630*3 Reinforced Galvanized Spiral Steel Pipe

By Joy Huang

Pre-bending and sizing are the main steps in the spiral tube forming process. The main purpose of pre-bending is to solve the rebound problem of the tube blank, because the size of the rebound directly affects the intrinsic quality of the steel tube; the main purpose of the sizing is to obtain a more accurate diameter of the tube, because the diameter control is the main quality index of the steel tube. one. A suitable match between pre-bending and sizing is required to obtain an ideal steel pipe blank.

The following is a brief discussion on the formation process and characteristics of submerged arc welding of galvanized spiral steel pipes with 630*3 ribs. The principle of submerged arc welding: Submerged arc welding is the use of arc thermal energy welding, and manual welding rod arc welding is different: the submerged arc welding of the welding wire is exposed, there is no coating, submerged arc welding is indeed pre-paved welding flux to be welded The submerged arc welding wire extends into the flux, and the arc is formed under the flux. The formation process of the submerged arc welding is such that the welding wire is in contact with the workpiece. After the start button is pressed, the welding wire and the workpiece are energized, and the welding wire is returned. Withdrawing, the arc ignites, the welding carriage advances, the welding wire is continuously conveyed downwards, the arc is maintained to burn under the flux layer, and the welding pool is formed below the arc. Around the arc, the flux melts to form a cavity. The cavity and the pool continue to advance, and the metal behind the pool solidifies to form a continuous weld. This process is performed under the flux, so we can't see it with the naked eye. It can be seen with X-ray photography. Since the spiral steel pipe adopts the welding technology of submerged arc automatic welding, besides this kind of high production efficiency; the production auxiliary time is less, the time for changing the welding rod is saved; the welding conditions are clean and no spatter, and the cleaning time is saved; the quality of the welding seam is high. It also provides the necessary conditions for the delivery of the spiral welded pipe plant, so that the production time of the large spiral steel pipe is guaranteed, so it is still widely used.

1. The pressure-bearing fluid is mainly used for the X46 welded pipe as the tube blank, and is often spirally formed in temperature. It is used for welding with double-sided submerged arc welding and is mainly used for spiral seam welded steel pipe devices for pressure fluid transportation. The ability of the steel pipe to withstand pressure is strong and the welding performance is also very good. After a variety of rigorous scientific inspections and tests, the use situation is relatively safe and reliable. The solid diameter of the steel pipe is large, the transmission efficiency is also high, and it can effectively save the investment of laying pipelines. It is mainly used for pipelines that transport oil and natural gas.

2. General low-pressure fluid transport is mainly hot-rolled steel coiled tube blanks, often temperature spiral molding, using high-frequency lap welding method for general low-pressure fluid conveying spiral seam high-frequency welded steel pipe. Welding steel with spiral welds.

3. The hot rolled steel strip is used as the tube blank, which is often formed by spiral molding and is made of double-sided submerged arc welding or high-frequency welded steel pipe. It is used for the foundation pile steel pipe for civil building structures, wharves, and bridges.

4. The general low-pressure fluid transport is hot rolled steel strip coiled tube, regular temperature spiral molding, using double-sided automatic submerged arc welding or single-sided welding method for water, gas, air and steam and other general low-pressure fluid transport Submerged arc welded steel pipe.

5. The pressure fluid transport is based on the hot-rolled steel strip for tube blanks, regular temperature spiral molding, high-frequency lap welding method used for pressure fluid transmission spiral seam high-frequency welding steel pipe device. The steel tube has strong pressure bearing capacity and good plasticity, which facilitates welding and processing. After a variety of strict and scientific inspections and tests, the use of safe and reliable, large diameter steel pipe, transmission efficiency is also high, and can effectively save the laying pipeline investment. It is mainly used for the laying of pipelines connecting petroleum, natural gas, etc.

Scleroderma May Cause Penis Problems

By John Dugan

Some chronic health conditions have been known to contribute to or cause a variety of penis problems - so men need to be aware that caring for their penis health may involve thinking outside of the mid-section on occasion. For example, some men with a condition known as scleroderma may find that it brings with it some penis problems that require attention.

Understanding scleroderma

Also known as systemic sclerosis, scleroderma is a chronic disease that affects connective tissue. The name comes from two Greek words which together describe a hardening of the skin, one of the common hallmarks of scleroderma. It's an autoimmune disease, which means that it arises when the body's defense system makes a mistake and starts misrecognizing a normal body function or element as foreign and so takes steps to attack it.

The severity of scleroderma varies widely; in some cases it is very, very mild while in others it can be quite serious. About 300,000 people in the United States have it, and it is much more common among women than men. Most of the time it appears in a person between the ages of 25 and 55.

When scleroderma occurs, it can cause changes to various body parts, including the skin, muscles, blood vessels and sometimes internal organs. Common symptoms include hardened skin, poor blood flow (especially to extremities), fatigue, and stiffness. In some instances, a person may have esophagus issues.

Penis problems

As mentioned, scleroderma is a connective tissue disorder. An affected person may find they have an excess growth of connective tissue, which results in the hardening. Peyronie's disease, in which the penis bends at an abnormal angle, is often a result of problems with connective tissue. In many cases, the excess curvature is accompanied by pain during erections. In some cases, the curvature is so severe that it precludes partner penetration.

Even in the absence of excess curvature, some men with scleroderma experience pain or tenderness in the penis that may also contribute to penis problems.

Since fatigue is a common symptom of the disorder, a man with this condition may find that he lacks the stamina to have extended sexual engagement. He may start out strong but find that he "winds down" earlier than he would like due to lack of energy.

Poor blood flow, which is often caused by cardiovascular issue associated with scleroderma, can also affect the penis. The penis becomes erect when a rush of blood enters the penis, becomes trapped, and causes the penis to swell. Scleroderma can impede this process, resulting in erectile dysfunction of varying significance.

Treatment

Scleroderma does not have a cure, so doctors tend to treat the symptoms of the disorder. General treatments may attempt to redirect the immune system. Penis problems will usually be dealt with by addressing the related cause. For example, developing strategies to cure fatigue or to strengthen blood flow may be recommended. Couples may find that there are particular times of day or positions that can help them counteract the practical effects of the disorder.

Treating penis problems related to scleroderma will be easier if the overall health of the penis is good. One way to help properly maintain that health is via the daily application of a first rate    penis health cr�me (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Men should search out a cr�me that contains an ingredient called L-arginine. This is an amino acid which plays a role in developing nitric oxide, which in turn helps penile blood vessels expand when there is a rush of blood to the organ. The cr�me should also include vitamin C, which is a key component of collagen which contributes to penile skin elasticity and tone and which also aids in penile blood flow.

Visit www.menshealthfirst.com for more information about treating common penis health problems, including soreness, redness and loss of penis sensation. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous online web sites.

Why You Should Never Settle For Less

By Sergei VanBellinghen

Why you should never settle for less than you deserve is a good reason to refuse to live an ordinary existence. Your dreams transform into a belief in yourself and your abilities. It is a journey of ever constant evolution toward the goals in your life. Suddenly, the impossible develops into the possible.

But why do people choose to give in instead of struggling to get better opportunities? What about your life? Are you ready to keep going when things get hard? Or do you settle down for less?

So many people settle for ordinary in many aspects of their lives on a daily basis. They accept jobs they hate, deal with friends who let them down and let their relatives get away with wrongdoings. And if they do settle in life, it is because much too often, fear paralyzes and holds them back.

Furthermore, people suffer tremendous amounts of self-doubt. They are unable to believe they are good enough. There are always better options out there, but so many people have low self-esteem, which prevents them from understanding they can get better.

"When it's obvious that the goal cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." - Confucius

When Reality Gets in Your Way
Those words are maybe the best piece of advice you are ever going to get. Write them down. Burn or tattoo them onto your soul. Once you set a goal and decided in your life that you want to make come true, do not settle for less or let anything stop you from reaching it.

And yes, as you go forward, the reality is going to get in your way. There will be an inevitable slew of obstacles coming at you. But when it gets hard and you think that the path you take is not going to lead you where you want to go; do not abandon.

Rather than giving up on what you said you were going to do, find a different path. And you have to make that the cornerstone of your identity, in refusing to settle for less, bend or be broken by challenges or obstacles.

Never Settle or Change Your Goal
So instead, you rise to those challenges, doing whatever you have to, and devising any plan to find a way through it. Once that becomes your reaction, your life will change. Do not change what you believe in or your dream, but simply find another path in your creativity or someone who can help you.

You have to do whatever it takes to get on the other side of it and build the life you want to see. But if your reaction is to change your goal, to make it easier by settling for less than whom you can be, you never are going to have something worth having.

"The way you conquer self-doubt is by doing things that make you uncomfortable." - Jesse I.

Fear the Biggest Enemy
But what is it that stops someone? The reason most people adjust their goals, settle for less, lower the bar or make it easier is because they are afraid. They are scared of what it says about them, thinking they cannot accomplish it, and even fearful of dreaming big.

And yes, most people are terrified of change, failure and even taking risks. This is one of the main reasons many of them settle for less in life. Yet, it is not about improbable goals or realization. It is about changing the things you can to be happy, not simply drifting along in life and complaining.

So, it is far easier to settle for less than it is to get out of your comfort zone. You can create endless excuses to justify the reasons but it results in you looking back with regret. Then, with a somewhat bruised ego, wishing you did not settle. But you must believe that inside, you have what it takes to persevere.

If You Settle You Lose
When something seems impossible, do not change it to something possible but rather find another way around it. There is always a path to make it or no one would have discovered anything in this world. Anyone, even you, can overcome things that were impossible yesterday.

As the generations pass, the level of patience is declining. People lack willpower and sadly make the mistake of picking the first option offered to them. It also applies to dreams, goals, and desires such as getting on a new career path. Things worth having take a lot of time and effort, which most people do not want to work for.

And although something may not be what someone really wants, it is often acceptable and becomes a habit. It then gets more comfortable to sustain that routine than to challenge oneself. Yet, you have to fight through all the obstacles that lie between where you are and where you want to be.

How to Never Settle for Less
Therefore, the minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for. In general, people are lazy. They do not want to make too much of an effort, even if they are unhappy with their current situation. So, they lack the necessary willpower, self-belief, confidence, and ambition to make it.

And many times, people are so frustrated in life. They feel that settling for less will help them create the happiness they want. Yet, people constantly complain about their current situations, but do nothing to change it. Only the ones who are crazy enough to think they can; do.

So, ordinary or average is a place where you often get stuck not knowing how to escape. It is only by changing to a growth mindset instead of keeping a fixed one. In order to change, you must think differently, get rid of what is not working, learn from people with such mindset, create a plan of action and set that strategy in motion.

Why You Should Never Settle
And so, that is the key to accomplishment. The difference between the possible and the impossible is to understand that you should never settle for less. So believe you can get good at anything you set your mind to. Life is way too short to settle for anything less than what you truly want.

Therefore, the only way to reach your potential is to stop settling. You become your thoughts, so stop putting limits on yourself and do not waste your precious time. The moment you begin to settle in the most important roles of your life is the moment you begin to die a slow death.

So make that the pillar upon which all of your identity stands. And when times get hard, just go harder and never settle for less. Once you have the attitude that you deserve the best in life, you begin to get what you want, go places, meet people and wonderful things will come your way.

Sergei VanBellinghen, Personal Growth & Success Expert, Founder of First-Class Lifestyle & SergeiVanBellinghen.com
I help and teach people how to get a fresh start and have a brand-new style of living after a divorce, loss or if single.
I do this by using self-development techniques to help you grow, succeed and have a better life.
Remember, it's not just about growing but also about ending the routine. It's about the lifestyle of working less, living more and enjoying life!
Find Out How! Visit my Website http://sergeivanbellinghen.com and come to discover how I can afford to stay home and travel anywhere I want.

How To Improve Your Self-Esteem And Overcome A Confidence Crisis

By James Nussbaumer

Sometimes how much money we make-- meaning lacking, or not enough, and so forth, might bring on a confidence and self-esteem crisis.

No matter how much you make, how quickly you discover yourself broadening your life, or how much fulfillment your gain from your existence in this world, you can have a self-confidence crisis.

In some cases, things take place that knock the self-confidence right out of us.

Sometimes, our self-confidence is unstable as an outcome of a shift or loss and a single occurrence, like missing out on a due date, getting a bad hairstyle, or spilling coffee on a file can send us storming out of the self-confidence donut shop.

It is typically since your day-to-day plan of life has not consisted of enough self-confidence triggering food for thoughts when you crash and feel you need to boost your confidence.

You have to take obligation for preparing your self-confidence abundance and why I urge you to take seriously the meditation exercises, and making sure you have a, 'dealing with adversity' strength about you.

When you feel you need self-esteem help, do not fret so much or anguish, do not reach for the bottle of bourbon or the ice-cream.

You will get a lot more than self-confidence - you will discover to enjoy, honor and value yourself more and more.

Keep a Personal Self-Help Library

Keeping at your immediate reach a group of CD's, videos, books, DVD's, or other content, perhaps bookmark my blog, and hey, I 'd love you to have my books in your home or office.

Requiring yourself to learn and listen from within you, every day, likewise requires you to set time for everyday reflection.

Practicing reflection principles (one of my favorites right here with a free e-book) can assist you to strengthen what you understand, exactly what you have actually discovered, and exactly what you still have to take notice of.

Expressing Gratitude

Practice appreciation - be grateful for exactly what you currently have and put your attention on all the true blessings you currently have.

This will assist you in feeling richer and more powerful in character and that equates into self-confidence.

Assess Your Relationships

All relationships go through changes with time; some get much better, some get even worse.

If you have relationships in your life that are more of a concern than a pleasure, it might be time to sever your ties - or at least loosen up the reins.

Start New Relationships

Determine individuals that have the qualities you appreciate-- individuals you feel you might motivate you and who might be inspired by you.

Try to find individuals you can have a good time with Enhancing or boost your confidence can be truly enjoyable, if you desire it to be.

A Good Group to Hang Out with.

This might be time for a conventional support system.

Talking over a cup of carrot juice (coffee is fine) with newer friends along with older friends may be a solution.

Arrange your very own group of self-confidence boosters and support each other in making modifications.

Always Consider your Attitude Previously I discussed attitudes when dealing with adversity and practicing reflection principles for building confidence and self-esteem help.

Exactly what do you do that improves your self-confidence means staying on top and in control of that bratty childlike ego-based mind filled with doubt and fear, and exactly what do you do that lets the ego control you.

The Course in Miracles states, "The temptation of the ego becomes extremely intense with this shift in goals."

Workout or light exercise regularly and getting sufficient sleep, speaking your mind and dressing well are habits of highly effective individuals, and is also how successful people grow.

All of this has the tendency to boost your confidence.

Keeping up late, investing all your time with late night TV and stating "yes" frequently to prevent conflict when you actually wish to state "no" will bring your self-confidence down.

Let your Opinions be Heard

We chip away another bit of our self-confidence when we keep interaction since we are ego-based afraid of how we will be considered and looked upon.

The irrelevant circumstances will be practiced for the crucial events that are sure to follow.

Take a Little Risk each Day

If you understood you would be profitable and effective, a tiny risk is and hurts no one something you would be quick to do.

The finest method to boost your confidence is to begin doing things you are scared to do, and then when it comes time to face one of life's obstacles you will deal with the adversity just fine.

In some cases, it takes more than a couple of days to gain confidence, often, it takes a couple of weeks, or so.

The Course in Miracles further states, "This is a time for faith. You let this goal be set for you, and it becomes an act of faith."

Periodically it can take a couple of months to conquer your fears and on to building tremendous confidence. When I took on keynote speaking in front of large audiences, I discovered that.

Just keep in mind always that no matter what you income level is, or your education level, big, tall, short, need to lose weight, or need to do better in a relationship issue, of whatever the case may be, you will get the life you want by being the Real you.

You have to take a responsibility for keeping the ego-based mind in the back seat of your journey through this world while Spirit does the driving.

Make sense?

I hope so!

Continuing to invest in fear and self-doubt only feeds the ego, but only the Spirit in you can move forward in life and find happiness.

Often, it takes a couple of days to boost your confidence which really means not allowing your fears of this world to run your life.

(Also be sure to search the web for more helpful content on dealing with adversity were facing challenges in life are overcome by keep pushing forward.)

To the self-confident you!

You can find related info on topics like, 'goals being achieved and adopting a winner's lifestyle,' and so much more. http://jamesnussbaumer.com/self-healing-natural-aspect/

The link above gives you access to further helpful material and for folks who are interested in letting go of the past and moving on in life to attaining Real Abundance, Purpose, and Wellness in their lives.

Hi, I'm James Nussbaumer, I'd like to introduce myself through my thought provoking self-improvement and inspirational books, articles, videos, Podcast, and other content for a better life, where I reflect on the principles of A Course in Miracles. It's about being all you can be and a life of success and happiness. Thank you for visiting.

How Boredom Opens the Door Towards Self Discovery

By Trixie Ricablanca Angeles

Can you Entertain a new idea?

Can you Entertain another person?

Can you entertain yourself?

As Sidney Herbert Wood said, An educated man is one who can entertain a new idea, entertain another person, and entertain himself.

So, if your answer to one of those question is NO, then maybe you are not using your education the right way.

You are either currently bored right now or have faced boredom once in your life.

You are constantly looking and formulating a plan, to beat boredom - Create drama, take a selfie, ask someone out or do anything - just to kill time.

According to Mr. Webster, boredom is the state of being bored - when one is "feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity".

It's a result of disengagement towards your craft and would usually yield to unproductive results. Something worthless - that you can never be proud of.

A bored person lacks creativity and motivation.

When you are bored, you are craving for something worthwhile to think about and eventually do. Anything that will exercise your brain cells and so as your physical body.

Any person whose boredom is apparent doesn't think and are usually the subject of manipulative people. On top of which, an idle mind is a devil's playground.

How many times have we listened to another person's advice even though we know that he/she never had the results that we want?

We are all guilty of it. We even somethings make advises too, even if we have not gotten into that "success" phase that we want.

As what John Maxwell said in one of his seminars, we listen to travel agents who lure us into a place that they had never been to.

Boredom though, in its naked sense is not at all that bad. You might think I hate boredom so badly. Well, actually not too much. For boredom is an opportunity in disguise.

It guises into something irrelevant but is actually an indicator of something much bigger.

Boredom can open multiple doors that can show you the path towards self-discovery, that will eventually lead to success.

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are, you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."

If you have no goals, No plans, eventually you will have no future.

Start to look for an answer inside you.

Write your goals, your destination, and your dream.

As what Zig Ziglar said, "How could a man hit a target, he could not see. How can you hit a target you do not have?"

Start to design your life the way you wanted it.

Create a target that you want to achieve in your life. Ditch other people's advises too. Be in control of what you do and start working towards your own self-improvement.

Remember that people who dent the universe were not different from you and me. They have two hands and two feet, some even lack one or two, and we all have 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Boredom can help you become a much better version of yourself not by succumbing to its eternal effects, but by defying it - killing it.

Boredom is a symptom of a much bigger problem. It's an infection that can turn into a disease.

A disease is a body not at ease and the cause of boredom is weak thoughts. Thoughts that you can't control. Thus keep on recurring as you feel unworthy and lost - bored.

In order to beat boredom, you have to change what you think.

Because thoughts control feelings and feeling control your actions, which will eventually turn into habits.

Habits then are the single most indicator of success. Good habits always yield great results and otherwise will prepare you to fail.

We think the way we do because of our own beliefs - from our parents, how we have been raised as children and our past experiences.

We were all pre-programmed when we were younger into that paradigm that we thought we couldn't change. Hence our thought process.

Little did we know that we have a choice to change how we think.

How should we do it?

By Disciplining ourselves to think and do what is right - Perform Good Habits.

Disciple can also mean delayed gratification. But then again because of our perception about discipline, it is difficult for us to adhere to these good habits because it was presented to us like a punishment - something that has a negative impact in our lives.

We ditch the idea of disciplining ourselves and rely on a much easier path - becoming vulnerable to what other people tell us because it's easier to take in ideas from other people, instead of thinking of your own and doing it yourself.

It requires courage and effort to show your ideas to the world.

Never did we know that taking all in and not thinking, can kill you one day at a time because you are destined to think and exercise your God-given talent of curiosity and creativity.

So here's what you should do to finally kill that boredom that is slowly killing you too.

1. Reflect

As what Tony Robbin's said, "When you succeed, you tend to celebrate. When you fail, you ponder."

If you get bored, remember it's always an indicator of impending failure. Thus you have to reflect. Look at the past and evaluate what you could do better to change your results.

2. Read a Good Book

It'll open you to endless possibilities. For all the secrets in this world, lies in books. You'll defy boredom by installing more useful thoughts in your brains. Rather than doing something that won't contribute to your personal goals.

3. Write your goals and Create your Journal

Writing your goals down will give you direction. A path you want to walk through or a mountain you want to climb. Create that destination that you want to arrive at.

4. Discipline Yourself and Start Creating Good Habits

This journey is never-ending. You will always be faced with an infamous boredom and you may defeat it today but it can visit you some other time in the future. And when that time comes discipline yourself not by entertaining boredom but instead defy it, every single time.

Boredom is the lack of creativity - to build and create something new. Your body is craving for success and it's an opportunity that you have to distinguish.

You need to acknowledge its presence and when you do, go back to the first step of reflection, read books and start creating your new goal and destination.

Let boredom be an indicator that you have arrived at your previous goal/s and you are thirsty for something more.

Something better and bigger. It's time to step up your game and create more. Your body is longing for success and you have a feed that thirst.

When boredom strikes, kill it by reflecting, reading, writing and moving forward. A cycle that you should never be tired to spin around - again and again.

Life after school? Welcome to the Real World and Make a Difference!

Education Astronomy - A Bevy Of Black Holes In Our Galaxy's Secretive Heart

By Judith E Braffman-Miller

Our Milky Way Galaxy has a secretive heart of darkness, enshrouded in mystery, and well-hidden from our sight. Within this strange region, there resides a powerful gravitational beast--a supermassive black hole named Sagittarius A*--or Sgr A* (pronounced saj-a-star) for short, that weighs millions of times more than our Sun. Although Sgr A* has kept its many secrets hidden from the prying eyes of curious astronomers, it is now finally beginning to tell its story--and what a story it is! In May 2018, astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, announced that they have discovered evidence of the existence of thousands of relatively small stellar-mass black holes, performing an exotic ballet near the dark heart of our Galaxy, where Sgr A* dwells. Black holes of stellar mass typically weigh-in at between 5 to 30 times solar-mass, and this newly discovered treasure trove filled with these "smaller" objects lies within three light years of where Sgr A* reigns in secret, sinister splendor--a bewitching heart of darkness that keeps things to itself.

Three light-years is a very short distance on cosmic scales. Theoretical studies of the dynamics of stars inhabiting galaxies have suggested that a significant population of stellar-mass black holes--perhaps as many as 20,000--could wander inward as time goes by, ultimately gathering around Sgr A*. This recent study using data obtained from Chandra provides the first observational evidence for the existence of such a bevy of bewitching black holes in the heart of our Milky Way.

Stellar-mass objects are born as the result of the gravitational collapse of an especially massive star. This bizarre birth is usually heralded by a brilliant display of celestial fireworks called a supernova. Supernovae are the most powerful stellar explosions known, and they are so bright that they can frequently be observed all the way out to the very edge of the observable Universe--and they can actually outshine their entire galactic host for a brief blink of the eye on cosmic time scales. Stellar-mass black holes are frequently termed collapsars.

A stellar-mass black hole, that is tightly locked in a close orbit with a star, will steal gas from its unfortunate companion. Astronomers term these systems X-ray binaries. The stolen stellar material tumbles into a disk that heats up to millions of degrees and emits X-rays before vanishing into the hungry maw of the gravitational beast. Some of these X-ray binaries appear as point-like sources in the Chandra image.

Therefore, the black hole is observable in X-rays. In contrast, the victimized companion star can be observed by astronomers using optical telescopes. The energy release for both black holes and neutron stars are of the same order of magnitude and, for this reason, astronomers frequently find it difficult to distinguish between the two objects.

Neutron stars are the very dense, city-sized remains of a massive star that has perished in the blazing fireworks of a supernova explosion. Indeed, neutron stars are so dense that a teaspoon full of neutron star-stuff can weigh as much as a school of whales. Nevertheless, the massive stars that are the progenitors of neutron stars are not as massive as the stars that collapse to become stellar-mass black holes.

The good news is that neutron stars sport some identifying attributes. Neutron stars display differential rotation, and can possess both a magnetic field and localized explosions--termed thermonuclear bursts. Whenever these tattle-tale properties are observed by astronomers, the compact object inhabiting the binary system reveals itself to be a neutron star--rather than a stellar-mass black hole.

The derived masses come from observations of compact X-ray sources that combine optical data with X-ray data. All of the neutron stars that have been identified so far show masses below 2.0 solar-masses. None of the compact systems with masses above 2.0 solar-masses, that have been observed, display the properties of a neutron star. Therefore, the combination of these properties makes it increasingly more probable that the class of compact stars sporting masses above 2.0 solar-masses are truly stellar-mass black holes.

Our Galaxy hosts several stellar-mass black hole candidates, which reside closer to Earth than Sgr A*. Most of these candidates are members of X-ray binary systems in which the compact member of the duo steals stellar material from its partner by way of the accretion disk.

No Hair

A black hole--of any size--can be described as having only three properties. According to certain so-called "no hair" theories, a black hole has three fundamental properties: mass, electric charge and spin (angular momentum). Scientists generally believe that all black holes are born in nature with a spin. However, no definite observation of this spin has been recorded--at least, not yet. The spin of a black hole of stellar-mass is due to the conservation of the angular momentum of the massive progenitor star that produced it.

The gravitational collapse of a massive star is a natural process. It is inevitable that when a massive star at last reaches the end of that long stellar road--in which all of its stellar energy sources are depleted--it collapses under the relentless pull of its own gravity, and then blows itself to smithereens in the fiery grand finale of a supernova blast. If the mass of the collapsing portion of the progenitor star is below the limit for neutron-degenerate matter (Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff--TOV--limit), the end result is a compact star. The compact star can be either a white dwarf or a neutron star--but it may also be a still-hypothetical stellar object called a quark star. However, if the progenitor star, that is in the process of collapsing, sports a mass greater than the TOV limit, the intense squeeze of its own gravity will go on and on and on until zero volume is reached and a new stellar-mass black hole is born around that point in space.

According to Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity (1915), a black hole of any mass can exist in nature. The lower the mass, the higher the density of matter has to be in order to give rise to a black hole. No known process can form a black hole with a mass less than a few times solar-mass. If there are black holes that small, existing anywhere in the Universe, they are probably primordial black holes.

Over the past twenty years, astronomers have managed to gather sufficient evidence in support of the idea that our Milky Way does indeed host a supermassive beast in its secretive heart of darkness. There, hidden in our Galaxy's center, it waits for its dinner--a shredded star, perhaps, or a cloud of doomed gas. Because this mysterious object lurks relatively close to our own planet, it provides valuable information to astronomers about the bewitching, bothersome, and bewildering way extreme gravity behaves. For this reason, Sgr A* also sheds fascinating new light on General Relativity. Because black holes are so completely black, astronomers try to understand their exotic properties by observing the light that is emitted from the searing-hot, glaring gas immediately surrounding them (accretion disk).

Treasure-Trove Of Stellar-Mass Black Holes

A team of astronomers, led by Dr. Charles Hailey of Columbia University in New York, used data derived from Chandra to hunt for X-ray binaries that contain black holes residing close to Sgr A*. The scientists studied the X-ray spectra (the amount of X-rays observed at differing energies) of sources residing within approximately 12 light-years of our Milky Way's supermassive dark heart.

The team then went on to select sources displaying X-ray spectra similar to those of known X-ray binaries that showed relatively large amounts of low-energy X-rays. Using this technique, the scientists were able to spot fourteen X-ray binaries located within about three light-years of Sgr A*. A duo of the X-ray sources are thought to contain neutron stars. This probability is based on the detection of characteristic neutron star outbursts seen in earlier studies. For this reason, the two sources were eliminated from the analysis.

Dr. Hailey and his team concluded that most of the remaining X-ray binaries probably contain stellar-mass black holes. The amount of variability that they have displayed over the passage of years is different from that predicted for X-ray binaries hosting neutron stars.

Only the most brilliant X-ray binaries containing black holes are detectable at the distance our Galaxy's resident supermassive black hole is from Earth. For this reason, the detections included in this research suggest that a considerably larger population of undetected, fainter X-ray binaries (at least 300 to up to a thousand) host stellar-mass black holes in the general neighborhood surrounding Sgr A*.

This population of black holes, that possess a stellar companion close to Sgr A*, could shed new light on the mysterious formation of X-ray binaries resulting from close passages between stars and stellar-mass black holes. This discovery could also help future gravitational wave studies. That is because knowing the number of black holes, lurking in the heart of a typical galaxy, can help astronomers better predict how many gravitational wave events may be associated with them. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of Spacetime itself, and they provide astronomers with a new way to study the Universe.

An even larger population of black holes of stellar mass, that are solitary, with no companion star to call their own, should also be dancing around near Sgr A*. According to theoretical follow-up research conducted by Dr. Aleksey Generozov (Columbia University) and his colleagues, there should be more than approximately 10,000 stellar-mass black holes haunting the hidden dark heart of our Milky Way Galaxy.

While Dr. Hailey and his colleagues favor the stellar-mass black hole scenario for their findings, they are not ruling out the possibility that as many as 50% of the observed sources are really from a population of millisecond pulsars. A Millisecond pulsar is a rapidly, regularly spinning newborn neutron star, fresh from the funeral pyre of its progenitor star that perished in the brilliant blast of a supernova. Millisecond pulsars possess very powerful magnetic fields.

A paper describing these results appears in the April 5, 2018 issue of the journal Nature.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a space observatory launched by NASA on July 23, 1999.

Judith E. Braffman-Miller is a writer and astronomer whose articles have been published since 1981 in various magazines, journals, and newspapers. Although she has written on a variety of topics, she particularly loves writing about astronomy because it gives her the opportunity to communicate to others some of the many wonders of her field. Her first book, "Wisps, Ashes, and Smoke," will be published soon.

Strategic Planning - Painting Business Plan - 9 Tips For Creating A Killer Business Plan

By Lee Cusano

The ideal "painters marketing plan" should include these following components

1.) Finding All the Painting Customers You Can Handle. If you know how to do this you got it made and you can make as much money as you want. Whether a small, 1 to 2-man painting operation or a painting company that has a large painting crew, you can make it happen when you know how to find customers.

2.) Knowing How To Estimate Paint Jobs - for maximum profits, this is the second power stroke that should be in a painters marketing plan. When you know how to get as close to the "threshold of pain" as you can get, (the maximum you can charge someone before price resistance kicks in) whether residential or commercial, you can MAX your profits.

3.) Customer Retention - just how much is a painting customer worth to you? When you know that, you will really do whatever it takes to hang on to them. Finding new customers is not always as easy as painting for the existing ones. If they run out of things to paint over time, how many "referrals" can they give you? Why wait 10 years for them to call you again when you can be painting for their family and friends right now?

HERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SQUEEZE MORE PAINTING BUSINESS OUT OF EACH EXISTING CUSTOMER:

4.) Go the Extra Mile - always do a great job and even do a little more to please your customers. This gets you more repeat business and gets them talking about your painting service. And "word-of-mouth" advertising also kicks in, which is the BEST form of advertising there is!

5.) Thank You Cards - sending out thank you cards after every job completed "shows professionalism" and creates more business for us house painters. Plus they see your contact info again and will put it on file for future use.

6.) Customer Rewards - reward your loyal painting customers who give you lots of repeat business and especially those who refer you to others. Surprise them with a gift card for their favorite restaurant maybe.

7.) A Painting Business Newsletter - these are considered the BEST way to stay connected to your customers. E-mail newsletters are the easiest to send out. Physical mail newsletters get better response than digital ones. Using both in tandem is a winner. The idea is to "stay connected" and never let a customer lose your contact info. That could mean losing out on a $10,000 job maybe or even MORE!

8.) Word-of-mouth - again, this is by far the best form of advertising. Do everything you can to get your customers buzzing about your painting company (in a good way of course) and recommending you to new painting customers. This is the number one thing a painting business owner should incorporate in their painters marketing plan. It's like having a small private army of affiliates selling your goods for you.

9.) Offer Your Painting Customers A Referral Fee. Offer them a 10% - 20% commission for any new business they get you. This could be like putting "gas on a fire" for you. I've never had to pay anyone for referrals but it's an idea I thought I would mention anyway.

Lee Cusano has owned and operated his painting business since 1993 and has been showing others how to estimate and advertise theirs successful plus a whole lot more. Please his website at http://painting-business.com/ for a FREE Report!

Business Marketing - 5 Tips for Buyers for an Effective Product Sourcing

By Bruce Thomsan

Whether you are a seasoned buyer or new to the industry, your biggest secret to success lies in an effective sourcing. It is nothing but choosing and buying the right products for your brand from designers, manufacturers, and wholesalers, merchandising them in an attractive way and satisfying your customers' demands. This helps you in maximizing your sales and meeting your business goals. But, sourcing can be a challenge at times because you might encounter some challenges during the whole process. Like procurement of the best merchandise, costs involved and quality of the products, and many others.

So, here are 5 essential tips that will help you enhance your skills for an effective product sourcing:

1. Be a Good Researcher

To become a successful buyer, you need to be a good researcher. Since every project calls for a different strategy you need to put those extra efforts in learning and becoming more knowledgeable. This means researching what your target customers are looking for, from where you can get the best deals on the products for your store, and creating marketing strategies say, by partnering with local businesses.

2. Keep Yourself Organized

Sourcing is not a cake-walk, it is a serious business. You will have to deal with a lot of things like gathering relevant information and implementing on the tasks that are required to connect the right products with the right customers. For this you need to stay organized and build a system which will help you keep a track of line sheets, contacts, etc.

3. Stay Updated with the Latest Information

This is applicable to every industry. To be successful in a job or business, you always have to stay updated with the latest information. So, as a buyer make a habit of reading blogs and articles relevant to your business. You can also attend seminars, conferences, and trade shows to get deeper insights and increase your knowledge bank.

4. Focus on Building Stronger Relationships

The success of your business depends on the power of your connections and how strong your relationships are with people you are associated for your business. Look for ways which will help you build better and long term relations. Meet them in person and try to stay connected even after a project gets over.

5. Ensure Great Quality Products and Control Over the Costs Involved

Quality matters the most to customers and to win them, you need to maintain it. No matter what your line of business is, you should focus on offering the best quality products. And this is possible only by forming healthy relationships with designers and manufacturers. It will give you a chance to assess the products yourself and stay abreast of the money you are spending, ensuring timely delivery and good quality for your products.

Takeaways
These are some great sourcing tips that will help you deal with any challenges in the sourcing process. Implement them in your sourcing strategy and you will see the results. You can also consider collaborating with   global sourcing companies or buying agents that will assist you at every stage of sourcing and ensure you get the best products and value for your money.

Marketing - Spirituality and Your Business

By Ursula Jorch

Your business isn't just about marketing and income and strategy. It serves a higher purpose. It connects you with others. It serves the impact you want to have, your unique positive contribution to the world.

In order to have that impact, you've got to bring your whole self to whatever you're doing.

When I'm working with my clients, we talk a lot about authenticity in marketing. Authenticity includes bringing your thinking brain to the process, to your strategy. Authenticity includes bringing your feeling self to your marketing: laughter and emotion, your passion for what you do.

Authenticity also includes another realm. Bringing your authentic self into your marketing and your business includes bringing your spiritual self, your connection to the Divine.

Being connected to your spiritual self means you can market not out of desperation, but out of service. You can use your intuition, your inner guidance, blended with your knowledge and emotion to serve that higher purpose.

There's an African word, Ubuntu, that means "I am because of you". I once had a meeting in an African hut with that word painted on the outside. The hut sits in a village that South African leader Nelson Mandela often visited. Every morning, he walked through the village and reached out to everyone he met, connecting with them, just as you are connecting with the people you meet with your marketing, with your business.

In Mandela's honor, an art installation on his walking path, named Freedom's Way, was created, black and burnished metal pillars, 4 feet high at the side of the path, with words like Vision, Freedom, Courage, Resilience, Empathy, Trust, and Unity. Ubuntu.

Ubuntu speaks to our interconnectedness. "I am because of you" - Your spiritual self knows that. It knows that we are all connected with each other. So whatever you bring into the world that contributes in a positive way affects all of us.

One way you can bring your spiritual self directly into your marketing is with awareness of our interconnectedness, that we all are part of the greater Whole.

And you can offer yourself and what you bring by asking for help from your unconscious, the Universe, God, Spirit, whatever you want to call it. What content shall I share that will help bring something positive and beneficial into the world? How will I share it so that people can hear it?

"I am because of you" - Ubuntu. We are all connected. You can make a difference when you bring your whole self to what you do.

Ursula Jorch is a speaker, business coach and consultant who helps entrepreneurs grow a successful business that makes a difference in the world. A 21-year successful entrepreneur herself, Ursula helps you define the difference you want to make in the world and develop strategy and marketing so you have ever-expanding impact.

Find Ursula on her podcast, Work Alchemy: The Impact Interviews1 where she interviews impactful entrepreneurs and leaders like Seth Godin and Marianne Williamson, and at http://www.WorkAlchemy.com for free resources for you and your business.

Foot Health - Best Ways to Care for Your Feet to Avoid Common Feet Problems

By Andy Fish

When it comes to your feet, how much care and love do you give them? If you haven't, you're not alone. We often don't think about our feet until something happens to them. When we get even a blister, it can limit our ability to walk or even wear shoes. What was once a natural, everyday activity we don't put any thought in and in which we take for granted, now becomes more challenging.

There are many things that can put our feet at risk for injury. The most common culprits are flat sandals, high-heels, wearing shoes that are too big or too small, not properly washing the feet, not wearing socks white wearing shoes, not controlling underlying health issues that contribute to foot problems such as diabetes and not keeping one's toenails properly trimmed.

However, what if you have an injured or infected foot? How can you prevent such discomfort to your feet from happening again?

Here are some easy, simple activities you can do to help keep your feet in tip-top shape. After all, happy feet mean a happy you:

1. Stretching. The act of walking, sitting, standing, going up and down stairs and the like can be seen as some sort of physical activity. While they may not technically count as exercise, you are putting in effort. Stretching your foot is a great way to strengthen the muscles, tendons and joins in your feet that can cause possibly painful discomfort. Those with plantar fasciitis, for instance, can greatly benefit from short, daily stretching of the feet.

2. Wear Inserts or Orthotics. Shoe inserts and orthotics are great for making shoes comfortable by shaping them to the individual shape and contours of your feet. They can make otherwise painful and uncomfortable shoes that you'd always wanted to wear, bearable to wear. Orthotics and inserts can relieve pressure, reduce rubbing and provide the unique, specialized support your feet need to be pain-free. There are many types and quality of orthotics out there, so it is important to consult with your podiatrist as to which ones will be best for your particular foot pain or condition.

3. Don't Go Barefoot. While it seems to be popular both for hip style reasons and for perceived foot, joint and leg health reasons, to go barefoot or wear flat shoes that mimic being barefoot, it is advisable to avoid the temptation to go barefoot. While it may seem natural, going barefoot increases your chances of getting warts on your feet as well as tendonitis. When you go barefoot, you also risk injury to the bottom of your feet. Whether you're walking on some cool grass or in the driveway, sharp objects such as rocks and pieces of glass can cut the bottom of your feet. Being barefoot can also increase your risk of getting burns and frostbite to the bottom of your feet as well, such as when you briefly walk on a sizzling road or driveway in summer or briefly step outside to get the newspaper on a cold, snowy, winter day.

4. Wear Proper Footwear. High-heels as well as flat shoes such as flip-flops and sandals can cause strain on your feet as well as give your feet blisters and warts. These types of footwear also can lead to joint, tendon and muscle pain in your legs, hip and back as well.

5. Wear Shoes That Fit. Wearing shoes that are too big can cause blisters. Shoes that are too small can lead to ingrown toenails and crunched toes. While it may not seem practical to be constantly buying shoes, it is well worth the investment. After all your feet are important and so is their care.

While you may not notice the difference your feet make in everyday life, their care and health are important. If you have chronic foot conditions or pain, talk to your podiatrist to get recommendations on effective treatment.

Foot Health - Best Shoes to Ease Plantar Fasciitis

By Andy Fish

If you experience the excruciating heel pain of plantar fasciitis, wearing shoes and going about all day on your feet can be challenging.

Despite the many exercises you do and the countless orthotics you use, it's hard for you to find a shoe that is both stylish and comfortable.

As you've gone out shoe-shopping, you notice that shoes that are designed for this foot issue can be quite expensive.

While there aren't any shoes that can treat or cure your plantar fasciitis, there are plenty of shoes that can help minimize your pain. Before taking the plunge into the investment of a pair of expensive shoes, here are things to look for in a shoe that can ease your pain and discomfort:

Arch support

Provide a rocking motion

Proper alignment

Easy to slide on and off

Closed-in heel that makes the heel stay on your foot

Firm, yet flexible mid-sole

Deep heel cup

Removable insole

Available in wide sizes

Shock absorption

Rounded toe box

For professional women, it can be even more difficult in finding shoes that are appropriate for the office as well as being comfortable. Many think that heels and plantar fasciitis don't mix. This, however, is only partially accurate. While very high heels will cause aggravation and pain, heels two inches or less commonly provide relief.

Most shoes that are designed to relieve this condition will give added support and comfort that takes the pressure, stress and shock off the fascia.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

You likely have heard of plantar fasciitis or know of at least one person who has it. Maybe you have experienced severe pain in your heel or in the arch of your foot. While it is recommended that you talk to your podiatrist about your foot issue, as he or she will be able to properly diagnose your foot condition.

Here is a brief description of what this condition is:

Plantar fasciitis is a painful, common foot condition where the fascia in the heel becomes inflamed, irritated or overly thickened. The fasciitis is the ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot, starting at the heel and going to the ball of the foot.

When the fasciitis pain occurs, it is usually felt in the heel and the arch of the foot. Painful flare-up occur right when one gets up from bed in the morning or who has just stood up after a long time of sitting. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by a variety of things including working long hours on the feet, being overweight, exercising too rigorously, experience an injury, having flat feet or too high of arches in the feet or a shortened Achilles tendon.

While living with plantar fasciitis is a painful challenge, there are shoes out there that can provide much-needed relief. Shoes designed for plantar fasciitis problem relief can also be stylish and appropriate for work.

Certain stretches and exercises and orthotics can complement your shoes to give your feet the comfort and support they need, which in turn can help you go about with your life.

If you have any questions about plantar fasciitis or shoe or orthotic recommendations, contact your podiatrist.

Business - A Brief Introduction to the Programmable Logic Controller

By Syed Ali Zain-ul-Abideen

The term programmable logic controller (PLC) refers to the industrial digital computers that are designed for controlling various manufacturing equipment such as industrial robots, escalators, power stations, and assembly lines. These sophisticated devices are used to control production processes where dependable controls, flexible programming, and ease of troubleshooting is of immense importance.

The significance of industrial computers increases in applications where precision with zero error is critical. Initially, it was the automotive industry that utilized computer-controlled systems in order to replace cam timers and hard-wired relays. Now, computer-driven tools have become a vital part of industrial process control and factory automation.

Unlike personal computers, PLC is capable of performing in harsh industrial environments where temperature, humidity, dust, mechanical shocks and other hazards are prevalent. Manufacturers need a variety of equipment in order to produce a product and make it work for the end users.

All the equipment or devices working on producing something in a facility needs to be organized in terms of time intervals. For instance, in the automobile industry, one device or a set of devices works on painting car exterior and the other machine works on engine parts. One of the functions of an industrial digital computer is to set the specific time frame for machines so that all the processes can be performed in a perfectly harmonious manner.

Industrial computers were introduced in the 1960s and before that, manufacturers relied on cam timers, relays and other similar kinds of devices to streamline their manufacturing processes. They control a wide range of applications from small production systems to large processing plants. Some of the advantages of PLC include:

Ease of maintenance and installation

Accuracy and dependability

Cost-effectiveness

Low power consumption

Higher flexibility and integration

Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and input & outputs are the three fundamental component of an industrial digital computer. Like in the personal computer, CPU plays the part of a brain in a computer as it performs all the communication, arithmetic, logical and memory related operations. The memory component in PLC operates almost the same way as that of personal computers.

As mentioned earlier, the ability to perform effectively for years in harsh industrial environments is what makes PLCs different from personal computers. A digital computer has to be flexible and configurable. The 21st Century process control expects functional flexibility, superior performance, and a smaller form factor from a control system.

The rapid development in the industrial automation technology has made it possible for manufacturers to produce high-quality products cost-effectively and at large scales. Powerful industrial computers, robots, sensors, intelligent and automated devices are the present and the future of modern industries. It would be hard for industries to stay competitive in future without embracing the modern industrial technologies.

BP Automation is an   engineering company in Canada that provides a comprehensive range of automation solutions to manufacturing industry.

Software - Performance Monitoring of Applications and Infrastructure Is Critical For An Enterprise

By Jaideep Khanduja

Performance Monitoring has become a critical factor for all business applications running in an enterprise. There are various reasons for it. Firstly, no application functions in isolation. There is always a dependency either backward or forward. It is either pushing data to another application. Or is pulling data from another application. As a matter of fact, infrastructure is not away from the scan of it. Everything has to be in sync. Because it is the overall performance that matters in the organization. So, even if your infrastructure is modern and state-of-the-art performing at a rocket speed it loses its value if applications residing on it are under-performing. Let us have a look at the rising trends for both - application as well as infrastructure. The key contributors to it are Big Data, Machine Learning, IIoT, etc. SaaS delivery model plays a significant role in this.

Overall, industrial architecture is not as simple as it was a few years back. This is the age of complex applications. Features like Containerization, Microservices, and Heterogenous clouds to tackle data overloads are becoming critical and important. Data, in fact, is flooding from all directions. It is very important to analyze it. There are various ways to adapt to a proper mechanism. It is necessary to learn about each. These are Code-level APM (Application Performance Monitoring), Network Performance Monitoring or NPM, Performance Testing, Real User Monitoring or RUM, and Synthetic Monitoring. Code-level APM is a good tool to report load time and response time. In fact, it smartly figures out the lines of code in the application that are causing these troubles. New technologies obviously require new approaches. For instance, technologies like containerization and microservices need tracking of the tremendous amount of data to ascertain performance.

Looking at the complexities of performance monitoring, vendors offering APM and similar services include machine learning methodologies to attain optimum results in data mining and generate important information. After all, it is the performance that matters most in an organization. And it becomes the responsibility of the IT department to ensure the performance of any employee in the organization doesn't get any negative impact due to the poor performance of an application or infrastructure in place. Usually, it is somebody on the top in the technology department of an organization to own this responsibility. In fact, this is the person who is answerable for any kind of issues in the performance.

For more articles on enterprise technology, you can visit my blog on TechTarget   https://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/quality-assurance/

Computers and Technology - Do QA Practices Deliver the Highest Business Value?

By Mark Watson

A QA team today faces many new challenges related to faster project deliveries, higher user expectations, rapidly changing technologies and support around-the-clock.

The role of the QA team is no longer to simply ensure that the product is delivered defect-free. But now-a-days, QA must also support the organization's strategic business goals and deliver business value through software testing practices. We call this Business Value QA.

It is important to follow more mature Quality Assurance processes, that are designed keeping the following aspects in mind:

From Business Perspective, the QA team needs to understand the business process that a particular application supports and can also be designed based on the criticality of business needs, thus optimizing QA efforts.
From End-user's Perspective, the QA team must follow those software testing best practices that ensure the best user experience.
From Analytics, become more relevant to measure and monitor the business benefits of the Quality Assurance methods and practices, rather than just monitoring testing metrics. This helps to further improve the QA practices and make them more mature.
Traditionally, QA would detect defects, but had no way to predict their future occurrence. In business value QA projects, analytics are used to predict possible defects. In Business Value QA, the objective is to prevent defects from occurring.

How do Business Value QA projects differ from traditional QA projects?

Traditionally, QA projects were designed from the QA team's perspective. Now, the business function's perspective is the centre of focus. This means a change from testing functional requirements to business requirements.

Traditionally, QA would detect defects, but had no way to predict their future occurrence. In business value QA projects, analytics are used to predict possible defects. In Business Value QA, the objective is to prevent defects from occurring.

In the traditional approach, testing plans were created so as to achieve the maximum test coverage. However, in Business Value QA projects, risk based testing is used to achieve the maximum coverage in the most optimal time. Metrics to determine the effectiveness of the QA are related to the business and not just the testing function. Traditionally, QA service providers would work on a fixed price or time-based model, but with Business Value QA, the service provider may work as a partner and price based on defined outcomes.

Techniques to develop Business Value QA practices -

Collaborative approach: Involving the various stakeholders, and having clear communications at every stage,
Lean approach: Focus on faster go-to-market by eliminating inefficiencies and delays in the system.
Early validation: Validation early in the lifecycle can ensure that business requirements are fulfilled at the system level, before integration of the whole. This reduces testing costs as defects are identified earlier.
Automation: Planning for automation at the design stage helps to get a better ROI.
Reuse: Artefacts from a previous release in regression testing can be reused to improve productivity.
Advanced techniques: The use of techniques such as risk-based testing, intelligent test data management and defect prediction leads to better test coverage and productivity.
An organization can gain from the Business Value delivered by the QA function if all stakeholders understand the business perspective, and there is open communication at all stages. The gains are tremendous and include better product quality, faster project deliveries and optimized testing efforts. Hence, there is a need for testing practices to evolve into more matured ones that deliver real Business Value.

SelfImprovement - 10 Little Steps to Happiness

By Jessica J Lockhart

What is happiness? Happiness doesn't mean being joyful or laughing all day long. Although happiness should be defined by each of us for ourselves, a general understanding of it could be having more good moments and memories than bad ones and having an overall feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment. So, how can we have more happy moments?

Give yourself permission. Give yourself permission to be happy. Many of us have the impression that we're not allowed to be happy, that we don't deserve it. Well, we're all WRONG! We ALL deserve to be happy, no matter what others say or even what we believe. And if you look deep inside you, you'll feel it in your gut. I am right. You DO deserve to be happy. So give yourself permission to be. Start enjoying that freedom. YOU CAN BE HAPPY.

Smile... even if you don't feel like it. Yes, smile as often as you can. If you are with people, they'll feel warmer and respond likewise. If you're alone, smile for at least 3 minutes and your brain will take it as a real smile and will start producing feel-good hormones and other chemicals.

Enjoy the now. Feeling bad about the past will not change it a bit and worrying about the future will not make you any more ready for whatever it is that finally happens. Hopelessness lives in the past, fear in the future. Choose the now and make an effort to live it. Only in the now can you truly be free.

Like yourself. Make a list of everything you like in yourself, no matter how small or big and remind yourself of all those traits a few times each day.

Love yourself. Every night, when you go to bed, devote a few minutes to just feel love for yourself. Thank yourself for anything good you did during the day and let the warmth of love fill you up. If that's too hard, close your eyes and look for the little child you once were and who still lives inside you and shower that kid with your love.

Flip it around. Somebody tells you something or does something you don't like? You might get angry, upset or feel ill-treated. Or you might turn it around by being original and choosing to interpret it as a wakeup call or as a funny situation. They called you something... choose to find it funny instead of offensive. They push you, ignore you or even talk about you... choose to consider it just a reminder that we are all humans and, as such, make mistakes. Love the humanity in those who upset you.

Dare yourself. Early in the morning dare yourself to do something unexpected or different throughout the day. Choose the action in the morning so you have the whole day to find the right moment to do it. You don't need to think of very difficult or adventurous plans but just something you wouldn't usually do, like going to a certain store or eating a new type of food.

Share love. Say something loving to one person (or more) today. You can say it out loud or in writing. You can even draw it or sing it.

Try new words. Are you one of those who often uses words such us... 'can't', 'don't know', 'never'... ? Why don't you try to use some easier ones like: 'don't feel like', 'would like to learn' or 'not in the habit of'... ? Or choose a positive or happy word you want to use today and try and apply it as often as you can. Be brave and imaginative with your words.

Count your blessings. Take a piece of paper and something you like to drink and sit comfortably maybe with some nice music in the background. Then write. Write a list of all and every blessing in your life. Start with the smallest ones: I'm alive... to the biggest ones you can feel. Don't leave anything out. Once you're done, leave the list on the table. Read it every morning during breakfast for a week.

Enjoy life... ALL of it,

Humanology http://www.jessicajlockhart.com/en
More information on my YouTube channel as well: http://youtube.com/jessicajlockhart

Sports - Things You Might Not Know About Table Tennis & Its Manufacturers

By Hemant Chaudhary

Playing sports requires quality sports equipment and accessories. Same is the case when you play table sports. You need to have quality accessories like ping pong, table, ball, net etc.

Manufacturers and suppliers offer best quality table tennis equipment and accessories for competition and practice purpose. You need to verify all different types of tables which you want to use in competitions.

With so many table tennis tables to choose from, how you can ensure that you have chosen the best one. Not just the best available table, but one that's best for you.

Most often, you think every, every table is the same, but that's not the reality. And, you shouldn't make an expensive mistake when buying a ping pong!

Find Brief Information about Table Manufacturers

Different organizations are involved in manufacturing and supplying a wide range of table tennis accessories. But, you need to be careful in choosing one. Try checking out the table for your tennis sport, which is manufactured using high-grade raw materials and quality tested has been done at each stage of development. This ensures zero defects as end results.

Using high-grade table-tennis manufacturers are able to design their products in different colors that give excellent bounce and speed to players. There is some ping pong that comes equipped with safety locks and speed breaks in order for better stability.

How to Choose Professional Manufacturers

You should know that not all table-tennis-manufacturers are reliable. Before selecting one, to visit their official websites and make sure if they conduct the quality check of every table, and design the product as per the need of national and international sports clubs, universities, organizations and individual requirements.

Skilled and talented work can only be done with the experienced workforce and infrastructure and professionals working with them produce best quality products with added quality value. The type of table that's best for you depends upon how you intend to use it.

Consider the following:

How often the table will be used:

1. Daily
2. Weekly
3. Monthly

Who will use the table?

1. Professional players
2. League players
3. Club players

Where the table is used:

1. Table tennis events
2. Table tennis clubs
3. Sports center
4. School

The purpose of the table is important but the thickness of table is a key to concern. Lots of people think to buy the cheapest one. They choose one which is usually only 12mm thick and even ball doesn't bounce correctly. The best table tennis tables are the compact ones. Some of them are:

So, if you want to buy a table tennis, make sure who you are buying the table for: is if you're your employees, for students, for your children or for yourself. Choose the table according to the requirements. If you're a first-time buyer, it's advisable to seek the help of a professional and experienced tennis player or coach or any sports player.

News Economics - Crisis Mode

By Dr. Tim G Williams

Due to foreseen events the world has become a meaner, more hostile place. Trumpism has given credibility to the madness. The lust for power, and wealth by men have always given way to the anguish so many suffer. And, too many suffer still. The words of Thomas Jefferson have no place in the America we see today. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, well, it is suffice to say they have all been taken away. They have been replaced by an oligarchy rule. An oligarchy rule that has tarnished the respectability and shattered the credibility that was our birth right when our founding fathers first penned the Constitution.

As a child of the 50's the serenity of my childhood evoked a calmer more thought provoking demure. This was when the pace of life was much slower for it gave time for reason and sanity compared to the insanity of now. And, yet there continues to be no authentic ground swell movement to rid ourselves of the status-quo. A status-quo that is a cancer on this nation. Sure, there is that lone wolf, Senator Sanders who has tried to galvanize national support for much needed reforms. But, unfortunately the mind frame of many can't seem to grasp the cold harsh realities facing this nation.

When we have leaders and much of the public too blind to see, to oblivious to care, to ignorant to face the facts, and too unscrupulous to know what is needed are all the ingredients needed for the impending disaster. The lust for power, control and wealth has turned the United States into a juggernaut of insatiable appetites for more power, control and wealth. The embezzlement of American tax dollars as well as the fleecing the American dream has only further entrenched the oligarchy rule. Today, the rule of law is squarely stacked against the majority of Americans. One cannot help wonder has America's best days are behind her? The status-quo of today suggests that just maybe some 60 years ago weren't so bad after all.

I wonder how many realize what Thomas Paine wrote about over 200 years ago? He stated quite profoundly "A republic is supposed to be directed by certain fundamental principles of right and justice, from which there cannot be any deviation. It is executed by a select number of persons, who act as representatives and in behalf of the whole, and who are supposed to govern as the people would do were they all assembled together. When a people agree to form themselves into a republic they mutually resolve and pledge themselves to each other, rich and poor alike and to support this rule of equal justice among them. A republic properly understood, is a sovereignty of justice, in contradistinction to the sovereignty of will."

Things have changed since Thomas Paine. Now, we have to ask ourselves did we as a people allow America to degenerate to the point of insolvency and ruin? Did we allow the creation of an economic system based on a foundation of greed and fraud? Did we allow an oligarchy bureaucracy dictate to the American people and the world that they alone know what is best not for the country but in reality for themselves? With this latest blunder by Trump in regards to Iran just shows the kind of mentality we have running this country today. This decision alone will affect every American's wallet as the cost of living will only continue to push more Americans into poverty if they are not already there.

Not only do we have to contend with this latest travesty on the American public but we still have to deal with the ramifications of the past 2008 financial crisis. We have to remember just what transpired in 2008 by governmental intervention of that financial crisis to realize just how deceitful our own government really is. When the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act was enacted, essentially the Quantitative Easing by the Federal Reserve, it pumped billions of fresh cash into the same financial institutions that started the financial crisis in the first place was all arranged behind close doors on Capital Hill.

This EESA in actuality did defraud the American public. It rewarded the financial guru's on Wall Street while ignoring the plight of Main Street where millions of Americans are still suffering. The deceit was right from the start when both parties overwhelmingly voted on the passage of Emergency Economic Stabilization Act stating that this Act was going to insulate Main Street and everyday Americans from the mess that Wall Street created. When actually this Act did the exact opposite. It was both parties that rejected a $56 billion stimulus package that would have extended unemployment benefits, increased food aid, and would have funded new construction projects to create much need good paying jobs in a time when the country was reeling form this financial disaster.

Today, the after effects form governmental deception are still being felt all across the country. Our infrastructure is at a point that is putting more lives in danger everyday, homelessness is a national disgrace and the plight of millions where they are so many underemployed is threatening the economic stability of the United States. To top it off we have both political parties that are so inept at understanding what is actually needed to rid ourselves of the quagmire that the US is in. They are completely oblivious to the facts that have made the United States government the instrument of the power elite. The lust for power, control and wealth by an oligarchy ruling class has only deepened the Abyss that the US has fallen into. Then of course there is the Trump Administration who continues to be the epitome of ineptness to the needs of the United States and the world that he is putting not only America in harms way but has made the world that much more unstable.

We the people have to always remember the writings of Thomas Paine and the rest of our founding fathers and put into practice the rudiments of what they epitomized when our nation was founded. Only when we get back to the roots of our founding will the United States break free of the strangle hold of a government that is siphoning off the life blood of our nation and threatening the stability of the world.

Empowerment - The Voice In Your Head Is Not Who You Really Are - You Are The One Who Observes It

By Tony Fahkry

You Are Not Your Thoughts

The biggest lie perpetrated by mankind is the idea that the voice in your head is who you really are.

It's easy to understand why people believe the narrative in their minds because thoughts are real. They come at you every moment of the day and are unrelenting until they wear you down.

To illustrate how much we identify with our thoughts, years ago while meditating, I experienced no thoughts in what was a tiny pocket of time and believed I did not exist.

It was short lived because the experience frightened me to the extent I generated a thought in the next moment to confirm my existence.

This took place within a few seconds, yet it felt like an eternity.

Authors Steven C. Hayes and Spencer Smith explain in Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment how we form a conceptualised self which is difficult to move beyond: "The exciting part about seeing your own conceptualized self as something you hold on to arbitrarily is that truly new narratives may be possible that are, right now, outside of the story currently being told. But it can be frightening to open up to possibilities that go beyond your conceptualized self. If you are not your thoughts, then who are you?"

In this day and age we're inundated with external noise. It has become more difficult than ever to tune it out, yet simultaneously it is taking place within our minds.

Thoughts do not confirm your sense of self as apparent in the earlier quote.

They are transitory and fleeting electrical episodes in the mind. You don't know what you will think next until the thoughts emerge.

Similarly, you may be tired or hungry and notice your thoughts are scattered.

In contrast, when feeling energetic, your thoughts are more positive. This is when people claim they are at their best and indicative of who they are.

I would argue you are not your thoughts at your best nor at your worst.

Who are you then?

You are the receiver and observer of your thoughts. You are the radio receiving and transmitting thoughts, but not the thoughts themselves.

As alluded to in the title, you are the person recognising the experience of the thoughts.

You add context and meaning to what you experience and label it as good or bad judging by how the thought makes you feel. This is not necessarily a bad thing because human beings are meaning-making machines.

It's wired into our genetic disposition to make sense of the world, yet it can also be a double-edged sword if things go wrong.

Thoughts are mostly neutral and have little meaning save for the meaning you add to it.

I enjoy Mary O'Malley's point of view in What's in the Way Is the Way: A Practical Guide for Waking Up to Life in which she writes: "Life created the mind as a tool for manoeuvring through Life, not to be in charge of it. The mind is a wonderful servant, but it is a horrible master. Giving it the task of being in charge of Life has created the world of struggle that most people live in all day long, keeping them cut off from peace and joy."

A Pebble Dropped In The Pond

The greatest victory you can undertake in your personal development is to recognise you are not your thoughts and detach from them. This is difficult to do and requires discipline and self-enquiry.

I have come to respect and pay attention to negative thoughts such as those imbued with: fear, anxiety, anger, etc. by observing them, not responding to them.

This took many years of practice and meditation. Before that, I was constantly dragged down by negative thoughts because I believed the narrative they espoused.

For example, if something unpleasant happened, I experienced negative thoughts that spiralled out of control. They turned into destructive emotional states and soon enough I was caught in a storm of pessimism.

There came a point where I had enough and started meditating in the evening to help me sleep better.

Once I became accustomed to meditating, I started journaling my thoughts and discovered a theme interweaving throughout my thinking process.

I objectively traced the thoughts and examined the underlying mechanism behind them.

For example, if I consumed alcohol and caffeine on particular days, my thoughts were erratic and impulsive.

Similarly, if I consumed a carbohydrate-rich diet high in sugar, I observed the same erratic thoughts.

It wasn't until I switched to whole foods and eliminated caffeine and alcohol from my diet that my erratic thoughts subsided alongside the other work I was doing.

I realise this is an extreme intervention because alcohol, sugar and carbs are key components to a Western diet. Nevertheless, I was prepared to do whatever it took to gain peace of mind.

It's said the mind is likened to a calm pond of water, whereby a thought is a pebble dropped in the pond. The ripple effect of the pebble has an undulating influence on the mind and body.

I'm not suggesting you need to go to the extreme I did. In fact, it took two years of observations and what many nowadays call hacking one's health to notice what worked and what didn't.

During that time I lapsed often, yet it was important to discover how my diet and moods influenced my thoughts.

I embarked on this because I wanted to inhabit my body completely, without a cocktail of chemicals dictating my quality of life.

Sure, I miss foods rich in carbohydrates but the inner peace I gained far outweighs the moments of pleasure carbs offer.

I mention this to highlight how the voice in your head can be influenced by external factors.

If foods and stimulating drinks can influence your thoughts, the voice in your head is not the real you but subject to what you put in your body.

Even Negative Thoughts Are Useful

To gain a better understanding of your thoughts requires becoming self-aware and mindful of your inner world.

Loch Kelly explains this in Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness: "One of the most important things to learn is how to separate awareness from thinking, and then we can see that thoughts and emotions are not the centre of who we are."

Many people are driven by their unconscious desires and constantly react to their external environment.

They are governed by what takes place outside, it becomes difficult to make sense of what is happening within.

To summarise the plan I undertook to make peace with my thoughts:

1. Journal my thoughts.

2. Be mindful of the foods I consumed.

3. Know how alcohol and caffeine affect me once they are consumed, particularly in the ensuing hours and days.

4. Observe my moods throughout the day while paying attention to external triggers.

5. Be aware when my blood sugar levels drop which depletes glucose to the brain. This can affect thoughts.

It goes without saying: be sensible and do not experiment with yourself if you are depressed or suffer from a mentally diagnosed condition. Seek professional advice and guidance. This is not intended to replace professional treatment, nor do I expect it to be taken as advice.

Thoughts themselves are not the problem.

The voice inside your head is something you can observe and turn the volume down on.

It is unwise to get rid of negative thoughts because they can serve a purpose.

I discovered this through many years of self-enquiry. It requires integrating them into the wholeness of your being rather than try to abolish them completely.

All thoughts have their place in the mind, even negative ones.

The key is to dissociate from negative thoughts and choose empowering ones in their place.

By turning down the volume on negative chatter you allow the authentic self to emerge.

To live a remarkable life, you must take consistent action in spite of your fears and doubts. Download a   FREE copy of my motivational eBook, NAVIGATE LIFE and embark upon your journey of greatness today!

Empowerment - Multi-Dimensional If You Please

By Alexa Keating

Many people are unaware of the new energy field Planet Earth is moving into. It is commonly referred to as 4D or the 4th Dimension. It is accepted among scholars that our planet has moved from the first and original dimension to the second and finally into the third dimension we have existed in for slightly more than 36,000 years. That is a long, long time to develop habits, ideas and foundations for civilization to progress through. Every reader was born into and existed in the 3rd dimensional energy field. What does this change mean and why is it important to us, the planets inhabitants?

In some fashion we are all aware of the passage of time, some acutely so. Rarely do we allow our thoughts to drift into or try to imagine another dimension. It is almost impossible to imagine something we have never seen and are barely aware of. Yet time passed, lots of time and it happened. We arrived here in a dimension that was far progressed beyond the first or the second one. We are aware of advances perhaps back to 2000 or 3000 years. But 36,000 years; it's hard to go there for anyone! This current time we believe is filled with technological advances will one day be referred to in the annals of history as barbaric and simplistic.

Imagine an approaching hurricane with wide bands surrounding it that contain some of what the actual storm will bring. We refer to these as the outer bands. That is exactly where we are in approaching the new dimension. We have begun to feel the change even if we do not understand what it will bring. A planet approaching a new dimension is a graduation of sorts and something to celebrate. Just like a graduation, there will be enormous opportunities combined with the challenges of change. The complete entry into this new energy is more than 80 years away. Every new decade of babies born into the newer energy field will be more aware of what will be than what was. They are born with enhanced genetics that equip them for this new experience. That 90% of our brain that we always said was dormant is actually multi-dimensional proving this was always a part of the plan for humanity.

Should we ignore this or try to understand it and benefit from what is already available? The choice is yours, as always. What is changing? One vitally important thing that is beginning to be available to us is understanding intent. That is a small word with a huge impact. In the new energy we will see and have a sense of real knowing about the intent of every person we encounter. Imagine how this can change our lives. You will always know if the person next to you or approaching you has a benevolent intent or has practiced charm to deceive you or harbors the intent to harm you! You will be able to know what their real intentions are and then make a far better choice about how it can impact your life. The final choice will still be yours but deceit will be far more difficult to engage in. We will exist in a time far more engaged in truth in our future. But how can you take advantage of it now?

We must consciously begin to read the energy of other people. But how can we do this? Practice taking even a slight moment for your mind to be still and listen. You have to engage your gut to learn this. Allow the signals from your 'gut instinct' to be relayed into your consciousness. Try this with every new person, place or situation you encounter. Be aware of what is before you and then instinctively direct your attention to what your gut interprets from the signals you are receiving. It is the place where real truth is discerned. In this newer energy these signals are felt much more powerfully because there is less interference in the transmission of them. Tune in and don't ignore the information you receive. It can alter the course of your life and help you avoid costly and painful mistakes.

This is just one of the many new opportunities opening to us in the new energy as we adjust and learn to become multi-dimensional, as we were created to be!

This article is an excerpt from the upcoming soon to be released book "Quantum Consciousness.' To learn more about this author please visit http://www.arkconnect.com. To learn more about her available books, please visit http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=alexa+keating+books or your favorite bookseller.