Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear Power Plant
Nothing arouses more controversy and argument than the subject of nuclear power. Since the advent of the nuclear power plant, there has been strong opposition and defenders of the technology. The figures for 2006 show that there are 442 reactors in the world, producing 17% of the world's electricity. The finite nature of fossil fuels is focusing the minds of politicians on whether to build new plants. Every time a new reactor is mooted, there are lengthy inquiries and protests.
Supporters of nuclear power say that the absence of greenhouse gas emissions is justification for building more nuclear power plant facilities. Environmental campaigners, such as Greenpeace, point to a number of concerns. There have been accidents, notably at Chernobyl and Three-Mile Island, radioactive leaks, and there is the threat of terrorism at nuclear facilitates.
Radioactive waste is another problem, with regard to how to transport it and how to dispose of it safely. The waste is dangerous to humans for thousands of years. Plutonium, a by product of nuclear power, can be used in the manufacture of an atomic bomb, a factor going against the quest for non-proliferation.
Cost is also a factor in the debate. The reactors are very expensive to build and to maintain. Their lifetime is limited and then they have to be decommissioned, another costly exercise. The technology of the nuclear power plant is reliant on uranium and this is a finite resource anyway.
When the first electricity power was produced by a nuclear reactor in 1951 in an Idaho experimental plant, it was supposed to usher in a golden era of clean power. The first commercial enterprise in the world began five years later at Calder Hall in England. The nuclear age has not met with universal praise. Many people claim that radioactive waste from a plant in Cumbria, England routinely leaks into the Irish Sea and that there is an above average amount of leukemia in the area.
The anti-nuclear lobby has a friend in the hit show, The Simpsons. The character of Homer Simpson is an incompetent safety officer at the local nuclear power plant. The industry is lampooned, showing Mr. Burns, the plant's owner, as an irresponsible money grabber with no social conscience. Core meltdowns are a regular occurrence, often averted by Homer who has invariably caused the incident in the first place.
The campaign for alternative energy sources continues. People who are not comfortable with the expansion of nuclear power look to wave, wind and solar power for the answer in addition to energy conservation. In the meantime, let us hope that Homer is a vast exaggeration.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Jennifer Paige

Jennifer Paige was born on September 3 1973 in Marietta, Georgia, U.S.A. Her love for singing was obvious since she was only 5. By the age of 8 she was singing duets with her brother and was giving shows in coffeehouses and restaurants. Her first piano lessons came at 10 and she started tasting rock and pop genres. Jennifer admits that her first influences came from Gospel. Her love for the arts brought her to the famous Cobb Country Center where she got individual training in dance, performing arts, voice, drama. Her studies helped her star raise.

After High School she started touring with a Top 40 band. When they got to Las Vegas, Jennifer Paige met actress/singer Crystal Bernand who convinced her to come to L.A. That was what Jen did. She came to L.A. in 1995. She hooked up with another band called Joe's Band. Her 3 years tour with Joe's Band was successful and the highlight of this period was the show they gave in Atlanta in August 1996 in front of 50000 (!!) crowd, during the Olympic Games. In 1997 she teamed with producer Andy Goldmark (who have worked with Elton John, Natalie Cole etc). Goldmark and Jen created a dance version of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools". She attracted the German Indie Label Edel Records which was looking for a pop persona in order to strengthen their presence in America. When the President of Edel, Jonathan First, heard Jennifer's demo tape, he was so impressed that immediately flew to L.A. in order to sign her.

For more On Jennifer Paige

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Windows Live

There are so many places that you can blog these days. Today lets look at Windows Live , a free blogging and networking platform. With so many options out there you might ask why would I want to use something that is related and owned by Microsoft. That is a great question in my opinion.



The main reason is that this site has a neat networking feature of being able to add friends. While this doesn't sound like much, it can help businesses reach new customers. If you look at this Arlington Heights real estate profile that was just created you will see that at the top there is a section called friends. This list shows the friends of the member and many people will check out this list and read other peoples blogs.



This free exposure can help you build up contacts that you would have never been able to reach on your own. For the little amount of time and effort needed it is worth taking some time to play with this free blogging platform. For more ideas about how to build up your online presence visit WebNewsForUs a site that helps real estate agents generate more exposure online and off.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

The Video Tube

The Video Tubes are the coolest way to upload share and view videos online you just got to get over there and check it out. Look out because you end up spending way to much time playing on this site, it becomes almost part of your daily plan. Recently Video clip sites are really just taking off and I must admit the more the better I really enjoy seeing things that others have taken time in creating and then uploading for the world to see. Sure there are some very weird moments but they are what make the excitement even more IMO . Anyhow I just felt I should share today my experience with this seemingly new Video site.

If you would care to check it out head over to the video tube now.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Meeting People Online

Blogging is a great venue for meeting people online. Blogs are personal web logs that function as a kind of online diary or journal. People create blogs that serve many purposes and the blogs vary in style and interests. Some use blogs to communicate their political and religious views, some use their blogs to build a source of income and some use blogs just to keep an online journal about their selves.
No matter what the purpose, a blog is a great resource for meeting people online who have the same views and interests. You may meet people who have different views and opinions as well. There is a comment section connected to each post. A visitor can make a comment about your entry. This comment provides information about the person making the comment. You can, in turn, visit the person’s blog and make a comment of your own.
This form of meeting people online is very appealing. My blog merges freelance writing with poetry and art. I have found that this is a great way to meet people who have the same interests. I have a handful of readers who visit on a regular basis and I visit them as well. We converse through our comments; we share ideas and critique each other’s art and poetry. I find the process very enjoyable and I have met many interesting poets, artists and aspiring freelance writers.
I also found that the blog is a great tool for meeting people online who live nearby or for meeting people who attended the same school or held the same job. One person I found through blogging went to Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. I attended the college as well. I found this person through a valuable feature found on blogs.
When you create your profile, you can include your favorite movies, music and books with your information. After your profile is completed, you can select one of your interests to find other bloggers who share that interest. I chose a book that one of my professors wrote and I found another person who included the book in his lists of favorites. We have been sending messages to each other for months now and I have gained a new, valuable friendship.
If you want to find a way of meeting people online, consider blogging. It’s easy. It is fun and it is free. You may find a new friend in the process. You may also find someone you already know but lost touch with over the years.