Oh, I agree with you there (e.g. about graph data presentation, a tool that can stretch truths and deceive the uninitiated through visual and communicative distortion) - I'm ignoring those (I immediately did with that graph lol) and haven't even fully read the info on that page - trust me, I hold healthy skepticism (yet, crucial openness), to all matters when it comes to health, healing, and science - but the fact is I know the benefits of the various rays of light that the sun provides and its beneficial health effects, (or if you will, detrimental effects of not receiving it or receiving it in less natural ways), already, and that's (all) the common ground I need to share with mercola to appreciate the information they state on that page - obvious product promotion undertone notwithstanding. I appreciate your information and thoughts - nothing I don't appreciate or ignore, certainly when it is friendly and respectful. The simple matter is, I want lights that offer (appropriate levels of) UVA, UVB, UVC, and infrared light, in addition to highly accurate colour rendering, and midday-like colour temperature. I want whatever those 80's studies in Germany (that their government concluded to ban traditional LFLs from), quoted as being far better for you than normal LFLs. I know that for MONTHS (both in summer and winter), after living such a natural outdoor lifestyle out in full sun, I have been severely irritated (physiologically, in the eyes), by what I can only describe as a highly uncomfortable experience, that is the fluorescent lighting in our kitchen. So that is the data and experience I base my views on, rather than any silly 'cancelling out' conjecture like this. (I'm aware of my opposite.) Maybe our kitchen lights are just OLD LFLs that are really bad. (But they're modern current market bulbs, so how could they be? Additionally, our electrician apparently told us years ago those fluorescents we have in the kitchen are terribly inefficient, (in fact the worst watt-suckers in the house, I've been told), so I don't know what that means.) Again - more important than all of this, I want to avoid artificial lighting where I can anyway. But an interest in the healthiest form of artificial lighting, is really worthwhile. So where others think 'UV radiation' in lighting should be avoided at all costs due to 'skin cancer', I beg to differ... (Because I know that what causes skin cancer isn't just UV radiation, but other lifestyle choices in combination with it that were never meant for the human body to sustainably endure.) (And where they don't give second thought to OTHER forms of (unnatural) radiation like mobile phone or Wi-Fi or general electronic EMR - I beg to differ...) If that's the difference between them and me in one's opinion of lighting choice when it comes to health, than so be it. My goal is to try and emulate natural conditions as much as possible, as the simple yet powerful philosophy behind one's choices! :).

I still have to have my morning paper to read while i eat breakfast.We have a cell,but hardly use it.We carry it with us when going to the store,dr's etc. Don't know what i ever did without the internet,all that info at my finger tips,awesome. I still keep our phone book also and all the important # are written on the outside cover. Cordless phones i think are my favorite,it goes with me into the garden,sitting out on the patio,etc,etc,no more running for the phone. kathi

First of all, this is easier to say then to do, but you need to relax and stop stressing. Selling a home is one of the most stressful things you can do, and you just have to know that in the end it will all work out, probably with some compromises, but still it will soon be over. As far as not knowing how much you will spend on repairs, treat it like a business transaction. Come up with a number that you're willing to give and go with that. If you just want to get the home sold, if you have a lot of equity in your existing home, then you have more room to deal and will give more in concessions just because you have the ability to do so. If you have little equity, if the home is already rock bottom, then you'll give less in concessions. Ultimately your goal is to get the home sold, and working with the buyers on a compromise situation is your best way of accomplishing the goal. Communication is key, a good realtor will put your mind at ease by keeping you informed of what is going on in the whole process. I don't know if there is a clear predictor of how to tell when buyers will just back out. I once asked my realtor how often people back out and at the time, she said she'd never had anyone not show up at the closing table. She said if the deal was going to fall through it fell through due to financing or inspection issues. Don't know if this is still true, but my own experiences, we've never had anyone back out.

I am a fabricator. In a previous life (before I started my granite shop) I was the VP of service for a major manufacturer of printing equipment. We sold a million dollar machine to China. Three years later we got a request for a service call and I sent a service rep to China. When he returned he told us that the Chinese had the machine we sold them AND a virtual duplicate right next to it. The duplicate was copied to such a degree that the copied parts even had the original part numbers stamped into them. The Chinese can be adept at copying stolen technology. However, there are also many stories where the copied parts or machines were of woefully bad quality. A machine tool company in my town was bought out and the brilliant new owners closed the plant and moved all the manufacturing to China. It came within an eyelash of destroying the company and the manufacturing was moved back to the USA. Regarding the chinese slabs; The Breton process for making slabs requires a significant level of sophisticated process control to consistently make good slabs. Even Breton made slabs occasionally have defects that cause problems for the fabricator. If a fabricator has experience with Chinese slabs and says they're OK he's probably right. The one concern could be the color-fastness of the slabs since a deficiency there might takes a long time to reveal itself. This is not an issue with Breton slabs unless they're exposed to unfiltered sunlight and then they'll fade very noticably in just a few weeks. Hope this was helpful.