Jig Jag Blog – Random Pieces of Text

There are two stainless steel mixing bowls in my kitchen cupboard. One feels more solid and has aged gracefully with use, the scratches are almost absorbed into the worn smooth metal surface, and it remains a grayish stainless steel colour. The second, bought at a discount store, has taken a distinct yellow tinge and is showing tarnish, its surface seeming artificially glossy.

I understand now that there are different grades of stainless steel and the quality will affect how it wears and what toxins it may pass on to to food or liquids contained in it. How will this quality affect my choice of a stainless steel drink bottle? There are important features to look for when choosing a reusable stainless steel bottle

Stainless steel is always made using chromium, because it is what makes steel “stainless”. Other elements are also used including nickel, nitrogen and molybdenum. These elements can leech into liquids, so it is very important that the bottle is crafted from high quality, 18/8 food-grade stainless steel – but also that you trust the manufacturer is telling the truth when they state what the bottle is made from. Some will claim to make the bottle from the thinnest and cheapest stainless steel they can in order to reduce manufacturing costs and hence pump up profits.

Other features are also important:

• Are the lids made from a BPA free plastic?
• Can you see sharp corners or joins inside where dirt and bacteria can build up?
• Is the thread around the screw top easily cleaned?
• Will the lid leak and can you buy a replacement lid without buying a whole new bottle?
• Does the manufacturer provide a guarantee?

Consider who the manufacturer is. Do they have a long history of quality, who are the real people behind the company and what is their story? In 2004, Klean Kanteen was the first company to make a water bottle from stainless steel. They have continued to lead the way with innovative stainless steel products. Another leading sports hydration company making high quality stainless steel bottles is Nathan, using a clever straw drinking mechanism. Perhaps the grandparent of all stainless steel is Thermos, whose name has become synonymous with insulated bottles for hot water. Many of us grew up taking “the thermos” on a picnic.

From an environmental point of view, is a stainless steel bottle more eco friendly than a plastic bottle? A Life Cycle assessment study published in the New York Times in 2009, considered the environmental and health impact of stainless steel bottle from the extraction and processing of its ingredients, to its manufacture, distribution, use and final disposal. It found that if your stainless steel bottle takes the place of 50 plastic bottles, the climate is better off.

From a human point of view, who made the bottle and was that person treated fairly and compensated for their time. This is the hardest criteria to judge because few of us can actually visit the factories in China where most of the bottles are made. We can at least always go to the manufacturer’s website and ensure they have published a statement about their factory and worker conditions. Again, as with most things in life, we have to make a judgement call on whether we trust the company and what they are saying.

Written by Tracey Bailey, Founder of Biome eco friendly retail stores.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Concrete floor polishing was initially used for a matter of function in commercial buildings and warehouses as it increases lighting using the natural reflection off the floor, eliminates dusting and is extremely low maintenance saving time and money. Polished concrete techniques have progressed and technology now allows a qualified contractor to give colour and different finishes to the concrete rendering each floor unique which has made polished concrete floors the sought after flooring solution for residential, retail and office buildings as it is functional and visually appealing.

Concrete is manufactured from natural materials and can also be mixed with some recycled materials; the concrete itself can also be recycled. Concrete is so versatile as its durable, the materials are readily available and it can take in then release heat better than other floor coverings as concrete polishing doesn’t change the thermal mass of the floor which is a property that enables materials to absorb, store than release heat.

The materials in concrete absorb the energy slowly and hold it for a long period of time which can help to reduce heating and cooling requirements. Concrete floor polishing eliminates any need for additional floor coverings, all of which would require manufacturing and transportation so polished concrete reduces the effects on the environment. Depending of the quality and condition of the concrete, polished concrete has a longer life cycle than traditional floor coverings and if correctly installed by a qualified specialist in concrete floor polishing it can last forever which reduces the environmental waste which would be caused by replacing carpet, vinyl and tiles.

A polished concrete floor will resemble a polished stone floor; with a high-gloss finish the floor will have a mirror like effect. Polished concrete floors also improve the air quality, unlike carpet it doesn’t trap pollutants or bacteria and the surface is reflective which will reduce the need for unnatural lighting. Polished concrete has many more benefits which cannot be achieved from any other traditional floor covering. The concrete floor polishing process uses non-toxic chemicals, and no sealers or solvents are required.

Concrete floor polishing is created by processing the concrete surface by means of a mechanical process which involves grinding and refining the surface using diamonds till a desired finish is achieved, this process takes some time and only a qualified specialist in concrete floor polishing should be appointed to install a polished concrete floor. Polished concrete enhances the new or existing concrete which reduces the use of energy draining manufacturing processes and fossil fuels used for traditional floor coverings.

There are many different results that come from polished concrete floors by using multiple abrasives which are measured in grits which are generally applied from roughest to finest and each density will refine the surface in preparation for the desired finish. A specialist in concrete floor polishing may use up to nine different grits to achieve the durability, reflection and clarity of polished concrete and will apply a densifier which has a chemical reaction in the concrete resulting in a hard crystalline structure making the concrete floor more durable and resistant to stains, offers extra protection to the floor and prevents water from penetrating the surface. These reasons and more are why polished concrete is the eco-friendly and sustainable flooring solution which cannot be compared to any other flooring option available.

Concrete flooring is a great option. If you are considering polished concrete on the Gold Coast or concrete polishing in Brisbane , and would like a free onsite evaluation call (07) 5549 3573 now. We have offer our unique high-gloss finished backed with a 10 year warranty in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

When you get married, it is all about the love, sharing that special day with your partner, family and friends. However, as air fares get cheaper and destinations more accessible, it is becoming more and more common for couples to take their weddings off-shore, or off-state to a new and romantic location.

Why is this becoming popular? Firstly, it allows you tailor your wedding around a favourite holiday destination or place of significance. Did you dream of getting married on the beach, frangipanis in your hair and a golden sunset, but you are stuck in the city? Dream no more, tropical weddings are affordable and professional with many tropical destinations offering specialist wedding and honeymoon packages.

Destinational wedding packages can be tailored to suit your dreams. From romantic couple only escapes to complete family and friends getaways.

When thinking of taking your wedding away, beachside nuptials appear to be the preferred escape and Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the perfect destination. Cairns offers happy couples a variety of options. A ceremony on the beach, with the sand between your toes, or something more formal in a seaside chapel, followed by a beach reception with tables set up in the sand. Arrive by car, or for something different, you can kayak or even sky dive into your nuptials. Many couples have experienced the thrill of this in Cairns, Australia and it brings a whole new meaning to pre-wedding jitters or nerves.

Is this not close enough to the water for you? In Cairns, you can even get married underwater, while diving the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t believe me! ~ It has been done, underwater photographers are available to capture your special moment with nemo and a graceful sea turtle as your witness.

If that is too extreme, but you want to include a visit to the Reef in your destinational wedding, then simply plan a half day or full day trip around your nuptials. There are plenty of combinations available in Cairns Australia, from a helicopter trip to an isolated coral cay, to an exclusive charter taking you to a remote, pristine coral reef.

What about your guests? Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia are considered a must visit destination for many people. Everyone wants to go there, most just need an excuse. Make your wedding a trip of a lifetime for you and your guests by bringing them to Cairns.

As well as being a part of your special day, this tropical paradise offers a range of exciting activities. Reef trips, rainforest excursions, beach horse riding, tropical taste tours and some of the world’s leading spa retreats are all found here.

If you lean more green than blue in your wedding choices, Cairns is the only place on earth where World Heritage tropical rainforest slides down to meet the golden beaches and fringes of the Great Barrier Reef.

These are the world’s oldest continually surviving tropical rainforests and you can get married here, celebrating your love in this pristine nature’s paradise. Let towering cathedral figs be your altar, mossy pavers your aisle and falling leaves your confetti. Rainforest weddings can be as formal or informal as you like. A range of chapels are nestled amongst the greenery for more traditional ceremonies, or slip off your shoes and take your celebrant somewhere remote for a memorable ceremony.

Your guests will thank you for bringing them to this amazing tropical paradise. When they are not at your wedding, they can enjoy luxurious accommodation, explore the reef and rainforest, cuddle a koala or even take an outback tour.

There are many activities to choose from that the wedding party and guests can enjoy. There could be activities such as shopping, snorkeling, boat rides, guided tours or even wine tasting. Just keep in mind that it is typically the bride or groom or their families footing the bill so be sure not to tell your guests the cost of the bill because they more than likely would feel uncomfortable having someone else paying for them.

The great part of destination weddings is that it is usually more intimate and typically only the close family and friends come. So you could have more personal activities. You could have a sleepover the night before the wedding and have everyone over to the hotel for movies, drinks, and popcorn.

Just remember that for many of your guests your destination wedding may double as their vacation. So be sure to find out their plans so that you don’t over book. Some guests may choose to plan their own activities.

Any activities you choose, your destination wedding will be sure to be special and a long lasting memory for many years to come.

When planning your destinational wedding, make sure you use a professional Cairns wedding photographer, because you will want to capture your Cairns Wedding Photography in the best possible light. Photographers can also capture amazing images of you, whilst scuba diving in Cairns

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Looking for a great and unusual gift? Want someting that the recipient will remember forever?

Tickets are a great gift for the person who has just about everything and doesn’t want any more material goods. Life to me is now more about experiences to remember. Time with kids and grandkids. Time doing things like fishing, travelling, watching live shows and sports.

Too much stuff means too much to care for and maintain. With tickets you get to reexperience the memories over and over again.

There’s lots of tickets I want this year. They could include BANK ATLANTIC CENTER TICKETS, BENEDUM CENTER TICKETS or even Harlem Globetrotters tickets.

I hope my son is a mindreader. It doesn’t really matter which tickets I get, as long as I get one of the three. When in doubt, buy tickets ! They make a gift that will be remembered.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Schoolies, or more correctly, school leavers week, is an annual right of passage for thousands of Australian teens. It usually happens a week or so after the end of Grade 12 exams. Originally starting at the Gold Coast in Queensland, it has grown to include many more tourist destinations. Schoolies is very big business and injects millions of dollars into the tourism economy.

If you believe the news, Schoolies is all about alcohol, sex, music, car accidents and fights. It isn’t. It’s just that the media play to established prejudices so they can sell products that appeal to the over 55 viewing audience.

Notwithstanding all the bad publicity about Schoolies week, tens of thousands of Australian teenagers have a great time during their post exam Year 12 break. The reality is that because of all the bad publicity, Schoolies is now a very safe activity well serviced by police, ambulance and volunteer organisations like Red Frog. The local and State governments pour lots of taxpayer’s resources into helping keep Schoolies safe.

If you or your children are considering going to Schoolies this year, here 10 tips to improve safety and enjoyment.

Fights – get help, don’t get involved
When lots of young men, and more recently, young woman, congregate and consume alcohol, there is an increased chance of disagreements leading to violence. If one of your friends gets involved in a fight, don’t get involved, get help from police or other authorities. If you get involved one of two things may happen: you will get hurt, or you will hurt somebody. Both can have very bad consequences.

Learn what a standard drink looks like
If you are going to drink alcohol, drink in moderation. Three to four standard drinks in a six hour period would be a reasonable amount. Ask your parents what a standard drink of beer, spirits or wine looks like, or read the label. A standard drink is a lot less than you may think.

Use protection
Did you know that 500 babies are conceived at schoolies each year? Boys will be boys and girls will be girls. Unfortunately this leads to unwanted pregnancies and the spread of nasty diseases. If you are going to indulge in sexual activities, use protection.

The Police are there to help you
Police love Schoolies week. It means they get to do what’s called “Specials”; big slabs of overtime. If you do get involved with police be polite and don’t be a smart-mouth. You will not win a battle of wits or a physical encounter. And having to fetch your parents or guardians and go to court the next morning is not a good look.

Leave no one behind
When at Schoolies team up with a friend or two and don’t get separated. At the end of the night’s activities make sure you are still all together and do what the Marines do: leave no one behind. That cute guy you met will still be around tomorrow morning. Give him your number and agree to meet-up in the morning. In the morning light of a sober day you may have to reconsider.

Have an escape and evasion plan
If you are really unlucky and everything turns pear-shaped, make sure you have an escape and evasion plan. Agree with your friends a secret code word that when spoken means “lets get out of here right now and meet up at the agreed location”. Make sure you have enough cash, enough clothing and all the location details you need to get back to your emergency rendezvous point to plan the next move.

In case of emergencies
A lot of people don’t know this but police, ambulance officers and other emergency service workers when dealing with an unconscious person look in the address book of the person’s mobile phone. They are looking for an entry called ICE. It stands for “In Case of Emergency call this number”. Make sure you have an ICE number in your phone. It could be a friend, it could be a parent or guardian. Do it now.

Watch out for the unknown silent killer
Do you know what the biggest life-threatening risk at Schoolies is? It’s not drugs, car accidents, or violence or the other risks reported in the news. It is sunburn. The second degree burns you get during schoolies week this year may turn into the skin cancer that kills you in 20 or 30 years time. As the ad says, slip on shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat. Get in shade in the hotter parts of the day and if you are drinking alcohol, drink at least one glass of water for each standard drink.

Watch Out for Valuables
Lots of young excited people tend to attract thieves and other low-life. If you are going to Schoolies only take stuff you are prepared to lose. Borrow you Dad’s old clunky mobile phone, leave the fancy jewelry and shoes at home, don’t make yourself a target by strutting around with the latest iPhone or notebook.

A Note to Parents
If your child is going to Schoolies make sure they understand that’s it’s OK to call them at any time of the day or night. Preplan an emergency pickup point. Work out a way they can get emergency cash in a hurry.

Want to book some accommodation for schoolies? For schoolies gold coast or schoolies Lorne, visit bookschoolies.com and browse and book the wide range of locations both in Queensland, New South Wales and
Bali.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

As I’m now in semi-retirement I have a lot more time and money to enjoy live sport and shows. There is nothing to compare to being there, even a 50 inch plasma TV doesn’t come close.

Recently my good wife of 23 years bought me some Boston Celtics tickets. They were a very nice surprise. But what I really wanted was some Cirque Du Soleil tickets. I’ve always wanted to see Cirque Du Soleil and they don’t get up here that often.

I hope she likes the Greek Theatre Tickets I bought her for her birthday

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

I was glancing through the classifieds for lockers for sale. There is so many different types of lockers these days. The materials are getting lighter and more robust. Remember the old grey lockers made of flimsy metal that never closed properly? They are a thing of the past.

For my city office I would prefer a gym locker. It should be about 2 meters tall and have secure locking mechanism and lots of hanging space.

I hope to spend less than 195 dollars for a good quality locker.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

HelpMeSis.com.au is a brand new website that acts as a portal featuring the very best Australian online shopping sites and information websites. The comprehensive and well-researched website has been two years in the making and saves women valuable time and frustration by only showing the best and most relevant websites in each of the many categories.

After 2 years of meticulous research and web development, HelpMeSis.com.au was officially launched in Sydney on 1 January 2010. This comprehensive website acts as a useful portal for busy Australian women, showing them the very best Australian online shopping sites and information websites.

The extensive and informative guide to Australia’s best and most relevant websites was created to help time-poor women find quality products, information and services quickly and easily. Its launch was the culmination of two years of labour by former high school teacher Veronica Ryan.

“Over the past few years, I have visited and revisited many thousands of Australian websites and have hand picked hundreds of the very best to be included in the HelpMeSis website,” said Ms Ryan. “I have chosen these websites for their overall quality, integrity and security and their usefulness and relevance to Australian women,” she said.

The website listings and reviews have been organised into logical categories. Along with a logo, name, link to the site and description of products and services, Ms Ryan has also included practical details such as each company’s ABN and shipping information for shopping websites.

“To have all this information available on one website means women no longer need to visit dozens of individual websites first to find out exactly what they offer and whether they provide online shopping and Australia-wide shipping. They can compare all of this on the HelpMeSis website and only visit the most relevant website, saving them a great deal of time,” said Ms Ryan.

The manual selection process for included websites, together with the navigational simplicity of the portal, its sheer comprehensiveness, detailed information and overall relevance to Australian women, sets HelpMeSis apart from other online directories.

In addition to Australian shopping websites, the HelpMeSis portal also includes a number of themed information sections. A ‘Green Guide’ offers a great deal of information about green products and services and links to quality businesses that sell natural Australian organic products. The ‘Useful Information’ section provides answers to many common queries Australian women have. A complete ‘Parenting’ and baby shopping section gives links to Australian stores specialising in quality parenting & baby products and to sites offering expert information and advice for parents.

Other noteworthy sections on the HelpMeSis website include a ‘Health and Fitness’ section and a ‘Leisure’ section, which offers links to websites providing What’s On information for all Australian capital cities and the Gold Coast. The site further features a blog spot and people can sign up to receive an informative monthly HelpMeSis newsletter.

Men needn’t feel left out either, as Ms Ryan has also launched a ‘brother’ site, aptly named HelpMeBro.com.au where men can shop online at the best Australian online shopping sites. This guys-only site has many of the features of the women’s site but has been styled for men and doesn’t include any of the ‘girly’ content.

To find out more, please visit the HelpMeSis and HelpMeBro websites.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Now that I’m self-employed I need to kit myself out with a work bag, a backpack for when I ride to work and a laptop bag for interstate travel.

There’s so many to choose from these days. I guess my criteria are: looks good, is long-wearing, has lots of compartments (especially the backpack), is waterproof, is light and meets airline baggage size restrictions.

I think I’ll shoop online to find the perfect items. Shopwiki seems to have a good range or products and product suppliers.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

The invention of jet propulsion was ideal for fighter aircraft. Although at first it reduced range and endurance and often increased the take-off run. The German Messerschmitt Me 262 and the British Gloster Meteor twin jets saw action in 1944, together with the tailless Me 163 rocket interceptor which sacrificed range and endurance for astounding climb and speed in defending local areas against heavy bombers.

Germany was far in front of other countries in another factor too: armament. A range of 30 mm (1 inch) cannon, radically new high-speed cannon with multiple-revolver chambers, very large recoilless guns, spin-stabilised air-to-air rockets fired in salvoes, and wire-guided air-to-air missiles were all under test before the Luftwaffe s defeat. They gradually inspired similar developments in other countries: one German gun, the Mauser MG 213, led to the American Pontiac M-39, the French DEFA, the Russian NR-30, the Swiss Oerlikon KCA, and the British Aden, all of which are still in use.

Many early jet fighters were fitted into more or less conventional airframes. The fighter often considered the ultimate achievement of the piston era, the long-range North American P-51 Mustang appeared both in a twinned double-fuselage form and, with few changes, as a US Navy jet.

But the US Air Force decided to wait a year until its makers could sweep back the wings and tail at 35 degrees, which German research had shown could lead to higher speed. The result was the F-86 Sabre, which in 1948 set a speed record at 1,080 km/h (671 mph) and outflew all other fighters. Later versions carried radar and rockets and reached 1,150 km/h (715 mph).

During the Korean War (1950-3) the F-86 met a previously unknown machine built in the Soviet Union, the somewhat lighter and simpler MiG-15, and although the MiG could climb higher and had heavy cannon, the Sabre’s skilled pilots and better equipment gave it the edge in combat.

North American’s next fighter was the F-100 Super Sabre, which exceeded the speed of sound in level flight. The MiG bureau built the twin jet MiG-19, which was even faster, and is still in wide use. The US Air Force ordered various all-weather interceptors with largely automatic radar and flight control systems so that, with guided missiles, they could intercept and destroy enemy aircraft without the pilot ever seeing them.

The British ordered a jet-fighter flying-boat, but discovered that this way of doing business without airfields produced an inferior fighter. The Americans suffered similar problems with a ‘hydroski’ fighter, which could dive faster than sound, but took off and landed on retractable water skis.

Two even stranger fighters were designed around powerful turboprop engines and, standing on their tails, screwed themselves vertically into the air (they were intended to operate from the confined decks of warships or merchant vessels). Britain built high-altitude supersonic fighters with ‘mixed power’ from a turbojet and a rocket. In 1957 the British Minister of Defence suggested there would soon be no more manned fighters at all, only missiles. The Americans stuck to fighters, but made them very large and armed them with missiles, but no gun.

Today the wheel has turned full circle. In the past 10 to 20 years there has been a powerful trend to get back to the ‘eyeball-to-eyeball’ type of confrontation of the man in the Sopwith Camel. The pre-eminent Western fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, was rebuilt with an internal gun, a rapid-fire 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon with six barrels firing up to 6,000 rds/ min, and a slatted wing to pull tighter turns in combat.

New small fighters appeared, such as the General Dynamics F-16, which, although bigger and heavier than any single-engined fighters of World War II, are nevertheless small and light by comparison with such impressive machines as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, and MiG-25 Foxbat, The RAF’s next interceptor, the ADV (Air-Defence Version) of the Panavia Tornado, is a careful midway compromise, smaller than the three monsters just listed, but with two engines, long range, powerful radar, and extremely effective Skyflash missiles.

Modern interceptors defend vast blocks of airspace up to 160 km (100 miles) in radius, with powerful radar able to look down at the surrounding land and water and spot low-flying intruders trying to slip through the defences unnoticed. Their task is eased by the presence of special surveillance, early-warning, and AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, with enormous radars and sophisticated command and control systems to manage all a nation’s defences in the most efficient way.

There is no better feeling than being in the cockpit during your jet fighter flight. Jet fighter flights and jet fighter joy flights are the ultimate gift giving and receiving experience that will be remembered forever. Your jet fighter pilot experience is available in Melbourne, Cairns and Townsville. Visit flyingwarbirds.com.au for more details.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.