EDM or electrical discharge machining has revolutionized the auto industry and the aerospace industry. This process uses graphite rods. EDM is also called sink erosion or wire erosion. It is based on the principle that a high voltage run between two electrodes will cause a spark if the distance between the two electrodes is short enough. The spark causes a small amount of particles to be removed from each electrode. Sparks occur many times per second. The result is that the sparks can be directed as a cutting instrument. Traditional milling and sawing struggles with hardened steel and other very hard metals and alloys. EDM overcomes this problem and allows for an accuracy in machining that was hitherto impossible to find.

Sink erosion machines can be fixed to robots and computers to make cut any shape  – 2D or 3D – into hard metals. It makes for perfect machining of turbine blades, turbine holders, car chassis, rocket parts etc. Without graphite electrode technology and EDM in particularly it is unlikely that man would have got to the moon.

Expanded graphite is also used in laptop production. Expanded graphite is made into a foil that is used as a heat sink for laptops. It is estimated that 7,500 tons of expanded graphite is used in the USA for this purpose a year.

Finally, carbon brushes are used as commutators allowing engines to spin through 360 degrees. This makes carbon commutators made of graphite fundamental to the auto industry.

That stuff in your pencil is more important than you might have realized.

It is an area that a growing number of more discerning travelers and tourists are discovering. Khao Lak is blessed with a series of long golden sand beaches that have not been spoiled by too many hotels, girlie bars and loud night clubs. Even the busiest beach in the Khao Lak area, Nang Tong, is very laid back and not a tourist trap.

There is a good range of accommodation along the beaches of Khao Lak. There are cheap bungalow operations as well as plenty of good value mid-range options offering rooms with air-con, hot water and satellite TV. There are also a few 5 star places to stay like the JW Marriott Khaolak.

The two main reasons people go to Khao Lak is the Similan Islands and Khao Lak Lamru National Park. The Similan Islands offer the best diving and snorkeling spots in Thailand and are rated in the top 10 in the world. Here you can see whale sharks, mantas, moray eels and a plethora of fish types.

Lamru National Park has both rainforest to explore and coastal regions to sunbathe on and snorkel. There are waterfalls to visit and elephant trekking to enjoy.

Another reason to visit Khao Lak is t0 ride the waves. Pakarang Beach surfing is some of the best in Thailand. It is a great place to learn the sport as the waves are good but not massive. Nang Tong also has swell that can be surfed. The waves are highest in the rainy season between May and September.

So if you want to escape the high prices in Phuket, the yobs in Koh Samui and the fool mooners in Koh Phangan then Khao Lak is the ideal spot for you. It has plenty to do and is at that perfect stage of development.

I love the tropics. The weather is nearly always perfect. The sea is always warm. Away from the tourist traps the prices for things are cheap and the people are friendly. This holds true for Indonesia, Thailand, Southern India, tropical Africa, the Caribbean and the north coast of Colombia. There is something perfect about a tropical beach – white sand, massive coconut trees, never-ending beaches and warm nights.

The nights in the tropics are made for lovers. The stars come out in legion away from the glare of city lighting. They seem brighter and fill me with hope. Because of the shape of the earth the moon is closer at the tropics and so seems bigger. It is no doubt partly for this reason that moon madness has gripped the small tropical Thai island of Koh Phangan. Since the first Full Moon Party in Haad Rin in 1987 the numbers of people going to celebrate the completion of the moon has soared. Now up to 20,000 people attend the party. It’s a crazy event complete with lots of fire rope jumping, people drinking way too much and lots of loud music. It’s a celebration on a pagan scale that lets people let loose in a way the over-regulated societies of the West generally frown upon. I’ve been a couple of times. It was hard to get full moon party accommodation. It wasn’t hard to get some amazing photos of not only the moon but also the hedonistic antics of the revelers.

The music at the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan is not always great. They don’t seem to bother with famous DJs, and they seem behind the times in their insistence on the primacy of trance music; but, nevertheless, what an event. I have never experienced anything like it. And just when you think the party is winding down people find new reserves of energy and head off to the Backyard Pub for another 12 hours of dancing and drinking.

I had only ever passed through Chaloklum before. This time I decided to stay. It is a relaxed fishing village with a long beach. I found a reasonably priced fan bungalow at Malibu Beach Resort. It was the best place to stay because the resort has its own beach which is a spectacular sand bank.

The great thing about Chaloklum, other than the beach and the warm sea, is the village. It is a great mix of the old and new Koh Phangan. There are local shops, fisherman’s houses. There are also backpacker restaurants and bars. And there are also a few more up-market or ‘boutique’ hotels and bars. Chaloklum is an interesting place without trying to appear trendy, unlike Bophut in Koh Samui.

For those on a tight budget there is a 7-11 in Chaloklum. This brand of convenience store is one of the cheapest in Thailand. Both Thais and foreigners use the place. Thai 7-11s sell snacks, drinks, tobacco and other sundries.

On Wednesday nights at Omega Bar (on the main drag) there is a lively jam session. It was very much like the Koh Phangan that I first encountered several years ago – strange, hirsute individuals having a good time. It was a far cry from the fluorescent daubed youngsters shouting at the Full Moon Party in Haad Rin.

Another thing I liked about Chaloklum was the kite surfing place on the beach. I love flying kites and had always wanted to give it a try. They were very patient with me and gave me a good deal on rental and instruction.

Between the kite boarding, lying on the beach and trying the Chaloklum night life my two weeks at Chaloklum flew by. I would love to return but I also fear that it might quickly be ruined by developers.

The use of renewable resources such as cork, coconut and bamboo to replace hardwoods in consumer products is one important strategy to carefully husband what resources we have and to prevent the loss of trees that are needed to absorb the dangerously high amounts of carbon in the atmosphere.

Cork is special in that unlike bamboo, coconut and other renewable resources the tree is not killed in order to harvest its resource. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. The tree takes 25 years to reach maturity after which time the cork cambium or cork bark can be peeled off the tree by hand. This does not damage the tree if done correctly; it also does not destroy natural habitat for animals. The cork oak grows another bark every 12 years.

There are about 25,000 hectares of cork oak forests in Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and France. These forests contain many important species of flora and fauna including the endangered Iberian lynx and the Barbary macaque. The cork industry is a great example of being able to conserve the natural environment and at the same time use it as a resource.

Although it is tempting to extol the merits of cork wine bottle stoppers, it is cork flooring and cork underlay that really show the important benefits of cork. It is a lightweight material that makes light but strong flooring tiles. Cork is composed of millions of air pockets that make cork flexible but strong. This structure also absorbs heat and so cork flooring helps to make a home more energy efficient.

Cork is not only a good thermal insulator; it also is an acoustic insulator. Cork flooring lessens the noise of people walking and so is great for an upstairs room, especially the children’s room.

Cork contains the natural antimicrobial agent called suberin. Cork flooring is thus a healthy type of flooring that protects a family from disease. The suberin in cork also makes the flooring fire retardant.

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to hardwood flooring or carpet then it is worth looking at the <a href=”http://www.buycorkflooring.info/benefits.html”>benefits of cork flooring</a>. It is made from a special material that helps nature and mankind.

What those people don’t understand is the fact that living frugally does not necessarily translate to living like a beggar. It only means that you learn to prioritize your expenses. As such, you still get to eat out, wear your designer jeans, go on a vacation, and enjoy life’s pleasures; you just do it all without emptying out your savings account.

Living the best of both worlds is possible if you take time to keep track of your finances and know when to splurge and when to save.

1. Know when to give yourself a treat – rewarding yourself with fancy dinners is a great way to lift your spirits and re-energize yourself for the next busy week ahead. As fine dining meals with your family can cost a small fortune, it is best to prepare for it in advance by scouting for restaurant deals online or searching for available coupons such as free Logan’s Roadhouse coupons to further stretch your budget.

2. Know where to splurge when grocery shopping – walking through aisles and aisles of different products can tempt even the most frugal of shoppers which is why you need to plan your trip to the grocery store and make a list of what you need. It is better to stock up on goods that have a long shelf life such as pasta, chocolates, flavored drinks, bath soaps, linen towels and the like, when you have a great coupon for a discount. If you like your sodas, then stock up on printable Coke coupons and save a few extra cents on each can. This way, you still get to keep your pantry and fridge full without needing to overspend.

3. Know when to indulge in your favorite brands – everyone, regardless of gender, has a craving for designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Balenciaga, and Calvin Klein. As they are quite pricey, those who are cutting down on their expenses tend to forgo these luxuries, but they don’t need to go without. On the contrary, frugal living still allows you to keep a few of these designer bags in your closet. The key is to know where to buy. Several online shops such as e-bay and craigslist have a wide array of used branded bags. Just make sure to weed out the fake ones from the originals.

Lastly, always take pride in your decision to change your lifestyle and focus on saving money to prepare for your future. It’s not easy to turn down nights on the town and all of your favorite brands, but the smart choices that you make now will mean that you are able to splurge on yourself for many years to come.

The last attempt was at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in 2009. It was an event attended by politicians who took planes and national interests to the summit and agreed on nothing. What they should have agreed on was the importance of using renewable resources, especially bamboo.

Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet. It propagates by itself. It helps to hold together the top soil. It needs less water than trees and produces more oxygen than trees. Bamboo can grow as far north as Sakhalin in Russia and as far South as Chile.

Not only does bamboo grow quickly and nearly anywhere it can also be used in so many ways. Here are a few of those ways:

Bamboo

• Bamboo can be carved like wood. It can also be compressed into strand woven bamboo that is ideal for flooring and making furniture.

• Bamboo can be used to make blinds, mats, kitchen equipment and lots of home consumer products.

• Bamboo is a good source of nourishment. The young shoots of many types of bamboo are edible.

• Bamboo can be woven into baskets. It can also be used as thatching for roofs.

Bamboo charcoal

• Bamboo charcoal is a smokeless and odorless fuel.

• Bamboo charcoal can be used as an organic and safe fertilizer and pesticide.

• Bamboo charcoal is highly absorbent and is ideal for use in the home as an air-freshener and to reduce humidity.

• Far infrared rays are emitted by bamboo charcoal. These help to speed up the metabolism and promote damaged cell recovery.

• Negative ions are given off by bamboo charcoal. These have been shown to make people relaxed and happy.

• Bamboo charcoal soap washes the skin better than normal soap and is great for treating acne and eczema.

Bamboo vinegar

• Bamboo vinegar is both antimicrobial and acidic. It is a great green cleaning liquid that can be used all over the home. It can also be used to clean windows.

• Bamboo vinegar is a traditional medicine used for extracting poisons and toxins from the body.

• Bamboo vinegar can be used to kill mold spores and to spray at roaches and other bugs.

• Bamboo vinegar can be used to treat skin problems and condition hair.

These are just some of the many ways that humanity can use bamboo. It is a renewable resource that can be used to fulfill many consumer needs. It is practical suggestions like using bamboo more and hardwood and oil less that is going to make a difference to the environment and to the quality of life for future generations. The change will only come from a bottom up movement as our leaders have clearly shown again and again that they live in a rarefied world of politics and intrigue where they talk about democracy rather than listening to the people.

For many people reading a travel guide can be boring. They are often packed with generalities and seem to be more concerned with promoting airlines and hotels than telling the reader anything interesting about a tourist destination. With this in mind I’ve written a short alternative guide to Koh Samui to tell you a few things you might not know about the tropical Thai island of Koh Samui.

History of Koh Samui

Koh Samui appears on Chinese maps dating back to 1687. Archaeologists have found a stone drum dating back to the Stone Age on the island. It might be a bit of surprise therefore that modern day tourists didn’t start visiting Koh Samui until the early 1970s. At that time there were no proper roads on the island. Now Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s most developed and most visited tourist destinations that boasts a comprehensive road infrastructure and an airport.

Koh Samui – Coconut Island

Until tourism changed everything Koh Samui was famous in Thailand for its coconuts. Koh Samui is still one of the biggest producers of coconuts in Thailand. As a consequence of the coconut trade the best land was thought to be interior land. The second sons and daughters were often given the inferior land next to white sand beaches. How those second sons and daughters must be laughing today.

Koh Samui – Chinese Influence

The Chinese have regularly been trading in the Gulf of Thailand. The Chinese influence is very apparent throughout the Thai Kingdom – shop signs are written in Chinese characters and many people have Chinese surnames and ancestry. In Bophut it is still possible to see many of the original Chinese fisherman’s houses that have been converted to shops, bars and guest houses. There is also a fascinating Chinese temple in Nathon.

The Mummy of Koh Samui

Buddhism does not normally condone the practice of mummification. Near Baan Bang Kao beach in Wat Khunaram you can find a notable exception to this rule. A former monk died during meditation. They didn’t discover that he was dead for quite a while and when they did they were impressed that he hadn’t decomposed. It was declared a minor miracle and he was mummified. The mummy is wearing saffron robes and what look like ray band sunglasses.

The Koh Samui Divide

You can draw a diagonal line through Koh Samui from the northwest to the southeast. The beaches below the line are the peaceful and less visited spots on the island. The beaches above the line are the most popular and most developed. Those who want nightlife (clean and otherwise) will enjoy Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut. Those who want a deserted beach far from the madding crowds will like Lipa Noi, Laem Set, Bang Kao and Taling Ngam.

Events on Koh Samui

Tourism has reached such a stage of importance in Koh Samui that the major players – namely Bangkok Air and the big hotels now deem it worth their while to sponsor events on the island. Two recent examples of this are the Princess’ Cup Samui Marathon and the Samui International Jazz Festival. Both are annual events held in September.

There you have it. In just over 500 words I have said more about Koh Samui than most travel guides manage in 1,000 words.

I want to lose weight soon and I was given this vegetarian weight loss diet plan:

• I can eat as much as fruit and vegetables as I want and this is great as I don´t have to do calorie counting.
• I also need to eat protein, as I don’t like to eat animals, the nutritionist told me to replace them with beans, tofu, lentils and chick peas.

That’s it, it is very simple.

Breakfast:

- Coffee or Tea with fruit salad

Mid Morning:

- Any fruit or gelatin

Lunch:

- Vegetables with some proteins such as lentils or beans

Afternoon:

.Coffee ot tea with fruit salad

Dinner:

- Same as lunch, but with a fruit for dessert.

If you like eating animals, you can have chicken or fish instead of the beans and lentils.

The nutritionist told me that the first week is going to be very difficult because of the withdrawal symptoms from the sugar and flour…..

I think it is a great diet and I hope I can stick to it so I get fit and in shape too, so I can start surfing and kayaking again by next summer. I got very depressed during the last years and that is very bad for the mind and  the body as you end up gaining a lot of weight. Though some people loose too much.

Many friends and relatives had tried this diet with great success so I hope to get the same results as them!

And in case you want to learn more about diets, check Wikipedia as it has loads of great information!

Cat furniture is available in different types: there is cat litter box furniture, furniture for climbing, scratching, and even sleeping. Cats are just like us and like us, and they come in different sizes and colors. They also have different personalities, and this is why it makes sense to get cat furniture that is perfect for your cat’s personality. Below are some cat furniture types:

Cat Litter Box Furniture

The purpose of litter box furniture for cats is to hide the cat’s litter box and control the smell coming from your cat’s ‘bathroom’. Cat litter box furniture is available in a variety of forms, and they often double as other things. There are pieces of litter box furniture that double as cabinets, while others are end tables or night tables; indoor planters, and others. These are also specifically designed to allow cat owners to maximize the use of space in their home, apartment or condo. Some of these are electric and self-cleaning, saving cat owners time and effort in cleaning their cat’s litter box furniture.

Cat Climbing Furniture

As the name implies, this type of furniture for cats is for allowing cats to climb and stretch out their muscles. Some forms of this type of cat furniture are cat condos, cat trees and cat mansions, which have flights of stairs that are just the right size for cats, with levels and flat surfaces where cats can lay down and rest. Some of these have cubes or “rooms” cats can crawl into and enjoy some privacy. Most of these are covered with carpeting, allowing cats to effortlessly climb the structure. These are either freestanding or fixed in place and have a heavy base, so they do not wobble or tip over when cats climb the structure.

Cat Scratching Post

This type of furniture for cats allows cats to mark their territory, get some activity, as well as get rid of their claws’ dead layers. Most of these are also covered with carpet, as most cats like to scratch carpeted cat furniture. You could train your cat to use the scratching post by using a catnip spray.