A Diamond Christmas 2004!
March 23, 2008
When Archduke Maximillian of Austria bestowed a diamond ring on Mary of Burgundy in 1477, giving a diamond as a symbol of love and commitment was birthed. Prior to this only royalty wore diamonds, believing they symbolized strength and courage. The root of the word diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas”, which means unconquerable”. Other folklore surrounding diamonds links them to Cupid, whose arrows were said to be tipped with diamonds.
A diamond is an exceedingly rare item. Over 250 tons of ore must be processed to come up with just one 1-carat diamond of any quality. There are five nations in the world which account for over 90% of the world’s rough diamond supply, and those are Australia, Botswana, Namibia, Russia and South Africa. Several other countries produce smaller but significant stones, like the Canadian Excellent Cut diamonds from the Arctic circle.
Now that we agree that they are rare and quite valuable, why still do we want to give them as gifts? Because they’re beautiful! And elegant, dazzling and all the other adjectives she’ll likely apply when she opens the gift you’ve come up with. Diamond jewelry is like nothing else, and if you’re looking to make this a Christmas or Holiday to remember, the gift of diamonds will make this an unforgettable Holiday season!
Saltwater Coral Reef Aquariums - 5 Tips for Success
March 22, 2008
Do you dream of watching the natural beauty of the undersea reef life while sitting in your living room?
Whether your goal is a nano reef tank or a 150 gallon aquarium with an ecosystem of coral and saltwater fish, the following five tips will lead you on your way to success.
1) Commit! Decide you are going to spend the $$ it takes to make a proper go of it. At a minimum, most tanks, (from 10 gal to 55 gal) take between $250 and $500 to get going. Can you do it cheaper? Yes, but usually not your first one. You have to know what you are doing and understand how things can and will go wrong before you can choose less expensive husbandry options and/or equipment. Save up if you have to, but count on that first tank being expensive.
Realize that this is not a short term commitment. And as much fun as it is to collect the coolest coral fragments out there and show them off to your friends, there WILL come a time when you are hauling all of those same ‘frags’ out of the tank and into temporary storage when your six year old cracks the side of the display tank with a pool ball or some other calamity occurs.
Wholesale Scrapbooking: Should You Start A Direct Sales Scrapbooking Business Just The Discount?
March 21, 2008
Have you ever thought about signing on with a scrapbooking direct sales company, just to get the discount on your own supplies? It can be a great way to get your own product at a discount and meet other scrapbookers, but it’s also important to read the fine print. Here are seven of the most important factors to consider:
1. Style of products. The most important factor to consider is whether that the product line fits with your style and budget. If you are big into embellishments, make sure that the product line encompasses this. How often are new products released?
2. Discount levels. What is the discount for Instructors/Consultants? Is there a special plan and/or personal volume requirement for scrapbookers who are joining the company “just for the discount?” (often referred to as “Hobbyists.”)
3. Monthly minimums. What kind of personal volume is required on a monthly basis? If you decide to design custom albums for clients, can you use the discounted products in these books? (If the answer is yes, this is a great way to expand your profit margin on scrapbooks you create for others.)
What Should You Look for in a New Camera?
March 20, 2008
These parameters are discussed at 2 levels: -Based on degree of functional use of available features -Based on the type of photography you want to attempt –>Based on degree of functional use of available features A person who is happy with his or her camera model usually responds with the following words of praise. ‘Incredible ease of use’ ‘User-friendly controls’ ‘Intelligently and thoughtfully designed’ ‘Excellent value for money’ ‘Light and compact’ These are the kind of terms that you will come across from camera owners who are satisfied with their camera models. These superlatives sum up what people usually look for or could look for at an overall level in their camera. It is a broad evaluation based on design elements, size and affordability. Before you make a decision to purchase you should explore a little further and study the type of features available to you. Unless you make the attempt to understand the features at your disposal, there is the risk of being stuck with a model that does not suit your particular requirements. Let’s take a look at what features you should look for, as well as the features that you should be wary of when you choose a camera system. –>Features to Look For 1. The lens is by far the most important device in your camera. The quality of the lens ensures the sharpness of your image. The camera lens is described by length (given in mm), known as the focal length of the lens. 50mm is the standard focal length in a lens. A lens of shorter length is known as a wide-angle lens and is used usually by landscape photographers. A lens with focal length greater than 50mm is called a telephoto lens and is especially useful to professional photographers in capturing distant images. There are also cameras with a zoom lens. A zoom lens can offer various focal lengths, so you have a lens capable of many focal lengths. Simple put, when you use a zoom lens you can make your subject bigger or smaller within the frame. For instance, a wide-angle zoom can cover a range of focal lengths below 50mm, or a telephoto zoom gives you a range of higher order focal lengths. Some superior zoom lenses can take you from wide angle to standard and through to telephoto ranges. The power of the zoom lens is defined by the extent of magnification from a lower focal length to a higher end and is given as 2x, 3x and so on. Some lens tips: –A 50mm or 100mm lens is considered adequate for most non-professional hobby users. The professionals usually go for telephoto lenses of 200mm or more. A lens with higher focal length costs a lot more. Most beginners don’t need to invest in a telephoto lens. –Check if your camera is compatible with the range of lenses that the manufacturer of your model has on offer. Most manufacturers have hundreds of lens options on offer and your requirement for lenses varies as you progress in photography. Your camera has to be compatible with lenses of higher focal length and speed. If you are planning to upgrade your camera by buying another model from the same manufacturer, check for compatibility with older accessories so that you can put to use some of the lenses already available with you and save yourself an additional expense. 2. Depth-of-field preview button A depth-of-field preview button is a necessity if you want to achieve better focus. It allows you to identify the area that will be in focus in your photograph. This area is referred to as the ‘depth of field’. When you adjust the focus in your camera the preview button is a useful tool that can help you vary the focus and depth of field in different shots. 3. Image sensor resolution In digital cameras, there is no film in use but this is instead replaced by a device called the image sensor. The image sensor renders colors, is sensitive to light and is the device that captures images in small pixels on its surface. Image resolution is a measure of the sharpness or level of detail in photographic images. Image resolution is expressed as a number and is measured in mega pixels. High-end professional use cameras have an image sensor resolution of around 12 mega pixels and the most advanced professional models go up to almost 14 mega pixels. At the mid range you have camera models with resolution ranging from 2 - 6 mega pixels. To deliver large format prints of superior quality, you should go for models with resolution greater than 3 mega pixels. At the lower end, you have models of 1 mega pixel or less and the sharpness of the photograph is slightly inferior compared to cameras with higher values of image sensor resolution. Lower pixel models are best suited for small format prints. 4. If you have the facility for Auto-bracketing it can be a very useful tool. Auto-bracketing enables the camera to automatically take 3 exposures or in some cameras 5 exposures of the same shot by varying the Exposure Value (EV) to lighten or darken an image. Each of the images will be slightly differently exposed and this is a great tool to ensure that you capture the moment perfectly. You can bank on at least one being a properly exposed picture. This tool comes in handy especially for professional photographers. 5. If tonal quality of the photograph is your top priority when you choose a camera then it is best that you go for a digital camera. Photographic prints of scenes captured on a digital camera have a level of tonal quality that is far superior to best quality traditional prints. 6. There are sophisticated camera models available today that can capture movement and audio-visual images. If you want to go beyond static images and capture the first steps of a child or activities during family get-togethers, then you should look for a camera with these advanced capabilities. It will create a better experience when you go down memory lane. The Kodak Easyshare LS753 Zoom Digital Camera is one such model that offers audio-visual capability.
The Gift My Brother Couldnt Give
March 20, 2008
From the book A Heartland Christmas Collection
In the first years after my brothers, sister, and I left home, there were several Christmases in which our ability to give fell far short of our desire. In fact, we often found ourselves getting very creative if we were going to give any Christmas presents at all. But those early Christmases also contained some of the finest gifts I’ve ever received, and one of those was the gift my brother Jim thought he couldn’t give.
Jim had chosen a difficult road, working for himself instead of collecting a weekly paycheck like the one I got from the department store where I worked, and his funds were always limited.
As Christmas approached, we all searched for the perfect gift for each family member. Since I knew Jim harbored a secret desire to write, I bought him two beautifully hardbound books consisting of nothing but empty pages, so he could fill them with his own words. They weren’t expensive, but I knew he’d love them.
Mini Rc Cars
March 19, 2008
Did your heart ever palpitate for fast driving? Did you ever imagine your hands controlling an extremely speedy car? I f so, then you should definitely experience the gravity and true charm of mini RC cars.
Mini RC cars have climbed up to the top position in the chartbusters of favorite pastimes or hobbies. These extremely speedy and exciting mini RC cars offer a complete range of fun, frolic and excitement, within small and restricted arenas of racing. Since the mini RC cars are quite small in size as suggested by their title, the mini RC cars can be easily designed and masterminded in your rooms or garages. However, one should not get fooled down by seeing the outer appearance of a small sized mini RC car- rather the impact of the size has no influence over the unbelievable range of it’s speed, which at times touches over 20 mph.
Small scale cars or rather the so termed mini RC cars are however not very new to this world. In the early 90’s, Kyosko introduced the BAJA bugs and Tamiya the Tamtech cars. Unfortunately enough, with the advancement of technology, these cars lost popularity and value in the market.
Five Poems
March 18, 2008
Poems have different cores, or so I believe, and can only be structured well for certain figurative language-heart beats; like all counselors are not made for all clients, so all poems are not made for the same person, or purpose; when we read we all have our likes and dislikes; I do not necessarily know what poetry is per se, but I do know what the greatness of poetry has, and great poetry is close to an illusion?it carries an echo I do believe-figurative yes, at best, and questionable yes, by far. Here are five poems I’ve recently wrote, all with a different core, focus and style.
1) The Beehive [Poetic cut-ups]
[Paper] "USA Today," 75 cents, March 18, 20, 2005: ‘?it was acceptable in the l980’s?as a cup of coffee?what I will not do is participate…to be clear, I have never taken illegal drugs?In my 19 years in the big league?Around the World in 8, days?.McGuire said repeatedly?recent spat of vehicle accidents in Iraq?Rice Reaches Out?Quest for Fame?Jules Verne 100th anniversary?Peterson to San Quentin?Jackson’s young guests?Stun guns?’
From Experience: Is It the Circle of Life?
March 17, 2008
All of it in one way or another a part of my lifetime and not an analytical study of the way that business has changed but a comparison that is not at all hard to follow or see. What happened to our country now seems to be subtle changes that occurred as the years passed by.
Always a reason behind a wage difference always because of the area of the country or because of the actual company I was working for.
Basically it has all boiled down to the ultimate understanding that it was just the standard of living country wide had taken a turn for the worse and no one, definitely not me?wanted to admit it or look at it.
Yes, beyond my capability to actually crunch numbers and really see what was happening somehow the American way of life has changed and it is harder than ever to do what needs to be done financially.
Beyond my want to know at all of what has really happened, and understand it. Because the country that I grew up in, the country that was so fair to all was slowly changing. So much that it wasn’t really noticeable immediately and if you were too busy trying to make ends meet possibly you didn’t even think about it or find it unusual or sad. It really is sad, but real.
A Beginners Guide to Buying Authentic Swords Online
March 16, 2008
Looking at all the various swords for sale online can make you feel a bit like a kid in a candy store. But if you are looking to buy authentic replica swords online, it can be a bit harder to get what you really want than it otherwise might first appear?
Sure, if you are just looking for an ornamental sword to hang on the wall ? it’s pretty easy. Just look around for a sword that takes your fancy, don’t spend much more than US$50 and your chances of getting what you want are good?
But if you are like me when I first started my sword collection, you might not know that there is a world of difference between an ornamental sword that you hang on the wall and a REAL sword that you can actually swing through the air or cut things with!
The reality is that the vast majority of swords for sale on the internet are what experienced sword collectors call "sword like objects". Even just swinging one of these swords through the air is asking for trouble, and may the gods help you if you try to cut something as simple as a cardboard box! More often than not, the swords handle will break, the blade will shatter or worse still, come flying off like some demented helicopter blade at a speed of just over 40mph (trust me, voice of experience here!).
A Harvest Halloween
March 15, 2008
To take advantage of the last days of autumn, we planned an outdoor Halloween party at our family farm. This gave us an opportunity to bring our friends together in an informal setting before the hectic holiday season.
The kids grew excited as we drove past the harvested fields of rural farmland, the grazing cattle, and brimming roadside stands. The sights and smells of the country awoke their spirits of adventure and they burst from the car as soon as we stopped at the end of the dirt road.
As they explored their surroundings, the adults began to set up. Our party centered on the activity of making scarecrows. We brought out baskets piled high with faded denim coveralls, straw hats, and flannel shirts. The children enthusiastically costumed themselves as well as the scarecrows. They collected autumn grasses and flowers and wove them into straw hats to take home as mementos.
The country setting and the crisp autumn air inspired many activities. Sack races, a tug of war, and a scavenger hunt kept everyone busy throughout the afternoon.
As the day came to a close, our guests enjoyed an Indian summer sunset. We bundled sleepy children into cars and returned home with warm recollections of an afternoon shared with special friends.
