Quality Eye Care

Jane Worthington asked:


Different types of glasses are perceived in opposite ways. The lenses that people have to wear to correct their eyesight are not seen as very popular in today’s society. Even though more than fifty percent of people need some sort of correctional lens to bring their eyesight to 20/20, most people will do anything to avoid wearing glasses. Even though the “four eyes” taunt is no longer as prevalent as it used to be, the kids who do not have glasses tend to tease those that do have them regardless. It is hard to be different especially at a very young age.

Many people remember these experiences when they get older and even though glasses are much more widely accepted, these individuals will still do anything they can to avoid wearing them. When soft contact lenses were available for general consumer use in 1971, they became very popular. People no longer had to stick out for having bad vision, they could look like everyone else and not sacrifice their eyesight at the same time! Contact lenses have continually improved in quality and as a result, most people own both a pair of glasses and contacts and wear their contacts whenever they can.

The second type of glasses, sunglasses, has the complete opposite effect of regular glasses. Sunglasses are not only great for sun protection no matter what quality eyesight you have, they are also an important fashion accessory. Many movie stars and sports celebrities wear eye-catching shades that help them hide their image as well as define it. Whether it’s Vogue or Oakley sunglasses, are extremely important to keep your eyes shielded from the dangerous UV rays that can do significant damage to your cornea. Whether you are sunbathing at the beach or driving to work, you should always be sporting some high quality shades.

Unlike prescription glasses, sunglasses are considered extremely fashionable. Just as a particular brand is popular that year for shoes and another is popular for jeans, different brands are in the running for that year’s most sought after sunglasses. Make a fashion statement when you walk out wearing a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses or the latest design shades from D&G. Either way, sunglasses are a must-have item no matter what season it is!

Prescription glasses wearers can even enjoyed stylish sunglasses even if they do not want to switch over to contact lenses. Many companies have developed prescription sunglasses so you can enjoy great looking sunglasses without giving up your vision!

Sports Fan News

Earl Garber asked:


Stained glass windows are a beautiful addition to any home whether as part of a remodel or new construction. When most people hear stained glass panels, images come to mind of old cathedrals with extremely large panels depicting religious scenes. Those are beautiful examples of the art, but much smaller simplistic panels can be placed in your home to add character. Windows for your home can come in a variety of shapes, designs, and sizes, which can be used in many rooms throughout the home. Stained glass panels can also be set in doors whether it is a large exterior front door or interior sliding doors, stained glass can add a unique touch while allowing in light.

Time and the elements do take a toll on the glass, but much less damage occurs than you would think. In reality too much cleaning can be worse for the panel than the sun and the rain. Stained glass panels in old cathedrals have been in place for centuries with minimal damage to the surfaces. With proper care and knowledge of the signs of damage your panels can look great for generations as well.

Generally any stained glass exposed to the outdoors, the exterior surface on a window, is kept clean by natural means. Any extra scrubbing is more likely to scratch and damage the glass deeming this an unnecessary task. Interior stained glass window panels on the other hand do need periodic cleaning. Generally the glass surface should not be wet cleaned as water can do damage to the glass, lead, putty, and metal components. Light dusting is the best cleaning method on these glass surfaces using a soft, dry brush with possibly some combined vacuuming. Though you should always be careful that the brushes and implements used are soft as to not damage the glass surface in the process.

When inspecting your stained glass for possible damage there are several different areas to look at.

Glass - The glass can have single cracks from an internal stressor, or several cracks from an external source. Also watch for pitting in the glass or discolorization which are signs of deterioration. On the other hand bubbles and textures within the glass are normal and were probably part of the artisans vision for the piece.

Lead - Due to the fact lead is soft, malleable, and easily soldered is also can sag and lose its structure. Be on the look out for bulging in the stained glass panel, and cracking near the solder joints.

Paint - If the paint was not fired into the glass properly it can be more vulnerable and fragile. Watch for blistering and peeling of the paint on the glass.

Putty - Putty is usually used to seal the glass with the structure. Over time it can go hard, crack, and fall out which creates leaking in water usually between the lead and the glass.

Window Structure - If a stained glass panel is not installed correctly the window will begin to sag and bulge. If the window has been in for some time this could be regular settling of the structure and is actually better left alone.

So regularly inspect stained glass panels for defects such as bulging, sagging, faint paint, water leakage, cracks, rattling glass, peeling mortar, and loose copper ties. If the damage is bad enough contact a stained glass conservator. Many times work to repair glass damages it more than just leaving it alone! Ensure any work to be done is absolutely necessary before going through with any glass restoration.

Tool Pro Network

Leslie Gilmour asked:


Glass is naturally formed when certain types of rocks melt as a result of high-temperatures such as volcanic eruptions, lightning strikes or the impact of meteorites, and then cools and solidify rapidly.

According to Roman historians they became aware of the existence of glass accidentally in the region of Syria around 5000 BC. This short history looks at the birth and evolution of man-made glass and the new developments in smart glass.

Glass beads are thought to be the earliest man-made glass they were mainly opaque and are thought to date back to around 3500 BC. They have been found in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia. The oldest fragments of glass vases date back to 1600 BC and were found in Mesopotamia.

Egyptian craftsmen are thought to have begun developing a method for producing glass pots around 1500 BC by dipping a core mould of compressed sand into molten glass and then turning the mould so that molten glass adhered to it. There is not much evidence of further advancement until the 900 BC. Over the following 500 years glass production centred on Alessandria from where it is thought to have spread to Italy.

The first glassmaking manual dates back to around 650 BC. A major breakthrough in glassmaking was the discovery of glassblowing some time between 27 BC and AD 14, attributed to Syrian craftsmen. The long thin metal tube used in the blowing process has changed very little since then.

The Romans spread glassmaking technologies the result of their conquests. During the reign of the emperor Augustus, glass objects began to appear throughout Italy, in France, Germany and Switzerland. It was the Romans who began to use glass for architectural purposes, with the discovery of clear glass. Cast glass windows with poor optical qualities began to appear in the most important buildings in.

Archaeological excavations on the island of Torcello near Venice, Italy, have unearthed objects from the late 7th and early 8th centuries which bear witness to the transition from ancient to early Middle Ages production of glass.

Towards the years 1000 AD significant changes in European glassmaking techniques took place. Given the difficulties in importing raw materials, soda glass was gradually replaced by glass made using the potash obtained from the burning of trees.

The 11th century saw the development by German glass craftsmen of a technique - then further developed by Venetian craftsmen in the 13th century - for the production of glass sheets. By blowing a hollow glass sphere and swinging it vertically, gravity would pull the glass into a cylindrical “pod” measuring as much as 3 metres long, with a width of up to 45 cm. While still hot, the ends of the pod were cut off and the resultant cylinder cut lengthways and laid horizontal. The panes thus created would then be joined with lead strips and pieced together to create windows. Glazing remained, however, a great luxury up to the late Middle Ages, with royal palaces and churches the most likely buildings to have glass windows. Stained glass windows reached their height as the Middle Ages drew to a close.

In 1688, in France, a new method was developed for the production of plate glass, principally for use in mirrors, whose optical merits had, until then, left much to be desired. The molten glass was poured onto a special table and rolled out flat. After cooling, the plate glass was ground on large round tables by means of rotating cast iron discs and increasingly fine abrasive sands, and then polished using felt disks. The result of this plate pouring process was flat glass with good optical transmission qualities. When coated on one side with a reflective metal high-quality mirrors could be produced.

It was not until the later stages of the Industrial Revolution that mechanical technology for mass production and in-depth scientific research into the relationship between the composition of glass and its physical qualities began to appear in the industry.

A key figure and one of the forefathers of contemporary glass research was the German scientist Otto Schott, who used scientific methods to study the effects of various chemical elements on the optical and thermal properties of glass. In the field of optical glass, Schott teamed up with Ernst Abbe, to make important technological advances.

In the production of flat glass the first real innovation came in 1905 when a Belgian, (Fourcault), managed to vertically draw a continuous sheet of glass of a consistent width from the tank. Commercial production of sheet glass using the Fourcault process eventually got under way in 1914. An off-shoot of evolution in flat glass production was the strengthening of glass by means of lamination.

The float process developed after 1945 by Pilkington combined the brilliant finish of sheet glass with the optical qualities of plate glass.

Now glass production has taken another great leap forward, privacy glass is the newest and currently most upmarket glass available. With only a touch of a remote control or the turn of a dial the glass can be made to change opacity. New glass windows on office blocks can be set to let in less light as the sun becomes stronger saving on air-conditioning costs.

During the last 5500 years glass has come a long way and we just take it for granted now.

The Games Guy

Colin Pike asked:


Summer is the season of fun at the beach and there is plenty of sunlight making it imperative to put on sun protective swimwear. Whilst the great pastime time during this period is sun bathing, the greatest danger lurking along beaches and swimming pools is ultra violet rays from the sun.

Ultra violet rays are emissions from the sun that has the potential of causing damage to unprotected skin surface.

Protective swimwear is clothing that we put on to fend off the negative effects that these radiations can have on the body.

The manufacture of protective swimwear is an elaborate process. Although the clothes themselves are made up of ordinary, everyday fabrics, it is the lining and the special treatment of the clothes that turn them into sun protective swimwear.

One technology is to use durable, breathable, lightweight, and very comfortable fabric with a 4-way stretch. The inner part of the fabric is lined with the ultra violet light protective coating. If the swimwear is going to be used for swimming in a pool, then it is made from chlorine resistant swim fabric.

For people who are highly sensitive to sunrays or photosensitive skin or skin cancer, the choice is high-SPF clothing. These contain containing colorless compounds, and treated resins that absorb ultra violet light.

The essence of sun protective swimwear is to reflect as much as possible, the dangerous ultra violet rays from the sun as much as possible. This means, shiny, silky or reflective clothing are the best.

Another technique is to use tightly woven micro fiber containing enhanced titanium dioxide which diffuses ultra violet light and CoolMax mesh to ensure ventilation and moisture management.

There are several types of protective swimwear available. There are some for babies, some for men and some for women. Between these we have ordinary and high end designer swimwear. Although all of them have the protection against the sun, there are vast differences in quality of fabric, design and appearance.

There are some swimwear that cover the entire body and some that are just top wear, shorts or pants.

With the high end fashion, you can have two, three and even sometimes four piece swimwear with a hat or sunglasses to match.

Of increasing popularity are mens protective beach wear comprising of a shirt, shorts and matching glasses. These products are both in the regular version and high end fashion.

Before we get on to why we need protective swimwear , it may be helpful to look at ultra violet rays. Ultraviolet rays (UV) or radiation is the invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UV radiation can damage the skin, cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. There are two types of UV rays – there is the UVA which causes ordinary sun burn and the UVB which penetrate deeper into the skin to cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer.

Physiologically, overexposure to UV radiation can disturb the bodys immune system and the skins natural defenses.

Sun protective swimwear offers you a kind of filtering against these harmful rays. People most susceptible to these rays are those with light clothing and in areas where there is no overhead protection like the beach. Protective swimwear is also needed during summer when the sun shines a lot and consequently emits more ultra violet rays.

If you are interested in the stats, – 1.3 million New cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. – One in five Americans will contract skin cancer. – Malignant melanoma, the worst form of skin cancer, has increased 1800percent since 1930

It is likely that many patients can save themselves the discomfort of these illnesses by putting on some swimwear that will protect them.

You need to exercise a lot of discretion in buying this type of swimwear.

Sun protective swimwear is categorized per UPF rating. UPF is the amount of radiation that can pass through the clothing. For example, a fabric with a UPF rating of 15 will permit one fifteenth of the UVR to pass through it and a UPF 20 fabric, one twentieth of the UVR to pass through it. What this mean is, depending your skin sensitivity, you will go for the clothing that suits your skin type, and of course, how long you will be exposed to the sun.

It is also important to consider weave type. Generally, the tighter the weave or knit, the better the protection against the sun.

The less the light that can pass through the clothing, the better. To test porosity, you can hold the swimwear against the sun and see how much light comes through.

Darker clothes should also be preferred against lighter clothes.

The price of this protective swimwear ranges from $49.95 upwards and there are several shops offering regular and high end fashion swimwear. Examples are:

Swimwear can be pretty expensive and therefore need a lot of care to prolong their life. Here are a few tips on how to care for them:

Avoid oil-based suntan lotions which can stain the fabric and cause it to stretch. Stretching increases porosity and consequently permits more UV light to come through.

Soak clothes in vinegar to prevent fading which permits more light to come through the clothes.

Chlorine can interact with the protective swimwear and damage it. Try to soak your body wet before jumping into the pool to minimize the chemical reaction with the chlorine in the pool.

Enjoy the sun, tan as you want but be mindful of the danger of UV – put on your sun protective swimwear and save your beautiful skin.

Pet Safe Network

Patricia Furstenberg asked:


Glass and glass products may be taken for granted now, but they were a luxury item a very few people could afford, sometimes in the 3000’s BC when its manufacturing history started in the Middle East.

The glass manufacturing grew during the Roman Empire and spread from Italy to all countries under Roman jurisdiction. During the times of the Venetian Republic the glass craftsmanship flourished as a result of good contacts with Byzantine Empire. In 1291, fearing fire and destruction to the city’s mostly wooden buildings, or maybe for better protecting their secrets, the glassmakers were ordered to move their foundries out of Venice and into the island of Murano. For centuries afterwards the glassmakers of Murano have held the monopoly on quality glassmaking, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicolored glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. But mostly what made Murano’s glassmakers so special is the simple truth that they were the only people in Europe who knew how to make a mirror!

Today, the artisans of Murano still make use of their century-old techniques, hand-crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry to murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers.

Technology and tradition in Murano glassmaking

One of the attributes that distinguish glass from other materials, such as metal, is the way it solidifies. It is based on this specific glass feature that the murano manufacturers stage their unique technique of glassmaking. Working the glass in this specific frame of time requires talent, skillfulness, know-how and sensitivity, which only a few expert glassworkers have mastered today.

The making of a murano product follows a working cycle of 24 hours. The mixture of raw materials is loaded two or three times into the initially empty pot. The first load goes in about 5pm, at a temperature of 1250°C to 1300°C. The last at 9pm to 10pm and afterwards the temperature is raised to 1400°C to drive out any bubbles from the liquid and to let the glass become homogeneous. At about 2am the melted glass is ready and the temperature is lowered to 1000°C to 1100°C. At this temperature the glass will, at 7am, have the viscosity necessary for working. Afterwards the blowing and the manipulation with iron take place, thanks to the malleability guaranteed by the continual contact with the fire.

The glass rod is the starting point to make the glass beads. It is made by pulling both ends of the single color glass bubble, until the right diameter is reached. The rod can measure up to 100 meters long, and is then cut into smaller sections of approximately a meter each, which are then bound in bundles. The solid glass rod is used to make really beautiful beads with the “flame” technique. Over the heat of a flame the glass melts and creates a thread that is wound around a fine metal rod. This way a sort of hot glass ball is produced that is worked and shaped using pincers or bronze moulds to give the bead the desired shape (round, square, star, etc.). Once it has cooled down, the bead is placed in acid that dissolves the copper rod and leave a hole in the bead.

Various and important techniques can be used for the flamed beads, some of the most interesting and typically “Venetian” are those made with gold or silver leaf, which are achieved by forming the first liquid glass which is then rolled over a very fine leaf of 24 carat gold leave or pure silver; with the heat, the leaf breaks giving a cracked effect that is always different. The glass can then be covered with a second layer of transparent glass to make the bead shinier, while if it is left without the second layer it has a less polished look.

Millefiori or thousands of flowers

Millefiori is a polychromatic, colorful design as thin as a straw. Exactly when the very first design of millefiori was created is not known, but the archeological testimonies place them during the Alexandrine and Roman times.

The colors of the millefiori beads are created one at a time. First a hot ball of glass is pressed and pulled by the glass manufacturer into a certain shape like a flower or a star or a geometrical shape, and then the rod is covered in layers of different colors of glass.

Another very important technique is that of applying pieces of Millefiori rod to the main nucleus. Also known as Millefiori or Mosaic beads, they are made by applying fine pieces of rod to the hot glass core so that the entire surface is covered. The bead is then heated a second time so that the murrinas weld together. The result is that not two Murrina pieces are the same.

Murano - Hand-Blown Glass Jewelry

“Beauty is a quality of a person, object, place, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, affirmation, meaning, or goodness. The subjective experience of “beauty” often involves the interpretation of some entity as being in balance and harmony with nature. This leads to powerful feelings of attraction and emotional well-being.” (wikipedia)

Just like one can’t be totally objective when looking at two beautiful women and freely choose one of them as the most beautiful one, or honestly decide upon the purest ray of sun or the most perfect rainbow, one will never find two pieces of murano jewelry the same.

Mirroring the freshness of light, the fluidity of water and the intensity of fire, the murano jewelries please both the eye and heart. The foil of gold or the bits of silver ads to their noble allure as the eye catches a glimpse of them through the rich color of the glass.

Endowed with an unique design fit for an unique woman, a cherished occasion or for an out of this world partner, the murano jewelries are the perfect gift. The proud wearer exhibits a piece of jewelry unlike any other piece in the entire world.

Article courtesy of Alluring Creations CC, http://www.alluringcreations.co.za

Lingerie Elements

Ruby Hashim asked:


Sun’s rays to blame for Eye Damage

It’s commonly known that exposure to the sun can cause skin damage. However, it’s not only the skin that can suffer from the increased levels of ultraviolet radiation to which we are exposed during the summer months; our eyes can be at great risk too.

Prolonged exposure to UV rays can be to blame for various eye disorders, including cataracts and even cancer.

UV radiation levels are three times higher in June, July and August than during the winter. Worse still, between 10am and 3pm and at high altitudes such as ski resorts, the levels are amplified.

The Effects of UV Light

Exposure to intense levels of UV light, especially that which is reflected off snow, water or sand, can result in the surface of the eye being burnt, just like the skin. Whilst the burns are usually temporary, they can still produce irritating and uncomfortable symptoms such as:

• Swelling of the eyes

• A ‘gritty’ feeling in the eyes

• Excessive watering and blinking

• An inability to handle bright lights

• The possibility of ‘snow blindness’, a form of temporary blindness

However, long term exposure to UV light can have far more dangerous connotations, such as damage to the cornea and conjunctiva, as well as the lens and retina.

This damage can lead to the development of cataracts; cancer of the conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the eye); and skin cancer of the eyelids.

Research

Additionally, and perhaps more worryingly, research has shown that prolonged exposure to the sun could lead to age-related macular degeneration, a sight-related disorder that can lead to blindness.

The research was carried out at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison, USA. Over 3,600 patients between the ages of 43 and 86 were monitored for five years, and 2,700 for 10 years.

Those participants who spent more than five hours a day in the sun during their teens and thirties and as the study commenced were found to be three times more likely to develop increased retinal pigment, a trait associated with age-related macular degeneration.

These same patients were also found to be twice as likely to develop early age-related macular degeneration over a period of 10 years compared to those who spent less than two hours a day in the sun.

However, and quite importantly, results also showed that those participants who spent the most time in the sun stood around a 50% lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration symptoms when they wore sunglasses and hats for at least half the time spent in the sun.

How to protect the eyes from sun damage

1. Wear sunglasses

The most obvious - and most effective - way to protect the eyes from UV rays.

Choose sunglasses that offer at least 95% UV protection with a lens tint that blocks 80% of transmissible light. Don’t opt for lenses that block any more than 92% of light however, because this can affect the ability to see properly.

Choose a close fitting pair of sunglasses, with lenses that sit close to the eyes. Wrap-around frames prevent light entering the eyes from all angles and make a wise choice for those who will be spending a number of hours in the sun. For holidaymakers, polarised lenses offer the added benefit of reducing glare from water, ski slopes and sand.

Lens colour also makes a difference: grey lenses are ideal for driving because they do not distort primary colours. Green lenses are good on overcast days as they allow the maximum amount of useful light to reach the eyes. For better protection against glare and more pronounced detail, choose brown lenses.

Most prescriptive sunglasses these days have built in UVA and UVB protection. Check for the word filtered on the tag. Transitional lenses that are clear indoors and dark outdoors form another option for the prescription lens wearer.

2. Wear a hat

A broad brimmed hat can further reduce exposure to UV rays by shading the eyes.

3. Wear UV blocking contact lenses alongside sunglasses

UV blocking contact lenses can help protect against the transmission of harmful UV rays to the cornea and inner eye. However, there is no evidence as yet that wearing UV blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or preventing other eye disorders.

These lenses are not a replacement for UV absorbing sunglasses, but, when worn with sunglasses, they can block a large amount of the UV rays that reach the eyes through the open spaces around sunglasses.

4. Minimise exposure to UV rays

Reduce time spent in the sun between 10am and 3pm, and during the summer months. Additionally, avoid sun lamps and tanning beds.

5. Watch what you eat

A diet rich in a variety of fruit and vegetables will provide a boost of antioxidants which can promote good eye health. At times of increased exposure to the sun, such as when on holiday abroad, ensure a good amount of these foods are included in the daily diet.

Back to School Central

Mark Carpenter asked:


Whether you’re in the market for windshield replacement and want to know what’s hot on the market or are wondering how auto glass and safety go hand-in-hand, the latest windshield technologies are a great way to upgrade and streamline your car, truck, or SUV.

History of Auto Glass

For the past seven decades, laminated glass has been the glass of choice for windshields in vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Invented in the early twentieth century, this glass is actually several layers of material: two or more layers of glass surrounding a plastic or resin sheet in the middle that serves as an interlayer. This interlayer is what keeps the glass from breaking into large, potentially dangerous pieces upon impact, instead shattering into a “spiderweb.”

This makes laminated glass ideal for vehicles, since harm to passengers during large collisions is reduced. It’s also beneficial in that a minor windshield chip or ***** can be repaired without necessarily replacing the entire windshield.

Laminated Auto Glass Features

While safety is the number one reason why laminated auto glass is used for vehicles, there are additional benefits to it.

• Security: Laminated glass is much more difficult to shatter than tempered auto glass. This means that car theft is greatly reduced when the would-be thief has to go through laminated glass, since it can take up to a minute to get all the way through the glass to the car’s interior.

• Noise Control: The extra layer in laminated glass offers additional sound protection. This keeps the interior of the car more comfortable without completely blocking the necessary traffic noises that make driving safe.

• Sun and Temperature Control: Many new types of windshields come with infrared coatings and ultraviolet protection options. These not only keep the harmful sun’s rays from heating or damaging your car’s interior, but they can also keep your passengers (and yourself) out of the harmful UV rays that contribute to skin cancer.

• Additional Perks: From antennas and defrosters to speedometers, many types of laminated glass include the latest technologies right in the interlayer. While these types of benefits might not add to driver safety, they do add an appeal that increases car value and satisfaction.

Taking Care of Your Laminated Glass

While laminated glass has provided many steps forward for auto glass technology and auto glass repairs, it’s important to remember that letting a minor windshield ***** or chip go without repairs can have an impact on how well it functions. Always keep your windshield in good condition and make sure the factory seal stays intact during repairs to get the most out of your car’s features.

Ultimate Kitchen Guide

Gray Rollins asked:


Stained glass has been used to decorate and enhance buildings for centuries. The breathtaking stained glass windows in cathedrals attract thousands of tourists each year. With the popularity of stained glass windows, it is no surprise that people began to create other things from stained glass. Today, you can find many products made with stained glass, from lamps to mirrors. However, how can you decorate with stained glass? There are several things you can do to fit stained glass into your home.

First, you may want to consider putting stained glass in your windows. After all, the sunlight shining through a window is the reason that stained glass looks so beautiful. If you don’t have room for a stained glass window in your budget, look for a sun catcher or a faux window that is designed to hang in front of your real window.

Of course, if you don’t have natural light, you can still enjoy the beauty of stained glass with an accent lamp that has a stained glass shade. When the lamp is on, the light bulb will shine through the shade, creating an effect almost as beautiful as natural light shining through a stained glass window. Accent lamps work best as secondary lighting, since they usually require low wattage bulbs. Tuck a lamp into a dark corner to provide a bit of color and enough lighting for someone to sit and read. You can also use these lamps on sofa tables, night stands, or desks.

Chandeliers are another great way to enjoy stained glass in the home. You can place a chandelier in the traditional spot over the center of the dining room table, but why not have a little fun with your decorating? Try placing a stained glass chandelier in your hallway to give your entryway more impact or in your sunroom to add a touch of whimsy.

Next, you may want to add a stained glass mirror to your bathroom. You can find mirrors with a traditional stained glass design around the edges or mirrors with fun themes, such as beach scenes or wild animals.

Finally, you can create your own faux stained glass on any glass or mirrored surface. You can really dress up your glass fronted cabinets, the panes of glass in your front door, or the top of your glass coffee table with stained glass paint. Simply trace the pattern you want with black piping and then fill in with these colorful, see through paints.

Athletic Collectibles

Shikha asked:


Low-E Glass Cuts the Glare

If your house faces east there may be times when you wake up in the morning, walk into your living room, and wish you were wearing sunglasses because it is so bright. Either that or you stub your toe on a piece of furniture because your window blinds have blocked out all of the bright light. What if your house had windows like sunglasses? Low-Emissivity glass windows are just like having sunglasses for your house that filter the brightness of the light.

What is Low-E Glass?

Low-Emissivity glass, commonly called low-E glass, is a type of reflective glass that is gaining in popularity, especially in residential and office applications. Windows with low-E coatings resist ultraviolet light. Low-E coatings are very thin metallic coatings that reduce visible light transmission by about 10 percent compared to uncoated glass. They are applied using either the vacuum (sputter) or pyrolytic process.

Low-E Glass Advantages

Because it resists ultraviolet light, low-E glass prevents sunlight exposure from damaging carpets, draperies, sofas and other furnishings. Plus, low-E glass reduces sunlight glare in a room. Most importantly, low-E windows reduce energy costs by helping to control the climate in the house.

Low-E glass allows sunlight into a room without letting heat inside. In the summer this keeps rooms cool and lowers air conditioning costs. In warmer southern areas, low-E coatings are usually applied to bronze, green or grey tinted glass. The coatings reduce glare and reflect the sun’s heat away from the structure.

In the winter low-E glass keeps heat from escaping. This reduces heating costs because the low-E coating reradiates the heat absorbed from sunlight back inside the room. In cooler northern areas, low-E coatings let in the heat from the winter sun while retaining the heat generated from inside the building.

The main reason low-E glass has these advantages is that it reflects sensible heat. The heat generated by hot water or steam radiators, or the heat from hot air ducts, are examples of sensible heat. Low-E glass retains more of this heat indoors than other types of reflective glass. The amount of coating can be adjusted for different climates to provide optimum U-value energy efficiency.

The U-Value

The measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through the glass is called the U-value. Either the glass alone or the entire window (the glass, frame and the spacer materials for IG units) can be U-value rated. The lower the U-value number, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value. When considering whether or not to install low-E glass, consult a professional glass service provider who can explain the options available. To find the Glass Doctor shop near you, visit www.glassdoctor.com

Country Pets Online

Olly Fallon asked:


Everybody loves to enjoy their gardens but after the last few years, with nothing but rain, it can seem impossible to get outside.

Remember those days of sitting outside, having some friends around for a barbeque and taking in the summer? Well ok, this doesn’t happen much these days but now, thanks to home innovations on the market, you can dine outside without being caught out by rain.

Many people had previously relied on the sun awning to offer them protection from the rain, as well as the intended purpose, protection from the sun. The disadvantages of using sun awnings as rain shelters is simply the fact that they are not designed for this purpose and heavier rainfall can lead to water pooling on the fabric. Being water is extremely heavy, a small puddle can cause the awning to bow and break.

As well as the risk of the sun awning breaking you will often find gaps behind the awning that let water in. Cheaper models of awnings will often allow water to leak through the stitched seams. All of a sudden your barbeque is not so fun any more!

A new home improvement product is now available that will not only achieve protection from all weathers, but will add considerable value to your property. This doesn’t come cheap but the results can be pretty impressive.

I am referring to the glass veranda. Very simply, a glass veranda is a glass shelter that extends for your property giving you protection from the rain. Coupled with an awning on top you achieve protection from the sun as well.

Glass verandas come in many different styles that can be adapted to your specific requirements. The more basic models and often most popular models are fixed to the wall of your property at one end. Then using a two or more posts, it is supported at the front end.

Sizes can vary on the glass verandas, again, dependant on your needs. Often the largest projections are preferred as they give you the maximum cover.

A glass veranda can be considered very much like a conservatory with no walls. This means that you don’t have to suffer the unbearable heat of a conservatory and you have the great benefit of being able to enjoy the fresh air.

With the addition of some of the modern infra red heaters you can create an outside room that you can sit under for most of the night. These economical heaters provide a come external heat so the evening can be enjoyed up until the early hours with no one getting rained on, getting cold and certainly not breaking the bank with a huge electricity bill!

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