Used Solar Panels

Used solar panels can be a great bargain for property owners who are interested in adding a low cost means of generating green electricity for their home.

Although used solar cells can be a wise choice, they also come with many disadvantages. These disadvantages mainly relate to the uncertainty of how long the solar cells will last (due to their age).

Estimating the lifetime of a solar cell can be a complicated task. This is mainly down to the fact that some of the earlier solar products are still in use today. Some cells outlive their stated lifetime range (which is usually around 30 years), and as new solar technologies are brought to the marketplace, who knows how long these products will last.

Older cells generally take up more space per wattage than modern day solar cells. This can be an issue for home owners who want low cost second hand solar panels, but don't have a great deal of space to accommodate their desired capacity.

If you purchase used panels, then you also run the risk of purchasing damaged panels. Try to avoid second hand solar panels which are; cracked, scratched, appear to have condensation under the surface, or have brittle/loose connections. Although these problems can be fixed, a good quality used solar cell should give you less of a headache.

There is no doubt that used solar panels have the potential to save a significant amount of money for the financing of a renewable energy project, however, the above disadvantages of used cells should be taken into account.

Depending on your location, a solar electricity installation may not be economically viable due to the climate and surroundings. Solar cells are generally less efficient in hot climate countries (as heat degrades the performance of solar cells), polluted areas (such as cities), and in areas where there is a low average of daylight hours.

DIY Solar panels

shopping mall centers

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Hilarious, cheapie black comedy from 1960 that may be the best film by B-picture master Roger Corman, other than Bucket of Blood, made about the same time with the same writer, Charles Griffith. Seymour (Jonathan Haze) is an assistant in a skid-row flower shop who's on the point of losing his job when the unusual plant he's developed turns the store into a major attraction. The only problem is that the plant needs human blood to live, all the while crying, "Feed me! FEED ME!" Luckily, Seymour causes a series of inadvertent deaths that more than make up for the food shortage. Jack Nicholson provides a comic sidebar as a nutjob masochist visiting a dentist's office. Giggling and wild-eyed from the same impulse that might lead others to read scandal sheets, he can be seen in the dentist's waiting room reading aloud from Pain magazine. Famous for having the shortest shooting schedule on record (two days and a night), The Little Shop of Horrors spawned an off-Broadway musical that was in turn made into a successful film in 1986, starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. It was in just this quick-shoot atmosphere that Corman nurtured the careers of many of America's most celebrated film directors; this little shop of honors included Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, Martin Scorsese, and Jonathan Demme. The DVD has optional Japanese subtitles, very generous bios of the stars and filmmakers, and a clean, crisp transfer.

The owner of a man-eating plant tries to curb its appetite in this delicious musical comedy. Levi stubbs is the singing voice of audrey 2 the plant. Special features: two original theatrical trailer and two tv spots subtitles in english french and spanish production notes and much more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Starring: Rick Moranis Ellen Greene Run time: 94 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Frank Oz

The Shop on Blossom Street

A Seattle knitting store brings together four very different women in this earnest tale about friendship and love. Lydia Hoffman, a two-time cancer survivor, opens the shop A Good Yarn as a symbol of the new life she plans to lead. She starts a weekly knitting class, hoping to improve business and make friends in the area. The initial class project is a baby blanket, and Macomber (Changing Habits), a knitter herself who offers tips about the craft and pithy observations from knitting professionals throughout the novel, includes the knitting pattern at the start of the book. Well-heeled Jacqueline Donovan, who chooses to ignore her empty marriage, disguises her disdain for her pregnant daughter-in-law by knitting a baby blanket. Carol Girard joins the group as an affirmation of her hopes to finally have a successful in vitro pregnancy. Alix Townsend, a high school dropout with an absentee father and a mother incarcerated for forging checks, uses the class to satisfy a court-ordered community service sentence for a drug-possession conviction for which her roommate is really responsible. Unfortunately, Macomber doesn't get much below the surface of her characters, and, although they all have interesting back stories, the arc of each individual happy ending is too predictable. The only surprise involves Alix's hapless, overweight roommate, Laurel, and even this smacks of plot-driven manipulation. Macomber is an adept storyteller overall, however, and many will be entertained by this well-paced story about four women finding happiness and fulfillment through their growing friendships.

shopping mall centers

Tricks to teach your kitten

So you think that you can't train your kitten, huh? Perhaps you've heard somewhere that cats can't be taught tricks because of their independent nature, or maybe you've just never heard of anyone teaching cats to do tricks. Well, most cats can learn various tricks, though a debate sometimes rages as to whether the owners are training the cats, or the cats are training the owners.

As with any animal, it's best to start training cats when they're still kittens; they're more likely to pick up on the training if it occurs before they've grown set in their ways. Below are a few simple tricks that you can attempt to teach your kitten. Be warned, however, that some cats don't take to training well, and it may take considerably longer to teach a cat things that a dog might learn in an afternoon.

Name: Teach your cat to recognize its name by calling out the name at feeding time and whenever you give it a treat. Try to choose a name that's different from anyone in the household to help prevent confusion. In time, the cat will come to you (or at least show interest) whenever it hears the name.

Leash/Collar: Much like a dog, a cat can be trained to use a collar and leash. Put the collar on it for increasingly longer periods, gradually letting it get used to the idea of wearing the collar. Once it's used to the collar, begin the same treatment with the leash, letting the cat get used to the limitations of the leash. You'll soon be able to take the cat out for a walk on the leash (likely to the amusement and amazement of your neighbors).

Sit: Give the "Sit" command at feeding time, moving the cat's food dish over its head. This will often cause the cat to sit down while watching the dish in anticipation of the food (you can also do this with a cat treat.) If the cat doesn't sit, press gently on its rump to push it into the sitting position. In time, the cat will associate the command with eating, and will sit down as it's become used to doing.

Come: Give the "Come" command while offering a treat or favorite toy. When the cat comes to receive the treat, pet it and give the treat. The cat will learn to associate the command with the treat, and will come when you call.

Fetch: A slightly more difficult trick, this plays off of the inclination that most cats have toward chasing objects. Give the command of "Fetch" and throw a ball or toy; the cat will likely chase after it. Once the cat has caught whatever you have thrown, "exchange" item for a treat. Once the cat has gotten used to this exchange, stay a bit farther away from the cat and offer the treat; if the cat drops the item, offer it the item, and then exchange the item for the treat. Eventually, the cat will figure out how the exchange works and that it has to bring you the item to get the treat.

Of course, you'll have to continue to treat the cats for performing any of these tricks periodically. Otherwise, they'll realize that there's no benefit and simply refuse to perform. Should you see a lack of progress, don't get frustrated; cats can be hard to train. Just stick with it.

Pet Store

Hotels in Phuket

Located in Southern Thailand, Phuket is the largest island and one of the popular tourist destinations in the country. Often termed as 'Pearl of the South,' Phuket is known for its beautiful hills, white sandy beaches, world-class diving sites, lush tropical forests, and of course for its cosmopolitan culture that has provided the city a flavor of its own. Tourists in Phuket can enjoy some amazing scenery, beautiful sunsets and warm blue sea, or indulge in a variety of exciting activities like scuba diving, yachting, water-skiing, windsurfing, jet-skiing. Other attractions in and around the city include Phuket Aquarium, Bang Tao Beach, Karon Beach, Surin Beach, Patong Beach, Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, Phi Phi Island, Racha Islands and the Similan Islands. Phuket also boasts a wide range of hotels and resorts, restaurants, pubs and bars, nightclubs, shopping malls, golf courses and other entertainment options to make your visit a wonderful experience.

There is no dearth of accommodation options in Phuket, ranging from luxury hotels to island villas to beach resorts to innumerable budget hotels, lodges and apartments. With several types of hotels available in Phuket, you will have a tough time making the right choice for accommodation here. AsiaRooms, with its extensive online database on hotels in Thailand, offers discounted rates for a wide range of hotels in Phuket to suit your taste and budget. Our online hotel booking is fast, safe and secure trusted by thousands of travelers from across the world. Look no further. Get best deals on Phuket hotels, Bangkok hotels , Pattaya hotels , Krabi hotels and Koh Samui hotels with AsiaRooms.

Hotels in Phuket

Our Phuket accommodation is the perfect base for enjoying all the island has to offer: from beautiful beaches to limestone cliffs; from cultural sites to wildlife attractions; from popular tourist spots to deserted beaches. The island of Phuket is located off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean. The island is connected to Phang-nga Province, on the mainland, by two bridges and has an international airport. Our Phuket accommodation makes a great base to visit the Phuket Zoo, which features daily elephant and crocodile shows and a collection of Asian and African mammals and birds.

Stay in our Patong Beach accommodation if vibrant nightlife is what you want while on your beach holiday. The crescent bay of Patong also offers numerous daytime activities, including sailing, windsurfing, and snorkelling. While staying at our Patong accommodation, check out the night time cultural park of Phuket Fantasea. The park has won several tourism awards and features traditional games and handicraft demonstrations, a cultural parade and an illusion stage show. However, if golf is your passion, check out the Laguna Complex golf course, easily accessible from our Bangtoa accommodation.

If you are looking for an upmarket Thai beach holiday, stay in our Suirin accommodation or one of our Karon Beach hotels. These destinations have gorgeous white sand beaches and wide variety of restaurants and bars. If a deserted beach is more your thing, our Mai Khoa hotels are perfect. Although the wet season brings strong currents which can be dangerous for swimmers, it is a great destination for wildlife lovers, as the beach is where the sea turtles come to lay eggs. Another great attraction for wildlife lovers is the Marine Biological Research Centre and Phuket's Aquarium, easily accessible from our Panwa accommodation. If you are looking for a family beach holiday, stay at one on of our Kata hotels, this beautiful beach has picturesque off shore islands and its northern and southern ends retain a village feel.

luxury phuket hotels

Samsung LN46A550 LCD HDTV

Full HD 1080P

Full HD, or 1080p, contains 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. The new Samsung LCD TV with resolution that is approximately 2 times greater than conventional HDTVs, creating the most perfect picture imaginable.

Samsung’s 1080p panel uses a new high-speed liquid crystal to cut response time to 4ms. The fast response time, coupled with Samsung’s Auto Motion Plus 120Hz motion blur reduction technology dramatically reduces motion blur and judder.

30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio/500 nit Brightness

30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio will give you a picture better than you ever thought possible, with whiter whites, blacker blacks and a nearly infinite subtlety of gradations in between. As two of the most important determining factors in overall picture quality, contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this latest generation LCD panel. Samsung’s new LCD TV’s give the most stunning realistic picture quality ever.

Digital Natural Image Engine

DNIe The Samsung Digital Natural Image engine. This exclusive Samsung technology dramatically improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, white balance and reduces.

Wide Color Enhancer/Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp

The NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) has established the color standards all TVs in America try to meet. And typical LCD TVs only meet about 72% of this standard. Samsung LCD HDTVs use Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp back lights to give you 92% coverage of the NTSC standard, ensuring truer, more breathlessly vivid colors.

Samsung’s exclusive Wide Color Enhancer technology delivers more brilliant colors, even in bright areas of the picture where blues and greens are washed out on conventional screens. The system displays wider color reproduction, showing you truer colors – the fresh green of spring foliage, the intense blue of the summer sky.

Connectivity

To make the Series 6 a true entertainment hub for any home, Samsung has incorporated advanced HD connectivity and networking capabilities that expand the HDTV’s functionality. A wide variety of multimedia devices can be connected to the set through any one of the four Simplay compliant HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the side), and the handy HDMI-CEC feature lets you control all your CEC-enabled peripherals using just one remote.

Connect HD digital devices like disc players, game consoles, and satellite dish components into the 2 rear connections and use the side-mounted input for cameras, camcorders, and laptops. HDMI is the best performing interface for displaying an HD source on an HDTV.

Once connected, users can easily access device menus and manage and display content through the newly redesigned Wheel Key Remote control and the HDTV’s sophisticated content management interface.

All Connection

• 3 HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) version 1.3: (2 rear/1 side)
• Component video: 2 rear (Y, Pb, Pr)
• Composite inputs: 1 rear (shared with component) / 1 side
• S-Video: 1 side
• PC input: 1 rear
• Wiselink (USB 2.0)
• RF antenna inputs
• Headphone jack: side

Super Patterned Vertical Alignment

Samsung’s Super Patterned Vertical Alignment (SPVA) panel provides a 178-degree viewing angle from all four axes

Audio Features

TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two-speaker playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. It is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels. High-quality virtual surround sound can be experienced with just the two hidden, downward-firing side-mounted 2.2-channel dome speakers built into the TV.

SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers an amazing, simulated 3D effect with clear dialog and powerful bass.

TruSurround XT audio also adds three audio enhancement technologies to produce an amazingly immersive sound experience.

• Dialog Clarity brings movie dialog into Focus during the playback of any surround-encoded material to make speech much clearer and crisper.
• TruBass creates incredible deep rich bass allowing a person to perceive significantly deeper, richer low bass tones that are far beyond the physical low frequency capabilities of the speaker itself.
• The SRS WOW feature widens the sound stage by processing standard two-channel stereo material as well as multi-channel encoded material for a dramatic improvement in the playback of any stereo audio over a two-speaker system.

Stereo broadcast reception is offered for MTS and SAP with 181-channel capacity. A sound leveler keeps audio volume consistent during channel changing.

Best HDTV

Why Should You Use a DIY Solar Panel

There has been a lot of fuss about solar panels, although people want to implement them in order to save on their energy bill, they’re put off because of the costs needed to install such a device. And I don’t blame them, it would take more than a year in most cases to bring back their investment made on a solar panel.

What they don’t know and what most of the companies that construct solar panels don’t want you to know, is that you can construct your own DIY Solar Panel from the courtesy of your home, for possibly less than 200$, if you manage to find cheap enough material, you can construct it even for 100$, and you are going to get a DIY Solar Panel with solid quality which has a real power for collecting solar energy. The picture below presents a constructed DIY Panel

A DIY Solar Panel VS A Pre-made Solar Panel

If you were to buy a pre-made solar panel and had someone to install it in your home for you.. you would’ve spent thousands of dollars for it. While on the other side, you can literally construct your own DIY Solar Panel for a tenth of those costs. One of the main advantages with the DIY panel is that it is much cheaper.

In order to construct your own DIY Solar Panel, you don’t have to be an engineer, anyone can do it, even a complete novice. It is a really good investment considering that you can bring back your investment in less than month with the savings you are going to have on your power bill. The Earth For Energy website has detailed step-by-step information on how to create your own DIY Solar Panel, and I suggest you to take a look.

Free Solar Panels

Some countries have expressed interest in the possibility of been able to provide hundreds of homes in certain areas with solar electricity through the placement of free solar panels on each home.

These plans may seem like a waste of time to many people as it is every home that needs a solar panel if the aim is to help the environment and the fight against climate change.

If we want to save the environment from the possible future effects of global warming, more and more homes need to be fitted with these complimentary solar panels.

A solar panel on the roof of every home would be a great leap forward for reducing energy consumption from fossil fuel sources.

A working example of the free solar panel system can be found in Northern Ireland, where the government is installing solar panels for free to around 500 homes during 2007, in an attempt to cut water heating bills by as much as £100 a year.

This will also help the environment, reducing the strain on dirty industry power stations, although only slightly.

You do not have to wait for the government to decide when or if they will provide you with a complimentary solar panel, as there are many low priced, efficient solar electricity or hot water panels available today.

For more information on solar electricity and hot water cells, visit our solar panels page.

Solar panels work very well alongside home wind turbines, given the right climate and weather patterns, or even with geothermal heating systems.

You can greatly improve your chances of reducing your electricity bill through the use of solar technologies and other renewable energy technologies, you just have to decide on the right option to make the most of your geographical location.

If you are to undergo a large renewable energy development incorporating either; solar panels, wind turbines or geothermal system installation, then it is worth checking with your local council to see if there are any government grants available that could help with the financing of renewable energy projects.

DIY Solar Panels

Travel in Thailand

One of the world's most popular cuisines.  Beautiful beaches and islands.  Friendly, charming people.  Warm weather all year round.  Cheap prices for most things.  Colourful, enchanting temples.  An exotic culture preserved through the ages in a country that has never been colonised.  Where are we talking about?  Thailand, of course!

Located in the heart of Asia, Thailand has been captivating foreign visitors for decades.  Previous visitors return year after year and as the word spreads, first-time visitors come flooding in.  The number of foreign visitors to Thailand continues to increase and year after year, records are broken as international visitors flock to this fascinating country.

Arguably the most exotic destination in South East Asia, Thailand offers travellers and holidaymakers a huge range of vacation possibilities.  It doesn't matter whether you're a budget traveller wanting to explore a foreign land on a tight budget, or a well-heeled traveller who wants to be pampered and experience the very best, Thailand has something for you.

But despite such huge numbers of international tourists, no mean feat given its location such a long way by air from the West, Thailand has not been unduly damaged by the ravages of mass tourism.  It is still quite possible to find a pristine stretch of beautiful white sand beach that you can have all to yourself.  Lazing away the days on a hammock under a palm tree on a mile long beach, without anyone else in sight, swaying in the breeze under a cloudless sky as the waves gently break against the soft white sand....is an experience that can still be had.  Welcome to Thailand!

There is a huge amount of information about travelling and holidaying in Thailand already available - both on the internet and in print.  In my usual, no nonsense, BS free style, I have tried to create a worthwhile.  As always with my online writings about Thailand, I try and get beyond some of the lies, and misconceptions that are out there.

This page should not be seen as any sort of alternative to the excellent Lonely Planet book as I could never hope to compete with that book while running a non-commercial website.  Further, the coverage of a limited number of destinations on this site reflects my experiences in only the places that I have been to and had enough time in to develop a bit of a feel for it.  There are plenty of places that I have never been to that are therefore not covered and other places that I have visited but have not mentioned as I consider that I wasn't there long enough to develop a real feel for the place and therefore cannot offer any wisdom.

While I hope to provide some useful information, if you are planning a holiday to Thailand, you should consider picking up the excellent Lonely Planet Guide To Thailand.  Like all publications, it is not without its faults, but in my opinion it's still  the best guide book for preparing yourself for Thailand.

A lot of other information about travelling in Thailand can also be found in the extensive Working & Living in Bangkok section.  Although that section was originally written as a guide anyone looking at relocating to Bangkok, it also includes much information about food, transport, people, problems and the police that are relevant right throughout the Kingdom.  There is a lot of overlap so it may be worth skimming over too.

This page could largely be separated into two separate sections.  The first part gives general information about travelling in Thailand while the second part goes into detail about some of the places to visit and some of my feelings about them and experiences there.  If you do not want to read through the entire page, select the section that interests you here.

thailand travel

Yamaha YAS-82ZS Professional Alto Saxophone Silver

Combines the quick action of the 62 and the warm tone color of the original Custom.

The YAS-82ZS Professional Alto Saxophone features a 2-piece hydro-formed bell. The body, bell, and bow are annealed during production to make this horn more responsive and freer blowing. The new mechanisms on the 82Z allow for faster action and easier repair. Comes with blue steel springs for faster, more sensitive key response and higher resiliency. Eye-catching engraving gives you the look of a custom horn.

Key of Eb. Front F and high F# key, annealed French brass body, French brass neck, 2-piece annealed French brass bell, yellow brass keys, mother-of-pearl key buttons. Silver finish. Includes 4CM mouthpiece, neckstrap, gold-lacquered ligature, gold-lacquered mouthpiece cap, cork grease, and a lightweight case with a shoulder strap.

Yamaha YAS-82ZS Professional Alto Saxophone Silver Specifications:

• Level: Custom Z
• Key: Eb
• Neck: Custom G1
• Neck Material: French Brass
• Body Material: French Brass (annealed)
• Bell: French Brass (annealed); Two-piece
• Key Material: Yellow Brass
• Key Buttons: Mother of pearl
• Tone Holes: Drawn
• Auxiliary Keys: Front F; High F# key
• Mouthpiece: Yamaha 4CM
• Mouthpiece Cap: Yellow brass; Gold lacquer (YAS-82Z/ZB);
• Silver-plated (YAS-82ZS)
• Ligature: Yellow brass; Gold lacquer (YAS-82Z/ZB);
• Silver-plated (YAS-82ZS)
• Spring Type: Blue steel needle
• Pad Type: Waterproof leather and wool felt with plastic tone boosters
• Bell Decoration: Hand engraved
• Thumb Hook: Adjustable plastic
• Pivot Screw: Bullet tip design with head
• Mounting: Ribbed and flanged

Yamaha YAS-82ZS Professional Alto Saxophone Silver Features:

• Bell Material: Yellow Brass
• Body Construction: Full ribs
• Body Finish: Silver plated
• Body Material: Yellow Brass
• High Range: F#
• Key Finish: Silver plated
• Low Range: Bb
• Neck Material: Yellow Brass
• Type: Eb Alto

Alto Saxophones