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When it comes to gold coins, sometimes even a multimillion dollar sale can be characterized as a “disappointment.” That’s what is being used to describe the recent sale of the largest gold coin in the world by Vienna auction house Dorotheum. CoinLink reports that the 21-inch, 220-pound coin created by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2007 was sold at auction for $4.02 million.

The coin was part of a collection of assets (such as mint proof coin sets) seized by authorities after the collapse of Austrian investment firm AvW Group. The firm’s founder Wolfgang Auer von Welsbach currently is in an Austrian jail awaiting trial for fraud and embezzlement charges.

Despite reports of several potential bidders from a list of many of the world’s top collectors of gold bullion coins, only one entity actually made a bid: Spanish gold trading firm Oro Direct. By purchasing the coin, they join an exclusive list of owners of the extremely rare mint including Queen Elizabeth II (who is pictured on the coin).

The current breed of lithium ion batteries is providing an unprecedented amount of power for commercial and personal applications while being smaller and more portable than ever before. For example, a lithium ground power unit can be much more easily transported and handled by an airport ground crew because it is more than 40 percent lighter and 30 percent more compact than similar lead-acid batteries.

While the current technology in lithium batteries is already quite advanced from previous models, Discovery News reports that new breakthroughs on the horizon might make the current level of lithium power seem like the Dark Ages. According to the report, researchers at MIT have discovered that using carbon nanotubes for one of the battery’s electrodes allowed a lithium ion cell phone battery to significantly increase its longevity and amount of energy that can be stored.

Carbon nanotubes could mean that batteries will last up to 10 times longer than current lithium ion batteries do. This would have major ramifications for everything from cell phone batteries to the lithium twin pack starters used in transportation to start airplanes, boats and trains with turbine engines.

Recent research shows that almost 10 percent of all drug-related ER visits by teens in the United States are suicide attempts. Learn more about how to deal with the aftermath of such a shocking event.

Drug addiction among teens is on the rise, and the issues related to it can be staggering. Along with putting teens at risk of drug overdoses and other severe physical health issues, drug addiction can also have a severe impact on a teen’s mental health. This is especially true because there is a direct correlation between drug use in teens and other, existing mental health conditions such as depression or bi-polar disorder. This is why a rehab program will provide comprehensive care for teens dealing with drug and alcohol problems and not just deal with their addiction.

In some cases, a teen with a drug or alcohol addiction can be in such mental pain and anguish that it seems impossible to escape. The fact that their addiction widens the gap between their support network of friends and family only makes things worse. This is reflected in some recent data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network, which monitors emergency department visits in the United States. In 2008, 8.8 percent of all drug-related ER visits in the United States made by teenagers were suicide attempts.

In more than 95 percent of these cases, pharmaceuticals (such as sleeping pills or an overdose or painkillers) were the drug used by teens in their suicide attempts. This also reflects the growing trend in teens to abuse prescription pills, believing that they are not as “addictive” as “hard” drugs. The fact that drug treatment facilities throughout the country are seeing an increase in treatment of teens with prescription drug problems reinforces that this is just a myth.

After a teen is treated for the physical impact of their suicide attempt, the most likely next step will be sending them to an addiction treatment clinic for detoxification and the first steps of treatment. It’s also an opportunity for parents to evaluate recent changes in their son or daughter’s life. Have they been increasingly distant, struggling at school or abandoned their old friends? These are all warning signs that parents need to be aware of and a sign that parents need to more closely monitor the types of drugs that their child has access to.

Many teens will be embarrassed and guilty about their suicide attempt once they reach a drug rehabilitation center. It’s important for them to understand that this is an opportunity to confront the reasons why they began using drugs or alcohol in the first place and to deal with the underlying mental health problems that led to their suicide attempt. While it’s a horrible and painful situation and one that no parent wants to experience, many teens fully recover and are able to turn their lives around after a drug-related suicide attempt.

For many general construction contractors, working in Los Angeles can seem like a dream. With a lack of storms, hurricanes and other inclement weather to deal with, there are often fewer delays due to natural causes than when construction is done in other parts of the country. You typically don’t have to worry about a blizzard halting construction or high winds knocking down foundations in Southern California.

However, that doesn’t mean that Southern California home builders are immune to threats from Mother Nature. As the last few years have shown, the area is prone to disastrous wild fires which can damage or destroy new home lots. The threats of a major earthquake, flooding or mudslides are also distinct possibilities.

That’s why it’s important for contractors and home builders to work with a Los Angeles public adjuster. These people are advocates who will help them work with their insurance company to ensure they get the maximum return from a claim. If you are a contractor and you have had a catastrophic incident on your construction site, it’s important to hire a public adjuster immediately.

For some people, both individuals and organizations, choosing a synthetic lawn over a natural one can be a great opportunity to save money.  This is particularly true in areas where the climate isn’t necessarily suited to nurturing plant life, particularly in extensive landscaping.  These days, with the world economy still floundering, money is tighter than ever for many.  Any way to cut expenses is a good thing, even though it may require an initial investment.

In climates such as the Sierra, where residents face months and months of snowfall that can stretch into May, a shorter growing season makes lawns more difficult to maintain.  Likewise, the terrain can be a problem if it is too rocky or dry.  The time and money poured into irrigating and maintaining an extensive property in such a region makes lots of individuals and business consider the benefits offered by switching to an artificial lawn.  After all, spending less money and less time and still having a beautiful landscape that will make your neighbors green with envy is an enticing prospect.

Installing wholesale artificial turf isn’t the cheapest prospect, although the price is certainly reasonable at $7-$14 per square foot. However, when you take into consideration the fact that maintaining a natural lawn in an unforgiving environment can run as much as $200 to $500 per year, it’s clear that an artificial lawn will more than pay for itself in the long run. It’s no surprise that more and more homeowners are looking into artificial.

It’s time to get those new plastic prototypes for packaging going. A recent report predicts that the globe’s demand for packaging will increase as much as 7.8% per year over the next several years, making it a $22.2 billion business by 2014. This would be a notable increase over the recorded pace of the industry between 2004 and 2009. The report states that this increase will be tied to an increase in manufacturing across the globe and the continued growth of the online retail industry. The United States is currently the biggest consumer of protective packaging, but it is actually expected that the biggest increases will come from developing regions around the world. Asia in particular is expected to see growth in the double digits.

How does this affect the average plastics injection molding company? The demand will increase in particular for affordable protective packaging that will prevent goods from being damaged during shipping. Custom formed plastic is excellent for this purpose, and if it is something that can be reused, all the better.

One of the other areas that is also expected to receive a lot of attention is that of biodegradable packaging. With concerns about the environment on the rise, more companies will be looking to meet the demands of consumers who want to shop with businesses that utilize greener practices. While bioplastic might not be the most suitable material for a plastics injection molding manufacturer to use these days, who knows what may lie in the future.

Nothing stays the same with fashion, and particularly with mens suits, what is in today will be considered ‘classic’ tomorrow.  But no matter however one looks in casuals, the truth is that almost everyone in a suit looks their best regardless of their position and economical standing in society.

Consider the dress suit which is used for special occasions normally held in the evenings such as weddings, proms, upscale parties and social events that have a formal air to them, and therefore the classic two-piece or three-piece suit is normally work for these occasions not forgetting the all-important tuxedo that is a must-have for every man to wear at distinguished social functions.

And while the three button suit is much in use these days, thanks to the British, and as opposed to its American equivalent – the two button suit, there are several things to take into consideration when one is interested in purchasing one of these.

These suits can be worn from an interview to an office due to its formal look, and it is important that one maintains a good number of these in their wardrobe as it is considered the standard suit to wear, and there are no faux-pas’ to deal with. As they go out of fashion ever so often, one should consider replacing them every five years or so. The biggest advantage of having a few of these in your wardrobe is that they can fit men of varying sizes while not necessarily revealing their less flattering bodies.

Since the early days of using artificial turf lawn on sports fields, one of the biggest concerns has been the safety of the players during the game.  The earliest AstroTurf was both slippery and hard, making it a less than ideal surface for games that involve sliding and hitting the ground.  When you’re playing a game such as football with an opposing team trying to knock you to the ground, the last thing you want is for the ground to hit back.

While advances in synthetic turf grass have brought the building material a long way from its early days, there are always improvements that can be made. That is why the company AstroTurf has teamed up with the University of Tennessee in order to build a new research center.  The ground was just broken for this project, officially called the Research Center for Safer Athletic Fields.

This facility, when completed, will be outdoors and feature sixty research fields.  Each of these fields will be covered with a different surface, which will then be studied with the intention of seeing if performance can be proved, both for the sake of enhanced gameplay and reducing injuries.

One of the hopes of studying how artificial turf can be improved is eliminating any risk that the surface may pose to kids. With more parks and schools replacing natural grass fields with artificial, ensuring that any falls won’t cause serious harm to boys and girls is paramount. Luckily, artificial turf is safer than ever.

With the help of the right artificial turf company, it is simple to design and install a putting green in your own backyard.

Whether you’re an avid golfer or seasoned professional, you may wish to bring the putting green to your own backyard. While designing a putting green may seem like a challenging landscaping project, it’s not. Here is a look at how you can experience a taste of golf-course living by creating a small golf-course hole in your own backyard.

With the right tools and materials, anyone can build their own synthetic grass putting green. Artificial Turf Supply offers custom putting greens, making it easy for you to design and build a putting green in almost any outdoor area. You will have the opportunity to speak with a professional and select the size and shape putting green that meets your needs. One your purchase your materials, you will also be guided on the tools and supplies you will need to start your project.

To build an artificial grass putting green in your own backyard, you will need to select a relatively flat location and prepare the ground for installation by rolling out the landscape fabric. The second step is to place the panels on the created terrain. Using a special cutting tool, you will need to cut the panels to the desired shape. Next, insert the fasteners in the outside ring of the panels. Using a rake, shovel or broom, you will need to spread the sand or packing material under the cut panel edge. Next, install the floating cups. You can finally spread the synthetic turfover the foundation you just created. Wrap the turf over the edge of the panels and secure with landscape spikes. When ready, you can drop the cups and flags into the appropriate holes. Once you have completed the final step, make sure to use a broom and brush away the dust and debris from the artificial lawn, and enjoy!

More and more arenas and stadiums are finding that a switch to artificial grass from natural turf is a great way to save money.  Because it is more durable than grass and doesn’t need to be watered or trimmed, maintenance requires less time and money.  What’s more, companies continue to make new advances in terms of the materials used, meaning improved playing surfaces for teams.

One of the latest stadiums to make the change to synthetic turf is the Florida Citrus Bowl in the city of Orlando.  The Orlando City Council recently had a vote to install an artificial playing surface in the stadium.  The city will most likely be negotiating a deal with the manufacturer AstroTurf.

The decision to make this change is most likely due to a nationally broadcast demonstration of how poorly the natural turf is currently fairing.  During the Champs Sports and Capital One bowls, the players could be seen slipping and sliding on dangerously loose sod. Unfortunately, right after the sod had been laid down, it was soaked by heavy rains, creating an unstable surface. Artificial turf is more durable; not only will it stand up to the rigors of the sport, the environment will have less of an effect on it.

In regards to instillation and artificial grass prices, the city has also set the budget for the project at $1.5 million. The hope is that the installation will be complete by September, meaning the Citrus Bowl will be ready for the fall season.