Chemical Warning for Cosmetics

Below is a transcript from a report screened on A Current Affaire (Australian Television Channel 9) on Tue 05/09/06, as reported by Ros Thomas

Many women will spend a small fortune on toiletries and cosmetics over their lifetime, using them morning and night. However, very few women actually have a clue what is in the products they use. A British lobby group has issued a warning that the average woman applies more than 175 chemical compounds to her face and body every day.

Dr Ernest Tan, a Perth dermatologist, says the cosmetics industry sells science to women as though it's nature. Chief amongst their favoured ingredients are the following:

* Formaldehyde — the same compound used to embalm bodies.
* Sodium laurel sulphate — used to create bubbles in shampoos and soaps.
* Parabens — often used in moisturisers, mostly as preservatives.

All of the above ingredients can cause reactions, from simple irritations if the skin is slightly damaged, to full allergic reactions.

Comment: This is a very conservative list. There are literally hundreds of chemicals (synthetic and natural), which are used in skin care and cosmetics, which have been band in countries such as the US and Canada - but not here in Australia...

However, beauty editors such as Cleo magazine's Rachel Mannell say if those chemicals weren't in makeup, no one would buy them because they'd look, smell and feel terrible.

Comment: After speaking with Rachel personally, she pointed out, that a focus on more natural ingredients is to be encouraged and that more and more companies are moving in that direction. Editors of magazines such as Cleo, have an enormous influence on readers and are in an ideal position to bring awareness and education to the public. You have to ask: Might it not be better to have a non-foaming cleanser or shampoo, which are widely available by the way, and avoid the possibility of slowly poisoning oneself? Might not the thinking consumer prefer a product that may not look quite as pretty but performs the intended functions equally well in a natural way, rather than consume potentially dangerous chemicals?

"It's a catch-22 because sulphates are used in shampoos and cleansers for the foaming effect and if the products don't have sulphates in them, they don't foam and consumers are unhappy," Mannell says.

Comment: Again, this is not the case. More and more consumers are looking for natural skin and personal care products and are educating themselves on the potential dangers of these chemicals. I run a web site that focuses on natural skin care and it provides many articles on the dangers and potentially harmful ingredients in commercially available beauty products.

But no longer fooled by the glitz and glamour of the beauty business, many women are now asking questions about what's in their cosmetics and why you need to be a scientist to understand the labels.

Comment: This is certainly a growing trend. We receive many emails wanting to know if our products include chemicals that have been discussed widely in the media, such as the three mentioned above. This points out to us, that consumers are increasingly less willing to put chemicals on their skin, which may pose a danger to their health, and this is why we do not use them in our products.

Certainly dermatologists say we're being bombarded with all kinds of products none of us need. "I think a lot of females are using too many products and I think all they need to use is a soap-free wash, a moisturiser and some sun protection. I think the rest, in terms of cosmetics, are over-used and over-marketed," Dr Tan says.

Comment: Dr Tan makes a very valid point, however, I think even he would agree that a daily skin care regime which includes cleansing, toning and moisturising is a sound approach to skin care, and using products that utilise natural ingredients, which are just as effective, if not more so then their synthetic counterparts, are to be preferred.

What People Believe Can Bring You Success

Just think about it.

If I come to believe that you really didn't dump those chemicals in the river, I'll probably stop picketing your business.

Or, if I now believe you actually care about me as an employee, I may stay with the company.

And if I become convinced that you provide quality service at a fair price, I'll probably do business with you.

All of which means that what I think about you - what perceptions of you I hold in my mind - can change my behavior in a way that you prefer, or hate.

So, since my behavior is affected by my perception of the facts, it suggests that those perceptions might even be created from scratch, or changed, or existing behavior reinforced through a well-planned public relations effort.

Fact is, they can be, and that should interest you. Imagine being able to affect the behaviors of members of your key target audience! What would THAT do to your bottom line?

Happily, it's not that difficult to do.

Start this way. The foundation on which successful public relations outreach is built is, in reality, YOUR outreach. So become a willing participant in the public business life in your marketing area. That means activities such as sponsoring special events, making speeches before local business and fraternal audiences, and sitting for newspaper and radio interviews. That builds the good will you may need in troubled times.

A good starting point is staying in touch with those folks whose actions either help or hurt your operations. When you interact with them, ask them what they believe about your products, your organization and you. Remain alert for looming problems. You can call this the information gathering phase.

Now it's time to list your key audiences. At the beginning, concentrate on those actions that REALLY concern you and start your interactions with members of that audience. They can include stakeholders like customers, employees, prospects, media, community residents, local government agencies and many others.

When you discover a troubling perception, do something about it as soon as you can. Working with your public relations advisor, establish your public relations goal. Examples: neutralize that negative rumor that you hire illegals; prove that your process does not pollute a nearby lake; or restore the faith of that group of former customers.

If you fail to attend to them, any one can hurt your business.

So, with your goal set, you must now decide what your strategy will be in dealing with the perception problem.

We know there are just three choices available to you in dealing with such opinion problems. Create new opinion, change existing opinion, or reinforce it.

Work closely with your public relations advisor in deciding which it is. Then, proceed by preparing persuasive messages carefully and creditably designed to counter the misconception you have uncovered. Run the messages by outsiders so you can gauge just how persuasive they really are.

Here, it's time to select the communications tactics needed to carry your persuasive message to the attention of that very important target audience. Fortunately, there are dozens of communications tactics available to you such as print and broadcast media interviews, awards ceremonies, emails, promotions, press releases, newsletters, personal meetings, speeches and open houses.

But your work is still not done. You need to continue monitoring members of your target audience to measure not only how aware they are of your message, but how well they received it.

Depending on the responses you receive, it may be necessary to adjust both your message content and your mix of communications tactics.

Until something better comes along, we have little choice but to continually track perceptions among key audiences by interacting with them and by monitoring other sources such as media reports, speeches by local influentials and emails from other interested parties. Then, create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action those people whose behaviors effect the organization.

Using this approach, you will find it easier to accept and act upon the notion that what people believe really can bring you success.

Over Done Cologne and Your Business Presentation

One of the easiest ways to destroy a business presentation is to over do the perfume or cologne, as it is distracting and even if the scent is one of high-price and quality, it also is a turn-off to a board of directors or decision making group? After all what are you trying to hide? Are you trying to mask the fact that your program or pitch stinks as much as your body odor? Over Done Cologne and Your Business Presentation do not mix.

What scents make the most sense? It is not so much the scent as it is the lack of a domination over your victims. Over doing the cologne or perfume is not a smart tactic and yet we see so many folks doing this.

Before my retirement as a Franchisor Founder, I had many people present ideas, concepts, products and services to my company and occasionally someone would come in with impeccable attire and over done cologne or perfume, it was such a turn off that rarely did I ever reward them with an order of any kind.

One time we had a gal, quite good looking come in and pitch us one some cleaning products to use in our franchise company. She was very nice, sincere sounding and yet all that perfume, just made me wonder what on Earth she was hiding? I even thought, I wonder if their cleaning chemicals would be that obnoxious. One of our senior executives asked her on a date, which she accepted but we never bought anything from that company. Consider all this in 2006.

Protect Your Most Important Asset

The body automatically functions, and we automatically take it for granted! We expect our body to keep going and not complain, however much we abuse it. But it does complain, with headaches, backache, indigestion, colds, skin rashes: just a few of the minor warnings. Whether you are running a home business, major corporation or a family if you relate to these 'mild' complaints you just may need to pay attention to protect your most important asset: your health, your ability to think clearly and your emotional strength.

Without paying attention to keeping yourself well, you may slip into more serious warnings of 'self-abuse' and progress to serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. A few simple changes can make all the difference to the long-term health of your body, the clarity of your thinking, the strength of your emotional well-being and the long-term viability of your self-propelled business!

Food is fuel

What you eat and drink provides your body with the fuel to carry out all the physical and mental activities that get you through each day, including breathing and blinking! Some foods, such as fruit and vegetables, provide excellent fuel, with lots of beneficial nutrients. Other foods provide the body with poor quality fuel laced with undesirable chemicals, such as over-processed junk foods. What percentage of your current diet is providing fuel-efficient, nutrient-rich food? Find out by keeping a diary over the following week - jot down everything you eat and drink and then analyze your fuel source. The better your fuel source, the longer your life expectancy…

…So improve your choice

Choose meals and snacks that are kind to the body, i.e. naturally-produced and chemical free. Fresh (preferably seasonal) fruit, vegetables and salads retain their nutritional content - they are 'living' foods. Avoid foods that have been over-processed, stored for too long or stored in contact with metal or cling-film. You could class these as 'dead' foods, with little to offer nutritionally. Variety is also vital, helping you obtain the broad range of nutrients your body needs.

Less is more

Eating large meals puts a great strain on the digestive tract. Choose smaller, more frequent meals, which help keep your fuel tank topped-up throughout the day. And never forget that the more you eat, the more your body has to either burn off or store as fat. So eat to live - don't live to eat!

Give your stomach a fair chance

Slow down and enjoy your food. Chewing is essential - you have teeth for a reason - to assist the digestive process. Eating food quickly, or while stressed, disrupts digestion and the absorption of nutrients. The 'how' and when' of eating is just as important as 'what' you eat.

Life-giving water

Nature's nectar. Your body is 70% water and it needs to be daily replenished with a fresh supply to ensure that body cells are hydrated and energized. Ideally, we need to consume two litres of water every day.

Get active!

You need just enough activity to keep all your moving parts in good working order, lean and strong. Too much exercise uses up resources needed for normal growth, repair and maintenance, and creates premature wear and tear on the joints and ligaments.

So how much exercise are we talking about?

Enjoy a good brisk walk in the fresh air everyday - or even every second day - swing your arms, hold your head high, fill your lungs and lengthen your strike. Or, consider purchasing a home fitness video. There are plenty to choose from, just make sure it incorporates a good stretching regime to avoid pulling or straining any muscles. The same applies to any team sports or gym work - warm-up first. The message is, yes, you need to use your body to prevent it from 'getting rusty'.

Relax!

Proper 'quality time' should not be confused with time spent watching endless television, or playing games on the computer. Energetic computer games and emotionally-charged TV soaps activate the release of 'fight-or-flight' stress chemicals - hardly a form of relaxation. Switch the TV off and take time-out once or twice a day for between 15-30 minute to rest your thoughts, and your body, completely. Sit or lie comfortably, close your eyes, breathe deeply and slowly, perhaps listen to restful music, and drift into your mind's theatre of beautiful landscapes and memories. No interruptions, no demanding family or friends, just you and your attention focused on health, happiness and abundance…that's quality time!

Sleep

We all need 6-8 hours quality sleep every night. Get to bed before midnight and start the day early and alert after a restful, refreshing sleep.

Love makes everything workable

For complete harmony of mind, body and spirit, the final ingredient needed is a huge helping of love. Surround yourself with people you love and who love you!

2000 Percent Solutions from the Real World 1 The Japanese Pharmaceutical

ACSEA, the forty year old 2bn USD South East Asian subsidiary of a Japanese pharmaceutical group suffered a blow to its pride in 2003. A competitor which started operations just ten years back now surpassed it in the volume of Pharmaceutical-A produced, and its cost was now 13% lower than ACSEA's. The only hopes of responding effectively lay in the company's South East Asian Technical Centre whose role is to provide technical support to the factories and develop process technologies aimed at cost reduction for the organisation.

However morale at the centre was low, and its contributions to cost reductions for Pharmaceutical-A amounted to a measly 1% per annum. Hiroyuki Fukushima, a general manager with ACSEA, was sent to head the centre in July 2003. He immediately set about improving things to make the SEATC more effective. His boss believed he was doing very well and he tended to agree with this assessment...

Until he read the 2000 Percent Solution by Don Mitchell, Carol Coles and Robert Metz. In his words, he was shocked at the extent to which stalled thinking had limited his achievements and those of the SEATC. He quickly took up the challenge to remake the SEATC using the ideas from "the 2000 Percent Solution".

Realise the Importance of Measurements
Excited by the possibilities Fukushima realised that if SEATC could innovate 20 times more than they were doing already, they could make ACSEA the top company in the group. He set that as their new vision and introduced measurement systems to manage performance.

Decide What to Measure
Before this time, the technical centre tracked the number of reports produced as a way of assessing its contributions. Fukushima realised that this and similar measurements had nothing to do with the purpose of the SEATC. He started measuring the cost drivers of the product Pharmaceutical-A.This led him to target energy, intermediate chemicals, chemicals and depreciation (construction costs) as major cost drivers requiring improvements if the new vision was to be realised.

Identify Future Best Practice
In trying to identify likely future best practices for the major cost drivers, Fukushima reached the conclusion that for energy, co-generation was the way to go. For intermediate chemicals, they were to be eliminated. This would require development of new enzymatic reactions. Similar future best practices were identified for depreciation (construction cost) and chemical consumption. Implement Beyond Future Best Practice Cost per ton of Pharmaceutical-A were expected to reduce from $350 to $265 if the future best practices were implemented - a very different picture from the 1% per year improvements being achieved already. Meanwhile, current best practice in the industry was $310 per ton. Fukushima and his team designed projects with a maximum implementation timeline of three years to achieve these.

Identify Ideal Best Practice
For ideal best practice, Fukushima assumed the best solutions that were scientifically possible. This meant for energy cost for example, they would make use of a renewable source like solar. For intermediate chemicals, ideal best practice would mean increasing the yield of enzymatic reactions from 60% to 100%.

Pursue Ideal Best Practice
Considering the capabilities of SEATC, Fukushima decided to give priority to the development of a new enzymatic reaction. He also decided to have his process engineers develop a simplified process to reduce cost of new plant. Both of these projects are estimated to last five years.

Implementation of these practices will yield a cost per ton of $158.

Provide People and Resources
Realising that he needed his very best people to implement the planned changes and improvements, Fukushima decided to select - to use his words - self actualised team members to spearhead the projects.

Repeat
Fukushima began this journey about eighteen months ago and is well on the way to achieving the future best practice targets. He realises that the very successes they achieve will give birth to new stalls and is already on the look out for the next 2000 Percent Solution opportunity.

Industrial Safety Getting the Basics

When it comes to providing a checklist for ansi and osha approved industrial strength safety equipment, you will find a host of items that often center on eye and head protection. But there are so many other industrial safety products that provide protection to other areas of the body, including the back, knees and face. Sometimes it is a personal choice for an industrial worker to select additional safety equipment for various parts of their body. Below are a few basic pieces of equipment to consider:

Eye Protection

Eye injuries are one of the most common injuries that occur in the workplace. Depending on a particular work environment, these sorts of injuries are caused by a splattering of harmful chemicals or a puncture to the lens by a sharp piece of machinery. The eye can also become easily injured through a series of work-related blunders. This is when a pair of safety eyeglasses or goggles comes in handy. For example, with the Centurian product line, workers can choose from Chemical Splash Version or Impact Resistant Version.

Head and Face Protection

Through protective headgear and shields, the head and face can receive top safety. Heavy objects falling from above and a chemical environment may create a dangerous scene for an employee. Constructed from strong materials, protective visors also aid in the safety of the face. With the Willson Protecto-Shield Headgear item, heat resistance is a common feature.

Ear Protection

The loud din of heavy machinery or the piercing sounds of constant drilling can cause many problems with the ears of a worker. Offered in an array of different colors, the LASER-Lite Earplug line, features a non-irritating product that can fit into any ear canal. Earplugs may come in corded and uncorded selections. There are also reusable earplugs on the market. When extra comfort for ear protection is needed, lightweight earmuffs are available, such as the Bilsom Viking V1 option. Sometimes a convenient headstrap is also included.

Hand Protection

When hand protection is required on the job, there are many different options to consider. Whether you are in need of medical; leather work; latex; general purpose; or chemical resistant gloves, there are plenty of options to choose from. For instance, with the Chemical Resistant: PowerCoat nitrile glove selection, offers great protection from chemicals and other harmful liquids. These gloves are perfect for a variety of industry jobs, including auto assembly or food processing.

Body Coverage

Depending on how deep your work environment is, you may need complete or partial body coverage. There are numerous suppliers on the market that offer a wide-range of clothing options. This may include Tyvek coveralls to Tyvek elastic waist pants to Tyvek lab coats with pockets. There are also several Tyvek boot cover choices to add protection for the feet. Safety aprons, as well as safety back supports also aid in work safety.

Joint Protection

Depending on how intense your job is, you may or may not need joint protection. A variety of elbow and kneepads are available for workers. The Alta company offers various items, such as their navy and white Proline knee pad options, as well as the black Superflex, which offers great protection for roofers.

Breathing Protection

Dust, dirt and other harmful airborne particles may enter your respiratory system as you breathe in the air about your work environment. Respirators are great for avoiding these harmful components while working. 3M offers a great line of breathing apparatuses and protective gear.

The Forgiveness Factor

The Positive Pragmatics of Forgiveness

It seems that everywhere one turns today there are problems. Problems in the world such as global warming, terrorism, inflation, crime, and so forth with so many etc., etc., etceteras that one is reminded of the classic movie “The King and I.” The list is long and to many, very depressing. It may surprise you, it has me, but one of the most popular new search terms emerging recently is “anxiety.” There is a unspoken but deep feeling of anxiousness among many today and there is no end to the so-called cures offered in the market place for this guttural discomfort that can nag at one waking them from sleep and disturbing their day time activities with just some indefinite but uncomfortable feeling.

Why the anxiety? One could easily suggest a myriad of reasons. However the most important feature of anxiety is the sense of or lack of control and the perceived need to somehow take a hold of the stimulus or stimuli and direct the potential outcome. Alas, the anxiety persists chiefly when one is unable to affect the stimuli in any real way. So, global warming, terrorism, inflation and other economic concerns, shortages, and other doom and gloom forecasts, thoughts, etc. are not the “stuff” that the average individual can directly effect.

Like the ocean, anxious feelings tend to have crests and troughs and come in waves that propagate each other. Escaping this pattern requires a new perspective. There are many alternatives but essentially they come down to just two. The first is somehow finding something that one can do that minimizes the power of the stimuli. So, if you’re powerful enough to persuade the world to eliminate the causes of global warming then you can minimize the power of this stimulus if not destroy its grip all together. The second option is to simply attend to that which we can control and let go of that which is beyond our control. This so-called “let go and let God,” has been referred to by some as a Pollyanna perspective that is solipsist. (I am using the word God here in the sense Wayne Dyer approaches the Source and that is as the Grand Organizing Designer—GOD).

The term Pollyanna comes from the heroine of a novel by the same name by Eleanor Porter. In general terms it is used to describe an irrepressible optimism and a tendency to find good in everything. A solipsist in its strict sense is a person that maintains that the self can know nothing but its own modifications. To some thinkers this translates into egocentrism, a sort of self as the only existent thing. However, if the notion of self-modification is viewed from the perspective that each of us knows ourselves, our history, our changes, our fears, our limitations and so forth, then from this perspective one can easily step up to the proverbial plate and admit that they are not in control of the future or any other stimuli that is otherwise out of their control. For many, the old question, “If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear, does it make a sound?” is answered by the quantum physics perspective that suggests without consciousness there is nothing. In other words, remove the someone to hear and there is no sound for there is no tree. In this sense, our reality is one that is created by each of us in many more ways than most might have thought. This too can be taken as rather solipsist.

The great philosopher psychologist William James had a better term and that is “pragmatic.” The word originates from the Greek meaning officious and pertaining to matters of fact and practical affairs. James used this word to set apart the practical from the idealistic. In good old country talk, the meaning goes like this, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The pragmatic view is one of what works. The fact of the matter is letting go and letting God works! Now saying this and doing it are not necessarily the same thing so let’s look at a couple of quick, painless and easy ways by which we can all let go—including let go of anxiety.

First, begin your day with a simple thank you. Acknowledge but for a moment that all that you have, all that you are, is a gift. The new day is a gift. Accept the gift with gratitude. Take that gratitude attitude like a sincere Pollyanna into your day, knowing that all that comes to you does so for some higher good. So-called problems are really opportunities in disguise. These opportunities assist us in our personal growth. From them we become better people.

Second, forgive—forgive yourself, forgive all others and accept the worthiness to be forgiven. When some fearful or angry thought enters your mind, bless it. Give it love—all the love you can. You’ll probably find that a smile strangely wanders onto your face—the whole idea of blessing those that we blame is so counter intuitive to the way most are raised that I cannot overstate the power of this simple practice. While you’re smiling, realize that the simple act of smiling turns certain neuro-chemicals on in the brain. In other words, the act of smiling tells the brain life is good and the brain says in neuro-chemical, “Great—it’s feel good time!” and pumps some good old feel good chemicals through our bodies. So, if you don’t naturally smile when you do your blessing (forgiving) then fake it “till you make it. (You can obtain a free copy of our Forgiving and Letting Go program, one per customer please, by ordering it on tape or CD at my website: www.innertalk.com).

Third, let go. Let go and let God. Do what you can do and let God do the rest. When I have suggested this in the past I have been asked, how? How do I know what I can do? There is a sense that there is nothing that I can do and you have pointed this out, so what is it that I am to do? Here is the answer. Short and sweet—do a good deed for someone else. Go to the aid of another. Help someone in some small way. Help someone that may never expect you to give them aid of any kind. Give someone a smile, a compliment; add some give good feelings to others’ repertoire to your acumen of abilities and watch the world around you change. Helping others is our ultimate mission in some manner or another. The purpose driven life could be summed up without sermons as one aiding others to the best of our abilities.

Now perhaps you say to yourself something like, “Ya’ sure, sounds good but….” and go on filling in the blanks behind the buts with all of your own real and imagined experiences. Like the bumper sticker, for many “Life sucks and then you die;” and unfortunately the rest of us must to some extent deal with those that hold this philosophy close to their bosom. As an author and speaker myself I am often questioned as to how I deal with stimuli that most term negative? In other words, am I a Pollyanna pragmatist—do I walk the talk? The question scares me for I do not wish to deal with more “stuff” and yet I recognize that it is from our of struggles that we become strong—still, answering the question seems all too much like inviting trial. In my new book “Choices and Illusions: How Did I Get Here and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be?” to be released in January 2007, I retell a story of the Emperor Moth. The story is one of my favorites for it teaches at many levels like most good stories of this type. It seems that there once was a scientist that beheld the glory of an Emperor Moth and was so totally taken by the creature that he decided to study it. So for over a year he monitored the activities of the giant moth. One day he came upon a caterpillar ready to spin its cocoon, so he seized this opportunity to study the moth more closely. He gently captured the caterpillar and took it back to his lab. Here within a glass container he watched the caterpillar build its cocoon and enter that state of deep sleep while it underwent the chrysalis changing form from crawling on the ground to floating in the sky.

Then the day came that the moth was ready to leave the cocoon. The scientist watched anxiously as the tiny head chewed its way into the light of the laboratory. The moth struggled and struggled seemingly getting nowhere. Its body was simply too large to fit through the tiny hole in the cocoon. The moth tired and laid its head to rest on the shell of the cocoon when the scientist took it upon himself to help the tiny creature. “How could I stand here for so many hours watching this beautiful moth go through such agony and pain?” he questioned. “Where is my mercy?” he continued as he took his tweezers and cut away the cocoon. Unfortunately, the moth died.

Later the scientist discovered that it was precisely the struggle that forced the fluids down into the body of the Emperor Moth and gave rise to its aerodynamic ability. The cocoon forced the fluids back into the body perfectly proportioning the Moth as it forced its way out. Cutting away the cocoon in an effort to help had only killed the Moth.

From our conflicts and our struggles strength is gained, learning takes place, personal empowerment can happen and wisdom can be attained.

An author I have often enjoyed, Gerald Jampolsky, has stated we teach what we want to learn. My seminars, books, audio materials, articles and newsletters frequently address issues of self-control, patience, forgiveness and so forth. This is obviously not an exception. So once again, am I teaching what I wish to learn—walking the talk?

One experience I had recently really tested my own degree of learning. My web site (www.innertalk.com) typically sees between 1 and 1.2 million hits per month and our e-newsletter mails to tens of thousands of subscribers. One of the casualties of business sometimes is the fact that the businesses business depends upon can go on strike, lose their financial footing and file bankruptcy, change management and methods of doing business and so forth, any or all of which can really effect all the businesses doing business with this subject business—enough already with the business of business. Our web host simply went broke and without warning our web sites were gone. One night we had several functioning web sites serving people around the world and the next morning they were inaccessible.

Our phones rang off the hook. Staff desperately attempted to determine the problem. Was it a temporary glitch or worse? Ten years ago it would have been only a minor hiccup in the day but times change and almost everything moving through our retail, international and publishing divisions is dependent upon the internet. Everything from ecommerce to email communication was gone.

Well, the long and the short of it was we finally determined the problem and took steps to correct the situation and restore our so-called normal activities. I found it both interesting and educational. In his book, “The I of the Storm,” Gary Simmons points out that we are not our experiences. In his words, “I have experiences—experiences don’t have me.” Between Jampolsky and Simmons I realized this experience did teach all of us here at InnerTalk to stay in the center of our beings and choose to find the positive.

Why the proverbial “bad things” happen to all of us is something that is not easy to understand, albeit we eventually often discover the reason. However, as Simmons points out, the reason a driver cutting me off in traffic is upsetting is due to how I choose to view the world. Expectation often is negative because we can tend to project our fears, insecurities and so forth on everything. The look given us by our employer or loved one that causes uneasiness whilst one works in their mind to figure out what’s behind the look is another example of our projection mechanism. If we were to learn that the employer was disguising a surprise birthday party in our honor, or the person in traffic was actually attempting to rush their small child to the hospital, we would think differently and that would produce a different psychophysical response.

It is our psychophysical response that dictates selfishly that we choose to take a higher ground and find the positive in everything. As I pointed out repeatedly in my book, Wellness: Just a State of Mind (available free as a download at www.innertalk.com or for only $5.95 as a paper back book), the stress response inhibits just those little things in our body that we like to work optimally--like our endocrine and immune system or our autonomic nervous system. We all want these “little things” to work optimally if for no other reason than to improve the quality of our lives, relationships, health, longevity, etc. The lesson: find the good and focus on the positive, even if it is only to have that Pollyanna expectation that simply says, “I can’t wait to see what good comes from this!”

How to Profit by becoming a Landscaping Contractor

Becoming a Landscaping Contractor can be a very profitable and rewarding way to work for yourself and manage your financial future. Organization is the key to any landscaping business start up and must be maintained throughout if the venture is to be successful. A service business like landscaping is one of the easiest to start up and has the best chance of success. By simply tending to the landscaping needs of your clients, you can grow your landscaping company into a multi-million dollar organization capable of supporting your wildest dreams.

Estimated Start up Costs:

The costs of a landscaping business start up are relatively low but they increase with the level of services you intend to offer. Essential to your start up will be: a truck or trailer of some sort capable of hauling your tools and equipment to client locations; a lawnmower and weed eater; a rake and broom; a cell phone; and a computer to help with invoices, bookkeeping, and marketing; and hand tools will all be needed to get your business started. Not including the truck or trailer, a person could reasonably finance a landscaping business start up for less than $2,500.

Pricing Guidelines:

Pricing definitely is dependent upon the range of services offered and how desperate you are to break into the market. A reputable Landscaping Contractor can reasonably expect to command anywhere from $25-50 per hour for residential services. Sometimes you will be forced to bid on entire projects and pricing depends on the level of expertise needed to complete the project.

Recommended experience, skills, and training:

Many states require certification for Landscaping Contractors in order to use certain chemicals and pesticides inherent to the landscaping business. This generally involves a 6-8 week course at a local college and costs less than $200 in most cases. Naturally, any experience or training in horticulture, agriculture, and business will greatly improve the chances of success for your landscaping business start up.

Marketing tips:

The most advisable strategy would be to being with residential accounts and build a good reputation before attempting to win the commercial accounts. To do this, word-of-mouth advertising will be key to the growth of your landscaping business start up. In addition, classified advertising in a local newspaper is also a great way to increase sales. Just make sure to create a professional looking ad for greatest effect and to enhance credibility.

When you are ready to pursue commercial accounts, try using print ads in local business magazines and any other publication known to be read by upper income business members of your community. Also try using direct mail campaigns to local businesses offering discounts for using your service. Be certain that you already have an ad in the Yellow Pages before trying to pursue the commercial accounts.

Financing sources:

For people with great credit and some decent collateral, there are franchise possibilities to consider for your landscaping business start up. These business opportunities come with all the tools you will need to get started in your Landscaping Contractor Business along with plenty of customer service to help you through the challenges that arise along the way. But if you cannot afford a franchise opportunity, financing options are definitely more limited but the low start up cost makes landscaping a relatively easy business to start up and operate.

Income potential

Only working part-time on the weekends and a few nights during the week, a Landscaping Contractor Business might see $40,000 to 60,000 in the first year of operation. Fully dedicated to the business and building it full-time, a person can easily see six figures in the second or third year of operation. If you have always loved working outside and are ready to get serious about self employment and taking control of your financial future, then consider becoming a Landscaping Contractor as the road to your dreams!

Biocides In Textile

Any unwanted modification in the properties of a material brought about by the essential actions of organisms is called Bio-deterioration. Present article is concerned with the degeneration of textile materials produced by microorganisms like fungi and bacteria, and the solutions to avert or reduce their effects.

Not all failures of materials by microorganisms are unwanted. When we throw away any objects not required any more, we wait for "Nature" to clear away what has then become waste. Such deterioration is a vital course of action for the protection of the world in which we live, and it is a process of recycling many of the vital components held by these materials. However, it can be a critical problem to both manufacturers and users when it is an undesirable process, when textiles are influenced by rot or mildew.

Under proper environment microorganisms, which dwell in soil, water, and air can grow and flourish on textile materials. These organisms encompass species of microfungi, bacteria, actinomycetes (filamentous bacteria), and algae. Textiles manufactured from natural fibres are normally more vulnerable to biodeterioration than are the synthetic man-made fibres. Microbial expansion can also be advanced by products like starch, protein derivatives, fats, and oils used in the finishing of textiles. Micro-organisms may attack the whole substrate, i.e. the textile fibres, or they may attack only one constituent of the substrate, such as plasticizers enclosed therein, or grow on dirt that has built up on the surface of a product.

However, even minor surface tumour can make a fabric look ugly by the emergence of undesirable pigmentation. Heavy infestation, which gives rise to decaying and failure of the fibres and consequent physical variations such as a loss of firmness or flexibility, may produce the fabric that fail to serve. The material is attacked chemically by the action of extra-cellular enzymes produced by the microorganism for the objective of acquiring food. However, microbial activity can be reduced by saving the dryness of vulnerable materials because surface expansion will only take place when the relative humidity is high. Therefore, some kind of chemical shield is generally needed with textiles expected to be used in hostile conditions under which they stay wet or damp for long time.

Natural fibres

Plant fibres like cotton, flax (linen), jute and hemp are very vulnerable to attack by cellulolytic (cellulose - digesting) fungi. Certainly, the complete degeneration of cellulose can be achieved by enzymes created by the fungi and recognized as cellulases. Diagram 1 gives details of the chemical process involved. The spores of these microfungi are there in the atmosphere and when they settle on proper substrates they can grow fast under positive conditions of temperature and humidity. The typical growth form of these "mould" fungi is recognised as mildew, a outward growth, which may discolour and spoil the fabric with stain, as many microfungi are able to produce pigments. The best safeguard against mildew is to ensure that the fabrics are dry when put in storage and that they do not turn out to be wet in storeroom. Fabrics which are to be used outdoors for awnings, beach umbrellas, military uniforms, sails, tarpaulins, tents, truck and boat covers, shoes and shoe linings, are processed with a fungicidal finish to save them from mildew damage and rotting. Algal greening may also appear on fabrics, which stay damp for long time and can create particular problems in the tropics.

In proportion to plant fibres, animal fibres are less affected by mildew growth. Pure silk, if completely degummed, is less vulnerable. Wool decomposes only slowly but chemical and mechanical harm during procedure can intensify its vulnerability to biodeterioration. When stored under very unfavourable conditions wool will finally rot by the action of the proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes concealed by many microfungi and bacteria.

Man-made fibres

Man-made fibres obtained from cellulose are vulnerable to microbial degeneration. Viscose (rayon) is easily struck by mildew and bacteria; acetate and triacetate are more unaffected although discoloration can take place if the fabrics are improperly stored. Fibres produced from synthetic polymers (e.g. acrylic, nylon, polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene fibres) are very resistant to attack by microorganisms.

The hydrophobic character of these polymers is possibly a significant aspect deciding their resistance. Also, these synthetic polymers have chemical bonds, which do not take place or are rare in nature, and perhaps therefore they have not been around long enough for microorganisms to develop the proper enzymes required to start their analysis. Although the substance of a synthetic fibre by itself will not hold up microbial development, pollutants of low molecular weight (e.g. remaining marks of the caprolactam monomer of nylon 6) and mixtures such as lubricants and spinning oils used in the finishing of textiles may give satisfactory nutrient for mild surface evolution of a microorganism. In most cases this will not influence the health of the fabric but can result into staining and discolouration, which are often not easy or impossible to eliminate.

. Plastics

Various kinds of plastic materials have surfaced as sections of textile products, for instance, to give waterproof coatings for rainwear. Plastics, which are produced mainly or entirely from polymers such as polyethylene, are generally highly resistant to microbial expansion. However, two types of plastic used significantly as coatings for textile materials, plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethanes, are vulnerable to biodeterioration. In the case of PVC, the polymer itself does not willingly supply a means of nutrients for bacteria and fungi. The vulnerability of PVC formulations to microbial attack is associated with the amount and types of plasticizers, fillers, pigments, and stabilizers, etc., inserted during processing. Many of these additives are organic compounds of comparatively low molecular weight. For instance, plasticizers (predominantly esters of organic acids, polyesters, and chlorinated hydrocarbons), which are put in to enhance the flexibility of an otherwise fragile polymer, will in most cases nourish microbial expansion and their degree of vulnerability applies a deep impact on the propensity of the textile coating to biodeterioration; such microbial exploitation of the plasticizers may cause crack of the PVC coating during use. With polyurethanes on the other hand the actual polymer is able to prop up microbial evolution because of the resemblance of some of the chemical connections in polyurethanes to those discovered in nature. Therefore, biocides are often included in both plasticized PVC and polyurethanes as a practical measure.

Use of biocides

The perfect technique of preventing microbial degeneration is to use synthetic materials, which are naturally resistant to attack. Another method is to apply antimicrobial chemicals known as "biocides" which are generally included into the finished textile product. So far no additive agent has been unearthed, which provides neither complete safety nor is without some drawback. Perfect biocides include following requirements:

. Efficient against a large range of microorganisms, especially bacteria and microfungi.
. Operative during the life of the product.
. Of low mammalian toxicity and non-toxic to humans at the concentrations used.
. Lacking colour and odour.
. Influential at low concentrations.
. Not expensive and easy to use.
. Resistant to sunlight and percolating from the fabric.
. Fabric handle and health are unaffected.
. Adaptable with water-repelling and flame-reducing agents, dyes, and other textile accessories.
. Does not intensify the fabric to destruction by light or other effects.

It would be an endless journey if somebody sets off to find the ideal biocide and the compromise choice of a proper product is not always easy. Some chemicals, for instance organo-mercury compounds, have been discarded because of their lasting and increasing toxic effects in the environment. Textile materials, which are to be used outdoors, need a constant fungicide that has anti-rain wash properties and capability to suffer breakdown by light. If the environment is tremendously damp, monitoring of algae and bacteria becomes more significant. However, many compounds, which are efficient against microfungi, are not essentially good bacteriocides and vice versa.

Regularly used biocides in the textile industry are organo-copper compounds, organo-tin compounds, and chlorinated phenols. These function by intervening in the energy-producing procedures of microbial cells. Copper naphthenate and copper-8-hydroxyquinolinate are greatly multipurpose biocides, very efficient against fungi, bacteria, and algae. They are specially used to look after textiles prone to be bare to soil and to harsh weathering conditions, e.g. cotton and flax canvases, awnings, tarpaulins, cordage, ropes, sacks, tents, military uniforms and military gears. The main drawback is that they give a yellow-green colour to processed materials. Pentachlorophenol esters, conventionally pentachlorophenyl laurate (LPCP), are resistant to percolating by rainwater and so are applied as fungicides for the rot-proofing of a large array of textiles together with cotton, flax, and jute fabrics used as covers, tarpaulins, shop blinds, tents, etc.; also carpet backings, coated fabrics, hospital materials, mattress covers, pressed felts and woollen textiles. Some biocides can provide more than one objective; thus organo-tin mixtures can work as stabilizers for plastic formulations as well as fungicides.

Use of biocides in textile fabrics for rotting and mildew-proofing is generally performed as a final finishing treatment. The fabric is soaked in either a solvent (usually white spirit) solution or, more commonly, an emulsion of the biocide; it is then pressed and dried out using a cylinder dryer, a stenter, or other appropriate tools. The fabric may be polished first but more usually and especially with heavyweight materials, the biocides are applied to loomstate material without polishing. Very often they are co-applied with water-repelling, fire-retardants, and pigments. In vinyl polymers like PVC, the biocide is generally diffused in the plasticizer, which is by and large the most biodegradable constituent. As the surface film is eliminated, new plasticizer will shift to the surface, taking with it a continuous source of biocide. However, these products finally lose their protecting merits through seasoning even though 70%-80% of the biocide continues to be chemically unaffected in the formulation. One possible cause is that under the influences of heat and ultraviolet radiation, depolymerisation of the vinyl resin and consequent cross-linkage may condense the biocide, checking its transfer to the surface where biodeterioration occurs.

Biocides are also applied to give hygienic finishes for fabrics that will be used in health-care goods. These finishes are categorised as either renewable or long-lasting, although long-lasting finishes are detached gradually during laundering. Renewable finishes can be substituted during laundering, for instance quaternary ammonium compounds used to resist napkin rash. Some safeguard against the microfungi responsible for athlete's foot is also asserted for hygienic finishes that are applied to socks and linings for footwear.

Conclusion

Measuring the scope of biodeterioration of textile materials is not easy but it must be estimated in terms of millions of pounds sterling annually in the UK alone. Breakdown of materials can often be a complicated event resulting from a mixture of chemical, physical, and microbiological reasons. The problem is most critical with fabrics used outdoors but other products such as floor coverings, rug backings, shower curtains, vinyl baby pants, and mattresses may also need an antimicrobial finish to check fungal and bacterial surface expansion. If possible, materials naturally resistant to microbial attack should be chosen rather than materials, which need protection. Thus, synthetics, which resist mildew, contend positively with cotton in manufacturing sails for boats or shower curtains. Advance research is needed into techniques of producing both natural and synthetic materials more resistant to biodeterioration by chemical alteration of their make-up, especially because uncertainties have now been given rise about the toxicity and environmental constancy of some of the so far well recognized biocides. It is also envisioned that enhanced biocides will surface on the market to meet new set of laws introduced by governments worried about the environmental impact of current compounds.

Business Secrets Revealed 1 Business is Production

Business is a single word or a subject, when analyzed gives a bundle of meanings and explanations. We define business in various ways on diverse circumstances.

Generally, business is a profession of producing goods and services for a profit. When we say production, this involves the human labor primarily and machinery as a labor saving device and raw materials for conversion into consumable products.

Products are too many:
These products are commodities or goods of human needs. They may be wholesome products or spare parts or semi processed materials for being assembled, merged or integrated into the final product.

These may be solids, liquids or gases; may be vegetative in origin, metals, or chemicals in nature; they may be naturally grown, cultivated with agricultural techniques or produced with engineering expertise. They may include living beings, birds and animals too.

Products are enormous:
To understand the enormity of the products, let us visit some of the places.

Sweets and savories:
Let us go to a sweet stall! Just see the sweets and savories made out of flours of cereals, say rice and wheat and protein rich grams like Bengal gram and green gram etc. You can see at least one hundred items there. Here, the main ingredients are sugar, milk, spices, and essences with the flours.

Bread, butter and jam:
Now, move into a bakery, where you will see hundreds of items made with the combination of wheat, sugar, cream, spices and essences.

Grains and spices:
The next is a grocery store, selling all food grains, pulses, spices, condiments and their bye products, besides cooking oils. They sell processed, semi-processed and Ready-to-eat food packs also.

Fresh and juicy:
The nearby ‘vegetables and fruits’ stall supplies all the vegetables, fruits and fresh fruit juices. Instant coffee, tea and other beverages are also available if you wish to drink sip by sip.

Hot and tasty:
The next is a hotel, where you get food cooked and supplied instantly. See a fast food counter also. The menu says about 100 items of mouth-watering dishes.
A petty shop selling toffees and chocolates along with biscuits and homemade candies is a common feature.

Food alone too many:
We have been trying to list only food products sold in a few locations. There are very many more varieties and brands in food products alone.

Others uncountable:
If you make a list under basic clothing, building materials, plastics, cosmetics, stationary, drugs, chemicals and many more categories, the list will go infinite.

Engineering goods immeasurable:
If you enter into engineering industry, there is boundless number of machines, spares and products needed by countless industries like agriculture, automobile, building construction, medicine etc.,

Now, as an entrepreneur, feel the vastness of goods, enormity of products, immensity of bye products and sheer size the market. The man made goods available for the humankind in this large world is huge, its requirement is massive and the market is mammoth.

Please understand that these products are for you to produce. If you wish to become a product oriented entrepreneur, the scope is wide and the choice is vast.
You need to select the best suitable for you.

Characters of products:

Monopoly with no competition:
If you get an agency for kerosene or gasoline, you are lucky. People will come in queue to buy your product. This is a monopoly product, available only with you as a licensed dealer in that area.

Duopoly with one competition:
Selling toffees and chocolates in the market is not an easy joke. If you are a dealer of a good branded chocolate like ‘Cadbury’s’ and biscuits like ‘Britannia’, you are comfortable. These are all duopoly products, distributed only by two marketers with minimum competition.

Even in branded popular toffees also, there are similar products having same taste. Those like “Lacto king” will buy “MahaLacto” also as a choice. There will be a market shift in favor of a brand if there is inadequate supply of another brand of similar kind.

Oligopoly with too many competition:
If you are a seller of a ‘brand less’ item, your competition is high. As a number of persons will distribute the products, you have always-tough time to sell your goods. This is oligopoly market. There are too many competitions. You are at risk financially.

Primarily the business is product oriented:
In general, the business is product oriented. The wants are unlimited. Likewise, products availability is also boundless. The human population and the market are ever growing. The demand, supply and the population are too big and they offer great opportunity to the entrepreneurs.

To make all these things favorable to him, the entrepreneur must select a suitable product with unique features. That should have good potential demand and easy manageability in the market. This is very common suggestion.
We have tried here only to reveal the “open secret” that business is primarily product oriented.

In course of time, we shall release very good business strategies, sale techniques and business ideas highly suitable to the budding entrepreneurs.

Where Should You Buy Your Cleaning Supplies

From cleaning chemicals to microfiber cloths to mop buckets, you need supplies and equipment to clean your buildings. But is there a "one-stop shop" that will best suit the needs of your cleaning company?

You can buy supplies from janitorial distributors, big box stores like Home Depot, on-line stores, e-bay, and in a pinch, you can even buy from your local grocery store. Following are a few highlights of what each of these sources has to offer:

A janitorial supplies distributor has working knowledge of the chemicals and equipment that you need to successfully run your cleaning business. They can provide MSDS sheets, offer suggestions and advice, rent equipment, and even provide training to you and your employees.

Janitorial distributors keep records of your purchases. So if you forget the name of a particular chemical that worked well for you, they will be able to track down that information. Distributors have higher quality products and can offer volume discounts and let you know when manufacturers are offering specials. In addition, if a piece of equipment breaks down your distributor may be able to fix it.

Big box stores sell an assortment of chemicals, supplies and some equipment. However, they more than likely will not provide you with MSDS sheets or keep track of your purchases. Prices may be lower, but you will not get any training or support from the employees at a big box store. If you buy equipment from a big box store you will have to send it back to the manufacturer for repairs or service.

On-line stores sell almost everything. There are many specialized janitorial supply stores that will no doubt have everything you need for your cleaning business. You can easily shop and compare prices with just a few clicks of your mouse. Make sure that you read all the fine print and know what the exact charges are for your product. Some sites will charge extra for shipping, or they may claim "free shipping" yet have increased their prices to cover those charges. There may be some items, such as large pieces of equipment that have added shipping charges.

Buyers and sellers are flocking to Ebay to either get bargains or get rid of overstocks. Sellers on ebay are not likely to provide you with MSDS sheets (you can ask), guarantees or information on how to use the product. Ebay does have some built in protections for the buyer and the seller. But that does not mean that Ebay will guarantee the quality of the product that you are buying. For some items on Ebay you submit a "bid" and others you can buy outright. You also have to watch the shipping charges that you will have to pay.

In a pinch, your local grocery store has wood cleaner, toilet bowl cleaners, basic cleaning supplies, and trash can liners. These are not industrial-strength products, but if an employee runs out of a chemical while cleaning a building, it might be your only choice.

No matter where you buy from, it's always best to plan ahead and make sure that you have all the cleaning supplies and equipment that you need on hand. The choice of where you buy supplies will not "make or break" your cleaning company. However, knowing that you have a dependable source for your equipment and supplies and having a good working relationship with that company will mean one less headache for you as you grow your cleaning business!

What Your Cleaning Company Needs to Know About the Hazard Communication Law

As a cleaning company you use various chemicals in your day-to-day operations. Products such as floor finish, toilet bowl cleaners, disinfectants, carpet spotters and all-purpose cleaners contain various ingredients that can pose a hazard to your employees' health and well-being. An every day task such as cleaning a rest room can lead to a nightmare if one of your employees is injured or harmed because of improperly using chemicals. No business likes being overburdened with federal and state regulations. However, to protect yourself and your employees it is important that your cleaning company abide by OSHA's (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Hazard Communication Standard.

This standard is also known as the Right-To-Know Law or Hazcom - citation number 29CFR1910.1200. The overall goal of this law is to protect employees from physical and health hazards that they may be exposed to while on the job. Employees need to know the hazards and identities of the chemicals they can potentially be exposed to while doing their job. Your cleaning employees also need to know what protective measures are available to prevent exposure to chemicals or potential injuries that could be caused by chemicals. Besides being a law, failure to comply with the requirements of this regulation means that you are putting your employees at risk.

As an employer you are responsible for the following:

Notification. As an employer you must tell your employees that they have the right to information about the products they are using in the workplace. This information includes possible health affects and hazards caused by the chemicals they use while working.

Providing Information. You must respond to any employee who requests information about the products they are using, and you must provide this information in a timely manner. You must also let your employees know where they can find the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for the products they are using and this information must be easily accessible by employees. MSDS sheets are usually kept at the work location in the janitor closet.

Training. Employers must train employees on how to properly use chemicals including what personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, respirator), they need to wear when using the product.

Record Keeping. You are required to keep records of any employee that is exposed to hazardous substances. You should also consider keeping a training log of when and what types of training you provide to your employees.

What products should you consider as hazardous? Products that contain chemicals that pose fire hazards, are reactive, explosive or corrosive, or chemicals that cause skin irritation or are potentially toxic are the types of chemicals that will fall under the Right to Know guidelines. However, even if a product is not deemed hazardous by OSHA it is important that you train your employees on the proper use of the chemical. Products improperly used may not be as effective as they should be. In addition, if your employees do not dilute chemicals properly or mix chemicals together that should not be mixed, they can cause problems to your employee's health or may damage the surfaces that are being cleaned.

Always ask for the product's MSDS sheet when buying cleaning chemicals. If you are buying your cleaning products through a janitorial distributor they should have the MSDS information for you. If you buying products at a retail store you may have to contact the manufacturer directly or go on-line to find the product's MSDS.

Making sure you train your employees on the use of chemicals is no guarantee that an incident will never happen. However, a small investment of your time in properly training your employees and keeping the required paperwork can keep your cleaning company out of hot water if an incident does happen.

Boat Hull Cleaning Procedures for Owners and Detailers

For really tough boat hull cleaning you will need to break out the acid. Muratic acid is the best for this. You'll want to have a 50/50 mix of muratic acid of 6-8% concentrated (12% is the highest concentration you can legally buy over the counter), water and a good strong sprayer. You can purchase muratic acid at Wal*Mart, K-Mart, Pool Supply Stores, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Van Waters and Rogers Chemicals. Sears Craftsman makes a nice strong sprayer or try a local store for another brand of commercial pump-up sprayer.

Spray onto the boat directly after doing a presoak with a good strong blast of water. Let it sit for approximately 2 minutes. Just let the acid do its work breaking up and removing the algae. If it is still there try it again for longer and longer periods of time, but not more than 10-15 minuites. You'll be amazed how nice it looks even by the time you come back to rinse it off. Usually you can remove all this excess with a good strong brush after the acid shock treatment.

You may have to get with a smaller scrubbie into some areas around the drive system and other nooks and crannies underneath. If it's on a trailer and the bunks are on it, that's just the way it goes, you can't get around those - you can't move that boat on the trailer. On a hoist, you'll have full access to the boat.

Once you've scrubbed off one side of the boat, rinse, and repeat the procedure on the opposite side. Give it a very strong thorough rinse getting all the residual acid off the trailer as it can sometimes cause rust spots and corrode. Only use this muratic acid mix for boats that are extremely algae covered, heavy in barnacles, and other growth associated with long-term in-water moorage. Often times you can use Slimy grimy and hot water or Starbrite's buffered acid will work just fine for cleaning a mildly dirty boat bottom. For cleaning diesel soot found around the transom, aft deck ceiling and along the water line around exhausts, but not bottom paint, you can use Meguiar's #50 first, then proceed with compound Monster Agua-Blue 200, Maguire’s #44 or #49 if this doesn’t work.

If you are cleaning along the waterline and boat bottom that is not painted, you will want to reach for the bottle of On/Off by Maritime Products Company. You will remove all barnacles, moss growth and browning incredibly fast. Don’t get this stuff on your hands or on any bottom paint as it will streak the paint and will burn your hands. This is corrosive, but will not harm gel coat and neutralizes with water. Don’t get it on the trailer, it will streak and etch it. It is an oxcillic acid mix and is available at West Marine stores. If you are a contractor and doing this for a living the pricing usually goes from $3.00 to $4.50 a foot. Again, market conditions in your area may be a little more or a little less. You can adjust to fit those market conditions.

The Marina-Tec boat wash system is great. If you are contractor and have lots of work you may want to consider leasing a location to wash boat bottoms. GMBH & Co. has a hull-leaning machine that uses two brushes that rotate horizontally along the hull and two brushes that rotate vertically at the heel. It is an automated system and does not use toxic chemicals. It is similar to an automatic car wash only for boats in the water.

Do it right the first time, do it efficiently and think about it.

Clothes for Wellness

It's no longer just what you put in your body that counts, but also what you put on your body. Wellness is fast emerging as one of today's most powerful lifestyle trends. World-renowned economist Paul Zane Pilzer estimates it to be US$ 200-billion industry with potential to grow to over US$ 1 trillion annually within the next eight to 10 years

Growing consumer preoccupation with physical and emotional well-being has created an attractive, sustainable market space that has already stimulated new business growth in sectors as diverse as cosmetics, nutrition, health, leisure and travel. Research has confirmed that both men and women are excited by the concept of well-being benefits in clothes, especially those worn close to the body.

The first success was perhaps tasted by Osaka-based manufacturer Teijin which saw 2 million pairs of its Amino jeans disappear from stores in less than 24 hours. Amino jeans were treated with arginine, an amino acid that is said to keep the skin youthful. Since then a number of manufacturers and chemical companies have started offering range of health giving finishes and textiles treated with them.

The micro-encapsulation process

Human skin or dermis is made up of cells, blood vessels and nerves in an extra-cellular matrix composed of fibrillated protein formations (collagen, elastin, etc.), which provide resilience to stretching, and a colloidal gel substance, which fills up the spaces between all the different dermal components. This gel substance is chiefly composed of water, mineral salts and glycosaminoglycans. Most wellness finishes on textiles use the time-tested technology of microencapsulation to deliver active ingredients like moisturisers, therapeutic oils, or even insecticides through the clothes onto skin directly where they are absorbed by the dermis.

Through microencapsulation process a liquid or solid substance can be encapsulated in sealed micro spheres of size 0.5-2000 microns. These spheres form a suspension of tiny droplets surrounded by a thin membrane/ polymeric wall protecting the active agent before it is released, and are applied to a fabric through a simple pad-dry sequence. During wear, simple mechanical rubbing of fabric gradually ruptures the membrane releasing active agent for cosmetic, therapeutic, energy boosting, stress busting, moisturising or deodorising effects.

There are also heat-regulating micro capsules that work on the principle of phase change. Fibre and fabric functionalities like protection, stretch, UV protection and enhanced thermal properties can also be combined with these specialised finishes to enhance the feeling of well-being.

Japan, the powerhouse of innovation recognised the growth in this sector early on. A number of manufacturers have introduced supplements like amino acids, vitamins, xylitol and other food additives into fabric to maintain pH balance in the skin or keep wearers cool. Amino acid manufacturer Ajinomoto teamed up with major sports goods firm Mizuno Corp last year to develop the "Amino Veil" brand. The amino acids in Amino Veil branded tennis and golf clothes dissolve into wearer's perspiration, enhancing the material's ability to absorb moisture and keep the skin's pH (potential of hydrogen) level balanced. The amino acid used in the product above is arginine, which helps to regenerate skin.

Clothes for wellness

Clothing manufacturers and food ingredient companies are hoping to boost profits with several new inventions. Sports clothing firm Yonex has launched a range with xylitol, the sweetener more commonly found in chewing gum. It absorbs heat when it comes into contact with water and is said to offer a cooling effect. Thus, xylitol-enhanced jeans can keep the wearer cooler if she or he begins to sweat.

Yonex Xylitol-impregnated Very Cool Polo Shirts lower body heat by 3 degrees for more comfort during the heat of play. This new Yonex development in high-tech sportswear is worn by tennis stars Monica Seles, Elena Dementieva, David Nalbandian, Jelena Dokic and by leading badminton players.

Fuji Spinning, another major Japanese textile maker recently test-marketed women's T-shirts that were covered in pro-vitamin C, a liquid chemical that turns into real vitamin C when it touches the skin. The material boasts of providing enough amount of vitamin C as one would find in two lemons. And it holds enough vitamin content for about 30 washes. Though it is still not clear that the vitamins are actually absorbed into the skin or that the clothing will do the wearer any good, blouses, T-shirts and men's shirts made with this "V-Up" technology are already available at the Takashimaya department store in Tokyo.

While vitamin C easily dissolves in water, Pro-vitamin C is water-resistant but is dissolved by sebum, an oily secretion our bodies produce naturally. As humans constantly produce sebum and sweat, dried pro-vitamin C fixed in the shirt's fibres naturally returns to liquid and attaches to the skin.

Invista (previously DuPont Textiles & Interiors) has launched a collection of Body Care range that will deliver cosmetic and well-being benefits like freshness, moisturising and massage for leg wear and intimate apparel. The stretch and recovery properties of Lycra are an integral part of delivering these new functionalities. Underwear that stays fresh has high consumer appeal for both men and women. The Body Care collection uses technologies that inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria and others that trap odour-causing molecules, and then release them at the next wash.

Body Care also uses fibre micro-encapsulation technology to deliver moisturising benefits. Moisturising agents stored in the fibre structure - as many as a million microscopic capsules per square centimetre of fabric - break open and release their contents progressively as garments move against the skin, continuously hydrating it. Invista has worked with International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) to develop microcapsules. Two nourishing formulas are being offered - skin moisturising Aloe Vera, and Chitosan, a marine extract that imparts skin-soothing properties. The product has been getting a significant number of adoptions in Yoga lines.

The massage properties are the result of combining textile compression technology and temperature management in special high-tech hosiery yarns. Legs stay cool in summer and warm in winter, and are toned and invigorated all-year-round by a gentle massaging action that works vitamin-rich nutrients into the skin. Body Care uses Schoeller Outlast phase-change technology for body temperature regulation.

Ohara Paragium Chemical is offering natural skincare and healthcare finishing agents based on combination of an amino-acid-based softening agent that can produce unconventional, less-sleek but full, elegant silky hand and a number of innovative finishing agents that produce moisture retaining, slimming or anti-ageing (anti-oxidation) effects.

The close-fitting women's motorbike pants from Richa (BE) have a thin lining using Schoeller's phase change material, which can be removed in warmer weather and reattached at lower temperatures.

The finish, Parafine SC-1000, brings out moisture-retaining, water-absorbent and softening effects from amino acids and aqueous polyurethane in innerwear and pantyhose. Another finish, Parafine SC-3000, imparts the fat-burning effect of capsaicin as well as the moisture-retaining and skincare effect of raspberry and squalane.

Capsaicin is a chilli component responsible for pungency. It promotes perspiration and cause neurological stimulation and generation of body heat. Beneficial effects are anti-oxidation, anti-bacterial and promotion of salt intake reduction. Raspberry extract has a moisture-retaining effect due to presence of organic acids such as citric and maleic acid, polyphenols, vitamins and minerals.

Squalane is a saturated hydrocarbon made from shark liver oil that produces moisturising and moisture-retaining effects and permeability in the skin. A third finish Parafine SC-5000, uses rice germ oil containing ferulic acid and -oryzanol that have high anti-oxidation properties effective in skincare, along with vitamin E and squalane. Vitamin E is known to be anti-oxidation vitamin and is used as a generic term for fat-soluble tocopherols.

Also, Cognis performance chemicals are integrating under their Skintex range the expertise and experience of micro-technology with the powers of nature. Skintex chemicals are a blend of precious essential oils derived from the cold-pressed peel of plants, herbs and fruit or are carefully distilled from blossoms and leaves

Skintex range of essential oil blends by Cognis performance chemicals

Cosmetic textiles

Two apparently non-related industries, textiles and cosmetics, are coming together and clearing the way for amazing prospects with the first 'cosmetic textiles'. These combine the active principles of cosmetics with textile fibers. Cosmétil Innovations, specialising in the manufacture of the new textiles has already devised several products that are sold by major mail-order groups.

For chemicals of cosmetic and beauty functions, Cosméfil is offering Beautiva range of cosmeto-textiles targeted at busy women who have little time to devote to caring for their skin and figure. Beautiva cosmeto-textile garments are available in boxed sets of pre-treated panty hose, hose, knee-highs, lingerie or socks. The fabric of the garment is impregnated with the active ingredient, which is released by the warmth of the skin when the garment is worn.

Garments may be worn for periods extending from several days to several weeks, depending on the specific objective (moisturise, relax, slenderise). The natural active ingredients used are - cyclotella, a microalga that works on fat metabolism, promotes lymph circulation and helps resorb cellulite; and another microscopic algae Padina pavonica, an extremely effective anti-age ingredient. The specific action continues even through several washings. It can be restored thanks to the mini-doses or spray included with the garment "re-impregnating" the fabric with the mini-dose.

Under a tie up with Cosmétil, Variance is launching a new line of cosmetically inspired fluid lingerie called Hydrabra that invisibly provides moisturising and firming effects. The bra has a specially designed lower cup having an ultra-thin cloth impregnated with a lotion formulated with extracts of Padina pavonica.

In conclusion, the wellness business is proactive. People voluntarily become consumers - to feel healthier, to reduce the effects of ageing, and to avoid becoming consumers of the sickness business.

To read more articles on Textile, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail and General please visit www.fibre2fashion.com. If you wish to download/republish the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source”. Also, you have to make it hyperlinked to our site.

Pressure Washer Concrete Cleaning Equipment

Cleaning concrete is tough and there is an easy way and a hard way. There is one thing you need to understand when you are pressure washer cleaning concrete; the concrete cannot always be made to look brand new again after it has been stained. You can always get stains lighter or bleached but completely removing it is very difficult, sometimes you get lucky, but if you are looking for perfection, chances are you will be underwhelmed. So when talking to customers let them know up front and explain this to them otherwise they will be asking for a job that just can't be done unless the entire concrete slab is ripped up and re-poured.

Let’s talk about equipment that is needed for this type of work. Remember safety is always important when working with a pressure washer. Some times there are chemicals involved in cleaning some stains. Thus, you should always use some type of eye protection. Also, when you are using chemicals you need to wear jeans to protect your legs. Chemicals made for concrete are very strong and should not be toyed with. Would a person rather work with dry feet or wet? It is recommended that you get rubber waders or some type of rubber boot. They will keep your feet from getting wet and keep them from getting burned by the 250 degree water.

Orange cones are also important to have for this job. These help make people visually aware that you are there if you are in a high traffic area or where there are a lot of contract workers at say a newly constructed house that needs the concrete cleaned. This makes everyone around you safe and you are helping prevent accidents. Of course you are going to need a Hydro-Twister for this job. You can technically do the job with a wand but it will take a lot more time and water, not to mention you can cause streaking if you are not using even strokes across the slab of concrete. Most of the new hot water pressure washers have an option of a hydro twister type unit but if you don't have one and or you need a second unit we recommend that you go to buy one. When buying a hydro twister buy the larger of the two. There my be only a 5 inch difference in surface coverage but it is well worth it when you are trying to save time without cutting corners. Especially if you are cleaning concrete at a construction site or a large retail type box store, there is a lot of concrete and the faster you clean it the more money you will make. Think about it.

Business Scents Do They Work

You see it often in large shopping complexes. Customers seem to be flocking to a certain stall in large droves. There is a special attraction that cannot be explained.

Isn't it great to see your own customers flocking to you in droves, like bees to honey? Could you do with some extra attraction to your business?

In most of our marketing efforts, the sense of sight reigns supreme. Banners and billboards catch customer's eyes at every corner of the street. These visual statements can be very effective if used correctly. The message they convey can be bold or or even subtle.

However, there is another way to attract people. It's a subtle approach that is often overlooked.

It's by using the sense of smell. Have you ever tried to use the sense of smell to bring in business? Could it be the break that you are looking for?

Shopping mall owners know how to use it to their advantage. People tend to feel happy or relaxed when there is a pleasant smell around them. Aromatic perfumes are sprayed at regular intervals to make people feel happy and in the mood to buy.

Smells do have a way of influencing our behavior!

Chemicals called pheromones have a way of influencing animals especially during mating time. Researchers have uncovered more and more of the secrets of smells in their study of attraction.

Mammals and insects are known to be attracted to their mates even from far away places. It's almost like magic! And it's a natural phenomenon.

Now come the million dollar question. Can you make use of pheromone chemicals to help in your business? If people are somehow attracted to you, will you have a better chance to present your sales pitch more effectively, and more frequently?

How about the response from your audience? Will they be more receptive to someone they like?

If your customer comes with a relaxed frame of mind, do you think you have a better chance to close a sale?

Everybody has a better opinion of a salesperson who smells good. Your sales pitch could somehow become more inviting.

And they may not even realize why!

They might not even know what attracts them to the product you are selling!

Hazard Communication Basics Part 3 Chemicals and Labels

For each hazardous chemical which an employer uses, material safety data sheets (MSDS’s) must be obtained. Each sheet must contain at least the following information:

The identity - of the product / chemical as used on the label.

If the chemical is a single substance - its chemical & common name(s).

If the chemical is a mixture of substances - determined to be a hazard, the chemical & common name(s) of all ingredients which have been determined to be health hazards.

The physical hazards - as well as chemical (such as vapor pressure, flash point, potential for fire, explosion, reactivity, etc.).

The signs and symptoms - of exposure to the hazardous chemical.

The OSHA permissible exposure limit - ACGIH Threshold Limit Value, and any other exposure limit used or recommended by the manufacture, importer, or employer preparing the material safety data sheet.

Whether the hazardous chemical is listed - in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report on Carcinogens, or has been found to be a potential carcinogen in the Internal Agency for Research on Cancer (IRAC), or by OSHA.

Any applicable precautions - for safe handling and use, including appropriate hygienic practices.

Any Applicable control measures - such as engineering controls, work practices, or personal protective equipment.

Emergency and first aid procedures.

The date of preparation of the MSDS - or the last change to it.

The name, address, and telephone number - of the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer or other responsible party preparing or distributing the MSDS who can provide any additional information.

Employers must maintain - copies of the required MSDS for each hazardous chemical in the workplace, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area[s].

Note: The recommended procedure on each jobsite is to keep a copy of all MSDS’s of the materials on that jobsite, bound in a three-ring binder with your written "HazCom" program and a List of Chemicals- with MSDS’s added to it when a new hazardous substance is introduced. This will insure that your overall "HazCom" program is addressed, available, implemented, and updated at each worksite.

Remember to train your employees of the potential hazards of a new chemical when introduced to their work area[s].

Labels And Other Forms Of Warning

In your workplace, all containers need to be marked, labeled, or tagged with the identity of any hazardous chemicals that are contained within, and, must show the hazard warnings necessary for employee protection. The hazard warnings may be in the form of message, words, pictures, or symbols that indicate general information about the hazard of the chemical(s) contained. Labeling and warning requirement guidelines are as follows:

It is the responsibility of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor - to ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals is labeled, tagged or marked with information regarding the identity of the hazardous chemicals, appropriate hazard warnings, and the name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party.

It is the responsibility of the employer - to ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical contained; and the appropriate hazard warnings.

The employer may use signs - placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other written materials in lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary (bulk) process containers, as long as the alternative method identifies the containers to which it is applicable and conveys the information required as outlined earlier in this paragraph.

An employer is not required to label - a portable container into which hazardous chemicals are transferred from a labeled container that are intended only for the immediate use by the employee who performs the transfer.

Employers and employees shall not remove or deface - any existing labels or other forms of warnings on incoming containers of hazardous products, unless the container is immediately marked otherwise with the required information.

Labels or other forms of warning must be legible - printed in English, displayed clearly on the container, and readily available in the work area throughout each work shift. When an employer has an employee who speaks other languages, the information [in their language] may be added to the material, as long as the information is presented in English as well.

The manufacturer, importer, distributor or employer - is not required to affix new labels to containers to comply if the existing labels already convey the required information.

If an employer becomes aware of any significant changes - regarding hazards of a chemical, the labels for those chemicals shall be revised with the new information prior to being distributed or introduced into the workplace again. Hazardous chemicals shipped to the employer after that time must contain the new information.

Note: In reviewing this section, the employer must develop a practice/ program within their company in which hazardous chemicals or products that are incoming, stored, transferred into or broken down into smaller containers, and [or] distributed to individual or various employees and workplaces, shall be treated with the labeling and warning sign practices as outlined in this section.

In addition to proper labeling and other forms of warning practices outlined in this section, and as a part of your "HazCom" program, implement in each workplace proper posting of warning signage for any hazardous area, situation, or condition, that should be conveyed to employees and others in the area. Some examples of this would be; "No Smoking Area" "Flammable", "Hard Hat Area", "Safety Glasses Required In This Area", "Powder Actuated Tools In Use - Please Keep Back", "High Voltage" etc.

It is recommended that an in-depth review of this regulation be made by the employer, and any applicable State regulations addressed prior to implementing a program in your workplace. This is the final part in my three part series on Hazard Communication.

Abatement of Corrosive Compounds and Chemicals in Factories

Factories uses chemicals and compounds in the manufacturing process and all too often these chemicals end up emulsified and go through our city sewer systems which are not always set up to handle them. Of course most of the more modern facilities are careful enough and have filtration and ways to clean the chemicals and even reuse them or sell them. Yet we could go one step further using bacteria to eat it all and then use the energy of all this commotion to power up let’s say the lighting system in the factory itself.

You see this is a win/win situation and a potential way to use a progressive Abatement program to alleviate the risks of Corrosive Compounds and Chemicals in these Factories and it is keeping with the forward progression of mankind and the initiatives to use alternative energies and break thru technologies to solve such problems we face in our nation.

If we can prevent these corrosive compounds and chemicals from entering a POTW which may or may not be able to handle them in those concentration levels or prevent a company from having to haul it away to a special Class Hazardous Waste Dump Site, well then we are not only bucks ahead but increasing the efficiency of the factory indeed gives our American companies an edge in World Markets. Consider this in 2006.

Car Washing Chemical and Soap Expenses

Having been in the car wash industry for a number of years I can tell you that most of the people who sell soaps and chemicals to the car wash industry believe that each carwash spends huge amounts of money on soaps and chemicals. The truth is that the carwash industry does not spend that much on soap and chemicals. In fact in surveys the average carwash spent around $20,000 in a whole year on all their soaps and chemicals.

In these surveys the highest soap and chemical users for the highest volume car washes and the entire United States were spending only $30,000 per year and the smaller full-service carwash is spent less than 12,000 per year. Needless to say car washing chemical and soap expenses are not quite as large as some people may be led to believe including the environmentalists who love to blast the carwash industry.

The cost of labor on the other hand of course being the biggest expense was on average over $100,000 per year and that number is up significantly from the surveys in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Labor costs will continue to climb, where as chemicals and soaps will continue to become more efficient and therefore decline.

With labor costs increasing along with various other expenses it appears that the profit margins are also decreasing slightly while the price of a carwash is increasing slightly. Please consider all this in 2006.

Car Wash Chemicals

Using the right mix of soaps, waxes and detergents paves the way to effective car washes. Any unauthorized or unauthentic chemicals on your car may damage its look forever. It’s always advisable to use brands and companies that have a proven track record and have a booming car wash business.

Chemicals used in a car wash business include waxes and sealants, polishes, glazes, shampoos, tire and vinyl dressings, body compounds, foamers and soaps. Each manufacturer comes up with new and innovative combinations of chemicals for higher efficiency in car wash bays.

It is important to choose compounds that best suit most types of vehicles. There are heavy-duty, medium-duty and ultra-light compounds. Starting with a light compound and then gradually going over to heavy-duty compounds is recommended for people washing their own cars themselves.

ChemQuest is a major manufacturer of car wash chemicals; they have a complete line-up of products for every car wash need. Their soap-based chemicals include presoaks for friction car washes, tire cleaning chemicals for touch-free car washes and foam conditioners for both. The products for after-wash, such as polishes, waxes and drying agents for touch-free and friction car washes, are also made and marketed by ChemQuest.

Warsaw Chemicals also have an array of car wash chemicals including floor and windshield cleaners. Blue Moon, the car wash liquid from Warsaw chemicals, for example, is a concentrated high-foaming detergent that can be used for both hand and automatic car wash systems.

Anti-rust chemicals are an important part of car washing. Kaady Chemical Corp. has a wide range of non-acidic, phosphate-free and non-caustic products that ensure a rust-free long life for a car. TWB Tire, Wheel, and Body cleaner from this company is a cost-effective product, the use of which will get a car clean without the help of any other chemicals.

Aircraft Cleaning Business Soaps Chemicals Waxes and Products

Have you considered setting up your own aircraft washing service lately? Perhaps you are a private pilot and are looking to make some extra monies. Indeed it can be a very good business to own and a whole lot of fun also. I started my first aircraft cleaning business at age twelve and built up a huge clientele and branched into other types of washing. Let us face it, if a 12-year old can start an aircraft washing business so can you.

Chemicals and cleaning products are important in the aircraft washing business and you need to understand which ones can and cannot be used on which surfaces, for corrosion protection and new high-tech lightweight paints. Waxes are even more critical, as some paints like Polyurethanes and Imrons breath and therefore silicones, Teflons and such are problematic. Some polymer chain waxes too and even some soaps also contain in their ingredients.

My company; The Aircraft Wash Guys does not do the volume to afford to be in the business of chemicals, due to the costs to make them and the over regulations in the industry so we cannot sell you any. At one time Private labeling made sense and we did talk with a firm out of Houston and one in Dallas which has FAA approved products and also Military Mil Spec stuff.

We found a whole lot of talk and claims and not much reality based know-how of modern day aircraft paints, which are changing very rapidly along with the coating industry. It is for this reason you will need to shop around for your aircraft cleaning supplies. Here is an example of the problems with aircraft washing soaps, as we approved this soap and polish line, only to switch it 4 months later and then switch back again:

http://www.carwashguys.com/081402_1.shtml

It would behoove you to carefully consider your aircraft washing and cleaning products and pay attention to the types of paints and coatings you will be dealing with in order to protect your customers aircraft. Please consider all this in 2006.

Abatement of Noxious Compounds and Chemicals in the Cleaning Business

So often in the cleaning business chemicals are not stored properly and neither are the empty containers which conveniently leak, mix with rain water and tip over and soak into the ground surrounding the building and seep into the ground water causing environmental issues; you know like three legged frogs and such. Now mind you I am not an environmentalist, but I do know a thing or two about environmental pollution and lots about the cleaning industry and business, especially on the service sector side of things.

You see for years I ran a mobile pressure washing business, which we built up and franchised into 23 states. One thing I would always do is scout out the competition to see if they posed a threat to our franchisees and our forward progress in the market place. I would often visit their facilities and was usually taken aback at their lack of caring for the environment, plastic drums and steel barrels of containers left littered around the property with weeds growing between them.

I will tell you that the problem is about 60% of the operators out there and in all the sub sectors from the 49,000 car washes to the 55,000 small businesses doing pressure washing and the 150,000 doing janitorial businesses; this is a huge thing and a real problems. Imagine the cancer risks to the workers and employees, which is the biggest concern people talk about. Someday someone ought to figure out what to do and organize the abatement of noxious compounds and chemicals in the Cleaning Business to prevent all these mini-eco-disasters. Consider all this in 2006.