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  • Organic Farming Pros And Cons

    Organic Farming Pros And Cons

    What is Organic Farming?

    Organic agriculture uses agricultural production systems based on green manure, compost, biological pest control, and crop rotation to produce crops, livestock and poultry. An ecologically-oriented agricultural production system promotes the cycling of resources to maintain biodiversity and promote ecological balance. The use of green cover crops, animal manures and crop rotation to disrupt the establishment of pests and diseases, improve soil fertility, and maximise the soil’s biological activity are the main aspects of organic farming.

    Organic farming is based on the ecosystem’s on-farm management, using practices that improve soil health and avoid external yields. Organic practices are based on:
    the art and science of plant breeding for maximum resilience without the use of genetic modification
    careful pest control without the use of chemical pesticides the use of natural fertilisers, without the use of synthetic fertilisers.

    “The organic no-till revolution will be a game-changer for flower growers and many other gardeners, big and small. The entertaining style, combined with practical and proven techniques, makes the no-till methods described in each case study very accessible and understandable. The book emphasises the many environmental and economic benefits of no-till and the fact that you don’t need expensive equipment to farm intensively, organically and profitably on a small scale.

    There is little doubt that the proponents of organic farming have made people fearful of the dangers of pesticide residues and genetically modified crops. Their advertising has paid off, and farmers have been motivated to go organic by the higher profits. A few conventional farmers have even resorted to illegally labelling their products as organic. Attempts to develop a test to identify organically grown crops have so far failed. This is not surprising, as there are unlikely to be any fundamental differences between plants supplied with manure and those supplied with nutrients from fertilisers.

    Pros of Organic Farming

    What will it take to feed the additional two billion people who will emerge in a century or so? The planet is showing signs of limited land resources due to degradation from vast agriculture. According to a National Geographic News scientist (2005), food production already takes up almost half of the Earth’s land area and threatens to consume the remaining fertile land. In finding a solution to the problem, we must first understand the benefits and consequences of today’s farming methods, namely modern industrial agriculture and organic agriculture.

    organic farming

    Organic farming absolutely does not allow the use of synthetic chemical fertilisers, antibiotics, herbicides or pesticides. The goal of organic farming is the agricultural production of fibre, grains, vegetables, flowers, fruits, food and milk, eggs and meat in the best natural way. Unlike other practices, organic farming performs better in protecting water and soil, maintaining ecological balance and using renewable resources. On the other hand, it also has its downsides. Here are the pros and cons of organic farming.

    If you are interested in organic farming, I am sure that you always ask yourself the importance of organic farming or the necessity of organic farming or the future perspective of organic farming. On this point, I can help you. With the increase in population, there is a need to meet the demand for food acquired by growers and farmers with a lot of use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in agricultural production for the larger amount of production. In the process, soil, air, water and nature are polluted, leading to toxic food.

    Organic agriculture occupies only 1% of the world’s agricultural land, making it a relatively untapped resource for one of humanity’s greatest challenges: producing enough food for a population that could reach 10 billion by 2050 without extensive deforestation and damage the wider environment. This is the conclusion my PhD student Jonathan Wachter, and I came to after evaluating many years of science and many hundreds of scientific studies comparing the long-term prospects of organic and conventional agriculture. A study, “Organic agriculture in the 21st century”, published in the journal Nature Plants, is the first to compare organic and conventional agriculture using the four main sustainability criteria established by the National Academy of Sciences: being productive, economically profitable, environmentally sound and socially just.

     

    Cons of Organic Farming

    Organic farming is not without its caveats. A study by CNN reports that yields of organic crops tend to be lower than those of conventionally grown crops – 25 per cent lower, according to some studies. Of course, this depends on the time of year and the crop, but there’s no denying that the considerations made to grow crops organically certainly slow the process down a bit. Also, the production methods involved in growing organic products tend to make the price a little higher than conventionally grown food.

    Organic products are a big growth area for consumer demand. Organic food was once thought to preserve the wealthy or eco-eccentrics, but it has now become mainstream, and many people from all walks of life desire to buy organic food. Organic farming avoids using artificial fertilisers and pesticides instead of relying on more traditional fertilisation and pest control methods, such as crop rotation, barrier nets, and natural pest control.

    The organic agriculture sector has experienced remarkable growth over the past two decades, with sales of organic food and beverages increasing from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010, with average annual growth rates ranging from 12% to 21% (OTA, 2011). In 2005, for the first time, all 50 states officially registered the existence of certified organic farms with a total area of over 4 million acres (USDA-ers, 2008). However, in recent years, with nearly 70% of US consumers now buying organic products (Hartman Group, 2008), organic farmers have been overwhelmed by this rapid growth in their markets. They have not been able to keep up the pace of expansion with their agricultural production increase (Dimitri and Oberholtzer, 2009).

    The growing population in Florida is stimulating development throughout the state, affecting natural resources and contributing to environmental degradation. Organic agriculture could help reduce environmental pressure on Florida’s ecosystems by encouraging natural food production. Restricting pesticides and herbicides promotes diverse populations of plants, insects and other animals (McIlwain 2004). Organic production uses far less energy and produces minimal waste compared to conventional agriculture. A Washington State University study found that energy use for machinery, labour and production control in growing organic apples is 7% more energy-efficient than conventional apple production (McIlwain 2004).

    What is Organic Farming? What is the Need and Key Features of Organic Farming

    Organic farming does not damage the soil or promote the process of desertification—this low input and restorative process help preserve the land for future generations. Sustainability is the key!
    Disadvantages of organic farming.

    Organic Farming Magazine is the UK’s leading magazine on organic farming and cultivation. Is published up to three times a year by the Soil Association, and each issue updates readers on the latest news, policy issues and market information. There are technical articles and reports on the latest field trials and research, covering all aspects of organic farming and cultivation. Typical contents are
    – Articles on livestock, horticulture and general agricultural topics.

    Organic pest control is the key to organic farming. It does not use chemical pesticides, hence the name ‘organic pest control. ‘. It ensures that no chemicals are used in the process of farming. Organic pest control also helps to maintain the integrity of the soil. When done properly, natural pest control can maintain a healthy crop for generations to come. So, how does it work?

    Organic fruit is a sought-after item at farmers’ markets as people become more health-conscious. Having a suitable space to establish and maintain such an orchard is also necessary. This book contains important information on designing the ultimate planting strategy and connecting with nature. It also provides information on sustainable farming practices in conjunction with advanced techniques such as grafting different varieties. Besides, the book provides you with the most suitable trees to grow and the species to avoid and facts about biodiversity and pollination practices that support organic farming.

    carrots in a basket

    What is Organic Farming – Definition, Features, Benefits & Principles

    The disadvantage of modern agriculture is that pesticides can become toxic to plants, animals and the environment itself if not used properly. As it brings several advantages, it also has certain disadvantages. In the United States, 44% of agricultural imports are fruits, vegetables, wine, hops and other specialities. So much so that there is a temptation to claim ownership of other people and have them farm the land on your behalf, which is the kind of less than ideal social order that tends to be associated with farming communities.

    How Supporting Organic Farming Benefits You and The Planet

    Organic farming is good for the soil, and for the plants, for the planet, good for the animals, good for your fellow man and good for you. More specifically, as explained by foam organics international, organic farming benefits.

    Either way, organic food is much more expensive than non-organic food. It can also lower your risk of being exposed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The items can be prepared and frozen without dramatically decreasing the nutrient density of the item. It can also reduce your risk of exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 11. organic foods may not be the most pocket-friendly. They have the disadvantage of being kept in a small container and not filling you up. Conventional growers of course use pesticides to protect their crops from mould, insects and disease.

    Unfortunately, there is only about 1% of organic farming in the world right now. This is, as you have probably guessed, a minimal number. This is a big problem that we must all try to solve. If not just for better food quality, then to save our land and our planet, organic farming has many benefits, such as preserving the soil’s organic composition. There is also the constant destruction of the ozone layer by pesticides, exhaust fumes from various tractors, industry and much more, which organic farming mostly avoids.

    Organic milk is one such example. There is never an excuse for soy milk. Some lactose-intolerant people drink it because they want a milk substitute. Organic food can taste better for some people. Cows take nine months to give birth to a calf and take care of it for seven months to a year. Some products say they are made with organic ingredients. The USDA requires that 70% of the ingredients in this item come from an organic source. These additives in the food supply have been linked to infertility problems, numerous cancers, Parkinson’s disease, endocrine disorders and autoimmune problems.

    The Soil Association defines organic as:

    Synthetic fertilisers run off into our waterways and damage habitat and water quality. Organic fertilisers do not run off as easily (if at all) and are linked to the soil structure. According to the Organic Trade Association, an organic fertiliser will also increase biodiversity by 30% compared to synthetic fertiliser.

    The organic farming digest (1946-1954) was the very first organic farming magazine published by an agricultural association. The magazine was based in Sydney. Was published quarterly. pretty much half of the articles published were by Australian authors, the others by authors from the rest of the world. The Organic Farming Digest was published by the Australian Organic Farming and Gardening Society. It was also adopted and distributed as the official publication of the Living Soil Association of Tasmania. The last issue of the Digest was Volume 3, Number 5, dated December 1954.

    The USDA Organic Agriculture Study Team defines the term as “a production system that avoids or largely eliminates the use of synthetically compounded fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and feed additives. “Instead, it relies largely on materials and techniques such as crop rotation, biological pest control, animal manures, crop residues and mechanical tillage to promote soil productivity and control insects. Basically, instead of dominating or controlling nature through artificial means, organic farmers try to cooperate with their environment using natural methods and products. As an example, instead of using chemical pesticides to minimise insects’ losses, organic farmers try to develop biodiversity in the field to make it uninhabitable for pest organisms.

    The US Department of Agriculture defines organic farming as an agriculture system that creates a production system that responds to site-specific conditions and integrates cultural, biological and mechanical practices that promote the cycling of resources, support ecological balance and maintain biodiversity. This is a long way of saying that organic agriculture uses natural practices instead of synthetic ones to grow healthy crops, using resources that create healthy soils.

    Better soil conservation and management

    Achieving a friendly and green environment has always been a major concern worldwide, and research shows that organic agriculture can provide a partial solution. Long-term studies on organic farming show that it can provide a formidable mechanism for promoting ecological harmony, biodiversity and biological cycles critical for environmental sustainability. Organic farming’s definitive goals are based on managing and conserving the soil, promoting nutrient cycling, ecological balance, and maintaining biodiversity. On this basis, the practices wonderfully help mitigate the effects of global climate change and contribute to environmental conservation.

    As mentioned earlier in this chapter, pest control in organic farming depends mainly on crop management and biological control. The ban on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides leads to conserving natural enemies, including predators and parasitoids. Eliminating harmful pesticides also increases the diversity of crop pollinators and minimises pesticide residues in food. The community of microorganisms thrives well on organically managed farms, leading to increased organic matter decomposition, higher soil fertility and greater ecosystem sustainability. Organic farming improves the ecosystem’s biodiversity through multiple cropping and the cultivation of hedgerows and refuges for beneficial insects and wildlife.

    Existing research may downplay the environmental benefits of organic farming, new study claims

    1 January,
    2021
    GMOs can hurt local biodiversity. The next benefit of industrial agriculture is that modern consumers have access to a broader palate and a more balanced diet. Genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs, have changed so much of our modern agriculture in recent decades. And while those involved in agriculture probably know all about the differences between GMO crops, non-GMO crops, and organic crops, the GMO crops’ issue is quite controversial among consumers.

    Organic products are extremely expensive

    Organic food is almost always a lot more expensive than conventional food or commercially grown produce. The market for organic food is also not as defined as for other crops. This can make it difficult for speciality farmers to compete with their own products. To counter this problem, many communities are developing food co-operatives with local farmers and markets. Customers can “prepay” for organic food for a small fee, which they can pick up when the growing season is over.

    There is no doubt that natural products are more expensive for the consumer. Even a price comparison for typical products shows that organic products are 50-300% more expensive. Also, organic farming is more labour intensive than conventional farming. However, the price difference is also that natural products have a much higher return on investment for the retailer and farmer. Consumers also are happy to pay more for organically grown products, and the supply is quite limited.

    Organic food has a shorter shelf life compared to conventional food. However, for the average farmer, producing crops for the market means a greater physical burden. Conventional farming methods focus on the growth of a specific crop. Organic farming must also reduce off-farm inputs and external inputs that can affect the growing process. Organic farming is environmentally friendly. The disadvantages of organic farming. Maintaining consistently the quality of the soil and the ecological balance in the environment.

    “kusto agro” develop organic farming in its fields and annually increases the area under cultivation and the diversity of such crops. In the material, we will tell you why we have chosen to do this. In Europe, organic products are popular and in-demand among consumers, even though they are more expensive. This is a profitable business, as the world market for organic products grows by 10-15% a year. However, to be able to sell these products abroad, appropriate certification is necessary. Besides the benefits, organic farming has several advantages – we have identified the most important 5 of them.

    agriculture-farmland

    Key Pros & Cons Of Organic Farming

    Written by behind the plough | Feb 13, 2019, | Agricultural resources, Organic farming The debate about conventional vs organic farming has always been a hot topic. The truth is that there doesn’t really need to be a debate. Ultimately, both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. Likewise, each farmer is up to decide which methods he wants to use on his farm.

    Organic food has a shorter shelf life compared to conventional food. However, for the average farmer, producing crops for the market means a greater physical burden. Conventional farming methods focus on the growth of a specific crop. Organic farming must also reduce off-farm inputs and external inputs that can affect the growing process. Organic farming is environmentally friendly. The disadvantages of organic farming. Maintain the quality of the soil and the ecological balance in the environment. Advantages and disadvantages of organic farming. Organic farming is not able to meet the world’s food needs for survival.

    The management of weeds, insect pests and plant diseases in organic production requires a systems approach to management. A systems approach means using various tools to address a problem rather than relying on just one approach, such as spraying. The systems approach is known as integrated pest management (ipm). Used alone, approved organic pesticides are rarely ever as effective as the synthetic pesticides available to conventional farmers; however, an ipm approach increases the effectiveness of organic pesticides and can also dramatically reduce the overall use. Ipm is nothing new, as integrated strategies have been used for centuries without having a catchy name.

    The very basic principle of organic farming is to support the general idea that soil, plants, animals and humans are interconnected. The role of organic farming in agricultural practice is to maintain and improve the health of the soil and the environment, starting with the smallest organisms in the soil and working their way up the food chain. It must manage and balance natural and ecological resources for production and consumption in all fairness to people and all living things in their natural behaviour and well-being. Precaution, care and responsibility are the main concerns to ensure a healthy, safe and ecologically sound ecological economy for future generations.

    Organic agriculture is based on the fact that farming is done without synthetic agricultural chemicals, including but not limited to fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides or insecticides. Genetically modified crops are also not used. Organic farming is agriculture that has been used on and off for centuries. Demand for organic farming is on the rise again. Many people learn about the health benefits of chemical-free organic food and the negative effects these agricultural chemicals can have on humans and animals.

    Our agricultural food system’s unintended consequences – polluted air and water, dead zones in coastal seas, soil erosion – have profound impacts on human health and the environment. That is why more sustainable agricultural practices are needed as soon as possible. Some farmers have turned to less chemical-intensive techniques to reduce the negative impacts of farming, like organic farming, which has been shown to score better than conventional farming on many environmental sustainability standards. The all-important question is whether we can meet these environmental standards and at the same time satisfy the demand for food, which is projected to increase significantly over the next 50 years.

    Organic and conventional food are different from each other. Below are some of the differences between organic and conventional food. The main difference between organic and conventional food is the method used to grow food on the farm. In conventional food growing, farmers use chemicals in the production and the processing of produce. The chemicals have a devastating effect on the environment and human health. The fact is that pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics and other types of chemicals are used in growing food. They may well be safe for consumption, as there is no known cases for anyone getting sick from eating conventional food.

    The use of organic farming results in the production of food that is higher in nutrients than products produced using conventional methods. Products such as organically grown vegetables and fruits are also very fresh to eat! The flavours and tastes of organically grown produce are also much better and more natural.

    The Article Organic Farming Pros And Cons was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • Wedding Makeup Tips

    Wedding Makeup Tips

    Wedding Make up Tips

    Looking for wedding makeup tips before your big day? 

    Then you’ve come to the right place because we’ve compiled the best wedding makeup tips that will help you look flawless no matter what your wedding budget is.

    Just say “yes” to the following bridal makeup rules and prepare to shine!

    wedding makeup artist

    The Wedding Makeup Dos:

    Take Care Of  Your Skin

    An in-depth day and night skincare routine are essential at least 3-6 months before your wedding date to make sure your skin is ready for the big day! 

    This helps with how the makeup looks and stays on your skin all day.

    Make a trial appointment 3-5 weeks before your wedding.

    Make sure you have your trial at least three weeks but no more than 5 weeks before your wedding. If you are planning to have a spray tan on your big day, do a test run before your makeup trial, so your artist can see what color your skin will get from the tan,

    Be your best self on your trial day. Feel your best on your trial day. Make sure your hair is done, and you’re wearing jewelry so you can see how the overall look comes together on the day.

    Wear a light-colored top in a similar tone and shade to your wedding dress. If you have your makeup tested in a store so you can see how the makeup looks against it, and take a photo of yourself in daylight (without flash) to see how it looks before you buy anything.

    Accentuate Your Eyes

    Brighten up dark areas under your eyes with correctors and concealers.

    It’s all about choosing the right shade to match your eye color. 

    Your eyes should be the focus, not the actual makeup. 

    A trick to make your eyes pop is to keep color intensity as close to the lash line as possible. Fake lashes also play a big part in creating the pop without requiring heavy eye makeup. 

    It is always about “lashes and liner.”

    Bring References To Your Trial.

    Look for pictures of the makeup you really like and bring them to your appointment.
    Try to figure out what you like about the makeup in the image and keep in mind that Kim Kardashian’s makeup may not translate to you if you have Dita Von Teese’s skin tone.
    Look for faces that have similar coloring and features as you so you can have a similar look created for you.

     

    Wedding Makeup Tips 

    Consider Colour

    Remember that bridal makeup needs to have enough color to balance out the whiteness of the dress. There’s a big difference between everyday wear and a wedding dress, so there should be a difference in your makeup, too.
    Start by making sure your skin tone looks even and smooth, then add color to your cheeks and lips to make them glow.

    bridal makeup

    Use Individual False Eyelashes.

    They’re a brilliant way to make your eyes stand out and look much more subtle than a full strip. Choose different lengths to create a really natural, fluttery look and nestle them in between your natural lashes rather than pinning them on top.

    Don’t skip the basics.

    Spend time and care on the most important features of your face, like beautiful, natural-looking skin, gently groomed brows, and feathery lashes. 

    If you get these fundamental factors right, the rest of your makeup will take care of itself.

    Research Makeup Application methods

    They can be slightly different from your daily makeup routine.
    For example, If eyeliner pencils always smudge because you have oily eyelids. Try working with a dark eye shadow, apply it with a slightly dampened eyeliner brush to make it like a pencil liner but with better staying-power.

    Wedding makeup tips

    Go Pro

    The best wedding makeup should last as long as your day. That’s why professional products should be used – foundation, concealer, lip, and eye products. They offer superior durability to see you through your wedding day and night.

    Accentuate The Brow Bone

    Complete your makeup look with a subtle highlighter shade on the brow bone to really bring out the eyes. 

    Choose a light, matte shade and dab it on the outer corner of the brow bone to draw attention to that area of your face. Do not go for a shimmer or shine. It can make you look sweaty or oily in the photos. Trust us on this tip!

    Take A few Touch Up Products

    Ensure you or a bridesmaid have a powder, lipstick, concealer, and a small brush or sponge in your bag. 

    These are products you can quickly touch up to ensure you look confident throughout the day.

     

    Wedding Makeup

    The Wedding Makeup Don’ts:

    Have your makeup tested anywhere there are fluorescent lights

    If a professional makeup artist is coming to your home, arrange a time when it’s still light outside.

    Let A Makeup Artist Steal Your Identity.

    For many people, their wedding is when they can be really excited to have someone else do their makeup. 

    Still, there can be a temptation to just give in to the experience and take the suggestions from the makeup artist – They do not know you that well, and you may not feel like you.

    We would advise real caution here; you don’t want to surprise your chosen one at the altar by showing up looking like someone else. 

    Whether you hire a makeup artist or do your own, we believe that the best bridal makeup is simply the most exquisite version of what the bride normally looks like – after all, you want to look beautiful, not your makeup.

    Don’t Wear SPF

    If you’re being photographed with flash, don’t wear SPF sunscreen because the flash can bounce off your skin and make you look washed out. Be sure to test this on your test shot by taking a photo with the flash on.

    Wearing Too Much

    It’s an absolute myth that your makeup needs to be applied for photos.
    Many wedding photos are taken in natural light, and if you choose a heavy base, the makeup will look obvious. 

    As for the flash, you just need to make sure your T-zone is matte, which you can achieve with fine translucent powder and blotting powder, not layers of makeup.

    Anything Too On-Trend

    Remember, you will be looking back on your wedding photos for the rest of your life. Don’t look back at them and wonder, “What the hell was I thinking!”

    So it’s best to avoid statement looks and opt for something timeless and classic.

    That glitter eyeliner and cut crease look that you saw on a Youtube tutorial might look super pretty and modern.

    In twenty years, it will probably look tired and dated! Some looks never go out of fashion – think of the classic red lip or a beautiful winged eyeliner – It is timeless.

    That doesn’t mean you have to go for a symphony of beige tones if you’re used to bolder makeup – vintage wedding gowns, in particular, can look stunning with a classic Old Hollywood lipstick color.

    Don’t Be Afraid To Go A Little Lighter.

    Neutral, brown, and pale lip colors can look washed out in photos, so choose a lipstick that’s a shade or two lighter than what you normally wear. 

    If you usually wear a neutral shade, it should be worn as a base, with a pink or rose color on top. If you usually wear dark lipstick, use it as a base, and apply a lighter pink over it to spice up the color. 

    Pink tones such as roses and plums are all great, classic colors for brides.

    Apply Makeup To The Face Only

    Instead, sweep it down your neck and over your shoulders if necessary. This will ensure your face isn’t a different color or even texture than your body. 

    Everything should look even for the most natural look possible. 

    A great way to blend uneven skin tones together is to use a light fake tan. Do this the day before the wedding, not at night, and beware of darkening your skin tone too much, as this will make your complexion look less natural.

    Natural wedding makeup

    Long Wearing Makeup

    Forget to decide what kind of care you would prefer for the day

    Do you want to check that you look good throughout the day, or do you just want to forget about your makeup as soon as it’s applied? 

    Waterproof mascara is an obvious requirement, but it’s also worth considering many cream eyeshadows are long-lasting, and you can be sure they’ll stay where you put them.

    Making Your Eyes Too Dark

    Define your eyes by applying color in the eye crease, but avoid using a shade that’s too dark or doing too much contouring in the eye socket line. It can distract from the eyes themselves.

    Too Glossy Or Too Matte

    It’s best to avoid lipsticks on either end of the texture scale; too glossy, and they’ll only last five minutes, while too matte can leave your lips dry and cakey when it’s time to kiss your groom.
    A moisturizing, satin lipstick is best for a wedding – this type of formula makes your lips look their best and goes on most evenly and naturally; several thin coats dabbed on in between for an extra long-lasting finish.

    Get The Timing Right

    Remember to allow at least 45 minutes to an hour for makeup application on your wedding day.

    Now relax – You have everything planned. Remember if you are not confident with hair and makeup, there are many mobile makeup artists and hairstylists that can come to you on your special day

     

    The Article Wedding Makeup Tips was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • How to Find a Good Web Design Company

    How to Find a Good Web Design Company

    Finding a really good web design company is an essential stage in the process of developing a website for a business. Every business has a unique way of presenting itself online. It is important for website designers to understand the needs of the business to create an effective website for the company. Probably the best way to do this is to hire a professional web design team, or “web developer” as known in the trade, for the job.

    The Task of the Web Developer in a Good Web Design Company

    A web development team is one that works to pull together all the different components needed to create a successful website tailored to match the promotional needs of one company alone – the company that commissions the website.

    Within the team, there will be at least one expert in producing unique code. They will hold the primary responsibility for functionality within the website. The most important elements will be the uniquely coded parts of any website that will make the site stand out from the crowd. This functionality may be purely to impress the users, but it may also be using a novel and efficient way to obtain data, and or manipulate the visitor’s supplied data for a unique purpose. This works best when it used shows a new way of doing things and is truly integrated within the purpose of the site.

    Look back upon the origins of the largest and most popular websites which exist today. Think of the brief which must have awaited the web design company (or now-famous individual) tasked with building the first online for the first live versions of the Facebooks, Amazons, and Ebays!

    Featured image text: "How to find a good web design company".

    Combine your “great idea” and a good web design company and truly exciting wealth “beyond your wildest imaginings” is STILL possible. But:

    Good Web Designer’s Need to Understand the Business First

    A successful design will include a thorough analysis of the business, and where the company wants the website to take them, by the designer before any coding starts. The coding, which is used by the computer to provide the underlying structure of a site, is the most basic level at which a website is built. The coding has to be well written, comply with all current website coding protocols and run quickly and efficiently on all device types.

    At this stage, the designer should be allowed to spend time within each department of a business finding out the unique offerings of the business, whether these be services or products, or both. During this stage, the designer should be given full access to the company product leaders to interview them all and assess the unique selling propositions which drive the company’s existing success. This will be essential later in order to reflect all the company’s assets within the website when that is designed.

    Designer and Coder Work Together to Create The Website’s Underlying Digital Structure

    The next stage which follows the designer’s information-seeking stage is one in which the coder works closely with the professional designer. The designer will help the web coding team with the look and feel/ styling of the site so that the job is done efficiently.

    The purpose of the website design is to maximize the commissioning client’s potential to develop its business presence on the internet. It is an attempt to bring your business online via a professionally designed site that is:

    • based on a robust coding-base architecture
    • hosted on a fast server with cloud computing capabilities
    • coded in compliance with all good practice such that over the ensuing years the site can be further developed by new coders
    • easy to access by site visitors, and company staff in order for blogsite areas such as Press Release pages, service offerings and product details etc. can be updated without recourse to coding skills
    • offers all required utility functions where required such as in-house email service applications and login functions for accessing other company IT infrastructure
    • reflects the company style of working and is in tune with the company mission
    • promotes the company image and raises the standing of the company at all levels
    • converts visitors into leads, and either:
      • converts those leads into paying customers who buy physical products, or
      • provokes them to take further action to the benefit of the business.

    Successful Websites are a Long Term Project

    Company executives understandably tend to see website creation as a one time project. And yet the most successful websites are those that continually evolve through a constant striving to understand and serve a company’s customers. The learning process is never done. Much more will be discovered about a company’s customer base through such techniques as web-based split testing after, even the best well-designed website, has been created and uploaded online.

    In fact, the design of the site may take months or perhaps years to be perfectly effective. However, the process of initial development can be very quick. If the website user response isn’t as expected the designer can incorporate necessary changes or improvements at any moment after the website hits the web.

    Things a Good Client Should Do First Before Buying a Website

    A web designer will design according to the brief given by the client. Most website designs are done to a set price when the website is put out to tender to selected web design companies. No matter how talented and highly skilled a web design company is, they will usually gain the work at a price through a competitive tendering process. They will be limited by their budget, and the budget will be spent according to the “brief” (instructions are given on the client’s requirements) at the time that the tenders are sent out.

    The web designer will be limited by the scope of the brief. A poorly thought out brief awarded to the cheapest bidder can easily condemn a website design project to a mediocre outcome, or even failure before the project even starts!

    Decide Exactly What You Expect a New Website to Include

    Therefore, when making your site, you should consider first of all what you want the site to do. This is best seen as a process:

    1. Decide and write down everything you want the web design company to provide, in your project “brief”
    2. Look for someone who knows how to make what you want.
    3. Check that person who knows how to design what you want also knows how to develop what you want through coding and general web hardware and programming skills.

    This way the designer is given a headstart and your business is given the best chance out of the initial website when it gets online. You can save a lot of money on the initial sites and designers can create a lot more sites for your company. This way your company is given the best chance to get online.

    The Conclusion to this Article on How to Find a Good Web Design Company:

    A good web designer can help you to get a website online built and online in a short time, as long as your brief is good. The right professional designer is able to incorporate all the necessary features to make your site work well “out of the box” when first uploaded online. But, if given time later to further test and try out ideas, that design company will be able to further perfect their website. So, look to develop a continuing relationship with your web designer in that way.

    A good website will be highly optimized to make your site look great. Your site will have a professional look and be highly engaging. When it does this, your new website can be hugely beneficial to a company’s sales, and “bottom-line profitability”. So when making your website you need someone who knows “back to front” and “inside-out” how to make a good site! We hope that by reading this article we have truly helped you to find a good web design company.

    Unfortunately, the best web design company may build you a perfect website but it won’t do you any good at all unless it is hosted on the best fast servers and those are maintained by experts who you can contact at any time for personal assistance. Dedicated, helpful, people who understand web hosting in-depth with many years of experience. The author of this article recommends Ezi.Gold Hosting. Click here for more information on Ezi Gold Hosting. (It’s cheap too!)

    The Article How to Find a Good Web Design Company was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • What is Headlight Restoration?

    What is Headlight Restoration?

    Having Headlights Restored

    Headlight restoration, when done right, can mark the difference between a functional and dysfunctional headlight.

    Did you know that faded headlights are in fact, illegal and unsafe?

    In fact, vehicles with faded headlights won’t pass a roadworthy certificate.

    This will deem the vehicle illegal for road use.

    Opaque headlights will reduce your visibility at night up to a massive 75%.

    Replacing headlights is expensive and in most cases not necessary.

    Yes, you can fix them yourself, it’s also recommended that you find a professional car detailer to help you fix the problem. 

    But what does headlight restoration really mean?

    headlight restoration done

     

     WHY HEADLIGHTS DISCOLOUR

    As vehicles age, the plastic headlight lenses deteriorate due to abrasion and permanent Headlight Restoration & Repair Specialists Our Technicians UV damage.

    The headlights become a dirty yellow colour with an opaque surface.

    This surface damage can dramatically reduce the light output and make headlights less effective if not treated early.

    In climates like Brisbane, our tropical climate damages porous surfaces like the plastic that makes headlight lenses. 

    A common myth is that headlight deterioration happens on the inside of the lens. This is not true, the damage is all on the outside.

    There are two different types of headlight lenses – Plastic and Glass.

    Glass Headlights

    Glass headlight lenses do not deteriorate like plastic, but they chip and crack and need replacing.

    In the ’90s glass headlights were phased out and replaced with polycarbonate so the only glass headlights are on older-style cars

    Polycarbonate Headlights

    Headlights on virtually all cars are now made of polycarbonate. It is an extremely tough plastic that is also porous and discolors in UV rays. The fading that we see is called Oxidation, and this also occurs on the paintwork of our cars.

    To prevent oxidization to the polycarbonate, headlight manufacturers apply a protective hard coating to the outside of the lens to seal and protect the headlight and plastic from discoloring.

    Over time, this factory protective clear hard coat degrades (oxidizes) and needs to be removed entirely and replaced with another quality protective clear hard coat that lasts.

     

    Benefits Of Headlight Restoration

    Modern-day headlights are made from a polycarbonate plastic material. Even though this makes them sturdy and durable, the main downside is the oxidation that happens over time from UV rays

    In warmer climates, this leads to cars needing headlight restoration more often than cars in cooler climates. Below are some of the main benefits of cleaning your headlights once you notice they’re dimming or turning yellowish.

    • Enhance road safety: Dull and dim headlights means impaired vision while on the roads. If you do regular night driving, this is a safety concern.
    • Help to maintain your car value: When there’s a fault in your car, the value goes down. To keep your car roadworthy, you will need to keep your headlights maintained.
    • Saves you money: Restoring discolored headlights means fixing the ones that are already in place. This costs less than having to buy a new one from the stores.
    • Improves your vehicle’s aesthetics: Dull and yellowish headlights give your car a boring look. However, by restoring the headlights, you can give your car a whole fresh appearance.
    • Increase visibility: oxidized headlights dull the light that is being emitted. However, restoring the headlights will give you sharp new vision at night

     

    headlight restoration

     

    What To Check For When Researching Headlight Restoration

    Many low-cost headlight restoration services only remove the degraded factory protective clear coat.

    This is polished off and it leaves the unprotected plastic lens bare.

    Within months the unprotected headlights will start to discolor and develop ‘crazing’ or tiny cracks in the lens surface.

    Doing this headlight restoration method removes all the protection that stops the lens from being damaged by UV rays.

    The headlights are covered with this coating to protect it for this reason.

    Doing machine buffing on your headlights is a short-term fix and will cause permanent damage to the lens as it is left unprotected.

     

    Don’t Take Short Cuts

    A correct Headlight Restoration is when the car detailer completely removes the old degraded factory clear coat. The headlight is lightly polished and then the surrounded areas of the car are masked up.

    The headlights are sprayed with a protective coating and this cures to create a new protective clear coat that etches into the polycarbonate.

    It creates a ‘rock hard’ protective clear coating which is also chemical resistant, non-yellowing, and lasts as long as brand new replacement headlights.

     

    How To Restore Headlights

    There are two ways to restoring your headlights.

    One, you can do it yourself, or two, you can hire a professional car detailer.

    If you are going to do it yourself, be sure to buy a proper kit.

    There are some old wives’ tales for cleaning headlights, and one of those is that toothpaste is good for cleaning headlights.

    Now, this method used to work on glass headlights. Toothpaste is gentle abrasive but should not rub any abrasives on your headlights as you are wearing down the much-needed sealant that protects the lens.

    When the coating is damaged it needs to be removed entirely and replaced. Don’t add further damage with a mild abrasive like toothpaste

    We recommend you find a car detailing specialist to help you out rather than trying to do it yourself

    But If you decide to do it yourself, here are the steps to take;

    You will need to buy a headlight restoration kit before you start.

     

    Wrapping it up

    Keep your car roadworthy and provide better night vision while you are driving by getting a specialist to check them out and advise you appropriately.

    Once you notice your headlights are dim, foggy, have a dull haze, or are turning yellowish, this would be the signal to book your car in for a car detail and headlight restoration service.

    When you combine the 2 services, your car will look new again with polished paintwork and bright new headlights.

    We are your local headlight restoration and repair experts. Please contact us to learn more about our car detailing Brisbane services

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Article What is Headlight Restoration? was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • Effect Of Marine Life from Our Waste

    Effect Of Marine Life from Our Waste

    How do oil spills affect the environment?

    Marine pollution today comes in various forms – chemical, industrial and agricultural – and pollution sources are endless. In recent history, we have seen many oil spills, untreated sewage, eutrophication, invasive species, heavy metals, acidification, radioactive substances, marine litter and overfishing, among others. Although marine pollution has long been an issue, it has only recently exploded into environmental, economic and policy debate advisers. Scientists and non-scientists alike continue to be very shocked and dismayed by the sheer variety of water pollutants and the many ways in which they can harm our environment and our bodies.

    Monitoring of chemical and plastic pollution in the oceans has been going on for decades. One approach is to measure the discharges directly.
    One approach is to directly measure discharges of pollutants such as plastic waste into the oceans from land-based sources and tabulate the number and frequency of discharge events such as oil spills. From the auspices of the Horizon 2020 initiative for a cleaner Mediterranean, the European Environment Agency and UNEP-map defined.

    Marine pollution has been studied by the following impact groups: harm to living resources, a risk to human health, reduction of amenity and harm to other sea users. This paper is mainly concerned with the first two categories and their interrelationship. Apart from some seabirds affected by oil, marine animals’ main stocks show no evidence of reduction due to pollution. Pollution effects are generally insignificant relative to other factors determining reproductive success, survival, growth and population size. Even in the North Sea, which has experienced greatly increased pollution loads over the past three decades, both total fish production and catches per unit effort (a measure of abundance) of cod, haddock and plaice increased over the 20 years 1950-69.

    Marine mining in the deep sea is another source of marine pollution. Marine mines drilling for silver, gold, copper, cobalt and zinc create sulphide deposits up to three and a half thousand metres deep in the sea. Although we have not yet gathered scientific evidence to explain the harsh environmental impacts of deep-sea mining fully, we have a general idea that deep-sea mining causes damage to the lowest levels of the ocean and increases the region’s toxicity. This permanent damage also causes leaks, corrosion and oil spills that only further drastically affect the region’s ecosystem.

    our waste effects on marine life

    Are oil spills toxic to humans?

    But it is not only oil spills that pollute our oceans. The other main causes of ocean pollution are:

    Discharges and runoff: We dump millions of pounds of untreated sewage, rubbish and toxic waste into our rivers. But industrial and agricultural waste and pollution from mining and simple urban runoff from roads and highways also enter our fresh waterways. These rivers, streams, and sewage eventually end up in the ocean, full of pollutants and hazardous waste.

    Pollution from ships is a huge source of ocean pollution, the most devastating of which is oil pollution. Crude oil remains in the ocean for years and is extremely toxic to marine life, often suffocating when caught in it. Crude oil is also unfortunately complicated to clean up, which means that once it is separated, it usually stays forever.

    The main negative effects of oil on marsh vegetation depend on the type of oil (constituents, viscosity), the amount of oil, the amount of plant cover, the depth of penetration of the oil into marsh sediments, the time of year, and the nature and effectiveness of any clean-up or remedial measures (discussed by Webb, 1996; pezeshki et al., 2000) ( Table 5-3 ). Lighter and more refined oils, such as No. 2 fuel oil, are extremely toxic to smooth cotton grass (Spartina alterniflora). Crude oils and heavy fuel oils generally have the same effects on plants, i.e.

    Marine Pollution: Sources, Fate and Effects of Pollutants in Coastal Ecosystems summarises the theoretical background on common and emerging marine pollutants and their effects on organisms (ecotoxicology).

    Ultimate Secrets To Saltwater Fish And Invertebrates

     

    Effects of Ocean and Coastal Acidification on Ecosystems

    Take a moment to consider the diversity of life in the sea. Marine life is of course very diverse, and increased acidity can harm or help individual plant and animal species in many different ways. It may well not be obvious to us at first glance, but some organisms are likely to be more abundant, others less so. For example, seagrasses may grow faster when more dissolved carbon dioxide is available, while oysters may decrease in number as fewer larvae complete their life cycle due to increased acidity. In this way, scientists expect ocean and coastal acidification to affect entire ecosystems.

    Pollution from a variety of sources is badly choking our oceans. An estimated 80 percent of marine pollution originates on land. Growing populations in coastal regions increase the pollution pressure on coastal and marine ecosystems. Nutrient pollution elements come from a variety of sources, including agricultural runoff and sewage discharges. It overloads the marine environment with high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients that can lead to large algal blooms. The decomposition of these algae after they die consumes oxygen. This leads to hypoxic or oxygen-depleted “dead zones” where fish and other marine life cannot thrive.

    The ocean makes up 71% of our planet. It provides many services to human communities, from mitigating weather extremes to produce everything including the oxygen we breathe daily, from producing the food we eat to storing the excess carbon dioxide we also generate. the effects of increasing greenhouse gas emissions seriously threaten coastal and marine ecosystems through changes in ocean temperature and constantly melting ice, affecting ocean currents, weather patterns, and sea levels. As the ocean’s capacity as a carbon sink has been exceeded, its chemistry is also changing due to our carbon emissions.

    Plastic pollution is recognized as a serious anthropogenic problem in coastal and marine ecosystems around the world. The unprecedented and continuous accumulation of growing plastic pollution in respective aquatic ecosystems by anthropogenic sources is directly and/or indirectly disrupting ecosystem structure, functions and consequently services and values. Land-based and ocean-based sources are the primary sources of these contaminants, which enter the ocean in various ways. This review focuses on highlighting different aspects related to plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments. Plastic pollution is distributed in ecosystems in different forms, with different size variations as metaplastic, macroplastics, mesoplastics and microplastics.

    Threats to Marine Environment You Must Know

    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has probably been present for millions or billions of years in marine microbial communities due to resistance mechanisms that bacteria have evolved in response to natural threats.
    More recently, the prevalence of Amr has increased in marine environments, particularly in coastal waters.
    This increase seems to reflect the increasing introduction of allochthonous sources from the land.

    The detrimental effects of plastic litter on the marine environment were reviewed by collating much of the literature on the subject. Many marine species are known to be harmed and/or killed by plastic waste, which could threaten their survival, especially as many of them are already threatened by other forms of anthropogenic activities. Marine animals are mostly affected by entanglement in and ingestion of plastic waste. Other lesser-known threats include the use of plastic waste by “invasive” species and the ingestion of polychlorinated biphenyls from ingested plastic.

    There are so many problems and threats caused directly or caused directly or indirectly by marine litter, including environmental, social and economic impacts.
    Economic impacts. These impacts are diverse, usually interconnected and are therefore more difficult to mitigate separately. Nevertheless, our overall understanding of these problems is limited in some areas, particularly the indirect and socio-economic impacts (Mouat et al., 2010). An example of this is the different impacts of ghost fishing that lead to economic losses.

     

    How do oil spills affect society?

    The increasing pollution of the oceans due to anthropogenic activities is harming the sustainability of marine ecosystems. The literature reviewed suggests that airborne and spaceborne sensors provide holistic information for monitoring many of the major marine pollutants. These include oil and chemical spills, sewage, high suspended sediment concentrations, and algal blooms. Solid waste deposited in coastal areas can also be mapped using similar geospatial technology. However, there are some technical limitations to evaluating detailed information on pollutants. These limitations arise from their dynamic nature, limited information on the pollutants’ specific spectral response, substrate response in optically shallow waters, and the complex physics of light interaction through the water column.

    The world has been completely rocked by a series of oil spills, including the Exxon Valdez, the Deepwater Horizon, and the Ixtoc 1. These oil spills have had devastating effects on the marine environment that have lasted for decades. The ss Torrey canyon, one of the first oil spills to attract global attention, caused a huge disaster off the coast of Cornwall, England, in 1967. A massive 25-36 million gallons of crude oil spilled into international waters, affecting hundreds of miles of coastline in the UK and France.

    The Pew Charitable Trusts
    The Deepwater Horizon disaster threatened the ecosystem along the US Gulf Coast. Most of the oil spills have occurred at the ocean surface. This oil spill, which originates on the seabed and rises through the water column, can affect the marine environment at all levels. For more on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, see our article on the Gulf of Mexico.

    In marine oil spills, the first creatures to come into contact with the oil are marine life, including the various species of fish. Apart from the impact on coastal fisheries and fishing, exposure to oil spills can negatively affect the health of marine life. The adverse effects on marine life refer to the accumulation of persistent and bioaccumulative components of the oil in the tissues and bodies of marine organisms (fish) with the potential to cause a variety of health and reproductive problems and mass mortalities in marine organisms in general.

    How do oil spills affect the economy?

    Estuaries are vulnerable to oil exposure in many areas because petrochemical industries are located in the coastal zone. Oil products are transported either by ship or via pipelines that pass either near or through estuaries. Spills or operational discharges can potentially cause damage to intertidal vegetation-rich habitats, including salt marshes and mangroves. These vegetation types may occur individually or in combination. Oil spills are known to cause serious and long-term damage to mangrove and salt marsh ecosystems

    Marine animals can and will become entangled in marine debris or accidentally swallow it. Animals such as seabirds, porpoises, sea turtles, whales and invertebrates can be affected by oil spills and other sea chemicals.

    Oil is at the heart of our modern economy, providing a cheap source of energy and serving as a raw material for the manufacture of plastics. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons and up to 25% non-hydrocarbons such as sulfur, vanadium, and metals. The impacts occur at all stages of oil and gas exploration and exploitation. They result from prospecting activities (including seismic), physical impacts from rig installation, operational discharges at the start of production, accidental and routine spills, and finally, combustion. Nihoul and Durotomy (1994) have estimated the oil input to the North Sea attributable to the offshore industry at 29 % of the total oil input.

    Major Effects of Oil Spills on Marine Ecosystems

    Oil spills continue to pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems, despite the stricter environmental regulations that have been enacted in most countries. The majority of oil spills are small (i.e. less than 7 tonnes). Data on numbers and quantities are incomplete; however, they represent a relatively small proportion of the total oil released into the marine environment through tanker spills. In the period from 1970 to 2009, more than 5.65 million tonnes of oil entered the sea due to tanker spills.

    The risk and consequences of any oil spills are probably the biggest environmental problem associated with offshore oil and gas production. While most oil enters the oceans possibly unseen, massive oil spills highlight the catastrophic impact oil will have on marine wildlife and human communities. In 2180, there was only one major Deepwater blowout, the Deepwater Horizon well in the Gulf of Mexico, which exploded catastrophically in 2010. There haven’t been any major well blowouts in New Zealand, however, the risks could increase as oil and gas activities expand.

    Offshore oil spills can cause major damage to many components of natural ecosystems. Some of the most noticeable effects of oil spills are seen in larger wildlife species such as marine mammals and seabirds. Marine and coastal animals exposed to oil suffer immediate health problems and long-term changes in their physiology and behaviour. In small doses, oil can cause temporary physical damage to animals. These may include skin irritation, changes in the immune system, reproductive or developmental damage and liver disease. When large amounts of oil enter a water body, chronic effects such as cancer become more likely, and wildlife’s direct mortality can be widespread.

    Many of the ecosystems most commonly affected by marine oil spills are accustomed to natural disturbance under normal conditions. For example, shallow coral reefs are among the most dynamic environments, often subject to typhoons and tsunamis’ intense forces. Disturbances of this kind typically create space for new organisms to settle and grow. Over time, natural processes repair the damage caused by such events and return an ecosystem to its former functions, even though it may consist of other individual organisms. Natural restoration processes are also important in cleaning up the effects of oil spills.

    Impact on Marine Animals

    Offshore drilling by oil and gas organizations causes several additional problems. Not only are they a source of noise pollution, but they are also the cause of oil spills, of which there are thousands in the US every year. When oil spills occur, the damage to the water and marine life is devastating. The effects of an oil spill can last for decades. Even clean-up operations remove only a small portion of the oil, and the techniques used often involve even more dangerous chemicals. Chemicals from drilling operations can damage animals’ organs, such as marine mammals, that come into contact with them.

    The following discussion is adapted from information about marine debris on the California Coastal Commission website. Marine debris could also be referred to as “plastic trash” as this more accurately describes the nature of most of the material. Millions of Americans enjoy the nation’s coasts and waterways every day. However, many of these people are unaware of how their daily activities – from driving their cars to not properly disposing of their trash to throwing away a cigarette butt – can impact the plants and animals off our coasts.

    Marine litter negatively impacts all the reef values – its beauty, its rich biodiversity, its extensive natural habitats, its historical heritage and the cultural values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Marine litter kills marine life. It can smother coral, become entangled in wildlife or be swallowed by animals. All sea turtles species, more than half of all known species of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales, and seabirds are negatively affected by marine litter. Plastic waste also has potentially toxic effects on animals, caused by chemicals in the plastic leaching out after consumption.

    The Ocean Conservancy estimates that more than 690 species of marine life are affected by plastic pollution. To reduce the impact of all this waste, some businesses have developed alternatives. Delray Beach Craft Brewery in Florida has developed edible six-pack rings made from wheat and barley left over from the brewing process. It hopes to start production in October.

    The lack of concerted and definitive scientific data/research on this issue is staggering compared to the scale of the problem. It was not until 1997, with the discovery of Captain Charles Moore, that marine plastic pollution was widely addressed in the media and finally received more attention from the public and the scientific world, paving the way for more comprehensive research on plastic and its consequences and impacts when it enters marine life.

    Coastal areas are increasingly impacted by human activities, with marine pollution and climate change among the most important pressures affecting these environments. Human-induced pressures occur cumulatively and produce additive, antagonistic or synergistic effects. Knowledge of synergistic effects is crucial [. ] read more. Coastal areas are increasingly busy and affected by human activities; marine pollution and climate change are among the most important pressures affecting these environments. Human-induced pressures occur cumulatively and produce additive, antagonistic or synergistic effects. Knowledge of synergistic effects is crucial for coastal zone management. They may imply changes in these systems’ human use and specific action plans to reduce hazards and environmental risks.

    The oceans are the largest areas of water on planet Earth. In recent decades, excessive human activities have severely affected life in the Earth’s oceans. Pollution of the oceans, also known as marine pollution, is the spread of many harmful substances such as oil, plastics, industrial and agricultural waste and chemical particles. The oceans are of course home to an enormous variety of marine animals and plants, every citizen’s responsibility is to do their part to keep these oceans clean so that marine life can thrive for a long time to come.

    Ocean pollution is a growing problem in today’s world. Our ocean is inundated with two main types of pollution: chemicals and rubbish. Chemical pollution or nutrient pollution is of concern for health in general, and environmental and economic reasons. This type of pollution occurs from our human activities, particularly the use of fertilisers in agriculture, resulting in the runoff of chemicals into waterways that eventually flow into the ocean. The increased concentration of chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, promotes the growth of algal blooms that can be toxic to wildlife and harmful to humans in the coastal ocean.

    The Article Effect Of Marine Life from Our Waste was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • What is SEO on WordPress? WordPress SEO Plugins Explained

    What is SEO on WordPress? WordPress SEO Plugins Explained

    When people start using WordPress they ask “What is SEO on WordPress?”. It is true the WordPress platform gives a lot of SEO help and the best of it is achieved using WordPress SEO Plugins most of which are free to install and use. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on the WordPress CRM is actually no different from the SEO you would need to do for any website to achieve the best results for free natural traffic.

    “Natural traffic” is an SEO’s term for people who visit your websites after seeing pages which the search engines have both registered in their databases, and decided they are good enough to be worth showing people. Natural traffic is what new website owners want like nothing else when, like most of us, they are just starting out and have a very low budget. The beauty of natural traffic is that it is usually very well targeted by the search engines so that the people arriving will be interested in what you have to say. Any wise website owner will use feedback from their search engine traffic to find out exactly what their visitors want.

    That way, as they test out different monetization methods, they will be most likely to discover what sells and what doesn’t. Having worked that out the website owner can start paying for advertising and scale the profitability of their business.

    Image text: "What is SEO on WordPress".

    The WordPress SEO Magic in Their Free Plugins!

    WordPress SEO plugins help WordPress sites achieve the highest SEO standards possible, both on a technical and practical level. While WordPress as an established content management system already is very SEO-friendly, there are still things that can be done to optimize your WordPress site for higher search engine rankings. WordPress already has some wonderful built-in SEO available for every user, such as a “permalinks feature”, which enables you to have an SEO optimized page name or “URL” based upon the title of each page. This gives your pages a more professional and logical URL and a better appearance in the address bar.

    Featured Images – How WordPress Works in the Background Making Each Blog Visually Interesting

    WordPress SEO optimized themes also provide such services as allowing you to have a unique header image for each posting or page.

    These are called “featured images”. Featured images show up neatly at full-size above each post, and as thumbnails elsewhere. All the user needs to do is upload those images via a link in the sidebar.

    The featured image will normally be set to appear both:

    • on each of your blog posts, which improves the visual appeal of your pages and can give them a higher ranking on Google search engines, and
    • as thumbnails, which will normally appear on the homepage above a snippet of text which introduces each article in a chronological list of your recent pages. These will also show up on blog “category listing” pages as well.

    This clever use of thumbnail images which the WordPress CRM automatically creates in the background saves every user a lot of work creating and making the homepage list of recent articles, and category pages. It leaves WordPress article writers to concentrate on their writing, while automatically building a website structure. A structure is, in effect, built on-autopilot that is well-structured and in which people will be able to find what they want. This ability also has a large SEO benefit, and it happens each time you post an article!

    WordPress SEO Increases Any Blog’s Exposure and Traffic

    If you want to increase your blog’s exposure and traffic, then WordPress SEO is the solution you’ve been looking for. A good WordPress SEO plugin will increase both your search engine optimization and your visitors’ experience of your blog or website. WordPress SEO is the combination of various small modules that work together to make your web pages as search-engine-friendly as possible. When it comes to SEO in WordPress, theme creators have been playing a big part in setting the standards. Always, look for themes that are described as SEO optimized, before you buy. While the theme you use should do this basic SEO optimization for you, it is just the start. There are some amazing WordPress SEO plug-ins out there that can take WordPress to the next level. By that, we mean bringing it to the level of quality and performance that the top professional bloggers strive for.

    What WordPress SEO Plugins Can Do for Website Owners

    Some of the most popular WordPress SEO plug-ins out there have to do with the structure of your site. One of the most common problems that amateur bloggers face is not having enough SEO structure on their blog posts. WordPress features like focus keywords, which allow your posts and page titles to focus on a single keyword that is important to the reader. There are a number of amazing free WordPress SEO themes that include all of the best aspects of this type of optimization, so you can choose one of these great plugins and really get the results you want.

    Avoidance of Duplicate Content

    A common problem that many new bloggers run into is that their WordPress SEO files often inadvertently include a lot of duplicate content. This is especially true if they use the default meta tags. One of the most impressive and advanced WordPress SEO plugins out there is called Schema Pro is able to eliminate the need for creating Meta tags using a text editor. This makes it much easier to create and publish high-quality SEO keyword-rich content. Because Schema Pro includes an advanced search engine optimization checker, your site and posts will show up high on the lists that Google pulls out on their keyword search engines.

    Google XML Sitemaps Plugin

    One of the most important WordPress SEO plugins out there is also one of the free ones. The Google XML Sitemaps plugin will make sure that when you’re optimizing your site, you’re doing so with the best SEO parameters. This plugin will gather information about your keywords, but it will also automatically figure out which of those keywords are best for your page. This is a huge time saver, and it ensures that your site and content will be as optimized as possible. You’ll find that the time you spend with this plugin will pay off in higher rankings and more traffic.

    However, recently the importance of the XML sitemaps plugin has diminished by the incorporation of the sitemaps feature within a WordPress plugin called “YOAST”. Many people have moved over to YOAST as when you use YOAST you don’t need an XML sitemaps plugin. YOAST also performs additional SEO work for you and the free version is good enough for most users. (See more about YOAST below.)

    Something else that both the above plugins have in common is that they both have incredibly well-built interfaces. They’re both very user-friendly. If you have some knowledge of how to set up a regular WordPress blog, then you should have no trouble understanding the basic functions of both of these great plugins.

    YOAST SEO Plugin for WordPress

    YOAST SEO is an advanced search engine optimization plug-in specifically for WordPress. The plugin has over five thousand active installs and has been downloaded over 202 million times. What does it do? It provides three powerful functions to make your site more search engine optimized. Yoast SEO makes your blog rank better on Google, Yahoo and Bing. This plug-in works great for blogs.

    When YOAST installs this plugin, it automatically takes care of keyword research for you. After that, Yoast creates a sitemap from the provided list of keywords. The result shows you how to optimize your page for your chosen keywords so that you can get the best possible ranking. If you subscribe to the paid “Pro” version you will also be given suggestions for other keyword combinations that can also bring you good results. The Yoast SEO plugin also provides a detailed report on the state of your site’s readability.

    One of the main features of this plugin is the integration with Yoast’s Set Up Wizard. The configuration wizard allows you to set up and if necessary to change various settings related to the plugin such as your URL shortening (paid-for version only), page title, category names, and more. You can also turn off the option to automatically ping every post.

    Another major feature is YOAST’s integration with Google Analytics. You will be able to get detailed statistics about the visitors to your blog. By using the standard Google Analytics URL key phrase, you can see the frequency of people coming to your blog. You can also track the number of unique visits and the click-through rate for each post. With the help of the readability reports, you will know how well your blog is translated into any other target language. While all the time you can see how you are doing by the user-friendly use of a colored dot feature that changes color to green when you’ve completed your SEO optimization on each article text.

    You can also rely on that SEO plugin to increase your blog’s search engine rankings. This is very helpful for those who want to boost their traffic and improve their natural search engine rankings and it costs nothing to get the traffic once you gain a top ranking. With this type of SEO plugin, you will be able to perform keyword searches that can help you target specific keywords.

    With the help of Yoast SEO 2.0 Pro, you will be able to manage several SEO elements including your URL shortening and link building strategies. This makes it easier for you to manage your multiple campaigns. If you have questions about the performance of your website or blog, you can simply log in to the Google search console and select “Yoast Analytics”. From there, you will be able to see which of your SEO efforts are contributing to better visibility. You can also view all your Google Analytics campaign settings and check which factors are influencing your website’s performance.

    Why Search Engine Optimization Works So Well in WordPress

    SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Search engine optimization is basically the art of increasing the volume and quality of site visitors to a particular web page or a site from various search engines like Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves, etc. SEO targets unpaid visitors rather than paying visitors or direct traffic.

    SEO increases the search engine rankings of a site by utilizing keywords that are frequently searched on the internet. SEO improves the website’s link popularity and improves its placement in search results thereby increasing the site traffic. SEO makes sure that your website’s content is presented well and that the links provided on the website are relevant and useful for the purpose of the website’s content.

    One must remember that content is the most important part of SEO. SEO is not just about placing relevant keywords on the website. One has to ensure that the keywords are embedded in strategic places on the website. The links to the home page should be the most relevant and visible links on the whole website. It is also important to make sure that there are no broken links anywhere within the website.

    SEO is an important way of promoting the website in order to get noticed by a larger audience. By participating in online discussions, blogs, and forums one can generate more traffic to his site using what is known as off-site SEO. Blogs and discussion pages should be updated with new content on a regular basis, thus providing valuable information to the audience which will keep bringing people back again and again.

    The Importance of Links (Also Called Backlinks)

    The importance of SEO lies in its ability to raise your website’s “link popularity”. No matter what some SEOs say, links are very important for SEO. The more links to your website from other quality websites, the higher the ranking of the website in the result pages of the various search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. These search engines take the links into consideration while ranking the websites. If you want to read our guide to Google SEO visit https://sybriefing.co.uk/googleseo

    In order to increase the number of links, it is important to choose high-ranking websites for your keywords and find ways of getting your link on them. This ensures that the keyword density is maintained at a good level. If there is a high level of competition, the links will have to be purchased manually. This is slow and involves work contacting website owners and asking them to post your articles as “Guest Posts” but doing this is usually a very good use of time and money.

    Don’t Like the Sound of WordPress SEO? – Then Outsource It!

    There are several aspects that have to be taken care of while choosing a professional SEO company. SEO companies generally charge a very hefty amount for this service. Therefore it is important for the website owners to do a little research before hiring one. The fees charged by the SEO companies vary according to the amount of work involved in the project.

    Website owners should keep in mind that they have to spend a lot of money on SEO services. However, this will be beneficial in the long run as it will increase traffic and website ranking. All the top SEO companies are experienced and provide excellent services.

    Search engine optimization involves a lot of different procedures. The SEO firm will first conduct a thorough analysis of a website’s structure and content. This will help them determine what type of services they need to provide to the website owners. After this, they will contact the website’s owner and request relevant information.

    The main aim of SEO services is to improve the ranking of the website. Many website owners try to achieve a first-page ranking but this is a difficult task to achieve. The best way to achieve a first-page ranking is to make use of “anchor text links”. These links should be placed on the various pages of an SEO’s website.

    It is very important for the SEO firm to be able to provide fast access to the links. There is no point in placing a link when the user has to wait for more than 10 seconds for the page to load! This will be a big turn-off for the website visitors. Another important aspect of SEO services is the relevancy of the information posted on the website. The SEO should have a thorough knowledge about the contents of the websites that the SOE links are placed on so that the links are effective.

    Any SEO should be experienced enough to know about all the ethical ways of SEO. This will ensure that there is no violation of any rules. Before hiring an SEO, it is important to check if he or she is well-aware of all the ethical ways of SEO. An SEO’s selection of keywords should also be based on the popularity of the keywords on the search engines. If the website owners are aware of these things, then it will be easier for them to choose an SEO.

    Conclusion

    That’s it! You have now read our article which explains what WordPress SEO is and we have also explained the WordPress SEO plugins that will optimize your content for both search engines and for your readers. You can use them. If you do, you may quickly discover that WordPress SEO can truly help you take your business to the next level! But, should you find all this talk of SEO too complex to tackle yourself for whatever reason, we have also explained what an SEO service can do for you.

    The Article What is SEO on WordPress? WordPress SEO Plugins Explained was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • SEO Software for Smarter Content Marketing

    SEO Software for Smarter Content Marketing

    Like us, you may have wondered which SEO software is the best out of a multitude of such tools available on the market today. We decided to develop Buffer Site Wizard when we could not find a satisfactory answer to this question. Several reasons qualify BSW as the best SEO software available today.

    What is SEO software? Do I need it?

    seo software for smarter content marketing

    One of the coolest features of seojet is the competitor blocking function. This report looks at your top-ranked competitors and shows you what you need to do to beat them. There are some other really cool things the software does, but to learn more I recommend you watch the demo I recorded, where I also show you some really cool and easy-to-follow SEO strategies.

    Description: html tags on a website can reveal information about the software used to create the website. This information might assist somebody attack or compromise a site. It is important to get rid of these tags to safeguard a site from destructive users. Client Action Plan: In your SEO audit report, list the website pages with metadata that could put the website at risk to hackers.

    What does SEO software do?

    At this point in your life as a business owner or marketing manager, you’ve probably heard all about the ways SEO can help you create more traffic, leads, and sales from your website. So you’ve done a little researching and found out that SEO isn’t exactly a piece of cake, and now you’re looking for some kind of SEO software to help you get your website to the very top of the search engines.

    WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that has been very SEO-friendly from the start, offering several features that are both simple and innovative. As an example, WordPress comes with an easy-to-use URL rewrite system that never bothered with session ids in URLs like much community-driven software developed around the same time. With a single click, you can switch from dynamic URLs to simple URLs with dates, numbers, or simple letters. The result is a nice clean set of URLs that are always easy for search engines to crawl.

    With a single interface and easy-to-use features, BSW simplifies the SEO workflow. Seo professionals have many tasks to complete on any given day, such as researching main and secondary keywords, organizing keywords, editing tags, or reviewing work. BSW makes it easy for SEO professionals to manage their workflow with just one screen. If you use a standard SEO tool (see our definitive list of SEO software), you usually have to perform multiple steps to complete just one task.

    Do you need SEO software?

    Well, before you rush into buying a subscription for a half-baked SEO plugin, let us introduce you to the truth about SEO software:

    • What is “SEO software” anyway?
    • What precisely does SEO software do?
    • Do I need to buy SEO tools? How much does the software cost?
    • What are the best SEO software and tools?

    In most SEO audit software, features related to keyword research, on-page audits, ranking reports, and Google index are available on separate screens. Not to mention the complex and time-consuming process of compiling all the data into one spreadsheet. This UX problem explains why a task that should normally take only a few minutes takes any SEO expert several hours.

    If like most small business owners, you choose the do-it-yourself route, search engine optimization tools can prove invaluable. An SEO tool is a piece of software that helps you with things like spying on the competition, reviewing your SEO strategy, keyword research, SEO tracking, and data mining.

    What is the best SEO software?

    Staxio SEO Tools

    Seojet is a backlink SEO software that gives you insight into your competitors’ backlink profiles. Specific page scoring and even helps with anchor text generation. We spoke directly with the founder of seojet, Adam White. He said of his tool, “Because ahrefs is integrated with seojet, I can use their data to create great backlink plans for the pages I want to rank on Google. With seojet, I can take a deep dive into the backlink profiles of the top ten ranked pages for each of my main keywords. With this data, I can see who I should be trying to imitate and what I need to do to catch and outrank them in search results.

    Cost: $297
    If you have a craving for SEO that a 90-minute course can’t satisfy, check out “SEO for Bloggers,” a blogging course from Money Lab that tells you everything you need to know about SEO (and more). In addition to an overview of SEO, he also goes over the WordPress plugins and software he uses and recommends, how to find the right keywords to target, how to format and optimize your content, how to build links, and much more that would make this list way too long.

    Simple do-it-yourself SEO software scans your site for issues, recommends tasks, and tracks rankings.

    The advantage of Rank Math over its competitors is that it offers some advanced features already in the free version, unlike other plugins that offer them in their paid versions. The premium versions are also cheaper than most and give you additional options to track keywords and use them on different websites. But for those who are just beginning and have a small budget, Rank Math could be a great solution.

    Serped is more than a dashboard software; it’s an all-inclusive SEO solution that gathers more than 40 tools to help rank websites. For keyword research, the software has four different mechanisms: Ultimate Research, What Ranks Where, Keyword Analyzer, and Long Tail Keywords. For SEO analysis, there is the site explorer, bulk URL analyzer, and backlinks explorer. For website management, you have a choice of 7 different tools, and for rank tracking, there are 5.

    Kwfinder is a keyword research tool that allows website owners to find the right keywords for their website content. Serpchecker enables users to check the websites that rank high for specific keyword phrases in different locations of the world. Users can also determine the mobile ranking of the keywords. Serpwatcher helps users track the changes in the orders of the keywords.

    Essential tools for an SEO expert

    Paylinks by Hiveage

    Yoast SEO offers a wide range of features that are essential for proper website optimization. As a package for SEO, Yoast SEO outperforms all other WordPress SEO plugins on the market, in our opinion. Moreover, it is among the most frequently chosen SEO tools by our experts to increase your website’s traffic. In terms of usability, we believe that Yoast SEO tries to make it extremely easy for users to set up. The plugin has an integrated onboarding tour, inline help messages next to each choice, and detailed instructions constructed right into the plugin itself. Thinking about that many of these features are rather technical and can be intimidating for many beginners.

    Remember – how does SEO work?

    Hiveage is an accounting software to create invoices, handy for freelancers and SEO agencies or other companies that use freelancers or temporary workers. You can easily fill out and send invoices to your clients and schedule automatic payment reminders for your clients. Top features:
    Hiveage offers several custom invoice templates to create invoices for your clients. You can automatically apply the late payment feature when your customer is late with a payment.

    According to Google data, local searches for restaurant and store hours have more than doubled in the last year. This is another reminder of how local SEO can make or break a small business. If you fail to optimize your website to provide searchers with relevant information about your business, they will go to a store whose hours and location are easy to find.

    More in Google & SEO

    Buffer Site Wizard SEO Software

    Of course, BSW helps improve business efficiency with its simple and time-saving features. Really, with BSW, there is no more excuse for not achieving your SEO goals. Imagine that you manage multiple websites. Now calculate the time spent on each SEO task for each of these websites. Just thinking about it can make your head spin. But if you can save time on each SEO task, you can better monetize your business hours. This is true for both freelance SEO professionals and agencies. Even if you use an excellent SEO tool like google analytics or Moz’s, the work can be tedious.

    As mentioned at the beginning, the web is built on backlinks. So naturally, backlinks are a crucial SEO ranking signal. There are three types of links to think about:

    At EZi SEO, we believe that everything that exists online can be measured. We use many of the top SEO platforms to monitor every aspect of your website. Since Google uses the GPS in mobile devices to provide users with unique location-based results, we measure your search rankings both nationally and within specific cities of particular importance to you.

    Do you need an SEO?

    We developed BSW because we realized there was no real guide to link building. It’s by far the most important part of SEO, but no one could tell me how best to do it, including how to choose the anchor text for each link to keep the backlink profile natural. Seojet tells you what anchor text to use for each backlink you get. It uses backlink data from pages that rank #1 in Google to help you build a backlink profile that matches other #1 ranking pages.

    Even better, people want to see ads that show them products in their immediate area. According to SEO statistics, 70% of Internet users who surf the web on a computer or tablet say they would like to see ads for products near them. The number is slightly lower for smartphone users: 61%.

    Yes, software makers had the right idea in mind to provide users with excellent features. But when a simple task requires multiple steps to complete – the task is no longer simple. There are many different types of amazing SEO software available today. There is no doubt about that. But the truth is that none are simple enough for users. Not a software offered users a simplified workflow. Not until Staxio.

    How much does content marketing cost?

    google stacks software

    A content audit evaluates your existing content for its strengths and weaknesses. Your goal in doing so is to uncover insights about content performance. This sheds light on your overall content marketing strategy. The cost of a content audit varies depending on your website and how much content you have. The cost of the audit can range from $5,000 to $30,000.

    There is another blogging course that I would call “all-in-one,” and it’s excellent for beginners who are just starting and want to jump right in (although it only has 2 hours of content). Beginning with an overview of WordPress (which is the CMS of choice for bloggers today according to the latest blogging statistics), this course will show you how to set up your blog and install the right plugins. You’ll also learn what types of content you can post and how to write it well, how to promote it and how to build an email list, and appropriately decide between convertkit vs. Aweber vs. Mailchimp as your marketing tool of choice (and more).

    It’s no secret that content marketing is incredibly effective. It brings your business three times as many leads as paid search, and it costs 62% less. And when you think that there are over 3 billion Google searches made every day and over 2 billion people use social media, it becomes clear … You need content marketing to make it today.

    How much does SEO software cost?

    Seo software can cost anywhere from free – like Google’s SEO tools – to over $5,000 annually. The cost depends on the kind of software, the number of features you need, how many users and web domains you require to track, and how many keywords you’re looking to rank. If you choose to do it yourself (which we don’t recommend), you’ll likely need several different tools. It may seem like less money to do it yourself, but when you add up the cost of the different tools and the time it takes to analyze data and create a strategy, it may be more affordable for you to hire an SEO company like us to do it all for you.

    Monthly retainers cost an average of $501 to $1,000 per month, according to popular SEO software ahrefs. Some SEO specialists offer long-term, ongoing services to maintain your site’s SEO for a monthly amount.

    A few different factors determine the average cost of SEO services, including the pricing model of the agency or consultant
    The experience of the agency or consultant
    The goals of the SEO campaign
    The time frame of the SEO campaign
    The tools, software, or resources required

    Whenever you look at search engine optimization costs, remember that SEO is an investment. You are setting your website up for success by making it more visible in search engines, which will help your business drive more traffic, leads, and sales.

    invoicing software by Hiveage

    The Article SEO Software for Smarter Content Marketing was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • Does Hypnosis Work. Is Hypnosis Real

    Does Hypnosis Work. Is Hypnosis Real

    Is hypnosis real? 

    Does Hypnosis Work. Is Hypnosis Real: A pre-interview should address the many concerns people have about hypnosis. The following are universal questions that most people have about hypnosis and should be answered in the pre-interview:

    1. how long will I be hypnotised?

    2. will you make me do anything terrible?

    3. will I remember everything I said and did while I was hypnotised?

    4. can I hear what is going on in my environment while I am hypnotised?

    Editor: Scientific American mind – thought concepts brain research Although often disparaged as a hoax or wishful thinking, hypnosis has shown to be a real phenomenon with various therapeutic applications – especially in controlling pain. “You get sleepy. Very sleepy. “a mid-waisted man swings his pocket watch back and forth in front of the face of a young woman sitting in a Victorian drawing-room. She fixes her gaze on the clock and follows its pendulum movement with her eyes. Moments later, she sits slumped in her chair, eyes closed, answering the hypnotist’s questions in a zombie-like monotone.

    Perhaps you have considered hypnotherapy as a way to help yourself but are not sure if it really works. Then you’ve heard about self-hypnosis audio products. And although the price is right, you still have questions. Can pre-recorded hypnosis audio products work for you?

    Whether you consider personal or pre-recorded hypnosis audios, the goal and desired results are essentially the same. In fact, some might argue that listening to a hypnosis recording is more or less identical to sitting in a hypnotherapist’s office, with the only difference being the “catalyst” that takes you from where you may be now to where you want to be.

    Although hypnosis is effective for many reasons, researchers still understand exactly how hypnosis affects the brain. Because of these unanswered questions, it is still unclear exactly how hypnosis produces its positive effects. Hypnotherapy can look different depending on how it is delivered and the goals of the treatment. In general, hypnosis treatment has several common components. 

    Informed consent: Working with a hypnotherapist can begin with a conversation to build rapport, discuss the risks and benefits of hypnosis, and obtain the client’s consent to proceed.

    does hypnosis work is hypnosis real

     

    What exactly is hypnosis?

    Working with people during important transitions in their lives, such as starting or leaving.
    It’s funny to see people’s reactions when I mention hypnosis as a way of dealing with a stuck place or trauma. Most people think it means that I will put them into a deep trance, after which they won’t remember anything, as has been portrayed in some sensationalist TV programmes in the past. Not only would I consider this unethical in a psychotherapeutic setting, but I would also question its usefulness! The approach I use is much more interactive and creative while my client is either fully conscious or in a light trance.

    Hypnosis is a treatment that can help you manage and treat various conditions. To do this, a certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist will guide you into a deep state of relaxation (sometimes described as a trance-like state). While you are in this state, they may make suggestions to help you become more open to change or therapeutic improvement. Trance-like experiences are not that uncommon. If you have ever zoomed out while watching a movie or daydreaming, you have been in a similar trance-like state.

    But first, let’s talk about what hypnosis is not. We’ve all seen films where a person goes into hypnosis, and their world is turned upside down. From office space to whirling up echoes, hypnosis has delivered some hilarious but also terrifying moments. The truth is that hypnosis is a much more mundane process with natural explanations.

     

    Is hypnosis the same thing as hypnotherapy?

    True hypnosis or hypnotherapy doesn’t involve swaying pocket watches, and it isn’t practised on stage as The duration of therapy will really be dependant on your circumstances and the reason for which you are seeking hypnosis. If you are seeking hypnosis for a one-off service such as smoking cessation, for example, some hypnotherapists will deliver hypnotherapy in a single session of up to two hours. Other issues, however, may require a longer-term approach with regular weekly sessions. Your hypnotherapist will let you know how many sessions they feel you might need when you start therapy and will be flexible when it comes to decreasing or extending the number of sessions according to part of an entertainment act. During hypnosis, a trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist induces a state of intense concentration or focused attention. This is a guided process with verbal cues and repetition. The trance-like state you enter may appear similar to sleep in many ways, but you’re fully aware of what’s going on.

    Even those who plan to practise self-hypnosis at home instead of seeing a hypnotherapist worry about whether hypnosis is somehow bad for you. One of the most common worries about the dangers of self-hypnosis is the above concern that you can get “stuck” in a trance—a particularly troubling thought if you live alone, for example. As emphasized previously, however, you can come out of a trance whenever you like. Self-hypnosis can be dangerous only if you practice it at unsafe times—for example, when driving or when operating machinery. Hypnotherapy should typically be done when you are sitting or lying down at home.

    In its simplicity hypnotherapy are practice and faith. It is not a special food or drink or ritual. While science, psychology, and philosophy are wonderful, necessary and hold a place in society, they are not hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is a separate focus, bringing together science, faith, trust and discipline. Hypnotherapy is the practice of hypnosis that takes place in our own minds. The mysterious energies and powers associated with hypnosis is merely our own subconscious mind. We know where the subconscious is and how it functions and it is inside us, right here, right now, through our thinking.

    How does hypnosis work?

    I have been trained in an approach called depth hypnosis, developed by Isa Gucciardi, who combined transpersonal psychology, shamanism, Buddhism and hypnosis to create a powerful vehicle for healing. I have used depth hypnosis to address all kinds of stuck places and traumas in my clients’ lives. This includes, but is not limited to, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, procrastination, rape, abuse and the list goes on.

    Hypnosis can simply be defined as a state of heightened suggestibility in which you’re able to reprogram your mind and body for success. It’s an integrative process of rebuilding habits and behaviours, as well as emotions, beliefs, and feelings. Have you ever found yourself completely immersed in an activity to the exclusion of everything else? that is a natural trance state. Common examples of this are while watching a movie and becoming transfixed in the plot. Or in working intently and finding that the last four hours have flown by without your conscious awareness.

    With your hypnotherapist, you work as a team. S/he is not a deranged svengali character who will mind control you, but rather a supportive partner to assist in solving the issues you are looking to overcome. Throughout most hypnosis sessions the client remains attentive to what is going on and is aware of the process. Clients will have the theory of mind and hypnosis explained to them as well as have any questions answered. More importantly, however, hypnosis will not open a gateway to a different dimension in which aliens will travel through you to take over the world.

    Read as many books as you can about stage hypnotists and all other hypnotism. Learn the history of hypnosis and the why’s and how’s of its workings.

     

    What happens to the brain during hypnosis?

    The brain is always sending out wavelength activity throughout the day, even when you are asleep. Hypnosis is not the same as sleep. There are four different brainwave stages:
    Beta waves – this stage is while you are awake and aware of everything around you. As you read this article, you are in the beta stage.

    The key to hypnosis is accessing your subconscious mind and ‘rewriting’ your automatic scripts. This causes your thoughts to go down new, positive paths instead of the same destructive paths that keep you stuck. In neuroscience this is called neuroplasticity and simply means that the brain has the ability to change. The positive statements recited during a session are embedded and accepted by the subconscious mind. This leads to a change in patterns of thinking and behaviour in your daily life to empower you and practice better self-care.

    False. If you have ever been married, you have been hypnotised!
    Seriously, considering that there are different depths of hypnosis, we all enter hypnotic trance states on a daily basis. Examples of daily trance states include.
    Daydreaming, focused attention while watching a riveting television programme. Emotional engagement, such as sweaty palms while watching an intense action scene in a movie. The brainwave cycles of deep meditation correspond to the theta trance state.

    Hypnosis has been used in one form or another for healing purposes as long as humans have existed. It is often compared to the placebo effect, as described in the Harvard University article “The Power of the Placebo Effect” by Professor Ted Kaptchuk:
    “even if they know it’s not medicine, the act itself can stimulate the brain into thinking the body is being healed. “.

    What can hypnosis be used for?

    It is important to understand hypnosis, which is performed for entertainment in a venue or possibly at a party, and clinical hypnosis, for therapeutic benefit. Stage hypnosis aims to entertain an audience by guiding willing participants into sometimes silly behaviour or stunts under a stage hypnotist direction. Often the subjects have already had something to drink and voluntarily participate in the show to amuse themselves in front of others.

    During most hypnosis sessions, the client remains attentive and aware of the process. The client has explained the theory of mind and hypnosis, and all questions are answered.

    You are absolutely in control of your body during hypnosis. Despite stage hypnosis, you remain aware of what you are doing and what is being asked of you. If you do not want to do something you are asked to do under hypnosis, you will not do it.

    Myth: People have no control over their bodies when they are hypnotised

    When patients can take the tools of change home and apply them to themselves when there is danger, search for free weight loss hypnosis online and how can hypnosis be dangerous Quizlet free weight loss hypnosis online and how can hypnosis be dangerous Quizlet. Overcome pornography addiction with hypnosis. But once you learn about hypnosis, it is no longer dangerous. Nevertheless, the stubborn fact remained that hypnosis works, and the 19th century is marked by people trying to understand and apply its effects.

     

    Myth: Hypnosis is the same as sleep

    Hypnosis is a state of mind people encounter at least twice a day, “In fact, hypnosis has been a known state of mind since ancient Egypt and Greece (and perhaps earlier). In Greek mythology, hypnosis was the god of sleep (which literally means “to sleep”). So you could say that the ancient Greeks actually “invented” the term hypnosis.

    Common myths & misconceptions about hypnosis
    The representations of hypnosis in the entertainment and media industries have contributed to widespread misunderstanding about hypnosis’s true nature. This information is intended to help dispel some of the common misconceptions about hypnosis. Myth: Fact: Although some researchers and clinicians claim that there are people who cannot be hypnotised, everyone has the ability to be hypnotised because it is a natural, normal state that each of us can experience at least twice a day – when we wake up and when we go to sleep. We also enter a hypnotic state when we are totally engrossed in a film or television programme.

    Stage hypnosis and the portrayal of hypnosis in the entertainment industry have contributed to many misconceptions about hypnosis’s true nature. Some of the most well known hypnosis beliefs:
    “A person under the influence of hypnosis may be asleep or worse unconscious. “This is more likely to be the most common misconception about hypnosis. In hypnosis, one never loses full consciousness or falls asleep. On the contrary, one is even more awake. All hypnosis stages are characterised by heightened awareness, and this heightened concentration increases your receptivity to suggestion.

    Myth: People can’t lie when they are hypnotised

    While hypnosis can help manage pain, stress, and anxiety, cognitive behavioural therapy is considered the treatment of choice for these conditions. Hypnosis is also used as part of comprehensive smoking cessation or weight loss programme. However, hypnosis is not suitable for everyone. An example, you may not be able to fully put yourself in the state of hypnosis to make it effective. Some therapists believe that the better you are at being hypnotised, the more likely you will benefit from hypnosis.

    For many years, many people have asked for hypnosis to find lost jewellery, valuable papers or items that have been misplaced. In most cases, I have been able to help these people retrieve their items successfully. The same goes for current memories that may have been forgotten. The research literature is full of studies documenting the power of hypnosis to improve memory. Most studies are laboratory-based experiments that usually show a significant increase in hypnotised subjects’ memory compared to normal controls.

    Yes, for almost everyone. People with an IQ of less than 70, people with psychosis and most senile people generally cannot be hypnotised. You may have witnessed a hypnotist perform in a film or stage show. Live comic hypnosis shows are top-rated. People are hypnotised and appear to perform tricks. They perform amusing behaviours on stage.

    Can anyone be hypnotised?
    If you want to be hypnotised, you can be hypnotised. Hypnosis can be either overt or covert. I use both, but always with the client’s permission. Some people are a little more difficult than others, so covert methods are more appropriate. Can I do it myself?
    Self-hypnosis is a skill that is not difficult to learn.

    Myths about hypnosis – is hypnosis real?

    The myths and misconceptions surrounding hypnotherapy mostly stem from people’s ideas about stage hypnosis. The truth is that stage hypnosis is essentially a theatrical performance and has about as much in common with real clinical hypnosis as many Hollywood movies have with real life.

    In the day to day trance of a daydream or a movie, an imaginary world seems real to you in that it fully engages you. Imaginary events can trigger real fear, sadness or joy, and you may even wince in your seat when something surprises you (a monster jumping out of the shadows, for example). Some researchers categorise all these trance states as forms of self-hypnosis. Milton Erickson, the most eminent hypnosis expert of the 20th century, claimed that people hypnotise themselves every day. However, most psychiatrists focus on the trance state induced by deliberate relaxation and focusing exercises.

    Hypnosis is a completely natural phenomenon and, as such, is completely harmless. You cannot harm yourself, you cannot be made to do or believe things you disagree with, and you certainly will not get “stuck” in any way! The popular use of hypnosis as a form of entertainment (e.g. stage hypnosis) can make people believe all sorts of silly things, as can films where someone is hypnotised for one reason or another. You can find out the real truth about the many myths and misconceptions of hypnosis elsewhere on our website, but let’s quickly dispel a few of the most popular ones here.

    Suggestion, in the hypnotic sense, is the subconscious realisation of an idea. Mastering the effective use of suggestion is extremely important to your success as a stage hypnotist. As mentioned earlier, a suggestion is to induce the hypnotic state and control the induced state. The suggestion is the means of directing the subconscious phase of the mind. The more you become aware of the nature of the subconscious mind, the rules of suggestion work, and how to give suggestions that influence, the more experienced you will become as a hypnotist.

    swinging watch

    MYTHS ABOUT HYPNOSIS

    “You won’t be surprised there are a lot of myths about hypnosis, most of which come from media portrayals,” such as fictional movies and novels, says Irving Kirsch, lecturer and director of the placebo studies programme at Harvard Medical School. But putting aside pop-culture clichés, Kirsch says hypnosis is a well-studied and legitimate form of adjunctive treatment for conditions ranging from obesity and post-surgery pain to anxiety and stress.

    The myths and misconceptions surrounding hypnosis mostly stem from its portrayal in entertainment and the media. In reality, there is a big difference between the type of hypnosis you have seen on TV and clinical hypnosis. I’m going to answer the question “What is hypnosis?” so you can get an accurate understanding of this effective, clinical treatment.

    If you have such a strong fear of hypnosis that you can’t even watch the video above, then check out my page Fear of being hypnotised?
    Which will reassure you by explaining many of the myths and nonsense that is talked about hypnosis.

    False. You can “lie like a rug” when you are hypnotised!
    I really don’t know why people believe hypnosis can be used as a “truth serum. ” This is one of those myths that has no factual basis. The heightened creative imagination of a hypnotised person can make them say some hair-raising things!
    For example, the stage hypnosis routine “The World’s Greatest Liar” is structured as follows: “Imagine that you are the world’s greatest liar. If I ask you something, you will answer me with the biggest lie your imagination can create. “.

    Video Online Hypnosis Sessions

    Some hypnotists sell recordings or use pre-made materials, often designed by themselves, to streamline their work and supplement their income. I have even heard of some hypnotists having clients come into their practice to sit in a chair with headphones and listen to recorded sessions. My practice is client-centred, which means that although the hypnosis techniques look similar to most other hypnotists, the sessions’ content depends on the client’s individual goals and is designed specifically for them based on the information they provide.

    We can all agree that it is almost impossible to know what information to trust on the internet. In this age of information, we don’t always know what is real and what is not. This is true for everything we find online, and it is also true for hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

    Typically, people describe the feeling of being hypnotised during hypnotherapy as a calm, physically and mentally relaxed state. In this state, they can focus deeply on whatever they are thinking about. They usually feel open and ready to think about and experience life differently, often in a more detached way than usual. This means there is no one right way to feel when undergoing hypnosis. If you are curious about trying hypnotherapy as an addiction treatment option, make sure the person you work with is qualified to treat you.

    The subjugation of willpower about simulation raised by Moll was at the heart of the other major problem seen in hypnotic treatments: the risk of abuse. In general, two situations were envisaged: either that hypnotists might give criminal suggestions to their subjects or that hypnotherapists might abuse their patients’ state of weakened willpower for sexual assault. 45 The idea of criminal suggestions was explored experimentally by both Charcot’s and Bernheim’s hypnosis schools by, for example, successfully suggesting to subjects that they had to stab or shoot a particular person with an imaginary or fake gun.

    Generally: yes. But not:
    – if the person does not want to do it,
    – if the person is possibly weak-willed,
    – if the person is drunk or under the influence of drugs. (although this is rarely advisable). Here is a more traditional answer from Steve G. Jones: yes. The lightest state of hypnosis (alpha) is easily achieved. Everyone goes into a hypnotic state every day, several times a day. It is the state you are in when watching TV, reading a good book or playing video games. It is the state you are in when you have just woken up or are about to go to bed.

    Hypnosis is most aptly described as a mental focus state, which is not the kind of ability traditionally associated with “mental weakness” (whatever that is!). Even athletes often use self-hypnosis to improve their focus and achieve the ideal mental state. Are these people ‘mentally weak’?

    The Article Does Hypnosis Work. Is Hypnosis Real was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • Furnace vs Heat Pump Systems for Heating Homes and Offices Compared

    Furnace vs Heat Pump Systems for Heating Homes and Offices Compared

    Furnace vs heat pump. What are the advantages of a heat pump when compared with a furnace? It is clear that a heat pump emits less carbon dioxide per unit of heat produced, but the cost for the initial installation is higher. Is the furnace which uses the fossil which is fuel natural gas really so bad? Does the heat pump really provide cleaner heating? And, why do you say “reducing carbon emissions can’t wait, or it’ll be too late.”

    What Goes on in a Heat Pump?

    It is not always clear to people who are not familiar with the science and history of heat pumps that they were developed from day 1 to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. It is principally carbon emissions that are proven to be heating up our planet. This will have dire consequences for mankind if it is allowed to continue. A heat pump is an appliance that transfers the heat from one area from one source to another. In other words, it transfers heat from a cooler part of space to a warmer part of space.

    Image with text: "Furnace vs heat pump".

    Even a Heat Pump is Not Perfect for Our Planet

    A heat pump does not currently produce zero carbon emissions because it needs electricity to run the pump. However, as globally all nations reduce their use of fossil fuels in old power stations and electricity generation moves on to renewable sources heat pumps will become “cleaner”. That’s because the power used by heat pumps, running on electricity from the grid, the carbon emissions they reduce will also go down as decarbonization progresses. That’s a point often missed in the Furnace Vs Heat Pump debate.

    Heat Pump Was Though to be an “Impossible Invention” When First Sold

    The invention of the heat pump was amazing to everyone when the concept was first explained in the 1960s because people said that you cannot take something cold, and pull warmth out of it. “How would you use that heat to make another cold thing warm-up?”; they asked. But it was shown to be perfectly possible to do in a heat pump. During heat pumping that “warmed up thing” becomes warmer than the original cold thing, and can be used to heat homes, offices etc! When people started to use the heat pump to heat up their homes it was not believed that this could be possible. They said entropy is an inviolable principle of nature! Everything in the universe gets cooler and heat dissipates everywhere all the time. The entire universe has been running down since it was created and one day everything will turn cold. As that continues, all reactions, eons into the future will slow down to a stop. But, they forgot that science is clever and can (in this small way) for a while (by expending energy in a particular way) reverse an inviolable Law of Nature, namely “entropy”.

    However, we all have refrigerators and inside their systems, they have been quietly reversing “entropy” by pumping heat out of the food in the fridge. The pumped heat warms up the radiator wires on the back of every fridge. Yes, a fridge is a form of heat pump, but nobody quite thought of it that way.

    In fact, if the original inventors had not thought outside the box about fridges, we wouldn’t even be having a Furnace Vs Heat Pump debate, because heat pumping would never have been discovered.

    Furnaces Which Burn Natural Gas are Damaging Our World – The Truth

    The great majority of furnaces in the US and Europe burn natural gas. The name “natural gas” is to a degree deceptive because most people assume that what is natural is also “green” and in harmony with nature. However, natural gas is just as much a fossil fuel as coal and oil, which once burnt releases fresh new carbon into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide from burning natural gas is almost as damaging as that from coal, or oil, and that’s highly relevant to the Furnace Vs Heat Pump debate.

    Thankfully though, natural gas is both:

    1. warms the globe less than coal and oil from the point of view of the fact that releasing each calorie of heat causes less carbon dioxide when using natural gas, and hence for the same heat output, less carbon is emitted
    2. the result of burning it releases far fewer impurities than are emitted from within the coal or oil, when those are burnt. This means that there is far less air pollution from burning natural gas then when using coal or oil.

    Furnaces are OK – Except “Not Renewable” Powered By Natural Gas and Oil

    Furnaces are damaging simply because the energy source is not renewable. If a renewable replacement was available for natural gas the furnace in your home could be replaced by another when it is worn out, and there would be no need for a heat pump instead. If that was true I doubt we would even be having this Furnace Vs Heat Pump debate. People have been talking for the last 20 years or so of hydrogen as the new fuel and there are plans afoot in Europe to construct a completely new gas grid distribution for hydrogen. In other countries, including the UK the idea is to add hydrogen in with natural gas, and “renewable natural gas” (natural gas made through the use of anaerobic digestion of organic waste – for example from sewage sludge).

    Converting Gas Grids to Hydrogen/ Renewables Can’t Happen Any Day Soon

    Unfortunately, in all nations, the conversion of gas grid distribution systems to renewable gases and especially hydrogen will take at least 20 years to progress. At the moment solar and wind turbines are used to make renewable electricity. Once enough of those have been built to replace all fossil fuel used to generate electricity for day to day grid supply, a huge quantity of yet more renewable energy will be needed for heating and transport use.  In fact, three or more times more solar and wind sources will need to be built to decarbonize heating, transport, and industry and used to electrolyze water and make hydrogen gas to replace natural gas for heating our living spaces and powering all transport.

    While the more permanent renewable solution of hydrogen gas grid distribution is developed, heat pumps plus much-improved heat insulation will tide us over. It is often said that hydrogen is “the future for energy”, and so it most probably is, but it isn’t here yet! Hydrogen is a much better option than batteries as a 24/7 always available power source. Batteries need rare elements in their construction and present major problems for the environment when disposed of.

    Furnace vs Heat Pump – How Does a Heat Pump Work?

    There are 3 main components to a heat pump:

    • a low-grade heat source, such as a fan to collect the ambient air around a building, or a pump and a loop of pipe buried in the ground in the garden. Swimming pools in the home have also been used.
    • a compressor and condenser system to do the heat pumping
    • a fan or a water pump to convey the pumped heat into the property. If so designed, this system can also cool the property in summer.

    It is a closed-loop system. The most common type is an air heat pump. The air heat pump uses a fan to collect low-grade heat from the ambient air outside the property. A compressor is used in a condenser pump system similar to the workings of a fridge in reverse and releases the heat during the process which emanates as very warm (not hot) water. Just don’t get the idea anything particularly high-tech is going on in a heat pump! It is exactly the same principle as a refrigerator. It just works in reverse. The main component is a compressor to compress the gas in the condensing system that will be the energy source to power the system. The heat exchanger is normally a system of warm water pipes laid beneath the floors of the property. An alternative is to provide heat as hot air which flows out via fans into the rooms to be heated. For more information on heat pumps visit: https://sites.google.com/site/groundsourceheatpumpuk/

    Air-Source and Ground-Source Heat Pumps

    The other basic heat pump in the market is often called a fluid heat exchanger usually fed by water from a ground heat source (Ground Source heat pump). It acts in exactly the same way as an air heat pump. The fluid heat pump will extract the heat from an intermediate fluid, typically water which has passed for example, through buried pipes in the ground, outside the property. This fluid will become cooled as it flows through the heat exchanger, the warmth will then be emitted to heat the property. The cooled water will flow back through the loop into the ground and its temperature will be raised again in a repeating cycle. It is the same principle as for the air heat pump except rather than from the air around the building, the fluid heat pump extracts warmth from the ground. When the heat exchange air is released from a heat pump of both types, it will become warm air.

    The Unique Advantage of Heat Pumps Which Double as Air-Conditioners in Summer

    Now you might ask, what is cooling and heating? It is when there is a need for both heating in winter, and air conditioning (air cooling) in summer. Heat pumps can do both, although for summer cooling they may need some additional controls. Furnace technology simply can not provide any air-conditioning.

    It is important to keep in mind that while heat pump appliances are perfectly easily run in reverse to bring immediate cool relief, there are no guarantees that it will work that way after a long winter if the equipment is not maintained regularly. It is important to make sure that all appliances are kept up to date and maintained. It will give you peace of mind.

    Heat Pump Maintenance Versus Furnace Maintenance

    Whether you have a heat pump system or a furnace is also important to remember not to panic when you feel that something isn’t right. Heat pumps tend to be more complex than a traditional furnace. There is more to go wrong in a heat pump than for a furnace central heating system. For example, if the fluid of a heat pump is not flowing through properly or the fan is not functioning then your heat pump will not function.

    Furnace vs Heat Pump – Heat Pump Air Filter Problems

    Another cause could be the air filter. The air filter is what removes the dust and other particles that are floating around in the air outside or the air of the room, depending on your system type. With the air filter clogged, you will not be receiving the cooling effect as well as the heat removal. Make sure that you always change your air filter at least once every few months. If you don’t it is possible that you will be losing the heat as well as the comfort of your home. There are several other causes of heat pump system failure, but the most common ones can cause your house to feel like a furnace during the summer season.

    Furnaces Cannot Do Cooling But Heat Pumps Can…

    However, as we have said earlier no furnace will ever cool a home or office, so if you have a furnace you will have to buy and maintain a separate air-conditioning system for the summer. That increases the complexity of your home systems and once again raises the chances of things going wrong and costing you money on maintenance and repair.

    You may also find it relevant to know, that it is just as possible for you to experience a malfunction when it’s a problem in the furnace. You might feel that the furnace is not bringing you heat, but it is possible that the furnace is not delivering the hot water or air that it is supposed to deliver. This is the main cause for complaint from furnace users, it may also be possible that the furnace water pump is circulating cold water to the radiators when you need hot water for the room heating.

    Heat Pumps vs Furnaces and Technical Complexity

    On balance, heat pump systems are more complicated than a fossil fuel burning natural gas furnace central heating system. But, as natural gas furnaces have been made to condense for greater efficiency, and gas safety controls applied, furnaces have become more complex and more prone to failures.

    When you also take into account that with global warming raising summer temperature more and more people require air conditioning, there is very little benefit in lower maintenance bills from having a furnace. This is because the maintenance costs, including maintenance of a separate air-conditioner, are likely to be very similar.

    Heat Pump Materials Used in Manufacture Versus Furnace Construction Material Use

    Both heat pump and furnace product can equally be made with eco-friendly, reusable and recycled materials, which can help save the earth and its environment. You can also take note that air conditioner prices vary according to the features they have. However, it is always wise, to pay attention not only to the price you will require, which means that a unit with an additional feature is probably more costly than a unit without the additional feature, both ecologically and in terms of cash expenditure.

    Furnace vs Heat Pump – Which is Best for Temperature Control?

    There are many reasons for buying an air conditioner, but the primary and major reason is always temperature control. This is the reason why a unit with an additional temperature control summer cooling feature is always more costly than air conditioning without a temperature control feature. If you want to have an air conditioner that controls the temperature with 100% accuracy, you will need to pay around $1,000.00 or more for a unit. There are some air conditioners that can control the temperature with 65% to 75% accuracy. This is less expensive but more complicated to install. A thermostat is a device that is placed in the room to control the temperature.

    Why Should I Buy a Heat Pump if I am Not a Green Eco Freak?

    There are many reasons for people to buy an air conditioner beyond the intention to be “green”. The main reasons are to have a cool and comfortable room during the summer and winter seasons and to have the protection of the environment. If you want a unit that can control the temperature with 100% accuracy and you want to control the temperature of your room with high accuracy, then you’ll need to pay $800.00 to $1,200.00. The best temperature control units are less complicated to install and are slightly less expensive than the less accurate air conditioners, but more expensive than the units that can control the temperature with 65% to 75% accuracy. These units are less costly to purchase but more expensive to operate and are the most expensive overall.

    Comparing Furnace vs Heat Pump Systems – The Verdict

    For convenience and minimizing the initial installation cost, there is no doubt that a furnace heating system, even with a separate air-conditioner system in the main rooms, wins. But despite that fact society needs to stop using furnaces and go for heat pumping systems in a big way! That’s due to the rate at which the planet is warming which is exceeding the rate predicted by scientists even a few years ago. The Furnace Vs Heat Pump debate is becoming more urgent every month. The increased risk from a much more variable and volatile climate is there for us all to see, from melting glaciers to forest fires, drought and floods.

    Choosing a Heat Pump System in preference to a new Furnace is not all bad news either. Once installed the cost of running it may be as low as just one-third of your past monthly energy bill, even allowing for the cost of the electricity to run the heat pump system. Over a period of 8 to 12 years, the cost of the heat pump will be recouped in lower monthly power bills.

    Now, most will say, “that’s too long”.

    But if you have children they will tell you 8 to 12 years is nothing to them, because they hope to be around in 50 years and if carbon emissions are not abated now, their lives will be extremely uncomfortable by then…

    The verdict:  We all should consider installing heat pumps and stop buying new furnaces. Like it or lump it. Heat pumps ain’t perfect, but they are the best tried and tested technology to decarbonize home and office heating. The climate change reality is that reducing carbon emissions can’t wait, or it’ll be too late.

    The Article Furnace vs Heat Pump Systems for Heating Homes and Offices Compared was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com

  • What is a Load Bearing Wall? Understanding Structural Home Conversions

    What is a Load Bearing Wall? Understanding Structural Home Conversions

    So, you are just starting out thinking about a home conversion, and you would like to know “What is a Load Bearing Wall?” We know the feeling that maybe if you remove a wall, the house will fall on you. Of course, get it wrong, and you are right! It really might! Never knock down a wall unless you are certain that it is not a loadbearing wall. Read on, and we will do our best to explain how to identify loadbearing and structural walls and how to distinguish them from non-structural walls or living-space partitions.

    What Is Load Bearing Wall? A “Load Bearing Wall” Definition

    A load-bearing wall or structural wall is a wall that is a structural part of a building, which supports the weight of the parts of the building over it. A loadbearing wall holds up what’s above it by “conducting the force created” by its weight down into a foundation (footing) structure beneath it.

    But that’s pretty obvious. When you plan or do a home conversion, what matters is distinguishing between the loadbearing walls and non-load bearing studding. Here are a few ways to assist budding “home converters” to distinguish between load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls that can be demolished. The first step to identification is to understand the design of the building.

    Load Bearing Wall Types Used in Construction

    Very often, just looking at a wall from within a house won’t provide any evidence to decide if it can be demolished. Architect-designed modern houses and old properties that have already undergone structural alteration, such as having extended floorspace added or rooms added, are tough to interpret. In those cases, the best way to find out is to ask an architect, a structural surveyor, or an engineer before you start putting it under the hammer. (In your location, there may also be restrictions to ensure only qualified technical experts decide for structural walls versus non-structural walls, so contact your local council’s building inspection or building regulations department.)

    Timber-framed buildings can be the most difficult to interpret but can be the easiest to strengthen with a strategically placed additional beam or two. However, while that may be possible, care still needs to be taken that any added beam has an adequate strength to support the beam ends where the additional load from the span will be transferred.

    Much of the modern timber commercially designed and framed home stock provides an internal space designed so that the developer can partition the space flexibly. In these homes, flats (apartments, etc.), non-lead-bearing partition walls can be erected anywhere within the external walls’ curtilage. For those designs which span the full floor space, all structural loads are (in theory) carried out to the external walls. That means that it may remove virtually any internal wall.

    However, removing every wall for a completely open-plan living space may result in a rather “springy” or “lively” upper floor. This happens because, without the restraint of non-load bearing walls, the floor is not as stiff as is normally provided when walls are present. While not dangerous, the occupants may become concerned about floor movement. Hence, once again, the expertise of a structural engineer is advisable. Some risk is also present that heavily loaded areas of upper floors may, over time, settle, causing cracked plaster, creaking floorboards, etc. An example of heavy-loading maybe a library or even a large-double waterbed!

    In Europe, most detached and semi-detached homes built since the 1930s have been brick cavity wall designs. However, to keep construction costs low and minimize wood use, internal load-bearing walls may have been used.  Even so, the uppermost floor internal walls are more likely to be non-loadbearing. Meaning that the roof structure spans across the full width, the lower floor(s) may have load-bearing walls usually constructed in brick or breeze blocks with mortar joints.

    Homes may look like brick-built cavity-walled homes but may not be. Some houses will be structural steel or wood, framed with heat-insulated, uninsulated, dry-lined plasterboard internal finishes. Less common are wide-variety of proprietary concrete and modular building systems houses, about which the general comments given here will indicate very little.

    Featured image: "What is a load bearing wall?".

    Returning to traditional forms of construction. Just because an internal wall in a cavity-wall type-construction property is made of wood does not conclusively show it is a non-load-bearing wall. So, let us next consider some basic indications of load-bearing walls:

    How To Tell A Loadbearing Wall (LBW) from a Non LBW

    However, beware of making judgments on house structural forms without entering the roof-spaces and picking up hints on the structural form using some easy methods that can help distinguish a load-bearing wall from one the is simply a partition.

    The following are easy methods to detect a loadbearing wall:

    • By Sound: Tap the wall in a way that will not damage plastering or decorations. Even a gentle knock with your fist or knuckles may help here! An engineer may use the rubberized handle of a hammer, for example. Listen. Does the wall sound hollow, or even vibrate? With experience, this provides a good guide for walls that are merely in insubstantial plasterboard dry lined over a wooden studding. In such instances, there can be reasonable confidence a wall being non-load-bearing.
    • External Visual Inspection: As the original external walls of a building will normally have been load-bearing and older properties have often been extended so that external walls have become internal walls, always look for telltale signs of building extensions. If you find a wall that you want to demolish was once an external wall, it is usually best to assume that it is load-bearing. Extensions to properties can usually be detected from differences apparent from the roof heights and spans, tile type and color differences, etc. Looking lower down at walls, the brick or plaster types and color may also vary between original construction and extensions and alterations added later. A bit of detective work can raise questions in your mind, which should then be checked in this method’s next step.
    • By Loft (Roof) General Space Inspection: Before carrying out a roof space inspection, identify all hazards and ensure that the entry made is with the property owner’s permission and in a safe manner. While taking due care while moving into and around the roof space, look for which walls to roof loadings where rafters or trusses rest upon “wall plates.” Wallplates are usually beams laid horizontally on the top of walls. They rest on the single skin of early stone-built and brick houses. Where there is a cavity wall, they usually rest on the internal leaf of cavity walls. They serve to avoid excessive point loads being placed on small areas of walls that would otherwise exert an excessive “shear force” and crack or distort the wall members’ bricks, blocks, etc., upon which they rest. Wherever rafters and roof beams in general rest on a wall, that wall is load-bearing. However, any wall extending above a wall at one level should also be considered load-bearing because it supports the wall above’s the weight.
    • By Loft (Roof) Space Inspection: The way that floor joists run and where they end and rest on internal walls is an important guide to load-bearing that we give it a separate mention here. You may need to lift insulation to see the joist. It is important to do that over the full area above any wall you would like to remove. Don’t damage the insulation material. Take care to avoid inhaling dust and always wear a mask and other suitable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Wherever you see joists resting on a wall or wall plate, you have a load-bearing wall. Where joists span over a wall below and have no connection through which they can transfer any loads to the wall below, you don’t have a load-bearing wall immediately below that point.
    • Basement Inspection: Basement inspections are vital wherever a building possesses a basement. A good indication that a wall above is probably load-bearing is where that wall extends downward and therefore passes its load on down into the building’s foundations. Conversely, if by inspection from the basement, there is no wall or support column or beam beneath an internal wall above, that can be a good indication that it is a non-load-bearing wall (partition) and can be removed.
    • Looking into built-in cupboards, metering cabinets, and space under the stairs: In fact, shining a torch into any space that reveals the building’s structure is always worth doing. It will confirm the building structure, and in older properties also help identify later additions to the structure through differences in construction type and materials used.

    Load Bearing Wall (LBW) Design

    For a structural engineer, load-bearing wall design is a complex subject in which complex mathematics very soon features heavily. The simple concept of conducting the force created by the load above into a foundation has to be considered with a detailed knowledge of the physical strength, stiffness, and creep under load characteristics of the materials used. Factors of safety, design life and such factors as local wind velocities and earthquake risk may also need to be considered.

    Thankfully, in-house building, all this has been rendered down into the standard, tried and tested using bricks, blocks, mortar, etc. As long as the wall height is not excessive and point loads are dispersed using wall plates, standard building details will be all that is needed to design a satisfactory load-bearing wall.

    For the person contemplating demolition of a structural wall for a home conversion, we recommend that a non-expert become involved in their design, beyond the normal standard details listed in Building Regulations and accepted “Codes of Practice,” is not feasible. A few hours spent reading up on the requirements will not help. Short of taking training courses and taking professional examinations, lasting years to complete, you will not succeed in creating load-bearing wall designs ready to be approved by most nations’ legal bodies. This is an area where the DIY’er should accept the need for professional help and seek it out.

    LBW Removal

    Deciding to carry out a load-bearing wall removal is similar to the design of these as walls. Whether it can be done or not, the province of engineers qualified to do structural engineering calculations unless common solutions exist. If a full wall removal is required, the circumstances will be particular to the load, which must be supported. The forces will need to be assessed and loads supported by beams and lintels etc. The loads which will flow through beams, lintels, etc., will also need to be adequately supported at the beam ends. These displaced forces will then need to be considered for the additional weight they load onto the footings in the new support pathways created. Such concepts as stiffness, slenderness ratios (for columns, etc.), and creep over time will also need to be applied.

    However, no such professional advice may be needed where only part of a loadbearing wall is removed, say for a door opening. It could equally be for another type of load-bearing wall opening, such as a  window. If a DIYer does this, one method is to ask an online lintel manufacturer to provide a suitable lintel that their structural engineers have designed to perform a stated function to support the brickwork (for example) above a new door opening of a stated width within a larger wall.

    How To Replace an LBW With a Beam?

    Replacing a load-bearing wall with a beam is a common and effective way to continue to hold up a building after removing a load-bearing wall. All the comments we made previously apply to the need for professional advice. There will be a need to specify and provide dimensions for the beam itself and add whatever plates or reinforcement support at each end of the beam are necessary. The concentrated “beam forces” will be conveyed downward into the foundations.

    Load Bearing Wall Removal Cost?

    When a loadbearing wall is removed, there are a whole host of factors that affect the price. Not least is the amount of work needed from a qualified structural designer, but other factors will be the:

    • ease or complexity of the demolition work needed first to remove the wall
    • cost of propping the wall while the new beam or other structural support is provided
    • cost of removing the rubble and its reuse or disposal
    • cost of the permanent beam or other provision for the permanent support of the structure above.

    How to Determine Load Bearing Wall?

    Determining whether a wall to be removed by demolition is a load-bearing wall has already been discussed in this article. We covered this subject in the section titled: “How To Tell A Loadbearing Wall.” Please scroll back up to that section above.

    Load Bearing Wall Beam

    A load-bearing wall beam is any horizontal structural part (beam) to take the distributed and any point loading forces imposed on that part and convey those forces to the ends of the beam where they are thrust onto suitable plates, blocks, or bricks with mortar, or other fixings. This is done without the beam bending or deflecting at a percentage of the total span beyond a maximum permissible within the relevant Codes of Practice in force in any jurisdiction.

    Load Bearing Wall Beam Calculator

    The purpose of a load-bearing wall beam calculator is to size the required beam to withstand the forces applied to it. Beware of using such a calculator online unless you know what you are doing. Have you been able to fully assess the loads being applied to the wall by the structure above? Unless you have been trained in structural building works to design and are aware of any local legal requirements, you should not do this/ rely on your results.  Regulations may exist which must be applied where you live. We do not recommend the use of a load-bearing wall beam calculator to a novice or DIYer. However, at https://sites.google.com/view/localplumbershrewsbury/home the business owner carries out many home conversions each year and is highly skilled in building work and plumbing; and is anything but a novice!

    How Much Of A Load Bearing Wall Can Be Removed?

    To say how much of a load-bearing wall can be removed by writing down even the most general advice here is not worthwhile. There are so many variables, any of which will be unique to a particular project home or office building, that rule of thumb guidance here would not be helpful.

    The Article What is a Load Bearing Wall? Understanding Structural Home Conversions was found on https://limitsofstrategy.com