into arcane research and generally keeping to themselves. The Sons of Hodir can be a mix of both, though. They can have the Frostmaul Giant’s love for battle, and the Storm Giant’s aptitude for magic and magical research. If this is true, then that makes the faction even more powerful.

Led by the most powerful of the Storm Peak’s Frost Giants, King Jokkum, the faction is going into battle against their enemies, such as the Scourge, the spirits of Thunderfall, and others. When you venture to the Storm Peaks, you can gain reputation by joining and fighting for this faction, or you can take quests the repeatable quests that are given by the NPCs there. Below are some of the quests that you can repeat as part of the Sons of Holdir faction:

* Everfrost – this quest will have you asking an NPC, Calder, about a chip of Everfrost.

* Polishing the Helm – this is a gathering sort of quest, where you have to get 5 units of viscous oil at the Hibernal Cave.

* Blowing Hodir’s Horn – this quest involves killing off creatures at the nearby Thunderfall, such as Frostborn and Niffelem Forefathers.

There are many things to do once you join the Sons of Holdir faction. As of the moment, these are just the information that I gathered about them and some of the quests involved. Just hang in there. Wrath of the Lich King would soon be yours and you can explore and fight in Northrend with the Frost Giants as much as you want!

In 1989, Nike Company launched four types of fabrics, namely Dri-FIT, Therma-FIT, Clima-FIT and Storm-FIT. Here F stands for functional, I for innovative and T for technology. These fabrics can help a sportsman resist hot and cold weather, withstand storm and snow and handle the sweat.

Dri-FIT

The fabric of Dri-FIT can discharge sweat rapidly. You will feel comfortable if you wear the clothes made of this fabric to do exercise. The particular Dri-FIT superfine fiber can discharge moisture by virtue of the siphon action. The moisture is discharged to the surface of the garment and then vaporized. When you wear this kind of garment, Dri-FIF sticks to the skin. It discharges sweat perfectly and make you feel very comfortable. Nike DRI FIF is the best lining material. Its features are as follows:

1 It is made of superfine fiber.

2 It can discharge sweat to the outer layer of the garment and then evaporate it to keep the garment dry.

3 It is light and thin.

4 It can be dried rapidly.

5 It is cool and comfortable to wear.

6 It is the best lining material.

Therma-FIT

The fabric of Therma-FIT is lighter and thinner than any other textiles, yet it can keep warm very well. If a garment is made of Therma-FIT and its lining is made of Dri-FIT, it must be perfect in perspiring and keeping warm. You can wear this garment to run, ski, climb a mountain or do other kinds of training exercises. Its features are as follows:

1 It is made of superfine fiber.

2 It is thin and light.

3 It can guard against cold air and wind.

4 It can keep warm very well.

Clima-FIT

The fabric of Clima-FIT is water proof. It is made of the breathable superfine fiber. Water can’t seep in it easily. However, it can discharge sweat effectively. It is especially designed for the sportsman to run or play golf. Its features are as follows:

1 It can keep off wind and rain.

2 It is light.

3 It has good breathability. The close-knit fiber can keep water from seeping in, yet it can discharge sweat out of the body easily.

Storm-FIT

The fabric of storm-FIT is water proof. There is a layer of water proof film covering on the surface of the super fine fiber so that it can guard against rain, snow and hail. When you take high-energy activities, such as skiing, sailing, hiking and running, you may sweat a lot. If you wear a clothes made of Storm-FIT, the sweat can be discharged easily. Its features are as follows:

1 It is especially designed to be worn in stormy weather.

2 It has good breathability. Although water can’t seep in it easily, yet it can absorb sweat from your skin and discharge it outside of the garment.

3 It can guard against water, wind and snow.

4 If you match it with a Nike Therma-FIT or Dri-FIT clothes, the effect of discharging sweat and keeping warm will be better.

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, then it’s important to know how to prepare your shed for the bad weather these storms produce. If you’re like most people, you have valuable items, tools and other equipment in your shed that you want to keep protected. After all, that is the whole point of having a storage shed in the first place.

Hurricanes are powerful storms with wind speeds starting as high as seventy-four miles per hour and they can go way over two hundred miles per hour depending on how strong the storm is. They can cause severe damage to homes and backyard buildings that can end up costing lots of money. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to be prepared and possibly reduce the amount of damage your property sustains.

The following steps can help you prepare your outdoor shed for a hurricane:

Step One

The safety of your family should always be first so make sure you have arrangements made for your family and pets to go somewhere safe before the bad weather sets in. Take the time to get your home secure and then you’re ready to prepare your outdoor storage shed for the rough weather ahead.

Step Two

Most storage buildings are not anchored to the ground. If yours is not, make the building as secure as possible. The high wind that accompanies a hurricane can easily pick up any small building and move it around to a different location. One way of securing your shed to the ground involves driving stakes deeply into the ground. Next, attach heavy ropes or cables to both the stakes and the building.

Step Three

Secure the windows and doors. Many backyard storage sheds have small windows. If yours does, then you’ll need to cover it with a piece of plywood that is at least half of an inch thick or thicker. You can place a piece of plywood over the door as well to keep it from being blown open.

Using these tips do not guarantee that your backyard shed won’t be damaged or even destroyed but it does reduce your risk. How much damage occurs depends on the severity of the hurricane and how close it comes to your property.

Winter can immobilize us! When flights are cancelled because and streets are blocked because of snow banks, it doesn’t matter what is booked on the calendar. We are forced to stay where we are and cancel plans.

Over the past few weeks, North America seems to be facing storms and weather patterns that are stronger than in recent history. We view news stories that feature stranded passengers who are camping out in airports waiting for re-booked flights. Scenes of individuals shovelling huge banks of snow or spinning in vehicles as they lose control over icy streets are common. Avalanches bury those who previously hoped to enjoy boarding or skiing on fresh snow. Electrical outages threaten the well-being and lives of those who do not have alternate sources for heat. Schools and businesses are closed.

It looks rather bleak but, if you look at it differently, winter weather offers some hidden positives that we might not otherwise experience. Consider the following:

1. Time is given back to us – We live in a world where we tend to over-schedule ourselves. A winter storm can provide us with several hours or days of an empty calendar. This allows us the opportunity to nap, read or pay attention to a project that would otherwise be overlooked.

2. Home can be enjoyed – Many people have told me that they love to be at home and consider it a “sanctuary” for them but then lament that they are hardly ever there. Horrible weather can gift us with some “home time” to enjoy.

3. Perspective – It is easy to get wrapped up in the idea that things HAVE to happen and we are INDISPENSABLE. When the weather interferes with our calendar we have a chance to reconsider our values and let go of any obsessions we had in this regard.

4. Relationships – Trouble often allows us to meet and learn to work with others. Together, neighbours who didn’t know each other well, cooperate to clear snow, or help each other to face the common issues that the storm brought them. Even being stranded in an airport can give you a chance to carrying on conversations or even develop new friendships with others in the same dilemma.

The next time that you hear yourself complaining about the weather, perhaps you could think about this article and start focusing on the hidden benefits that might be available – if you will but look for them.

Webkinz is the latest online craze for kids. As a father of two young children, I know my way around this fascinating new virtual world, and it is very impressive. In fact, I’m also the proud owner of a virtual Webkinz gorilla named, quite unoriginally, Kong.

The world of Webkinz has been designed for users aged 6-13+ (or, well, almost 40) and includes content for all ages and levels of computer skill within that range. The general idea is you adopt a pet, which has a real world stuffed animal companion, and introduce him or her to the Webkinz online world. You start out with one simple room, a couple of toys, and some Webkinz dollars. Then, and often, you find new and exciting ways to collect, earn, or win more dollars to upgrade your Webkinz space.

You can expand your Webkinz world with new rooms, yards, furniture, clothing, food, and toys. You can arrange the rooms how you like, move furniture, and make real changes to the environment your Webkinz lives in. Kong has a pirate ship room, but I’d rather not admit how much fun it was collecting all the pirate themed pieces. My kids have fantastic Webkinz environments; with ice rooms and fully stalked kitchens, backyards with slides and pools the animals can play on, and a host of funky clothing and accessories. They play safe and they love the games, even the ones that may be subtlety teaching them something.

The Webkinz world was clearly designed to reach the widest possible audience within its suggested age range. Although some of the Webkinz games and jobs (yes, your Webkinz can have a job to earn Webkinz dollars) may be difficult for younger users, there are plenty of opportunities and games for younger audiences to enjoy the site on their own orwith the support of an adult. Younger users can also enjoy all of the non-game methods of making Webkinz dollars, including the Wheel of WOW, Wishing Well and the Care Award. There is even a special 5-6 year old question section in Quizzy’s Question Corner, which includes over 1000 age appropriate, curriculum-based questions that make Webkinz dollars faster than any of the games.

Is Webkinz World safe? Yes. The Internet can be an unsafe place, and this is why as a parent I really appreciate efforts like Webkinz. The Webkinz world includes what is in my opinion the safest possible chat system available for kids. Webkinz chat is constructed so users can’t type in whatever they want. Nothing inappropriate can be said, and there is no way to exchange any personal information. Only people you know will have your username, which is needed in order to add someone to your Friends list. Finally, you can always decline another’s offer to join their Friends list, or delete them at any time.

In my personal experience, Webkinz World is a great place to learn and play. Children can learn lots of fun facts at Quizzy’s. The questions at Quizzy’s are age-appropriate, and most are educationally based. There are also several arcade games that promote learning, such as: Booger Gets an A that promotes addition skills, Lunch Letters that helps children to learn how to type and spell, Quizzy’s Word Challenge that aids in spelling, and Operation Gumball that encourages children to think logically. Also, Webkinz Newz and the W Tales encourage reading and the many contests encourage writing, creativity, and problem-solving. What else? My kids are learning about money in Webkinz World; by earning KinzCash, they learn how to save and spend money. My oldest child recently saved up for a new swimming pool that she added to a backyard space in her virtual world. Now her Webkinz can virtually go for a swim. Webkinz World also helps to teach children about responsibility, caring for a pet, and getting along with others. Best of all, no Webkinz pets can die. Webkinz pets can get sick, but they cannot die. Have fun.

Recently there has been a shift in the field of medicine that will alter the shape and face of health care for years to come. In the United States, women are embarking on careers in the medical field in remarkable numbers. The percentage of men and women applying for spots in medical school has been about equal for the last few years. Lately though, the number of women applying for medical school has increased dramatically.

Ever since the feminist movement occurred, the view of what women should do for a living has changed greatly. In fact, other career paths such as law and engineering are also seeing more women entering the arena than ever before. The fire lit by the feminist movement wasn’t just under women. Society as a whole has been asked to think and behave differently. Medical schools are expected to grant slots to more women. Anti-discrimination laws have also opened up many traditionally male areas of study, though enforcement of the laws often takes many years and can sometimes be spotty.

You won’t find any recent data available for a dropout rate among female medical school students. Even though in previous years there were more women who dropped out than men, these women didn’t drop out for academic reasons. Women who are currently in the medical field assume the dropout rate is probably equal these days among men and women because their numbers have went from being a minority to being a much larger minority than they were. Because of more women going into the medical field, a lot of the old traditions that were discriminatory have been put to rest.

A prime example? There is the professor who opened his class by telling a joke. He felt like it was friendly to tell a little icebreaker. The joke was – which of these three things doesn’t belong; woman, sex, an egg, or a rug, and he answered “Sex, because you can’t beat sex.” Even though this joke is quite tame compared to some of the things these women hear on an everyday basis, it doesn’t help the thought along that women are equal to men. These practices and jokes may come to an end soon as the women begin to stand up and show that they are capable of doing it.

The ladies aren’t only dealing with crude humor by men, there are also other things that make no sense like the case of the student who wasn’t allowed to participate in a physical examination of a male patient because he would be naked and she would be able to see his genitals. But in another room not far away, the woman’s husband was allowed to perform an exam on a woman. There was also the issue of the admissions interview where a woman was always asked about her career outlook, as well as her outlook on marriage and having a family, while these questions were never asked of men. Additional problems include the fact that there are very few women serving on the faculties and admission committees for the medical schools, as well as the typical belief that women are less likely to practice once they graduate, which has prevented many women from entering specialized fields, especially surgical areas.

One of the most common questions in an admission interview was about whether a woman would choose marriage or career, and there is denial as to whether this particular question led to being denied access to medical school. They believe that some male interviewers will use the woman’s answer against her regardless of her response. For example, if a student states that if she did have children she would have someone care for them while she was working, the interviewer would suggest that she just stay home and have babies. If she says she’s going to raise her children, the interviewer will argue that the candidate doesn’t have the necessary commitment.

In more and more interview sessions, it became obvious that the perception is that female physicians are not as objective as male physicians. Once in a while, this perception has been exposed as just another stereotype. A woman who was in her second year of medical school indicated that she had witnessed a number of ruthless females and a few emotionally-charged males, however the reverse was usually accepted as a component of the ways in which men and women differ.

One dean at a prominent medical school commented that women actually bring much to table in the field and that traits that are seen more in women are in fact positive and make them good doctors. Females are often raised to be expressive and emotional, both of which can end up being an advantage for a physician in a medical practice. Males tend to be more aggressive which is a trait that can work against them in medicine. But, she states that neither characteristic is a given in either gender.