2006 BMW Sports Cars

BMW Sports Car  - Photo: Pixabay

BMW or Bayerische Motoren Werke has long been conceived all over the world as "The Ultimate Driving Machine." The company has proven this statement true in the past years.

The current models of BMW sports car will attest to that statement.

Here are some of the current models of BMW, with their corresponding characteristics.

-BMW M3 2006

Engine specifications:

BMW M3 has an in-line, 3.2-liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 11.5. It has four valves per cylinder. It promises to deliver 248 KW power and 333 HP at 7900 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features:

The car has electronic brake distribution, brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

BMW M3 is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differential at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.35 drag coefficient, body side moldings, and 3771 lbs. curb weight.

-BMW M5 2006

Engine specifications:

The BMW M5 2006 car has a V10 and 3.2-liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 12.  It has four valves per cylinder. It promises to deliver 373 KW of power and 500 HP at 7750 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features:

The car has brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, electronic brake distribution, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

The BMW M5 is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differential at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction. It is also equipped with a responsive suspension.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.31 drag coefficient and 4012 lbs. curb weight.

-BMW 6-Series

Engine specifications:

The BMW M5 2006 has a V8, 4.8-liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 10.5. It has four valves per cylinder. It promises to deliver 268 KW power and 360 HP at 6300 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features

The car has electronic brake distribution, brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

BMW M3 car is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differential at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction. It is also equipped with an adjustable responsive suspension.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.3 drag coefficient and 3814 lbs. curb weight.

With all the features these cars have, BMW truly is the "Ultimate Driving Machine."

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Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology - Photo: Wikimedia

As the horizons of technology expand, the real world is shrinking into a Global Village; Nanotechnology is the new area of interest in technology.

Nanotechnology is an umbrella term that covers many areas of research dealing with objects that are measured in nanometers or billionth of a meter. It is a hybrid science combining engineering and chemistry.

 The goal of nanotechnology is to manipulate atoms individually and place them in a pattern to produce the desired structure. Nano-sized machines called assemblers, that can be programmed to manipulate atoms and molecules at will, would be used to build consumer goods. Some nanomachines called replicators would be programmed to build assemblers.

Nanotechnology would enable the creation of new generation of computer components with enormous storage capacity. But the greatest impact of nanotechnology could be the medical industry. Patients would drink fluids containing nanorobots programmed to attack and reconstruct the molecular structure of cancer cells and viruses to makes them harmless. Nanorobots could also be programmed to perform delicate surgeries.

For environmental clean-up, airborne nanorobots could be user programmed to rebuild the thinning ozone layer. Contaminants could be automatically removed from water sources, and spill could be cleaned up instantly.

Nanotechnology was first introduced in 1959, in a talk by the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, entitled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom", Feynman proposed using a set of conventional-sized robot arms to construct a replica of themselves, but one-tenth of the original size, then using that new set of arms to manufacture an even smaller set, and so on, until the molecular-scale is reached. if we had many million or billions of such molecular-scale products built from individual molecules - a "bottom-up manufacturing" technique, as opposed to the usual technique of cutting away material until you have a completed component or product -"top-down manufacturing".

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Tai Chi History

Tai Chi - Photo: Pixabay

Tai Chi, also known as Tai Chi Chuan, was handed down from different generations since its creation by Chang San-Feng. It was during the Sung Dynasty that this was introduced and from that moment on, there were numerous accounts of the form. 

The form, or Kung chia in the Chinese language, are the different movements made through Tai Chi. One of the most common and famous forms is the manipulation of the snake and the crane fighting. Master Chang, one of the advocates, copied this kind of fighting style and transformed it into a softer version of their coiling movements. The form that was developed had 13 postures that correspond with the trigrams and the Five Elements.

Master Chang’s lineage was not clear but what historians know is that he is a certain Chiang Fah. Chiang’s form was taught to a young man named as Chen Wang Ting. Chen was known to practice the art of Tai Chi in 1644. Descendants of Chen Wang Ting practiced their family form. Some of the characteristics of their form are done with an emphasis on low stances, a silk-reeling move, and fast movements and were practiced periodically.  

Tai Chi that was formed by the Chen family was secretly practiced and no one was allowed to use it outside of their home. But during the time of Chen Chang Hsin, which was in the year 1800, the tradition broke. He taught all of his family Tai Chi secrets and styles to his student, Yang Lu Chan.

The modern-day Yang style came from the grandson of Yang Lu Chan named Yang Cheng Fu. This paved the way to introduce one of the longest accounts in the history of Tai Chi. Its form consists of 128 postures. It is characterized by the warding off of energy using leaning movements with slow-motion techniques.

The generation of the Yang family taught their students the techniques on Tai Chi. The masters chose their earnest students and made a lineage that gave birth to other styles namely Sun, Wu, and Hao. These styles may differ in the way they are portrayed and the performance differs as well but the principles that were observed by Chang San Feng remains the same. 

There was this one student of Yang Cheng Fu named Cheng Man Ching. Cheng became the master of his own generation because of the revisions that he made with Tai Chi Chuan. One of the most famous changes that he made was shortening the form to a 37-posture Tai Chi. This is a change made by Cheng is now the most famous form of Tai Chi that is practiced to this day. 

When Cheng came to the U.S., he tried to teach and took on the interest of some students in all aspects of life. By doing so, he made the form popular to every men and woman. This new form introduced by Cheng is originally known as the Yang Style in the shorter form. It becomes widespread, today, it is more popular with the name Cheng Style of Tai Chi. 

The form of Cheng’s Tai Chi is characterized by an upright spine position, rolling back of energy and a softness that has its powerful attitude. 

Taoism is the main contributor to the idea why, in the first place, Tai Chi was formed. This is because Taoism reflects teachings that fundamentally contribute to the reflective, mystic and serene view of the world and the nature we live in. 

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Benefits of Strength TRAINING

Andrzej Zieleniecki - a strength athlete from Poland, the Man of Muscles 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The benefits of a good strength training program are almost endless. Less disease, happiness and most importantly, showing off your muscles at the beach.

Strength training should be part of everyone's routine. Even if you are low on time, strength training, according to the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), only needs to be done 2-3 times per week with each session lasting no more than one hour. For 2-3 hours per week, huge benefits can be realized.

Regular strength training will:

**help you in the day to day activities around the house and in your yard. It will keep you independent which is especially important in the older population. Imagine not being able to lift a 5-pound bag of flour or take the garbage out by yourself.

**lower the risk of osteoporosis, hypertension and diabetes.

**help you avoid lower back pain.

**increase bone density which is important for postmenopausal women.

**increase muscle mass which burns more calories throughout the day than an equal amount of fat.

Even with all these benefits, many people are reluctant to start training with weights. Concerns include injury, incorrect form and for women; not wanting to grow muscles and look like a man.

When beginning your strength training program, the risk of getting hurt can be greatly reduced by starting out with machines rather than free weights. As you become more comfortable with the machines, slowly learn to use free weights. If you want to stick with the machines, know that they will give you the same benefits as free weights. As for the concern that women will look like men, it won't happen without the help of steroids, which you shouldn't even consider using.

Sometimes when we think of being healthy, we think of eating and running. While these are important, strength training should never be left out. Strength training provides benefits to your health that cannot be found with any other mode of exercise and shouldn't be forgotten.

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10 Reasons To Do A Basic BOATING Course!

A group of people riding a wooden boat off a beach in Venezuela. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Boating is a great adventure on any type of boat and is being enjoyed by many on a daily basis, but with that comes a great responsibility. It is not mandatory to do a boating course at this time but there are some very good reasons to get your self-informed about the rules of the road.

1) You will learn about safety equipment and what you are required to have on your boat before you undertake any boating excursion. This is very important because what you don’t have with you could make the difference between being able to handle a situation or not. Also, that outing for the day could cost you if the sheriff stops you to spot check your boat and fines you for not having all the safety equipment required for your specific boat.

2) You will learn that driving a boat is vastly different from driving a car. You are dealing with air and water currents. If you have never docked a boat you may think that it is easy until that is, the current is pulling you in the opposite direction that you want to go. Understanding air and water currents will help you learn how to dock your boat.

3) Knowing how to work with lines and tying knots is part of boating. You have to be able to secure a boat properly. If your boat gets away, it is amazing how quickly the current will take it out of your reach and you will probably require the assistance of another boater to help you get to it. So learn your knots.

4) You will learn what the channel markers mean. We learned the hard way the first time we went out on a boat and ran aground outside the markers. We also had no clue what the red and green markers meant on the poles. This you also learn on the course.

5) There are speed limits on certain waterways but unlike the roads, they may or may not be posted. Ignorance may not be enough to get you out of a ticket.

6) Using charts for coastal navigation can be a lifesaver. It’s your roadmap that helps you stay away from the shallows and shows where all the markers and bridges are, and by using measurements you can calculate the distance and time it will take to get somewhere. It can be a valuable tool for navigation.

7) Just like on the roads, there is the right of way. On a boating course, you will learn who has the right of way and why.

8) Every boat should have a horn. You may hear one long toot or 2 short toot and so on, and you’ll learn what they mean.

9) There are boating regulations and laws that must be followed by all boaters, for example, (and I have seen this rule broken so many times) you are not allowed to sit on the bow of the boat with your feet hanging over board. There are many more regulations to learn and not knowing them can cost you.

10) Anchoring a boat is not just a matter of plopping it down to the sand. There is a mathematical technique applied to anchoring that has to do with the size and length of your boat. Knowing how to do this correctly will give you that extra insurance of knowing your boat is going nowhere until you want to move it.

There are different ways to enjoy pleasure boating such as the fast pace of ski boating or the slow pace of a trawler, kayaking or canoeing. In whatever way you want to do it, it is a good idea to know the rules of the road. Then you can avoid potential situations and get on with the fun of being out there with all that sky, sun, water, family and friends.

Enjoy!

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How To Inspect Your Pool

Swimming Pool - Photo: Pixabay

With several different swimming pool designs and equipment out there, thinking in terms of safety can be very confusing.  From different swimming pool liners to buying different toys, you surely have a lot to choose from.  You can always ask questions at a local supply shop to find out more, as the experts there can surely help you.  There are a lot of needs with swimming pools, especially when you get everything you need.

The first thing to do when inspecting your swimming pool is to figure out your average depth.  Your average depth will help you determine your swimming pool capacity.  You can figure out your average depth by adding the deep end to the shallow end, then dividing by 2.  The average depth tells you a lot about your swimming pool, including the design and capacity.  Once you know your average depth, you can pretty much buy any accessory you need without any problems.

Your design of swimming pool will help you in choosing the best cover for your swimming pool.  There are a few covers to choose from, most of which vary from season to season.  You can use different covers for summer, spring, and winter, each one offering you something different in terms of protection.  Nearly all supply shops have a lot of covers to choose from, and as long as you know your design - you can further inspect your pool and select the right cover.

Once you know your average depth and capacity for your swimming pool, you can move on to other inspections.  The liner is next, as it protects the quality of your water.  A liner will maintain the pH level of your water and help prevent algae from forming and growing.  When you inspect your pool to select a liner, you should think in terms of material.  Most are plastic or vinyl and can provide you plenty of attraction along with great protection as well.

With your swimming pool, you’ll also need to think and inspect your swimming pool in terms of safety.  If you have a belowground swimming pool, you should always remember that it can attract a lot of visitors.  Due to this fact, you should always have someone watching the pool, or an adult around at all times who can swim.  Or, you can simply use a locking gate that surrounds your pool to keep people out of it when you aren’t around.

Another area of swimming pools that most people find enjoyable are the toys and accessories.  The more must-have accessories and toys are goggles, as they will help little children protect their eyes from the chlorine.  You can also find several different types of floats as well, as they are fun to lay on and also help kids stay afloat.  Swimming belts and water wings are great as well.  If you have thought about adding toys to your pool, you should always look around and shop for the best prices.

Inspecting your swimming pool can be fun, although it is something that you simply must do.  You can inspect in terms of maintenance as well, although you’ll need to inspect your pool before you buy any type of equipment or other things for your pool.  When you visit your local pool supply store you’ll need to know different things, which is the reason for inspecting.  Inspecting your swimming pool doesn’t take a lot of time - yet it is something that you simply must do if you want to get the best out of your swimming pool.

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Backhoe Loader

Backhoe Loader - Photo: Pixabay

Also referred to as a loader backhoe, the backhoe loader is an engineering and excavation vehicle that

consists of a tractor, front shovel, and bucket and a small backhoe in the rear end.  Due to the small size and versatility, backhoe loaders are common with small construction projects and excavation type work.

Originally invented in Burlington Iowa back in 1857, the backhoe loader is the most common variation of the classic farm tractor.  As the name implies, it has a loader assembly on the front and a backhoe attachment on the back.  

Anytime the loader and backhoe are attached it is never referred to as a tractor, as it is not normally used for towing and doesn't normally have a PTO. When the backhoe is permanently attached, the machine will normally have a seat that can swivel to the rear to face the backhoe controls.  Any type of removable backhoe attachments will normally have a separate seat on the attachment itself.

Backhoe loaders are common and can be used for many tasks, which include construction, light transportation of materials, powering building equipment, digging holes and excavating, breaking asphalt, and even paving roads.

You can often replace the backhoe bucket with other tools such as a breaker for breaking and smashing concrete and rock.  There are some loader buckets that offer a retractable bottom, which enables it to empty the load more quickly and efficiently. 

The retractable bottom loader buckets are often times used for grading and scratching off the sand. The front assembly on a backhoe may be either removable or permanently attached.  Often times, the bucket can be replaced with other tools or devices.  In order to mount different attachments to the loader, it must be equipped with a tool coupler.  The coupler consists of two hydraulic cylinders on the end of the arm assembly, which can expand and retract to allow different tools to be attached to the unit.

There are several types of backhoe loader brands, including New Holland, John Deere, and Case.  Some will offer you cabs, while others won't.  The newer types of backhoe loaders even offer you air

conditioning, radios, and other accessories that make you feel like you are working with luxury.

Common with excavating jobs, the backhoe can serve many purposes.  It can haul equipment and supplies in the loader bucket.  Another great use is to cover up dirt when filling in trench lines or covering up pipe that was just put in the ground.  The backhoe attachment at the rear is ideal for digging water pipes and sewer pipes.

The best thing about the backhoe loader is the fact that they are easy to operate.  You don't need to be a rocket scientist to fully operate this nifty piece of equipment.

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