Archive for June, 2011

Virtual Kitchen Makeovers: Helping People Choose The Best Design For Their Kitchen

June 27th, 2011

Every year, people all over the US get their kitchens redone in all sorts of ways varying from a cabinet refacing to getting new countertops. To help people choose the best design or options in terms of color and material many companies have virtual kitchen makeover software which can be used to generate an idea as to how certain products they sell may look at the buyer’s home. The technology lets the user see various colors and materials in a model kitchen that closest resembles their own. They then mix and match material to see what would make your kitchen look its best.

The virtual kitchen makeover software is an excellent way to see multiple colors. Often, it is inconvenient for home owners to have to go to a store several times, so from the comfort of their computer they can easily see a vast variety of colors and choose one before making a final decision. This can save people a lot of time and stress when they remodel their kitchen. These virtual programs often have easy ways to communicate with the company in case any professional help is needed.

Virtual kitchen makeover tools are also wonderful for getting information on the material being used for the remodeling process. The information is free and useful especially for people who may be particular about how the material itself is made. It can tell you what the material is made of and if it radon-safe or environmentally friendly. Each material has its own unique set of colors, yet another enhancement that can help match the best color with the right material for your kitchen.

So while this is some excellent home decoration technology, it is always wise to also double check with an expert in the field. After using the virtual kitchen makeover material, contact the local company consultants before making any final decisions, or if anything is confusing. Afterward the home owner will be ready to start giving their kitchen a new look and will have a beautiful, full remodeled kitchen before they know it.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Errors and Omissions Insurance for Home Inspectors

June 23rd, 2011

Errors and Omissions Insurance Liability for home inspectors is necessary for this type of businesses because it protects the company from claims if a client holds a member of the company responsible for errors, or the failure of the company’s work to perform as indicated in the contract.

It is a necessary investment for any home inspector because in most cases, professional liability (Errors and Omissions Insurance) coverage is not provided in a commercial general liability insurance policy. Therefore any issues concerning professional liability such as errors or contract performance disputes are not covered in the general liability policy.

Errors and Omissions Insurance may pay for legal defense costs, court costs, and any resulting judgments against the inspector.This means peace of mind for home inspection businesses because everyone makes mistakes at some point.The insurance may also cover employees and 1099 subcontractors working for the company, perhaps even in a different location.

The bottom line is that home inspectors who purchase Errors and Omissions Insurance can protect their reputations and businesses from the outcomes of embarrassing law suits which otherwise might result in extreme financial hardship if errors are brought to light in a courtroom.

Many Errors and Omissions Insurance policies are “Claims-Made” to protect the policy holder against any incidents that occurred and were reported during the specific period of time mentioned in the policy, or during an “extended reporting period”.Another type of Errors and Omissions Insurance policy is called an “Occurrence Policy” and the incident has to have occurred during the policy period regardless of when the claim is reported.

Many home inspectors also take out General Liability insurance just in case an accident causes bodily injury or property damage during an inspection. For instance, something gets broken in the home during the inspection.

Another thing for the inspector to note is coverage can be bound the same day on some policies as long as all of the underwriting information is received by the insurance company and approved. Today most clients receive their insurance policy via the email or internet within 5 days from it being issued. Some insurance companies have been “thinking green” on printing and communication appreciate all of their clients who are receiving their documents via e-communication.

Some policies may not cover Radon and WDI/WDO inspections.Home inspectors should check with the insurance company to determine whether these types of inspections can be covered.In some states inspections there isn’t a licensing requirement so the inspector may have to submit proof of training.

There are many fine points to keep in mind when shopping around for Errors and Omissions Insurance. The key point here is that no home inspector should be without this type of insurance policy.

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Home Buying Basics – Have a Certified Home Inspector Check Out Your House

June 20th, 2011

San Diego is one of the most popular places to live in California because of its majestic beaches, great weather all year round, and plenty of wonderful outdoor activities where you can participate. These make San Diego homes pretty expensive. If you are planning to purchase your dream house in this sunny city, you have to make sure that you commit no error during the home buying process. One important thing that has to be in your home buying checklist is hiring a certified home inspector in San Diego.

Home inspection services in San Diego can provide you with valuable information on your desired home. When buying a house, there are many details that the potential owner has to know-from its wiring and plumbing to the roof. It is important to know that everything is in good condition. Hiring home inspection services guarantees that you will have a clear picture of the structural, electrical, and mechanical condition of the property. This is because home inspection services conduct a thorough examination of a particular property from the foundation up to the roof. Consulting a well-informed San Diego home inspection service can give you peace of mind and assure you the safety of your new residence.

Among the items to be inspected include:

• Structural components, which include walls, ceilings and floors, roofs, and the house foundation
• Exterior of the house, including the coverings of walls, landscape, grading, altitude, and drainage. Other important items that are checked include the driveways and sidewalks, fences, entrances, windowpanes, front yard, frills, illumination, and outdoor containers.
• Roofing, including the loft, frames, provision of fresh air to a room, roof structure, flashing around the chimneys and other junctions, and rain gutters.
• Plumbing, which consists of identification and evaluation of the condition of piping supplies used for pipes such as drain, waste, exhaust, and potable. Tub and bath equipment such as toilets, sinks, faucets, tubs, showers, and traps are also checked. However, the sewerage system is not included in the inspection.
• Ventilation, cooling, and heating systems and their components
• Electrical system, such as the circuit breakers, main panel, exhausts and ceiling fans, wiring, grounding, receptacles, and light fixtures.
• Built-in and major appliances, which include dishwasher, oven, range microwaves, smoke detectors, and garbage disposal.
• Garage, including the paving slab, walls and ceiling, vents, entrance, firewall, door and windows, garage openers, lights, receptacles, outer walls, and roof.

However, asbestos, radon gas, lead paint, toxic mold, and pest control are not covered in home inspection services. Specific licenses for each item are required for the inspection.

Knowing how home inspection services check out your house can give you peace of mind in dealing with a certified home inspector. Accordingly, many people find themselves uneasy about home inspection simply because they are unaware of the processes involved. However, as mentioned, hiring a certified home inspector can save you from a lot of trouble and money in the end. Most potential buyers only see the external appearance of the house without realizing that behind the beautiful facade might be hundreds of dollars worth of underlying problems.

One of the most important parts of purchasing any home, whether in San Diego or somewhere else, is the home evaluation process. The cost of hiring a professional San Diego home inspector is very little compared with the cost of possible repairs in the future. In order to make sure that you are making the right choice, have your potential house checked by a professional home inspector before signing the papers.

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10 Tips For Teaching Middle School Math

June 14th, 2011

As a teacher for 11 years and middle-school math teaching consultant, I’ve seen a wide array of different math programs and classes. I’m sharing here the 10 best teaching tips I’ve compiled over the years.

1. Provide compelling content to study.

Years ago, a colleague I was working with said, “Maybe class can be fun, but I can’t make class compelling. I have to teach math!” It’s an assumption worth exploring.

Take Ron Berger’s middle-school math project to study levels radon in their own homes. Studying radon is boring. But Berger’s class project has got to be one of the most compelling projects in math class history. What if his students discovered dangerous levels of radon in the homes of one geographic area and published the results as they had intended? What would happen to real estate values in that area? What he found is that students were highly engaged in mapping, taking averages, looking at standard deviations- students that heretofore didn’t care one bit about radon or the other concepts.

So what’s the trick? The trick is that there isn’t one. You can’t trick students into finding something compelling if it isn’t. Take a little bit of time to develop a few topics of study throughout the year that you find compelling- the Economy, the Presidential Campaigns, the Human Body, etc. Find an authentic way to present your result- the paper, the web, a magazine. Keep the project small, authentic and do-able.

Students of teachers that do take this kind of time have better outcomes on state tests than students of teachers who only stick to the text. Almost any social studies context provides a backdrop for learning that adds depth.

Even teachers who hold a math “topics” class only once a month see real benefits, so you don’t have to abandon your regular class. And, you’ll find that students are more engaged when regular class is held.

If you want to go really deep and have solid administrator support, look into the school reform movement of Expeditionary Learning Schools who have an excellent approach to thematic teaching.

2. Don’t use extraneous rewards such as candy, purchase points, stickers, etc.

There is nothing more certain than seeing the culture of a math class decline over a period of years when a teacher bribes them. The intent of the teacher, of course, is good. A teacher cares about his or her students and wants the very best for them. “I don’t care how they learn math,” one teacher said to me. “I just want them to learn it so that they are prepared.” The teacher cared enough to purchase candy out of her own pocket, but the real message to students is this: the “positive reinforcement” of candy means “math isn’t worth doing on its own.” The research is clear on the matter too, and shows us that extrinsic, non-relevant rewards hurt learning.

Even if the effects aren’t immediate, over time so called “positive reinforcements” like these mentioned above erode an otherwise high-quality math program. As a teacher, you are much better off trying to create inherently compelling curriculum than buying candy.

3. Build a culture where students teach each other.

For many teachers, one student helping another is called cheating. But I actually found that the better middle-school math programs all encouraged students to team together at certain times throughout the week. The activities were usually graded as complete or not-complete, and when tied to meaningful tasks, such as building a survey together and collecting original data, student comprehension was greater than on individual tasks.

Building the kind of culture that works for student pairs or groups takes years and lots of practice. But before you give up and decide it doesn’t work, determine if you are following tips #1 and #2 first.

4. Give less, but more meaningful work, including homework.

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study labels the curriculum in the United States as “a mile wide and an inch deep.” Their review of math texts in middle-school found that some were almost 700 pages long. With heavy pressure to teach to the standards, as a teacher you might be tempted to skip and jump to many topics throughout the text. Don’t. It achieves little learning.

Choose the most important pieces before the beginning of the year, and keep it simple. Teach the concepts you do teach with depth.

The national advisory counsel formed from the study recommended “put first things first” and suggested that indeed, less is more. Take the time to cull the curriculum to a manageable size for your students, and present them with only that. If you have to “cover” standards, find out what standards and document when you indeed teach them in class. You’ll find that teaching with depth often reaches to a broad array of standards.

It’s helpful to know what’s driving the breadth. As the national study panel concurs, publishers are trying to meet demands of hundreds of different districts by including everything that any school might want. And while publishers have been attempting custom publishing, it is just as difficult to create a math curriculum for a small district as a large one. Thus, the challenges of book publishing lead to a single, uniformly created overarching textbook. Often this is a very large text or an entire series.

In the classroom, teachers and students become overwhelmed and unable to handle the scope or breadth of learning in this form. As teachers, we have to recognize that predominantly negative emotions surround math in middle-school, and that anything we can reduce those emotions will go a long way toward gains in learning learning. Placing a 500 page text in front of a 7th grade student is unlikely to help, so use it sparingly and build little, home-made notebooks for daily use.

5. Model thinking, not solutions or answers.

Don’t show a student how to solve something. Instead “think aloud”. For example, you might have a whiteboard with a problem up, and start by saying, “o.k., I notice that the 4 numbers I am to sum are all in the thousands category, and that the first is near 3,000, the second near 5,000, and the third… I am confused about…” Model exactly what you thinking including confusion, emotions, skills, strategies and more.

When you do this, also let your students know how mathematicians think. One piece of research that is helpful to know is that mathematicians spend a long time thinking about how to set up a problem, a little bit of time doing the problem, and a long time “looking back” by asking the question, “Does this make sense?’ Model that for your students, by putting up a complex problem on the board and spending time not just jumping into a solution, but just talking about what strategies you might use to solve the problem.

6. Provide feedback that is immediate, relevant to the task, non-comparative, and leads the way to next steps.

Many teachers believe that grading is a form of feedback. It isn’t. Grading, when done well, can be a form of assessment of learning, but the distinction should be clear. Grades are not an effective tool as assessment for learning. Grades are the end of the road, when you assess what has been learned, but they should not be intended to inform a student where to go next.

Take, for example, three groups of students who received different kinds of “feedback” on math papers they had “turned in.” The first group received only narrative feedback (no score) informing them where and how they made mistakes. The second group received a grade (or score) and narrative feedback. The third group received just a grade. Not surprisingly, the students who received narrative feedback improved when re-tested. Those who had received only a grade did not have the information to improve, and performed the same when re-tested. But here is the surprising part. There was no difference between “grade-only” group and the group that received the grade and narrative feedback. Why? The students who received both a grade and narrative feedback completely ignored the written suggestions and only looked at the score. “I got a blah, blah, blah… what did you get?”

Because we live in a world where grades and formalized assessments are so important, work with the system by differentiating assessment for learning and assessment of learning.

When you are grading, one guide is to reference Rick Stiggins strategies of assessment for learning. That way, when you are conducting an assessment of learning (i.e. grading), you’ll notice that you are momentarily stepping out of the role of improving a student’s learning and won’t have the conflict of trying to do two things at once.

7. Change mimeographed sheets to problems you and your students personally develop.

A pervasive aspect of our culture is to give out page after page of information. In faculty meetings, business meetings and conferences, hundreds of pages of documents are handed out. It makes us look organized and prepared. It’s also a way to “cover” content. But for a middle-school math student, it also makes it hard to determine what is important. Was it the fractions part? Was it the decimals section? Was it the number line? Was it the triangle puzzle problem? Was it the cartoon?

Instead of another mimeographed page, have your student write their own story problems. Tell them to add artwork for comprehension. Give them the latitude to make them fun. Celebrate them by posting them in class. Give them 5 home-made story problems they create for homework instead of a mimeographed sheet with 30 problems, and really dive into improving them through revision.

8. Use story to teach math.

Write a story, a real story with characters and plot, and add the math problem set. Write about wizards that need to use angles for their sorcery. Write about spice trading ships on the deep seas. Write a story that lasts a whole page before even getting to the math portion. You’ve engaged the right-side, or less analytical, part of the brain and you’ll see a powerful effect of enhanced engagement.

9. Get math tutor volunteers once a week for two-months before state testing.

As a teacher or administrator, spend time during the fall months by planning for and scheduling a single day each week during the months of February and March (right before testing) to have volunteers come in to teach math in small groups. But what’s nice is that if developed correctly, these volunteers don’t need to have any special training in math.

Start with a simple plan. Each student has 10 skills they have chosen to work on during the whole class tutoring session and have written down their practice problems in class. The phone calls are made, the specific planning with an administrator is done, and volunteers come in and help the students answer the 10 questions during class with support. Schedule tutoring once every week for two months before testing and see your scores greatly improve.

10. Work with the emotions your students have for math.

10a. Ask your students how they feel about math. Use a bit of class time periodically to gain a better sense of where they are. And, just let them feel how they feel. If they like math, they like it. If they are bored, empathize. If your students can’t stand math, you will gain far more ground by seeing their perspective than trying to prove they are wrong. As a teacher this is hard because we are so accustomed to trying to “fix” the situation, and of course, our ego is tied to student emotion. If our students are bored, we feel like we aren’t doing the right thing. But the larger truth is that there is an ebb and flow in all of us for the topics we are learning. When the boredom, frustration and negativity does emerge, try understanding it. Perhaps class does feel a little boring. That’s o.k. Sometimes it will. And then slowly, over a period of years, build those compelling pieces into your classes so that you punctuate boring times with excitement and joy.

10b. Go slowly. Changing the direction of your math class is like trying to change the direction of a large ship, especially when dealing with emotions. Even once everything is place for the changes to occur, you will notice the “ship’s” momentum going in the same old direction before you sense any real shifts. This is part of the process. It took me three years to develop a coherent math program at my middle-school and even then, we occasionally slipped in to old patterns. Good luck!

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Buyers Agent Or Listing Agent – Which One is Harder?

June 13th, 2011

Admittedly, neither the role of Buyers Agent role nor the role of Listing Agent can be considered easy. Both have their challenges; both have their positive aspects. That said, I’ve been working both sides of the transaction for more than a decade now, and it’s clear to me that the Listing Agent has the more difficult time. Here’s why:

Buyers Agents find issues; Listing Agents have to solve them.

Buyers Agents want their buyers to have all the information about the house they are about to purchase. All the problems and defects need to be on the table, fully disclosed. For the Buyers Agent, the big questions are
1) What’s wrong with this house; and
2) What will the Seller agree to fix? Those two questions have to be answered before the Buyer can make an informed decision. The Buyers Agent brings in the home inspector and the termite inspector — and if they find anything suspicious, more inspections ensue.

The list of problems and issues generated by the various inspections is put together in the form of a Repair Request by the Buyers Agent, and it typically ends up in the Listing Agent’s lap. You might think that the list goes to the Seller, since the Seller has to respond to it. Usually not. Usually the Seller looks helplessly at the Listing Agent. “What do I have to do?” he or she asks in confusion. The buck is passed.

Sellers are not necessarily unwilling to do repairs, but they want the job done without spending any more money than they have to. That’s understandable. At the same time, the Listing Agent knows that the job needs to be done correctly. If the completed work is not satisfactory to the Buyer, bad things will happen.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “You can have it done quickly, cheaply, or correctly — pick any two.” There’s a lot of truth to that saying, and doing the repairs for a sale is not the time to choose “cheaply.” The work needs to be done on time (i.e., before closing) and it needs to be done correctly (or the Buyer may walk). Nevertheless, the Seller still wants to spend as little as possible. So it falls to the Listing Agent to produce one or more professionals who will do the repairs quickly and correctly, while still giving the Seller a good price.

Over time, agents collect the names of service providers they can trust — contractors, plumbers, structural engineers, landscapers, chimney sweeps, painters, maid services, radon testing labs, concrete driveway repair companies, and so on.. and on.. and on. Access to the list, and the agent’s relationship with the people on the list, comprise an important aspect of the Listing Agent’s value to the Seller.

But having the list is usually not enough. Typically, the Seller is at work all day, and can’t easily be home to meet with repair people. It falls to the Listing Agent to stand in for the Seller during the information gathering period. He or she will call the repair companies, set up appointments to meet them, then go to meet them, and collect the professional opinions and estimates to present to the Seller, along with his or her recommendations on the best course to follow. All this takes time. Once the Seller has agreed to have work done, if the workmen require access to the house, the Listing Agent may be called upon again to open the house to allow the repair people access. When a utility company is involved, this can require hours of waiting just for them to turn up.

Once the work is done, the Listing Agent contacts the Buyers Agent, so the Buyer can come by to check that the work has been properly done. Usually it’s fine, because the service providers on the Listing Agent’s list are dependable. Sometimes something gets overlooked, and then the Listing Agent has to scramble.

I remember a listing that I had a few years ago. The FHA appraiser didn’t come to do the appraisal until a week before closing, and he told the seller that peeling paint on the soffits had to be scraped and repainted. He took the Seller around the house and showed him two areas that needed to be done. This was an FHA requirement, not an item on the Buyer’s Repair Request List.

There was no time to waste, of course. I got my painter to leave the job he was on, to come back and take care of our soffits. Then ONE DAY before closing, the FHA appraiser came back to check that the work had been done. “You missed a spot,” he told the Seller. “There were three areas to be fixed; you only did two.”

My Seller was sure that only two places had been mentioned originally, and I believe him. He knew this issue would stop the closing and he was very, very focused on what the appraiser was saying that day. But, no point in arguing, I had to throw myself on the painter’s mercy yet again, and beg him, “Please, you have to come TODAY!” And, God Bless him, he came.

This is an example of how the Listing Agent’s relationship with his or her service providers makes a big difference. A Seller may hire a painter once every five or ten years, but a Listing Agent needs a painter many times a year. That gives the agent leverage when needed.

What is the Buyers Agent doing while the Listing Agent is dealing with contractors, gathering estimates, and micromanaging repairs? None of this burden falls on the Buyers Agent. He or she found the problems — the Listing Agent has to get them fixed. The Buyers Agent can spend the weeks between contract and closing on vacation in Hawaii!, or out getting three more Buyers under contract.

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Briscoe Saga Part VII – Key Objectives of a Home Inspection

June 12th, 2011

“The Things We Do for Love” is the 1976 hit tune by the UK musical group, 10cc. As a Realtor, I have created my own hit tune “The Things We Do Love… for our Clients”!

Some of the most basic services we perform for clients are: meet contractors on site to get estimates for work, provide access as necessary, and follow up to ensure work is performed accordingly; coordinate landscapers, snow removal and house cleaning crews; meet pest inspectors and technicians; obtain inspections by structural engineers, EIFS technicians and other professionals; oversee installation of radon remediation systems; coordinate well and septic inspections as well as any work required; determine availability of re-issue rates for title insurance; obtain Property Owner’s Association documents and review with client; provide access for appraiser as well as information regarding market value of property; confirm with settlement company a survey and title search have been done and discuss options with client if any concerns arise from either; work with purchaser on the obtaining of financing and property insurance.

One of the more recent listings with our group is a horse property in Great Falls, Virginia. The stables were in a serious state of disarray. Fortunately my daughter has horses and therefore experience in cleaning barns. Callie shoveled out the stalls, knocked down cobwebs with a broom, hosed down the paddocks, put down fresh sawdust and generally spruced the place up!

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Denison – A U.S. Uranium Mill Monopoly

June 10th, 2011

He who owns the uranium mill makes the rules.

In an interview with Yellowcake Mining director Dr. Robert Rich, he told us that the company that owns a uranium mill controls the area.

Recently, the company announced an ore buying program. Denison Mines said it operates the only uranium mill within a 500-mile radius of Blanding, Utah. Strategically located, the company’s White Mesa mill is in the heart of the Uravan uranium mining district.

In truth, it is the only operating conventional uranium mill in the United States. According to a U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) update issued this past May, the other three uranium mills are on standby.

For the time being, Denison has a monopoly on conventional uranium milling in the United States. Under these circumstances, a company can charge whatever it wishes.

Roll back the clock. When you have zero competition, one can buy uranium for the same price others paid in 2005. In Denison’s case, the company’s mill can purchase uranium for about one-quarter to one-third of TradeTech’s long-term uranium price – between US$24 and $US35/pound – depending upon the ore grade.

Two Junior Uranium Companies Respond

Although this could become a cash cow for Denison Mines, two junior uranium mining companies we interviewed sounded like they had been smacked between the eyes with the back end of a billiard stick.

“The ore buying schedule shows the improbability of working with those guys,” Energy Fuels spokesman Gary Steele told StockInterview. “It clearly hurts our cash flow.”

Steele was referring to the 1500 tons of ore his company hoped to stockpile between now and the end of the year. According to Denison’s ore buying schedule posted on the company’s website this past week, Energy Fuels would be lucky to get US$154.40 per ton of ore brought to the White Mesa uranium mill in Blanding, Utah.

Steele told us the ore would likely grade 0.2 percent U3O8 and 0.63 percent V2O5 (vanadium pentoxide) from the company’s mining operations at Whirlwind in Colorado. Using the long-term uranium price indicator and an ‘historical’ pricing for vanadium, published on the Denison website, the Energy Fuels ore should be valued at US$424 per ton.

Under the Denison milling arrangement, Energy Fuels would receive less than US$40/pound for the company’s uranium production.

Where is the profit?

Steele would not provide mining costs at Whirlwind, but he did provide guidance of $0.25 per ton/mile in transportation costs to the Denison mill. Trucking could cost in the neighborhood of $46/ton to ship the ore to Blanding, Utah. Mining costs in the Uravan district are likely to be in the US$60 – 80/ton range, according to Denison’s president Ron Hochstein. Capex could fall into the US$6/ton range, according to estimates provided by another company. And there are likely to be other costs, which we’ve not calculated. Additions could also include environmental permitting and reclamation, and typical sales and administration expenses found in any business enterprise.

Under the ore buying schedule, Energy Fuels might receive about US$42 per ton after expenses, a bit more than US$10/pound – about 7.4 percent of the current spot price. For the 1500-ton lot, Energy Fuels might receive a check of approximately US$230,000. But, after paying its bills, the company’s 2007 production may only yield around $60,000.

It is no wonder that Steele told us, “We’re struggling with the milling question.” Optimistically, Steele announced, “Our plan is to press on with multiple plans, strategies and approaches to produce yellowcake.” He wouldn’t rule out constructing a mill.

We wanted a second opinion. So we talked to Michael Collins, chief executive of Blue Rock Resources.

Blue Rock’s lead project is the Tramp uranium mine in Montrose County, Colorado. It is about 130 miles from the White Mesa mill.

Collins agreed with Steele about the Denison ore buying program. “It’s not the route we would like to take,” Collins told StockInterview. Collins is now putting together his plan of operation to present to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is planning on raising about C$4.5 million to help develop the project.

He told us the average grades at the Tramp mine are 0.3 percent U3O8 and between 1.5 and 1.7 percent V2O5. The project could host 300,000 pounds U3O8. “We are aiming to define one million pounds,” Collins said. If he does proceed with the Denison program, Collins believes his company could stockpile about 100 thousand tons over the next 18 months.

Denison’s Hochstein confirmed that his company was talking with Energy Fuels, Blue Rock and others about milling agreements.

During our telephone conversation with Collins, we calculated his benefit in using the Denison ore buying program. According to Collins’ calculations, he would receive a little less than US$250 for each ton of uranium/vanadium ore his company shipped to White Mesa for milling.

Collins estimated mining the ore would cost about $65/ton. To ship his ore the 130-mile distance to Blanding would cost between $35 and $40/ton. His infrastructure and development costs would add up to about $9/pound. He told us it was too early to estimate his administrative and other expenses, but Collins gave us the impression he runs a lean operation.

However, his company’s disadvantage is the royalty paid for the Tramp uranium mine. For each ton of ore Blue Rock mines, the company would have to pay a US$90 royalty. Collins said, “The royalty is paid on the spot uranium price.”

Adding up the all-in costs, according to Collins’ estimates, it would cost Blue Rock about US$200/ton, perhaps more, to bring the ore to Denison. Each ton of Blue Rock’s ore would pay out on the order of US$48 to $50/ton, after expenses. Collins told us he would get six pounds U3O8 per ton with his grades. After all is said and done, Blue Rock would be getting between US$8 and $8.50 per pound for uranium.

As for building a uranium mill for the Tramp mine and his company’s other three projects in the area, Collins told us, “A new uranium mill could take over seven years to permit in Colorado.”

Clearly, he was disappointed with the Denison program, saying, “It’s as bad as I could have hoped for.” But he is not ruling out some future agreement with Denison. Collins told us he was still hoping to secure a toll-milling contract for 100 thousand tons. “We’ll finance for a year and stockpile the ore,” Collins said. Fortunately, Blue Rock has other encouraging uranium projects which Collins hopes to develop in conjunction with the Tramp mine.

Under a toll-milling agreement, a miner would pay on the order of 20 percent above the milling costs. Instead of getting only $250/ton from Denison to purchase his ore, Collins would obtain a higher payout and retain ownership of the ore.

Who Owns the Ore?

Also at stake is ownership of the ore, after it is brought to Denison. The miner no longer owns the ore. There is a risk factor for both parties on this item. Both Energy Fuels and Blue Rock told us they wanted to keep the U3O8 after it was milled.

Ron Hochstein told StockInterview, “We will keep it.”

Under the Denison agreement, the company will purchase the ore now and pay out after the samples have been assayed. But, the ore won’t get milled until sometime in 2008. White Mesa is going through a $15 million refurbishment program now. Hochstein said, “We will open in March 2008.”

In reviewing the Denison materials on this program, it doesn’t appear publicly traded companies are the target audience for this program. On the company’s website, we found this notice:

The White Mesa mill Ore Buying Program provides an opportunity for independent miners to sell their uranium and uranium/vanadium ore to Denison Mines (USA) Corp., the operators of the White Mesa mill, located near Blanding, Utah.

We asked Hochstein who would supply the mill feed. “There are many small miners in the Uravan district,” he said. “They’ve built up stockpiles, and we will get them cash flow.” Hochstein was excited by the initial reaction to his company’s news release. “We got a good number of phone calls,” he said. “Some are asking for ‘just uranium’ milling agreements.”

Under the terms for small miners, Denison will only buy in lots of one thousand tons. “In the past miners would drive up to the mill with the ore in a pick up truck,” he explained. “But we require they use licensed transportation contractors now.” Unlike Steele or Collins, he estimated shipping costs would run about fifteen cents per ton.

“They can make some pretty good money,” he told us. For companies such as Energy Fuels and Blue Rock, Hochstein said, “We will negotiate on deals in 100 thousand tons minimum.” He said the payout would have a slight permutation. “We are still working with Energy Fuels, Blue Rock and others,” Hochstein told us.

He did caution, though, “After we buy the ore, it’s Denison’s, not someone else’s.”

Devil’s Advocate

In a previous news-breaking story, when we reported on flooding at ERA’s Ranger operations, we turned to experts to provide us insights about the subject. Again we asked for their opinions.

“Denison is going to be in for a rude awakening,” one mining expert told us. “The small miners can make more money by selling their claims to junior uranium mining companies.”

Another doubted there was much uranium ore stockpiled, telling us, “It may mostly be reclaimed.” An engineer familiar with the area told us, “Usually, every last ounce of uranium ore was shipped to the mill.”

Both agreed there were drawbacks to the revival of ‘dog-hole mining,’ which is the slang for the smaller mom-and-pop operations. “Many of the old-time miners think they will have ‘environmentalist immunity,’ which they won’t,” said one expert. Another told us, “The dog-hole miners are going to be living night and day with MSHA inspectors.” MSHA is the acronym for the federal Mining Safety and Health Administration.

“In the last cycle, one could take an MSHA inspector out for supper and drinks and he would be lenient, or look the other way,” said the engineer. “But in today’s environment, they are sticklers for the regulations.”

As for the incoming phone calls to Denison about selling stockpiled ore, one expert thought most of the callers would not be legitimate. “There were 500 different operations at one time in the Uravan,” he said. “Maybe ten percent are still around, and most of the miners will be in their 60s now.” Technical expertise is a must, and the industry already has a labor shortage.

In dog hole mining, at least three people are required to mine. Two would work in pairs down the hole and MSHA regulations required one to be on the surface. “The minimum three-man crew would cost about $600/day for labor costs,” said one expert. Then, there are the equipment costs. Radon levels must be tested. “Each piece of equipment would cost at least $50/day just to operate,” he told us.

For those hoping to strike it rich by mining uranium in the Uravan, brand-new equipment costing more than $100,000 is a deterrent. Skilled labor is another, as many uranium juniors have discovered or are discovering.

As for Denison’s ore buying program, time will tell. For those expecting the uranium market to be flooded with ‘tales of stockpiled uranium ore,’ it is unlikely to materialize. Denison expects 40,000 tons of uranium ore during the first year, which amounts to about 40 lots of stockpiled ore.

After that, it is really anyone’s guess as to whether Denison turns to Energy Fuels, Blue Rock and others they’ve talked to, or relies on the mom-and-pop projects to feed White Mesa.

Within the next three years, Uranium One’s Shootaring Canyon in Ticaboo (Utah) could open and offer alternative pricing for mill feed for the area. Ticaboo and Blanding are a little more than two hours driving distance apart.

Energy Fuels’ president George Glasier told a reporter in June, “We believe there is plenty of room for two mills.” He reportedly is preparing to submit applications by the end of this year for a uranium mill in Montrose County, Colorado.

In June 2006, Strathmore Minerals began the process to develop its proposed uranium mill near Grants, New Mexico, less than 300 miles from Blanding. This past November, the company announced the purchase of land for the mill site and initiated the first step required by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as part of the license application package.

To the north, Rio Tinto’s Sweetwater uranium mill in Wyoming has a capacity of 3,000 tons/day. It is presently the largest uranium mill in the United States. Nearly 400 miles to the east, the uranium mill at Canon City (Colorado) has been beset by environmental problems, including air quality violations and contamination issues. It remains on standby indefinitely.

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Indoor Pollution – How to Efficiently Reduce Home Interior Contaminants

June 9th, 2011

Home interior is one of the most important parts of the house because it is basically the haven where you rest and do salient activities in your home. Thus make sure that this sanctuary gets topmost quality especially through reducing indoor pollution.

There are important things and ways on how to reduce indoor pollution and make sure that you enjoy healthy and quality lifestyle you truly deserved.

One very salient step to take is to have a thorough information and knowledge regarding the indoor pollutants prevalent in homes. You have to know your foe in order to get fully equipped for this pressing battle.

There are a lot of contaminants in your home interiors especially the elements that you usually produce through your household activities and chores. You may also have habits and practices which encourage and multiply the occurrence of indoor pollutions.

For instance, the smoke produced through tobacco and cigarette smoking is definitely a hazardous component in home interiors. The debris, dirt and dusts entering the house through your outdoor footwear are likewise potentially dangerous to your health and damaging to your property.

Other common home interior pollutions include pollen, chemicals from home products, carbon monoxides, radon gases, pesticides, molds and mildews among others.

In order to combat these hazardous elements in the house, it is vitally important to make sure that you have the right installation and components. For instance, you can install humidifiers and dehumidifiers for the right and proper humidity level in the house. There are actually products you can install to make sure that you have your house under control. This will help you prevent the growth of mildew and molds.

There are other elements and components in the house for effective upkeep of your home quality and reduction of indoor pollution. For instance, have furnace filters in order to get rid of contaminants coming from your home furnace or fireplace. There are also air conditioner filters which screen the impure substances coming from this cooling system.

Aside from installation of these basic and vital home components and systems, it also helps to understand that your home interiors can also be improved in its quality through primarily changing and improving your own lifestyle and practices.

For instance, if you are smoking, try not to do it indoors because the smoke is undoubtedly a hazardous substance especially if you have weak lungs or there are young children around.

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Radon Gas – Radon Mitigation and Testing

June 8th, 2011

What is Radon gas?
Radon gas is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the environment, mainly in the soil. It is present in uranium rich rocks and escapes into the air through cracks in the rocks. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

Is Radan Gas dangerous?
Radon gas can be a potential health hazard if it seeps in large amounts into your house. Long-term exposure to Radon can lead to cancer. Smokers face higher health risks than non-smokers from Radon contamination. Detecting Radon contamination and safeguarding your house from its ill-effects, however, is easy and testing should be regularly undertaken to determine the levels of Radon in your area.

What are the chances of finding Radon contamination in your house?
Radon gas contamination is more common in the USA and in Europe than in Asia and the Middle-East. Aside from the geologically favorable conditions, there is the cold weather factor. American and European homes are more likely to have tightly sealed, rarely opened windows and perennially shut doors. In comparison, homes in Asia and the Middle-East are likely to have good ventilation throughout, with air circulating freely. Radon contamination is low or negligible in well-ventilated places. On the other hand, it is pretty high in enclosed, poorly ventilated homes. Radon gas levels are also high in houses without a basement than in houses with basements.

The levels of Radon gas differ from the house to house. Houses in the same neighborhood can show different levels. For example, if the Radon contamination levels in your neighbor’s house are low, they could still be high on your property. Or vice versa. So you cannot depend on the check results of the test done on your neighbor’s house. Every house has to be inspected on a separate basis.

How do you check your house for Radon contamination?
You can either contact a professional service to check the Radon levels in your house or you can do it yourself. The actual Radon testing is not difficult. It is done in two ways – either by a passive Radon testing method or an active Radon testing method. Or you can simultaneously use both methods. You can go for short term testing or long term testing. Short term Radon testing requires about 2 to 4 days for completion. Long term Radon testing can take as long as 90 days. Long term testing is more thorough, but, given the time requirement, many house owners go for the short term testing.

What is the passive Radon testing method?
Passive Radon testing method is done using testing devices like charcoal cannisters or alpha-track detectors that require no electricity power to use and which are merely placed in the place to be tested for the duration of the test. The exposed to the air of the place being tested brings about certain chemical changes in the device which are then analyzed in a laboratory.

What is the active Radon testing method?
Active Radon testing devices require electricity to function. These are commonly used by professionals and are considered more reliable. The Radon levels are constantly checked and monitored in the active testing devices.

How is the testing for Radon contamination carried out?
As mentioned earlier, testing is done using either the passive testing device or the active testing device or, in some cases, by using both appliances. You can carry out the testing yourself if money is an issue or you can seek the assistance of a qualified professional. Calling in a professional might perhaps ensure a more thorough checking and a better result, and, if you happen to be selling the house, a professional certification of low Radon gas levels will come in very handy.

The actual Radon testing is carried out in frequently used portions of the house. To start with, the doors and windows of the rooms to be checked are kept mostly shut for several hours before testing is undertaken and also throughout the testing. The Radon testing device or devices are placed a little above the ground in the room for the prescribed duration. After that time-frame, the device is turned over to the laboratory and analyzed. If the Radon levels are under 4pCi/L, you are alright, that’s pretty acceptable. If they are above that level, then you will need to reduce the radon levels by using a process called Radon gas mitigation.

What are the various Radon mitigation methods?
Using the right Radon mitigation techniques, you can either reduce the Radon levels in your home or you can entirely prevent Radon gas from entering your home.

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How Does Pollution Affect the Environment

June 8th, 2011

That must have given you a rough idea as to what is environmental pollution and how is it caused. Each of these forms of pollution affect the environment adversely, and eventually trigger a series of domino effects on the Earth. Given below are the details of their harmful effects on the environment, with special reference to their effects on human beings, which will shed some light on how does pollution affect nature.

Air Pollution: This is by far one of the most widespread forms of pollution, and the effects of the same are also quite severe. When it comes to health hazards, the effects of air pollution include a wide range of diseases, right from viral infection to life threatening conditions such as heart attacks. Other than this, air pollution also has adverse effects on the environment in which we live. It has the tendency to cause severe environmental issues such as global warming and acid rain. Wondering how does pollution affect global warming? As we mentioned earlier the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increasing rapidly, and this increase in their concentration is trapping the radiations of the Sun and causing the global temperatures to soar.

Water Pollution: Water is one of the basic necessities when it comes to existence of life on the planet, and therefore pollution of same is bound to impact the numerous species which are dependent on water directly or indirectly. As in case of air pollution, even the effects of water pollution on humans revolve around various health disorders. The pollutants which contaminate various water sources reach our body even if we don’t come in contact with the polluted water directly. For instance, fish species get contaminated as a result of oil spills, and the same contaminants enter our body when we consume this fish.

Soil Pollution: Like water, even soil is one of the major components of the planet as it supports plant life. Plants are important for the existence of humans and other lifeforms because only they have the ability to prepare their own food by means of photosynthesis, while other lifeforms (including humans) depend on them for our energy requirements. As a result of this, understanding soil pollution causes and effects is of immense importance. Some of the major effects of soil pollution on the environment include decrease in soil fertility, disruption of food chain, toxic crop produce, etc.

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