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Underwater Explorer Takes on Strange Mission

Searching for shipwrecks and collecting their treasures has been a passion of diver Bill Warren for years. He's been especially successful in the past, having found some well-known wrecks off the coasts of Mauritius and the Bahamas. In fact, one of his greatest successes was finding the 17th century Port Royal. But last summer Warren embarked on a new treasure hunt; a hunt to yield a prize much greater than gold bullion or lost art. He went on a quest to find the body of former Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Searching for bodies in the deep sea is not something normally undertaken by shipwreck explorers or subsea services companies. The primary reason being that cadavers wouldn't typically last very long in the open ocean. However, the Pentagon reports that bin Laden's burial at sea included placing the body in a lead-lined or rubber bag, potentially offering protection of the body for at least some amount of time. How much remains if they actually do find the bag will be interesting, to say the least.

One wonders why a man who has spent his life looking for lost treasure at sea would undertake such a project. Warren provides two reasons. First, he is on a mission to prove that Osama bin Laden was indeed killed and buried at sea just as the U.S. military claims. This would settle once and for all the question of whether the world's most famous terrorist is truly deceased. But like any good treasure hunter Warren also admitted that his second purpose for the expedition is financial.

He claims that several individuals identifying themselves as bin Laden's family have told him they will make it financially worth his while if he recovers the corpse. Warren claims that he would be willing to sell the body back to the bin Laden family if he finds it. This raises considerable ethical questions; something that treasure hunters deal with on a regular basis.

As for how he intends to find bin Laden's body, Warren will be using the same equipment typically used by subsea services companies to map the sea floor. At the centre of his exploration will be some of the world's most highly advanced sonar systems that will produce colour images of the seascape below. Through the different shades of colour he hopes to be able to identify foreign objects -- including the bin Laden body bag. According to Warren, he'll investigate anything that looks like a cigar lying on the ocean floor.

Good luck to you, Mr. Warren. If you find the body I hope you are prepared to deal with the controversy that will undoubtedly unfold.

Types of Wood Flooring

Are you thinking of installing wood flooring in your home?  It’s a very popular choice, and many people are going with wood instead of carpet or tile.  Wood flooring looks amazing, even the easy-to-install engineered wood flooring, which is very affordable.  Wood flooring is flexible, sturdy, and will last for years.

There are two main types of wood flooring: solid and engineered.  Both come in different styles and dimensions.  Note that neither of these types of flooring are laminate, veneer, or vinyl.  Those materials are not actually wood at all.  Instead, they just look like wood or, in the case of veneer, use only a very, very thin layer of wood.

Solid hardwood flooring used to be the standard, and it’s what you’ll find in many older homes.  Putting down true solid hardwood floors can be costly, time consuming, and even somewhat difficult.  Each plank of flooring is made of solid wood and is milled from one solid piece of timber.  Planks come in different sizes and thicknesses, with the thickest usually about 100 mm.  Any thicker and the floor may lose its structure.

Solid hardwood floors actually gain and lose moisture depending on the environment around them.  Because of this, there’s no standard size or thickness of the planks; it really depends on where you live.  While old solid hardwood floors were installed over wooden support beams, today they can be installed directly over a concrete slab.  There’s no crawl space under them, which can help with climate control and with insect infections.

Then there’s engineered flooring.  This type of wood flooring is actually made up of two or more layers of wood.  These layers are formed together into a plank.  The top layer, called the lamella, is the only layer that is actually visible, however.  The lamella is really just for show; the core of the plank, or the substrate, is the wood that actually provides the stability of the floor.

Today, engineered flooring is the most common type of wood flooring used in homes and buildings around the world.  It’s very easy to install, and it has more uses than solid wood flooring.  Engineered wood, for example, generally comes pre-finished and features beveled edges, which make it look different from solid wood.  

Engineered wood has a few advantages over solid wood flooring.  While engineered wood is a bit more expensive, its installation cost is lower.  Panels are larger than solid planks, too, so you need fewer of them.  This means installation cost is often actually lower than solid wood flooring, even though the cost per panel is higher.  It also is more stable and can be installed faster.  It’s easy to replace one or two boards, mainly because the floor actually “floats”—they’re not fastened to either the floor below or to other planks.  

Car Sharing Schemes for Employees

Rising fuel costs are having a huge effect on everyone’s pocket and the cost of commuting to and from work is becoming much more of a factor when deciding to switch jobs or moving within the same company to a different location. Many responsible and environmentally aware companies, both large and small, are starting to recognize the impact of quickly escalating fuel costs on their employees, and are supporting them in finding innovative ways to reduce both costs and traffic close to the office.

Many companies offer incentive schemes for employees who travel to work on public transport, such as discounted season tickets or free loans to purchase passes for train or bus. For cyclists, showers are sometimes provided as well as wardrobe space to allow people cycling to work to keep smart clothes at the office and change before leaving again on their bikes. Many will also offer cheap loans to buy bikes and will discounts on cycling equipment.

For those who have no alternative but to drive into work, car sharing schemes are the main way of helping employees to reduce their costs. A company who is proactive about car sharing will set up systems to allow employees who travel along the same routes to get in touch with each other and discuss sharing lifts. The arrangements will be up to the individual employees, but the reduction in the costs of fuel is usually incentive enough for car sharing schemes to be very popular. Many companies offer special parking spaces for employees who are car sharing as well as other incentives. Having employees who car share will reduce the company’s carbon footprint as well. All progressive companies will have an environmental management system which will assess their impact on the environment, and a company doing everything they can to encourage car sharing will be able to demonstrate their commitment to reducing their environmental impact.

For companies who have a small workforce or who lack the time and resources to set up their own car sharing scheme, there are many websites which will allow employees to find car shares with employees in other businesses close by. Sites such as LIftshare should be promoted heavily on company websites and employees should be encouraged to register as either a driver or someone seeking a lift. Companies can also use their participation in schemes such as Liftshare to produce positive PR or press releases which will enhance the reputation of the company in the area. It is important to keep track of what employees are car sharing and how often in order to accurately measure the impact of the policy on both the reduction in traffic on site and the employees’ pockets.

Voluntary Service Overseas

Spending a year abroad experiencing a completely different culture and way of life is usually something that young people do on their gap year between school and going to University and is often more of a glorified holiday than a real voluntary project which will bring a lasting difference to the countries they visit. However, there are also opportunities available for recent graduates and for established professionals to experience a year abroad, courtesy of organisations such as Voluntary Service Overseas.

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) was founded in the 1950s and was originally intended for male school leavers only. Over the time the ethos of the charity changed and now opportunities are primarily for professionals with at least two years work experience in their chosen field. Professionals such as teachers are particularly in demand and the education recruitment section sends people to countries such as Namibia, Malawi, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea and many other countries, mainly in Asia and Africa. Placements are generally for two years, and there are a wide variety of opportunities open to teachers. Some volunteer work in teacher training colleges to help train the next generation of teachers and others find placements developing teaching methods and techniques in individual schools. Many more mentor teachers from a variety of schools to modernise teaching into a more child centred approach. There are also various opportunities to help develop and improve English language teaching programmes in several countries overseas. VSO provide a full programme of support for their volunteers, including comprehensive training before you leave the UK, insurance, flights, accommodation and a local living allowance when you are overseas. When your volunteering period ends and you return to the UK you will be supported in readjusting to your old life and in entering the education recruitment arena again.

It’s not just teachers who have the opportunity to experience life overseas though, with opportunities available for all sorts of professions including doctors, social workers, accountants or engineers. Professionals with experience with HIV and AIDS are particularly in demand in Sub Saharan Africa. Several short term projects of three to six months are available and if your UK employer allows, it is possible to take a sabbatical from your regular job and experience something completely different. Many UK employers are more than happy to allow employees time away for charitable service, as they recognise that skills and experience gained overseas can be brought home and will enrich an employee’s skill set and experience. Many of the large blue chip employers work directly with organisations like VSO and actively encourage their employees to take time off to go abroad and complete a project for them.

Hand Made Chocolate

Even in times when we’re all feeling the pinch in our pockets and trying to economise, it’s important to treat yourself now and again. One of the best and most indulgent ways of doing this is by splashing out on some delicious hand made chocolates.

All across the country there are small businesses, often based in rural locations, turning out the most exquisite chocolates. Small chocolate producers follow the traditional methods of chocolate making, meaning that the finished product is far more distinctive and luxurious than a standard bar from a multinational manufacturer. In terms of quality, it’s impossible to compare the two as they are so different. Hand made chocolates are higher in cocoa solids, meaning you get a more intense chocolate flavour in every bite. Fillings are carefully selected because of the taste rather than the price being the prime consideration. Most small producers only use the finest natural ingredients and locally source wherever possible. Buying local also means you’re supporting local businesses and local jobs, not just in the chocolate manufacturer but in all of their local supplier businesses too.

In Norfolk there are many of these small independent chocolate producers and if you browse through any Norfolk business directory you will find them dotted in villages and towns across the county. Saffire Chocolates in Tavenham, Norfolk is one of the best. They sell their chocolate both online and through their shop, and the product range is extensive. As well as individual handmade chocolates they produce a range of chocolate bars featuring flavours such as Norfolk lavender or chilli and lime. The individual chocolates are equally stunning, with flavours including Irish coffee, nutty lemon, summer strawberry, whisky or caramel vodka. Buying individually allows you the flexibility to put together your own box, avoiding the flavours you don’t like and including more of the ones that you love. Pre packed boxes can also be bought, and are the perfect gift if going to friends for dinner or as a Christmas or birthday gift for the chocolate lover in your family.

If you’re planning a wedding, conference or other special event, local chocolate producers can help you give your guests or delegates something a little bit more special than foil wrapped mints. Once you’ve consulted the Norfolk business directory to find your local producer, they will be able to advise on an assortment that is appropriate for the event, and also supply boxes for wedding favours or as a take home gift. If given sufficient notice, most companies will also work with you to produce a special flavour or design of chocolate with a company logo or to tie in with a wedding theme. 

Improvements in the Management of High Temperature High Pressure Wells

One of the huge challenges for those involved in drilling for fossil fuels is dealing with high pressure high temperature wells. The consequences of not successfully managing this type of well can be disastrous; in fact the biggest disaster in drilling history was as a consequence of this type of well. Our ability to manage these tricky drilling situations is improving though, and hopefully in the future we will get to a stage where the risks become negligible. The way we will do this is through research, improvements in technology, and proper training for those who are working on rigs.

The Importance of Providing Proper Training for Those Involved in Drilling

If we aim to save lives it is vital that those involved in drilling get the right type of train. That way if something does go wrong it can be properly managed. It is particularly important that those who work as supervisors are properly trained for every type of scenario including the things that can go wrong when working on high temperatures high pressure wells. The Piper Alpha disaster in 1988 is a perfect example of what can happen if things are not managed properly; on that occasion 167 lives were lost and it had a financial impact of a £1.7 billion loss. We have to do all we can to prevent such an event occurring again and part of this will be providing proper training for those working on the wells.

As we have learnt over the years the different types of wells require different methods for extracting the oil and gas. As we dig deeper into the earth’s surface it means that the extraction complex becomes more complex; it is also more likely that things will go wrong. A lot of our progress with managing these wells has come from learning from past mistakes, but as the cost of these mistakes can be so high this is not the best way to learn. Luckily there is a lot of money now being pumped into research and technology and we can only hope that this will mean less need for the loss of human life to prompt improvements. Of course the drilling companies will also be aware of how costly these disastrous can be for them finically and that it makes economic sense to avoid them.

The Future for Drilling

It does seem that as our need to drill deeper and deeper continues we are going to be dealing a lot more with high temperature high pressure wells. Unless we find and alternative to fossil fuels we will need to find better ways to reduce the risks associated with such drilling.