Citroen DS

The Citroen DS is remembered by many as a classic beauty. During the 1999 Car of the Century competition, it came in 3rd place, rivaled only by Fords’ Model T and British Motor Corporations’ Mini. In fact, the DS was only around for 20 years, but sold almost 1.5 million units. From 1955 to 1975, this car changed modern car design forever. The hydraulic system in the DS was unique as it was used for everything from the suspension to the clutch and transmission. The car was even self-leveling, something new to its day. This led to such a smooth ride; the car was often described as a magic carpet! The DS was very unique in its build. It was even the first car to be mass produced with no front power disk brakes. Power steering and a semi-automatic transmission were also available options. This car had a fiberglass roof and was said to have been light and handle like a dream. Due to French law the DS, could not have a six-cylinder engine, instead they used a four-cylinder engine. This led to it being successful in rallying and motor sports.

Citroen DS
Citroen DS. Source: flickr.com

Racing was not the only thing the DS was good for. There were several models introduced throughout its lifespan. The ID was introduced in 1957, which was a little less powerful and a lot less expensive. This helped the car start to sell, as France was still recovering from World War II. A year later, a station wagon named DS Break was introduced. Not long after that, in 1962, the DS received a more aerodynamic nose, better ventilation, and some cosmetic updates. By 1965, the DS Pallas introduced a luxury model to the lineup. In 1967, the car’s front end changed again, into shark-like grill with razor teeth. This car also became the model for Batman’s car, in the popular TV show. The Citroen DS is a short lived but beloved vehicle, known for beauty and drivability.

Diamond rings

The diamond ring is an incredibly important part of today’s society. While valuable as a fashion statement or collector’s item, its greatest value comes as an engagement ring. In older times, the groom would select a ring and present it upon proposal of marriage. However, more recently, couples have gone together to look for rings, sometimes even buying two so they can match. There are a few things that are important to consider when buying a diamond ring. It is important to have an idea of how much one wants to spend. Then, after taking some time to learn about different kinds of diamonds and different metal settings, one can seek out his or her desired ring.

diamond rings
Diamond rings. Source: flickr.com

Budgeting for a diamond ring can be difficult, because they can be very expensive. Once a budget is established, it should be adhered to. Jewelers may try to talk the buyer into spending more money than allotted, and this is a bad thing. Then, once a budget is in place, the buyer should learn about the Four C’s of Diamonds: cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. The brilliance of a diamond, or how shiny it looks, depends greatly on its cut, clarity, and color. The carat weight of a diamond will usually determine its price, and prices rise exponentially as size increases. After a diamond is chosen, a ring must be chosen as well. Platinum and gold are the most popular metals to use as a setting ring. Gold bands, whether yellow or white, should be purchased in 14K or greater. Sometimes, accent stones are desired as well around the ring.

Finally, once the buyer knows what kind of diamond he or she wants, and what kind of metal as well, he or she can seek out the perfect diamond ring. Some stores offer custom-made diamond rings. These may carry a premium, but if money is no object, these are the way to go. Otherwise, it is smart to spend a lot of time looking for your ideal diamond ring.

Cookware

Cookware are containers that food is prepared in which is usually found in the kitchens of most US households. Cookware includes saucepans, frying pans, boiling pots, and similar cooking implements. These are meant to be used on top of the stove and/or on a range cooktop. There are many different possibilities for the material that cookware is made from, but generally it must be solid, react well to changes in heat quickly, and be cost efficient. The materials the pots and pans are made from will impact the cookware’s performance as well as price.

Aluminum is a common choice for cookware because the metal reacts well to changes of temperature as well as resists corrosion. Aluminum can be rather soft, so kicks and dings in this cookware is not uncommon. Some people do not like to use aluminum because it has been suggested that it is a risk factor for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, which is a degenerative disease. However the Alzheimer’s association says that the studies have not confirmed a role of aluminum in causing the disease.

Cast iron cookware is another popular choice of cookware, especially for the older generations, it is slow to heat up, but once it is ready, the cooking will be even and desirable. Cast iron can also be in very high temperatures without any issue, making it a perfect candidate when food needs searing. Cast iron does rust easily, so it requires seasoning before it can be used. Seasoning is essentially adding a layer of fat over the iron that prevents the sticking of food while cooking.

One popular choice in modern times for cookware has been to coat the inside of the pans with a non-stick coating. These pans are much easier to clean than non-coated pans, and they require no cooking spray is required. They do, however pose some risks, including when they are overheated, the coating can peel off. The non-stick coatings tend to degrade after many repeated uses, so it is very important to not use metal implements while cooking with non-stick cookware. The higher-end non-stick cookware is the safest because they use more layers of coating on the inside.

Each family will have their own needs when it comes to cookware depending on what they prefer to eat and who is preparing the food. Overheating is rather common with non-stick pans, so this needs to be kept in check. These should also not be washed in a dishwasher because the harsh chemicals and jets of water can damage the non-stick coatings. If use properly, the non-stick pots and pans have advantages over other kinds, however each family will have their own preferred way to cook their everyday meals.

Cookware Sets & Which Pieces to Buy

Bicycle trainer

Are you a bicycle enthusiast who is looking for the most efficient way to get into competitor shape or just looking to sharpen up on your riding skills? If so, a bicycle trainer would be the best option for you in order to work in a highly controlled environment so that you can adjust how hard you want your resistance to be and even how much you want to practice that day. The difference between a regular stationary bike and one that is an actual trainer is that the rider will get more of a real feel to the ride than what would be felt on the stationary bike. Other equipment that can come with a bicycle trainer include: heart rate monitoring, cadence, the speed of the rider and the power output of the rider and the amount of work the rider is putting out. As can be seen it is going to be the closest replica other than actually going outside to take a ride. The reason to own one of these would be in case you have to train more than what the weather would permit. If it is a rainy or extremely hot day, this bicycle trainer will allow you to do your entire day’s ride indoors and out of the elements.

There are many different types of trainers that are on the market today. The choice of which bicycle trainer the rider picks is based upon preference and such things as noise of machine, amount of resistance, friction heating, pedals and amount of control the rider has over the bicycle. The different types include: wind, magnetic, utilitarian, fluid, centrifugal and virtual reality. The virtual reality bicycle is going to produce the most real riding experience, but is also going to cost the rider more. The great concept behind the virtual reality bicycle trainer is that you are actually going to steer and maneuver your way through a course that can be set up similarly to ones that a rider might actually compete on. So, if you are looking to expand your endurance or build up muscle for an upcoming race or just because you enjoy bicycling, the bicycle trainer would be a great investment to help you become the best bicyclist you can be.

45 Minute Indoor Trainer Workout

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a type of diesel fuel that is based in vegetable oil or animal fat. It is designed to present itself with a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline or other fuels. There are many different types of biodiesel, and different uses for each type. Types of biodiesel are named based on the amount of biodiesel in the mix, with B100 being 100% biodiesel, down to B2 being two percent. What is not biodiesel in the solution is petroleum based diesel, which comes from oil.

Biodiesel
Biodiesel. Source: flickr.com

Biodiesel blends with 20% biodiesel or less can be used in normal diesel engines without modifications. This means that a regular diesel engine can use twenty percent less petroleum if it is used with a B20 solution. These solutions can be mixed when they are manufactured, in the taker used for transport, or even at the pump. Biodiesel is an easy way for anyone with a diesel engine to reduce their carbon footprint.

Many cities are catching on to the biodiesel trend, with bus fleets and other government vehicles using biodiesel to power their engines. This is an easy and relatively cheap way for a city to reduce its carbon emissions significantly. Many fast food companies are now turning waste oil into biodiesel, both as a move towards sustainability and a method of maintaining profitability. Some trains are using biodiesel as well, and some planes are even being powered by biofuel.

Whatever you use diesel for, biodiesel is a viable method of reducing your carbon footprint and helping the environment while not spending too much money. It is a great option for anyone looking to help the environment with the equipment they have, while waiting for other options such as electric cars and expanded mass transit to become more affordable to the everyday person.

Power plants

A power plant (also known as power station, powerhouse, or generating station) is an industrial facility that generates electric power. Electricity is created by generators located in the center of power plants. The generators are rotating machines that change mechanical power into electricity by forming relative motion between a magnetic field and a conductor. The generators are powered by a variety of different fuels, including fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), nuclear power, and renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric. While most power stations use fossil fuels and some use nuclear power, more and more are turning to cleaner renewable energy to fuel the generators.

How does a Thermal power plant work ?

A fossil-fuel power station burns coal, gas, or oil in order to produce electricity. These stations are built on a large scale for continuous operation and, in some countries, provide the majority of the electrical energy used. Nuclear power plants use heat produced by a nuclear reactor to operate a steam turbine generator. Nuclear power plants supply about 20% of electricity in the United States. Solar power plants use steam, which is created by boiling water with sunlight, to turn the generator. The largest solar plant in the world is located in the Mojave Desert in California. Wind turbines are used to generate electricity in areas that have powerful, steady winds. These locations are often near oceans. Dams are built to produce hydroelectricity by impounding a reservoir of water and releasing it through one or more water turbines.

The Largest Power Plant Of The World – Geographic History

Some power plants are classified as thermal power stations due to the type of fuel used and the prime mover installed. Thermal power stations use mechanical power produced by heat engines that changes thermal energy into rotational energy. Most thermal power stations produce steam. According to the second law of thermodynamics (the tendency that differences in temperature, pressure, and chemical potential equilibrate over time), not all thermal energy can be made into mechanical power. There is always heat lost to the environment, but sometimes the heat being outputted by the plant is used for industrial processes or district heating. Other than district heating, overall efficiency of a power plant can be improved by combining two different thermodynamic cycles. Commonly, the exhaust gases produced by gas turbines are used to produce steam for a boiler and steam turbine. By combining these two cycles, higher overall efficiency is produced than either cycle could do alone. The efficiency of a steam turbine is not directly a function of the fuel used, but of the maximum temperature limit. Coal, nuclear, and gas power plants theoretically have the same efficiency.

Coal Fired Power Plant

The power generated in power plants is typically measured in megawatts (MW) or gigawatts. Due to the variety of different power plants, as well as historical, economical, and geographical factors, capacity in power plants varies greatly. The rated capacity of a power plant is almost always the maximum amount of electrical power that the station can produce. Many power stations typically produce much less power than their capacity, but some power plants constantly run at nearly precisely their rated capacity. Power stations that produce less electricity than its rated capacity are typically those that use an intermittent energy source such as wind or sunlight—which costs practically nothing, but isn’t always dependable. Sometimes less power is produced because the cost of fuel may be high and may be even high if the power plant is peaking because marginal costs are relatively high. Most of the time, operators keep power plants at option reserve (turned off) or at spinning reserve (minimum fuel consumption). Only when the demand rises above what intermittent and base load plants can produce does an operator feed more fuel into the load.

Hydroelectric Power Plant Working Animation

Bird’s Eye Chili

The Birds eye chili is a name that is shared by two different types of chili peppers. One of these types is from Southeast Asia. It is a chili pepper that is similar to the green chili. It is found in the wild and used in many Indian dishes. Birds eye chili is also a name used for a small round chili found in North America. This chili is given the nickname birds eye because of its small shape and the fact that birds are sometimes able to carry these peppers around with them and spread them to other areas. The actual birds eye chili, however, is a longer pepper, shaped much like habanero, jalapeno, or banana peppers.

Birds eye chili
Birds eye chili. Sorce: flickr.com

The birds eye chili pepper is a fairly hot pepper. On the heat scale used for measuring peppers, it is just below habanero peppers, meaning that habanero peppers are only slightly hotter than birds eye chilies. The birds eye chili is also smaller than a habanero pepper. It is usually only two or three centimeters long. The small red or green pepper is a very popular choice for dishes where a little bit of heat is needed.

The birds eye chili pepper can be used in a variety of dishes. It is typically found in Indian and Portuguese dishes, but it can be substituted into any dish that would use a habanero pepper. This would have the effect of making the dish slightly less hot. Used in place of a jalapeno pepper, the bird s eye chili would increase the overall heat of the dish. It is also a good addition to recipes for marinades or sauces for steaks or chicken. The pepper added in with the other marinade ingredients will lend heat and flavor to the finished sauce.

Birds eye chilies may prove difficult to find. Many chain grocery stores will not carry this pepper. Local grocery stores or farmers  markets are also unlikely sources. In larger cities, Asian grocery stores, Indian markets and Chinese markets are all possible locations to find the birds eye chili. These retailers use the pepper in their recipes and are likely to carry both the dry and fresh forms of the pepper. Some organic grocery stores and markets also carry fresh birds eye chilies.

Alternatively, the birds eye chili can be grown at home. The pepper takes a very careful approach for proper growing. Too much or too little water can ruin the plant. A higher temperature with light watering is just right for growing these chilies. The plant typically takes about four months to grow and produce edible chilies. Seeds are available from a variety of sources, and the plant can be grown in a small pot instead of the yard, making it a great choice for people who live in apartments or have very limited outside space.

Bike GPS

GPS (Global Positioning System) units are great tools for travelers as they display real time maps of the current location from any point in the world. GPS units use satellites to pinpoint the exact location of the unit within two meters on any point on Earth. However, GPS units are not just for vehicles, but are also excellent tools for bicyclists as well. Specialized bike GPS units are affordable ways to save time and assure that you do not get lost on your bike. When shopping for a bike GPS unit, there are three things to consider: the quality of the maps, how the unit mounts to the bicycle, and health features.

The maps on the bike GPS unit are the single most important feature when attempting to decide on one to buy. Make sure that the maps are not only high quality, but that the GPS unit can be connected to a computer and the maps can be updated. Also assure that map updates are either free or cheap, as some GPS companies charge exorbitant amounts for map updates.

The second thing to consider when buying your bike GPS unit is how it will mount to your bicycle. There are two principal ways to go about this: the first one is buying a regular GPS unit and a bike mount, and the second is buying a specialized bike GPS unit specifically for bicyclists. The latter is preferred, as these units have more tools specifically for bicyclists, such as lap information and trail information, and aren’t bogged down by features for car drivers which might give confusing routes to bicyclists.

Finally, since many use bicycling mostly as a form of exercise, the health features of a bike GPS unit should be considered when buying one. Most specialized bike GPS units record such things as calories burned, cadence, speed, time, distance and altitude. Some, such as the Edge 305 by Garmin, even have a computerized personal trainer, wireless heart rate monitor and a way to track your progress through an online web service which are even more of a help for cyclists who live an active lifestyle. GPS units are as such a great complement for those who are attempting to use their bicycle not only for transportation but also for health.

Bike GPS units are important tools for any cyclist. They allow the savvy cyclist to plan their route, track their progress, and build an exercise plan. If you carefully consider the quality and cost of maps, the way it mounts to the bike and all of its health features, you are sure to choose the best bike GPS unit and enjoy all of the benefits of knowing your exact location at all times when riding.