#28 Washington Nationals

2006 WL 71-91
2006 OR 85-72-5

Coming off a promising 81-81 record in his first year in Washington, the Nationals had hopes of competing in the NL East in 2006, but couldn’t overcome an incredibly slow start. Washington went 13-27 in its first 40 games and, while a respectable 58-64 the rest of the way, cleaned house. Manager Frank Robinson was fired while superstar Alfonso Soriano brought his skills to the Cubs. However, there is now an owner and general manager, so management is heading in the right direction. It’s rebuilding time for Washington, and while the future looks bright, it will take a while.

Money

Washington was an average road team as it dropped 6.5 points on the season. Most of that damage was done during that initial 40-game stretch when the Nationals lost 12.9 points in that span. As of May 18, Washington was +6.4 units, so it wasn’t all that bad over the summer. The Nationals were a game over .500 at home and posted a slight gain of 1.7 points, but it was the lousy play on the road that hurt sponsors. Washington was favored too often, 34 times in fact, losing 11.9 points in the process. Taking on the Nationals in the big underdog role wasn’t wise either, as they went 0-6 when they got a money line of +200 or more.

Washington was near the bottom of most offensive statistical categories, but finished 13 games over .500 in over-total contests. This is in contrast to going 23 games down on the previous year. It certainly wasn’t luck as the Nationals had the worst ERA in the National League at 5.03. The bullpen was decent, but the starters, all 11 used at some point in the season, were inconsistent. RFK was a pitcher’s park in 2005 and in 2006 saw 41 of 81 games go by. With an even more suspect starting rotation this season, we could see the disparity get even bigger in 2007 and see a ton of games go by.

Insulted

The loss of Soriano is a blow to an offense that wasn’t very good to begin with. Production will now fall on the shoulders of Ryan Zimmerman and Austin Kearns. Zimmerman has a lot of potential and is coming off a very solid season. Kearns was average coming out of Cincinnati and will need to show more in his first stint as an everyday player. Kory Casto is a rookie outfielder who has a huge advantage after winning the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year award twice. His transition to major league pitching could be difficult. Nick Johnson, who seems to be hurt all the time, needs to stay healthy for this team to score enough runs.

Pitching

This is where the real problems lie. John Patterson is the “ace”, if he can be labeled that. He missed most of last season with a forearm injury and if he can show off any of his 3.13 ERA from 2005, he’ll have a good foundation. The problem is that there is absolutely nothing after that. Mike O’Connor is the Nationals’ returning leader in wins with 10, but along with that has a 4.81 ERA. Former prospect from other organizations, Joel Hanrahan Colby Lewis, is getting looks. The bullpen will be the bright spot, as Chad Cordero is one of the best closers when given save opportunities, while the return of Luis Ayala, who missed all of last season, will further strengthen the unit.

I recently finished teaching an organizational development course where I was given free rein to come up with something cool. I was thankful that no matter how much they teach you about leadership challenges, until you experience one, you’re just reading the menu. Better eat the food, and eat we did!

In one session we had a particularly instructive role play. One of my brave students stepped to the front of the class to play the role of a newly hired consultant to the CEO, me. I decided to be harsh, hasty, impatient and seeking to blame my employees as the source of my problems. My student quickly recognized my attitude as a probable problem and boldly challenged me. But the way he did it seemed condescending to me, and I didn’t like it. So, going into the role, I noticed that I was feeling hurt, angry, and resilient. And, in character, I made it exceptionally clear to my student-consultant that I did not want to be patronized, etc. My heart was racing!

My student had to publicly react to real feelings coming from an authority figure (CEO or their instructor, take your pick). Not exactly the hand he feeds you, but pretty close. A key teachable moment then occurred, as she acknowledged my defensive feelings about her approach. She did it by being empathetic and clear, and she didn’t provoke me anymore. As CEO, I found it more likable, and the passion in the meeting seemed to subsidize. If you’ve ever been a consultant, you know that sensitive situations of this nature are quite common in first meetings with difficult clients.

When the role play was over, I began the class report by explaining that being “right” gets you nowhere as a consultant if you can’t make an emotional connection with the client. To my surprise, the class completely disagreed with me! They applauded the student (literally) for standing up to me and dismissed the risks of her losing my confidence. They thought that as the headstrong CEO, he needed to be challenged.

I could see that one of those perfect teachable moments had arrived: they were consumed with their attention, they disagreed with me, and their banner bearer had beaten me at my own game. So I congratulated my consultant on a hard job and well done. And I encouraged my students to continue to disagree with authority as they saw fit. I’m sure you heard it!

I then explained my personal experience that, in character, my receptivity to the consultant had decreased substantially as a result of the provocation. I suggested that perhaps the element of pride (in both parts) could be worth a little more attention. They weren’t ready to go there with me at the moment, but I could see that my firsthand report had given them something to think about.

Now, I could have simply lectured my students on this topic, and they would have learned the concepts involved. But that is not my goal in teaching. In the social disciplines, what students need most (and what I try to give them) is an emotional experience that provides context for the new concepts they are learning. They need to have the feeling being there.

I received very positive feedback on this class, and one student felt that it led to great success at work. while the class was still in session. So obviously I was successful this time with these students. I am very pleased to know that one of them can boldly involve a CEO one day. If they survived the encounter, that would please me even more.

As a full-time online tournament poker player, I am always open to new concepts, strategies and opinions. So when I picked up this book, written by Lee Nelson and Blair Rodman, I was immediately convinced that there was fresh, new material. Now, whether or not you agree with the strategies presented in this poker book, you need to know your competitor’s knowledge and recognize their strategies as well. Some of which will clearly follow from books like this in years to come.

Nelson and Rodman are professionals at this game and each have excellent track records of success. In this book, they provide the novice player with a simple strategy to implement in No Limit Hold’em Tournaments. Having used these strategies themselves, well, they know what they write about. The premise of the Kill Phil strategy is twofold. 1- Maximize betting your entire stack (it’s No Limit, after all) consistently, thus masking the true strength of your hand, and 2- Negate post-flop play that is usually the domain of stronger players .

The reasoning here is that any time you’re all-in and a presumptive favorite, your potential to build a big stack is very realistic. Also, even if you go all-in with prescribed hands and find yourself behind, you won’t be as underdog. The book shows in detail how certain hands you wouldn’t think to bet with have a good chance of winning a huge pot.

The Kill Phil strategy is essentially a byproduct of how tournament formats are traditionally structured. This strategy was first introduced in David Sklanksy’s Tournament Poker for Advanced Players, but Nelson and Rodman break it down and make adjustments for stack size and position, while also introducing some advanced concepts, which the player of Novice tournaments can introduce you to your game with some experience. .

The writers do an excellent job of explaining this tournament poker strategy, giving confidence to any new tournament poker player. As an experienced person, I found a few flaws in the system, which does not detract from the wording and the generous amount of tournament background information included here. I personally couldn’t use this formula, because a large part of my game is post flop aggression. Also, if you employ these tactics in an online tournament with a low entry fee, let’s just say you’ll get a laugh out of Dodge. I have seen such characters and they NEVER win online. Players like me line up drooling for just the right moment to take these fools down.

But as I mentioned earlier, being interested in new concepts is part of growing and improving as a player. The writers present an excellent short stack strategy that can be incorporated into most players’ games and one that I like to use. Hey, any time you have two players this good, butting heads, odds and strategies together, give them the $25 and read their book.

Many mortgage lenders/brokers treat their loan officers (who are their salespeople) as independent contractors. Those loan officers are paid a commission based on the successful financing of a loan. Mortgage lenders/brokers pay loan officers either when each transaction closes or periodically. The amount paid to the loan officer does not contain a deduction for federal, state or local taxes. Often, the loan officer does not receive any benefits, such as company-paid health insurance or paid vacation or sick time. At the end of each year, mortgage lenders/brokers issue IRS Form 1099 to their loan officers.

As a mortgage lender/broker, you cannot classify whether your loan officers are independent contractors or employees. That task has been given to the Internal Revenue Service, the US Department of Labor, your state unemployment insurance agency, your state department of labor, and your state workers’ compensation insurance agency. Although each agency has its own guidelines, the determination generally depends on the degree of control exercised by the lender/mortgage broker and the degree of independence enjoyed by the loan officer. When the mortgage lender/broker has the right to dictate what will be done and how it will be done, then the loan officer is an employee. Government agencies review the facts related to the behavioral control of the loan officer, the financial control of the loan officer, and the relationship between the lender/mortgage broker and the loan officer. The Internal Revenue Service has a 20-factor test to determine if an employer/employee relationship exists. Such factors include whether the loan officer must follow instructions, receives training from the lender/mortgage broker, works exclusively for the lender/mortgage broker, whether the loan officer can hire assistants independently, whether the loan officer has established hours of work, whether there is an ongoing relationship, and whether regular reports must be provided to a supervisor. The IRS appears to have a bias toward seeking an employer-employee relationship. Even if the mortgage lender/broker has a written agreement with the loan officer that classifies you as an independent contractor, that is not binding on any federal or state agency.

If you’ve been treating your loan officers as independent contractors, when in fact they pass the 20-factor test as employees, what are the ramifications? If the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor finds that you have misclassified employees, they will require you to pay the taxes withheld plus interest, or they may impose penalties that can bankrupt the company, or even file criminal charges against you. the owners. Once the IRS has entered, other federal and state agencies follow them and also assess your fines and penalties. If there is any left over, the loan officer can sue for unemployment compensation, retirement benefits, profit sharing, vacation pay, disability, or any other benefits you may have received as an employee. Many mortgage companies have gone bankrupt because they treated many of their loan officers as independent contractors and failed to comply with wage and hour laws.

How does the Internal Revenue Service or Department of Labor find out about you? Typically, a fired loan officer will apply for unemployment benefits or a disgruntled loan officer will make a phone call to the agency. And the agency will always follow up.

You should also be aware that loan officers are considered employees by the agency that approved your lender/broker license because you are responsible for your actions. Although some states do not require loan officers to be W-2 employees, they won’t care how you classify a loan officer who is in regulatory trouble. Banking Departments make sure that your company monitors the people who operate under the auspices of your license. This requires you to monitor the activities of your loan officers regardless of whether you pay them as employees or as independent contractors. After all, you are responsible for any violation of the law, rules, and mortgage lender/broker policies by anyone, including a loan originator, operating under your license. Therefore, it is in your best interest to monitor them.

This article is designed to be of general interest. The specific information discussed may not apply to you. Before acting on any matter contained in this document, you should consult your personal legal and accounting advisor.

A globe bar with a replica of an antique globe or a current globe is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a unique option for storing your liquor (or non-alcoholic beverages alike) in your home or office. These exquisite globe-shaped beverage cabinets combine elegance and convenience, making them a great choice. Buying one is almost like buying a beautiful piece of vintage art. It is sure to be the focal point in any room in your home or office. If you’re not sure if this is the right option for you, here are some of the advantages of buying and using your own.

Advantage #1: Add Old World Elegance to Your Home or Office

Probably one of the most important benefits that you are sure to enjoy is adding old world elegance to your home. If you love vintage-style decor, you’ll definitely find that a globe bar set is sure to bring this sense of style to any room you place it in. The globes are exquisitely detailed and have an antique style that you are sure to enjoy. Even the shelves of the sets are often hand-painted works of art, and the beautiful illustrations on the set are amazing and impressive. If you want to add a great statement piece to your home that has a purpose, this is definitely a wonderful option for you.

Advantage #2: Lots of storage space available

Another wonderful benefit that you will enjoy with a globe bar set is that there is plenty of storage space for your glassware and stemware. Not only do you have storage space inside the globe that opens, but many of the floor stand bar globes come with functional and beautiful shelves at the bottom, offering even more storage for your spirits and glassware. Some even have side shelves to make it easy for you to have room to pour and serve drinks right from the balloon. With all the storage space they offer, you’ll find it convenient to have everything you need close at hand when you entertain guests.

Benefit #3: Roll it up with ease

You will also find that the Globe Bar Set can be easily rolled up in any area of ​​your home. It will definitely draw a response if you take it right into the room to serve your guests. The globe, whether it has a replica of an ancient map or a current world map, is sure to make quite an impression and your guests are sure to admire the amazing bar as you serve drinks. Since it’s so portable, it’s easy to store in one room and then take it to other rooms when you need it if you want to serve up a few drinks.

These are just some of the benefits that can be enjoyed with bar balloons. It’s easy to see why they’re a popular choice, providing old-world elegance, plenty of storage space, and easy portability. When you purchase one of these bar carts, you’re sure to enjoy it time and time again.

Art through the centuries acquired different forms and designs. First there was naturalism, then romanticism developed, then impressionism, followed by cubism, which was followed by surrealism and finally the trends shifted to postmodern art. Here I would like to provide my understanding on various schools of art.

Naturalism comes from mimesis. The aim of art was to imitate nature. A classic example of mimetic art would be Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa lives through the ages for her enigmatic style. Another example would be Da Vinci’s Last Supper. The art was strongly impregnated with religious motives. What has naturalism brought to the world? One answer would be the representation of a mimetic ethos. There is very little to interpret in naturalistic art but we can admire its imitation of nature. I would also like to take with me the sculpture of David by Michelangelo. What would a postmodern interpretation take? Maybe he would phrase it as if he were gay.

Another style of art that developed during the 18th century was romanticism. What is romanticism? The poet Wordsworth defined romanticism as the spontaneous overflow of feelings. Romanticism captured feelings on the canvas. The canvas was imbued with the rich colors of the Baroque. Romantic painting is fanciful and ornamental. When we think of romanticism in the postmodern era we find ourselves in a catharsis with the past. Goya’s exhibition: Saturn devouring his son can be taken as a classic example. The grotesque Saturn is portrayed as an admirable beauty. Romantic painters are endowed with a passionate neurosis. Feelings and emotions lie with us to contemplate in ecstasy.

Another school of art that developed in the early 19th century was impressionism. The great masters of impressionism are Van Gogh, Monet and Gauguin. Impressionism is a unique style of art. The print is marked by an extensive use of bright colours. The traces remained like scars on the canvas. Impressionism was marked by a tendency for art to become modern. Van Gogh was a brilliant artist who recorded paintings in a style that marked a departure from his predecessors. When we look at Van Gogh’s Starry Night, we feel a passion similar to listening to music. Similarly, Gauguin’s painting ‘where we come from and where we are going’ highlights mythical allegories in brilliant splashes of colour.

Another school of art that developed in the early 20th century was cubism. Its greatest exponent was Picasso. With the advent of cubism, art abandoned its mimetic modes and became the unique creation of the artist. Cubism had a tendency to portray art in abstract terms. Picasso’s Demoiselles D’Avignon features harlots. Her features, especially her breasts, hips, and bottoms, became incongruous with Oedipal fantasies. Another notable Picasso creation was Guernica. Guernica is a fantastic interpretation of the horrors of the Basque bombings, presented in abstract terms. When we look at Guernica we are fascinated to the point of disgust. Cubism stressed that art can be repulsive.

The next school of art to develop in the mid-20th century was Surrealism. My most beloved surrealist artists are Dali and Paul Delvaux. Dali’s most famous painting is the ‘persistence of memory’. The surrealism that followed Freudian psychoanalysis tried to portray art with a conglomeration of reality and fantasy. In the painting, persistence of memory, we find melted clocks hanging from trees and covered by an embryo. The tree can be symbolized as a phallic construction. Melting clocks represent time flowing with streams of consciousness literature. The embryo may represent the artist’s oedipal trauma. Delvaux’s most famous painting is The Call of the Night. In the ‘call of the night’ you see a wasteland with skulls. There is a nude standing in the open air with lush vegetation growing over her head. There is also a nude with a covered head standing outside a building with a candle on her head. Delvaux is trying to portray the ancient fertility rites in modernist terms. The painting can also be interpreted as a sexual awakening. Thus, surrealism tried to portray the dream with reality.

Next I would like to focus on postmodern art. Postmodern art is contemporary and tends to be a rebellion against existing artistic norms. In postmodern art, normal objects are presented in unusual terms. For example: we can take Marcel Duchamp’s inverted urinal. Postmodern art is also famous for inventing pop art, where cartoons, comic strips, and consumer products were drawn as artistic representations. Another interesting example of postmodern art is Rodin’s The Thinker. The thinker can be interpreted in two ways. One in the way that a person has constipation, another like an intellectual balanced in thought. Postmodern art freed art from all inhibitions and pre-existing conceptions.

Bow Flex has created an extensive line of exercise equipment for the home. They have complete home gyms; tread climbers and even free weights. All of these have a place in a good overall exercise routine; however, some are better for the baseball player than others.

Baseball

To play baseball well you will need strong legs, back and arms. You’ll also need a fair amount of stamina to go with the strength you build. Each part will need to be properly worked to give you full performance.

Arms

In baseball, no matter what position you play, you need a strong arm to throw, however if you’re going to pitch, this is even more true. There are two ways to get the muscle tone you’ll need for throwing, free weights, and the different exercises available with the home gym.

o Triceps Push Down

o Seated biceps curl

o Sitting wrist extensions

o Preacher Curl

or many more

These and other exercises available with the Bow Flex home gym will help you increase your strength and flexibility.

Back

Your back is a very important part of your core and as such should not be ignored during strength and flexibility training. A Bow Flex home gym can also help you strengthen this area of ​​the body.

o Lying side pulls

o Lower back extensions

o Lying Shoulder Raise

o Wide straps

All of these are great exercises to strengthen your back and prepare you for the rigors of baseball.

Legacy

One of the most important parts of a baseball player’s body is his legacy. They need to be strong and flexible. This means that along with regular training, you’ll also want to stretch. Everyone from the pitcher to the catcher uses their legs quite a bit. Bow Flex Home Gym Exercises:

o Leg extensions

or Squats

or lunge

o Aversion to legs

o Seated hip extensions

leg press

o Eversion of the ankle

o Ankle inversion

These and others are good exercises for building muscle strength and flexibility. However, it is important that you do not focus on building massive muscles, as a ball player you want lean and athletic legs, not a bodybuilder.

Cardiovascular

Finally, to play baseball you need to be able to run at the drop of a hat, or hit, as the case may be. You can run a little or a lot in a game, the point is you never know, so you’ll need to engage in a good cardio workout to be prepared. Ball players will tell you that most practices you will spend half the time running. Make sure your workouts on the Bow Flex get your heart rate up and give you a cardio workout.

Finally

As with any program, all the exercise in the world won’t help much if you don’t eat right and get enough rest, you’re fighting a losing battle. A Bow Flex can help you get into good baseball shape if you wear it often and correctly.

Public defenders are usually offered by the state and offer free defense services, therefore many people consider using them instead of seeking criminal defense attorneys and attorneys. Although public defenders are dedicated and talented, they may not always live up to your expectations. It can be a little expensive to hire a private criminal defense attorney, but in the end you have a lot to gain compared to choosing a public defender. But why is this so?

1. Criminal defense specialists have all the time

Public defenders may have what it takes to provide exceptional defense services, but with so many cases to handle, they may not end up spending enough time on your case. They are usually loaded with dozens of cases and looking through them can be tedious, especially outside of court. An available professional criminal defense lawyer will have plenty of time to focus on your case and ensure that you get the best results in the end. Private attorneys will usually handle one or a few cases at a time, so you know you’re getting the kind of dedication you truly deserve.

2. Private defense attorneys are not short of funding

One of the things that causes public defenders to fail to deliver defense services beyond expectations is that the public defense industry is not always well-funded to help cases properly. With this deficiency, your ability to invest all efforts in your case is interfered with and you end up not getting the best representation. Criminal defense attorneys, on the other hand, have all the resources they need to do their best in your case so that it is found in your favor.

3. Defense attorneys can represent all types of cases

Unlike private criminal specialists, public defenders cannot represent civil cases. You are only assigned a lawyer for your case when you have been charged with a criminal offence. Private specialists, on the other hand, can tackle all types of cases and represent you legally. There really is no limit to what a defense attorney can do for you and this makes them more reliable in all types of legal situations.

4. You have the opportunity to choose your lawyer

The fact is, when you choose to use a public defender for your case, you do not have the luxury of choosing the attorney assigned to your case. Somehow you will have to find a way to get along with the lawyer assigned to your case, as difficult as it may seem for the two of you to get along. When choosing a private criminal defense specialist, you have complete freedom to choose the attorney you would like to work with on your case. You can view credentials, reviews, and even reputation and success rates before you hire so you can get the best for you.

Usually it will describe our attitudes, interests and is a big part of our personal identity. In the media, the term lifestyle is used in many ways. From health to finance, it has a varied meaning in many areas of our lives.

In the media, the term was introduced in the 1950s and was used at the time to describe a certain style or art. Since its introduction, we all now use the word to determine where we are in society and the lifestyle we choose to follow will ultimately lead us down our own separate and varied paths.

We are all looking for ways to improve our lives and we are constantly receiving tips and advice on how we can be healthier or how we can improve our fashion or style. With all the different places offering advice, it can be confusing and conflicting. Some people may turn to magazines or friends and others will search for information online through blogs.

Seeking to improve your lifestyle in any way can be a big decision and for many people it will come down to wanting to change the way you look or eat. Choosing a healthier way of life has become a top priority for most people as we all search for the best place to get advice and learn the skills we need to achieve our health goals.

Searching for fashion tips and tricks on online blogs is usually a great starting point, we get to learn about a variety of different topics, often covered by extremely passionate people. For example, if you decide you want to get more fit, you’ll be able to go online and find out the best exercise plan for you, all of which will eventually help you improve your health and fitness levels.

Fashion is another place we often turn to when we want to improve our lifestyle. Clothing has the innate ability to make us feel special, confident, and unique or individual. Many of us don’t take the time to think about shopping for clothes that suit our personalities, and finding inspiration and advice from an expert can be a liberating experience.

When you can walk down the street and feel confident and happy in what you’re wearing, it can have a very positive effect and essentially have the power to improve your lifestyle. Trust will allow you to make other decisions in your life that previously seemed impossible. Even something as simple as enjoying that new sweater can make you feel better and happy about yourself.

The expression ‘fashion is passion’ is very true for many people and we all have many options to find the clothes and shoes we want to wear. Fashion has the power to connect friends, unite communities, and make us all feel happier and more comfortable about who we are and how we express ourselves.

Fashion truly has the power to enhance your lifestyle and now it’s easier than ever to find someone or a place you can turn to for tips and advice. Searching online for that person you can relate to and want to learn from is an exciting part of learning about your identity.

When we think of a luxury lifestyle, what comes to mind? Expensive cars, private jets, vacations in faraway places, fancy dinners at fine restaurants, and the like? While wealth has its advantages, a key benefit is allowing the individual the freedom to choose the lifestyle they want to experience. While many appreciate and envy this freedom of choice, it may come as a surprise that many wealthy individuals choose to use their freedom to participate in and promote environmental sustainability, environmental footprint reduction, conservation, and global stewardship. What’s even more exciting is that ordinary people can also participate without the need for extreme wealth.

Bright idea

While the light-emitting diode has been around for decades, we are only just beginning to see this technology transform into a proven tool for replacing incandescent and halogen bulbs while significantly reducing energy consumption. LED light bulbs now come in all shapes and sizes and have evolved from their crude and unrefined beginnings to sharp modern designs that appeal not only to the eye but also to the pocket. They also last much longer than regular bulbs, which is definitely a plus. When considering how many individual bulbs are in a single average-sized home and the expense associated with powering those lights, it’s no surprise that a key priority for many is converting their existing lights to LED lights. The only factor inhibiting the widespread proliferation of LED lights is the initial expense. Not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars to convert all the lights in their home to LED lights, even if they will recoup that money in lower energy bills. The good news is that as more people, such as those who enjoy the luxury lifestyle, demand more LED lights, the cost to consumers will become more reasonable, which will reduce the cost of access to these great products. Some websites even allow you to buy LED lights in bulk at deep discounts and have them delivered to your doorstep, proving that brilliant ideas can be affordable.

pimp my ride

If you think of the rich riding around in their Bentleys, Ferraris, and Cadillacs SUVs, take a look again. Many affluent are making the conscious decision to reduce their carbon emissions footprint by supplementing their collection of flashy, gas-guzzling rides with hybrid vehicles or all-electric rides. Although until recently there were only a few hybrid or electric options for commercial consumption, the range of options has exploded, and with fantastic styling that will turn heads. With brands like Lincoln, Lexus and Porche now producing hybrid options, you can have your cake and eat it too. And for those who enjoy the look of an exotic car, check out the Karma from Fisker Automotive. With styling reminiscent of an Aston Martin, this car definitely fits in the “hot ride” category.

But if you live in a modern metropolis like New York, Toronto, or London, the most appealing option for both functionality and style would be a moped, or more accurately, an electric bike. Electric bikes are powered electric bikes that can get you anywhere pretty quickly, especially when there is any level of traffic. Consuming mere pennies per load and being able to travel 40-50 kilometers on a single charge at 30-50 kilometers per hour, the benefits of this mode of transport are being explored by more and more people. In addition to being slightly more affordable than a car, electric bikes are extremely fun to ride and are perfect for quick trips to the market or visiting friends. The bonus every time you drive your hybrid or electric vehicle is the good feeling you get knowing you’re creating a minimal environmental footprint.

A look at the teak

If you get together often or have a lot of friends over for a summer barbecue, you’ll know that buying a good patio set is an essential addition to your home. Patio sets come in a variety of styles, materials, and prices. In this category of home furnishings you can find everything from the inexpensive and cheerful to the more luxurious with the associated price tag. So how could a patio set have an impact on the environment? You don’t drive it and it doesn’t use energy. The key features that have an environmental impact for garden furniture are the materials used to make the furniture and the frequency of replacement. Cheap garden furniture is usually made from tubular metal that has been painted, along with plastic parts. The materials themselves can be hazardous to the environment as materials rust, paint bubbles and flakes, and plastic components become brittle and break. They have to be replaced every few years with new games, and old games are sent to the landfill and placed in landfills. The cheaper the sets, the more environmentally damaging and less biodegradable the components tend to be. Now, the other side of this corner is the teak garden furniture. Teak is a natural material that is now harvested in an environmentally sustainable commercial setting. Teak has traditionally been known to be high end when created in garden furniture and along with this the price has traditionally been very high. Once integrated into furniture, it will last for generations if properly maintained. In this sense, you can rationalize paying a little more for teak furniture if you know that replacement costs will be minimal.

The picture is getting clearer… But wait!

Bathrooms provide a small degree of privacy and peace in a hectic life. Many cherish the few moments spent in it, taking a relaxing bath, collecting thoughts, and preparing for the start or end of each day. But when you take a closer look at this shelter from the outside world, there are two key points of waste that, when multiplied by the frequency and number of people using this room in every home in the world, that’s potentially a huge problem.

The first is water, specifically hot water. For most of us, hot water is found in a tank in our basement that occasionally uses gas or electricity to keep the internal temperature of the water at a set level of heat. Many people who lead a luxury lifestyle enjoy things “à la carte.” They like television “à la carte”, good food “à la carte” and hot water “à la carte”. On-demand water heaters have largely proliferated in other areas of the world, but they are just starting to become popular in North America. Small devices are installed close to where hot water is needed, and as hot water is called for, the device instantly heats the water to the desired temperature. This eliminates the wasted energy of maintaining a hot water tank when it is not being used.

The second area of ​​waste is paper, most of which goes down the toilet… literally. Toilet paper is the norm for keeping us clean, however there is a large expense associated with purchasing it, as well as addressing the environmental impact of this volume of organic waste. The solution to this problem dates back to the 17th century with the creation of the bidet. Popularized in the early 1900s with the proliferation of modern plumbing, the bidet was not only the epitome of upper-class and elite living back then, but has also experienced a resurgence in this modern age. Although most commonly seen in Europe, the bidet’s health benefits and smaller environmental footprint have attracted the wealthy. A bidet uses a gentle spray of water to wash itself and a dedicated towel is used to dry itself after use, thus eliminating the need for paper products. Installation of this fixture has become a staple in high-end mansions, hotels, and resorts and spas throughout North America, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. For those of us who do not have the space in the bathroom to install an additional accessory, technology has been created that allows the bidet function to be integrated into the toilet seat. This means that with toilet seat replacement and some very basic plumbing, anyone can have access to the benefits of a bidet in their home at a price that is quite reasonable for the average consumer. This is one more way that luxury seekers are affirming their stewardship of the environment in conscious daily choices that can have the greatest impact on their lives.

Conclusion

What we can take away from our brief look at modern technological advances and the enthusiast options available to those who value luxury in their lives, then, is that more than ever the people who have the means to obtain these products are making environmentally sound choices. . So that begs the question, what about the rest of us? We all choose priorities differently in our lives and that is a right granted to all. Some may prefer to make a statement by choosing to drink an organic or fair trade coffee every morning, while others skate or walk to work to save money and the environment at the same time. Whatever your preference, the choice is yours to do what you want to set your priority. The good news is that all of the technologies and products that I have mentioned in this article, if any have piqued your interest, are becoming more affordable for the regular consumer. With its rise in popularity, the growth of logistics and international trade, the availability of information on the Internet, it is not only possible to find wonderful products that are good for the environment, but now you can get great prices. With this in mind, it’s never been easier to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and feel even better about helping the environment.