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Good Design is Simple

August 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Here’s a quote from my favourite business guru, Seth Godin.

“Designers prune.

Left to its own devices, the mob will augment, accessorize, spam, degrade and noisify whatever they have access to, until it loses beauty and function and becomes something else.

The tragedy of the design commons.

A farmer’s market with no entry requirements turns into a bazaar and then into a souvenir stand and finally into a flea market.

A bulletin board with no moderator or hierarchy becomes a random mess of affiliate posts and noise, where only a smart search engine is helpful.

An Apple product designed with user feedback would have thousands of extra features, multiple input methods and weigh 18 pounds.

(The best exception to this rule are some–not all–places where people live, including parts of Manhattan and Kibera, Kenya. But even in the best instances, as soon as commercial interests are served, it starts to fail).

It seems democratic and non-elitist to set it and forget it and let the users take over. But the tools we use (Wikipedia) and the brands we covet (Nike or Ducati) resolutely refuse to become democracies.”

It appeals to me because our new Ultrastream has evolved through serious ‘pruning’ of the electric ionizer.

Asking “Why?”.

Questioning innovation simply for competitive advantage.

Looking at the whole concept of ionizing and asking, how does nature do it?

Pruning.

Tuning.

 

Filed Under: alkalizing, AlkaStream, Inspiring Tagged With:

What’s That In Your Luggage, Sir? How to Evacuate an Airport.

May 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’m a real fan of the show Border Patrol, which has given me  great respect for the task and power of customs officers at airports. I laugh every week as sweaty palmed travellers try to look innocent, always getting their just desserts under the watchful eyes of our favourite officers.

Now it’s our turn. We are about to hit the trail, to India, London, Italy, Poland, Sweden, France and Germany where our new dealers are eagerly awaiting our new version of the AlkaStream.

We are arranging to take samples with us.. or we were until we saw this news release...

Filed Under: AlkaStream, Fun

We’re going Global! AlkaStream in Kuwait

April 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We are looking for distributors in every corner of the globe. Our new UltraStream is getting very close to release and maybe you can become a partner with us in bringing antioxidant water to the world.

Filed Under: AlkaStream, AlkaStream Team Posts

A Kool Video for the AlkaStream

April 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

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In doubt about the best drinking water? Ask a cat.

March 9, 2012 by 2 Comments

Rob Thomas runs an excellent blog here, and I recommend it. He just made a wonderful post about the drinking preferences of his cats.

The best drinking water; by Clyde the Cat

“How could your cat possibly know which water ionizer you should buy? They don’t, but they do know which water they prefer to drink.

If you are looking for information on which water ionizer to buy, here are some things NOT to do:

* don’t research water ionizer websites on the internet and expect to come away knowing which machine to buy…they all work and they all claim to be the best, so you will only end up confused

* don’t watch “unbiased review sites” on the internet because they are definitely biased…even my own “unbiased” testing video is biased because I obviously favor the most affordable units that work…and again,they all work

* don’t attend a Multi Level Marketing meeting or talk to one of their representatives unless you are looking for a “business opportunity” as opposed to finding the best value for ionized water

All of the above points are valid and are good to know, but they don’t actually help you decide which machine to buy!

Irrefutable evidence of the best drinking water

Well, maybe not irrefutable, but it sure convinced me.

If you have ever studied the behavioral habits of animals in nature when it comes to drinking water, you will know that an animal in the wild will choose “dirty” water over “clean” water. I’m referring to the fact that animals will choose water that has dissolved or undissolved solids in it over purified water…every time.

Somehow, animals know which water is good for them without visiting the internet or attending a “business opportunity” meeting.

My home office looks out over a natural fountain in our yard. I watch animals drinking out of the fountain every day except when it is full of snow. Why do cats, dogs, squirrels, chipmunks, a skunk, and even the neighborhood fox drink out of our water fountain all the time when other sources of water are readily available?

I don’t clean out the water in our fountain very often and I definitely don’t add disinfectant to make the water “pretty”. As an animal lover and observer, I have come to learn that animals prefer to drink water that has leaves and other wonders of nature in it.

What animals instinctively know about drinking water?

It seems that animals just instinctively which water is best for them. How? I don’t have a clue. However, if you look at the contents of what lands in an outdoor water fountain, you will find that the water is full of minerals and both organic and inorganic matter. Since the animals, who are immune to marketing, somehow know where to go to get healthy water, it seems to me like a good place to start looking when it comes to considering what makes the “best” water.

Trust your cat

In my case, it should say “trust your cats”. Our daughter loves cats. How much? We have 8 cats and if I wasn’t the family “meanie”, the number would be definitely be much higher.

We also have 10 different kinds of water ionizers, and the combination of machines and cats must make our family unique. Who else would be that crazy?

So, what kind of water ionizer do the cats prefer? This is definitely not a scientific study, but 7 out of our 8 cats drink the water that comes out of our non-electric water ionizer.

Everyday, there is an ongoing parade of cats that come into my office, jump up on the counter, step into the sink, and lick the water droplets off the bottom of the sink. They don’t show the same patronage to the electric ionizers in the kitchen and in my lab. Perhaps they just want to visit me….naw…as soon as they get a drink, they are on their way.

Do the cats drink other water in the house? Of course. Just yesterday, I caught Clyde with his head in the powder room toilet. I guess some old habits are just too hard to break.

The cats definitely prefer water from any kind of water ionizer over tap water….yes, our cats are snobs.

You might wonder why only 7 of our 8 cats drink from the non-electric machine. The answer is simple. Old Patch can no longer jump up on the counter to get to the mineralized water. When I try to lift her up on the counter, the response is not a good one unless I’m in the mood for scratches. If you are a cat lover, you will understand.”

Filed Under: AlkaStream, Fun, Water Ionizers Tagged With:

Is AlkaStream a BETTER Water Ionizer?

February 20, 2012 by 1 Comment

Gabe Hunninghake, our US distributor, answered a question better than I could to a common question. It demonstrates why we see the AlkaStream not as ‘another water water ionizer but actually a ‘better water ionizer.

Q.  Why does the alkaStream’s antioxidant capability last longer, or act more stable, than when it’s created with electrolysis?

For those who may be reading this without a background in ionized, alkaline water, the antioxidant quality is typically gauged by a term called ORP.  Oxidation Reduction Potential.  Oxidation reduction = antioxidant.  Same ability as you see with foods, just different terminology when it applies to liquids.

Electric ionizers typically produce water with a very negative ORP.  This negative ORP provides our bodies a buffer used to fight free radicals.  When those free radicals are scavaging for electrons to steal from our healthy cells, they instead find the negative hydroxyl ions when drink in the water.  Those ions are created by electrically splitting the water molecule.  Lots of negatively charged ions = more negative ORP.

Unfortunately, the commonality amongst electrically driven ionization is that this benefit doesn’t last very long.  Most companies will say you have about 2 days at best to reap some of the benefit after bottling.  The best thing to do is immediately drink the water after creation.

We are encouraged to slam a glass while it’s full of bubbles.  It’s the best for our body, and it’s also a great selling point for ionizers.  You can’t find this water on a store shelf.  Fresh is best.

So when I first started seeing cases of the -ORP lasting longer I was confused.  Having stable antioxidant qualities for up to (and if a few cases more than) a week was previously unheard of.

Why was it happening?

A process called Dissociation takes place in all water.  There is a constant ebb and flow of H20 molecules breaking into H and oH ions and then rejoining into H20.  In neutral water, this process typically maintains an even balance.  In the presence of alkaline minerals like calcium and potassium, the split is able to last longer and we see a lingering effect.

Because the alkaStream utilizes real, naturally occurring minerals for the creation of its alkaline pH, what some call the Dissociation Dance lasts much longer.  There are more minerals to cut in and partner up with.

Electric ionizers super charge the splitting of water molecules.  Because there isn’t the same level of minerals in their water (all they have is what’s in the source water) the ions rapidly join back together and we then see a quick decrease in antioxidant capability.

So while the antioxidant levels of the alkaStream water are usually not as negative on the -ORP scale as electrically created, it seems to last much longer and provide a more natural and beneficial combination for the body.

Natural minerals for acid buffering, and Hydrogen for free radical/oxidant buffering.

Filed Under: alkalizing, AlkaStream, Water filtration Tagged With:

Price: What is the ‘right’price for a Water ionizer?

February 15, 2012 by 1 Comment

I chanced upon this saying today:

“That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.
 ”It is dearness only which gives everything its value. 
“Heaven knows how to put a proper price on its goods.”

It took me back to a time many years ago when all ‘keen and dewy-eyed’, we wanted to convert the whole world to water ionizers. Of course they cost us much less then too, but we came to the conclusion that if we could just get them under $1000 then everyone would want one. Sure, it’d be a bit hard for us, but hey, we’d be changing the world!
Well, we did it. And watched as our sales plummeted.
It appeared that people equated high price with value – at least in the absence of other buying information.
We put the price back up over $1000, and sales resumed. 
And now we are back to that time so many years ago. Now we have a genuine water ionizer that uses no electricity, yet gives constant alkaline ionized antioxidant water – and superior filtration. And this time around they are selling like the proverbial hot cakes. What is the difference? I think it’s because they look like a water filter, and people understand a water filter, see it in terms of what they think a water filter is worth, and therefore view the product quite differently. Whatever the answer, we are happy. We are now supporting all those people we wanted to support.
Any consumer scientists reading who would care to comment?
Filed Under: AlkaStream, Water Ionizers

Lead in your drinking water: don’t rely on tests!

February 1, 2012 by 1 Comment

This report from the Chicago Tribune is alarming to say the least. In tests of 29 homes’ drinking water, half showed unacceptable lead levels. The test was significant because for the first time, testers took more than the one litre the present testing requires. In most cases a one litre test was ‘clean’ but as they drew more litres from the tap, the problem of lead showed more clearly.

I’m amazed that they ever allowed the old testing regimen. It’s common knowledge that old homes with copper pipes and brazed joints have lead in the joints, which, if the water is acidic, are slowly eaten away by stationary water overnight. So it only makes sense that any test has to be first thing in the morning and that the tap should be run long enough for that concentration of lead-laded water to come out.

Of course it’s not so easy to rip out all of your old plumbing – especially when it’s built into a wall! But some modern water filters have the ability to filter lead. Look for KDF in the media mix of the water filter. It’s a proprietary media that has this ability, as well as the ability to remove other heavy metals, and to neutralise bacteria.

Filed Under: AlkaStream, Toxins, Uncategorized, Water filtration Tagged With: , ,

Why Is Rain Acid? A Wonderful ‘off the cuff’ talk by Meteorologist Gabe Hunninghake

December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Gabe is our US distributor of the AlkaStream. Great guy.

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Metabolic Syndrome caused by Magnesium Deficiency?

December 18, 2011 by 1 Comment

The AlkaWay AlkaStream

Magnesium is an unbelievably important mineral for all sorts of body processes. Some 300+ enzymes use magnesium as a cofactor; magnesium helps regulate potassium status; magnesium acts as nature’s own calcium channel blocker, helping blood pressure stay down and blood vessels stay pliable; magnesium builds bones; magnesium is anti-inflammatory. The list of magnesium’s virtues goes on and on.

In fact, there exists an entire school of thought that posits that the entire Metabolic Syndrome is nothing but a manifestation of a a magnesium deficiency. Which isn’t as crazy as it sounds since virtually all the components of the Metabolic Syndrome; diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and lipid disorders are associated with low magnesium.

Why are so many people deficient in magnesium? Because there are no single foods that contain huge amounts of magnesium, and because there is no single food containing large amounts, there is no magnesium lobby. Look at calcium. Thanks to the dairy industry, we are constantly told that we need to get enough calcium, and we’re told right where we can get it. Milk and cheese. Same with vitamin C. The orange juice people never let us forget. Not so with magnesium, so no one really thinks of it.

Another reason that many people are magnesium deficient is that they drink bottled water or softened water. In the old days everyone drank well water or water from streams, both of which contain large amounts of magnesium. Magnesium is removed when water is softened and it isn’t in large amounts in most of the bottled waters that are available. I’m guessing that’s one reason our AlkaStream is so popular. It has raw magnesium right there in the filter.
Learn more..

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