How Environmental and Man-Made Factors Cause Damages On Asphalt Pavements

Asphalt undergoes chemical changes at the molecular level and the intermolecular level also known as microstructure. Because of the complex nature of molecular interactions in asphalt, the oxidation of this material is complicated by the different molecules interrelation. There is a mixture of polar and non-polar molecules in asphalt. Polar molecules have a positive charge on one side and a negative charge on the other side while non-polar molecules have their electrons distributed in a way that there is no abundance of charges on both sides. 

"Cracks developing on asphalt surface"

In essence, there are predominantly thousands of chemicals with open chain structure in asphalt, which makes the material to have a considerable level of un-saturation in its molecular structure. It is this open chain molecular structure of asphalt, which allows it to easily interact with weather elements, chemicals, and salts. Molecules from other substances can attack and disintegrate the asphaltic material molecules leading to changes in its structural composition.

In the microstructure of asphalt, there are three-dimensional relations of polar molecules, which are referred to as asphaltenes, and these are dispersed in a fluid made up of non-polar or low-polarity molecules, which are known as maltenes. The intermolecular bonds are weaker than the bonds of the fundamental hydrocarbons in asphalt material. This means that these intermolecular bonds break up first and determine the behavioral patterns of asphalt material.

The intramolecular and intermolecular relationships in asphalt material make it behave in two major ways. First, it is elastic due to the effects caused by polar molecules interrelation. Second, it is viscous since the different parts of the polar molecules are able to move relative to one another when dispersed in the fluid non-polar molecules.

When oxidation occurs in asphalt pavement, it makes the material become dry and brittle. Exposure of asphalt to oxygen triggers a molecular process, which leads to creation of new polar bonding sites or zones. What happens is that the increased polar sites or zones in asphalt materials make the molecules to rearrange and shuffle about as they search for bonds that can create equilibrium or bring a thermodynamic stable state.

This is a self-assemblage process, which continues for the rest of the life of the asphaltic pavement material. With time, as the polar sites discover molecules to attach on, the asphalt molecules bond firmly together with the aggregate material. The result is a pavement, which is stiffer, harder, and brittle. As asphalt oxidizes and dries up, it loses its elasticity and starts to fail.

One sign that signifies the failure of asphalt due to oxidation is the change in color. Initially, asphalt has a jet-black color but over time, due to oxidation process, it turns to light black and ultimately changes to gray. The drying asphaltic material begins to crack as it loses its bonding properties. Before the oxidation process reaches an equilibrium point, it may take about 5 to 15 years depending on how the material is affected by other factors like sunlight, chemicals, and water. This substantiates the reason why the estimated lifespan of asphalt pavements is about 20 to 25 years.

When oxidation process stiffens the paving materials, its ability to support heavy loads is reduced. This causes asphalt fatigue leading to formation of cracks and premature failure of asphalt. Heat from the sun causes the asphalt material to cure and dry fast than intended. Moisture from rainfall can accelerate the damage on oxidizing asphalt since it contains a large amount of polar-constituent molecules, which in turn attract the water molecules. Sealcoating can help delay or slow the rate at which asphalt naturally oxidizes.

How Sealcoating Delays Asphalt Oxidation Process and Prevents Premature Pavement Damage

Sealcoating is an integral part of asphalt maintenance. Asphalt is a commonly used paving material in driveways, parking lots, and roads. It is preferred in constructing road surfaces because it is relatively cheaper to install compared to other materials like concrete blocks. However, when asphalt is laid down, it undergoes chemical changes throughout its lifespan, which can affect its visco-elasticity properties and durability. 

"asphalt contractors applying a sealcoat"

Asphalt pavements have a life expectancy of about 20 to 25 years but this lifespan can be reduced by effects caused by environmental factors like ultraviolet rays, snow, and water. Asphalt paving material used in road construction undergoes an aging process known as oxidative aging. From the time the asphalt is laid down, it starts undergoing oxidation. When examining how environmental and manmade factors affect the quality of asphalt pavements, it is important to consider the asphaltic molecular structure and its changes.

Manmade factors like oil spillage and de-icing salts can also degrade the quality of asphalt pavements. The vulnerability of asphaltic paving material to weather conditions and chemical substances can be reduced by applying a top membrane cover known as sealcoat through the process of asphalt pavement sealcoating.

Asphalt pavement material is made up of aggregate, fillers, and binders such as bitumen, which help in holding together the mixture. Since asphalt pavements will naturally degrade with time, understanding the elements, which speed up the degradation process, can help in putting up preventive measure thus prolonging the life of roads, driveways, and parking lots.

What is sealcoating?
Sealcoating is the application of a weatherproof membrane layer on top of the blacktop of a road surface. A sealcoat is a surface treatment aimed at preventing damages on blacktop caused by things like heat from the sun, moisture, and oil spillage. The sealcoats are made of asphaltic material like emulsions, cutbacks, and paving grade-asphaltic cement and are modified with asphalt liquid mixtures such as latex and polymers.

One thing with asphalt sealcoats is that they only provide a protective barrier and do not cure problems that may exist underneath the pavement such as large cracks and road foundation failure. This means that before a surface treatment is done with use of sealcoats, if there are any damages on pavements and sub-base layer, they should be repaired. Otherwise, the sealcoat may only mask the problems and soon cracks and other deformities on pavements begin to show up again.

Do You Have Your Camping Gear? Here is A Camping Checklist for Your Next Camp Experience!

When planning for your camping activity, the last thing you would hate to do is to leave out those important camping supplies in your preparations. You have to think critically of what to include in the camping list for the trip. Nonetheless, you also need to remember that an omission of any one item may send you in nightmares and fail to enjoy your camping

adventure. 

Anyway! Who wants to have a daunting camp activity? The essence of going for a camping venture is to refresh your mind, calm down, reduce stress and break away from the busy day-to-day activities. 

Here is a camping checklist you can use to prepare for your camp trip.

•    Camping shelter- tent, ground cloth/tarp, mat for tent entrance, extra stakes, axe or hammer, shade tarp, stakes, poles, rope, dust pan and rush

•    Camping beddings- sleeping bag, pillow, air mattress, sleeping cot, tarp, air pump, sheets, blankets, utility bags, and air mattress repair kit.

•    Camp cooking items- thermos, large water jug & water bucket, fire starters/newspaper, campfire grill, bbq grill, coolers, ice, stove with fuel, propane, matches, lighter, charcoal, firewood, buddy burner measuring cup, trash bags, dish soap, paper towels, aluminium foil, food storage container, cooking pots and pans, can openers, skewers, togs, potholders, knife, spoon, folding table, cooking oil, clothes pins, mugs, paper cups, mixing bowel, salt, sugar, seasoning, etc.

•    Camping clothes- sleeping clothes, underwear, rain gear, laundry bad, sweatshirt, jacket, hat, socks, shorts, jeans shoots and other wears. 

•    Your personal items are also essential when designing the camping checklist- towel, washcloth, deodorant, toothbrush, tooth paste, soap, shampoo, shower shoes, slippers, shower bag, toilet paper, razor, comb, and any other personal item you need.

•    Other miscellaneous items- camera, sunglasses, candles, magazines, camera battery, video film, water filter, compass, torch, torch batteries, lantern with fuel, sunscreen lotion or cream, radio, maps and directions, camp chair, tissue, binoculars, pocket knife, clothe line, pen, note pad, bug repellents, whistle, money, credit card, umbrella, sewing kit, watch, small fire extinguisher, and other personal items.

•    Safety items and first aid kit- emergency telephone numbers, roll bandages, antiseptic wipes, personal medications, sterilized gauze pads, splinting material, tweezers, safety pins, cotton swabs, feminine items, water bottle, small mirror, anti-acids, hydrogen peroxide, ace bandage, painkillers, bee sting kit, scissors, antibiotic cream, snake bit kit, First aid manual, coins for phone calls, thermometer, antibacterial soap, small flashlight, poison ivy cream, eye drops, burn ointments, nail clippers and road flares. Remember to take a first aid class before your next camping experience. 

Planning ahead of the camping trip helps in having all the necessities in the camping list identified and sort. An enlightening and fabulous camp experience is one that is free from inconveniences caused by missing camping supplies. With your finances, a camper can budget for all the requirements. One should jot down essential items, which include a tent, food items, right cloths for the prevailing weather conditions and of course the travel documents. 

A first aid kit and personal cleanliness items are also important for your Safari. The tent should be of the required size depending on the number of pax included in the camping trip. There are different types of camping tents and the number of people and your pocket determines the one to buy or hire. It is recommended that a camping trip experience needs to be as simple as possible. Even if your finances allow, one should try to buy a simple tent.

During your camping experience, you certainly want to enjoy those camping recipes, which you have missed in your daily menus. Source for simple but rare camping food ideas and pre-cook the camping food especially the meat. You can buy pre-cooked food items from the food stores and keep it refrigerated till the moment of camping safari. Ask your family members and especially the children to help you identify the camping food items they need to be included in the menu.

The menu should be easy to prepare. Simple camping recipes such as sea food burger can be sourced. The sea food can be pre-cooked and packed. Consider deep frying or pan frying as this helps it last longer. It is recommended that food that doesn’t require refrigeration is more appropriate. Bread rolls, buns, nuts, and fruits. However, you definitely need some cooling items for the perishable items such as vegetables and pre-cooked food. Coolers and ice blocks can be sourced.  

The weather should determine the kind of camping cloths to wear. You need to inquire from the meteorological department or tour agents on the weather conditions to expect on the camp site. In extreme cold weather, you need to have the heavy woolen cloths. Bright sunny days require light cloths. 

You should remember that bright day can be preceded by cold nights. You need to be prepared for such weather variations. Rainy weather implies that rain coats should be packed in your bags. You may need to hang up your wet and damp cloths on a clothes line. Cloths pegs are also essential.

Your camping first aid kit is significantly important. You may fall on those rocky grounds or be pierced by the thorny shrubs. Other items you need to have are gazebos, sleeping bags, picnic rags, simple barbeque cooker, lighter, camping lantern and chair and needless to mention umbrellas. Your personal cleanliness’ items such as tooth brush, tooth paste, bathing soap, towel, and anti-sun radiations lotions should also included in the camping checklist.

Don’t even think you have exhausted the camping checklist just by the first jotting. You will surely be surprised how many essential items you may have omitted when you go through the list with your family or friends. Consult them over and over again until the moment of camping. 

Don’t forget to refer to friends who have had such an adventure. They will more likely mention to you the areas they failed during their camping and what they did not include in their camping checklist such as the camping gear. This way you are able to improve on your camping preparation. Experts may as well help you out to plan for your camping more comfortably. If you have difficulties, consult them.

Electronic Signature Services...Are They Worthy For Your Business?

There are many benefits of using electronic signature services and one of them is that, it reduces the time taken to fill and sign documents from for instance, hours to just a few minutes or less. This definitely enhances efficiency in business. Documents can be signed faster and acted upon thus improving on service delivery. This makes customers happy and increases workflow and cash flow.

e signature

Secondly, the application of online document signing saves on resource-use as there is reduced use of paper, pen and ink. A company does not have to buy paper and ink. With this process, it can be carried out within an organization and also out of an organization for example, through an iPhone. Thirdly, the esignature process is simple as it requires one to have only an email and Internet connection.

There is no need to create an account with the service provider. Documents are uploaded in PDF or word format. They can also be uploaded from web applications such as Google docs and FreshBooks. Fourthly, the e signature service is secure and confidential. Considering the threats of security witnessed on the Internet, clients want to be assured of secure document transit process.

With this system, there is secure SSL data encryption by VeriSign and this ensures that clients’ documents and data in transit are protected. Moreover, online document signing service produces signatures, which looks just like pen and paper signature. A wet-looking signature is produced with the handwritten styles. For example, a signer can use a finger to sign a document.

Last but not least, the service can be carried out through use of mobile devices such as iPhones, iPods, blackberry and Smartphone devices. This means that a signer can sign the documents whenever, and wherever. Therefore, if you are seeking for more innovative ways to have your documents filled and signed, an e signature service firm can offer you the most comprehensive and time saving digital document signing service.

Dubious High Yield Investment Companies Stealing Billions of Dollars

Dubious high yield investment companies stealing billions of dollars from consumers every year in what appears to be a cold-blooded theft. Even the internet giants who should be shielding consumers from these malpractices are continuing to promote the sites. Search engines and electronic money transfer sites are some of the organizations who could help curb the menace but apparently, these sites continue supporting the perpetrators.

Internet seems to be the most vulnerable environment for consumers with billions of dollars being stolen from consumers. I am not talking of the high-end classic theft such as phishing and cyber crimes but about dubious websites that are operating freely and undeterred. They are using business models that never work, and they promise internet users of getting rich fast.

This never happens anyway, but why are the sites being allowed to continue operating yet they can be stopped. With so many complaints online, nothing seems to be happening yet consumers from all over the world are losing money?

Who owns 2 dollar clicks site yet this site is supported by one of main electronic money transfers. And, what about Ad Click Xpress, which has changed its name multiple times yet it is soliciting for people to continue pumping their dollars into their program. Surely, who owns the internet and who controls it?

Remember that ;

HYIP Scams stands for 'Have you idiot potential?'

Wonga Releases 12 Portraits Film...What Does A Movie Has To Do With A Payday Lender?

Wonga released a 28- minute film, which apparently did not feature its name, nor the puppets that are associated with its site and ads. Wonga seems to be sympathizing with its exploits that are in pain accusing the payday lender of reaping money from consumers who are regarded as financially unstable. The release of the movie comes at a time when Wonga is under pressure from the MPs accused it of imposing extra-hefty interest rates that are as high as 5,853%. 

Whereas the movie may give the impression that consumers are happy with the payday lender, this might not be the case. If those who feel they have been exploited by this lender could be featured in a similar movie, it would be tears of agony and bitterness. But, who is to blame for the pain caused by payday lender to consumers?

Gary Tarn, the BAFTA-nominated filmmaker was granted a free rein to produce a film for Wonga without an editorial control by the lender. This would create the impression that the lender was not biased in the content of the film. The series featuring 12 portraits of Wonga customers talking of their passions has been cited as an expression for many who feel that these loans have helped them greatly but their voices have never been heard.

All we hear is the tainted image and accusations of preying consumers of their hard-earned money by payday lenders but few seem to be excited about these lenders. The anguish and pain consumer are experiencing overwhelms the joy expressed in the 12 Portraits film footage. Whether it is a consolation gimmick or voice for the majority who have benefited and are happy about this lender, the feelings about payday lending are far from happiness.

Wonga is the most profitable payday lender in Britain, but its profitability may be resting on bitter feels. After all, much of the revenue generated by these cash advance service providers is derived from the fees and charges levied on consumers who rollover balances or take multiple loans. Payday loans are not intended for long-term financial solutions in the first place.

Any payday company capitalizing on penalizing its consumers for failure to repay their first loan as agreed on the term has a hidden agenda. Payday loans should only be borrowed once and should be repaid after the given period of lending. However, lenders lure consumers to become repeat customers or rollover their balances, and this is where the problem starts.

These lenders should discourage rolling over of balances or obtaining multiple loans within a given period because after all, the blame for preying consumers erodes their reputation and image. It might have been easy for Wonga to find 12 people who could speak, something passionately about the company, but what about the thousands of consumers struggling with heftily priced loans? Who would help them air out their voices? 

The subject of payday lending is very sensitive, and although the lenders say, the loans are for emergencies, consumers need to be informed on what is important and what is urgent. Every other financial need might be important but not an emergency. Many consumers who borrow Wonga payday loans have misplaced priorities and misunderstanding of what the implication is. A payday loan should never be rolled over and multiple borrowing should never be entertained. These loans are too costly to bear whenever there are rollovers and multiple borrowing.

Nevertheless, it cannot be assumed that these loans do not benefit consumers. A few people can attest to the fact that payday loans have helped them in a way they could never have been assisted . This should be praised and acknowledged but majority of borrowers are never happy with structure of the lending system and they feel reaped off their money. The 12 Portraits may just be another corporate video that is deemed to conceive the truth from the eyes.

Unfortunately, even if people can see the joy in the hearts of those who passionately praise the work of Wonga, the film might not erase the ill feelings of thousands of consumers who in one way or another feel they have been exploited. Consumers should borrow wisely and understand that payday loans pose a real danger to their finances. Installment loans are the new form of payday loans, which seem to be growing fast but although they attract less interest rates, they are also highly priced. Wonga loans can only help you when you are in critical need of cash but not just another emergence.

Business risks…A Creative Approach to Identifying Business Risks

What are Business risks?
Business risks can be defined as the events or activities that when induced, they cause problems to the survival of a business entity. In the context of business organizations, risks can be categorized into internal and external risks. Internal risks manifest themselves within the business environment, and may include threats that undermine performance, safety, and security of employees at workplace. Such threats also trigger financial mismanagement, poor quality production, mechanical breakdowns of machines, and increased employee complaints.  


Externally, business risks may present themselves as financial market uncertainties, credit risks where the creditors fail to pay the owed amounts, and natural disasters that strike a business. The ways in which business risks are established vary from organizational culture, kind of the industry, and the business practices in place.

Objective-based strategy
Through objective-based strategy, risks can be established, and this seeks to evaluate the events and activities that jeopardize the process and efforts of achieving the goals and objectives of a business. For example, if the objective of the business is to increase its profitability, but the technological innovations cannot support this initiative, this is then viewed as a risk, and the management should work towards improving on the technological innovations as a mitigation measure. 

Taxonomy-based approach
A taxonomy-based approach may also be used to identify business risks. This means that possible risks sources are analyzed. Information on business risks can be sourced from the employees and the management, whereby, questionnaires are supplied and information gathered on the perceived risks that may manifests within a business or outside the business and result to inability to achieve the set goals and objectives.

The employees offer information on potential risks, and this is tabulated by listing them down evaluating their probability to occur, and the severity of the effects they may pose. In the business set-up, there are usually lists of known risks that are perceived as a threat to business operations. For instance, fire, employees’ safety at work, theft, financial misappropriation, employees’ strikes, and under-performance are perceived as ideal business risks.

Others may include unhealthy competition in the market, lack of resources to support the business, weak management team, natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. All these may be common risks in a business set-up. Through the common-risk checking, these risks are analyzed, their probability to occur, and the severity of damage or impact they may bring to the business is also established.

Source analysis approach
The business risks may also be determined by source analysis whereby the source of the business risk is established. This means that if the source of the risk is poor management, then this mismanagement of the business is viewed as the risk.

If the source of a business risk is poor financial management, then the financial mismanagement is regarded as the risk. In other forms, the risks can be identified by the problem. This is the problem analysis and it normally entails establishing the threats that confront the business organization. For example, the threat of losing competitive edge, recording reduced profitability, losing loyal customers, or threat of the business burning down from fire or explosions. These threats are risks that can affect the continuity of the business.

Scenario-based method
The risks can also be identified through scenario-based method whereby any event or activity that induces an unjustifiable business position such as reduced profitability may be regarded as a risk. Other examples such as the activities that trigger complaints and cause conflicts of interests may also be cited as risks. Factors that hinder business from moving to particular region may be viewed as risks. For instance, the unstable political climate and government autocracy and bureaucracy in registering businesses may be the risks.