Knowledge Clouds

Sunday 14 August 2011

Causes of ocean pollution

Ocean pollution, also referred to as marine pollution, is ocean water pollution caused due to dumping of industrial, agricultural, or residential waste into the vast ocean body. Oceans are large water bodies, which provide shelter to millions of marine animal and plant species. Ocean water pollution is a serious threat to the basic survival of these marine species owing to habitat destruction. Most of the ocean pollution causes are land based, wherein human intervention is involved, either directly or indirectly. Read more on marine biology.

Ocean Pollution Causes and Effects

There are several causes of ocean water pollution, and each cause in turn has several adverse effects on various life forms. Life forms affected by ocean pollution include humans as well, but then its the humans who have a dominant role in pollution of water, air, as well as land. Mentioned below are some of the prominent ocean pollution causes, and their effects on marine life forms and humans.

Ocean Pollution Causes
One of the major causes of ocean pollution is the discharge of crude oil, accidental or deliberate, in the oceans. This happens in course of transportation of ships, when these ships discharge their waste in the ocean. Ocean pollution statistics give the gruesome picture of the hazard the marine life is facing. This problem is faced by all the oceans of the world. Transportation of vessels carrying various ores can also lead to pollution of the water body when these ore sediments are accidentally dumped in it.

Statistics reveal that approximately 45 percent of ocean water pollution is caused by marine transportation, while 32 percent is caused by loading, discharging, and flushing of oil tankers. On the other hand, the ocean pollution caused by natural seeps, which is the major natural pollutant, accounts to only 8 percent of total ocean pollution. Oil spills, which are estimated to be close to around 900,000 metric tons annually, are major pollutants of ocean water.

Another important cause of marine pollution is industrial waste dumping. This toxic waste contains various contaminants including mercury, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Garbage dumping, i.e. channeling of human waste into the ocean as a method of garbage treatment, is another major cause of ocean pollution, which can be attributed to sheer negligence on our part. It doesn't just end there. The polluted air, containing gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide also leads to ocean water pollution.

Ocean Pollution Effects
Ocean pollution is hazardous for marine life. Oil spilled in oceans is disastrous for all forms of marine life including coral reefs, fish, and marine plants. Coral reefs are in fact the worst affected as excessive ocean pollution and global warming threaten to wipe them off the planet within a few more years. Ocean pollution leads to depletion of oxygen dissolved in water, which in turn makes it difficult for various sea animals to breathe underwater. Humans are not left out the hazardous effects of ocean pollution as marine life is a major source of food for humans.

Ocean Pollution Prevention

Prevention of marine water pollution emphasizes on identifying the various ocean pollution causes and finding a solution for them. These include

    * Ensuring that there is no leakage of crude oil from tankers by regular monitoring of vessels by proper agencies.
    * Declaring deliberate discharge of crude oil by vessels and industrial waste by industries on land as an offense with a significant penalty.
    * Ensuring that garbage produced by humans is treated properly instead of just dumping it in the oceans.
    * Ensuring that the amount of air pollution, which causes phenomena such as acid rain, is lessened if not totally curbed.
    * Understanding the importance of marine life for us and making sure that we don't cause harm to them.

More importantly, rather than just talking about such measures, proper implementation at all the levels has to be ensured if we intend to make the crusade of 'clean oceans' successful.

These were some of the ocean pollution causes, their effects on various life forms, and the preventive measures we need to take to mend the damage that has been already done. We can't just leave the prevention part to the authorities, in fact, it's the steps at individual level will ensure that no further damage is caused. We need to understand that irrespective of what development we achieve in various sciences, success will always elude us when we take on nature.

Trends for spring 2011

Each season there are new trends that becomes fashionable and trends for spring 2011 is no different. After the jewel tones and abundance of military and tweed that we have seen for autumn/winter, a more softer and brighter color palette is being predicted for spring. We move away from navy, beige, black and gray and shift to brighter hues of egg yolk yellow, tangerine, amethyst, lime green and coral. These are the hottest color trends for spring 2011 that are seen in clothing, makeup and accessories. Spring accessories should be either chunky or bold as it goes well with these bright colors. To dress in your most fashionable best from top to toe, you must know all about the key fashion trends for spring 2011. Here we are going to discuss some of the hot trends for spring 2011.

Spring 2011 Fashion Trends
This spring romantic and floaty dresses in chiffon, lace and organza have made a comeback. Floral patterns, ruffles and beautiful watercolor prints will also be in fashion. The focus this spring is on bright colors that looks good as both daywear and evening wear. Color blocking will also be trendy this season and colors like gold, cobalt blue, fuchsia, lemon green and aubergine are some of the must have in your wardrobe. Strapless playsuits in candy colors in material like cotton and jersey are also quite popular. Skinny jeans are still the hottest jeans this season and you can pair it with a long t-shirt or a pretty ruffled top. Mini dresses are also the perfect spring outfit along with high waisted shorts in neutral hues.

Jewelry Trends for Spring 2011
This season "more is more" as jewelery trends 2011 predicts a return of chunky pieces. Bib necklaces or statement necklaces in crystals and semi precious stones will be popular. Chandelier earrings have also made a comeback and the focus is on long shoulder grazing earrings that gives you a dramatic look. Animal inspired jewelry will be big this season, with motifs like antelope, jaguars and butterflies dominating the trend. Use of layered necklaces in mixed media like ribbons, fabrics, pearls, lace, metal and feather with maxi dresses and cute sundresses are predicted. Antique finishes in jewelry are also fashionable this season. Wide cuffs and colorful bangles worn stacked together will also make a big splash on the fashion scene.

Hair Trends for Spring 2011
The trendy hairstyles for 2011 focuses on casual laid back style that looks fresh and not overstyled. Hairstyles are about volume and curls that looks natural. The very sleek look created with ceramic hair irons and styling gels are very last season. Soft waves and hair that looks a little tousled are the hottest hair trends this season. Use either hot rollers or curling iron to achieve this romantic look. Updo hairstyles are also trendy for spring. But instead of a severe chignon go for a messy bun that has tendrils of hair framing your face. Side swept fringes and low buns are great look for this spring. Avoid using too many products on hair that weighs it down and keep hair soft and natural.

Shoe Trends for Spring 2011
The right shoes can enhance the look of your outfit and the wrong one can totally ruin it. This season shoes are all about minimalistic ones without over embellishment and fringes. When your clothes are so dramatic and detailed, you need shoes that grounds the look. Heels are modest and you no longer have to wear those killer 6 inches that makes you feel that you are going to topple over. Kitten heels and wedge heels are the best shoes to be seen in this season. These are must have shoes for every women and they work well with many outfits. Pair bamboo and wicker wedge heels in neutral colors with long floaty maxi dresses and kitten heels in eye popping color with your cocktail dresses. Classic pumps in neutral colors like beige and white with a pearl finish works well for day wear. For evening you can choose from dull gold, bronze or any metallic colored pumps. Comfortable yet chic ballerina flats are still trendy this season and you should stock on metallic ballerina pumps and denim ballerinas.

This was all about trends for spring 2011. Spring summer 2011 trends are all about bright colors and bold accessories. Knowing about the latest incoming trends for Spring 2011 will help you to look fashionable and chic.

Do the Home Maintinance Yourself.

Is there a growing feeling within you that your house is beginning to look a little drab? For example, perhaps the porch is just not what it used to be, lacking the welcoming appeal it used to have, and every time you pass through it you think: "This place needs some zing added to it." Or perhaps the walls and ceiling in the house have become lusterless, crying out for a paint job. If that's the case, what you can do is girdle up and plunge into a bit of home improvement around the house.

Of course, it goes without saying, that taking on do it yourself home improvements are for those die-hard enthusiasts who have adventure coursing through their blood and love taking chances. Although it must be said that carrying out home repairs can be a satisfying hobby, rewarding those who have the ability to make a commitment to the task until it is completed. Leaving home improvement jobs half done, however, can create a lot of inconvenience for everybody in the house.

You can either opt for a home maintenance scheme to enhance some areas in your house, or go the whole hog and give your house a complete makeover. If you need to do major remodeling or repair work in the house, it is best to take the assistance of professionals. Given below are a few things you need to take into consideration before undertaking a do it yourself home improvement project.

It Takes Time
Remember, most do it yourself home improvement jobs will take up a chunk of your time. See if you can allot the required amount of time before embarking on it.

It Requires Adequate Tools
Most home repair jobs require particular types of tools. Besides, most of these tools need experience in handling them. If you don't use them correctly you can get injured.

It Requires Skill
Remember, most home improvement jobs are not as easy as they may seem to be. You will have to make a realistic assessment of your skills in undertaking a job before you take it on. For example, it would not be a good idea to attempt a job that requires a high level of craftsmanship or something that is very intricate, unless you have the skill to do it.

A home improvement and remodeling job can involve various areas of the house:

The roof usually needs to be looked into.
The house’s structure too is of great importance.
Check out if the heating and plumbing are serving the requirements of the household.
Check out the drainage to see if it needs to be renovated.

You can give your house a totally new look by choosing the right designs and materials. Usually people tend to remodel their bathrooms and kitchens. It can be quite expensive to remodel these rooms. However, people opt for them because the house décor industry nowadays offers a wide variety of aesthetic designs along with very useful storage options. Hence, you can check out the innumerable design ideas and remodel any room in the house according to your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Keep in mind that it can even cost thousands of dollars to carry out home remodeling improvements. Hence, any remodeling you decide to do in your home requires careful planning. Before beginning the project, you need to inspect the structure and the house thoroughly. It is advisable to get a structural engineer to examine the foundation of your house. If your house has a bad foundation, it would not be advisable to carry out any major remodeling work. Another suggestion is to get your premises examined by a pest control specialist. Dry rot caused by termites, for instance, can spoil all your remodeling efforts. You can opt for home improvements or remodeling in order to enhance the facilities as well as a means of routine maintenance. Sometimes home improvements are undertaken to increase the property’s value in order to put it up for sale. If that’s the case, it is better to opt for cosmetic repairs rather than going in for major renovations.

Since major remodeling or repair jobs will require the help of professionals, you can hire a remodeler or contractor on a fixed price basis, which means that the person you hire will undertake the job on an agreed amount.

Home repair jobs can range from fixing clogged drains and leaking pipes to faulty wiring and broken tiles. While many of these undertakings are fairly minor and can be done quite easily, with minimum guidance, others may require specialized skills and fairly in-depth know-how. Another important factor that you need to keep in mind is to take all the safety precautions you can, such as, wearing protective clothing, and protecting your eyes by wearing glasses. Plus, activities that involve climbing up on the roof or handling electrical systems are usually not as simple as they may seem. Hence, before plunging into any activity, it is best to assess your strength, dexterity, agility, and know-how realistically. Given below are some of the home repair jobs that houses usually need.

Repairing or making furniture
Repairing or fixing electrical fixtures like small appliances, plugs, switches, outlets
Repairing plumbing like faucets and leaking pipes, flush tanks, clogged drainages
Repairing window glasses, screens, Venetian blinds
Repairing the wallpaper or the wall itself

It’s a good idea to conduct a thorough research about any do it yourself home improvements you are planning. Once you have a good idea what needs to be done, make a list of everything that you need to buy. This will help you to avoid having to go to the market repeatedly.

Like any other subject area, it is only with constant learning that you can gain thorough knowledge. If you have home improvement in mind, it is a good idea to learn everything you can by making it a habit to read books and magazines on home improvement regularly. You could also watch television shows on home improvement. The Internet is also a very good source for all kinds of information about home improvement. Doing this will give you in-depth information about the concepts involved in the various areas of home improvement.

Knitting Patterns For Beginners

Knitting is an art and craft and a great stress-buster. It soothes the senses with subtlety and aids in reducing the stress pile accumulated over the day. Art lovers would agree that knitting gives them a peaceful vent for emotions. It could be defined as a peace-loving and silent yet satisfying pursuit. Knitting serves to be a soft canvas for our subconscious mind where thoughts, that are buried deep within, receive a prominent platform. Knitting, as a hobby, is evergreen. One could never get bored of it, as there are several patterns for you to explore and create. As for an artist, the whole world could be captured on the canvas and the 'soft' canvas. Knitting patterns for beginners should include basic and easy designs.

The Basics of Knitting

Knitting is very easy to learn. You don't need to get all worked up. You will be able to deliver the goods within no time if you know the four basics of knitting- casting on, binding off, knitting and purling. The knitting patterns for beginners could follow suit.

Casting on
This is the basic stitch that the beginner must learn. Knitting for beginners starts with the basic cast on stitch. There are several ways and methods that could be employed to create cast on stitches but here is an easy one. Keep in mind that the first step to knitting is to make a slip knot. The slip knot forms a loop which is the most important part of any knitting project you undertake. Once the loop is formed in the yarn, a part of the stitch needs to be put back into the loop and pulled. Choose a needle and pass the slip knot through it. You need to pull the yarn so that the loop closes. Don't pull the yarn too vigorously as the loop might get too tight against the needle you have chosen. The degree of tightness the stitch experiences against the needle is called tension. To decide how tight the stitches should be, is indeed, the most difficult session to endure as a new knitter. Making the stitch too tight would make free knitting pattern for beginners a pain in the first place.

The Knit Stitch
The Knit stitch is more or less the same as the cast on stitch. For a knit stitch, the needle in your left hand should be in front of the needle in your right. The right hand needle should be placed in such a manner that it has the yarn twirled around it. The needle in the right hand should shift in front. Now, remove the loop from the left hand needle. Proceed with the knit stitch until you reach the end of the row.

The Purling Stitch
The purl stitch is formed in a way opposite to the knit stitch formation. For a purl stitch, the needle in your left hand should be behind the needle in your right. The left hand needle should be placed in such a way that it has the yarn wrapped around it. The needle in the left hand should shift in front. Now, remove the loop from the right hand needle.

The Binding Off
Knit two stitches and lift one stitch with your left hand needle over the right hand needle, giving the piece a finished look. To complete the piece, knitting stitches have to continue right till the moment you are left with no stitch on the left and one stitch on the right. Pass the stitch off the needle and snip the yarn ball thread. Happy Knitting!

Knitting Patterns for Beginners

As we have now garnered some information on the four basics of knitting, we can afford to embark on our journey of knitting with the the easy knitting patterns for beginners. One of the most popular, easy and free knitting pattern for beginners is knitting a scarf, however, one need not stick to the conventional start ups in knitting. Though there is no harm in including a scarf to your list of start-up projects, you may also look into exploring the patterns for coasters, ring napkins, dish cloths, little patterns on handkerchiefs and cute hats. These free knitting patterns for beginners could help you employ a step-by-step approach in terms of technique and would prove to be fulfilling projects.

You could make a dishcloth with just cast on, purl and knit stitch. Dishcloths are easy to make as they are small and give you a whole lot of fulfillment when you are done with them. A woolen hat is another free, easy beginners knitting pattern that could be followed to knit a wool hat. Knit the hat flat and then curl or fold the edge to get a conventional yet great looking hat. A free knitting pattern for the beginner includes knitting coasters. The knit, purl and cast on are the basic stitches that you would require, to make a set coasters. They are small and easy to design.

Another knitting pattern for beginners is knitting a stylish napkin ring. If you have spare cotton wool you could make a number of them with knit, purl and cast off stitches. You could stitch these napkin rings in three different styles using the garter stitch, the stockinette and a rib stitch. By knitting a bandanna, a beginner could also learn another skill called increasing. Try out these free easy knitting patterns for yourself. As you get acquainted with the basic knitting techniques and patterns, you would be able to move on and explore other knitting avenues.

As a beginner, one may restrict oneself to work with easy styles but one could go ahead and experiment with colors. Using different colors of wool could add variety to your knitting projects in its own way. Free beginners knitting patterns could be found in books and guides devoted to knitting. So try these knitting patterns for beginners and keep knitting... the knitters way!

Scene Hair Cut For Guys

If you are a scene kid then scene hair styles are a big part of dressing up as a scene kid. There are many styles of scene hair for guys. But, the options for short scene hair for guys are limited, however if you have medium short or medium hair, then there are countless options of scene emo hair for guys. But, if you have short hair then get a short scene hair, and let the hair grow and when it becomes longer you can consider trying out other scene hairstyles. Here are the hair cutting tips, coloring tips and styling tips.

How to Get Scene Hair for Guys

How to Cut Scene Hair for Guys?
When it comes to scene hairstyles for girls, there are many styles. However, when it comes scene hairstyles for guys there are limited ideas. If you have very short hair, then consider going with some faux hawk styles, or with simple spiky hairstyles. You can get your hair cut into a base haircut, and then add lots of choppy layers for the scene look. But, if you let your hair grow, then you can go with many cool looking scene hair for guys with medium hair.

Scene hairstyles for medium hair are layered hairstyles, which have the hair cut in layers so that they tend to envelope the face, and the hair on sides and back are cut tapering. A razor cut can also be done to get the soft wispy ends look. Then the style is accompanied with side sweeping bangs, which are also cut deep choppy. The bangs is so long that it covers one of the eye. If you are thinking of scene hair for guys with long hair, then you can get these medium haircut also, but cut them long. Or you can go with a mullet haircut, in which the hair on top are cut short and the back are left long. You can even get spikes in the top hair for more edgy look.

How to Color Hair?
Generally, don't tend to go with dramatic scene hair color ideas, but girls tend to color their hair with bright colors to create unique looking styles. If you want to color your hair, then consider dyeing them totally black. These look very emo, and give the dark look. If you feel like doing something more, then get some chunky highlighting of electric blue, hot pink or acid green. But, for a subtle colored look you can get neutral blonde highlights. If you want a real punk look, then consider dyeing the hair into two colors like flamingo orange with electric blue.

How to do Scene Hair for Guys?
For how to scene your hair, or style your hair you will need to pay a lot of attention to your hair. First of all you will need to maintain a lot of volume in the hair, hence when combing the hair use back combing, and if you have long hair then you might even need to create tease under the layers for extra volume. To keep up the spiky style or create volume, use hair styling products like hair wax or hair spray. To keep your hair straight and healthy looking, get a hot oil treatment or a similar treatment every week.

So, go with any one of the scene hair for guys ideas, and get your hair cut into them. Then use some cool looking hair coloring ideas, to make your scene haircut look even more scenic. To maintain your haircut, keep visiting the stylist every 6-8 weeks, to get a trim.

80's Fashion For Men

Fashion trends have always been changing since decades as per the likes and preferences of people. However, there was a decade which gave much to the fashion world. The 80s was a decade which has had a substantial impact of designer clothing and hairstyles of today. You will notice that the hairstyles and the apparel worn by today's teenagers and youngsters are a slight match with that of those worn in the 1980s. If you are willing to take a look at the fashion of the 1980s, you can just watch fashion clothings, makeup, hairstyles, and accessories worn by the rock stars of those times. Let us take a glance at the 80s fashion for men.

1980s Hairstyles for Men

Hairstyles were a prominent part of the 1980s fashion era. There are some people nowadays who prefer to wear hairstyles from those time. In the 1980s, very few people wore short hairstyles, unlike today. Be it fine or curly hair, long hairstyles were considered as a fad among youngsters of that decade. Today's long hair scene and emo hairstyles are a style originated from those hairstyles. Short hair was normally worn by people going to office.

Men used to sport rainbow-colored long hairstyles. Styles which included Mohawks and frizzy hair were also popular in those times. Moreover, their hair was big and thick, and was styled with different types of colors. The the style of long sideburns, which was popular men's fashion in the 70s, faded away in 80s fashion for men. The popularity of mullet haircuts was growing in the 1980s. A lot of people did not prefer to wear beards and mustaches, however, some did. Read more on 80's hairstyles.

1980s Fashion Clothing for Men

For a casual look, men used to wear long Hawaiian T-shirts which were mostly popular among those in the music industry. Wearing black and neon colored apparel was considered as a cool look. Along with stylish rock band shirts, leather and denim jackets were also a part of the overall punk look. Chains were hung around the waistlines or placed on the leather jackets.

Men with a good physique showed their arms wearing sleeveless shirts. Men's clothing generally included wearing tight leather pants or comfort-fit black, blue, or white jeans. Stonewashed jeans was a style in those days, which was even being followed in 90s and 2000s. Parachute pants and corduroy pants were also a 80s clothing trend.

1980s Fashion Accessories for Men

Coming to the fashion accessories of the 1980s, men used to wear round black goggles, especially glam metal stars. Wearing fingerless gloves was also considered to be a part of the punk retro fashion. Shoes worn by boys were the high-top kinds. Rhinestone gloves were popular among rock and pop stars in the 80s. Like today, ear piercing was a common practice even then. Miami Vice was an extremely famous TV program in the 80s, and men tried to follow the style of Don Johnson. A major part of the style in 80s costumes for men was influenced from personalities from the music industry. Stars and music bands like Michael Jackson, George Michael, Europe, Poison, Whitesnake, etc. substantially influenced the 80s fashion trends for men.

These were some 80s fashion ideas for men. If you want to understand more about the 80s fashion for men, the best option is to watch the dressing of celebrities popular in that decade. You will find that today's fashion seems to be a modified version of the 80s fashion trends.

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