General Motor's Hy-wire: Car of the Future

Simplicity is the keyword in General Motor's futuristic, biofriendly vehicle, the Hy-wire. For starters, they eliminated the internal combustion engine and replaced it with four small electric motors, one for each wheel. Not only did that dispose of a big, heavy and bulky engine, but also the supporting equipment that goes with it: gearbox, transmission, starter motor, generator, oil pump, water pump, and so on.

In essence, what you need from an automobile is a way to move the vehicle and a way to control its speed and direction. In the past this used to be done mechanically. You had the engine, gearbox and transmission to move the car forward. You had a steering wheel that activated a rack and pinion to twist the front wheels in the desired direction. You had brakes that slowed down or stopped the car and an accelerator pedal that controlled the speed via the carburetor.

With an electric vehicle, such as the Hy-wire, things get much simpler. The electric motors turn the wheels; they receive power from fuel cells, whose fuel consists of hydrogen stored in pressurized tanks. Speed and direction are controlled electronically using the built-in computer. An important advantage of using hydrogen-powered fuel cells is that the only combustion by-product is water.

The result of all this simplification is a much different looking car. The bottom part of the Hy-wire looks like a skateboard. In fact, it is constructed in such a way that the top part can be detached and you could turn a car into a van, for example, using the same chassis, which contains the fuel cells, the fuel and the computer.

The interior of the Hy-wire looks quite striking and very roomy. For example, there is a floor-to-ceiling windshield that gives a panoramic view of the environment. The floor is flat, giving lots of legroom to the occupants. There is no steering wheel and no brake and gas pedals. Instead, there is a joystick-like device for controlling both speed and direction via the on-board computer system.

Instead of rear-view mirrors, it has closed-circuit video equipment. The video monitors also take over the functions of traditional gauges, such as speed and fuel level. The car is capable of speeds up to 100 miles per hour and currently has a driving range of 80 miles.

The current model is a prototype, but there are some unresolved issues. For example, an interruption in electrical power could have catastrophic results and fail-safe protection needs to be incorporated. Also, there is currently no existing infrastructure for the distribution of hydrogen gas, nor have large-scale production facilities been established. Nonetheless, these obstacles can be overcome and General Motors is planning to make production models commercially available by 2010.

In the not too distant future, we can expect some radical changes in automotive design. With the Hy-wire, General Motors has provided one approach to creating a cleaner, more biofriendly planet. Biofriendly Corporation is another company making an important contribution in this regard. Their liquid fuel catalyst, Green Plus® provides a cleaner, more linear burn in internal combustion engines, with a resulting improved fuel economy, increased torque and reduced harmful emissions. For more information about Green Plus visit the Biofriendly website at www.biofriendly.com.

Gas Prices Suck!

Gas prices suck! They're way too high and they're not gowing down anytime soon. So what do we do? Get two jobs and a bike?

I just found this add online for a product that can convert any car engine into a H20 hybrid. As always I am sceptical. I've been driving a Toyota Prius for over a year now, and I love it! I drive a lot for work and it's probably literaly saved me about a hundred a month in gas. So a car that can run on water is very appealing to me...if its for real. Imagine all the good it could do, not only for the economy, but for the planet, if everyone converted to water hybrid vehicles. The best part is that it's advertised for under $200, so it's at least worth checking out. That's nothing compared to how much you would save in the long run, right?

And what about the environment? The war in the Iraq? The Alaskan reserves? Water powered cars seem like a really nice solution, right?

The problem is, I've never been much of a gearhead. I don't "know cars." This site has a video and a short "scientific explanation," but I'm not sure how much of it is bullshit. Either way, it's worth checking out. Click the link below to veiw the article I'm talking about for yourself:

Click Here!

Saving Money with Green Home Improvement

We need to learn to protect the planet that we are living on. This is something that we have to deal with because of the fact that the growing population is actually taking up all the natural resources that we have.

In doing so we are showing that we are going to be without anything in the coming years. That is the worst thing that can happen to a person. You have to see that you are getting less than perfect applications of this when you are doing any kind of home improvement that is not listed as green.

This is something that you have to learn to deal with over the years because home improvement will never be the same when the resources that we have are all gone.

Building green resources is the way to go and green home improvement is going to be the best way for us all to make sure that the planet is surviving.

The managed position here is the fact that green home improvement is not only good for the planet but also for your wallet.

You have to see that the main points of green home improvement are all about saving you money in the long run while saving the natural resources that we have. This is going to be a place in your life that will help you make a change for the better.

Through it all you can see that you are going to have all that is positive in this world because of the fact that you are using resources that can be renewed. This is a good thing for the most part because you have to be very careful about what you are doing.

When you are doing that then you have the best chance to make it happen. That will encourage you to become more green in your life and that is a good thing for the entire world.

Recycled You should be using all recycled or recyclable materials when you are using the green home improvement placement. This is something that you have to learn to deal with overall because of the fact that you have to work the deals out in the right way.

More and more people are finding that they are getting all that they can from the process by simply knowing what is going on. The main system that you have to worry about is knowing the materials.

This is going to be very easy because being green is a big selling point for a lot of companies and as such they are putting it on all the labels they have.

Low Waste Another point about green home improvement is the low amount of waste. This is something that is vital to the whole process as such. You can see that you are getting all that is positive in this deal by simply knowing that you are wasting as little as possible.

Never worry about a little waste because that is going to be the common thing. But you should limit the amount of things that are being thrown away. Always recycle if you can.

How to Beat High Gas Prices, Traffic, and Road Rage

Tired of paying high prices at the gas pump? Does rush hour traffic drive you mad? Try leaving your car behind and using sustainable transportation.

Sustainable transportation is any mode of transport that meets the motility needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, or more specifically, a form of transport that minimizes emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

By using public transit, biking, or even walking, you can save money, use less energy, and do something good for yourself and the environment. Today's roads and highways are jammed with gas guzzling, pollution emitting cars. Every year, over 200 million passenger cars and light trucks travel the miles of American roads. Road vehicles are the largest contributors to smog, and account for about 50% of pollution nationwide. In addition, paved surfaces, such as roads, result in increased urban runoff, which is responsible for impaired ocean shorelines.

Increasing the use of public transportation is one way to reduce the effects of roads and automobiles. Public transportation can reduce the emission of carbon dioxide by nearly 745,000 tons annually. Nationwide, 1.76% of all personal trips consist of taking public transit. 5.1% of commutes to work are taken on public transit. This percentage is higher in big cities and among those with no car or drivers license. It should be much higher in every city.

Riding a bike is another method of sustainable transportation. People ride their bikes for a number of different reasons. 41% of riders claim to bike for health and exercise purposes. These bikers know that riding your bike can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases, and consequently lower health care costs. People will generally bike 3-4 times further than they walk, so this may be the best option if you are traveling longer distances.

If you are traveling a short distance, just walk there. Walking is a great way to increase your quality of life and become much, much healthier. Walking has numerous benefits, including giving you more control over your weight, blood pressure, reducing risks of heart attacks, boosting good cholesterol. Walking can also help in the prevention of stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other bone diseases. Many regions across the country have addressed the need for people to walk more and have implemented plans to encourage such actions. In Atlanta, where most citizens do not consider walking over driving, the Downtown Transportation Management Association (TMA) began an education program with the goal of promoting health and sustainability.

Their promotion of walking for short trips would also reduce traffic congestion in the city. The "Walk There!" challenge that was developed encouraged members of the Georgia State Legislature, City Council, and the Mayor's office to pledge to walk instead of driving. Participants were given a pedometer to track the number of steps they took each week. Weekly and monthly totals were collected, and those with the highest counted steps were awarded with prizes.

TMA also distributed walking maps that they had developed so that walking paths could easily be used. The "Walk There!" Challenge was very successful, gathering over 2000 participants. The coverage of this program was seen statewide, setting a precedent and encouraging all Georgian citizens to stop driving and get moving! Similar programs can easily be implemented within your business or office. They promote walking by communicating the desired behavior, rewarding behavior, and making the activity convenient by providing maps to walking friendly routes.

In addition to these large-scale programs, you can promote walking by implementing smaller "walk at work" programs, in which employees are given a break during the day in which they can walk in the surrounding areas of the office building.

Setting up a buddy system can provide support for employees and keep them set to a healthy routine. Special events, like "Walk to School Day" can get children and families involved, further engraining walking into daily lifestyles. However you plan to promote walking, it is important to shift the mindsets of your employees so that they will start thinking, "I'll just walk there." Using sustainable transportation is a great way to decrease your impact on the environment. It also has great health benefits that can fight heart problems and obesity. By choosing to not jump in your car and replace the drive with a bus ride, bike ride, or a relaxing stroll through the streets, you are choosing to help yourself and the world around you.

What Is A Hydrogen Car?

A hydrogen car is a car that either runs completely on hydrogen or uses hydrogen to supplement the main fuel which is usually gasoline or diesel fuel. Major automobile manufacturers are developing cars that run entirely on hydrogen, but they are either prototypes or hugely expensive to purchase.

Many people these days are adding hydrogen generators to their cars. Some people are buying ready made kits that are already assembled and just need installing. Others are saving money by buying guides that demonstrate how to find the neccessary materials and how to put them together to create a system that creates hydrogen and gets it into your engine when needed.

Do you have the neccessary skills and confidence to build one of these? Only you can answer that question. But, you don't have to be a mechanical genius to do the work. Some mechanical experience is really helpful, unless you know someone who could work with you on the project.

Hydrogen is quite dangerous if not understood and respected. It will explode and burn. So will gasoline. That is why they make your engine run. You will be doing a little electrical work as an electrical circuit is needed to provide current for the electrolysis. Electricity can be dangerous too. Although the danger of electrical shock is minimal when working on your car, the danger of causing an electrical short circuit which may cause a fire under the hood is something to avoid. You don't want to destroy your car. You are trying to save money instead.

My advice is to get your hands on one of the excellent guides available that will go into detail about how to convert your car to a hydrogen car. From there, you can decide whether to do the job yourself or hire someone to do it for you.

Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment For Arthritis

Arthritis is a common yet troublesome ailment. Nevertheless, learning about its causes, symptoms, and treatment can help you alleviate the pain and other debilitating effects related to it.

It is true that having arthritis can be a very troubling and even painful experience. However, if you think that you have this ailment, you can still get a head start in making your situation better. To do this, you need to fully understand what arthritis is and what its causes, symptoms, and treatment are.

Arthritis is defined as the inflammation of joints in your body. This condition is normally present among people in their 50's, although certain young individuals may also have it. There are several factors that can cause arthritis. First is genetics. Although medical experts are not sure on how much genetics can affect the development of arthritis, certain genetic variations have been proven to contribute to arthritis. The second is age. As an individual becomes older, the cartilage of his body becomes brittle and loses its capability to repair itself. When this happens, the development of arthritis may most likely occur.

The next factor that can cause arthritis is excess weight. If the joint has to support too much load, it would have a higher tendency to become damaged. Another cause of arthritis is previous injury. When a joint has been damaged by excessive or blunt force, irregularities may form in the joint's smooth surface. Work hazards are another cause of arthritis. Studies have proven that people who work in assembly line and heavy construction have a high tendency to have arthritis.

After you have learned the possible causes of arthritis, you should identify its symptoms. You should, however, be aware that the symptoms of arthritis are not limited to the ones below. The first symptom of arthritis is joint pain. You may feel this joint pain while moving or doing an activity such as walking, writing, typing, or throwing something. The second symptom is inflammation. You may notice your joints becoming unusually warm, red, and/or stiff.

The next common symptom of arthritis is loss of range of motion or flexibility in your joints. You may notice that you could no longer move a specific joint to a position to which you could previously move it. Other symptoms of arthritis include irregular weight loss, extreme fatigue, non-specific fever, and joint deformity.

Now that you know the causes and symptoms of arthritis, you should learn about the ways of treating it. The first method of treating arthritis is exercise. You should exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day. However, you must avoid any type of exercise that causes joint pain which lasts one hour after the workout. In addition, you should manage to get a full eight-hour sleep every night. Sleep enables your body to regenerate, thus it lets joints heal naturally. Next, you should always remember to practice proper body posture. Stand straight and do not slouch. Lift heavy objects with your hip muscles and not your back. Another treatment for arthritis is physical therapy. Ask your doctor about the appropriate type of therapy for your case. An example is hydrotherapy, which involves mild exercises in the water. Moving on, you can apply warm compress on the affected joint. Do this for 20 minutes daily until the pain and swelling would subside. For severe cases of arthritis, you need to consult your doctor about the surgeries that could cure the said ailment.

Practical Treatments For Your Back Pain

If medical treatments, pain relievers are not working for you, there are various other ways in improving and preventing your low back pains. This can be done in very easy steps and procedures.

Our spinal cord is composed of four major parts, the cervical area, thoracic area, lumbar and sacral parts. Of all these parts, the lumbar area is the most affected when you have back pains. This component bears the weight of the upper body and the heavy objects we were lifting. This division has a main function which is to lighten the weight you are carrying and thus, it provides some help even if you walk with a 50 kilo lift.

Thus, with this important function, it can also have its consequences of pain or discomfort, particularly if you push these parts into their limits. All the division of the spinal cord is supported by strips of muscles, tendons and ligaments for their total mobility and weight resistance. If their limit is met you can have symptoms like back pain, tingling sensation into your legs or buttocks, easy fatigability of your back muscles and maybe some radiating pain on your upper back.

Pharmacological treatments or taking some medications can aid your pain and discomfort. Hence, these medications can cause more harm, especially if you do not know that the accompanying illnesses are. This is why it is not safe to take drugs wilfully, without initially asking your doctor about it. If you are feeling hopeless and do not want any medications, there are some practical guides that will help ease your pain and up lift the anxiety you are into.

First, your back will usually hurts at the time you wake up and after you have done some work. Here are some tips that can help release the tension after you wake up. Prior to that, it is important to know that the proper way of sleeping is also vital in order for you to achieve a painless awakening.

Before going to sleep, do a 15-minute exercise. A two up to three minute stretching and warming up by moving your arms and legs will do. This way, you can alternate the tightening of your muscles and eventually relaxing them. You can exercise slowly with no needed cardio work-up for this one. This means that smooth movements will do. Thus, doing this in the morning, with the same and even length of time, can help relieve your pain. This happens due to the fact that your muscles may be overly worked-out. This is also why proper stretching is needed before and after your job.

Hence, do not work-out if you are having severe pains. For this issue, you need to set a date for consultation with your health care provider.

Experiencing severe back pains is something you need to put your attention on. As for minimal back pains, you can have a certain position while sleeping. It should be like this: if you are sleeping on your back, put a 10 inch pillow under your knees or legs in order to facilitate a flexion of your hips and knees. This is to prevent the tightening of the tendons and muscles of your back. If you are sleeping at your side, this is actually good practice. This is due to the fact that a left side lying will be helpful not only on your spinal cord but also to your heart and blood circulation. While in this position you can strike a pose like having your knees and hips bent. This will aid the muscles and tendons to relax as you sleep. Thus, this can pose a way for reformation of any of your smooth muscle tears, if there is one. Thus, avoid sleeping on your abdomen, on your back or side with your legs straight.

Hence, with regards to the things you can do while at work: If you are standing long enough and you feel that there is a sort of pain coming, do not stand in one position for a long time. It will help if you will move from one position to another.

You can prevent low back pains from straining forward as well. This is by placing your foot on a stool or a step during prolonged standing. Plus, of course, do not lean forward without bending your knees. Aside from this, try to sit if there is a chance to do so.

While sitting, you can sit on a chair with your knees higher than your hips and support your arms on a chair or on your knees. You can also use a lumber roll or a pillow for sitting. If your work needs some lifting exercises, try to bend your knees first. This is accomplished with your back straight. Avoid lifting objects above the level of your elbows as well. Thus, practice may take time but it is imperative for you to do it, because in time, you will begin to feel the improvement on your back and posture. Maintaining your appropriate body weight can also be of assistance in order to reduce some extra load.

Furthermore, after a day's work, you can put some hot packs at your back for about 15 minutes. The packs you will place should have tolerable heat. On the other hand, application of oil and having a massage will have a nice impact on your over all pain relief. Doing these simple and basic steps will really help ease the pain on your back and with the right posture and practice, the instances where in you will experience back pains will be reduced. For people who have intolerable pains at their lower back, make sure that you seek professional help or you consult your physician about it. This may be due to a more severe illness.