Tribute to Dad
October 31, 2009
Father’s Day should not be the only day that we celebrate Dads. I think we should make Fathers feel special all year long!
As a wife and mother I would like to celebrate husbands with children. They are an awesome breed. I am personally thankful for a husband who works hard so that I can be a stay at home Mom. That is a gift to our children they will never forget. I see him come home after a long night and gaze lovingly at our children and in my heart I know it is worth it to him.
As a daughter I would like to celebrate all that my dad is. He is a patient and loving man who taught me the importance of good penmanship (LOL), good manners, faith, and how to love.
I am sure as you are reading this you can think of all the things your Father taught you. Father’s are not perfect but they are priceless.
Let me share with you how Father’s Day started…
In 1909 a woman named Sonora Dodd was sitting in a church pew listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. She began to think about her Father, William Smart.
Pictures Of Landscaping - Using Other Peoples Ideas To Design Your Landscape.
October 31, 2009
Pictures Of Landscaping - Using Other Peoples Ideas To Design Your Landscape.
by: Steve Boulden
One of the most common searches on my site is for pictures of landscaping. So I know that a lot of folks rely on photos of other peoples designs to get ideas. But at the same time, while I do have a large picture directory of other peoples projects on my site, the most common questions I receive are still related to specific shapes and design ideas.
It would seem that with as many pictures of landscaping there are to look at online, just about everyone could find a close match to their own property that could be copied. It would seem so…..if every yard was square or rectangular. However, the fact is that most yards aren’t square or rectangular. So even with the endless landscaping ideas and examples out there, it’s still highly unlikely that you’ll find an exact match to the shape of your property.
Don’t tell anyone… but even as a professional, I still use pictures of other peoples landscaping as an educational tool and to get new ideas. However, unlike most people, I don’t search for an exact idea to copy. I look for unique, creative, and new ideas and pieces of the puzzle.
Safari Wildlife Photography Top Four Tips
October 30, 2009
I’ve been practising wildlife photography on safari for over twenty years now in places like the Kruger National Park, Chobe, Okavango Delta, and Hwange game reserves and these four tips have been indispensable in making sure that I get some decent wildlife photographs.
1. The Right Equipment
I believe that you can’t beat the quality of film but that digital offers wildlife photography practitioners more options at a better cost so for the purposes of a safari trip a digital camera is your best bet.
It should have some of the following characteristics to qualify as a good safari camera.
There should be little or no lag between the time you depress the shutter release button and the photo is taken. Some of the compact digitals on the market today suffer from this affliction and it’s not ideal when you come across fast moving wildlife subjects.
It should be ready to take photographs at a moments notice because that is sometimes all the time you have before an animal disappears into the undergrowth. No long power up cycle.
Farewell to Lester Graybill
October 29, 2009
I never met a man, who could shake my hand, and make my heart feel like a hearth afire.
I never met a man, who could smile so easy, real honest.
I never met a man, who could make my dark soul, fill with light, by merely standing with him, in conversation.
I never met a man, who could come by honesty, so cleanly, so believably solid.
I never met a man, who could capture my soul, with the stories of simplicity, and sincerety of his youth.
I never met a man, who could live so modestly, so humbly, so simply, and be so very happy to live.
I never met a man, who could toil in the garden with his wife and find riches in the earth, riches which I could never see.
I never met a man, with a beard, so natural, so manly, that I just wanted to give it a little tug.
I never met a man, who was lacking in height, but, huge in stature.
I never met a man, who could wear clothing, tattered, worn, freyed, and look so regal, though, he would not understand that, at all.
How to Save Money at Christmas
October 28, 2009
Do you know how to save money at Christmas and still have fun? Sounds impossible but it can be done.
Everyone assumes that in order to enjoy the festive season one has to throw money at it when in fact the opposite can be true.
Research has shown that most people’s fondest and most lasting memories of the festive season revolve around the smells and sounds of Christmas and not the expensive gifts that they had received.
Do not get carried away and be miserly but just use some common sense and you will be surprised at how much you can save and still have a good time.
Here are some useful money saving tips on how to enjoy Christmas without spending a fortune:
Presents:
Why buy an expensive present for a child when all they will play with is the cardboard box that it came in?
An alternative could be to buy a board game that the entire family can enjoy rather than lots of individual gifts which will quickly be ignored. The other advantage of a board game is that it can be played throughout the child’s early years thereby saving the need to buy even more toys in future. It is better to choose a tried and tested board game rather than the latest trendy one as they are more likely to retain their appeal.
Fact or Fiction — Terrorist attack our nation using smallpox as a weapon against us?
October 27, 2009
Fact or Fiction — Terrorist attack our nation using smallpox as a weapon against us?
by: Paulo Reyes
It very well could be real, but for now it’s the latest heart-pounding fiction book, Sledgehammer, about a terrorist who arrives in the ER with smallpox symptoms. An ER physician suspects it but has just six days to convince hospital executives and the U.S. Government before an epidemic breaks out.
The story is brought vividly to life by Dr. Paulo J. Reyes who obtained his MD at the UCSF School of Medicine, has 25 years in medicine and internal medicine and is a First Responder for the busiest cities in California specifically in terrorists training.
In Sledgehammer, the lead character, Max Kroose, an intuitive emergency room physician, believes terrorists are to blame for the attack and fears the more lethal form of smallpox, called Sledgehammer, will kill within days. As time progresses, the terrorists planned attacks at a sports arena, mall and airport must be stopped. The question becomes can this ER doctor convince the hospital administration and the public health care system about the presence of this deadly disease and the need to vaccinate the American public. You won’t be able to stop reading as you seek to find out the truth in this non-stop thriller.
The Knowledge Filter
October 26, 2009
“[I often get] the feeling that the very concept of objective truth is fading out of the world… I am willing to believe that history is for the most part inaccurate and biased, but what is peculiar to our age is the abandonment of the idea that history could be truthfully written. In the past people deliberately lied, or they unconsciously coloured what they wrote, or they struggled after the truth, well knowing that they must make many mistakes; but in each case they believed that ‘the facts’ existed and were more or less discoverable.” ? George Orwell from Looking Back on the Spanish War
I can argue that it isn’t just esoteric knowledge or black ops and spy rings that are keeping knowledge away from the citizens of this world. I can even go so far as to say most knowledge is kept away from people on purpose. The Family Compact in Ontario flat out admitted they did not want people to really be educated, because it makes it harder to govern them. That was in the nineteenth century when it was not so easy to fleece people for their taxes and corporations did not have their present immortal status and greater rights than people. We are experiencing something far beyond the Literary Theory that Professor Graham Good talks about or what Marshall McLuhan knew about secret societies running the world. It is more than just the Knowledge Filter than Professor Philip Johnson speaks about. Zinn, Parenti and many more know that academia is like the Emperor that has no clothes. I have experienced the matter first hand in many more ways than the nit-picking racist fundamentalists who are always trying to beat back the truth.
10 Safety Tips When Getting Your Body Pierced
October 26, 2009
10 Safety Tips When Getting Your Body Pierced
by: John Marcus
Body piercing is all the rage with individuals of all ages. Whether you are choosing to pierce ears, lips, noses, eyebrows, tongues, or something a bit more risqué, safety and hygiene should be at the top of the check list before you run out and grab a needle. These ten tips for body piercing safety will ensure your piercing does not result in a potentially dangerous infection.
1.) Only use a professional.
Piercing is something that should only be performed by a professional. It is a great deal more complicated than simply pushing a needle through a part of your body. Choose a reliable professional and seek a consultation before you make the decision to pierce. Home piercing jobs are most likely to lead to complications or infections.
2.) Ask questions.
Think of a interviewing a potential piercer the same as you would a doctor. Ask about their cleanliness and disease prevention policies. A great many diseases, including AIDS and Hepatitis can be spread through using dirty needles, so you should ensure your quality of health is not compromised. Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask the necessary questions, and beware of any so-called professional who seems unwilling or unable to provide answers.
Fun, Fireworks, & Flowers!
October 25, 2009
The 4th of July is a time for celebrating Freedom! Your local florist can create the perfect floral arrangement to celebrate this Independence Day! Flowers in Patriotic colors are plentiful during this special summer holiday. Think of the many ways you can incorporate the beauty of flowers into your 4th of July Celebration!
Having a family picnic? Your local florist can create beautiful centerpieces rich with red, white and blue! If you have a favorite summer flower, your local florist can design your Independence Day Arrangements using the freshest in season blooms! Festive miniature flags can adorn these colorful table flowers! Even your photographed holiday memories will shine brighter with colorful floral accents!
Missing someone? The 4th of July is a wonderful holiday to send a gift to those friends that are miles away! A vase or basket of flowers with your special message is sure to bring a smile! Balloon Bouquets in Red, White & Blue can be added for a festive touch! A Green or Blooming Plant will be treasured throughout the summer season and beyond! You may also consider a Gourmet Gift Basket full of delicious treats delivered right to their door!
Cropping Digital Photos Into Shape
October 24, 2009
Did you know that in many cases digital photos are cropped by the time they reach paper? If you have never “cropped” your photos manually, you may not be aware that it is happening.
What is cropping?
Cropping is the process of trimming portions of the digital image so it fits in the shape of the paper. Let’s say we have a 5″ x 7″ photo. The problem is, the frame we want to display is 4″ x 6″. One of our choices is to take scissors and carefully trim away the least important edges of the photo until it fits into the 4″ x 6″ frame. What we have accomplished is “cropping”.
In the world of digital photography, cropping is performed with software. When the photo is comprised of bits of data, there is no need to crop for size alone-the software and printing process can stretch the image to fit. We do, however, have to crop digital images to fit the paper’s shape.
A more detailed look
Let’s look at an example. My Canon camera has a sensor size of 1536 x 2048 pixels. Dividing these numbers by the highest common denominator of 512, we get an image shape of 3 x 4.
