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<title>Latest Articles by missonmaui</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
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<title>Build Solar Panels and Cut Your Power Bill</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Environment/build-solar-panels-and-cut-your-power-bill.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Environment/build-solar-panels-and-cut-your-power-bill.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Appreciating and preserving the resources of our precious planet are high on my priority list.  I've met a number of like-minded people here on Maui who are living off the grid by producing their own solar and wind power to run the appliances and household electronics.  I highly advocate this and other practices that promote keeping the planet green and healthy on my blog.  I decided it was time to practice what I preach so I started researching renewable energy solutions for the home. 

I was fortunate enough to come across a workable, at-home solution in which I can use Renewable energy sources and contribute to saving the planet in my own small way.  I'd like to share this idea with you.

What is renewable energy? Renewable energy solutions refer to those energy solutions that can keep churning energy without exhausting the earth's resources. Three types of energy solutions fall into the category of renewable energy: solar energy-, hydro energy-, and wind energy-solutions. With Non-renewable sources quickly becoming exhausted, it is important that we reduce our dependency on non-renewable sources of energy.

In a conversation with a close friend the other day, he mentioned that the technology is available for our communities to be completely supported with renewable energy sources, citing that in 1969 we put a man on the moon with only the technology available then...look how far we've come! Well, I agree, the powers that be could certainly utilize renewable energy sources, give us plenty of power and save the planet, but politics are too important, pockets are too deep and it's easier to keep the little man under their thumbs. Well, not for me any more. I have found out that the technology for me--AND YOU--to become energy independent from those sources is at your fingertips--literally!!

Solar energy solutions: The sun's energy is the most abundant energy available on earth. Let's make use of this free energy ourselves. You can employ solar power solutions at home. Build your own solar panels for the home. This will not only cut down power bills but also help you contribute to a greener world.

Solar energy systems have many advantages apart from being cost-effective and environment-friendly. They are low on maintenance thus saving you time and effort. Also, solar systems give you a return on investment by saving you money on your power bill, thus making the systems free after a short time.  I love things that pay for themselves and then, start paying you back for being concientious and resourceful!!

Ihave been looking at options such as solar and wind power to cut expenses and until recently have been pretty frustrated with the limited options available. I decided to concentrate on building a solar power system for my home, as I live on Maui and we get a lot of sunshine!  After a few minutes of research, I discovered that there are definitely resources for DIY or doing it yourself. 

I am now actually constructing solar panels for my home to use an alternative form of energy to cut down, or eliminate electric bills while helping to curb global warming. This is a resource that we all can take advantage of, no matter where you live.

You too can build your own alternative energy source in your own garage in a weekend for UNDER $200 and see significant savings in the very first electric bill. ]]></description>
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<title>Sunburned?! All Natural Relief That Helps Keep Skin From Peeling, Too!</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Health/Alternative_Medicine/sunburned-all-natural-relief-that-helps-keep-skin-from-peeling-too.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Health/Alternative_Medicine/sunburned-all-natural-relief-that-helps-keep-skin-from-peeling-too.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ No matter how diligently you apply sunscreen when you remember to, there are times when you don't do it often enough or forget to bring it or miss a spot or two. The resulting sunburn can be painful,embarrassing and in the worst case scenarios can make you or someone you love miss precious vacation days and fun! 

And if your kids are burned that compounds the misery because you suffer along with them even if you're not the one affected.  You'll want to find the fastest most effective relief available, for you and your family, true?!

Living on Maui, I see victims of improper (or lack of) sunscreen use practically every day and I want to stop each and every one of them and enlighten them about what they can do to: relieve the pain, make the red turn brown and keep from peeling.  You read that right!  They don't believe me when I tell them either, but I've had the advantage of having the solution at hand and have proven that it works time after time.

Remember: when your skin is burned, continuing to go out into the sun before it is healed without proper protection will only make the situation worse and you or your child will burn MORE.  Here's how to heal sunburn, the fastest way I've found.

When you see red skin or sunburn, the first thing needed is moisture...at the cellular level! It is through moisture that skin cells acquire the ability to reproduce and repair themselves.  

Most people just want to apply aloe and Aloe Gel straight from the plant is a great skin healer. But on its own, aloe is astringent.  And most of the time we don't have a plant that we can freely hack at accessible.  

Many will opt for the green or blue aloe gels available in local drug stores. Here you still have the disadvantage of the astringent and drying nature of the aloe itself along with the fact that most of these aloe products purchased over-the-counter contain alcohol. The alcohol will further dry the skin, inhibiting its healing abilities. Additionally, they are usually made from an inferior form of the aloe plant, not the healing extract. 

The fastest and most effective relief for a severe sunburn is combination of two Absolutely Natural products: Aloe & Tea Tree Recovery Gel AND Rosehip & Aloe Lotion.

When you go in from the sun, put the products on ice or in the refrigerator, have the sunburned victim take a warm shower - not so hot it hurts, just warm enough to open the pores.  WITHIN 5 MINUTES, apply the Rosehip Lotion liberally to get moisture to the cells and start the healing process.  

Then, also liberally, apply the Aloe and Tea Tree Gel.  Aloe Vera and Tea Tree Oil are amazing skin healers and work quickly and effectively. This is a gel, so when it dries it will feel tight and flaky - just wipe the flakes away and re-apply the Rosehip Lotion.  A couple of hours later, repeat the process - you don't have to re-shower - and if you're still up for a while, then apply the Lotion once again before you go to bed.  The more moisture supplied to the skin cells, the faster the skin will heal - and you'll all be able to go back out in the sun and have FUN!

For just a little pink, the Rosehip Lotion alone will give fast relief from the discomfort, start the skin cells to healing themselves right away and you'll see results as soon as the next morning. Once your skin is healed, you can tan.

I actually had occasion to "save a vacation" this last week.  A friend of mine and her daughter, visiting Maui from Nebraska to celebrate the daughter's thirteenth birthday and entry into teenager-dom, went to Ka'anapali Beach and didn't use any sunscreen.  She explained that she'd been to another beach a couple of days before, late in the day on fairly cloudy days & they hadn't used any then, but this was a bright, sunny day and we played on the sand, in the water and snorkeled for about 3 hours.  

She's always been a very organized person, so I just assumed that she had put her sunscreen on and was sure she made her daughter do so.  Not the case. They FRIED! They were so red, they were practically glowing and in a lot of pain!  So, I took them home, provided mom with bottles of Aloe and Tea Tree Gel and Rosehip Lotion and the instructions above.  (Additionally, ibuprophen will help with the pain so that you can sleep.) 

The next day, they weren't glowing any more but still a little pink, so they opted to stay out of the sun altogether. (Not a winning proposition for the new teenager!) However, they both exclaimed that the pain was gone and raved at how good it felt to put the lotion on their skin, especially when it was chilled. She continued to apply the lotion periodically during the day to both herself and her daughter.  On day two after the burn, the pink was entirely gone, they looked tan and healthy and felt great. They applied Absolutely Natural SPF 25 and were able to head out to the beach to surf. Sometimes I'm even surprised at how fast it heals your skin! 

Then there's the added bonus of making a teenager a lot less miserable.  We all know how they can get and when you compound that with a sunburn and instructions to stay out of the sun because of it...well, you get the picture.  I was a hero to both of them, and they had lots more fun on their vacation.

I've used Absolutely Natural products on myself and my family for years and will continue to do so!  They are the best! So, remember what Aunty Connie says: apply sunscreen often, properly and liberally...and if you don't and you get a sunburn, there is a solution. ]]></description>
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<title>Sunscreen Facts - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You and Your Children</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Beauty/Fashion/cosmetics/sunscreen-facts-what-you-don-t-know-can-hurt-you-and-your-children.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Beauty/Fashion/cosmetics/sunscreen-facts-what-you-don-t-know-can-hurt-you-and-your-children.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ News reports are abundant concerning a recent study conducted on the sunscreen industry.  The Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based nonprofit, has released an investigation of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreens that says that "Only 15% met the panel's criteria for safety and effectiveness", and "that 4 out of 5 don't adequately protect consumers and may contain ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards."  The report  continues:  "Some of the products of the nation's leading brands are the worst offenders."

Coppertone was named by the Environmental Working Group as having 41 products that failed to meet the group's criteria for safety and effectiveness for issues ranging from failing to protect adequately to containing potentially harmful ingredients to making unsubstantiated claims.  Only 1 of 103 products from Banana Boat and Neutrogena -- the second- and third-largest manufacturers is recommended by EWG.

EWG is asking these questions for consumers and pushing the FDA to finalize comprehensive sunscreen safety standards it bagan drafting 30 years ago:

 -	Does it adequately protect from the damaging rays of the sun? Skin cancers are the fastest growing type of cancer in the United States. Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. More than 1 million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008. Overexposure to UV-radiation can cause skin cancer. UVA & UVB have both been implicated in causing DNA damage resulting in cancer.

EWG's study revealed that 7 percent of high SPF sunscreens (SPF of at least 30) protect only from sunburn (UVB radiation), and do not contain ingredient combinations known to protect from UVA, the sun rays linked to skin damage and aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer. FDA does not require that sunscreens guard against UVA radiation. So, apparently, most of them don't. 

 - 	Does it include potentially harmful ingredients?  
One example: Oxybenzone is a a popular chemical UV filter in many sunscreens. The Environmental Working Group says its analysis of hundreds of studies of more than a dozen sunscreen chemicals finds that oxybenzone can penetrate the skin and pose health concerns, anything from hormone disruption to cancer.  Over 500 of the sunscreens studied contain Oxybenzone. Of  the name-brand sunscreens investigated, over 700 are on the "caution" list for containing potentially hazardous ingredients.

EWG recommends looking for sunscreens containing physical blockers,such as  titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as a safer alternative.  

 -	Does the sunscreen break down in the sun?
Many sunscreen ingredients break down in the sun, some in a matter of minutes, and then let UV radiation through to the skin. EWG's analyses show that 48% of products on the market contain ingredients that may be unstable alone or in combination, raising questions about whether these products last as long as the label says. FDA has not proposed requirements for sunscreen stability. 

 -	Does the product do what it claims on the label? 
COMMON MISLEADING CLAIMS 
o	Broad-spectrum protection 
o	All day protection 
o	Waterproof 
o	Chemical-free 

Many products on the market bear claims that are considered "unacceptable" or misleading under FDA's draft sunscreen safety standards. Claims like "all day protection," "mild as water," and "blocks all harmful rays" are not true, yet are found on bottles. Until the FDA sets an effective date for these standards, the industry is free to use hyped claims. Because of the lack of regulation, companies are free to make their own decisions on everything from advertising claims to product quality. Companies' decisions to inflate claims has spurred class action lawsuits in California. 

~ ~THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!~ ~

While the FDA has not regulated the industry adequately, fortunately, there is a sunscreen manufacturer that truly holds the welfare of the consumers and the integrity of their product in high regard.  They use all natural, effective sunscreen ingredients that have been proven to be safe, they don't test on animals, they insure that their manufacturing plant performs without chemical runoff, and at the same time, they provide a line of skincare and suncare products that is truly effective and aesthetically pleasing.  Their products do what they claim on their labels, they don't make  misleading claims. 

There ARE moisturizers and sunscreens produced from all natural ingredients that adequately protect from the sun with active ingredients that are not considered health hazards and inactive ingredients that are actually beneficial to your skin's health.  One manufacturer specifically has been providing these since 1992 and has marketed exclusively to resorts in tropical locations around the world.  These products are now available online. ]]></description>
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<title>Do You Backup All of the Digital Pictures You Keep On Your Computer?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Hobbies/Photography/do-you-backup-all-of-the-digital-pictures-you-keep-on-your-computer.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Hobbies/Photography/do-you-backup-all-of-the-digital-pictures-you-keep-on-your-computer.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ I met a young man last April who came to Maui for the summer and ended up extending his break for another semester.  He was having a great time, exploring the island, sailing, snorkeling and scuba diving, hiking in the crater of Haleakala, our dormant volcano, camping and hiking in the rainforests of Hana, and of course, enjoying the beach and the spectacular Pacific sunsets.  To top it off, he lived in a house with 4 house-mates from his school that was right on the ocean side of Front Street in Lahaina.  Needless to say, this is a popular place for barbecues, beach volleyball and parties!

He had an "awesome" digital camera and recorded all of his adventures in pictures, which he stored on his state-of-the-art laptop computer.  He had literally hundreds of pictures and videos of beautiful sunsets, friends enjoying good times, spectacular pools and waterfalls, you know, just all of the great things that a vacation on one of the most beautiful places in the world has to offer.

Near the end of his 8 months here on the island, after a party that went well into the early hours of the morning, he woke to discover that his laptop had been stolen from his living room.  He was really ticked about the violation of his personal space, and aggravated by the loss of his personal property. 

But, he was ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED from the loss of ALL of his photographs and videos of his stay on the island. You see, he had no backup system, be it flash card, CD, DVD, whatever.  He didn't have them stored anywhere else but on his computer.  They were all just GONE in an instant.  

That got me to thinking about how I'd feel if I lost all of my photos: family, my son at the various stages between 0 and 20 years of age, places I've traveled on and off of Maui, before-and-after home project photos, etc.  I realized that I should back up my photos, at least, not to mention all the other valuable information I keep on my computer.  

I looked into some of the methods out there, and discovered online digital backup.  There are many advantages to this method because it will protect you against loss whether it's human, as in error, stupidity, laziness or crime.  But, in addition, there are forces of nature that can threaten the security of your computer documents.  Storms, causing flooding and power outages, electric company blunders or problems that cause power surges, earthquakes and ...I'm sure you get the idea. Another thing is that these natural disasters can threaten even backup media if they're stored in the same vicinity as your computer. ]]></description>
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<title>Is Your Critical Business Information Protected with Remote Data Backup?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Computers/Data_Recovery/is-your-critical-business-information-protected-with-remote-data-backup.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Computers/Data_Recovery/is-your-critical-business-information-protected-with-remote-data-backup.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ How would your business be affected if there was a fire or flood that completely wiped out your computer system?  How long would it take you to recover?  Data backup and specifically, remote or online data backup is ABSOLUTELY something that the smart business owner (small or large) should consider and implement.

All of the important information on your computer like financial documents, email, digital photos, music and more; for businesses: customer files, accounting programs and files, contact & direct mail lists, sales tracking, photos, product information, etc. that would be missed or (more likely) devastating if not accessible should be backed up or saved somewhere other than your hard drive or even local backup systems such as CD, DVED, flash or tape drives or USB. Offsite or remote data back up is imperative to consider if you value your computer's information.  

Your data can be lost in a variety of ways and for different reasons. Power spikes are capable of leading to data loss, especially for computer systems without surge protectors or voltage regulators. Unfortunately, computers are vulnerable to hard drive crashes, virus attacks, theft and natural disasters, which can erase everything in an instant. All of us are possible victims of accidental file deletions or disk reformatting. Not to mention physical hazards like flood, fire or other natural (or unnatural) disaster.  Virus or malware attacks can lead to lost files and information for unlucky computer users. Human error or sabotage can seriously damage or destroy files and even backups. 

A recent article on AOL News cites a Florida woman, afraid of losing her job, deleting $2.5 million worth of company files from the architectural firm where she worked. "She obviously wasn't quite right in the head when doing this, but we're inclined to think that the owner of the business isn't all there either. Despite estimating the worth of the company's files at $2.5 million, the architecture firm had no backup systems in place. That's a recipe for disaster regardless of the sanity of your employees. Even the local Sheriff's office knows better than that, issuing the following statement: The lesson to be learned here is that you can't depend on having just one set of records or files and having your employees have access to them. You've got to have some kind of backup. Thankfully the files were able to be recovered, but backups of important files are not something you should take lightly." 

Statistics show that one out of ten hard drives fail each year. Another widely published statistic from the U.S. National Archives & Records Administration in Washington states that 50% of businesses that lose their critical data for 10 days or more file for bankruptcy. 

Backing up your data is essential and easy to implement, regardless of what kind of computing you do. These days, most people backup their important information on CDs, DVDs, external hard drivers, and flash drives so they can quickly retrieve the second copy if ever needed. However, what they fail to realize is these second copies are just as vulnerable and susceptible to damage as the first copy, especially if they are stored in near vicinity of each other. Using a backup method such as CD-ROM or external hard drive defeats the purpose if it is not kept in a completely remote, different area. Fire, theft, flood, and natural disasters are still viable threats.  

Online data storage is a very good alternative. There are other benefits to automated remote data back up services.  Automatic backups save at least 10 minutes a day over manual backups. You or your employee spending that time running backups at $20 an hour, translates into about $67 a month in savings. Manual backup media, as discussed, is notoriously failure-prone and vulnerable to environmental damage (heat, sunlight, humidity, liquids, dust) and human mishandling (scratched, bent and dropped, lost or stolen). Security of your critical data when backed up with an online and off-site data backup service can be verified as far superior to manual backup media. It even protects you from theft.  If your laptop is stolen,(which happens frequently) you'll still have all the data. ]]></description>
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