Ο Υπουργός Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών κ. Γιώργος Αλογοσκούφης στις 3 Σεπτεμβρίου συναντήθηκε με τον Υπουργό Μεταφορών και Επικοινωνιών κ. Κωστή Χατζηδάκη. Παρόντες στη συνάντηση ήταν και ο Γενικός Γραμματέας Επικοινωνιών κ. Γιώργος Αναστασόπουλος, ο Ειδικός Γραμματέας Ψηφιακού Σχεδιασμού κ. Βασίλης Ασημακόπουλος καθώς και ο Ειδικός Γραμματέας ΣΔΙΤ κ. Λεωνίδας Κορρές. Μετά τη συνάντηση, οι κ. Αλογοσκούφης και Χατζηδάκης σε κοινή συνέντευξη τύπου που παραχώρησαν, ανακοίνωσαν επένδυση 2,1 δισεκατομμυρίων ευρώ για την κατασκευή δικτύου οπτικών ινών.

Το έργο θα ολοκληρωθεί σε επτά χρόνια και θα επιτρέψει την ανάπτυξη υπηρεσιών υψηλού bandwidth όπως υψηλής πιστότητας εικόνας τηλεοπτικά κανάλια (High Definition), ταχύτερες συνδέσεις στο internet κ.α

Αναλυτικά μπορείτε να διαβάσετε τις σχετικές δηλώσεις όπως δημοσιεύτηκαν από την ηλεκτρονική σελίδα του Υπουργείου Οικονομικών.

Μετά τη συνάντηση, οι κ. Αλογοσκούφης και Χατζηδάκης έκαναν τις ακόλουθες δηλώσεις:

Γ. ΑΛΟΓΟΣΚΟΥΦΗΣ: "Τα τελευταία τεσσεράμισι χρόνια η Ελλάδα έχει καλύψει πολύ μεγάλο δρόμο στα θέματα των ψηφιακών τεχνολογιών. Βασικός μοχλός σε αυτή μας την προσπάθεια ήταν η Ψηφιακή Στρατηγική που έχουμε θέσει σε εφαρμογή από το 2006. Όπως θυμάστε, όταν την παρουσιάζαμε στο Υπουργείο Οικονομίας και Οικονομικών, δεν μιλήσαμε μόνο για ένα σχέδιο. Κάναμε σαφή αναφορά και σε δράσεις και σε στόχους. Οι στόχοι αυτοί είναι σήμερα πραγματικότητα. Αναφερόμασταν τότε σε δεκάδες νέες ψηφιακές υπηρεσίες σε κεντρικές υπηρεσίες Υπουργείων και σε Δήμους όλης της χώρας. Εντός του φθινοπώρου του 2008 περισσότερες από 500 ηλεκτρονικές πύλες σε ισάριθμους μικρούς και μεγάλους Δήμους της χώρας και σε φορείς του Δημοσίου ανοίγουν τις πόρτες τους στους πολίτες, παρέχοντας ψηφιακές υπηρεσίες. Όσα θέσαμε τότε ως στόχους,  σήμερα έχουν γίνει πράξη.

Σήμερα 12 στους 100 Έλληνες έχουν πρόσβαση στο γρήγορο internet. Όταν το 2004 είχε μόνο ένας στους 1.000. Το στόχο που θέσαμε τότε, σήμερα τον ξεπερνούμε. Τα έργα για την ανάπτυξη της ευρυζωνικότητας είναι σε πλήρη εξέλιξη. Η απελευθέρωση της αγοράς ηλεκτρονικών επικοινωνιών αλλά και η ανταγωνιστική πίεση που άσκησαν τα έργα ευρυζωνικότητας που υλοποιούμε,  μας έχουν οδηγήσει σε αυτό το θετικό αποτέλεσμα. Το 2007 η Ελλάδα κατετάγη έκτη παγκοσμίως και πρώτη μεταξύ των χωρών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης στον ετήσιο ρυθμό ανάπτυξης της ευρυζωνικότητας, ενώ το 2006 είχαμε καταλάβει την πρώτη θέση παγκοσμίως. Η ίδια η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή σημείωνε τον περασμένο Μάιο στην επίσημη έκθεσή της για την πρόοδο της πολιτικής i2010 στην Ευρώπη, πως «η ισχυρή προσήλωση σε πολιτικές νέων τεχνολογιών και κυρίως η Ψηφιακή Στρατηγική 2006 - 2013 έχει οδηγήσει την Ελλάδα σε σταθερή βελτίωση στους περισσότερους δείκτες". Βεβαίως αυτό μας ικανοποιεί. Τα αποτελέσματα της προσπάθειας είναι θετικά, ωστόσο δεν μας αρκούν. Χρειάζεται περισσότερη επιμονή και περισσότερη ένταση προσπάθειας - γιατί η Ελλάδα, όπως είπα, ξεκίνησε από το μηδέν το 2004 - προκειμένου να καλύψουμε τον χαμένο τεχνολογικό δρόμο των προηγουμένων δεκαετιών.

Σήμερα είμαστε στην ευχάριστη θέση να ανακοινώσουμε, σε συνεργασία με το Υπουργείο Μεταφορών και Επικοινωνιών, ένα νέο πρόγραμμα για την ανάπτυξη υποδομών οπτικών ινών για δίκτυα νέας γενιάς. Είναι μια δράση που συμβάλει στην προσπάθεια για το ψηφιακό άλμα. Είναι ένα ακόμη σημαντικό κομμάτι που συμπληρώνει το "παζλ" της Ψηφιακής Στρατηγικής και μια πρωτοβουλία που αποδεικνύει στην πράξη  ότι δεν περιοριζόμαστε μόνο στις δυνατότητες των ευρωπαϊκών χρηματοδοτικών εργαλείων,  αλλά αξιοποιούμε και τις μεγάλες δυνατότητες των Συμπράξεων Δημόσιου και Ιδιωτικού Τομέα - μια μεγάλη μεταρρύθμιση που έχει εισαγάγει η σημερινή Κυβέρνηση.

Έχουμε πάρει την απόφαση να επενδύσουμε ως χώρα σε ένα σύγχρονο δίκτυο οπτικών ινών που αλλάζει την καθημερινότητα του Έλληνα πολίτη, που καθιστά τη χώρα μας πρωταγωνιστή σε αυτές τις τεχνολογίες. Είναι ένα έργο που θα επιτρέπει να έχουμε ταυτόχρονα τηλεοπτικά κανάλια υψηλής ευκρίνειας, υπηρεσίες βιντεοτηλεφωνίας - δηλαδή να μιλάμε στο τηλέφωνο και να βλέπουμε τον συνομιλητή μας - πολύ υψηλές και σταθερές ταχύτητες internet, υπηρεσίες τηλεκπαίδευσης, υπηρεσίες τηλεϊατρικής και μια σειρά από άλλες υπηρεσίες που απαιτούν γρήγορες ταχύτητες και μεγάλο όγκο μετάδοσης δεδομένων. Στην ουσία πρόκειται για ένα δίκτυο ανοικτής πρόσβασης. Θα καλυφθεί με οπτική ίνα αυξημένων απαιτήσεων, που θα καλύπτει ταχύτητες τουλάχιστον 100 mbps για κάθε χρήστη. Το μοντέλο που επιλέγουμε είναι ένα Μοντέλο Παρόχου Υποδομής για την κατασκευή, τη συντήρηση και τη διάθεση της παθητικής υποδομής  (σκοτεινή ίνα) στους παρόχους επικοινωνίας.

Η συνολική διάρκεια ανάπτυξης του δικτύου είναι επτά χρόνια. Η υλοποίηση του έργου θα γίνει μέσω της εφαρμογής του Νόμου για τις Συμπράξεις Δημόσιου και Ιδιωτικού Τομέα, με τρόπο που να διασφαλίζει απολύτως τους όρους του ανταγωνισμού. Για κάθε υποέργο - γιατί θα υπάρχουν τρία μεγάλα υποέργα - θα ιδρυθεί Εταιρία Ειδικού Σκοπού και η διάρκεια της Σύμπραξης Δημόσιου και Ιδιωτικού Τομέα θα είναι τριάντα χρόνια. Το κράτος θα καλύψει τέλη διαθεσιμότητας που θα αντιστοιχούν σε ποσοστό της συνολικής επένδυσης, ενώ η  αναλογία κρατικής - ιδιωτικής συμμετοχής θα καθοριστεί μετά από διαβούλευση που θα κάνουμε με την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, προκειμένου να τηρούνται όλοι οι όροι του ανταγωνισμού. Υπάρχει δυνατότητα προνομιακού δανεισμού για τους εμπλεκομένους μέσω της Ευρωπαϊκής Τράπεζας Επενδύσεων, γιατί είναι ένα σημαντικό έργο υποδομής. Ο ενδεικτικός προϋπολογισμός του έργου είναι 2.100.000.000 ευρώ. Για την ταχύτερη ανάπτυξη του δικτύου, το έργο θα χωριστεί σε τρεις γεωγραφικές περιοχές που θα αντιστοιχούν σε τρία έργα Συμπράξεων Δημόσιου και Ιδιωτικού Τομέα. Πηγή εσόδων θα είναι τα τέλη διάθεσης και χρήσης του παθητικού εξοπλισμού από τους παρόχους επικοινωνίας και από τους παρόχους περιεχομένου. Θα υπάρξει δυνατότητα κρατικής ενίσχυσης των τελικών χρηστών, δηλαδή κίνητρα, για την κάλυψη του κόστους της κάθετης καλωδιοποίησης μέσω του ΕΣΠΑ - ένα μέρος του έργου θα ενταχθεί στο ΕΣΠΑ. Καταλαβαίνετε ότι ο ρόλος του κράτους είναι σημαντικός, αλλά είναι σημαντικός και ο ρόλος της ιδιωτικής πρωτοβουλίας. Ο ρόλος του κράτους θα αφορά σε κάποιες οικονομικές ενισχύσεις, όπως είπα, σε κάποιο τέλος διαθεσιμότητας και σε κάποια κίνητρα για τους τελικούς χρήστες, καθώς και στο να θέσει το νομοθετικό και το ρυθμιστικό πλαίσιο και να καθορίσει τις τεχνικές απαιτήσεις και τις προδιαγραφές.

Πρόκειται για μια πολύ μεγάλη πρωτοβουλία. Θα αλλάξει η εικόνα της χώρας μας όσον αφορά τις ψηφιακές δυνατότητες που έχουμε και θα αλλάξει και η καθημερινή ζωή των πολιτών με αυτό το έργο. Να συγχαρώ και να ευχαριστήσω τον Κωστή Χατζηδάκη γιατί πρόκειται για δική του πρωτοβουλία και πρωτοβουλία του Υπουργείου του. Όπως και να ευχαριστήσω τους Γραμματείς, τον Γενικό Γραμματέα Επικοινωνιών, τον Ειδικό Γραμματέα Ψηφιακής Στρατηγικής και τον Ειδικό Γραμματέα Συμπράξεων Δημόσιου και Ιδιωτικού Τομέα".

Κ. ΧΑΤΖΗΔΑΚΗΣ: "Σήμερα ανακοινώνουμε μια πολύ μεγάλης σημασίας πρωτοβουλία. Είναι μια μεγάλης κλίμακας επένδυση της χώρας στις νέες τεχνολογίες. Μιλάμε ουσιαστικά για τις σύγχρονες υπερλεωφόρους των τηλεπικοινωνιών. Η Ελλάδα αποφασίζει να ακολουθήσει μια στρατηγική υπέρβασης. Από το σημείο που βρίσκεται σήμερα αντί να πάει σε ενδιάμεσες σύγχρονες τεχνολογίες, πάει στις πλέον σύγχρονες που υπάρχουν στον κόσμο. Ακολουθεί τα βήματα άλλων χωρών, όπως είναι η Ιαπωνία, η Κορέα, η Σουηδία. Και ακολουθεί τη στρατηγική άλλων επίσης ευρωπαϊκών κρατών όπως η Γαλλία και η Μεγάλη Βρετανία, που πρόσφατα ανακοίνωσαν ότι κινούνται προς αυτό τον τομέα. Το έργο είναι πολύ σημαντικό. Και για την καθημερινότητα μας και για την ανάπτυξη της χώρας. Δεν είναι απλά κάτι ενδιαφέρον για αυτούς που ασχολούνται με τις νέες  τεχνολογίες. Διότι όπως σωστά είπε προηγουμένως ο κ. Αλογοσκούφης, μπορούμε με μια τηλεφωνική σύνδεση να έχουμε όσα τηλεοπτικά κανάλια θέλουμε στο σπίτι μας, μπορούμε να  έχουμε υπηρεσίες τηλε-εκπαίδευσης και τηλεϊατρικής, μπορούμε να έχουμε υπηρεσίες βιντεοτηλεφωνίας, -να μιλάμε και να βλέπουμε το συνομιλητή μας- , μπορούμε να κάνουμε τις συναλλαγές με τις Τράπεζες και το Δημόσιο. Αυτό αλλάζει την καθημερινή μας ζωή και δίνει ώθηση στην αναπτυξιακή διαδικασία στη χώρα μας.

Προχωρούμε λοιπόν με στενή συνεργασία των δύο Υπουργείων, με μελέτη και με προσοχή ώστε το έργο αυτό να υλοποιηθεί με απόλυτη επιτυχία. Θέλω να πω πως πρόσφατα κάναμε μια δημοσκόπηση εξηγώντας τα τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά του έργου και ζητώντας τη γνώμη των πολιτών:

Οι πολίτες σε συντριπτικά ποσοστά τάσσονται υπέρ του έργου και είναι έτοιμοι, αν θέλετε, να υποστούν και μια μικρή ταλαιπωρία, προκειμένου οι οπτικές ίνες να φτάσουν στο σπίτι τους και να αλλάξουν την καθημερινή τους ζωή.

Ο κ. Αλογοσκούφης αναφέρθηκε  στα οικονομικά στοιχεία του έργου. Θα αναφερθώ στα τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά του, σε κάποια θεσμικά ζητήματα και στα χρονοδιαγράμματα.

• Δημιουργούμε ένα Δίκτυο Οπτικών Ινών ανοιχτής πρόσβασης σε όλους τους παρόχους τηλεπικοινωνιακών και ψηφιακών υπηρεσιών. Ένα δίκτυο "open access" όπως λέγεται χαρακτηριστικά.
• Σε κάθε χρήστη θα φτάνει μία οπτική ίνα που θα του δίνει την δυνατότητα να απολαμβάνει υψηλές ταχύτητες πρόσβασης τουλάχιστον 100 Mbps -πρόκειται για ένα γιγαντιαίο άλμα σε σχέση με τα μέχρι σήμερα ισχύοντα, με παράλληλη εξασφάλιση της δυνατότητας εύκολης και άμεσης αναβάθμισής του ανάλογα με τις εξελίξεις της τεχνολογίας.
• Επιλέγουμε το Μοντέλο του Παρόχου Υποδομής για την κατασκευή, συντήρηση και διάθεση της παθητικής υποδομής, δηλαδή σκοτεινής ίνας (dark fiber) στους παρόχους επικοινωνίας.
• Παραχωρούμε την εκμετάλλευση του δικτύου στον Πάροχο Υποδομής για χρονικό διάστημα 30 ετών με στόχο την αποπληρωμή της επένδυσής του.
• Εξασφαλίζουμε την ολοκλήρωση της κατασκευής του δικτύου 7 χρόνια μετά την έναρξη των εργασιών.

Ποιος θα είναι ο ρόλος της ελληνικής Πολιτείας:

Η  Ελληνική Πολιτεία θα δώσει τα κίνητρα στα οποία αναφέρθηκε ο Υπουργός Οικονομίας , αλλά θα έχει και ένα ρόλο καταλύτη στην υλοποίηση αυτού του σχεδίου το οποίο θα πραγματοποιηθεί, θα υλοποιηθεί από τον ιδιωτικό τομέα, από ιδιώτες επενδυτές. Ο ρόλος της Πολιτείας είναι ενεργός σε τρία επίπεδα:

• Οικονομικές ενισχύσεις - στις οποίες αναφέρθηκε ο κ. Αλογοσκούφης.
• Νομοθετικές και ρυθμιστικές παρεμβάσεις και
• Καθορισμός  τεχνικών απαιτήσεων και προδιαγραφών

• Σε  σχέση με τα δύο τελευταία, πρέπει να ξέρετε ότι βρίσκεται σε φάση ολοκλήρωσης το ρυθμιστικό πλαίσιο που θα καλύψει νομοθετικά και ρυθμιστικά θέματα για την ομαλή υλοποίηση και διευκόλυνση της ανάπτυξης του δικτύου των οπτικών ινών. Ενδεικτικά αναφέρω μερικά από τα στοιχεία που θα περιλαμβάνει το Ρυθμιστικό Πλαίσιο
• Δικαιώματα διέλευσης για νέες και υφιστάμενες υποδομές
• Απαιτήσεις ανάπτυξης των νέων υποδομών
• Ανάπτυξη δικτύων με εναέριες καλωδιώσεις
• Ρυθμίσεις πρόσβασης σε ιδιωτικά κτίρια, κοινόχρηστους χώρους  κ.τ.λ.

Είναι μια δύσκολη διαδικασία, αλλά όταν θα είμαστε έτοιμοι να προχωρήσουμε στην επόμενη φάση του έργου όλα αυτά τα θέματα θα έχουν ρυθμιστεί απολύτως.

Σε σχέση με τις τεχνικές προδιαγραφές:

Αυτή τη στιγμή είναι στο τελικό στάδιο επεξεργασίας η Κοινή Υπουργική Απόφαση που καθορίζει τις τεχνικές προδιαγραφές για τα εσωτερικά δίκτυα ηλεκτρονικών επικοινωνιών. Ο καθορισμός των τεχνικών προδιαγραφών θα περιλαμβάνει ένα πλήρη οδηγό εγκαταστάσεων εσωτερικών δικτύων οπτικών ινών και θα εξασφαλίζει την διαδικασία εγκατάστασης δικτύων οπτικών ινών σε υφιστάμενα και νέο - ανεγειρόμενα κτίρια.

Επίσης, θα περιγράφει όλες τις τεχνικές προδιαγραφές που άπτονται  θεμάτων όπως:

• Προσβασιμότητας εγκαταστάσεων
• Επεκτασιμότητας
• Εγκατάστασης και συντήρησης
• Λειτουργικότητας κ.τ.λ.

Θέλω επίσης να αναφερθώ στο χρονοδιάγραμμα σε σχέση με τα επόμενα βήματα στο συγκεκριμένο έργο.

Έως το τέλος του 2008 προχωρούμε στις κατάλληλες ενέργειες ώστε:

• Να είναι έτοιμος ένας φάκελος  για την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή με την οποία θα διαπραγματευθούμε σε σχέση με τη συμβατότητα, με  το Κοινοτικό Δίκαιο  και τις ενισχύσεις από το ΕΣΠΑ
• Θα προχωρήσουμε επίσης σε Δημόσια Διαβούλευση για το  Φάκελο
• Θα ακολουθήσει η έγκριση του Έργου από Διυπουργική Επιτροπή των ΣΔΙΤ.
• Μέσα στο πρώτο  εξάμηνο του 2009 θα προετοιμάσουμε τις απαραίτητες διαδικασίες για να προχωρήσουμε στον Διαγωνισμό ανάθεσης Συμβούλου ΣΔΙΤ, σε συνεργασία με το Υπουργείο Οικονομίας και με τη Γραμματεία των ΣΔΙΤ.
• Στο δεύτερο εξάμηνο του 2009 θα είμαστε έτοιμοι να προκηρύξουμε τον Διεθνή Διαγωνισμό για το Έργο, ώστε αμέσως μετά το τέλος των διαδικασιών επιλογής να ξεκινήσει άμεσα η κατασκευή του Δικτύου Οπτικών Ινών.

Θέλω ακόμη μια φορά να σημειώσω  ότι είναι έργο, που αφορά όλους μας, είτε μένουμε  στις μεγάλες πόλεις, είτε μένουμε στην επαρχία, διότι το έργο αυτό θα καλύψει δύο εκατομμύρια νοικοκυριά, την Αθήνα, τη Θεσσαλονίκη και 50 μεγάλες ελληνικές πόλεις. Παράλληλα προετοιμάζουμε  από κοινού όλα τα Υπουργεία, Δίκτυα Υψηλών Ταχυτήτων, που θα καλύπτουν ολόκληρη την Ελληνική περιφέρεια. Οι νέες τεχνολογίες βρίσκονται στην καρδιά των εξελίξεων, κοινωνικά και οικονομικά. Η Ελλάδα δεν θέλει απλά να ακολουθήσει αυτές τις εξελίξεις, θέλει να είναι ανάμεσα στους πρωτοπόρους. Και  για αυτό το λόγο επιλέγουμε αυτή τη στρατηγική. Τη στρατηγική για την προώθηση των δικτύων οπτικών ινών νέας γενιάς. Είναι μια στρατηγική υπέρβασης, είναι μια στρατηγική πρωτοπορίας. Είναι μια στρατηγική για την ανάπτυξη του τόπου.

Είμαι πραγματικά χαρούμενος, που μαζί με τον Γιώργο Αλογοσκούφη παρουσιάζουμε σήμερα αυτό το σχέδιο, το οποίο όταν σε λίγο χρονικό διάστημα αρχίσει να υλοποιείται, όλοι θα διαπιστώσουν πόσο θα αλλάξει τα πράγματα στη χώρα μας".

H εικόνα από την Corning.

The optical or laser mouse does not need to be cleaned near as often as the ball mouse, but it and the surface it runs on can still get dirty. If you do not clean the surface that the mouse moves on, it will soon turn black. So about once a month or so, wipe the surface off with a wet rag. The lens probably never will get dirty, but if it does, take a soft cloth, cotton swab, or q-tip wetted with window cleaner or alcohol and clean the lens.

The ball mouse may need cleaning quite often, so you should get well acquainted with the following cleaning procedure. The dirtier the ball mouse gets, the harder it is to get it to move the cursor on the screen smoothly. If you have to move the mouse across the mouse pad several times to get the cursor to move halfway across the screen, it needs to be cleaned.

The mouse does not need to be disconnected to clean it, but you should close all of the programs that are running, so that you don't accidentally click on something and mess it up. If you do decide to disconnect the mouse, be sure to turn off the computer first. The mouse cord should never be unplugged from the computer while it is running. Doing so could ruin your motherboard.

Turn the ball mouse over and find the cover that holds the ball in. Look for arrows on the cover to show which way it needs to be turned. Place two fingers on the cover and push in the direction of the arrows. Once the cover has been turned about an inch, cover it with your hand and turn the mouse back over to the upright position. The ball and cover should fall into your hand. If it doesn't, shake the mouse gently.

Wipe the ball off with a wet rag.

Now look in the ball well and find the three rollers. Start by cutting across the buildup on the rollers with your fingernail (a knife or steel dental pick may also be used gently), then turn the roller and remove the buildup as you go along. If you do this correctly, you will end up with one curled strip of buildup for each roller. Make sure to remove the buildup from the well. If it falls inside somewhere, blow and gently shake it until it comes out.

Take a wet rag and clean each of the rollers by wiping across it, then turning it and wiping again. Continue until the entire roller is cleaned. Put the ball back in the ball well and lock the cover back in place.

If the mouse still has problems once it is assembled, try cleaning it again. If that doesn't work, you may need to buy a new mouse.

It is a good idea to regularly clean the surface that the mouse is on because the cleaner the surface, the less dirt will get inside the mouse and the less often you will have to clean it.

If your mouse is shared by many people (especially if one of them is sick), you may want to disinfect the top of the mouse between users.

Follow these instructions and your mouse will be up and darting again in no time.

Right now I'm listening to an Optical mix that I gave Dan to add to the site. Socom is on. That was another one of my faves for a really really long time. It came out during my obsession with Optical phase. That phase lasted a ridiculously long time. LOL. I couldn't help it. Ed Rush and Optical had a really long run going at that time and I loved every track. I'm gonna have to dig out Socom when I get home.

Speaking of Ed Rush and Optical, I saw there's another remix of Pacman... Meh. Nothing to write home about. It's not even remotely close to being as awesome as the Ram Trilogy Remix or the original.

Talk about bloody miserable day huh? Rainy, cloudy. All I've wanted to do all day is lie on my couch and watch telly and I'll be doing exactly that tonight.

Toodles

Physics - Digital Tunes Show @ Basso FM 08/30/08

Tracklist

01. Data - Encore - Deep Soul Music Dub
02. Smote & Gabanna - Slowly Down - Midnight Sun dub
03. Survival - Warnings - Dispatch Dub
04. Atom - Dolly - Sonorous Music
05. Soul Intent - Loved - dub
06. Physics - Send Your Neighbour to Space - Dub
07. Nookie - Stone Groove - Phuzion dub?
08. Trisector - Love Stays - Dub
09. A-Sides - One Love - Metalheadz dub
10. Physics&Keza - Insomnia - Dub
11. The Burbs - South London Sound - Metalheadz
12. Eveson - Spirit Song (Silent Witness rmx) - Digital Tunes
13. Nookie - Sunset Over Sopot - Phuzion dub?
14. Mijatoho - Jazgal - Jerona Fruits
15. Furney - Forward Bound - Camino Blue
16. Physics & C.A.B.L.E - Deep Down Inside - Dub

You need to create a difference in the light intensities entering the viewers' eyes. The safest way to create the intensity difference uses filters, such as one lens from sunglasses. Viewers wear the lens over one eye while looking with both eyes. The viewers should be seated in a stationary chair because differences in light intensities in each of the eyes will produce depth distortions.

Make a pendulum using shoelaces or string and a set of keys. Swing the keys in a single plane, back and forth in front of you. Two-thirds of people will see the keys moving in an elliptical pattern. The direction of movement of the keys through the elliptical pattern is predictable. With less intense light entering the left eye than the right eye, the keys will appear to swing in a clockwise direction. With less intense light entering the right eye than the left eye, the keys will appear to swing in a counterclockwise (or anticlockwise) direction.

Following the instructions to this point, you will have created a version of the Pulfrich illusion. Pulfrich, for whom the effect is named, and his assistant Fertsch, sought explanations for problems in the use of range finder telescopes, stereocomparators, and other stereo viewing devices. The devices were perfectly aligned by physical measurement, but usage problems appeared. The pair of investigators traced the usage problems to intensity differences of light entering the two eyes. Pulfrich never experienced the illusion named for him because he was a monocular viewer.

You can create many variations of the Pulfrich illusion. For instance, view a 'snowy' television screen with filtering and the snowy dots on the screen will appear to move around a cylindrical pattern. You can also use a low intensity light source, such as a flashlight, to add light to one eye rather than filtering one eye. BE CAREFUL NOT TO SHINE HIGH INTENSITY LIGHTS INTO YOUR OR OTHERS' EYES!

To create the illusion of keys passing through your hand, allow people to view the Pulfrich illusion for a couple of minutes. Over this time, many people report that the effect increases in strength. Then time the movement of your hand from your body, obliquely toward the plane of pendulum movement, so that your hand arrives just behind the plane of pendulum movement just prior to the keys passing in front of your hand. Withdraw your hand back toward your body and repeatedly advance your hand in timing with the swing of the pendulum. To most viewers, the keys will appear to pass right through your hand or arm. The place on your body that the keys appear to pass though will be determined by the strength of the illusion that you have created for your viewers.

You may be able to see the Pulfrich illusion by using
a filter and viewing the stimulus above. Remember that
the illusion requires time to build strength, that
only 2/3 of people will see the illusion, and that computer
systems differ greatly.

• What accounts for differences in strengths of the illusion?
• What explains some people seeing the illusions and other not seeing them?
• Can you develop 3-D displays of xray photos, movies, television, etc. without requiring viewers to use special glasses or filters?

Did you notice that it`s a painting on a bus?

Look at closely both the image and find the empty block where it is gone

Read it carefully other wise you will definately get confusion in the Image while reading

Calyx - Are You Ready
Cause 4 Concern - Dub Funk
Ewun - The Divide
Dom and Roland - Can't Punish Me
Teebee - Forever Lost
Technical Itch - Pressure Drop (Kryptic Minds and Leon Switch rmx)
Teebee - Let Go
Stakka and Skynet - Biosfear (Stakka and Kemal rmx)
Optical and Fierce - Side Effect
Ed Rush and Optical - Vendetta
Chris Su - Solaris
Brooklyn - With All My Heart
Break - Positive Negative
Kryptic Minds and Leon Switch - Lost All Faith
Noisia - Get Me Down
Phace - Open Your Eyes
Pendulum - Spiral
Ed Rush, Optical and Fierce - Alien Girl
Noisia - Diplodocus (Retrend rechop)
Cartridge - Pyramid of Fear

http://www.beatplexity.com/music/dnb/Retrend/Retrend%20-%20August%2008%20Neuro.mp3

I've been considering Lasik surgery so I tend to notice places that perform it. This fine little establishment caught my eye (get it?) on my way home tonight. Here is why I choose not to have my Lasik done at Odyssey Optical in Queens, NY:

1. Between those creepy eyes there is a vertical sign that reads "Optical" with an arrow underneath it pointing up. Up. To where? There is no second floor.
2. Those eyes are fucking creepy. If my eyes have that future at Odyssey Optical I'm out.
3. Even though it appears as one here, I highly doubt "Laser Vision Corrections" is a slogan. Also, the singular form, "correction," works just fine. It's not a prison. But still, since you put it in quotes I don't really believe it's the real thing. "Hey, come on in! We have that funky new 'Laser Tag Eyes' game!"
4. They examine eyes. Are you kidding? An optical facility examines eyes? I can walk in and have attention paid to my very own eyes??? At an OPTICAL PLACE?!?!?! What year is this and where can I get some of that space food?
5. The sign looks like a cock and two balls.
6. It's next to Joe's Bakery
7. It's next to Joe's Bakery. Did you hear me the first time? The place that will be remodeling my cornea is physically attached to...a bakery.

Fuck you again, New York. The tidal wave is long overdue but I assure you, you worthless bucket of horse shit, it is coming. Tidal waves are often fashionably late.  Oh, what a grand entrance to effectuate...

Reviews for this >>>> I have owned several Canon A series, Canon SD series, the Canon S series and also the S2/S3 IS. So here's the skinny as an amateur user.cheap laptop | cheap laptops | cheap lcd tv | cheap mobile phones | cheap mp3 players
If you don't want to read the long review, here's the summary. Buy the SD1000 if you are looking for the tiniest camera that you can take everywhere. It takes good shots indoors given its tiny size and fabulous shots outdoors.

If smallness is not your top priority then you should consider some other Canon cameras which may work better for you (including others from the SD Series).cheap nano | cheap ring | cheap tv | cheap watches | cheapest laptop| cheapest laptops | cheapest tv
A series - The A series is best for you if you're looking for a low cost camera that gives you a wide range of features, many manual controls and great image quality. Although, the size is bigger than SD series making it a jacket-pocket camera, the advantage is in the styling. It gives you a convenient grip on the side which helps hold the camera steady and results in less "blurry" pictures. The mode selector dial on top helps you zip through selections. The convenience of AA batteries which are available in every corner of the world, no missing out on pictures as your battery was discharged, might be a selling point for those who travel a lot.
{Update 11/10/07: Canon launched many new A series cameras in August 2007 with Image Stabilization and improved zoom. The 7.1 MP A570 IS with 4X zoom is cheaper than this SD1000. You may want to consider it seriously if you don't care so much about the slightly large the size and increased weight.}digital camera | digital cameras | digital watches uk | discount watches | engagement ring | garmin in uk | garmin nuvi uk
The S3 to S5 IS series cameras have a great image sensor, the wonderful image stabilization, a great zoom, and super macro function that can produce never before pictures. The flip out screen helps take shots from angles you've never considered before. The videos mode of the S series is also better with stereo sound and a sharp picture. The cameras in this series are also just a little more expensive and pretty bulky. If taking great pictures is all you care about and do not mind carrying a big camera, the S series will be a great choice. It's the first step towards a real professional camera.garmin streetpilot uk | jewellery online uk | jewellery shops uk | jewelry in uk | jewelry ring | jewelry rings | ladies watch | ladies watches | ladies watches uk
And finally (drumroll) - the SD series. Small. Cute.
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The SD 1000 slips into your shirt front pocket without making it sag. If you're wondering about the style, the square "retro" design is boxy but I like it better as it is very compact. It also does not slip out from my fingers as easily as the curved edge ones.

Since the cameras in SD series are so small some features like different shooting modes are accessible only through the menu which makes changing between them more cumbersome. Sometimes I've just preferred to stay on Auto rather than missing the shot while I navigated to the right mode. SD series cameras also have less manual or user defined controls like flash power reduction which I miss. The flash incidentally, can get very strong in lower light or indoor situations and often bleaches out color from people's faces. If you turn off the flash then you have to use a tripod or have the camera on a flat surface to prevent shaky pictures. I also find that the smallness and lightness of SD series makes my hand shake more than when I'm holding the A series camera with the side grip. I get more fuzzy pics with the SD series than my A series (comparing the models without Image Stabilization) and it's annoying to see the camera-shake warning each time on the screen I am trying to take a shot. I also get a little more red eye with this series probably because the flash is so close to the lens. On the SD 1000 however, there is a red eye correction feature so you can remove red eye right on the camera. The other improvement over the previous SD series is the automatic face detection which helps reduce the flash glare on faces so pictures come out better.

Having used many Canons, although I prefer some other models for their pictures, guess which camera travels with me most often. My SD1000. Just because it's small and fits into my tiny party purse or jeans pocket. Canon recently launched some SD series cameras with Image Stabilization like SD850 IS which is slightly more expensive and a bit bigger and heavier than the SD1000. I'd probably never take it along with me on daily basis and would miss some great photo ops...Many of my friends bought the SD1000 camera after seeing the size of my camera vs. its range of features (and the reasonable price!)

And what about some other Canon features? (If you're a regular Canon user skip reading this section, as you already know all this good stuff.):
- It has an intelligent focusing system with DIGIC III (up from DIGIC II earlier) auto red eye correction and face detection (see above).

- Goes up to ISO 1600 which improves it's low light performance. Although beware of camera shake if you turn off flash in low light. In my opinion, Canon has always out-performed all other consumer cameras in outdoor pics. For indoor low-light pics you'll have to turn on the flash or end up with grainy images. However, compared to other brands in the same class the SD1000 still takes pretty sharp pictures.

- SD card slot - cheap to buy 2GB cards.

-Photo-stitch - For stitching together panoramic views. I have shot countless seascapes, 'bridge'scapes, and landscapes from all my Canons using this function and stitching together 6-10 shots in one. It's easy.

-Macro mode - Great for close ups of babies or product shots

- The SCN mode (special scenes)- Fireworks, Beach, Snow, kids and pets, Underwater, Foliage, Aquarium and Indoor is great. Now even amateurs can use Canon experience to get the best shot quickly before they miss the photo opportunity while trying to set manual controls.

-"My colors" option - Allows you to choose a color you want to highlight in a picture or even darken and lighten skin tones. Color Accent allows you to capture only a particular color in a shot while the rest of the picture is black and white. I did a black and white Christmas group portrait with only the Santa hats, ornaments and poinsettias in red color. Or with Color Swap you can swap out one color with the other, like change your car or (or hair color!)- red to blue. The possibilities are endless, even my kid loves to use the color accent feature as it's really easy.

-Special effects (B/W, Sepia, Vivid, Nuetral etc.) I've used sepia a lot when taking portraits giving them an 'old world' feel. Vivid has been helpful in special situations like a red kite against a blue sky to bring out the colors. You can do all this in Photoshop later but how many of us actually get the time to do this, once a pic is taken it's over with for me!

-You can also take videos in 3 different resolutions with this camera and edit them right on the camera.

-You can create a slide show of all the images you took on the camera itself with fancy transition effects of your choice, it adds to the fun when you hook it up to a TV to view your pics.

-The zoom button shows one or many images at a time in the replay mode and you can zoom into each individual image to see parts of it closely. You can also add sound bites to your shots to remember a location.

- While replaying, the images auto-rotate to landscape or portrait mode to align with how you're holding the camera. It's a nice feature. The screen has been made more durable than it was earlier with an anti-reflective coating.

All in all, if you want a small and sexy yet very feature rich camera go for the SD1000, you'll find yourself using it more often than your previous cameras.

Computers exploit the movement or accumulation of electrons to do useful calculations. These movements down tiny wires are the reason why PCs become so hot.

Optics are already used to transfer data over the internet

We are dissipating huge amounts of power in chips right now. And the problem will get worse as the components become smaller, making chips even more inefficient. If we could find new ways of moving information around a chip, we could significantly reduce the amount of power that is dissipated.

A potential solution would be to use particles of light - photons - instead of electrons to move information around and between chips.

Electrons will still be doing the computing but photons will be doing the communicating.

It sounds a little bit complex but you find that that baton pass [of data between the electrons and photons] can be far more efficient, in terms of electrical power required than just using electrons.

It is similar to the technology that is used to move data around the internet today but at a much smaller scale.

The technology could be key for transferring data between massively multiple core chips - devices with several linked computing engines.

But some researchers would ultimately like to skip this baton pass and use photons to manipulate and store data, rather than just transmit it.

Experiments are going on in academic institutions, firms such as IBM and even the American space agency Nasa. Several of the individual components needed to build an optical computer have been demonstrated and even put together into a working machine.

However, it may be some time before optical components compete with silicon because of a fundamental barrier.

The reason it is not in circuits today is essentially its cost.

We do things a little differently on unix. The middle mouse button gets used more. Copy and paste aren't keybindings. The mouse gets used less as a clicking-buttons device and more as a selecting text, pasting text, and selecting windows device.

To this end, here is what I want from a computer mouse:

• Three buttons
• No scrollwheel
• Wireless
• Optical or laser
• Full-sized

Anyone make this? I'll buy at least three.

The "trouble" is quite annoying imho: if you take a closer look to the pictures I took on Day 3 of my trip to Barcelona, you'll see that parts that are brightly lit by sunlight show... pink! Now, I like pink (duh, I'm a poof) but not on that type of pictures.

I must admit, my camera, a Canon PowerShot A300 is almost 5 years old, and with "just" 3.2 MegaPixels at the time was awesome, but isn't really spectacular to current standards (I'm ignoring the fact the PowerShot A300 only has digital zoom, not optical).
Anyway, the "old one" my dad and stepmom had, and thus: my new one, is a Sony CyberShot with 5.1 MegaPixels, 3x optical zoom + an extended 3x digital zoom!
I know new ones are even more high-res, but I'm not complaining > I'm still trading up, without having to pay anything!
YAY!

Of course, I had to play with it right away, and here's an example, and a link to some pictures I took at Westende (the Belgian seaside village I've been spending many summer weeks or weekends at for the last 8 or 9 years)!

Guillaume's father was a lawyer from Normandy who had moved to the French capital. While still young, Guillaume lost his hearing, which may have motivated him to focus entirely on science. Guillaume never attended a university, but was able to study mathematics, the physical sciences, and celestial mechanics. Guillaume also spent time studying the skills of drawing, surveying, and architecture. Guillaume was supported in his research career by the government, and was employed in various public works projects.

Among his contributions to scientific instrumentation were improvements to the barometer (1695), hygrometer (1687), and thermometer (1695), particularly for use of these instruments at sea. Guillaume also demonstrated an optical telegraph and proposed the use of his clepsydra (water clock) for keeping time on a ship at sea.

Guillaume investigated the relationship between pressure and temperature in gases though he lacked accurate and precise thermometers. Though his results were at best semi-quantitative, he established that the pressure of a gas increases by roughly 1/3 between the temperatures of cold and the boiling point of water. This was a substantial step towards the subsequent gas laws and, in particular, Charles's law.

Guillaume's work led him to speculate that a sufficient reduction in temperature would lead to the disappearance of pressure. Thus, he is the first researcher to discuss the concept of an absolute zero of temperature, a concept later extended and rationalised by William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin. In 1699, Guillaume published his rediscovery of the laws of friction first put forward by Leonardo da Vinci. Though they were received with some scepticism, the laws were verified by Charles-Augustin de Coulomb in 1781.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)) can be named as the father of modern tribology as he studied an incredible manifold of tribological subtopics such as: friction, wear, bearing materials, plain bearings, lubrication systems, gears, screw-jacks, and rolling-element bearings. 150 years before Guillaume's Laws of Friction were introduced, he had already recorded them in his manuscripts. Hidden or lost for centuries, Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts were read in Spain a quarter of a millennium later.

Guillaume's Laws of Friction were first recorded in books during the late 17th century.

There 3 laws of friction are:

• 1. The force of friction is directly proportional to the applied load. (Guillaume's 1st Law)
• 2. The force of friction is independent of the apparent area of contact. (Guillaume's 2nd Law)
• 3. Kinetic friction is independent of the sliding velocity. (Coulomb's Law)

NOTE: These 3 laws only apply to dry friction, in which the addition of a lubricant modifies the tribological properties signifiantly.

By looking at any surface on the microscopic level, one would find that it is never perfectly flat. There would exist many tiny bumps and craters, due to imperfections on the surface and the alignment of molecules. (The skin does not feel the bumps and craters because they are too small to be detected.) Considering a smooth stone on a smooth flat road, the 2 surfaces would be still in contact, but only at a few points (the bumps do fot fit exactly into the craters). Due to electrostatic forces of repulsion between the atoms (nuclei and nuclei) of the stone and the road, the road will exert a force on the stone, and the stone will exert a force on the road (normal contact forces). The NET force exerted on the stone would be the NORMAL contact force.

If net external forces cause the stone to move to the RIGHT, the forces that the road exert on the stone would be slightly skewed to the LEFT, thus the net force will be pointing UP but LEFTWARD (tilted contact force). As the vertical component of the net force is the normal contact force, the extra horizontal leftward component of the force would therefore be the FRICTIONAL force. (Note: friction OPPOSES motion)

Suppose the stone had a greater mass (hence greater weight as g=constant). The stone would then:

• exert a greater force on the road (the increased load causes the separation distance of the nuclei to decrease, force of repulsion becomes stronger(inverse-square law) ), AND
• more of the atoms of the road and the stone would be in contact.

Hence, when the stone is moved, a greater frictional force would be produced (more areas of contact means that more forces can be skewed, producing more horizontal components of the contact forces).

Guillaume's law applies to any 2 surfaces, regardless of their orientation. (e.g. pressing a brick against the ceiling, etc.)

NOTE: Applied load means the normal contact force acting on the stone. That is, if the stone is being pushed down harder while it was trying to move, the force acting on the ground increases, and hence the force of the ground acting on the stone (normal contact) increases. This means that more force is required to move the stone across the ground. (frictional force increase)

What this law means is that if two equal masses made of similar material are resting on the same surface with DIFFERENT SURFACES AREAS OF CONTACT, they would require the SAME AMOUNT of FORCE to start moving (overcome static friction) and to move at constant speed⁺.

To put it in another way: considering 2 equal masses, and the area in contact in situation A is greater than in situation B. This only means that in situation A, the load is distributed across a greater area then in situation B. However, the applied load is still the same! Thus to move both masses, we would require the same amount of applied force to overcome friction. (Guillaume's First Law)

⁺ To maintain constant speed, net force has to be 0N. Assuming no drag forces,

Through studies and experimental observations on the properties of friction, a relationship between frictional force and normal contact force was established:

,

where μ is the coefficient of friction and N is the normal contact force.

This is as predicted by Guillaume's 2 laws, where F_fric depends only on the normal contact force (reaction pair of the applied load), and is independent of the surface area in contact.

However, exceptions to Guillaume's Law have been observed in various nanometric scenarios. For example, when 2 surfaces get close enough such that molecular interactions and atomic forces come into play, the 2 surfaces are attracted together and form what was known as 'negative load'.

*requires verfication by Specialists*

Honours:

• Member, Académie des Sciences, (1690)
• The Amontons crater on the Moon is named after him.

Keep visiting: www.lifechums.com more celebrities featuring shortly ................

Lets try a simple walk through of a basic search.  Remember, this is basic stuff, and you probably already knew it, but like my wife said when I showed her a few things, "I didn't know that." 

When searching, it helps to know what your looking for.  If your looking for Cameras, but you don't have a specific one in mind, you could type in camera on the search bar. 

If your satisfied with looking through all the junk that is considered camera orientated then your done.  However, to narrow your search, use the options on the left.  If your wanting all the options in Camera & Photo then click that option, that will exclude all the other catagories.  You then have all the catagories within the Camera & Photo division avalaible to you.  If you know your just wanting Digital camera's, then select that option.

You now have some choices that will help define your camera.  You can choose type, brand, Mega-Pixel, optical condition, condition, bundled items, and seller.

If you choose type, point and shoot, you then can choose your brand,, and then whither you want it new or not.   

You can also choose whither or not you want it to come with a case or a extra charger or whatever by selecting in the bundled items division. 

While this search has been on cameras, the basic idea is the same with Cell Phones, or whatever your looking for. 

Happy shopping!

:) Rick

Please sign in your name using the comment link below!!

by Healthy Guy

HealthyGuy@HealthyGuy.com

Are you slowly losing your eyesight or hearing as you age? Do you seem to be experiencing erectile dysfunction, prostate difficulties, or other organ and sexually related problems as you grow older? Well, it may be related to your salt consumption.

A slow deterioration of eyesight, hearing, prostate problems, erectile dysfunction, and premature aging are all problems related to smoking, however if you don't smoke and are still experiencing some of these problems as you grow older, you might want to examine your salt consumption. Smoking destroys the elasticity of the arterial walls throughout the entire body and restricts blood flow through the smaller capillaries causing an eventual deterioration of the eyesight, hearing, prostate, and subsequent erectile dysfunction due to an abundance of free radicals ¹ from constituents of the gas phase of tobacco smoke ² which are deposited in the arteries. This creates serious problems throughout the body and especially to life sustaining organs due to diminished blood flow and lack of oxygen.

Salt also destroys the elasticity of arteries and capillaries just as smoking does except that salt is a totally different constituent. The common name for the damage which salt does to the arteries is hardening of the arteries, and it will ultimately cause a stroke and possible death when an artery eventually becomes too brittle and breaks from the hardening effect that is taking place. This damage to the arteries is very similar to the tobacco smoke damage. When arteries lack the proper elasticity, blood has a difficult time getting into the capillaries, the small thin-walled vessels, in route to a healthy organ because efficient blood flow is dependent upon proper expansion and contraction of arteries and capillaries. The organ becomes even more effected when the size of the artery decreases due to excessive salt or free radical deposits on the arterial walls. The blood flow through the capillaries diminishes causing deterioration of the eyes, hearing, prostate, and sexual organs. The results can be devastating if an organ cannot get proper blood flow.

The process of aging is directly correlated to the condition of the arteries. ³ Deposits from salt and other free radicals form on the arterial walls and are a major contributor to aging. Keeping the arteries clean is the key to longevity and good health.

You have probably been told that you need salt for your body or that a little bit of salt will not hurt you. Well, the truth is that you don't need salt at all. You need sodium! So why all the confusion about needing salt in your diet? It is like this. Sodium is an important mineral in the body as it is responsible for sending the message from the brain to muscles through the nervous system so that your body will move its muscles on command. When you want to move your arm or any muscle in the body, the brain sends a message to a sodium molecule who passes it to a potassium molecule and then back to a sodium molecule etc., etc., until it gets to its final destination and the muscle moves. This is known as the sodium-potassium ion exchange. Therefore without sodium, you would never be able to move one muscle of your body. Regardless, it is not common table salt that the body needs in order to sustain life. It is sodium. Sodium just happens to be an element in common table salt which is known as sodium chloride and that is where the confusion exists. Therefore, salt is not a necessary compound in order for the body to survive, but rather sodium is the necessary life sustaining element. Ironically, sodium is found in all plants so you are getting plenty of sodium everyday without even realizing it every time you eat a food that comes from a plant. Studies by the Department of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin have shown ⁴ that blood pressure is not increased by a high sodium intake unless it is accompanied by chloride. Common table salt being sodium chloride, therefore, actually destroys life rather than sustains it as we are led to believe.

Are you addicted to certain foods because they appear to taste so good? Well, they may be loaded with common table salt. Bertino, Beauchamp, and Engleman ⁵ have shown that the amount of salt preferred is dependent on the amount of salt consumed. In other words, if you are used to eating high amounts of salt, you will be more likely to choose other foods for your diet which are high in salt. The types of food you choose may be entirely dependent on the amount of salt you are consuming. Food appears to taste better with salt, but it is only an illusion. It is the salt you like and not the food. Have you ever noticed how much more of a certain type of food you will eat when it contains just the right amount of salt? You are convinced that it tastes delicious, but it is only the inclusion of just the right amount of salt that tricks the brain into believing that the food tastes better. Does the food actually taste better or is it just that you like the taste of common table salt? After all, it's no secret that salted food tastes better. The million dollar question is, "Do you really want to include common table salt, a substance that slowly destroys the body over time, in your diet everyday and never give your body a break from it?" It can take as long as two to four days to get all the salt out your body but the first thing you will notice is that, your extremities, your hands and feet, will become thinner. You will instantly realize just how swollen your extremities become from including salt in your diet everyday. How do you know if you are eating too much salt? Under normal conditions, if you become very thirsty after a delicious meal, chances are that meal contained large amounts of salt. By this time the salt has already entered every cell in your body because salt molecules are smaller than the hole in the cell wall and will literally pull water into the cell. Salt molecules esentially become trapped within the cell and osmosis causes the cells to swell, taking water away from other parts of the body, and making you thirsty until you drink enough water so that equilibrium is established and there is the same amount of water on the outside of the cell as there is on the inside. This is the process of osmosis that takes place inside the body when you consume table salt.

Cheese is an excellent example of how the brain can be easily tricked. It is difficult to stop eating cheese with only one bite because it tastes so good. However, have you ever eaten saltless cheese? I guarantee that you will not want a second bite of saltless cheese unless you have previously acquired a taste for it. It is extremely bitter and something you would definitely have to acquire a taste for in order to enjoy it. Another example is butter or margarine. Try using saltless butter or margarine on your toast. You will find out that your toast is absolutely tasteless, and you will realize how you have been tricked all your life. So if you are addicted to salt without knowing it, there is hope. Once you are eventually aware of your high salt intake, you can then create change. Your preferred salt level can be lowered simply by reducing your overall salt intake. ⁵ In other words, your taste buds can easily adapt to changes if you give them a chance. Restricting salt exposure for 8-12 weeks⁶ enhances the normal taste of foods and lowers your preferred salt level. Foods extremely high in salt include cheese, butter, margarine, chips, ham, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, salsa, soy sauce, canned, and packaged foods. You might have found yourself saying, "I don't ever salt my food." Well, when you're able, read the label. Start looking at the ingredients of all the foods you eat, and you may just find that common table salt is in everything you eat. If it tastes too good to be true, you can bet it's the salt.

Getting your sodium from plants rather than from common table salt is one of the better choices you can make. It has been demonstrated that sodium from plants will not cause high blood pressure. Not only does common table salt, sodium chloride, cause high blood pressure⁷ and hardening of the arteries, but it also causes unnecessary swelling in every cell of the body and overworks the heart. Getting minerals, like sodium, from plants will help keep your arteries young and elastic. Your blood will flow more efficiently helping to rejuvenate your life sustaining organs, and your sense of smell will improve significantly. Reduction of table salt will assist in prolonging your health, well being, and reduce the risk of strokes which are associated with high levels of common table salt. If you are concerned with longevity and good health, limiting the amount of common table salt in your diet is one of the better choices you can make in your lifetime in order to maintain a healthy and youthful body inside and out.

REFERENCES

1. Eiserich, J.P., van der Vliet, A., Handelman, G.J., Halliwell, B., and Cross, C: Dietary antioxidants and cigarette smoke-induced biomolecular damage: a complex interaction. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 62, 1490S-1500S, 1995.
2. Eiserich, J.P., van der Vliet, A., Handelman, G.J., Halliwell, B., and Cross, C: Dietary antioxidants and cigarette smoke-induced biomolecular damage: a complex interaction. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 62, 1490S-1500S, 1995.
3. Cutler, RG: Antioxidants and aging. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 53, 373S-379S, 1991.
4. Kotchen, TA and Kotchen, JM: Dietary sodium and blood pressure: interactions with other nutrients. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 65, 708S-711S, 1997.
5. Bertino, M., Beauchamp, G.K., and Engelman, K: Long-term reduction in dietary sodium alters the taste of salt. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 36, 1134-1144, 1982.
6. Mattes, RD:The taste for salt in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 65, 692S-697S, 1997.
7. Sacks, Frank M., et.al.:Effects on Blood Pressure of Reduced Dietary Sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet. New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 344, No. 1, January 4, 2001.

Stare at the plus sign in the middle for about a dozen cycles, and watch how what you see changes, and changes again. It's all about the green dot; oddly, there is no green dot.

Sorta makes me wonder what i walk by and "see" every day, or walk by and do not see. The world is a mysterious place.