Home lighting is something we take for granted in the modern era and long gone are the times when residents would need to light a candle or lantern after dark to make their way from one room to another. Today, we have the power to simply walk into a room and switch on a light in an instant, yet house automation technology is taking this science to a completely different level.

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What is new in the lighting industry?

Although dimmers have been around for a while, historically they were installed to be controlled from a main panel. Now, however, each fixture in buildings, including residential properties, has dedicated drivers and can therefore be individually controlled to create varying atmospheres and ambiance in different rooms and areas. As an example, brighter light encourages alertness, activity and a cheerful mood, while subdued lighting promoted relaxation and intimacy.

The end user is most definitely key to the latest lighting trends, with new innovations being developed to make life easier for them, such as the ability to control their lighting using their mobile phone or by voice activation technology. Not only are the latest advancements exciting on a scientific level but also they are bringing a new element of art and drama into the household.

What are the benefits of home automation?

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The obvious benefits of home automation and lighting technology are the ease and convenience that they offer homeowners; however, the technology also plays a huge part in home security and giving property owners a sense of safety and wellbeing. They can control exterior lighting to enable them to safely approach their front door, for example, or can give the impression that somebody is at home whilst they are away on holiday.

What is driving this new technology?

The rise of solid-state lighting, also known as LEDs (light-emitting diodes), is enabling the lighting industry to play more with the technology. The introduction of digitally-controlled lighting and low-voltage controls has made residential lighting an integral part of a home’s design and decor, with home automation and lighting projects now on the rise.

With developing science come challenges, and the latest developments in lighting have not been without their trials and tribulations. Luckily, all issues can be solved by careful planning and the selection of compatible products.

Garage doors are used frequently, so it’s important to keep yours in a good state of repair. This will ensure it opens and closes when you need it and will extend the life of your garage door. In order to keep your door working efficiently for as long as possible, we’ve put together some tips on taking care of it.

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There are some simple yet effective ways that you can keep your garage door operating correctly, and this will also save you money on repair bills. If you do need some work carrying out that you can’t do yourself, it’s always best to use a company that specialises in London garage door repairs so you know they’re right for the job.

Good-quality garages can add to your property, whether you decide to use it for your car, as additional storage space or as an extra room. If you don’t already have one, building a garage can increase the value of a house by up to 11%.

Lubricate

One of the quickest and cheapest ways to keep your garage door in a good working order is to ensure the springs, hinges and rollers are well lubricated. You should do this about every three months to allow it to open and close smoothly.

Reduce Rust

Steel is a common choice for new garage doors and is often recommended by those that carry out London garage door repairs, such as http://garagedoorsrus.co.uk/, because it is cost-effective, low-maintenance and durable and comes in a variety of styles.

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Rust can be one of the biggest problems for metal garage doors, but there are ways that you can prevent it. You can clean off any grime by washing aluminium and steel garage doors on both sides with a solution of mild detergent and then use clean water to rinse it thoroughly. In order to protect the door from weather conditions, you can apply car wax to it.

Staining and Painting

Once you’ve removed any rust and treated your garage door, you can choose to stain or paint it using a range of colours and finishes. For instance, you can use a wood effect to create a traditional finish to your garage or go for a bold colour to give the exterior of your home a feature that stands out.

In recent years, cases of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation have hit the news, with several high profile cases covering the front pages. It’s something that is often hidden well, so much so that it is a shock to some to learn that it is happening all around the country on a daily basis.

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The Home Office estimates 13,000 people may be held in the UK in modern slavery, so it’s important to be vigilant. Taxi drivers come into contact with a large range of passengers so it is essential that they know how to deal with a vulnerable person should they come across one. Here are some of the things taxi drivers can do to spot and report any suspicious activity.

Making the passenger feel comfortable

Those who are vulnerable are often scared and may not feel safe in the car. Always display your licence and company information to help them feel more at ease. Keep the conversation professional, don’t make it personal and never exchange contact details. If they are obviously distressed, you can offer to call your head office to give details of the journey to help them feel safer knowing that someone is aware of their location and approximate time of arrival. One of the most important tips is to ask if you feel someone needs help, don’t ever presume.

What can companies do?

Ensuring that your drivers have a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a start to ensuring that they are fit to come into contact with vulnerable people. You are able to apply for one through sites such as Basic DBS Check and can select different levels of disclosure, as well as the basic DBS check. Appoint a safeguarding contact so employees are able to ask for advice and learn how to act should a situation arise. You can also check with your local council to see if they have relevant window stickers or contact cards to display in cars to encourage vulnerable people to ask for help.

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If you believe they are being exploited

If there is an imminent risk, phone 999 to report any issues regarding a vulnerable person. If you believe someone may be a victim, you can also call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to report it.

Also known as Mitragyna Speciosa, Kratom is a tree that’s native to Southeast Asia, which includes the Malaysian Floristic Region, Thailand, Indonesia and several other surrounding areas. Typically, the leaves of this tree are ground up and orally ingested and can be used for a number of medicinal purposes. Some of these include, but are not restricted to, mood enhancement, decreased anxiety, pain relief, decreased fatigue and hypertension, relief of irritable bowel syndrome, increased energy and focus and many more. The tree is indigenous in the regions mentioned above and people here have used its leaves for centuries for sedation in higher doses, increased energy in low doses, pain relief and dysentery.

The opioid receptors in the brain are affected by Kratom in the same way as an opiate, but it is not classified as one. However, this feature allows the tree to be used for the treatment of those who suffer from chronic pain. It has also come in handy for managing opium withdrawal. This is one of the major reasons why the use of this plant has become widespread. It also has a world of other benefits for your physical and mental health ranging from reduced blood pressure and blood sugar levels to enhanced motivation and communication.

Today, you can find Kratom in different forms. Previously, people used to chew its leaves directly, but they have a really bitter taste and this was not something everyone could do. Therefore, different Kratom products were developed and now you have plenty of choices at your disposal. Some of the common forms of the plant are listed as follows:

• Kratom Powder

As opposed to crushed leaves, Kratom powder is much stronger because the veins and stems of the leaf are removed in this case. Thus, the part of the leave that has the largest amount of active alkaloids is left for formulating the powder. It is one of the strongest form of the plant and can be mixed with coffee, juice or other similar liquids. This powder can also be used in capsules.

• Kratom Tea

Crushed leaf Kratom is used for making tea and you can choose the leaf yourself. Honey can be added to hide the unpleasant taste of the plant. Don’t boil the tea too much or else it will not be effective.

• Kratom Extracts

An extraction process is used for making Kratom extracts and water, citrus or alcohol is used for this purpose. The Kratom powder or leaf is extracted in liquid form and then dried. It is grinded into a paste or powder and is found in different strengths. The extract contain Kratom’s active alkaloids in concentrated form.

• Kratom Fusions

These fusions come in capsule and powder form and comprise of different blends of enhanced Kratom strains or Kratom extract combined together. These fusions are of a very high strength due to which you need to be cautious when taking them.

The effects of Kratom products typically last for three to four hours and become evident within 15 minutes of taking it.

A group of volunteers from East Dunbartonshire have been recognised for their hard work putting teenagers and young adults through their Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.

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The volunteers, who hail from the Allander Open Awards Centre in the Scottish town of Milngavie, were just some of the instructors honoured recently for their long service to the popular awards programme at a prestigious ceremony attended by Prince Edward.

Recognising contribution

The event, which took place at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, was a way of recognising the contribution many volunteers around the country make to the awards scheme, which has been taking place in the UK and 144 other countries since it was founded by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956.

Among those being honoured for their service to the awards was Alison Higham, who has been helping youngsters take part in the scheme for 20 years at the Community Education Centre in Milngavie. Aged 70 this year, Alison has decided to retire from volunteering but said she has enjoyed helping young people become self-reliant throughout her time with the programme.

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The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme is the world’s largest programme for recognising youth achievement. It encourages young people aged between 14 and 25 to take part in a variety of activities to build up their skills.

Bronze, Silver and Gold

Young people can aim toward their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, all of which evaluate the young person in different areas, including volunteering, physical activity and developing or building on a skill. This can be anything from juggling and painting to playing a musical instrument or driving a car.

Expeditions are also an important part of the programme; participants take part in two separate expeditions for each level of award.

Part of the scheme aims to develop team-building skills in those taking part. Team building corporate events, like the ones that are available at sites like https://www.armourgeddon.co.uk/team-building-corporate-events.html, are popular way of helping people to bond, particularly in a workplace.

The ability to work as part of a team, whether it’s during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition or in a working environment, is a vital skill to possess regardless of your age. Many employers now expect their workers to be as happy working in a team as they are on their own.

Purple Drank Sizzurp has come from the southern part of United States hip-hop communities. It is basically a liquid mixed combo of some daily used drinks and candies. Most used ingredients are a prescribed cough syrup that has active Promethazine and Codeine, a soda such as clear Sprite (originally used). You may add any another kind of soda if you want. It will mostly depend on how you prefer the taste and flavor in it.

Alright, to get your most wanted prescribed cough syrup which is your main ingredients, you can try this trick to get that for your drink. Go to your family doctor and tell him you got a serious cough. The situation gets so bad that you can’t even sleep all night. Try to convince him to get a medicine that includes active Promethazine and Codeine in it. Well, you can try at least.

Read More: Why Actavis Lean Has Been Discontinued

This glorious cocktail has begun to gain its popularity back in the 90s when it was first introduced in the hip-hop communities. Today, this drink has built a tremendous appeal among the youth. Besides that, in the media world, there are lots of celebrities who don’t ashamed to admit themselves as active consumers of Purple Drank.

To get the perfect result you have to get the cough syrup that includes Promethazine in it. Use around 8 oz. of cough syrup along with clear sprite.  If you like to have fruitier flavor in your drink, you have the freedom to add some of them as well. I personally love the Fanta in my favorite sizzurp. Don’t forget to add one or two Jolly Rancher candy to enhance the sweetened flavor and its most anticipating purple looks. Sip your favorite Purple Drank with some ice cube. Remember, there are thousands of peoples out there, who love to get a sip of this amazing drinks not just because of its drowsiness feeling, but also the wonderful looks and beautiful taste of its.  It has a great power to make someone feel so relaxed and also slow down all your stress. Make you feel like out of the earth.

You can find more reviews in here www.purpledranksizzurp.com

Parquet flooring, which uses pieces of wood to create beautiful, symmetrical patterns, has been around for hundreds of years.

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It was especially popular in the early part of the 20th century. If you’re not lucky enough to have original parquet, you can also have parquet flooring installed in your home, although this is one job that is probably best left to the professionals due to the intricacies of creating the patterns on a large scale.

Parquet is great for sitting rooms and living rooms, but because wooden floors are affected by humidity, parquet flooring is not suitable for bathrooms and kitchens. If you have pets, especially dogs, keep their claws clipped to prevent scratching. Direct sunlight will fade all types of flooring over time, so close curtains or blinds if you can on very sunny days.

Maintenance

Although it is very durable, parquet does require some degree of maintenance. If you’ve moved house and discovered you’re lucky enough to have parquet flooring underneath your fitted carpets, you might need to sand it down and reseal it. Always use specialist products and ask if in doubt. Most suppliers will be able to give you advice.

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Once sealed, parquet floors won’t require lots of maintenance. Regular sweeping with a broom or vacuum will be enough to keep them clean. Choose a cleaning product designed for wooden floors, which are easily available on the high street or online, and remember to use as little water as possible. Don’t let the floor get too wet as this can damage it over time. If spills happen, clean them up immediately.

Repairs

Don’t panic if you find there are damaged sections as part of the appeal and practicality of parquet is that you can make repairs or replace individual pieces as and when you need to.

You can readily buy replacement pieces. A great place to look if you need parquet flooring in Ireland would be an architectural salvage yard such as http://www.wilsonsyard.com/products/wooden-flooring.html.

These yards often stock reclaimed flooring in addition to supplying new pieces. Salvaged pieces are available in many different sizes, types and colour of wood, so you should be able to find a good match. Staff at salvage yards will be more than happy to help you find what you need if you have any doubts.

Food has never been out of fashion. However, this ancient art leaves few clues for archaeologists to trace its long history and the reason is simple: the more successfully cooking is achieved, the fewer the leftovers there are to find.

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The same is true of recipes in the sense that the more they are copied, the harder it is to identify their author. Hardly ever does anyone attempt to patent a dish; if a recipe doesn’t go viral, it isn’t really a success. Like music, cooking is a living art that only exists in the moment of its creation.

The drawback for arts enmeshed in the here-and-now is the difficulty of communicating them. The phonograph came to the rescue of composers and audiophiles, and it is the video blog that bestows a similar blessing on chefs and gastronomes. Neither the music nor the food industry makes it easy for its artists, however. Recording involves a host of technical challenges and there is no guarantee that genius in the kitchen will transfer onto video.

A generation of inspired chefs

Online food recipe videos are credited with inspiring a worldwide surge in students seeking vocational training (for example, http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/02/02/2016020200726.html), but successful video blogging, or “vlogging”, is something special. Only a few muster enduring popular applause. Fortunately, there are excellent online guides to help us find them, like (see http://food-tales.com/online-food-videos/).

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Five cookery vlogs worth checking out

SortedFood has two million followers. The four friends who produce it now travel across North America in search of new flavours and techniques.

FoodWishes is one of the largest collections with over a thousand videos and a million subscribers. Chef John is appreciated both for providing creatively novel recipes but also because the videos are professionally produced and easy to follow.

OnePotChefShow provides a selection of playlists dedicated to different types of dishes. It takes a pride in its practicality, providing quick help to cooks with limited time and resources who just want to get something good onto the table without a big mess.

One that specialises in Japanese ingredients and meticulous techniques is Runnyrunny999. It has maintained its success for no less than nine years and shows every sign of enduring another nine.

There’s always room for pudding, so check out Lovelyladycakes. Dessert is a luxury, so surprise and variety are important elements.

Garages are useful for plenty of things: storage, more storage, the occasional car and, yes, more storage. However, have you ever thought about turning your garage into a gym? Imagine the savings on gym membership. Imagine, too, how much easier exercising could be if you only had to pop next door. If the idea appeals, what are the most important considerations?

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Suitability of the building

It is important to assess whether your garage is suitable for you to store potentially valuable equipment and whether it will be a comfortable place to exercise.

If your garage is damp, mould and mildew may be a problem. No-one wants their yoga mats turning black with mould or to breathe in spores. Better ventilation may alleviate the problem, as could the use of a dehumidifier. A good anti-mould paint on the walls can help keep it at bay.

Make sure you have adequate lighting. A single bare bulb in the centre of the ceiling might suffice when rummaging around for the Christmas decorations, but it’s unlikely to make you feel much like putting in the miles on your exercise bike. An electrician can advise you on mains-powered lighting, or you could try some of the motion-activated LED strip lights. You can locate an appropriately qualified electrician in your area through Electrical Safety First.

Clear the space

Your garage might not be large enough for all the equipment of a professional gym, but it’s important it’s spacious enough for you to move around in, safely and comfortably. It’s no good, for example, only being able to reach the weights by clambering over other equipment.

Sensible storage can help you keep the floor space clear. Smaller items, such as foldable mats, can be kept on garage shelving. Somewhere like https://www.garage-shelving.co.uk/ will have a good range of shelves from which to choose.

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Add the finishing touches

Think about what makes a professional gym a pleasant place to spend time. A flat screen television in the corner may be beyond your budget, but decent music is easily achieved via a smartphone and a set of speakers. You may also want a large mirror on one wall. This can make the space seem lighter and brighter, which is a particularly important consideration if yours is a windowless garage. A small fridge can also be a nice touch.