Keno back in United limelight

It seems that the Manchester United players celebrated their recent successes with a night out at their local casino, although it is unclear whether any of the high rollers of the football pitch managed to beat the house.

Yes, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Tevez et al, as well as wives and girlfriends, hit the luxurious Manchester 235 casino, hiring out the VIP room to party into the small hours.

It was reported, by The Sun, that the stars did indulge themselves on the tables, placing bets into the thousands (£100,000 between those that were there), although any successes or failures on the tables have not been revealed.

There was plenty of revelry going on, as you might expect for a team that has won their tenth Premier League title in 16 years, but Cristiano Ronaldo was a notable absentee as he preferred to hit the dance floor at the exclusive Circle Club, along with compatriot Nani.

It would seem that the club as a whole has embraced the casino culture as they have now launched their brand new official online casino - Manchester United casino.

One of the games on offer is called Keno and is quite strange to say the least. Whereas some casino games such as blackjack and roulette are as simple as they come, Keno is a little more obscure.

There is no real strategy to it and it should not be a casino game that you should take too seriously as it is a game based purely on luck.

That of course does not mean you cannot have fun playing it and the rules are pretty easy to understand - as there are not too many at all - and it can be enjoyed by beginners or seasoned-veterans alike.

Keno is kind of like a cross between the lottery and bingo and is one of the oldest casino games around - originating in China as long ago as 187 B.C., before Chinese immigrants took the game to America in the 19th century.

The rules are simple - there are 80 balls numbered one to 80 and players bet on which numbers are going to be drawn - selecting between 1 and 20 numbers.

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CMA Report: Poor Air Quality Killing Canadians

An important announcement by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) announced yesterday that poor air quality will cause the death of approximately 700,000 Canadians over the next two decades.

In 2008 Alone:

· 21,000 Canadians will die from the effects of air pollution

· 80% of those who die due to air pollution will be over the age of 65

· 25 Canadians under the age of 19 will die from the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution

Their report entitled, No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution, points to ozone and particulate matter as the two major pollutants that will contribute to these deaths.

DEATHS. And not just deaths for the elderly, as if that weren’t newsworthy, but deaths for otherwise perfectly healthy 19-year-olds.

Combine this CMA announcement, with the air quality buzz that has been generated at this year’s Olympics, and the question that demands to be asked remains: why aren’t air purifiers a standard in every home?

Let’s face it, with 21,000 reasons this year alone, there’s a definite need for these products. And what about all the other people who, according to the CMA, will develop heart and lung illnesses brought on by breathing polluted air—who don’t die?

Still not enough reason? What about 10 billion others. The CMA estimates “the costs of dirty air, in terms of treating the illnesses in hospital and visits to the doctors, as well as indirect expenses for time off work, will add up to $10 billion this year.”

We’re quick to point the finger at others, saying the state of air quality in Beijing is a danger to our athletes, our spectators, and to the Chinese themselves. But far too few are taking the next logical step, and asking, demanding, that North American air quality be improved.

People are encouraged, prompted, reminded to go “green”—but are we really willing to stake our health on the proactive approach of others to saving our planet?

We’re simply not.

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Prescription Drugs in Drinking Water: Four Facts You Must Not Ignore

You've probably heard a hundred times about the high level of water contamination caused by industrial pollutants over the last several decades. But now environmental scientists are telling us that prescription drugs in drinking water are becoming a new threat to our health. By the time you finish reading this you are going to have four, eye-opening facts about drugs in the drinking water you must not ignore.

Fact #1 - The EPA and the National Geological Survey have verified the presence of prescription drugs in drinking water.

Samples from numerous water supplies from around the country have turned up trace amounts of drugs such as anti-depressants, antibiotics, contraceptives and caffeine. Since everything that passes through our bodies eventually ends up in our water supplies, it only stands to reason that all the medications that are taken on a daily basis in this country will make their way into our drinking water.

Since we have a finite supply of water on this planet, it has to be continually recycled and reused. As such, there is a high probability of exposure to these waterborne pharmaceuticals.

Fact #2 - At the present time, the long term health effects of drugs in the drinking water are unknown.

Despite the lack of information about how we can expect these drugs to effect us, medical science is mainly concerned about the creation of "super bugs" from prolonged exposure to even low levels of antibiotics. The experts studying this issue are worried that these super microorganisms could become resistant to antibiotic treatment. If doctors can't fight the sickness caused by these super bugs, many people could suffer and perhaps, die.

Fact #3 - Most of our municipal water treatment facilities are not presently equipped to remove prescription drugs in drinking water.

A vast majority of city water systems still use chlorine as their main method for treating water. Chlorine is a chemical disinfectant and not a filter, so it can do nothing to remove drugs in the drinking water. This means that our home water resources are at risk.

Fact #4 - It is possible to do something, right now, to protect you and your family from the potentially harmful effects of prescription drugs in drinking water.

You should know that there are plenty of efficient, home water purification systems available that are quite capable of removing drugs in the water. The most effective are those that use a multi-stage filtration system. Multi-stage filters are specifically developed to remove SOCs (synthetic organic chemicals). Prescription drugs are made up of SOCs.

In addition to removing drugs in drinking water, home water purification systems are effective at removing all other contaminants that are commonly found in our water supplies. They are also great at producing pleasant-tasting, mineral balanced water.

You may be surprised to find a wide selection of purification products that range from drinking water filter dispensers, to shower filters, to whole house filter systems. The specific purification needs of any household can easily be met, affordably and conveniently.

Make no mistake about it. We can't sit around, waiting to find out how these drugs are going to impact our health. These four facts about prescription drugs in drinking water must not be ignored.

Go Tankless!

In my quest for achieving an energy efficient home and reducing energy consumption, I have taken the next big step in trying to get my combined monthly utility bills below $50. (Read more about these efforts in the ‘Energy Audit’ section of my web site at www.oxbowinspections.com). This is something simple that everyone should do: Install an ‘on-demand’ hot water heater. Most American households spend between $10-$25 per/month in heating hot water. Virtually all American homes have a hot water heater. Typically, they come in sizes of between 40 to 65 gallons. We spend money on utilities (energy) to keep all that water hot… all of the time! Why? This would be akin to putting a full tea kettle on the stove at medium heat, and then leaving it on day and night, forever, just in case we might want to make a cup of tea. This is insane, and of course, none of us would ever do such a thing. But most of us are in fact doing it. We waste energy 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year just trying to keep 40+ gallons of water hot all of the time. This, too, is insane.

The solution? Install a “tankless”, or “on-demand” hot water system. This is pretty new technology for North America. I have been inspecting homes for years, and have yet to see one of these amazing units in operation in any of the homes I inspect. However, tankless systems have been used in Europe and Japan for decades. The American concept of having 40 to 60 gallons of hot water ready and hot at all times… just sitting around and consuming energy 24 hours a day just in case it is needed, is a totally foreign concept to both the Japanese and Europeans. It made no sense to me either as to why I should spend money to heat all that water, and spend even more money to keep it heated all the time… just in case I might want some hot water during the course of a day. So, I purchased a new electric tankless unit for my home from a German company called Stiebel. It took about 4 hours to install. It sits on the wall and is not much bigger than a shoe box. The cost was the same as the cost for another traditional, 50 gallon water heater. So, I removed the 50 gallon water heater tank I was using… and now I have all that space freed up for use as a closet that before, had only room for 50 gallons of hot water. I started saving energy ($$money$$) immediately. My electric usage went from 82.8 kilowatt hours in July 2007, to only 54.6 kilowatt hours in July 2008. This tankless wonder immediately cut my electric bill by more than 30%. It will pay for itself in less than 2 years.

There is no requirement for hot water while I am away from home, so my new water heater heats no water at all, resulting in immediate energy savings. When I am home, this little wonder only heats water when I turn on the hot valve on the sink etc… There is a considerable energy savings as there is no longer a huge hot water tank working 24 hours a day just to keep a reservoir of hot water. The hot water output varies with different models, ranging from the very small units designed for just one sink or one dishwasher, to the much larger units designed for the entire house. Mine is a ‘whole house’ unit, and it still is not much bigger than a shoe box. Fuel savings (electric/propane/natural gas) from my any on-demand system is estimated to be between 30% to 50% per year (they can be 8% – 14% more energy efficient for homes that use a lot of hot water (a lot=86 gallons or more per day)). And, unlike my old water heater which could run out of hot water… the supply of hot water in my tankless system is endless, with flow rates high enough to run a bathtub, two sinks, and a dishwasher… all at the same time, with whisper quiet operation.

This type of system is not suited to every American household. Homes with large families who use their hot water on and off all day long are generally not satisfied with the tankless systems. Using hot water continually throughout the day would negate any possible monetary savings realized by not having to heat a hot water tank. You need to evaluate your own needs and consumption habits before plunging into purchasing this type of system. RULE OF THUMB: Generally, if nobody is home for much of the day, and nobody is awake for most of the night, then there is simply no need to spend money on energy to keep a reservoir of hot water, and a tankless unit is the recipe for you. Most families in America would find this system ideally suited to their lifestyle and would enjoy a considerable energy savings with its use.

What is a Tankless Water Heater?
Tankless water heaters, also called “Instantaneous” or “On-Demand” water heaters, provide hot water only as it is needed. Traditional tank-type water heaters produce hot water all the time, whether it is needed or not. This causes standby energy losses that cost you money, all day, every day, all the time.

How do Tankless Water Heaters work?
Tankless water heaters heat water directly, without the use of a storage tank. Therefore, they avoid the standby heat losses associated with tank type water heaters. When a hot water valve is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the tankless unit. In an electric tankless water heater (like the one I installed in my home) an electric element heats the water. In a gas-fired tankless water heater a gas burner heats the water. As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. How many times has someone in your home “used all the hot water”? That no longer happens with a tankless system. You don't need to wait for a large storage tank to fill up with enough hot water. Tankless systems make hot water for as long as there is a demand. Typically, tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of between 2 to 5 gallons per minute. Typically, gas-fired (propane or natural gas) tankless water heaters will produce higher flow rates than the electric tankless water heaters will. Some of the smaller tankless systems cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple uses in large households. For example: taking a shower and running the dishwasher at the same time can stretch a smaller tankless system to its limit. To overcome this problem, you can install a “whole house” type tankless water heater or install two or more tankless systems, connected in parallel for simultaneous demands of hot water. You can also install separate tankless water heaters for individual appliances, such as a clothes washer or dishwater, as these can consume a large volume of hot water in a short time.

Selecting a Tankless Water Heater
Before buying a tankless water heater, you must consider the following three things:
1. Fuel Type
2. Location, Size and Demand
3. Application

1. Fuel Type
The first thing that you'll need to decide when selecting a tankless water heater is the fuel type. You will need to select between an electric tankless water heater or a gas fired unit that operates on propane or natural gas. Lets discuss the electric operated models first. In my home, I have no natural gas or propane, and the utility company does not offer such in my area. My home is all electric, so my choice was pretty well made for me.
If you plan to purchase an Electric Tankless Water Heater, you must consider the electrical requirements of such a system. These are:
Voltage, Amperage, and Circuit Breaker
Voltage: Many of the tankless system retailers sell tankless units that will accommodate a variety of voltages, such as: 110V, 120V, 208V, 220V, 240V, and 277V.

Amperage: Different electric tankless water heaters will have various requirements in amperage draw. You will want to ensure that your electrical distribution panel (breaker box) can support the electrical demands of your electric tankless water heater.

Circuit Breaker: You must ensure that you have a circuit or circuits that will support your electric tankless water heater. It may be necessary to put your electric tankless system on its own circuit or circuits. This was necessary on my own home.
You should consult with a qualified, licensed electrician for more information. If you plan to purchase a gas-fired tankless water heater, one must consider these two things: the Gas Type and the Venting Requirements. This is a bit more complicated than installing an electric system. If you are uncertain about any of these steps, it would be prudent to consult with a certified plumber or electrician:
Gas Type: You will first need to identify whether your type of gas is natural gas or propane. It is crucial that you examine your current gas line to ensure that it will meet the requirements of your new gas-fired tankless water heater. The requirements of the tankless water heater may exceed that of your existing conventional tank-style water heater.
Venting Requirements: Next, you will need to consider the venting requirements for your specific installation, since gas fired systems do require proper venting. There are a few important things to keep in mind when purchasing the gas venting accessories for your gas-fired tankless water heater.
First, be sure that you purchase only Category III stainless steel (UL1738 certified) venting for your gas-fired tankless water heater. "Type B" venting accessories are not acceptable. Also, be sure to check local building code to ensure that your specific needs will be completely met. Additionally, many tankless water heater manufacturers offer complete venting "kits". Customers should evaluate the needs of their own specific installation to ensure that they will be getting all of the necessary gas venting accessories. Depending on where you will be installing the tankless water heater, a pre-made kit will probably not meet all of your needs. Ensure that you measure out the route your vent will take, and consider where the discharge will go through the wall or ceiling. Then consider the necessary clearances and also consider ample access to air for combustion, only then purchasing the appropriate gas venting pieces. *** NOTE: gas-fired tankless water heaters may still require an electrical connection. Be sure to review your installation requirements for the unit you are purchasing. Now, the next item for consideration:

2. Location, Size, and Demand
When deciding which system to purchase, you will need to consider just where you will need the hot water. Are you looking for a system that will just heat the water at one bathroom sink (called a single point application), an entire bathroom (called a multipoint application), or an entire house, apartment, or condo (called a whole house application)? It is very important to recognize the number of fixtures that require hot water. Each fixture has its own demands. The chart below illustrates the typical flow rates (demand) for some standard fixtures:
Bathtub: Flow rates average between 2 - 4 gallons per minute
Shower: Flow rates average between 1.5 - 3 gallons per minute
Kitchen Sink: Flow rates average between 1 - 1.5 gallons per minute
Laundry Sink: Flow rates average between 2.5 - 3 gallons per minute
Dishwasher: Flow rates average between 1 - 3 gallons per minute
The flow rate is especially important, since tankless water heaters generate a specific temperature rise based on the flow rate demanded. For example, a Stiebel Tempra 12 model, running on 240 Volt power, will raise the water temperature by 54°F above the ambient incoming water temperature at 1.5 gpm, or it will raise the water temperature by 36°F above the ambient incoming water temperature at 2.25 gpm, and by 27°F above the ambient incoming water temperature at 3.0 gpm, up to a high of about 125°F.

A larger unit, like the Stiebel Tempra 36 model, running on 240 Volt power, will raise the water temperature by 92°F at 1.5 gpm, 92°F at 2.25 gpm, and 82°F at 3.0 gpm, above the ambient incoming water temperature, up to about 125°F. This means that if you are using a 1.5 gpm shower and a 1.5 gpm kitchen sink simultaneously, a total demand of 3.0 gpm, the Stiebel Tempra 12 model will raise the temperature 27°F, whereas the Stiebel Tempra 36 model will raise the temperature 82°F.

Next, you should look at your incoming water temperature. If you live in a colder climate like Idaho or Michigan, your incoming water temperature will be much lower than if you live in a warmer climate like Arizona or Alabama. Find out how much temperature rise you will need in order for your hot water to reach the desired heat. For example: If the normal incoming water temperature for your shower is 65°F, and you are using a 2.0 gpm shower, and you want to raise that temperature to 115°F, you will want to look for a Tankless Water Heater that will provide at least a 50°F temperature rise at 2.0 gpm (115°F - 65°F = 50°F). However, if you anticipate additional simultaneous demand, such as the hot water from the dishwasher being used while someone is showering, you will need to add the dishwasher’s gpm to the shower's gpm in order to determine your overall gpm demand and then find the temperature rise necessary to meet your overall needs. All this may seem complicated… but it is not really hard if you take a notepad and tackle one paragraph at a time. Even easier: Most manufacturers have 1-800 help lines that can assist you in selecting the right model to suit your needs. And now, for the final consideration:

3. Application
You may have a specific application or purpose in mind for your tankless water heater. Here are a few examples of the different models and their functionality for a specific application:

Single Point Application
A single point application is one where only one fixture, such as a dishwasher or a shower, will require a tankless water heater. These units can be quite small. Some of them are about the size of a shoe.

Multi Point Application
The "Flow Controlled" range of on-demand water heaters from Eemax are ideally suited to serve two points, like two sinks in close proximity. Eemax Series Two units are ideally suited for residential showers, entire bathrooms, smaller houses, condos, summer cabins and apartments.

Whole House Indoor Use
Larger ‘Whole House’ units are designed to serve an entire house, apartment, condo, or cabin, where multiple points of use will exist. This is what I purchased for my own home, and mine is about the size of a shoe box.

Tankless Water Heater Installation and Maintenance
Proper installation and maintenance of your tankless water can optimize its energy efficiency. Proper installation depends on many factors. These factors include your climate as well as your local building code requirements. You should have a qualified, licensed plumbing contractor install your tankless water heater.
Dappy Jones
OxBow Home Inspections and Radon Testing

Tornadoes - Why We Love These Killers

The lifespan of a tornado can be anything from a couple of minutes to an hour or more. But in their brief life they wreak a destructive havoc on anything in their path. And yet they hold such a fascination that we continue to chase, photograph and explore these monsters more and more with each passing year.

I don't want to talk too much about how a twister forms, but basically tornadoes develop close to the boundary between the up-currents and down-draughts in a storm cloud. The typical funnel cloud of a tornado develops first from the cloud base and then extends down to ground level until we have the familiar spinning vortex.

The winds within a tornado are incredibly strong and can reach in excess of 300mph (483kph) picking up huge objects such as cars and buildings. In fact in a wind of 300mph there is very little that can survive. Even concrete can be blown to pieces. Wind speeds inside a powerful tornado are notoriously difficult to measure as all measuring equipment tends to be destroyed. So really we are guessing at the top speeds.

Fortunately only a very small percentage of thunderstorms will provide the ingredients necessary for a tornado, and even fewer of these tornadoes will actually strike populated land. And thank goodness for that. As an example of the terrible toll a twister can take the 'Tri-State' tornado, which passed through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana on March 18th 1925, killed 695 people during its 3½ hour life along a 219 mile path. This remains the deadliest tornado on record.

But storms chasers actively seek out, follow and intercept these killers. It's much like following a crazy man with a loaded gun, shooting randomly in any direction!

So why do they do this? Well I suppose it is obvious. The thrill of the chase, the adrenalin rush at being so close to danger and of course to wonder at the beauty and magnificence of mother nature's intense power. To catch, film and feel the rush of a tornado at close quarters, without getting seriously injured or killed, is the holy grail of a storm chaser. There is another factor in this, and that is the scientific study of a tornado, to unravel the mystery of how they form and work, and help predict their potential route to help warn people in their path and so save lives.

And though the saving of lives is very gallant, I have a strong feeling that the majority of chasers are in it just for the ride! And good luck to them.

European Politicians mislead the public on the real benefits of Carbon Credits to reduce global C02 Emissions

Although Europe is committed to reduce carbon emissions to 12.5 pct below the 1990 level within the next four years motivated by legitimate public concern about climate change. Outside of the European Emissions Trading System, which caps large emitters, the policy responses in each country differ. The influential Green movement in Germany has ensured large investment in wind power to reduce carbon emissions and similar to the English public they are uncomfortable with nuclear power although it supplies circa 80 pct of French energy. The UK Government increases public taxes on the pretext to reduce global carbon emissions while the Irish continue to explore the flawed concept of rationing through personal carbon levies. The pragmatic Italians have chosen to purchase cheap carbon credits from the Russians to meet their commitment.

The weakness in much of these responses is that politicians cloud the distinction between Europe’s long term energy security including the availability of oil and gas and public and public concern about global C02 emissions.

The world is not going to reduce its dependence on carbon fuels even if oil and gas runs out. By 2030 global GDP will be twice the 2005 level and energy demand will be 50-60 pct higher than today. We will still be dependent upon carbon fuels and global C02 emissions will be significantly higher unless we address where they are growing now. In Europe a commitment to energy efficiency and alternatives to match increases in GDP should enable our carbon emissions to remain stable or decline. The European political and economic challenge is energy security at prices which continues to allow GDP growth.

The European public challenge is to lower global C02 emissions and this should be addressed where the growth occurs through reduce credits services. One euro spent on purchasing a carbon credit which reduces carbon emissions in the developing world can be 100-200 times more effective than spending the same money in Europe. A simple policy option Europe could adopt to reduce global C02 emissions is to increase developing country aid where there is an additional opportunity to obtain carbon credits.

However politicians invariably prefer to spend and waste money locally than make cost effective policy decisions. So don’t hold your breath that European politicians will do much to halt the global increase in carbon emissions.