Charity golf tournament has new meaning for Doug DeCinces

On this morning, like every morning of his young life, Beckett Williams dances into the living room hardwood wearing flannel pajamas with feet and knows it's time for therapy.

Beckett, the 2-year-old grandson of former Angels All-Star third baseman Doug DeCinces, climbs into a cushioned chair in front of the television. His mother, Amy, puts a black vest over his shoulders and fastens the Velcro straps snuggly around his tiny chest.

Then she gently places a nebulizer mask over his mouth and nose, its hose delivering puffs of warm medicated air to inhale. She turns on a small medical device that rapidly inflates and deflates the vest, filling the room with a familiar rattle and hum of the air compressor.

His father, T.J., turns up the volume on "Top Gun," Beckett's favorite movie. The boy loves airplanes and Angels baseball.

Everything on his 31/2-foot body — the guitars on his pajamas, his curly blond hair, his tiny fingers and covered feet — shakes, loosening whatever mucus builds in his lungs and moving it toward larger airways so he can breathe more easily.

When Beckett was 12 days old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic defect that causes the body's mucus-producing cells to produce thick secretions. For 30 minutes every morning and night, he wears the vest that beats on his chest wall. The disease is relentless.

"When a child has CF, everything that is normal changes," said Amy Williams, who, until Beckett got the vest when he was a year old, took turns with T.J. patting on 12 spots on their son's chest and back for daily therapy.

"This is our normal."

A black and white photo of Beckett wearing an Angels cap and T-shirt and crawling onto third base at Angel Stadium adorns the invitation to the Angels Baseball Foundation 65 Roses Golf Classic benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The annual event, started by former Angel Don Baylor 33 years ago, take places Sunday and Monday at Los Coyotes Country Club in Buena Park.

"Knowing Don, I played in 17 of these events over the years before finding out that CF hit close to home," said DeCinces, an Angel from 1982-87 who resides in Laguna Beach.

"Watching Beckett grow up has been very emotional, and seeing how my family has handled everything to try to give him the best chances at living a full life has made me very proud."

65 Roses takes its name from how young children tried to say "cystic fibrosis." DeCinces, in the early years of the event, remembers meeting CF children who would die before they were 10. But with early diagnosis and medical advances in treatment, CF patients can live well into adulthood.

Beckett's parents, T.J, who is in real estate, and Amy, who designs new home interiors, are self-employed so they can be home to care for Beckett and their older son, Brody, 4. They deal with CF as a family.

After morning therapy, Beckett, freed from vest and mask, scrambles out to the backyard with his brother, dodging overturned Big Wheels, toy cars, a batting tee, plastic bat and Wiffle ball, to climb onto a large trampoline. The two run and jump high, the motion triggering Beckett to cough.

"This is a good thing," says Amy, watching her sons chase each other before Beckett hops for safety into her arms.

The parents have taken every step to keep Beckett healthy. All visitors wash their hands with sanitizer. The windows in Beckett's room are kept closed and the air purifier stays on beside his crib.

Shoes stay outside to keep dirt off the floors that are now wood instead of the dust-trapping carpet. Even their two Labradoodles play on artificial grass so the dogs don't drag soil into the home.

"The boys are too young to understand what CF is but they've handled everything really well," said T.J. Williams, who became active in CF charities last year and is chairman of this year's 65 Roses event. "We have a lot of fun."

The family went to Disneyland last month and bought Beckett's duck caller, which, like all the whistles and the harmonica around the house, get him to blow, breathe and strengthen his lungs.

They went to the Miramar Air Show so Beckett could watch the planes. They made it to a half dozen Angels games this season so Brody, who likes to smack home runs in the backyard, can see baseball and Beckett could clap at the sight of fireworks.

LG introduces air care product range for home users

Most individuals spend over 80% of their lifetime indoor inhaling unfiltered air which can lead to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). SBS can lead to respiratory and sensory irritation causing discomfort to the occupants.

LG's Air Purifiers provide proper humidification which prevents the proliferation of dust, germs and viruses thereby preventing various respiratory diseases. Indoor air can also lead to dehydration due to lack of humidification which can cause issues such as dry skin, chronic joint and muscle pain, irritable throat, sore eyes and difficulty in concentrating. This multiuse air purifier functions as three different air-solution devices: an air cleaner, an NPI (Nano Plasma Ion) sterilizer and a natural humidifier.

"The general perception is that staying indoor is more healthy than being outdoors. But as we understand the circulation of air within closed spaces, we realize that it is equally harmful and can cause several respiratory as well as chronic joint and muscle ailments. CoreCare³™, LG's smart technology, filters harmful substances in the air, humidifies and washes the air through natural vaporization, catching viruses and bacteria with NPI. With LG's Air Purifier, customers can enjoy more pleasant air, safe in the knowledge that their family is being protected from respiratory diseases," said Mr. H.S Paik, President, LG Gulf FZE.

The range includes Aqua 3 in 1 Air Purifier, Black Hole Air Purifier, Air Bus Air Purifier, Virus Pro Nano Plasma Ionizer and Air Washer 3 in 1 Natural Humidifier.

The LG Aqua 3 in 1 Air Purifier offers advanced filtration and sterilization. Additionally, the natural humidification process provides pleasant indoor air and enables comfortable sleep patterns. This purifier comes equipped with a smart sensor that indicates indoor air pollution levels. With a convenient design, the purifier is easy to clean and maintain.

The visual dust lighting feature of the LG Black Hole Air Purifier senses and immediately indicates indoor air pollution levels and automatically sets the most appropriate fan speed. The Black Hole also comes equipped with the sleeping mode function. Unlike others, LG purifier's don't emit a 'buzz' sound, disturbing sleep patterns.

Get clean breathing air and save energy with the LG Air Bus Air Purifier. The Air Bus Purifier is the winner of the 2010 Energy Winner awards due to its technology innovation, appropriateness, energy efficiency and economic impact on energy saving. The Air Bus inhales polluted air and delivers a great amount of clean air far and wide through the unique air flow structure. The 'Ergonomic Air Flow System' accumulated technology from LG Air conditioners is suitable for use in wide spaces such as living rooms and offices.

LG Virus Pro Nano Plasma Ionizer (NPI) has the capability to remove and safeguard your home from up to 99% air-borne bacteria and virus, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Staphylococcus Aureus and Salmonella. Virus Pro is also capable of curing headaches due to lack of ozone, removing cigarette odor as well as clearing up any unpleasant odors. The LG Virus Pro Nano Plasma Ion filtration system requires only 1.9 watts to operate and works for up to 10 square meters of spaces.

The LG Air Washer 3 in 1 Natural Humidifier comes with a Turbo Humidification feature, enabling quicker expansion of clean moisture in the air. The device is ideal for individuals with breathing difficulties in dry seasons such as extreme winter and summer. The Auto Air Louver prevents dirt from getting into the product ensuring clean breathing air.

The sterilization process of the LG purifiers is based on Nano Plasma Ion (NPI) technology. NPI destroys the molecular structure of floating germs and viruses. Research has also shown the NPI system being capable of effectively eradicating nearly 100% of viruses from indoor air.

All LG Air Purifiers have been certified by Intertek Testing Services, Auburn University, British Allergy Foundation and Korea Food & Drug Administration.

Punk Rock Parking Lot Apocalypse

I'll never forget where I was or what I was doing when I first heard of The Cramp. The year was 1984. I was eighteen and camped out at home in my African-jungle-by-way-of-Sears-bedecked bedroom, thumbing through Rolling Stone magazine, gazing blankly at glossy pics of vacuous, not too terribly rockin' movie and television stars. Somewhere in the record review section my eyes fell upon a thumbnail of the most psychotic album cover I had ever seen, gracing the most illuminating description of music I had ever read. This elvish, marvelously unhinged critic discussed The Cramps' newest release in such glowing terms that I was completely enthralled. He was delirious; gushing over "the shittiest guitar solo" he'd ever heard and quoting couplets from "T.V. Set" as if they were Elizabethan verses crafted by twee miniature dolphin-angels. Suddenly, I got it! Great punk rock is so bad that it's legitimately good, good enough to rate rave reviews by establishment magazines. So I picked up a vinyl copy of The Cramps' Bad Music For Bad People and my musical palate was forever enriched.

As a form of expression, punk rock is inherently queer simply by being digressive. Queer culture always gets co-opted for being ahead of the curve and so does punk. Sometimes punk gets gussied up and expanded upon stylistically, as when The Clash incorporated elements of ska and dub in their early 80s salad days. As with any progressive cultural movement, punk gets pulverized and fed through the grinder only to be repackaged as radio-friendly pablum. Now this is not necessarily a bad thing. Much of what is now considered proto-punk was radio-friendly pablum throughout the Animal House 60s; take for example The Troggs' truly sublime #1 hit, "Wild Thing." The Cramps never had a prayer as far as finding any kind of radio exposure in the Reagan era of Journey and REO Speedwagon but their blood-lust can be heard in the tightly modulated hysteria of The Pixies' "Wave Of Mutilation," in My Bloody Valentine's long-form "shitty guitar solo" album Loveless and even in Nirvana's hopeless "Rape Me." The Cramps were here, they were queer and a lot of people were listening, goddammit. Where was the Casey Kasem American Top 40 love, I ask you?


Punk itself is here to stay and will never, ever grow old. By virtue of its inherent and perpetual galling disregard for every little thing, it has established itself a purifier and a revelator. Thus its indelible purpose is to re-set rock and roll whenever it gets stuck in a rut and starts to take itself too seriously. Throughout the past couple months a slew of New York City bands, Making Friendz, Light Asylum and Little Victory to name a few, have been sexing up OWS-era downtown barroom dance-floors with a take-no-prisoners punk rock swagger. Loosely clustered around the unhelpful descriptor 'lo-fi', they have little in common other than occasional drop-in personnel and the fact that they hijack 1980s cultural touchstones such as Ian Curtis and Romeo Void's Deborah Iyall to subvert and to suit their own unique purposes. They gig gay venues but their queer mojo is a natural fact and not a campy, flag-waving disposition or even their raison d'etre. Their sexuality is not specifically target-marketed or polemical. It is however unapologetic and unmistakable. These bands don't strive to serve realness, they simply are what they is.

For me, right now, Little Victory is punk rock parking lot apocalypse. They're The Only Band That Matters Not A Whit. They're John and Exene X grabbing the mic from Stiff Little Fingers, singing odes to Cherie Currie who's too busy feathering her fucking hair in somebody's compact mirror to even know they're alive. Oh and incidentally, they're queer as freak folk. I asked frontman Zan Amparan how The Gay Thing factors into Little Victory's worldview:

"It's hard to judge how other people perceive us but I'm pretty sure that most people probably know I'm gay the moment I start talking, either because I sound, shall we say, 'not quite butch' or because I talk a lot and my references, point of view and subject matter tend to be pretty incredibly homosexual. I wouldn't ever describe our band as militant, I just don't write songs that way, but it would be fair to say that we are all political in our own ways. I mean, a grown man singing about being a young man identifying with bad-ass young women as I do in 'Cool Girls' is pretty undeniably gay."

Bangkok faces worst flooding yet, governor warns

Bangkok faces the highest flood levels yet and is preparing for the worst, the governor of the Thai capital told CNN Wednesday.

Residents are urged to flee the rising floodwaters, which have already forced the closure of Bangkok's Don Muang airport and the evacuation of flood victims who have taken refuge there.

Thailand's government has declared a five-day public holiday in flood-affected provinces to try to encourage people to seek safety elsewhere before high tides expected this weekend.

But Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paripatra told CNN the authorities could not evacuate a whole city and it was difficult to persuade the Thai people to leave their homes, despite the risk.

"Apparently there will be large volume of water runoff coming toward the city tonight onwards, and over the weekend," he said. "At the point of high tide, it will be very high, the highest this year. We are bracing for the worse."

Thongthong Chantharangsu, a spokesman for Thailand's Flood Relief Operations Center, appealed on TV for Bangkok residents to head to the countryside.

Floodwaters extend from Rangsit, north of Bangkok, to Don Muang airport and Yingcharoen Market, state-run news agency MCOT reported.

The water has reached 30cm (12 inches) in places and is overflowing on to sidewalks and some roads, causing problems for small vehicles and leading to traffic congestion, the agency said.

In a televised address Tuesday night, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the capital could be submerged by as much as 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) of water.

Of particular concern were areas along the Chao Phraya River, which winds through the capital and is expected to overwhelm embankments this weekend.

The Airports of Thailand declared Don Muang airport, which primarily services domestic flights, closed Tuesday night, after floodwaters flowed onto runways and affected the lighting.

Nok Air, which usually operates from Don Muang, was forced to cancel flights but should be able to run an almost normal schedule by Friday after moving its operations to the main Suvarnabhumi Airport, the airline's chief executive Patee Sarasin said Wednesday. Some 3,000 Nok Air passengers were affected by flight cancellations Tuesday, he said.

The flood relief operation will continue to be based at the airport, the Thai government said Wednesday.

More than 600 prisoners held at Bang Kwang Central Prison have been evacuated, according to the Department of Corrections. The high-security prison has about 4,000 inmates, the chief of the prison said, some of them high-profile.

The floods have also forced the Dusit Zoo to evacuate some animals, including goat antelope and Sika deer, to a zoo in the countryside, according to Dusit Zoo's chief, Karnchai Saenwong.

The U.S. ambassador to Thailand, Kristie A. Kenny, said the crisis was slow moving and it was hard to know what would be hit next.

The United States has already provided civilian relief resources including water pumps, purifiers and life vests, she said, and two U.S. helicopters are helping the Thai military survey the extent of the flooding.

Nationwide, the floods have killed 373 people and affected more than 9.5 million people, authorities said.

The public holiday announced Tuesday will be from Thursday to next Monday and will be effective in 21 provinces, including Bangkok, that are still under water, a government spokeswoman said.

The government has called the flooding the worst to afflict the nation in half a century and said it might take more than a month before the waters recede in some areas.

The government has set up more than 1,700 shelters nationwide, and more than 113,000 people have taken refuge.

Overall damage from the floods has risen and could top $6 billion, with the worst yet to come as the waters destroy shops and paralyze factories nationwide, the Thai Finance Ministry said.

Thailand derives a significant portion of its revenue from tourism, which has been diminished by the flooding.

Class Sneezes at Flu-Fighting Oreck Vacuum

Oreck markets its "flu-fighting" vacuum cleaners and air purifiers with false claims that they can "eliminate common viruses, germs and allergens, thereby helping to prevent the illnesses they cause," consumers say in a federal class action.
"Defendants represented to consumers that the products used scientifically proven technology to eliminate common viruses, germs and allergens, thereby helping to prevent the illnesses they cause," the complaint states. "However, these representations were false, deceptive and inaccurate. As such, Oreck's actions violated the Magnum Moss Warranty Act ('MMWA'), breached express warranties made by defendants, breached implied contractual warranties imposed by law, violated numerous California consumer protection statutes, and violated New York consumer protection statutes and common laws."

Lead plaintiffs Roxy Edge and Linda Gonzalez sued Oreck Corp. and three Oreck LLCs. They say the Nashville-based company cannot back up its claims that its vacuum cleaners and air-purifiers can "kill" bacteria and viruses.
Oreck claims that its Halo brand upright vacuum cleaner is "different from an ordinary upright vacuum" because of its "light chamber."

According to Oreck's ads, the product "'creates a powerful germicidal wavelength of UV-C light that can kill and reduce up to 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria helping you give your floors a healthier clean,'" the complaint states.
It continues: "This functionality was depicted in a number of different ways throughout Oreck's many advertising mediums. One such advertisement showed a man in a lab coat (apparently lending credence to Oreck's claims of scientific testing) vacuuming a floor surface with the Halo. Other advertisements featured the Halo eliminating simulated germs, bacteria and dust mite eggs below a carpeted floor surface. According to defendants, all of this was accomplished in less than one second of exposure to the light emitted from the Halo. One of Oreck's printed advertisements claimed that, 'when the light is on, germs are gone.'"

"In this product, Oreck didn't claim that the UV-C light, dubbed the 'Helios Shield,' killed germs, bacteria, molds, or viruses like the Halo. Although they were frequently advertised together, Oreck represented that the ProShield Plus air purifier 'uses ultraviolet light to smash the molecular structure of gases and odors' and 'uses UV light to remove many odors from the air.' Defendants also made very similar claims about their air purifiers' germ killing and flu fighting abilities, claiming the air purifiers would remove flu and other viruses, bacteria, mold and other pathogens from the air," the complaint states.

"Unfortunately for plaintiffs and the class, defendants' claims are not adequately supported by credible, scientific testing or other substantiation, and are not true," the complaint states.

The FTC this year fined Oreck $750,000 for "false and deceptive claims" and ordered it to stop claiming "Halo and the ProShield can kill bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, and thereby prevent illness," the complaint adds.
The plaintiffs seek class damages under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, for breach of express warranties, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, consumer law violations, unfair competition, false advertising and violations of New York General Business Laws.

 Oreck spokesman John Van Mol told Courthouse News: "In this case no class has been certified. The company does not believe there is any merit to the plaintiffs' attorneys' case and it intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit."

Naples man accused of running growhouse in Lehigh Acres

An anonymous tip led deputies to a Naples man accused of growing marijuana in a Lehigh Acres home.

According to reports, when Lee deputies arrived at 3002 25 Street Southwest, Lehigh Acres, they came in contact with 41-year-old Juan Jimenez Miguel. He was with three other people who seemed to be nervous when they saw deputies. Miguel was going in and out of the residence and appeared to be getting ready to leave the other individuals.

As they approached the residence, deputies say they could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. They explained to Miguel they were there investigating anonymous tip, and they would like permission to search the residence. Reports say Miguel gave consent, but went on to explain that the others were not involved in his operation.

Miguel escorted deputies through the home where they learned that one bedroom had been converted into a marijuana grow operation. It had approximately 17 high-powered lights, an irrigation system and an air purifier to hide the smell. All the plants had been clipped except for two and the buds were hanging on a line to dry out.

Miguel, of the 4000 block of 6th Avenue Southeast, was arrested at the house and is facing charges of producing marijuana, drug equipment possession for manufacture, and marijuana trafficking.

Midea Rilis AC Inverter Alp Series

Midea Electronics Indonesia meluncurkan penyejuk udara kategori inverter, Alps Series yang diklaim mampu menghadirkan kesejukan yang lebih efisien dan sehat.

Alps Series mengusung unit indoor yang di-polish hingga index 110 dan didesain sedemikian rupa hingga pada saat tidak dioperasikan akan tertutup rapat hingga tampak simple dan sangat bersih.

Ia didukung tiga teknologi hemat energi, yakni Inverter DC 1800 Sine Wave yang meningkatkan tingkat EER dan gelombang yang sangat halus tanpa banyak lonjakan hingga bisa running dengan sangat halus, nyaris tak bersuara dan tanpa getaran.

Kedua adalah Kompresor Inverter DC Twin-Rotary yang sangat mengurangi getaran dan suara kompresor, dapat diaplikasikan dalam frekuensi yang lebih leluasa, output kapasitas yang lebih besar, sistem pembatasan konsumsi enerji.

Kemudian Motor DC Brushless untuk kompresor, fan indoor dan outdoor yang memungkinkan adanya rotasi teratur yang menurunkan konsumsi enerji hingga 35 persen jika dibandingkan dengan Motor AC dari tipe dan merek lain. Kecepatan Fan unit Indoor pun bisa diatur hingga 12 tingkat guna mendapatkan sirkulasi udara yang nyaman.

Untiuk kesehatan terdapat  Super Plasma Air Purifier. Plasma zone yang dimiliki ALPS Series merupakan medan pembangkit listrik electrostatic bertegangan tinggi. Dengan ukuran yang lebih besar, Super Plasma Air Purifier meningkatkan mutu pensucian udara dan sirkulasi udara yang baik. Dilengkapi dengan High-Density Filter, ALPS Series mampu menyaring debu hingga 50% lebih efisien. Sebagai perbandingan untuk banyaknya lubang filter persentimeter persegi, ALPS Series 256, sedangkan tipe/merek lain 156, ukuran lubang filter ALPS Series 0,51mmx0,51mm, sedangkan tipe/merek lain 1,2mmx1,2mm.

Semua kecanggihan itu dilengkapi dengan Low Noise Operation yang memungkinkan pengoperasian hingga nyaris tanpa suara, kenyamanan Anda dalam pingintalasian unit indoor , Turbo Operation yang memungkinkan pendingan secepat yang Anda inginkan dan Sleep Mode yang mengatur temperatur ruangan sebelum benar-benar berhenti hingga tidur Anda tidak terganggu.

Sharp Firms Up Appliance Leadership

Sharp, the country's leading distributor of washing machines, firms up its market dominance in washing machine and refrigerators with higher market shares by 2013 in line with the Japanese company’s overall thrust to increase its overseas presence rather than its domestic base.

Naotaka Ohtsuka, Sharp Philippines group deputy general manager for health and environment systems, divulged this as the local unit marked its 30th year and 100 years for Sharp Corp.

Ohtsuka said the company aims to make its overseas markets contribute 50 percent of its total business. At present, Japan sales contribute the bulk of 60 percent of total. Asean accounts for 25 percent of its total overseas business.

Ohtsuka said the company aims to cement its market share for washer and twin tub washing machines to 30 percent in 2013 from 26 percent market share for 2010 fiscal year.

For the refrigerator market, the company aims to capture 22 percent market from 14 percent in the 2010 fiscal year. These growth projections would mean the company would have cemented its number one position in these sectors by 2013. For airconditioners, the company expects to gain 12 percent market share by 2013 to be the country’s top three in this product line.

Sharp will be introducing hole less tub, which technology would prevent the formation of black moulds that could attach to clothes.

The company has also a strong presence in the CRT television series although its LCD and LED TV series are expected to grow stronger than the vanishing CRT line.

To mark its centennial celebration, Sharp vows to continue introducing innovative products that would address environmental and health issues.

Already, its appliances are incorporated with plasmacluster ion technology that suppresses harmful airborne elements to promote a clean indoor environment. These are found in Sharp air purifiers, ion generators, air-conditioners and refrigerators.

Sharp’s new UV2A technology in its Quattron LCD TV also does its part in creating a more power efficient TV, the fast that it is the first in the industry to have the proprietary RGB+Y technology, which means it can easily handle advanced picture quality and maximum color precision that only Sharp can provide.

Sharp’s poly-crystalline silicon solar panels are now in use at a CEPALCO operated farm in Cagayan, the first solar farm in the country.

The PSC panels and the newer thin-film panels are widely utilized in other parts of the world for navigational systems, satellites, skyscrapers and other commercial applications.

2012 Nissan Quest minivan nears a second decade in U.S. showrooms

Other prices and grades for the Quest minivan, which is available now at U.S.-based Nissan dealerships, are $31,050, for the SV; $34,500, for the SL; and $41,350, for the top-of-the-line LE. It is assembled in Shatai, Kyūshū, Japan.

The Quest has been part of the Nissan lineup in the United States since 1993.

In its first two generations, the Quest was assembled in Avon Lake, Ohio, and was the cousin of the Mercury Villager, which is no longer in production.

The third-generation Quest, which began with a 2004 redesign, shared a platform and engines with the Nissan Altima, Maxima and Murano. It was manufactured in Canton, Miss.

Production shifted to Japan in 2011, when the Quest began its fourth generation as a Nissan minivan. Today the Quest continues to share a platform with the Nissan Elgrand.

Each 2012 Nissan Quest is equipped with a 260-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 engine that generates 240 foot pounds of torque, and an Xtronic CVT transmission. Standard equipment includes one-touch power sliding doors, fold-flat second- and third-row seating, an Advanced Climate Control System and what Nissan calls "permanent hidden storage."

XM Satellite Radio is standard on SV and SL Quests.

The 2012 Nissan Quest comes with standard Nissan Intelligent Key and optional sliding doors that unlock and open the side door with a button touch. The Quest’s second row has a walk-in device for easier access to the back row. A liftgate is standard on SL and LE grades.

The third row of seats folds forward. The permanent rear storage well is always available, and a flat cargo floor is there without having to remove any seats.

The Quest LE’s standard Advanced Climate Control System with Plasmacluster air purifier and Grape Polyphenol Filter works three ways to help reduce allergens and unwanted odors inside the cabin. A standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System gives occupants what Nissan calls an "Easy Fill Tire Alert."

Fuel economy is 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway. The 2012 Quest also has 4-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes and vehicle-speed-sensitive power steering. A nice feature is a light that warns the driver that a car is in a blind spot.

Seven exterior colors are available. Super Black is added for 2012. There are two interior colors in a choice of cloth  or leather-appointed seating.

Home Air Cleaners – The way Owning One Helps The Elderly

There’s a few things you can do, if you’re an elderly person, to be proactive about looking after your health. Everybody knows that when people age, their health starts to deteriorate. The elderly need to eat healthy food, and exercise like every other age group, but another thing that would be a benefit for them would be an air purifier. You will get to breathe healthier air when you use an air purifier in your house or room.

These are electric machines that take the harmful air particles and get rid of them or sometimes destroy them. Clean air at home is good for everyone, but especially for senior citizens. Older people are prone to complications, in addition to being more prone to getting ill. A part of this could be eliminated by having cleaner air, and removing many of the causes of the disease. You ought to be thinking of getting an air purifier, but before you rush out and buy one, talk with your healthcare provider. You have to be able to get the all the information you need from them, even if it’s unlikely that they’ll be experts on air purifiers.

Their endorsed air purifier may destroy bacteria as well as trapping it, and that could be useful information for you. Prior to buying you must ensure that you have identified the one best for your circumstances. It’s particularly important to get the best one if you are an allergy sufferer. You will have to do the research even if you’re not buying for yourself, but for your parents or any other elderly person. Several of the important details to bear in mind are the cost of the air purifiers, the quality you need, the sizes of the rooms, and whether they fit into a budget.

Remember also to talk to the healthcare providers for their recommendations. A large number of places offer discounts to the elderly, which will help offset the cost of the purifier you buy. According to what type you’re going to choose, you may want to search online for the best prices. Try home improvement stores, department stores, quite possibly electronic stores. There’s a place that has the air purifier that is going to clean your house just right. In case you are not able to get a discount, don’t let that stop you from getting the air purifier. The product is definitely worth even the full price.

Providing them with clean air to breathe will make the final years of the senior citizens whose welfare concerns us a lot more enjoyable. Quite possibly guests can benefit. The appropriate air purifier will be chosen by relating it with regard to the house or apartment where it will be used.

For particular fantastic hepa filter, inspect Air Purifier website for the dozens of advantages of having and running a air purifier.

Cruising in comfort

Dometic Marine distributor, Whiting Power Systems recently introduced the Dometic Split Air Conditioning System and In-Duct Breath Easy Air Purifier at the Auckland International Boat Show.

The Emerald Split Air Conditioning System comprises a Emerald Condenser and Emerald Evaporator, and has been engineered to use R410A environmentally safe refrigerant. Fully compliant with International green gas standards, the thermodynamic properties of R410A is said to have enabled Dometic engineers to increase system efficiency by using fewer amps per capacity.

The In-Duct Breathe Easy Air Purifier, which was awarded an IBEX Innovation Award in the Mechanical Systems category at IBEX 2010, is specifically designed to work within the ducting of a yacht’s air conditioning system. Operating silently, it purifies and cleanses air using Photocatalytic Nano-Mesh Technology with UV light. Each time the air circulates it is further purified.

The unit is said to take up little space, and if retrofitted will require no alterations to be made to the vessel’s existing air conditioning unit. There is no need for any mounting hardware as a section of the A/C ducting is cut out and the circular In-Duct Breathe Easy tube simply inserted, then the ducting is reattached to it. The Breathe Easy is available in sizes to match all standard duct diameters.

The Best And Worst Electronic Air Cleaner You Can Buy Today

As deterrence is far better than cure we strive to keep our area clean and sanitary. Air is among the main elements of survival. Every living being endures by breathing air. But the escalating environmental pollution needs an added aid to help keep the air refreshing. An Electronic Air cleaner gives that support to you. It truly is a system particularly produced to eliminate the contamination and purify the air. Keep in mind filtered air is definitely expected for better health at home.

Why Use An Electronic Air cleanser?

The ancient cleanser employed considering that ages will be the broom. It is low cost and convenient but restricted. The dust contaminants seldom go anywhere far. The person sweeping and people close by get sprayed with dust particles. The bending necessary to sweep with the broom has given the women a persistent back ache. The electronic cleaner is built retaining this planned.

The electronic cleaner is designed to cleanse the air to a greater magnitude. They remove dust, pollens, dust mites, and other allergens and also bacteria. Certain electronic residence air purifiers are helpful at removing particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Absolute Air At Shelter Away from the working hours we invest our day at house. To stay wholesome it is particularly essential to inhale refreshing. Inside smog is amid the leading five ecological wellness perils. To prevent or control this risk ventilate your home with clean exterior air. This becoming insufficient you possibly can use an air cleansing equipment.

Some air maintaining products are created to be installed within the duct work of a home’s central heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning program to clean the air inside the whole residence. Portable room air purifiers could be utilized to clean the air within a room or precise areas, but they are not intended for whole-house filtering method.

Some filtration systems make use of ultraviolet light enhancements designed to ruin air-borne pollutants in interior air. Two forms of air cleansing devices are mechanical hvac filters and automated air cleansers. Mechanical air filters eliminate particles by capturing them on filter supplies. Gas-phase air filters get rid of gases and smells by making use of a material referred to as a sorbent, for example activated carbon, which adsorbs the contaminants. These filters are commonly designed to remove one or much more gaseous contaminants from the airstream that goes by by means of them.

Even though air-cleaning devices might assist manage the levels of airborne dirt such as those related to allergens, air cleaning might possibly not decrease unpleasant well being outcomes from indoor air toxins.

Learn more about an electronic air cleaner. Stop by Fred Zinman’s site where you can find out all about electronic air cleaner and what it can do for you.

CHUO SEISAKUSHO LTD

Chuo Seisakusho, Ltd. engages in the manufacture and sale of electrical equipment in Japan. The company’s products include power supplies, such as inverters, DC power supplies, and inversions; surface treatment equipment, including carrier and lift type automatic plating equipment, and barrel plating apparatus for automatic elevators expression; and resistance welders comprising catalogue resistance welders, welding machine timer microcomputer, welding current meter/monitor, AC square wave inverter welding power supply, welding couriers bird data management software, and weld current monitoring in communication networks.

Its products also comprise electrolytic machines, such as electrolytic ECBs and electrolytic polishing machines; environmental equipment, including compact form wastewater treatment, air recovery systems, ion exchangers, etchant reproducing apparatus, sludge filter press, air purifiers, and exhaust circulating devices; and measuring equipment comprising fluid management devices, electrolytic plating thickness testers, PH/ORP meters, DC-AH meter auto pacers, acid and neutral bath/electroless nickel plating solution management unit; management software for data collection and preservation; ultrasonic cleaners; and polish devices. In addition, the company provides railway testing equipment consisting of speedometer testers, electric air compressor test equipment, miniature relay test equipment, breaker test equipment for wiring, vehicle wiring insulation resistance testers, main motor no-load test apparatus, coupler test equipment jumpers, pantograph test equipment, solid state relay test equipment, and door closed switch testers. It also exports its products to approximately 20 countries internationally.

The company was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Nagoya City, Japan.

Some eco-friendly winter survival tips

The winter season is right around the corner, soon to usher in cold temperatures, snow and ice for many people across the country. There are plenty of people who revel in the idea of frolicking over snow-capped hills, but many others hope winter passes them by rather quickly.

Much of the focus each winter is on staying warm and surviving this often harsh season at whatever the cost. But there are ways to survive winter while helping the environment.

Lighting: Thanks to daylight savings time, many areas of the country experience nightfall around 5 p.m. during the winter months. That means people are more likely to turn on artificial lighting to illuminate homes and surroundings. The International Dark-Sky Association says that artificial lights can waste energy and confuse nocturnal animals. If you must use nighttime lighting, select a lowwattage bulb and point it downward. Motion sensor lights save energy and also will turn on intermittently, not enough to disturb animals.

Reconsider winter traction techniques. Before you throw down chemical ice melt products, think about safer alternatives. Regular table salt will melt ice and may not be as harmful to the surrounding environment. Sand can offer improved traction when scattered on walkways and it's nontoxic.

Select a real tree. When holiday decorating, choose a real tree. These trees are harvested from tree farms that replenish stock as soon as trees are felled. They can be recycled into mulch, and real trees are also biodegradable.

Keep houseplants thriving. Houseplants serve as natural air deodorizers and provide fresh oxygen inside of a home. The EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Considering most people spend the majority of their time indoors when the weather is cold, breathing poor air can result in illness. Houseplants are an all-natural way to filter out offensive air without relying on powered air purifiers or chemical air fresheners.

Weatherproof the home. Do yourself - and the environment - a favor by weatherproofing your home. Add a storm door, check weather-stripping or caulking for drafts, seal entry points for cable, phone and water lines with foam insulation, and also be sure attic and other spaces of the home are thoroughly insulated. This will keep from wasting energy on heating, which is harmful to your budget and the environment.

Don't warm up the car. Many cars can do a cold-start and get on the road without the need for idling in the driveway. Instead of wasting gasoline and pouring engine emissions into the air unnecessarily, just get in and drive. If you're sensitive to a cold car, try to park it in the garage during the winter.

Carpool. Individuals who used to bike or walk to work when it was nice outside may be tempted to take the car when it's cold. Maximize energy savings by carpooling with like-minded individuals.

Invite people over. Instead of turning up the heat when the indoor temperature drops, invite friends and family for an impromptu party. Research indicates that each guest is the equivalent of a 175-watt heater! Not only will you have fun, you'll feel toasty, too.

Surviving the winter in an environmentally friendly way really isn't that difficult when you employ some simple strategies.

Air Purifier by Americans

The Austin Air Healthmate, a leading all-purpose cutting-edge air purifier, continues its climb to the top of the air purifier market as Americans demand higher indoor air quality. The Austin Healthmate incorporates a 360-degree air intake with a four-stage air filtration system that provides 99.7 percent filtration efficiency in a 1,500 sq ft area.

As fall and winter set in across the country, millions of families will spend even more time indoors at the mercy of major allergy triggers that create definitive health hazards. The EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Studies have shown that airborne pollutants may be 25 to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors.

It is not only allergy and asthma victims that suffer. The mold, dust mites, pet dander, volatile organic compounds in household chemicals and even wood flooring and paint are having a deleterious effect on all indoor inhabitants .In fact, the American College of Allergists says that 50 percent of all illnesses are caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.

While air purifiers generally help, many lack true HEPA particulate filtration and sufficient stores of an activated carbon filter for the best indoor air quality. The Austin Air Healthmate air purifier combines proven filter technology that is designed to address the complete spectrum of air contaminates such as sub-micron particles, noxious gases and chemicals. The Austin Air Healthmate incorporates True Medical Grade HEPA with 99.97 percent efficiency down to 0.3 microns and 95 percent efficiency down to 0.1 microns.

Austin Air Healthmate air purifiers incorporate a 360-degree intake system to draw air into all sides, passing it through a four-stage filter that provides highly effective particle removal in a 1,500 square foot area. Every minute, over 250 cubic feet of air passes through 15 pounds of Activated Carbon/Zeolite Blend and over 60 square feet of True Medical Grade HEPA.

The result is removal of seen particles such as dust, hair and pet dander as well as small particles such as molds, spores and pollen chemicals in the first two filtration stages. Then the second two stages remove gases and odors such as sulfuric acid and ammonia as well as harmful micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses. The result is significantly cleaner air that greatly improves health and sleep.

Simple solution to clean, healthy home

Hot, soapy water with a bit of elbow grease and an open window are cleaner, greener and much less toxic substitutes for the array of chemical household cleaners and air fresheners that abound in most homes, according to a WA environmental toxicologist.

They are also much cheaper.

Mirella Goetzmann, from the WA Health Department, said many people were very hung up about being germ-free - but the answer was not to go on the attack using chemical sprays.

"Most times you don't need to have products that claim they kill 99 per cent of household germs," she said.

"Hot, soapy water will do the job just as well. If you need to get stubborn stains off, use a cream cleaner rather than something you spray."

Ms Goetzmann said one surface cleaner would probably suffice for the whole house because those used in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry might well have the same active ingredient.

Nicole Bijlsma, author of Healthy Home, Healthy Family, said the most important cleaning agent was a good set of microfibre cloths and mop.

"The beauty about the way they work is that they pick up the bacteria in the dirt and are not chemically mutating them … and are not creating super-germs," she said.

"The obsession with germs is really a problem in our society."

Ms Goetzmann said if people did use household products that contained chemicals, it was important to be mindful of the amount of time spent using them.

"Any domestic cleaner you pick off the shelf represents a hazard but it also depends on the exposure, how it's used, how often it's used and how much is used," she said. "If you are using it as directed by the label and you are careful ... the risk is very low."

If someone was not comfortable with following the safety instructions such as putting on gloves or opening a window when using a product, perhaps they shouldn't use the product, she said.

"Just take a minute to think about why you are using a product and in terms of safety, be aware that the safety label is there for a reason," she said.

"It is important to use only the recommended amounts and not to mix cleaning products because you don't know what the reaction might be; for example, don't mix common household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or a bleach-based product with other chemicals."

Bleach and bleach-based toilet cleaners should not be used with vinegar or ammonia.

"We have had examples of individuals who have quite innocently gone to town to really clean a toilet and applied a toilet cleaner and then used an ammonia solution or vinegar solution and produced vapours that have knocked them out," Ms Goetzmann said.

Air fresheners, including plug-in ones, emitted chemicals and particulates into the air that were then inhaled. Small particles and aerosols could go deep into the lungs.

"We would be concerned about people who would prefer to always spray air fresheners rather than open a window," she said.

Ozone generators as air purifiers were no better than sprays.

"The amount of ozone that is needed to counteract an indoor pollutant or odour is up at the harmful levels," she said. The small ones for home use were useless, including the personal ones aimed at baby's rooms.

"Ozone is actually more harmful to lungs than probably the thing you are trying to get rid of," Ms Goetzmann said.

If people insisted on using an air cleaner, they should ensure it had a HEPA or fine particle filter and a powerful air exchange capacity.

Even plain candles gave off particulates, while scented candles and incense gave off chemicals and particulates.

"Some people may not be aware that plug-in room fresheners and candles emit chemicals," Ms Goetzmann said.

"The answer is to use them sparingly and wisely and then you can enjoy them. Don't put them in children's rooms, because babies and young children are more vulnerable to eye, nose and lung irritation."

Indoor air quality was becoming more important as homes were becoming more energy efficient. Indoor air was not being ventilated or replaced as often, so air quality deteriorated.

Householders should also be careful to ensure their gas heaters were flued and serviced regularly.

Can Having Plants in Your Office Help to Increase Your Happiness Level and Mood at Work?

I have worked in some really depressing looking environments down here in Alabama and I know how it feels to get up in the morning in an upbeat mood only to get in the car, start the engine, put it in reverse and then put it in drive and head down the road to that work environment with the equivalent looking atmosphere as if you were going to some dark cave in the mountains.

There are a ton of work environments out there where the office or maybe even your office is like walking into a shoe box. It has no windows and the only thing in your office is maybe an outdated desk with broken drawers that fall out of it every time you go to open them or your companies Mission Statement that has been hanging on your wall since the Taj Mah Hal was built.

I once worked in an environment here in Alabama where the company had been around since the early 1930s and when I went into their warehouse to do cycle counts I saw boxes on the shelves that must have been received the day the company opened because the boxes were so rotten that the paper and cardboard that makes up the box had rotted so bad the box sitting on the shelf that had the part in it was reduced to paper dust and the part had fallen out of the box, Unbelievable!

Yes, the atmosphere of your work environment does play a part on your mood and motivation while at work. I once heard we spend more time at work then we do with our families and most of the time nowadays if you are one of the lucky ones to even have a job in this economy you are doing the job of three or four people and are ending up burning the midnight oil sitting at your desk or work space.

This is now just a fact of life to have to work many long hours but the least your company or even you can take your depressing looking work environment and turn into one of the seventh wonders of the world by adding plants to your office.

According to the Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS) people who spend many long hours at work and work in an office with no windows, natural light form sunshine or even that don`t have plants sitting around their office have an increased dissatisfaction for their job and have more stress and reported depression.

This is a problem that is very fixable by adding live plants and offices with windows and sunshine that flows in like spreading soft frosting on a cake. A study by Dr. Tina Marie Waliczek Cade, Associate Professor of Horticulture in the Department of Agriculture at Texas State University, and colleagues put together an Internet based study to see if offices with windows and views of green spaces as well as offices containing live plants increased productivity and employee happiness on the job.

The employees that took the Internet based survey that worked in offices that had live plants and windows reported a dramatic increase in job satisfaction and happiness compared to the ones that worked in those dreaded looking work environments with no plants or windows.

Even NASA has been involved in studying plants and how plants have an effect on air quality found through research that your everyday houseplants work as natural air purifiers. The original study on this was aimed by NASA at ways to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations found that the same study has important implications for those on Earth, too.

For anyone that is into science or horticulture knows that plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis. This was something I learned when I was still playing with Lincoln Logs in Kindergarten. Since then, NASA has found that plants also do a lot more for the quality of the air you and I breathe by also removing harmful elements such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air.

So since most office buildings are constructed with synthetic building materials and most of those offices and office buildings are tightly sealed and built you have the harmful elements floating around the air in them like an orchard of dandelions filling the air on a warm and spring like breezy day and with that you have what is known as the Sick Building Syndrome.

So, don`t just settle for those work spaces and offices that make you want to drink strong coffee all day to keep your mood upbeat, liven up that dreary work space and office by going to your local Wal-Mart and buy those exotic looking plants that make you dream of sitting on a beach drinking those sipping Martinis with the funny looking umbrella that stick out of them like a small sign post.       

When loud noises cause your dog to panic

Not all dogs panic when they hear loud noises and there does not seem to be any particular breed predilection for this behavior. Two separate and distinct areas of the brain are responsible for sensing then responding to load noises. Cells that sense loud noises respond by increasing their electrical activity sending strong signals to cells in the response area of the brain. Those cells respond by conveying the information; LOUD, SCARY, DO SOMETHING!

When your pet detects a loud noise, remember their hearing is significantly more acute than that of humans. She/he/it cannot tune out the sound like hearing a ceiling fan, the TV or other common background noises.

The response cells process the received increase in electrical activity and send out signals that require the dog to do something. What the dog does in response to the loud noise input varies with the animal and can range from shear panic and panic behavior to a yawn and going back to sleep. What is confusing is that many dogs seem to develop the panic response in mid-life, perhaps having experienced something painful or uncomfortable associated with a loud noise. Most puppies and young dogs do not exhibit much of a response to loud noises, but there are always exceptions.
The pressing question is, if you have a dog that panics at loud sounds, what can I do about it?

When you go away, put your dog inside in a safe place you have created for him/her. Many dogs will choose a room or area where they are most comfortable and where they go when unsupervised. Make certain they have free access to this area when you are gone. Encourage them to use a room with few outside windows and use blackout curtains on any windows in the room. This will dampen the noise level. Turn on an appliance that creates background noise, an air purifier, a fan, a TV, a radio tuned to classical or soothing music. This is not the time for hard rock.

Make certain the dog has a comfortable bed — hardwood floors and hard walls transmit loud sounds. I hesitate to tell you this, but it is a sign of the times. You can purchase “Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP).” I saw it in a pet store as a plug-in that claims to be a species-specific calming scent. Can you see my eyes rolling back into my head?

If you are with your dog during Fourth of July firecracker season or a thunderstorm, try to establish a connection between the dog hearing a loud sound and something nice. Try to calm him with praise, feed him a special treat. Scared dogs will not eat and a dog eating something especially desired will not be scared.
If none of this works, ask your veterinarian to recommend a professional trainer or animal behaviorist who specializes in behavior modification.

As a very last resort, your vet can prescribe a tranquilizer, but these work best if given before the loud stimulus so in anticipation of fireworks. Your vet may or may not approve of this use of drugs. I am hesitant in all but very severe cases where the dog is liable to hurt itself or others.

Oreck Partners With Knotice For Email Marketing

Knotice, the leading provider of direct digital marketing software and services, today announces that the Oreck Corporation, a noted manufacturer and retailer of easy-to-use, lightweight, powerful and durable vacuums, air purifiers and other cleaning machines, has selected Knotice's Concentri® EmailPlus to increase the targeting and effectiveness of its email marketing programs.

Taking advantage of the software's unique ability to automatically capture behavioral data, Oreck is able to take its email marketing to the next level by targeting customers based on website activity, keyword searches and more.

"Our customers range from people looking for that perfect product for their home, to larger businesses looking for the right solution for their cleaning needs," said Linda Tilt, Manager of Interactive Marketing at Oreck. "Because behavioral data is automatically collected within Concentri EmailPlus, we're now able to efficiently reach the right customer at the right time with the right information, enhancing the Oreck experience. Knotice also helps us make better use of our existing customer data, allowing us to create targeted campaigns right out of the gate."

Oreck plans to implement a variety of email marketing programs including new product announcements, timely and targeted special offers, and triggered communications.

"Many marketers are faced with the challenge of trying to integrate data from different systems just to create targeted, timely campaigns," said Knotice CEO and co-founder Brian Deagan. "Concentri is the first email marketing solution to natively capture behavioral data, giving marketers the ability to quickly and easily create and deploy targeted campaigns without wasting time or money trying to integrate their data."

Knotice (pronounced "notice") maximizes the ROI of direct digital marketing – interactive marketing communications that can be addressed to a specific individual – through process automation, increased relevance and improved performance. Working with clients throughout North America, Knotice provides efficient, effective delivery of highly targeted marketing communications through today's primary digital channels.

Knotice's on-demand software is called Concentri®. Solutions include Concentri Mobile for mobile marketing, Concentri EmailPlus for email marketing, Concentri SiteTarget for onsite targeting, along with landing page management, testing and optimization, and universal profile management for data centralization. Concentri enables marketers to easily engage today's digital consumers and grow revenue while maintaining a consistent brand experience, cutting production cycles from weeks to days, and reducing other related costs by as much as 50 percent.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Oreck Corporation is a leading manufacturer in the homecare industry, offering a variety of vacuums, air purifiers, steam mops, and other cleaning products. Oreck sells its products in hundreds of Oreck Clean Home Centers, as well as through phone and online direct sales. The company distributes products in the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe.