The Balancing Act of Athletic Surfaces

The Balancing Act of Athletic Surfaces

Modern sports have given way to a vast array of technologies that have both improved and set back game play. Booming international competitions have increased competitive fervor, but a portion of the charm and spirit of these events, such as with the Tour de France and the Olympics, has taken a drastic hit. Technicality has replaced artistry, and the drive to win has overshadowed the precepts of fraternity and fair play. Even safety has fallen under attack from the pressure to perform at maximum capacity. One of the pieces of technology that also figures into this is the athletic surface.

Benefits of an Athletic Surface

New athletic surfaces and Spurtan products have been used to replace lawns, which are prone to developing ditches and gopher holes; dirt tracks, which can form ruts or bog down runners after rainy weather; clay courts, which both stain shoes and clothing as well as require constant maintenance; blacktop courts, which can be especially dangerous in fast-paced or high-impact sports; etc. The popularity of these surfaces is due to certain safety features, and increase in performance, and relative low maintenance. The relative softness of these surfaces takes some of the danger out of falling and hard landings. The relative tension, with an elastic-like effect, gives an added rebound to your step as well as a bouncing ball, decreasing fatigue during sustained activity. The high-friction surface reduces if not entirely erases risk of slipping while running or jumping. Finally, many surfaces are designed to function in all types of weather and have drainage systems built-in. With no mowing, no compression rolling, no planting and watering, no filling in holes, no repainting, etc., maintenance is relatively simple and inexpensive.

Downfalls of Athletic Coatings

While actively trying to improve the performance of athletes, high-friction surfaces and coatings were also found to have an adverse effect. The same coating that reduced slippage, by necessity, also increased stickiness. After the introduction of athletic coatings, ACL injuries increased because as an athlete tried to stop or turn, artificially facilitated by the coating, the player’s momentum would still be carried in the direction he/she had been headed, sometimes creating shearing pressure on the ACL.

The Balance

An added emphasis has since been placed on player technique. Adjustments to a player’s movement, especially staying on the toes or balls of the feet while turning instead of staying flat-footed, have done much to improve the situation. As technology allows athletes to perform better, it becomes ever more critical that they themselves use the best form that they can.

Choose a Technical Education in Houston

Choose a Technical Education in Houston

Seniors graduating from Houston High Schools are faced with a barrage of options. Jobs, college, technical school, the military and service work are just a few of the multitude of choices young adults face. While more and more people are choosing to attend college, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says there is a vast shortage of skilled laborers in the United States. For that reason, students who are more comfortable with machinery than books may want to consider choosing one of the technical schools in Houston.

College Isn’t for Everyone

While college is a great option for some people, it’s not a “one size fits all” strategy for everyone. First of all, four year colleges can be extremely expensive. Tuition, room, board, books and living expenses can leave students with literally hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt upon graduation. Not all Houston residents can afford that.

In a traditional, four-year college, students are required to choose a major focus of study, but that major only makes up half of the credits required for graduation. Students must also take a variety of classes in a variety of subject matters that often don’t directly relate to that individual’s interests and career goals. To some, these general education requirements may seem like a waste of time and money.

Tech Schools in Texas

On the other hand, tech schools in Texas allow students to focus on one area of work and study. They spend all of their classroom and lab time learning the skills that are required to do the job that they intend to do upon graduation. Some extra math and science may be required, but generally, all classes have a direct relationship to the program the student is pursuing.

This direct focus means that students can complete technical schools in Houston much more quickly than they can a four year degree. Programs range anywhere from three months to two years, depending on the type of program the student is pursuing. Most tech schools offer hands on experience in lab or shop settings and many provide students the opportunity to work alongside professionals in internships, externships or apprenticeships.

Houston Students who know that college isn’t a good fit and who prefer working with their hands, may wish to look into a technical education. There are a variety of schools and programs to choose from and they can lead to a rewarding, lifelong career.

Military Veterans: Choose Vocational Training After Your Service is Complete

Military Veterans: Choose Vocational Training After Your Service is Complete

Military veterans and their families dedicate a great deal of time and personal effort serving the country. Arriving back stateside is a challenging time for many individuals and families. Service members that are approaching retirement or the end of their contract may feel unsure about what opportunity to explore next.

Most veterans are used to working a full-time schedule and want to be doing something useful that will help benefit them financially. Well-meaning family members and friends may encourage traditional college degree programs.

Attending a local on-campus university to obtain a degree can easily take three to five years of full-time study. Most adults simply cannot wait that long before reentering the job market. Transitioning to a better opportunity through a vocational program can take about two years.

post Army vocational training offers a way for prior service members to quickly find employment in an industry that pays a living wage. Many cities where military bases are located have few opportunities unless a degree or specialized training is held. Low-wage jobs in many of these towns pay far under living wage for the area. Opportunities may feel limited when the local area is built around the military base and servicing the soldiers who reside there.

After completing post Army vocational training, one is free to move to another city where there are better opportunities. There are several professional opportunities available around the world. Job seekers who do not restrict the geographic location of their search often have several job offers to choose from.

Several post Army vocational welding training programs have internships available. Hands-on training helps to prepare students for the day-to-day tasks. Successful completion of these internships often result in job offers.

Some veterans are able to maintain their households by working part time or using their military retirement to cover their expenses while in school. Most military veterans are eligible for some type of financial aid. Veterans should always check the balance of their personal education account offered through the G.I. Bill. School counselors can help discuss different ways to cover the cost of classes.

The best way to change the future through education is take action to start post Army vocational training. The skills that will be learned can be used in a number of different industries. Moving into a full-time income can be done upon completion of post Army vocational welding training.

LED Home Lighting - The Light Of The Future

LED home lighting is something a lot of people are using today. Many of them just use it for specific applications (i.e. lighting Christmas decorations). However, a lot of these same people do not even realize that using LED lighting in other areas of the house is doable as well. There are a number of advantages to doing this.

LED vs.Traditional lights

The main difference between regular lights and LED is that the former ones waste as much as 98% of the electricity they get through heat. On the other hand, LED uses almost all the electricity for lighting. Virtually none of it gets wasted from heat.

However, traditional lighting sources are better for lighting large areas, because they shine in every direction. LED is only able to shine in one direction. This is why they are often used as spotlights. LED is also more durable, and in many instances they can last for 30+ years.

As you might expect because of the efficiency, LED lights are much cheaper. The price for the lifespan of the light is probably going to be less than the bulb itself cost upfront.

This is in stark contrast to traditional light sources, which are very expensive to use due to all the wasted energy. In fact, with standard lights you will generally spend about 500 times of the initial expense over the lifespan of the lights.

LED lights are also very safe. There is almost no fire danger at all, due to the lack of heat they produce. This makes them ideal spot lamps. They are far better than the halogen lamps many people use as spotlights. Halogen lamps are actually very inefficient, and you will waste a huge amount of money with them.

How to use LED lights

The reality is that they are not efficient for lighting the entire house, due to their inability to shine in every direction. However, they are very effective for displaying shelves in the kitchen, along with the sink and maybe the stove. If you are currently using halogen lamps for these applications, you can save plenty of money with LED.

Conclusion

LED home lighting can save you a significant amount of money over their lifespan. If you want an energy efficient, durable, and affordable light source LED lights are the best option.

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LED Lighting - Now showing in homes and businesses

Is LED lighting the wave of the future. If demand is any indicator, then then answer is yes. This demand has been driven by the efficiencies and cost effectiveness that LED light bulbs provide. The U.S. Department of Energy has indicated that LED street lights consume up to 80% less energy that traditional street lights. Today, some citieslike Sacramento CA are mandating LED systems for street lights and other road signs because of these energy saving characteristics. The average incandescent bulb lasts for around 5,000 hours. However, the operational life of a LED lamp is 100,000 hours, or eleven years of continuous operation.

When designed correctly, eighty-percent of the electrical energy conducted through LED lighting converts to light. In comparison, an incandescent bulb has an electric to light efficiency of twenty percent, with eighty percent of the electric energy being converted to heat energy. If a one hundred watt incandescent bulb burns for one year at an electrical cost of ten cents per kilowatt hour, the cost will be eighty-eight dollars per year. That is one 100 watt bulb. Furthermore, only eighteen dollars will go to light the room. Using a LED system the electricity would cost twenty-three dollar for the year, with most of the cost going to lighting the room.

Businesses are being enticed to switch to LED lights not only because of government incentives, but simply because of the huge savings found by not needing to replace bulbs as often and the tremendous reduction in power consumption resulting in lower energy bills.

To introduce both businesses and homeowners to the world ofLED possibilities, Klus Designs, a company that has been involved in the design and manufacture of LED lighting for over 30 years, build a home with 100% LED lighting. "From kitchen cabinet lighting to bathroom shower lights, the result was nothing less than spectacular. This beautifully lit home proves that LED lights are not just gadgets anymore." Says U.S. marketing manager ZofiaStebnicki.

In April of last year KLUS entered into the United States market by launching LED aluminum extrusions, which was granted patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The LED aluminum extrusions come in various shapes that make them suitable for a wide variety of applications, such as, shelving, walls, exhibitor stands, railway stairs, and a great deal more. As the market for energy efficient light increases, the need for creative and practical designs will also increase. The light capabilities and compactness of LED lighting opens the door to a myriad of design possibilities.

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