Italy's budget deficit yawns but the Trevi Fountain rakes it in Finance Articles | July 26 Danielle Hunter Color Rush Jersey , 2012 Italy may be sliding deeper towards the economic abyss but one area of the country at least is awash with cash - the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
?Tradition dictates that tourists should toss a coin into the Baroque fountain, where Anita Ekberg famously cavorted in a strapless black dress in the 1960 Fellini classic 'La Dolce Vita', to ensure that they return to the city.
The custom appears to have weathered the global financial crisis ? a record 540,000 euros' (£420,000) worth of small change has been dredged out of the fountain so far this year.
Rome's authorities say the increase is partly down to the fact that they have cracked down on the thieves who use to gather up the coins in pre-dawn raids, wading into the knee-deep water with rakes and buckets.
Financial Year
When one illegal coin collector was confronted by an Italian film crew last year Eric Kendricks Color Rush Jersey , he exploded in rage and shoved the reporter into the fountain.
Budget Deficit
But the record number of coins also suggests that visitors to the capital still have cash to spare to honour a tradition that was popularised by films like Three Coins in a Fountain, made in 1954 and featuring three American women looking for romance in the Eternal City.
?The figures were released by Caritas, the Catholic charity which collects the coins and uses the money to buy food for the homeless.
In the first six months of the year, with the summer tourist season barely underway, 540,000 worth of coins were recovered from the fountain Trae Waynes Color Rush Jersey , weighing more than 17,000kg.
If the trend continues, more than a million euros will have been fished out of the popular tourist attraction by Christmas.
That compares with 838,000 euros recovered in 2010 and 951,000 euros in 2011.?
Proper Floor Preparation In Staining Concrete Floors Home Repair Articles | June 17, 2010 If you love the look of stain concrete floors Laquon Treadwell Color Rush Jersey , you may be eager to tear up your grungy carpets to expose the concrete underneath. But for those newly exposed? floors often need extreme cleaning so they can be adorned with acid stains. When you pull your carpet, you never know your floor might be facing ugly stains, carpet glue, paint drips, and rust spots. So, if you are negligent in the cleaning? process Ben Gedeon Color Rush Jersey , staining concrete floors can change the entire look.
If you love the look of stain concrete floors, you may be eager to tear up your grungy carpets to expose the concrete underneath. But for those newly exposed? floors often need extreme cleaning so they can be adorned with acid stains. When you pull your carpet, you never know your floor might be facing ugly stains, carpet glue, paint drips, and rust spots. So Jaleel Johnson Color Rush Jersey , if you are negligent in the cleaning? process, staining concrete floors can change the entire look. Any ugly residue? remaining on the floor is likely to emerge through the newly applied stain. The concrete surface must be cleaned thoroughly and washed over several times. No concrete nails or indentations should be left on the surface.
If you are planning to fix any cracks or holes with quick dry concrete, you must allow the fixed spots to dry completely before going further to the next step.
Staining Concrete is it a trial-and error method?
Finding the right cleaning product often involves a trial-and error method. One can't always tell merely by the appearance of concrete alone. What you may assume is a grease stain may be something else.
Next, be sure to read the label carefully as to find out what substances the product can remove. A solution formulated to strip acid stain may be ineffective at removing stubborn grease or oil. The label can also provide valuable information you will need to know to perform the job to its best.
While staining your concrete floors, one is advised to be extremely cautious when using petroleum-based strippers, which tends to be highly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can be flammable.
Precautions When Using Chemical Strippers
Some chemical strippers can be extremely hazardous to apply Pat Elflein Color Rush Jersey , particularly if you're working in a close environment. Read the safety instructions to check for potential hazards and health effects. Products containing petroleum can be dangerous to use around the floor scrubbing machines, because electrical sparks could ignite a fire or explosion. If the chemical stripper you are using is not environmentally protected, you must dispose of immediately.
Staining cleaning Techniques
The methods you use to clean the floor are equally as important as the products you choose. For general-purpose cleaning and degreasing, one can sweep the floor and then scrub it thoroughly. For scrubbing, or even for aggressive scrubbing, one must remove glue Dalvin Cook Color Rush Jersey , mastic, or paint from the floor.
After using degreasers, chemical strippers, or other cleaning compounds, it's necessary to clean the floor again to remove all residues. After the final rinsing, you can safely use the industrial wet vacuum to remove all water and debris.
When All Else Fails
You may encounter deposits that refuse to surrender to your best cleaning efforts. If scraping or chemical stripping are ineffective at removing glues Brian O'Neill Color Rush Jersey , mastics, or other heavy contaminants, you may need to resort to mechanical removal methods, such as grinding. While grinding your concrete, should not be overly aggressive as it can leave swirl marks in slab and will cause the stain to react differently.