Goal For The Green

Pressure washing is a fast, safe and effective way to clean a wide variety of surfaces, especially the exteriors of buildings. The popularity of pressure washing has really taken off in recent years, with many companies now offering this service. However, the quality of these pressure washing companies tends to vary quite dramatically. Therefore, if you simply call the first pressure washing company you see listed in the phone book, you could be in for a rude awakening. If one of these companies is charging a price that is so low that you can’t believe it, there is probably a very good reason. Be cautious when you are vetting these companies. Here is how you can go about locating a company that does pressure washing.

1. Ask people in your neighborhood

There is a strong likelihood that you have seen at least one of your neighbors having his or her house pressure washed in the past. If this is the case, talk to the person and inquire which company they used. How many times have they hired this company? Did they do a professional job? Was there a large mess when the company left? Did the company leave things just the way they found them? How much did the company charge? The more people in your neighborhood that you can find who have hired pressure washing companies in the past, the better it will be for you.

2. Visit some sites of companies that do pressure washing

You would be smart to take a peek at the various websites that are out there for pressure washing companies. You should do this even if you get a lot of references from the people in your neighborhood. You can never have too many company names to fall back on if some do not pan out. While you are browsing these sites, try to find some that use eco-friendly solvents, like the ones used by Renew Crew.

3. Online reviews

A third option to help you track down a company to do your pressure washing is to read online reviews. There are now reviews for many different companies posted on sites that are designed to allow previous customers a place to sound off about their experience. Go to these sites and see if any of the companies that perform pressure washing in your area have been reviewed. Read as many of these reviews as you have time for.

Fear No Numbers-How to Multiply or Divide and Always Get it Right, is a new confidence boosting math book by Jose Paul Moretto , available through Outskirts Press.

This is NOT just another Math book, but instead a solid base and groundwork for Math
success-NO kidding. To me, it is more of a “reboot button” of self confidence for doing simple math, like multiplication and division BEFORE turning to the use of a calculator. I like the fact that this is a fun way to use our brain without being plugged into a device for the answer.

Math (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As you may know, FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Yet,it is NO secret many of us have struggled with math to the point of developing severe anxiety in an attempt to grasp the concepts.  Success in math is more about mindset than it is about numbers.

Jose Moretto, was fortunate enough to have a teacher in his life, who really opened his eyes to the world of math. Through his experiences, we can now see math in a new light, put away our FEAR, and open our minds to be successful.

In Fear No Numbers, he introduces us to two unique systems, that allow us to easily check our multiplication and division solutions easily with or without a calculator. The methods used are the Proof by 9 System and the MaXima System (both systems are trademarked).

The book is designed to help students and some adults, look at simple math basics with new confidence. Words and how the principles of math were presented to us, may have led to confusion for some of us, but in the end “numbers never lie.”

We can be thankful for the efforts and hard work of the geniuses before us, like Pathagoras, who was one of the founders of mathematics.  He believed that a”balanced world was based on the principles of math.” He was also and adept practitioner of logic, which led to his infinite wisdom.

Mathematics has been the cornerstone of most of all our technological, scientific and artistic advances throughout history. It is the root of most all of our major disciplines, such as science, music, architecture, medicine, aviation, electronic, engineering, economics, and the list goes on. Yet, we come to realize that all of the disciplines are rooted in logic, philosophy and math. Reasoning is the basis of logic, and logic leads to philosophy which fuels wisdom. So, as you can see all these principle relate to each other and show us that logic is the key to success in math.  The only limitations to our success in math are those that we place upon ourselves.

I was one of those people who struggled with math. However, I think my struggles had a lot to do with how math was taught to me. It is important for us to use our brains a little bit, without becoming dependent on calculators to do the work for us.  This method is easy, and should be the groundwork for how math is taught in schools.

I plan on sharing this method with my granddaughter, who will be learning multiplication and division in the fourth grade in school next year. The idea is to give her a much simpler way to grasp the fundamentals of math in a fun, rather than fearful way.  I believe NO other curriculum is necessary because Fear No Numbers, helps those of us who use it and learn it, to see and use numbers in a more user friendly way.

Luxury cars are about status. Given that green hybrid cars offer status in and of themselves, it’s no wonder they’re usually pretty ugly: they don’t need to be pretty to lend their drivers status.

In fact, it’s probably fair to say that, for many hybrid drivers, driving an ugly car because you care about the environment so much is part of the appeal. Or so the story was once told…

Luckily, if you like to drive a nice looking vehicle and take care of the environment, luxury hybrids are coming into vogue. Here’s a look at some of the hottest hybrids on the luxury market. Meet status and sustainability without sacrifice.

2013 Lexus LS 600h L

The 2013 Lexus LS 600h L is a sleek, smooth-driving luxury car, and the first to merge a V8 gasoline engine with an electric drive system. You may remember the late-eighties television ads where the Lexus was seen with a pyramid of champagne glasses stacked atop it, while running. Well, that was the eighties, when the hybrid was hardly even a dream.

Imagine how many champagne glasses you could stack on this dream machine.

The LS 600h L combines Lexus’ trademark power and luxury with a drive that’s smooth, even by Lexus standards. It starts around $119,910, so it’s not a car for everyone, just those who need the finest things in life.

Photo of Lexus LS 600h by Overlaet via Wikimedia Commons

2013 Acura ILX Hybrid

A more low-end luxury car, starting at just $25,900, the ILX Hybrid is far more affordable than the Lexus, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be sacrificing a true luxury experience. Acura may not boast the same status symbol of Lexus, but it stands as one of the most comfortable and luxurious brands that one could conceivably afford on a middle or working class income.

The ILX Hybrid motor performs as a generator when braking or coasting, so you get long-lasting battery life from the electric drive system. And whatever you do, don’t dismiss the Acura on style. One look will prove the body has a great, modern take while the interior is both cozy and cool.

Photo of 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid via Wikimedia Commons. All Rights Released.

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid

You can’t drive this one yet as it’s still on the horizon, but that just means you have some extra time until it hits the streets to save your pennies. A roomy interior makes the QX60 a true Infiniti, with proportions inspired by the Pathfinder. The new, green ride debuted at the New York Auto Show and wowed spectators with a stylish design that really excels at the finer details, including some pretty slick LED rear lights and High Intensity Discharge xenon headlights.

The motor is lithium-powered, although the electric drive system is not powerful enough to drive the car on its own at higher speeds. This may prove a turn-off for those looking for a true electric driving experience, but it’s a start for larger vehicles.

These cars merely scratch the surface of luxury hybrids. It’s only a matter of time before the marriage of sustainability and style truly skyrockets and takes hold of Phoenix Chevrolet dealers and others. From hybrid luxury cars, sports cars, trucks, SUVs, station s and everything in between, the innovative front is definitely in motion. Cost efficiency and the environmentally conscious perspective will only further the push for the next generation of vehicle that luxury lovers will surely support.