Lithium Batteries in safe mode

>> Tuesday, April 28, 2009


Lithium Batteries Are Safe. The word Battery has a negative reputation of being bad for the environment and to humans. The old acid based batteries we all grew up with were harmful and we were warned not to puncture or discard them in the environment or local landfills. Auto batteries are the worst culprits for this negative perception. Most everyone knows that there is liquid acid in these cells.


What are Lithium-ion Batteries Made From?

The New Lithium-ion Batteries, however, are produced with different materials and do not use harmful acids or metals, such as lead, to store electrical power. “Lithium-ion Batteries use copper, cobalt, iron and nickel that are considered safe for landfills and incinerators,” says the Environmental Protection Agency of the US Government. Another misunderstanding is that lithium ion batteries contain lithium metal but in fact have an ionic form of lithium that is safe for disposal. We all need to understand that the new Lithium-ion batteries are safe for storing electrical energy and for disposal once the Lithium-ion batteries will no longer hold a charge.

Disposing of Lithium-ion Batteries. Does this mean that we are to fill up our landfills with Lithium-ion Batteries? For now that seems to be the case in the USA since recycling the Lithium-ion Batteries for scrap value does not amount to much, around $100 per ton. The cost of collecting, sorting and shipping used Lithium-ion Batteries to a recycling center exceeds the scrap value. Lithium-ion batteries are used in many products like watches, battery lights, cameras, battery candles, musical greeting cards and many other products that require batteries. It is estimated that we dispose of 2 billion batteries per year here in the United States. Most of these discarded batteries are the size of a dime or nickel. In the near future when the auto makers start producing electric cars like General Motor’s Volt, which will have a estimated 400 pound Lithium-ion Battery, recycling will become more profitable. Then we will be able to have a larger volume of disposal and a more efficient way to handle our battery disposal problem. The electric car industry is projected to grow six fold by the year 2013. This means that we are burning less fossil fuel and working our way to a cleaner environment.

What is the Future of Lithium Batteries?


The future of Lithium-ion Batteries is bright and valuable research is being done to improve the storing of electrical power. All these new discoveries will be positive to the environment and will allow us to finally have a cleaner way to stored energy. Similar technology will hopefully become wide spread in storing solar and wind power. United States companies have fallen behind in research achievements on the lithium-ion batteries. Asian Lithium-ion battery makers are ahead of US companies in both research and production. US companies are now asking for federal government assistance to narrow the gap that the Asian companies hold.

Lithium-ion Batteries For Battery Cars.


Tesla Motors now produces an electric sports car that will only take 3.9 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour from a dead stop. Not bad! The lithium-ion battery pack contains 6,831 cells with an overall weight of 1,000 pounds which is over twice the weight of the General Motor’s Volt. The Tesla Sports Car lithium-ion batteries will power the car for 220 miles to 244 miles. Depending on any extra electrical consumption used by the air conditioning or other optional electrically generated accessories.

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Japanese Comics

>> Sunday, April 26, 2009


Manga is basically a kind of graphic comic, originally written in Japanese and then translated to English. Manga has found considerable popularity in the markets of America as they are quite different from our traditional American comics.


We being Americans usually perceive that comics are meant for children. But the trends are changing with the introduction of talented writers such as Alan Moore, Craig Thompson and Neil Gaiman. In Japan, Manga is read and enjoyed by all age groups, from school going children to proficient adults. Basically Manga can be related to animated movies and like movies Manga also comes in variety of subjects such as dramas, romance, horror, mystery, science fiction, sports, comedies, fantasies and action flicks.


During all these years, Manga has made its own space in the American markets gamers. Manga existed from a long time but it was only in the last one or two decades that it gained such wide popularity. The very first one introduced to American was known as “Four immigrants” and this Manga was drawn by Yoshitaka Kiyama, a Japanese art student. The more popular collections of Manga include The Legend of Kamui, Mai the Psychic Girl, Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z.

One of the most amazing things about Manga is that they are read in the direction opposite to our American Books. These books start from the back and are therefore read in reverse direction. Unlike American comic titles, the titles of Japanese Magna classically are drawn and written by one person. Therefore, these books are more art coherent than ours.


Each Manga contains a large variety of subjects covered. Many Manga contain adventurous stories in which teens encounter evil forces, whereas some historic Manga contain the details of various historic eras. Manga are also based on relationship stories and the stories related to parenting. In fact according to the taste of different readers Manga comes in countless themes.

Most Manga are much smaller in size as compared to American Comic Books but the length of each issue is about 150-200 pages than our 20-30. In Japan, these lengthy comic books are very popular and are generally put out each month. Some modern Manga are even influenced by popular Japanese arts like Yokai (Monsters and ghosts) and Shunga (the erotic art).


Osamu Tezuka is believed to be the father of Today’s Manga. His most famous creation was Astro Boy also known as Mighty Atom. Modern Manga are usually unpredictable and hence capture the interest of the readers for as very long time. The characters of Manga comics are drawn by using simple animated looks that gives them an energetic appearance. The stories are twisty and full of turns. Even superheroes die and sometimes also come back to life, the bad guys do not get defeated easily and the remarkable action keeps the readers hooked.


Manga are in fact a wonderful source of having a close look at Japanese culture, writing styles and literature. The most recent Manga Movie that has been scheduled to be released somewhere in 2009 is “The Watchmen”. The Manga characters have been so popular these days that kids simply love to put their posters on walls and wallpapers on their PCs. Some of the characters that have driven children crazy include Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke. There are countless ways for Americans to check out these comics and find a series that can capture their interest.

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Cat's natural desire to chase prey with extra amusement

>> Saturday, April 25, 2009


The simplest things can easily amuse cats. While people may go to the pet store to purchase expensive toys for their pet cats, it is more probable that cats will take favor to a piece of paper laying on the living room floor! Before you go and buy toys for your pet cat, think creatively and see if any old thing in your house could provide hours of amusement to your furry friend. In the end, you will find that you have saved money and provided your cat with the toy it really wants. Idle cats can be mischievous cats, so cat owners should provide entertainment for their feisty felines to keep them occupied. If your cat is an indoor cat, he doesn't have the ample opportunity to get the exercise an outdoor cat will, as it chases, climbs and runs about.

Toys and playtime will satisfy your cat's natural desire to chase prey. And if you join them in their playtime, the interaction will establish a bond between the two of you - something which will be important to you both.
When choosing toys for your cat, keep safety in mind. You don't want anything with string, ribbon, or yarn hanging from it. This could easily be ingested, and you will have to possibly make an avoidable trip to the veterinarian with a medical emergency. Also, remove any loose or small parts. Chances are, a cat will eat anything that falls off the toy.


Again, you will have another emergency. Avoid toys that contain dangerous filling such as beads. Remember, your cat does not know any better. Some common items cats love to play with are inexpensive, and you may even have them in your own home. Plastic balls are a great source of entertainment for cats. They love to push and chase them. Ping-pong balls are wonderful also, as the holes allow the cat to carry them around. Cats love to chase, jump, and pounce. They also like to play hide and seek, and will while away hours with a simple paper bag. Just make sure the bag doesn't have handles, which could be dangerous. Empty cardboard tubes, from toilet or hand paper, or cardboard boxes will also provide activity for your pet.

Soft stuffed animals are also ideal for the cat to cuddle with, carry, or even wrestle. Just make sure it is not bigger than your cat. A catnip filled toy makes a good play item, as the cat is attracted to its scent. It also will leave a scent on your carpet that will be pleasing to your cat and make them happy.
With a little imagination, you can turn many items in your house into play toys for your cat. Add this to some store bought toys, and your cat will be in kitty heaven. Just keep in mind, cats can get easily bored, so rotate the toys every week or so. You can even hide some and let the cat find them. But more importantly, interact with your cat to make the most of his playtime. He will get the exercise he needs, the occupation he desires, and the love he will return.

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You cat can easily jump and climb


It never fails, every time that you go to bed your cat decides that it is time to play. And, the kicker is that it always decides the best way to play is by running and jumping on and off your bed. Well, there is a simple solution to this problem, just turn to cat trees. They give your cat a nice place to expel its energy and you can put it far from your bedroom so you can get a good night’s rest.What makes cat trees such a great option for your cat to play around is their design, which will normally feature interconnecting limbs, perches, and levels where you cat can easily jump and climb. They are made from wood that is usually covered in some kind of durable fabric, like carpeting, so it also provides your kitty with a place where it can scratch and claw, a great alternative to your furniture. Some cat trees will even have toys, like those of the hanging variety, built right into them and others will even feature sleeping areas.Cat trees are just one of the many cat furniture options that are available and some of the other choices include cat houses or kitty condos, cat gyms, cat houses, and lovely cat beds. Each serves a different purpose and is a great option for pampering your cat. Like a cat house or kitty condo is the perfect spot where you cat can sleep while the cat gym is just another great option where you cat could play and have a good time. Cat beds also provide nice sleeping areas and what’s great about them is how they are smaller in size so they can fit pretty much anywhere.If you are not in the market for cat trees or furniture, but still want to pamper your furry little friend, no problem because there are a lot of other products and items that let you do just that. For example, you can get your cat some jewelry to give it a glamorous appearance. Or for a nice place to eat its food, turn to decorative food and water dishes. There are even kitty litters that clean themselves so your cat will have a clean, fresh spot to go every time that it needs to.For a fast and easy way to check out all the items that you can get for your cat, forget about going to your local pet store. Instead, just hop on the Internet and do some online shopping. There you can breeze through all the selections and when you do come across what you want, it is shipped right to your door so you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home.
So, if your cat is keeping you up all night long with its crazy ways, give it a nice spot to get rid of its energy with lovely cat trees. One is an ideal solution option to ensure that you finally get a good night’s sleep.
Image source at anggelicalcat

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