How To Remove Windows 7 From a Dual Boot Computer Running Windows XP

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The process below describes the case where a computer is running a dual operating system, Windows XP and Windows 7. It is the case where Windows XP was installed initially on one partition, and Windows 7 later installed on the same hard disk but different partition.

In order to remove Windows 7, you must first back up your data that you want to keep. Then, delete the Windows 7 partition by accessing it from the disk management utility.

Right click on the Windows 7 partition and delete it. At this point, you end up with Windows XP as the only operating system installed on the hard disk, with the second partition without any data.

This does not mean you are done with the complete process. To show you that, restart the computer and while booting you will be presented with a list of the same two options you had before removing the Windows 7 operating system.

The only difference now is, when you choose the Windows 7 option, you will not gain access to an operating system. The computer will display an error message like, OS is missing, or other errors.

To resolve this issue, you should delete the Windows 7 listing from the boot list, and I will show you how to do it in very simple steps:

1-Access the Administrative Tools
2-Access the System Configuration
3-Click the Boot Tab
4-Select the Windows 7 option
5-Delete it.

That is it, you are done completing the process. Please note that, both Windows operating systems XP and 7 have to be on separate partitions on the same hard disk. In addition to that, Win XP should be installed first.

There is an important remark to add, if you had Windows 7 installed first and then Windows XP was installed, removing Windows 7 will render your system inoperable. The same problem applies, if you try to remove Windows XP after installing Windows 7. The old version should Windows that is installed first should never be removed, because the system will not reboot.

In short, the above is one case of many, and I am recommending it, because I have tried it. Other situations and settings might work but I did not try them; moreover, you can not predict the behavior of every computer since every one is unique when taking into account the programs, installed later on it.

To get the exact commands PDF guide free that you can follow, visit the website below and click the link that will take you to a survey; once you answer the three basic answers about why you need the guide, you will be taken to the page that displays the guide. You can either save it or print it.

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Source by George Chamoun

Distinguishing Genuine Alligator Leather From Fake Alligator Leather

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So you're out shopping for a new handbag or purse and you come across something with the unique, colorful appearance of alligator leather. But before you drop your hard-earned money on a new expensive handbag, you should first know how to tell if the alligator leather product you're purchasing is real or fake.

Here are some tips to distinguish real alligator leather from fake alligator leather.

Appearance – Is the finish of the skin shiny or matte? While genuine alligator leather can be finished with a shine, almost all fake alligator leather will have an unnatural shine to it. Does the skin itself look natural? No high end material uses cheap cardboard or plastic backings, and likewise cheap facets. Closely examine the scales, if you recognize obvious patterns it's likely not real. All natural hides will have a wild, natural pattern to them and often have slight imperfections. These natural imperfections are what make a genuine skin so lively! It's the reason that pound for pound, a synthetic material can never match the appeal of genuine alligator.

The Smell Test – Smell is always a telltale sign of genuine alligator leather. You will not know how to tell genuine leather from fake if you do not know what real leather smells like. Give you leather a good whiff. Real alligator will have a "leathery" smell. Depending on the production, this smell will either have a fishy / swampy smell to it or the smell of mild pleasant smell of tanned leather. If you're unsure, find a small place on the underside of the material and put a dab of water on it. Just a little will do it – let it sit for a few minutes and smell the wet spot. Does it have a natural odor to it?

Give it a feel – Run your hands across the surface and grab a portion of the material and pinch it in your fingers. Does it feel thin or artificial? If it does, it probably is thin or artificial. Genuine alligator should always feel dense and strong.

Do a label check – Most goods will have a label on them, especially if they're genuine. All high-end brands will have a label on them. If you're buying cheap goods from a department store or if the label does not state it is real, it is likely fake. Check for all labels, tags, and print on the inside of the garment to see if it claims it is genuine.

If you're still unsure – Find and ask an exotic leather professional. There are few left in the United States since most professional tanners and tanneries have moved overseas. However, alligator tanning is still a popular industry in the Southwest United States and among professional exotic leather sourcing specialists.

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Source by James Newkirk

Convertible Rollerblade

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Rollerblades are the modern version of the traditional roller skates which had four wheels to ensure a good body balance of the wearer. They were designed to more closely imitate the dynamics of the traditional single-blade ice skates. These were extremely popular in the early 1990s, and they have remained a popular footwear choice for sports-minded people who participate in the x-games and other extreme sports. However, it's market base has been reduced to those involved in sports using rollerblades.

Convertible rollerblades are removable shoe-boots on plastic wheel frames, and were also referred to as nature skates. Unfortunately, in-line skating industry was nowhere to be seen in the last few two decades. To combat complete bankruptcy, manufacturers of in-line skates focused their attention on reinventing rollerblades and became the impetus for rethinking sports as a venue for showcasing rollerblades, thus the popular use of rollerblades in in-line hockey leagues, speed skating, and aggressive skating or more popularly known as extreme skating.

Reinvention is anything but new though in the rollerblade industry as it were actually reinventions of themselves of the earlier versions of skates, known as parallel skates or 4-wheeled skates.This old version of skates is also called quad skates.

A convertible inline skates is ideal for people on-the-go and for students as they can use the detachable boot for when they report to school, and convert it into a regular pair of rollerblades by simply reattaching the boot to the frame.

You should take precautions though when using it. It's interesting to know that you can wear a shoe one moment and a pair of rollerblades the next minute.

Frequent use of these type of skates may result to infection as feet are exposed to bacteria accumulated while the feet were inside the boots. It may also yield worn out rollerblades because of heavy or frequent use. You want to make sure you give the boots enough time to breathe.

So if you are trying to get the best purchase for convertible rollerblades, make sure you know these basic things you should keep in mind to avoid actually ending up spending more.

Also, you should know that these rollerblades may only be used for light and casual skating. These models are not meant to be used for high-impact activities such as hockey skates to avoid unnecessary injuries.

People are looking into a whole new level of convertible roller blades where a single Rollerblade frame can be converted into parallel, in-line, and quad skates.

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Source by Gretchell M. P

The Difference Between Ice Skates and Figure Skates

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When you're thinking about buying a pair of ice skates, it's important to first define what kind of skating you plan to do. Just as the word "ball" can mean any one of a hundred different kinds of balls, the term "ice skates" encompasses boots with ice blades for playing hockey, racing, figure skating and ice dancing, or simple recreational skating. Different skates are designed for each of these kinds of activities.

Figure skates are designed with a very stiff boot so that the foot and ankle are well supported when a skater jumps or spins on the ice. Lack of support from the boot can cause a skater's foot and ankle to twist on landing, which can cause injury.

Although it is difficult to see the difference from a distance, the heel of a high quality figure skate will be made of leather, rather than the wood usually found on recreational skates. Leather provides a more resilient cushion when the skater's weight lands on one foot.

Hockey and racing skates do not feature the kind of built-up heel you will find on a figure skate. These boots generally have a flatter sole.

Figure skates all have prominent toe picks, the jagged part of the blade that permits a skater to "dig in" to the ice when jumping or pivoting. Racing and hockey skates have no toe picks, because these skaters do not perform these maneuvers. Recreational skates will have slightly smaller, less sharp toe picks.

Because they are manufactured from heavy leather, figure skates are often much heavier than skates designed for hockey, racing or simple recreational skating. Several skate makers are now designing recreational ice skates from plastic, vinyl, soft leather or heavy canvas, all of which are lighter and usually more comfortable for simple ice skating activities. The break-in period for soft skates is usually very short or nonexistent. Soft ice skates also have more internal room for extra padding for warmth and comfort on the ice.

All ice skates will be available in various inexpensive to high-quality versions. Beginner and simple recreational skates usually come with metal blades attached. Skates intended for more advanced skaters are usually sold without blades, as advanced skaters in any ice sport want to choose their blades and have them professionally mounted on their skate boots.

All ice skate blades must be sharpened occasionally. Dull blades will not perform well on the ice. Someone who has been skating with rented skates will be surprised at the improved performance when first taking to the ice on well-sharpened blades. Blades should be sharpened by a professional. Blade-sharpening is not a do-it-yourself endeavor.

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Source by Karen Geary

Should I Use a Cast, a Boot, a Splint Or a Brace For My Injury?

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After fracturing my foot, patients and family members asked me how it was being treated. Was surgery required? Did you need it casted? What is the best way to treat this type of fracture? As I thought of these issues, I felt it was necessary to explain the differences of the various available treatments and when one is better than another. I, however, placed my broken foot in a walking boot for reasons I will explain later.

Cast: For years the standard treatment for fractures was plaster casts (now fiberglass), and was designed to protect the area and stabilize the fracture location. These are still utilized regularly, but may not be required.

Advantages:
– Solid construct that provides protection for the area that was injured.
– Due to the firmness of the cast, it stabilizes the fracture during healing.
– Inability to remove. In some patients this is a necessity, because fractures get worse without protection and if the "protection" is being regularly removed it will not heal correctly.

Disadvantages:
– Can not get cast wet, making bathing more difficult.
– Itching and possible irritation from wearing a cast for 6-8 weeks during healing.
– May be painful if placed too early and the foot swells. (Especially important if an airplane trip is planned, as a cast will get painful.)

Walking Boot: This treatment is becoming much more common, because of the convenience and ease of application. The boot can be a great option for many fractures where stabilization of the ankle joint is required to stabilize the fracture.

Advantages:
– Ability to remove for shower or to let foot and leg breath.
– Due to the firmness of the boot, it stabilizes the fracture during healing.
– Soft lining and construct for increased comfort and allowance for swelling.

Disadvantages:
– Often has portions of boot that a soft, reducing the protection areas.
– Easily removed, increasing the ability to walk without the boot (increasing the risk of further injury).

Due to the associated comfort, the ease of dressing (since it can be removed) and the ability to shower without the boot, I chose this option for my foot. I do, however, wear it 24 hours a day, except when changing clothes or showering.

Post-op Shoe: For some fractures of the foot, a post-op shoe may provide enough stability to allow healing.

Advantages:
– Ability to remove for shower or to let foot and leg breath.
– Due to the firmness of the boot, it stabilizes the fracture during healing.
– Soft lining and construct for increased comfort and allowance for swelling.

Disadvantages:
– Only sole of shoe is rigid, providing no protection to top of foot.
– No stability to ankle or joints of foot nearest the ankle.
– Easily removed, increasing the ability to walk without the shoe (increasing the risk of further injury).

Splint: Stability of the cast with room for swelling. Usually not protective to the top of the foot, and does not allow walking.

Brace: Should primarily be used for sprains and stable stress fractures that require reduced motion of the foot.

How should you treat your fracture? I recommend (and am doing it on my fracture) that you get good stability to the fracture including the joint above and below the area of ​​injury. Typically this will require a walking boot or a cast.

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Source by Brandt R Gibson DPM

Safety Shoe Codes – What Do They Mean?

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There are occupations which present such daily hazards that protective gear must be worn while performing all necessary job functions. One of the most important pieces of this protective gear is a pair of safety shoes. But before you start buying inappropriate shoes make up your mind about the different safety codes that exist.

Safety shoes are readily available and are one of the easiest ways to help prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace. There are international standards which define the various levels of protection provided by safety shoes. These standards also give testing benchmarks which must be met in order for a shoe to qualify for an official classification. Safety footwear is rated on a scale from S1 to S5.

An S1 shoe is just one level above a standard safety boot or work boot. S1 class shoes have a high resistance to abrasions, steel toes and are non-slip. They also have energy absorption in the soles which can prevent injuries caused by short falls or hard impacts with the ground. This class of shoe is also required to be resistant to contact heat. In addition to all of this, S1 shoes have antistatic protection which can help to prevent static sparks.

S1 safety shoes are idea for jobs which involve the handling of flammable chemicals or gases that could be ignited with an electrostatic spark. Manufacturing and factory work fall into this category.

S2 shoes provide all of the protection of an S1 shoe, but are also waterproof. S2 class shoes are ideal for occupations where the worker must move through pools of water or chemicals. These shoes are appropriate for jobs such as outdoor maintenance, landscaping or some construction.

S3 shoes include all of the protections that are available in S1 and S2 shoes, but include the addition of a strong nail plate in the sole. This nail plate is designed to prevent injuries that may result from the shoe being punctured from the bottom. This shoe is designed for heavy construction work, demolition work and any occupation which requires movement across dangerous debris or terrain.

S4 and S5 safety shoes are identical to S1 and S3 class shoes respectively, but are made ​​from polymers like rubber. S1 through S3 class shoes are made from non-polymers such as leather. S2 class shoes have no corresponding polymer designation because waterproofing is a basic requirement of a polymer shoe.

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Source by Greg Hollister

Discussion of Ethics in the Classroom: 3 Fairytales to Spark Debate

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What better way to spark a spirited classroom debate on ethics than by exploring the complex messages often found in fairy tales?

Children enjoy a cozy familiarity with fairy tales. By basing a discussion of ethics on fairy tales, you are launching from common ground. Children aged eight and older typically are ready for meatier ethical concepts, concepts that skirt into gray areas of lesser evils or relative priorities.

Following are a few suggestions drawn from the land of fairy tales to get your students' thought wheels spinning.

PUSS IN BOOTS: WHEN IS TRICKERY JUSTIFIED ?

In the classic French fairy tale "Puss in boots," a clever cat engineers a succession of hoaxes and lies for the benefit of his master. As a result, his master eventually marries the king's daughter and appoints Puss in Boots prime minister. All parties live happily ever after.

You can print a text version of Puss in Boots from the Internet. A well-illustrated version of the story is also available in The Golden Book of Fairy Tales, by Marie Ponsot (Golden Books).

The story begins with the introduction of a young man whose poor father has died and left him with nothing but a cat named Puss in Boots. The cat proves tireless in his devotion to his master and begins by delivering a sequence of gifts (rabbits, pheasants, and other game) to the king and queen. Each time, Puss in Boots announces that the gifts are from "the Marquis of Carabas." Naturally, the king comes to believe the Marquis of Carabas is a person of great consequence.

Here, you might ask young readers, "Was Puss in Boots wrong to lie to the king and to deceive him?" The absolute quality of honesty can be leveled against the compelling urges of loyalty and friendship.

After several clever tricks, Puss in Boots leads the king and his lovely young daughter to a castle belonging to an ogre. Running ahead of the group, the frisky feline dares the ogre to transform himself into a mouse. When the ogre successfully transforms himself, Puss in Boots promptly pounces on the hapless creature and devours him. That enables his young master, who arrives moments later with the king and his entourage, to claim that the castle is his own. In so doing, the young man clinches his nuptial prospects with the king's daughter.

Here, you can further challenge your students: "Was the cat wrong to trick the ogre and then kill him?" Youngsters who argued earlier that the king was in no way damaged by the verbal deceptions and exaggerations of Puss in Boots must reckon with an act leading to an untimely death.

Finally, pose this question: "Is trickery ever justified?" Challenge students to support their positions, whatever they may be, with cogent arguments.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK: WHAT IS STEALING ?

This classic story offers a twist on the theme of honesty. We all know the story of young Jack, whose impoverished mother is left with nothing but the family cow. Jack is sent to market to trade the cow for as much money as he can. Jack is tricked into trading the cow for a handful of beans. In despair, his mother throws the worthless beans out the window.

Overnight, a giant beanstalk grows into the sky. When Jack climbs to the top of the beanstalk, he finds the home of a mean giant. Narrowly escaping from the giant with his life, Jack scampers down the beanstalk with two treasures stolen from the giant – a goose that lays golden eggs, and a magic harp. Thus, Jack happily secures the future for himself and his mother.

You might begin by reiterating that Jack faced imminent danger in the giant's house ( "Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman!"). Ask: "Since the giant wanted to eat Jack, was it OK that Jack stole the giant's goose and harp?"

Listen carefully to the arguments raised, pro and con. You might follow up with this remark: "Jack was an intruder in the giant's house. Since Jack chose to enter the giant's house, does that change your opinion?"

This exercise is also recommended: "Pretend you are the giant. Describe what happens when Jack arrives in your house and how you feel about it."

In a 19th-century version of Jack and the Beanstalk, a fairy is introduced when Jack is climbing up the beanstalk. The fairy informs Jack that Jack's father used to be a wealthy and prosperous landowner but a mean giant killed the father, stole everything his father owned, and reduced Jack's mother and her infant son to poverty. That giant, according to the fairy, is the one who lives at the top of the beanstalk. By destroying the giant, Jack will restore his family wealth.

This version of the fairy tale opens another line of questioning: "In the story where the giant had stolen everything from Jack's father, do you think it was OK for Jack to take it back?" Most youngsters will heartily agree.

Follow up with this question: "What if it had been the giant's father who had stolen everything from Jack's father; would it still be OK for Jack to take the treasures?" Then ask: "What if it had been the giant's grandfather who had stolen everything from Jack's grandfather?" And then ask: "What if it had been 100 years before that the giant's ancestor had stolen everything? Do you think it would still be OK for Jack to take the treasures?" Try to find the amount of elapsed time necessary, according to students, to justify Jack's taking the treasures. Challenge them to defend their point of view.

FROM THE ELEPHANT PIT: IS COMPASSION PRACTICAL ?

There's a folktale from Tibet, "From the Elephant Pit," that raises the question of whether compassion is always a good idea.

The story tells the tale of a hunter who dug pits to catch and trap wild elephants. One day, he comes to the pit and discovers that trapped inside the elephant pit were a man, a lion, a mouse, a snake, and a falcon. The lion warns the hunter not to rescue the human. Says the lion: "I and the other animals will prove grateful to you and will help you for your kindness to us, so rescue them. But please leave the man in the pit, for I warn you, he will forget your kindness and do you harm. " However, the hunter rescues all the animals and the man.

The other animals, indeed, later repay the kindness to the hunter. As the lion had foretold, the man betrays him. At the end of the story, the betrayal of the man is revealed, the hunter is appointed chief hunter to the king, and all ends well.

Children are asked this question: "Do you think the hunter was better off because he rescued the man from the pit? If you think yes, why? If you think no, why not?"

Following is a sampling of responses from youngsters who responded:

  • "Yes, you should always save someone in need." – Vance, age 10
  • "No, because if he would have left him he would not have gone through all that trouble." – Tara, age 11
  • "No, because the man tricked the hunter and ruined his life." – Newt, age 9
  • "Yes, because he did something very kind, which is the best reward anyone could get." – Laura, age 10
  • "Yes, because he got to be the king's top man." –Shawn, Age 7

TIPS FOR MANAGING A CLASSROOM DEBATE ON ETHICS

  • Before you begin a lesson that will lead to a debate about ethical issues, let children know that you are going to read a story and then you will be asking some questions about the story.
  • At the end of the story, allow children time to consider their personal responses to your questions, and ask each child to write down her or his response.
  • Break the class into small groups for discussion. Then hold a general discussion. You might want to list the arguments cited, pro and con, on different sides of your chalkboard or whiteboard.
  • Continue to look for opportunities in stories to raise questions for ethical debate. Your best source material will be stories that children already enjoy, such as fairytales and folk tales. However, modern stories and popular television shows and movies also provide opportunities for ethics duscussions.
  • Here's a final rule of thumb: If the children enjoy a story, consider it a candidate for an ethics debate! Over time, as long as you keep those discussions alive, the capacity for youngsters to understand the complexities of ethical issues will grow.

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Source by Elaine L Lindy

How to Spot Fake Coach Handbags and Shoes

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Coach shoes and handbags are designer items that are always of the highest quality. Because of their fine materials and trendy designs, they are usually somewhat expensive. This has led to a plethora of replica Coach boots and Coach heels on the market. Do not let yourself be scammed into buying replica Coach shoes and handbags. Yes, it may seem like you're getting a great discount, but you're also not getting the real deal. There are ways you can spot fake Coach handbags and shoes.

First, you can look up the individual style names of Coach sneakers, shoes or handbags on the Coach official website. Each shoe and handbag has a number and a name that apply to each style. If any shoes you've found do not have this information, ask the seller for it. If he can not provide the style name or number, they are probably fakes. You can also check the stitching on the Coach heels you like. Real Coach shoes have clean, sturdy stitching. If you find stitching that is crookedly done or flimsy-looking, the shoes most likely are fake.

If you're shopping locally as opposed to online, you can check the logo on Coach shoes or handbags in a given store or estate sale. Any Coach handbags or shoes should have the correct logo, and also the signature letter C. Look closely, because even department stores like JC Penney and Kohl's sell purses with G's or O's, instead. These are knock-offs. In addition, if the letter C's are off-center, cut off by the stitching or if the rows of letters are not straight, then these are not true Coach products.

Next, feel the material of the Coach boots or handbags. If they are truly Coach products, you'll only find top-quality suede, leather or fabric on them. If the Coach shoes or handbags you're looking at have stiff or lightweight materials, they are not Coach products at a discount – they're fakes. You can check the buttons and buckles on the handbags or shoes you're looking at, too. Genuine Coach shoes and handbags have hardware made from gunmetal, nickel or brass, and these are very solid. If the hardware looks cheap, it's not a Coach product.

If you're looking at what you believe are Coach sneakers or shoes, check their soles. If there is excess glue visible on the inside or outside, they are almost certainly not Coach shoes, because those do not have shoddy workmanship. Check the shoe or handbag label of the item you're studying. The text on the label of Coach boots and handbags is properly aligned, clear, and evenly spaced. If you see text that is uneven, appears sloppy, or even contains typos, those are discount replicas, not Coach products.

If you find shoes that say, "Made in Korea", these are most certainly not Coach shoes. Purchasing Coach shoes from reputable department stores where the name brands are clear is a good way to make sure you buy the real deal and not a knock-off. Because Coach boots, shoes and handbags are expensive, the originals are quite often copied and may be seen on the streets of New York City, and other large towns with foot traffic or tourist traffic to pander to. You may also see fake Coach heels at flea markets or swap meets, and they are usually very cheap – and cheaply made as well. Unless you're sure it's the real deal, if the price is cheap, the product was likely not made by Coach.

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Source by Quan Vu

The Evolution of the Firefighter Turnout Gear

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First of all, what is a firefighter turnout gear? Firefighter turnout gear also known as a "bunker gear" is the term used by firefighters to describe the different protective clothing they use when fighting a fire. The term bunker gear is derived from the fact that fire fighter will keep their boots, trousers and jackets are commonly stored at the "bunk". In the UK and Ireland they use the term Fire Kit, while in Hong Kong they call it the Incident Gear. Later on, the term turnout gear is then adapted.

In the early days of fire fighting around the mid 19th century, the firefighters would use trousers and red shirt made of wool. Wool is the choice of material to ward off the heat from fire flames and keep the firefighter warm during the winter. Rubber slickers or rubber coats that extend to the fire fighters mid thigh are worn over trousers and shirt. They will also use a helmet and their own leather gloves and leather boots. Later on, the leather boots were replaced with rubber boots mostly just above the knees but some of these rubber boots can be worn up to the hips just like modern waders and this was termed three-quarter boots. This ensemble later on was changed to a combination of pants with suspenders, jacket and shorter boots made of rubber or leather.

After the second world war, various organizations have pushed the standardization of turnout gears to be implemented. This issue required all fire departments to adhere to the minimum standard design, performance safety testing and certificates were required for all components of the gear. Some of this standards includes a first layer withstanding 500 ° F for five minutes. The second layer that prevents moisture from penetrating the gear. The third layer should provide insulation from high levels of heat.

By the 1980s, a new gear was introduced this is composed of three layers of materials. The first outer layer material can withstand 1,200 ° F before breaking down. The second layer is a moisture releasing material from within the gear. The third material is a synthetic layer that is fire resistant that can withstand fire for seven seconds. Just enough time for the fire fighter to get to safety. In addition to all that, once out of the fire this material will self extinguish. After this is introduced all American fire houses have adapted this as their standards for their turnout gears.

This has been the start of the Modern Firefighting Era. And now on the 20th century, modern turnout jackets and pants are made of fire resistant fabrics (from Aramids like Nomex or Kevlar) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) fibers. These multi layer turnout gears are now equipped with (SCBA) self-contained breathing apparatus, (PASS) Personal Alert Safety System device, thermal imaging cameras and modern communications equipments that made it more feasible and survivable to enter burning buildings.

Looking back, we have come so far with the help of technology. We can only hope that this can further develop since a firefighter turnout gear can be a lifeline for our firefighters.

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Source by Tyler Burns

3 Tips For Renting Vs Buying Your Snowboard Equipment

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Smelly boots, chintzy bindings, and rock-beaten decks; this is the common snowboard rental experience. How long do you have to use this second-hand crap anyway?

Plus, renting equipment is generally a hassle and can get expensive fast. Would not it just be cheaper and easier to invest in your own gear and pay a one-time fee?

Keep these tips in mind as you consider whether or not owning your own snowboard equipment would be worth it …

1. For first-timers

If you've never been snowboarding before, you should always rent – in fact, you may want to rent the first few times you head to the hill.

Rental boards are tailor-made to help a new rider through the learning process. Plus, with a rental board you do not have to worry about damage when you ride off of the trail and into the dirt.

Even if you are planning a longer vacation and the price of renting seems greater than buying, you are better off sticking with the rental equipment. You might find that after the first few full days of snowboarding, you need a few days off to recuperate; you will not be needing a board the entire vacation after all.

2. Do not rent, demo

If you can shape turns down a green slope, it might be time to start thinking about customized gear as you start to further advance your skills.

But if you do not get that many days on the hill, maybe you do not need to spend all of that money just yet?

A renter who is looking for an upgrade without making a commitment should consider demoing. Demos are legit, name-brand board, boot and binding models available for rent from most rental shops.

Demos usually cost a bit more than average rentals, but they are a great way to start shopping for your first setup by testing several available-for-purchase models. Demos are like sticking your toe in the pool, instead of just jumping in.

3. Go feet first

You really are On the if itching to get out of your rental gear, but you are On unsure how much you will ride or you simply do not have the cash for a decent full setup , Consider spending some dough on your first pair of snowboard boots.

Boots are the single worst part of the rental experience. Most rental books reek something fierce; they are all packed out from having so many pairs of feet in them and usually the liners are so beat that the boot offers virtually no support.

Probably 80% of the difficulties people experience when using rentals come from poor boot fit.

One thing in snowboarding you will hear over and over, "Boots are the most important piece of your equipment". Since boots are the first step in relaying your movements into snowboarding, they should be the first piece of equipment you invest in.

I guarantee that owning your own pair of custom-fit boots will make more of difference on snow than any board or binding will. Following article from this the Angry Snowboarder features excellent tips on getting a boot That's practically made ​​for you.

One final tip: you will know when you need to buy your own snowboard gear. You will feel like your rental gear does not turn hard enough, or go fast enough, or pop high enough; and depending on which of those it is, you will also have a good idea of ​​what to look for in your first setup.

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Source by Lou G