Signing up for an electricity service can be confusing due to the inherent terms and pricing options available across different plans. There are multiple utilities and service providers which makes it even more difficult for you to pick the right plan. A steady increase in the electricity rates due to many coal-fired plants in the country being shut down has also affected everyone in Texas. With summer right around the corner, a power cut is the last thing you need. It is difficult to understand the fine print when it comes to comparing some of the cheapest electricity plans in Texas. The term all-inclusive doesn't necessarily include everything, as there are additional fees charged to your bill. Here are some tips that will help you compare the cheapest electricity plans in Texas. Find out your monthly usage You can estimate your monthly usage based on your home size or check and compare average usage of your previous bills to find out how much is needed. Kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a standard unit for measuring electricity. All electricity companies offer kWh plans for a monthly rental. Variable or fixed rate plan The type of plan is crucial after you have managed to ascertain your approximate monthly usage. In a fixed plan, the monthly rate will not change irrespective of the duration of the plan. However, if you are okay with the rates fluctuating, a variable duration will offer you plans for some of the cheapest electricity rates in Texas. Duration of the contract Electricity providers offer plans that can be purchased on a monthly rental basis with no contract. There are long-term plans that range from 3 to 36 months depending on the service provider. If you are anticipating a rate fluctuation, it is advisable to take a long-term contract for a year or two. You can lock in long-term plans at a lower rate today to save in the future. Alternatively, you can take up a short-term contract with a variable plan with fluctuating rates. Consider green energy plans Green energy is generated with the help of renewable sources that include solar, wind, and hydro-electricity. You also play a big role in saving the earth's ecosystem by purchasing green energy plans. Green energy plans are also beneficial for you in many other ways. For example, the amount of energy used in a particular billing cycle is added back to the energy grid through renewable sources when you elect to purchase a 100% green energy plan. Trusted electricity companies in Texas For some of the cheapest electricity plans in Texas, you should buy plans from trusted electricity companies. Reliant, TXU energy, 4CHANGE energy, Direct energy, Cirro energy, Pennywise power, and Green mountain energy are a few reliable companies among many others.

Blood in the human body contains many types of cells. White blood cells or WBC is one of the types that are responsible for the body’s immune system. These cells are made inside the bone marrow. The WBC count is an important measurement to decide on various health conditions. Low count of white blood cells, also known as leukopenia, keeps people at a risk of infection. This condition can be diagnosed with a complete blood test. Certain medications can increase or even decrease the number of WBC in blood. Causes of low white blood cell count The WBC count, also known as leukocyte, is measured in terms of the number of cells per volume of blood. There is no particular number which can be defined as a normal count of WBC, but 4,500-10,000 WBCs per cubic millimeter can be considered as the normal range. The causes for low blood platelet counts are as follows:

• Bone marrow – Congenital disorders can cause low functioning of bone marrow in individuals.
• Radiation therapy – Used to treat cancer, radiation therapy damages healthy WBC along with cancer cells. One of the causes of low white blood cell count is when this cancer treating therapy destroys stem cells in the bone marrow.
• Chemotherapy – Most of the chemotherapy medications destroy cells in the bone marrow, which is responsible for producing WBC. Though the cell count improves with time, doctors may suggest alternate chemotherapy medicines if the patient is at a high risk of WBC counts.
• Leukemia - This cancer grows in the bone marrow and affects lymph and blood-forming tissues in the body. This, in turn, restricts the production of WBCs.
• HIV/AIDS – One of the causes of low white blood cell count is HIV, a virus that disrupts the body’s capability to fight organisms that cause infections.
• Aplastic anemia – This is a medical condition which arises when the body ceases to produce sufficient new WBC, thus causing a low WBC count and leaving the body prone to infections.
• Viral infections – Infections in the body cause disruption in the functioning of the bone marrow, thereby contributing to causes of low white blood cell count. There are severe infections too which use WBC more than they are produced.
• Medications – Several antibiotics that are prescribed to fight infections can also destroy white blood cells in the body.

Low WBC can be treated by a blood transfusion from a person with high WBC count to a person having low WBC. Also, doctors may prescribe medications which can stimulate the production of WBC in the body.

Vans have been around for more than 50 years. They have shoes available in all active sports. The focus was to produce durable shoes at affordable prices. They aimed to make shoes of the best quality for all kinds of physical activities. They first started with skateboarding and snowboarding shoes. It is a company that started off with just 12 customers. Today, it has grown to be one of the largest shoe manufacturers. Their deep insight into the trends and fads of the time has helped them stay on the top for all these years. They were one of the first brands to introduce shoes specifically for break dancing. They also make trendy shoes with arty designs, keeping up with street fashion as well. They wanted to make shoes that were so strong that they had everyone talking about them. The aim was to make shoes which have soles that were twice as thick as any other shoes. The canvas used in the 'Duck Canvas #10' is the strongest one can buy. There have been many styles of Vans shoes. The one's that has got the world talking are:  The Slip-on: Ever since they were introduced in 1977, they have had everyone's attention. These shoes can be worn and removed without the hassle of untying a lace. They were at the center of skate and surf culture. These are still available in various designs. The most popular of them is the checkered slip-on. The Authentic: These are the first standard Vans shoes manufactured. Their simplicity and comfort factor has kept them on the rack even after 50 years. They come in solid colors, generally with white lace. The Old Skool: These are one of the Vans most creative designs featuring a side strip. Released in 1978, the stripe were renamed as the jazz stripe. The side stripe can be seen in most shoes today. Nothing owning the original itself. SK8-HI: This model was launched soon after the Old Skool. The second model to flaunt the side stripe, they are 'above the ankle' padding design took skate shoes to a whole other level. Decades later, this shoe is still seen on a regular basis. The Era: Designed by skating legends, this model resembles 'the authentic' model. They consist of extra lines and padding providing more support to the wearer. They keep the feet protected even after taking a beating. The soles of this shoe are much sturdier than the other models. Any Vans you pick up from Vans shoe discount will belong to one of these collections. The shoes we see today are variants of these basic models. They vary with designs and prints. Vans shoes set the standard for sports shoes and casual shoes for brands that came later.

For cooking, you can use electric as well as gas cooktops. Both of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the features and pros and cons of both are discussed below, to make it easy for you to decide on which one to opt for. The pros and cons of gas stoves are:

• You can get an instant and constant flame by just turning on the stove and can adjust the flame visually. The flame of gas ranges can cook food more evenly and quickly because flames spread evenly along the sides and bottom of the utensils. Another advantage is the cost of operating a gas stove is comparatively less than that of an electric cooktop.
• One drawback of the gas cooktop is its price. Gas stoves are expensive to purchase and hook up, especially in cases where you do not have a gas line in your kitchen. Another drawback is the gas itself. If your burner does not turn on immediately, it will continue to release gas into the air which may cause accidents.

The pros and cons of using electric cooktops are:

• Electric stoves which are sold nowadays have a sleek design, mainly made of glass, which itself enhances the style of the stove. It is very easy to clean and most spills can be easily wiped clean from the glass top; you do not have to remove burner or ring to clean. They are very easy to operate and generally less expensive to install and purchase. Some models of electric stoves come with storage space below the oven, which gas stoves do not provide.
• The main drawback is that electric stoves cook food more slowly than gas stoves. The glass tops can get stained, which can destroy the look and style of the stove. If you live in an area having frequent power cuts or outages, then the electric stove will be inoperable when there is no power.

In addition to the pros and cons of both types of cooktops listed above, you would also need to consider the amount of cooking you do and your budget before making your purchase.

If you are still researching as to where to get free government cell phones, you may want to consider the below companies:

• SafeLink Wireless

SafeLink Wireless tops the list of the best free government cell phone providers. Its plans vary depending upon your zip code. This company gives you a choice between using your old phone with their plans or getting a free device along with their plans. It offers services in the following states:

• Alabama
• District of Colombia
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Tennessee

• Assurance Wireless

Assurance Wireless comes second in the best free government cell phone providers’ list. Following are its plan features:

• A free Android smartphone
• 350 voice minutes per month
• Unlimited text messages
• 500 MB data per month

It offers services in the following states:

• Alabama
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Colombia
• Florida
• Idaho
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• Tennessee

• Life Wireless

As per this program, Life Wireless had the fourth place in the top free government cell phone providers list. However, the company which was at number three i.e. Budget Mobile exited the program in the spring of 2017. Here are some of Life Wireless’ features for its free government cell phone plans:

• Call anyone anywhere in the country at no extra charge
• Call waiting
• Three-way calling
• Caller ID service
• Unlimited text messaging (Does not include MMS)
• Free 911 service
• Voicemail
• No roaming charges

It offers services in the following states:

• Colorado
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma

The common states where all three companies provide services are the following:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Connecticut
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Kansas
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Missouri
• Nevada
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Maine
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin.

Enroll for the free government cell phone program today.

While doing any wiring work, the risks related to electric shock and even explosion loom around. To make things simpler, safer, and more secure, you can always take the help of wire nuts. These are affordable and readily available in the market. Here, we will discuss some advantages of using aluminum wire nuts. Simple installation One of the benefits of using aluminum wire nuts is that they are easy to install. You will not have to manually join the ends of wires and only install the nuts. All you need to do is put the two ends of wires into the two openings of the connector and then tighten the joint. This process saves you a lot of time. For an even more straightforward installation, you can use circular cable nuts. You know exactly what to do Aluminum wire nuts have their specifications mentioned right on their bodies. The packaging tells you how many volts an aluminum wire connector will be able to hold. Also, the connectors come with measuring tools to help you splice off the right amount of insulation from the wire. Most nuts also have an opening at the back or top, where you can use the voltage tester to check their electrical connection. Thus, you have all the help you need and would rarely require someone to assist you. Safety Aluminum wire nuts act as a protective barrier for different cable connections. When the wires have their ends open, there can be a lot of power or data loss. This can backfire, especially in an industrial scenario. Unless and until connections are not sorted and secured, power or data loss will keep on taking place. And wire nuts can be the measure you are looking for to keep a check on this. Wire nuts, mainly round wire connectors, can provide protection and strength to all kinds of wires. Application Wire nuts or connectors are compact and can easily fit in tight and small spaces. It means you can use them in all kinds of junction boxes and electrical panels to accommodate wires of varying diameters. However, it is advisable to check if an aluminum wire nut can accommodate all types of cables or not. Irrespective of what wiring project you have taken in hand, whether you are juggling with wires of appliances in your house or handling the various cables in any electrical component, it is advisable to have aluminum wire nuts handy.