Minggu, 31 Januari 2010

Binoculars – Nothing Escapes These Eyes

Binoculars are devices that make small objects at a distance appear expanded and clear before your eyes. They are also known as binocular telescopes as they are basically two monocular placed together to allow perfect two-eye viewing. It is surprising to find that those objects, which are completely invisible to human eyes, appear so near and enlarged in the eyes of the binoculars.

Factors to consider while purchasing binoculars

When you want to choose the binoculars you should try them out and then purchase them. Although the enhanced image through binoculars might appear surprising, yet the working of binoculars is quite simple. You have the lenses at the end of the barrel called objective lens that gathers the light from distant objects and focuses it on the lens nearest to your eyes. With side-by-side two small telescopes fitted, the binoculars impart a great measure of depth of field, than single monocular glasses.

When you go to purchase binoculars you will be confused to hear two specific numbers “6 x30” or something similar. Do not get surprised. The first number always refer to the magnification power of the binoculars or how many times the image is magnified. This means that if the number is 6, the image that you view through the lens will be 6 times more magnified than its normal size.

However, the second number deals with the size of the objective lens at the end of the binoculars. You should know that the larger the diameter of the objective lens, the more light from the distant objects is attracted and the distant image can be viewed perfectly.

However, powerful the binocular is, you must be aware of the way to handle them. Holding the binoculars by the hand will be truly effective as shaking might make the magnification less useful. So if you are planning to use the binoculars for active activities, then get for yourself a pair of binoculars that has 4-7 times magnification. If your work demands using the binoculars in low light situation or indoors, then you should get larger objective lens with 30 power or above.

The weight of the binoculars should be considered before you purchase them. When you are using the binoculars for trekking, boating, fishing, or for astronomical purposes, you should see that the weight should not be very heavy. When you are going for these traveling purposes, you should plastic lens in binoculars that will help produce high quality and sharp image. Glass lenses can be available at lower cost but they are very fragile. So you should use plastic lens binoculars for better results.

Get a pair of binoculars to enjoy distant objects clearer and nearer to your eyes.

Sabtu, 30 Januari 2010

Bingo History: Story of the Game Bingo

ntemporary bingo go back to 16th century Italy, where the lottery game Lo Giuoco del Lotto dItalia was introduced. The popular chance game was introduced to North America in the late 1920s by the name of Beano.  A toy salesperson of New York was responsible for changing the name of the game into Bingo and to the increase of its popularity throughout the US.

In the late 18th century, the original Italian lotto game made its way to France. Historical evidence shows that a game called Le Lotto was popular among the French high society who used to play the game in parties and social gatherings.

Le Lotto used to be played with special cards that were divided into three rows and nine columns. Each of the three columns consists of 10 numbers, while each column had five random number and four blank spaces in it. Each player had a different lotto card where he used to mark the number announced by the caller. The first player to cover one row won the game.

By the 19th century, the lotto game spread around Europe and started to serve as a didactic childrens game. In the 1850s, several educational lotto games had entered the German toys market. The lotto games purpose was to teach children how to spell words, how to multiply numbers, etc.

By 1920s, a similar version to the lotto game, known as beano was popular at county fairs throughout the US. In beano, the players placed beans on their cards to mark the called out number. The first player who completed a full row on his card, used to yell out Beano!, until one night in December 1929, when a New Yorker toys salesperson by the name of Edwin S. Lowe visited a country fair outside Jacksonville, Georgia.

On his way back to New York, Lowe had purchased beano equipment including dried beans, a rubber numbering stamp and cardboard. At his New York home, Lowe has been hosting friendly beano games. During one game, one excited winner who had managed to complete a full row stuttered out Bingo, instead of Beano. Listening to the excited stuttering girl, Edwin S. Lowe thoughts went away. Lowe decided to develop a new game that would be called Bingo.

While Lowe’s Bingo game was making its first steps in the market, a Pennsylvanian priest asked Lowe to use the game for charity purpose. After a short tryout period, the priest had found out that the bingo game causes the churches to lose money. Since the variety of bingo cards was limited, each bingo game ended up in more than five winners.

In order to develop the game and to lower the probabilities of winning, Lowe approached Prof. Carl Leffler, a mathematician from Columbia University. Leffler was asked to create bigger variety of bingo cards that each of them will have unique combination of numbers. By 1930, Lowe had 6,000 bingo cards and Prof. Leffler went insane.

Since then, the popularity of the bingo game as a fundraiser continued to grow. In less than five years, about 10,000 weekly bingo games took place throughout North America. Lowe’s company grew to employ several thousands of employees and to occupy more than 60 presses 24 hours a day.

Now, bingo is one of the most popular chance games in the world. It is played in churches, schools, local bingo halls and land based casinos in the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world.

Jumat, 29 Januari 2010

Big Boy Toys

Are you getting older, but still have a fun side that you like to show?  If this sounds like you, you are not alone.  Remember, just because you are getting older does not mean that all the fun has to stop.  In fact, there are hundreds of toys that you can buy to satisfy your inner joker.  With these toys you will be enjoying yourself just like you used to when you were younger.

Listed below are a few “big boy toys” that you may want to consider.

1. The brick is one of the funniest toys that you can buy.  This is nothing more than a brick that looks 100% authentic, but it is actually made of foam.  So the next time that you get upset, all you have to do is act like you are going crazy.  Throw the brick at a window and watch all of your friends faces!

2. If you miss your old squirt gun, you should look into buying the space rifle.  It is the ultimate soft disc weapon that will supply you with hours of fun.  It comes with two cartridges for quick loading, as well as the ability to shoot down targets that are up to 20 meters away.  This is great fun either indoors or outdoors.

3. The cosmic thruster is designed for people that like guns and shooting things; mainly your friends!  This device loads up with foam balls so that you can shoot your friends time and time again without thinking twice.

4. For people that are really bored, the 10-in-1 game table is a great option.  This product is exactly what it sounds like, 10 games wrapped into 1.  The following games are included: table football, air hockey, backgammon, skittles, shuffleboard, play cards, pool, table tennis, chess, and checkers.  If you have this game table you will never be bored again!

5. Paintball is increasing in popularity all over the world, and if you want to get involved you will want to pick up the patriot pump action paintball gun.  This gun has real pump action, as well as the ability to fire paint balls with more power than the average gun. 

These toys are great for anybody that is looking to have some fun.  But the great thing is that these are only five of the options to choose from.  If you keep your eyes open and search the internet, you should be able to find hundreds more.  This will allow you to build up a toy chest that rivals the one that you had when you were just a youngster!

Kamis, 28 Januari 2010

Best Rated Gas Grills Under $300

The first of the best rated gas grills under $300 is the Brinkman Pro Series 2210. A very basic grill, it offers a 636 total square inch area for cooking, which is very large in comparison to most in this price range.  Its 12000 btu burning capacity is not that powerful, but it does offer three burners. 

While the cart on this gas bbq is not as sturdy as it could be the burners are made of cast iron and should last a very long time. This grill was designed to be very large and quite inexpensive. It succeeds on both counts.

The next on our group of top rated gas grills under $300 is another Brinkman Pro Series, model 4400.  This grill is found at Wal-Mart. Designed to look like a knockoff of a Weber grill, it has some stainless steel construction and good cast iron burners. The heat output on this grill is good. 

This member of the best gas barbecues under $300 family has four burners, giving off 15,000 btus of power each, 630 square inches of grill area, a 12,000 btu side burner made of brass, and a cast coated in porcelain.  

Brinkman again earns another grill listing as one of the best rated gas grills under $300 with its Charmglow grill. Sold only at Home Depot, this grill is made completely of stainless steel. It is heavy and durable, the primary reason it is one of the top gas bbqs under $300, with 45,000 btus and 456 square inches of cooking area.

Rabu, 27 Januari 2010

Become a Shark – Pool Tips for a Fish out of Water!

So it’s Friday night, and you’re out on the town with your mates.  You’re well dressed and you’ve had a few drinks.  Isn’t life grand?  You puff away on your cigarette, sipping a pint, and round the pool table considering your next shot.  You are keenly aware of the gorgeous woman sitting at the bar, watching your every move.  Follow these pool rules, and show her that you are as slick as your slicked-back hair!

Now you may be wondering who gets to break?  The traditional way of determining who gets to break is a method called "lagging".  Both players line up their ball at the head string (the line on the table).  Shoot your ball to the far rail, and bank it straight back towards yourself without touching the rail you are standing closest to.  Have your opponent do the same.  Whoever has the ball closest to the rail, without touching it, gets to break.  Hitting a side rail is an immediate disqualification.

When you are racking the balls, they should be frozen or touching slightly.  The lead ball must be on the foot spot (the dot on the felt).  The "8" ball must be in the center of the racked balls.  The white or "cue" ball must be located behind the head string.  When breaking, you want to use enough power to split the balls.  Ideally you want to sink a couple balls, preferably one of either "solids" or "stripes".  This way you have the option of shooting for any ball on the table during your next shot.  If you "scratch", or sink the white ball off the break, it automatically becomes your opponents turn.

The object of the game is to sink all of your balls before your opponent, and then sink the "8" ball in the pocket you have indicated.  Take your time and line up your shots properly.  Try not to use too much power when shooting.  Yeah…..it looks cool to hit them hard, but it’s not exactly cool to miss your shot.    Try to take your easiest shots first, and try not to leave your opponent with clear shots.  Try to use a proper stance when shooting, and bow your head to be in line with the cue.  Your best bet is to simply practice on your own, before you go out and play competitively.  Be careful playing in bars too, as you might get hustled.  Now be a good sport, go introduce yourself to that babe at the bar!

Selasa, 26 Januari 2010

Artists Biographies on Film: Top Movies about Visual Artists

Visual artists biographies is a popular theme in the movie world. Moviemakers have always been fascinated by visual artists biographies, especially if it includes struggle with insanity, drug addiction or social conventions. In addition, it gives them an opportunity to depict original or resurrected artworks on the big screen.
Here you can read about some of the most interesting movies about visual artists biographies.
Lust for Life directed by Vincente Minnelli in 1952 

Vincent Van Gogh biography had gained several cinematic adaptations. Lust for Life with Kirk Douglas as the struggling artist is one of the most notable. The movie is based on a best selling book by Irving Stone, who also authored The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo, which also had appeared on the silver screen.

If you are a fan of Van Gogh artwork, you would enjoy watching Last for Life, which features almost 200 of Van Goghs original paintings. However, if you are familiar with Kirk Douglas previous filmographic, seeing him as a tortured Dutch painter might take a little adjustment. Another recommended film about Van Gogh is Robert Altmans Vincent and Theo from 1990.

Surviving Picasso directed by James Ivory in 1996

Like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso image made him an iconic figure outside the artistic circles. While Van Gogh symbolizes the self destructive, manic depressive artist who achieves success only after his death, Picasso represents the misanthropic and womanizer artist. Picasso infamous relationship with women is the focus of this Merchant and Ivory film. The story is told from the eyes of Picasso mistress Francoise Gilot and features only reproductions of Picasso works. With Anthony Hopkins talent and his physical resemblance to Picasso, Surviving Picasso manages to create an unflattering portrait of an artist as a cruel, self centered genius.

Girl with Pearl Earring directed by Peter Webber in 2003


Comparing to Van Gogh and Picasso, Vermeers biography is less known and less controversial. Therefore Girl with Pearl Earring is much more restrained and delicate. The movie focuses on a short period in Vermeers life in which he was painting the portrait of his young low class maid. Although Girl with Pearl Earring does not avoid filmic conventions by over dramatizing Vermeers painting process, the movie is worth watching if only for its artistic design, which success in evoking Vermeers perception of light and color.

Basquiat directed by Julian Schnabel in 1996

The most common critique against movies that deals with visual arts is the way they depict the creation process. Therefore, there were big expectations from Basquiat, which was directed by the celebrated painter Julian Schnabel. Schnabel did well in depicting Jean Michelle Basquiat rise and fall story in less the predictable manner we have seen millions time before. However, the only reason to watch Basquiat is David Bowie plays the role of Andy Warhol.

Frida directed by Julie Taymor in 2002

Like most of the visual artists who had their life story appear on the silver screen, Frida Kahlo carried an unusual biography, which includes bus accident, problematic marriage, and an affair with Leon Trotsky. Like Van Gogh, Picasso and Jackson Pollock, who was the subject of a biopic from 2000, Frida Kahlo was an icon long before Frida was released, but the 123 minutes film did help to strength her position as a feminist idol and probably the most famous woman painter of the 20 century. Frida tries its best to integrate Frida Kahlo life story with her painting and the result is very colorful and pleasant, but still does not stay far enough from the conventions of depicting artists on film.

Senin, 25 Januari 2010

Beading is popular, rewarding, fun, interesting and enjoyable hand craft.

Copyright 2006 Rose Mary

Beaded items are very popular nowadays.  In shopping malls, department stores or designers’ stores, we will not fail to find lots of beautiful beaded items for sale such as bags, purses, bracelets, necklaces, wall hangings, cushion covers, etc.  A lot of people find beads not only attractive but irresistible.  Beads come in many different shapes, sizes, textures, colors and designs.  Designers of accessories, jewelry, and interiors make use of the richness of their colors and the diversity of their shapes to create astounding pieces.  Items made with beads are indeed captivating and useful.  People use completed beading items such as bracelets and necklaces as accessories to enhance their appearance, while beading items like wall hangings, cushion covers, etc are used to decorate their homes.  Fabrics with beads could help to add to the decor of homes.

Beads have been valued for centuries.  Since early times, people have been acquainted with beads, primarily in the form of berries, seeds, stones and shells.  Later, beads came to be manufactured from clay, glass, metal and crystals and, more recently, acrylics and plastics.  People have been involved in beading for a very long time.  They enjoy selecting beads and combining them to form an attractive piece of work.  It is a very popular form of craft work for both old and young.  Some do it for work, others do it for hobby.  People enjoy beading because they find it extremely rewarding.  It offers them an opportunity to unleash their creativity and helps to enhance their lives.  There are those who believe that beads can become an obsession.  Some say that it could be addictive.  Nonetheless, it is indeed satisfying to use beads to make beautiful masterpieces for yourself, for your home, or even as gifts for your friends.

The beauty of beadwork is its versatility.  There is a wide range of beads you can choose from the market.  An extensive range of beading supply is available.  You can select the types, shapes, sizes, colors and textures of the beads to create the pattern you want.  Besides, there is a wide spectrum of beading techniques that can be applied to beads – wiring, threading, weaving, sticking and embroidering.  You can choose to use the method you like.  Beading techniques could be either threadless or threaded.  Although there are relatively few ways of uniting beads without thread, such as with glue or tile grout, however, there are hundreds of ways involving the use of thread.  As each completed item would be a result of your own selection, creativity and skill, you will certainly derive great satisfaction from your work.

Beading is considered an economical craft work.  You do not need a special workshop.  You only require a table, good lighting, some beading equipment and selected beads.  With these, you can design and make really exciting pieces of beaded items.  You can even create a piece of jewelry that will become a family heirloom!

The basics of beading are easy to learn.  There are many resources available with step-by-step beading instructions to enable a starter to learn doing beading projects.  When you have learned the basic techniques, you can go ahead to create even more pieces using a multitude of your own ideas.  This could be as simple as changing the colors on one of the beading patterns you have learned or using beads of a different size.  You will be surprised at how much these small changes can alter the look of the original piece.  The possibilities of creating new designs are endless.  You can attempt to test your design after creating it.  If you find that your idea doesn’t work, you can take it apart and try a new one.  Beading is fun and interesting.  Be adventurous, always experiment and you’ll enjoy it.

Minggu, 24 Januari 2010

BBC Banned Music: Top Singles Banned By the BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.


In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.

The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you... me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.

The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.

Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.

Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the single's explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.

Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.

Sabtu, 23 Januari 2010

Baccarat History and American Baccarat Rules

If we put aside the black ties, the velvet curtains and the overall exclusive atmosphere, baccarat is one of the simplest casino games around. In addition, baccarat is a beatable game with a low house edge, which makes it one of the best bets you can make! Here you can read about baccarat history and learn how to play the game.

Both the American and European versions of baccarat and the French Chemin de Fer are late developments of the Italian game called baccara, which means zero in Italian. The origins of baccara go back to an old Etruscan myth. According to the myth, a blonde virgin had to toss a nine sided die to decide on her destiny. If the die landed on eight or nine, she would have to fulfill her destiny and become a priest. If the die landed on six or seven, she would be forbidden to participate in any religious activity. If the die landed on any other number, the virgin had to walk into the sea.

The Italian game baccara was popular among French aristocracy during the end of the 15th century. Baccara had evolved to the European version of baccarat, which is still played in European casinos today as well as the French variation of baccarat known as Chemin de Fer, which is mainly played in casinos in France. The American version of the game was introduced to Nevada casinos in the 1950s by Francis Tommy Renzoni, who imported the game from Havana.

Baccarat still carries an aroma of aristocracy and exclusivity. In American casinos, baccarat is played in a separated area of the casino, hidden behind velvet curtains. Baccarat players are usually dressed up and the betting limits are higher comparing to other table games. In order to attract the medium budget players, a lower limit version of baccarat, called mini baccarat, was invented. Mini baccarat is played on a smaller table, inside the casino gambling area with lower betting limits than baccarat.

How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is played with 3 dealers and up to 12 or 14 players. Baccarat is usually played with 8 standard card decks. Aces valued as one, face cards and ten cards valued as zero, and the rest of the number cards worth their face value. The suit has no meaning. The object of the game is to get as close to 9 as possible.

The play begins by all players, including the dealer, placing their bets either on the player, the banker, or on a tie. Traditionally, the dealer bets on the banker. The dealer can be the house dealer or one of the players. After everyone has placed their bets, the dealer gives two cards to each player and to the banker.

The score of each hand is calculated as the sum of the two cards minus the left digit. For example, if the sum of the two cards is 15, the score would be 5. The decision whether to deal a third card is determined by a set or rules and it is not up to the player or the dealers decision. 
If the score of the players hand is 9 or 8, he wins
If the score of the dealers hand is 9 or 8, it is a tie
If a players score is 7 or 6, he can be dealt a third card
If a players score is 5 or less, he has to receive a third card
If a player gets a third card and the score of the dealers hand is 2, 1 or 0, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 3 and the players third card is any value but 8, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 4 and the players third card value is between 2 and 7, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 5 and the players third card value is between 4 and seven, he must draw a third card
If the score of the dealers hand is 6 and the players third card is 6 or 7, he must draw a third card.
If the score of the dealers hand is 7, he cannot draw a third card.

Jumat, 22 Januari 2010

Batteryless Flashlights, Or Sometimes Known As Forever Flashlights

As the name suggests a Batteryless Flashlight works without any requirement of batteries. One can also call it as the forever flashlight. These types of flashlights need to be shaken back and forth for few seconds and they will give light for many minutes, sometimes even hours. The main features of these Batteryless Flashlights are

1) Never needs any batteries or bulbs
2) Now with magnet and tether strap
3) Compact and water resistant.

Perhaps the biggest feature is that these flashlights are rechargeable at any time.

· Magnetic Batteryless Flashlights

The product Magnetic Batteryless Flashlight is the newest technology among the batteryless flashlights. One just has to shake the flashlights for 60 seconds and you will get up to 2 hours of light from this magnetic batteryless flashlight. These flashlights have three super bright LEDs which emit bluish white light that helps us in viewing clearly in the dark.

There is a high field strength magnet inside these flashlights, that slides back and forth inside a coil of copper wire, as we shake it to generate electric power. This power then gets stored in a small capacitor. The stored energy in the capacitor then powers the high brightness white-light LEDs.

It is prudent to turn the switch off at the time of shaking the flashlights for charging. If the switch is not turned off then pulse with the power spikes coming from the coil can be seen in the LEDs. The operating switch of these batteryless flashlights is durable and intrinsically safe. These flashlights lights are very light in weight and are completely designed to be waterproof. They are also fully portable.

· Dynamo type Batteryless Flashlights

Another type of batteryless flashlights is of dynamo type. These were the oldest technology among the batteryless flashlights. These types of flashlights have little fold-out cranks and we need to wind on for a while so that we can use the light again. In Dynamo type flashlights, by winding the cranks for a few minutes, a sector gear starts to move causing a tiny pinion gear to spin which drives a PM dynamo. The dynamo generates electrical energy which is used to light the LEDs in the batteryless flashlights. For years there have been dynamo types flashlights around that the world those work by squeezing a lever handle. Dynamo type battery free flashlights are quite reliable than the ordinary battery lights.

· Batteryless Flashlights review

The Batteryless flashlights are mainly used for emergency purpose. These flashlights sometimes come with built in FM radio. The main advantage of this Batteryless flashlight is that they are absolutely maintenance free. These flashlights can be stored for long periods of time without the worry of leaking batteries. In case of battery powered flashlights they often have their battery contacts loose & dbecome dysfunctional, but the batteryless flashlights don't go dead as you are miles away from home late at night.

The main disadvantage about these batteryless flashlights is that they are not as bright as most other battery powered flashlights, but that's a small price to pay as they are infinitely brighter than any other battery powered flashlights who's batteries are drained of energy or their bulbs are broken or burned out.

Kamis, 21 Januari 2010

Baby Bratz Dolls: Fashionable Babies

Baby Bratz are part of the cool line of dolls manufactured by MGA: the Bratz dolls. But don't think for a moment these are your typical, oblivious baby boys and girls, because as with the teenage dolls, the Baby Bratz have a passion for fashion, and it shows in every set of clothes available for them.

The Baby Bratz are supposed to be the Chloe, Yasmin, Jade and Sasha Bratz dolls when they were babies. They each have a large head - even bigger than their teenage counterparts - which makes sense considering babies often have heads that appear to be too big for their tiny bodies! Kids (and even some adults) find the Baby Bratz to be cute and adorable, especially when you dress them up for the winter fun.

The price of the baby Bratz range from $7 to $11 each, depending on where you buy them, while their clothes are around $5 - $6 per pack. They have a lot of available accessories, which can go from as low as $8 to as high as $30, depending on which accessories you purchase.

A Baby Bratz doll is a terrific gift for most young girls, and is especially recommended if you are a mom or dad who is not fully happy with the teenager Bratz dolls' looks and attitudes. If you don't think that the excess of makeup and the arguably trashy looks are good influences for your little girl, then give her a Baby Bratz doll, and she may be equally happy.

As for the durability, these great dolls are resistant to a number of children's typical "abuses." I have accidentally stepped on a baby Yasmin once, and it didn't break (but she may just have been a lucky baby!). Other than that, I have seen Baby Bratz being thrown, having "traffic accidents" with toy cars, and even getting chewed by a dog, and I never saw them break under the abuse (unless you count dog teeth marks as breaking).

Whether you are a fashion dolls collector or you are just looking for a great doll to give to your daughter, you simply can't afford not to check out the nice baby Bratz line of dolls. They are a great way to bring tons of fun to your daughter without spending too much. It is possible to buy a Baby Bratz doll and two different sets of clothes for less than twenty dollars, which in today's economy isn't that bad.

The Baby Bratz line of cute dolls and accessories can be found in almost every store on the country, and is currently exported to a huge number of countries around the entire world. Once you get to know one of these adorable dolls, you will probably want another one, and soon you will have a preferred Baby Bratz. My favorite Baby Bratz is Jade; what's yours?

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006.  All Rights Reserved.

Rabu, 20 Januari 2010

Ball Valve History & Mystery

Here is a light hearted history and trivia on the ball valve. Read it and you will never take your natural gas or electricity for granted again, ok so maybe you will…

Ball Valve mystery? The humble ball valve has a checkered history and somewhat murky origins. It may not be cloak and dagger stuff, but it’s not without mystery… Take a look around to see where the ball valve is indispensable. For example, the ball valve is crucial to the petroleum industry, water, electric power, chemical, paper, pharmaceuticals, food, steel and other fields. If it seems we could not get a long without the ball valve, it's probably true! Given the importance of the ball valve today, it's a mystery why it took so long to invent.

Ball Valve history does not go back to ancient Greece or the American revolution or does it? The modern ball vale was invented in 1967 or about 1957 according to different sources.  Who cares when the ball valve was invented? Besides the patented owner, probably not many people. Still the ball valve was major advancement over plug valves used in the 20th century. The ancient  An , the earliest ball valves were commercially available around 1967. For ancient parallels, the ruins of Pompeii turned up a bronze tapered plug quarter turn valve that resembles to the ball valve today. How’s that for a ball valve mystery?

Ball Valve Birth Pains
Ball Valve researchers point to a spherical ball-type valve patented in 1871 led to the invention of today's ball valve. This ball valve was an all brass valve- brass ball and brass seats. Apparently this ball valve didn't storm the market and was not mentioned in valve catalogs of the late 1800's While today's ball valve is quite a recent invention, the idea for this ball valve has been around about 125 years. The first resilient seated ball valve patent was issued in April,1945. Legend has it the company’s marketing department could not envision a use for the valve and it was not manufactured. Oh well, that’s the way the ball valve bounces...Given the huge reliance on the ball valve today, it's a mystery why it took so long for people to invent and use the ball valve.

Selasa, 19 Januari 2010

Back in Time with Vintage T-shirts

Are you one of those people that never throw anything away?  If you are then you may be one of the smart ones.  There is a new market that has emerged here of late and that market is demanding to have vintage clothing.  Actually more to the point they want vintage T-shirts.  This is something that has started to boom in recent years as the old style of clothing is starting to make a major come back for the youth of this country. So that means that all of the people in the world that have saved all those old clothes and successfully fought their mothers from throwing them in the donation box may be sitting on a gold mine.  Who would have ever thought that some of the horrible things that we used to wear would ever come back into style.  It may seem like a nightmare to some but it is a dream come true for many.

The dealers of vintage T-shirts are having a ball with this market.  They know that there is a lot of stuff out there that can be sold and that there is even more people that want it.  The demand for these items has tripled in the past six months making them one of the most sought after clothing items in the market today. The problem is that there is not a lot of places where one can find such items to resell.  In the very beginning of the boom there was more than enough of these vintage T-shirts laying around resale shops the world over, but since the surge there is a shortage as most of the shops now know the value and they are taking advantage of the boom like the rest of the population. 

If you are lucky enough to have one of these items then you have paid the price that somebody would want for it.  The price range is rather high right now because the demand is so high and the supply so low.  There is some hope though that you may be able to pick something like this up without having to pay too high a price.  That is if you do not mind wearing something that is not technically vintage but it has all the right looks and such.  This is how many of the people are getting around the supply problem and they are making the best of it.  This stands to reason because not everyone can afford the price that the vintage T-shirts are commanding right now.

For most the vintage T-shirt is a dream.  The most popular styles are the concert T-shirts from the seventies and eighties.  The most well known bands are commanding prices of nearly one thousand dollars or more.  A record was set recently when an original Rolling Stones concert T-shirt sold for almost ten thousand dollars.  This is something that was bound to happen eventually but those of us who were there for these shirts when they were new are no less amazed.  This is taking into consideration that some of these clothes were less than ten dollars when they were brand new.

Right now the vintage T-shirts market is very hot.  If you are looking for the best deals then you need to get going.  These items are flying off the shelves and people are hungry for more.  If you happen to find one at a tag sale or what have you then you should certainly pick it up as it may very well be worth it’s weight in gold.  This is only the beginning and you should hold on to see what the next big thing is.

Senin, 18 Januari 2010

Bacara el Preferido del Agente 007

El Agente 007 y su audacia con el juego continúan deslumbrando año tras año a sus sensuales compañeras en escena y derrotando a sus astutos enemigos.

El Bacara: El Juego preferido del clásico James Bond: Bacará y el Agente 007

El Bacará es el clásico juego de apuestas originado en Italia en el siglo 15 y es también característico del famoso espía 007. En cada escena lo identifican una elegancia y excelencia, que junto con su impecable  Martini en mano y las apuestas en otra James Bond ha mantenido una leyenda desde su origen desde los años 50 hasta el presente. Es así como el espía ingles domina la versión francesa del juego Bacará llamada Chemin de Fer con gran talento y admiración.

Bacara siempre fue popular entre la alta sociedad, especialmente en el siglo 15, cuando surgió en Italia. Bacara significa cero en italiano y a lo largo de su expansión en diferentes países nuevas reglas y variaciones fueron inventadas y adaptadas como en Estados Unidos o en Francia el Chemin de Fer, o el denominado Juego de James Bond.

El juego consiste en el "Jugador" y la "Banca"  el nombre que se la a las opciones de apuestas, estos son repartidos dos o tres cartas cada uno con el objetivo simple de llegar a 9 sin pasarse de el. Mientras tanto la banca decide según las reglas del juego cuando detener la jugada y los jugadores ya han debido apostar a cual de las dos Jugador o Banca ganara la mano. Los jugadores o el jugador apuesta y el que apuesta a la mano que gano el puntaje mas correcto, gana la mano. En la adaptación americana, el juego funciona en contra a la banca, mientras que en Chemin de Fer, los jugadores compiten el uno con el otro. Uno representa al jugador y el otro a la Banca.

En compañía del Chemin de Fer los libros de Ian Fleming junto a las adaptaciones en escena de James Bond, han deslumbrado por décadas las diferentes aventuras del espía, con ayuda de su impecable poder del juego y su atractivo estilo. Hasta su último estreno en el 2006 James Bond sigue disfrutando de la lujuria de las mesas verdes de los casinos junto a su cigarro y el su sensual compañera en acción. En el anio 1964, las novelas y capítulos de James Bond, fueron escritas por Kingsley Amis, John Pearson, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, y Charlie Higson. Tambien sus actores variaron comenzando con el conocido Sean Connery, siguiendo con Geroge Lazenby, Roger Moore, Tomothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan y Daniel Craig.

Si observas, es muy interesante ver la manera en que el Agente apuesta al juego y a su vez actúa y descubre los secretos que lo rodean con la misma rapidez, seguridad y astucia. Enlas películas de James Bond el juego Chemin de Fer transcurre en elegantes salas llenas de mujeres elegantes y hombres adinerados que detrás del juego tienen otros intereses por revelar. En la realidad el enlace entre el Bacará y El Agente 007 es de un acompañante fiel de aventuras secretas y emocionantes de mas de cinco décadas que hicieron de el una leyenda inolvidable que resurge de generación en generación.

Minggu, 17 Januari 2010

Auto Security - It Pays To Stay Safe

Auto burglaries are quite a common phenomenon these days. It does not surprise anyone if a person finds something missing from his/her car, from a busy parking lot. This is why most auto companies are putting in a tremendous amount of effort, time, and investment into exploring new avenues of maintaining auto-security.

One of the most common reasons of car theft is the carelessness of the owner, and their little or no concern for the security of the car. If you take care of the simple things, the chances are that your car will remain safe. Make it difficult for the thief to steal your car; nine times out of ten, he will leave it alone.

A significant auto security tip: park your car carefully

Here are a few helpful tips that will help you park your car securely:

> Never, and this means never, forget your key in the ignition. Also, roll up all the windows and also lock all the doors. Check all these things before leaving your car.
> If possible, always park in an area that is busy and well-lit.
> Do not, absolutely do not; leave any secret key, in the glove compartment or in any other accessible place.
> After you park, do not forget to pull the emergency break and also steer the wheel sharply to the right or the left, just before the key is removed from the steering column.

When at home

Many a times, people have a garage but choose to park the car outside their home. This is usually the case, when the car is to be used after a brief period of time. Therefore, people do not want to go through the whole process of parking the car in their garage.

Try not taking the easy way out. Use the garage as often as possible and not only lock the garage door, but also the car inside the garage.

If you do not have a garage, it is always advisable to park the car in the driveway, and not on the street.

Alarms

Install the loudest and the best car alarms. Of course, the price is an issue, so install the car alarm that you can afford and the one that best suits your requirements. Some of the high end devices that are available in market these days are sound discriminators, transmitters that help in computerized tracking, motion detectors, and various types of silent alarms.

You can also advertise the fact that you have a burglar alarm installed in your car by sticking various posters or warning stickers on the windshield or window of your car. This will help dissuade a potential thief.

Advanced locking systems

You need to taper lock buttons into the doors, which would deter thieves from using appliances like coat hangers to open the door of the car. Another lock, which you can use, is the ignition lock, which is the latest in high security technology.

Another type of lock that people are now choosing is the “J-bend” lock, which acts as a hook between the brake pedal and the steering wheel.

Other disablers

The popular disablers that are used by car owners are:

> A fuel cut-off device

As the name suggests, a fuel cut-off device helps in cutting off the supply of the fuel.

> An ignition kill device

This device provides enough interference to the ignition system, in order to deter thefts. Even if the automobile is ‘hot wired’; the thief cannot get away with the car.

Both the devices can be hidden in a way such that thieves won’t be aware of them.

For the price conscious

There are people, who buy a car, but are loathe to buying the necessary security accessories that would protect the car from thieves. The reasons cited range from the mundane to the extraordinary.

Some people make expense the overriding factor, while others claim that the car has enough inbuilt security to dissuade any thief and thus protect it. Both claims are valid to a certain extent, but the fact remains that you cannot do without auto-security.

It makes sense to invest some amount of money, to ensure that you car does not get stolen.

Auto-security is easy to use

Rapid advancements in technology and highly complex security systems have not made the use of these systems complicated. If at all, they have become easier to use and most of them can be handled by a novice.

You have to follow the instructions, and you can use them effectively.

Easily available and easy to install

Why wont your install auto-security systems in your car? They are easily available at all car accessory shops and moreover they are quite easy to install. You don’t have to go to an expert to install them. You can do it yourself.

All this essentially means, that auto-security is a must, when you have a car. Yes, you might have to put in a certain amount of money, but it will definitely pay off in the end.

Sabtu, 16 Januari 2010

Art Theft: Most Famous Cases in History

Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at the some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.

The First Theft:
The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft:
The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30×21 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.

While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.

The Biggest Theft in the USA:
The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.    

As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.

The Scream:
The painting by Edvard Munchs, The Scream, is probably the most sought after painting by art thieves in history. It has been stolen twice and was only recently recovered. In 1994, during the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, The Scream was stolen from an Oslo gallery by two thieves who broke through an open window, set off the alarm and left a note saying: thanks for the poor security.

Three months later, the holders of the painting approached the Norwegian Government with an offer: 1 million dollars ransom for Edvard Munchs The Scream. The Government turned down the offer, but the Norwegian police collaborated with the British Police and the Getty Museum to organize a sting operation that brought back the painting to where it belongs.

Ten years later, The Scream was stolen again from the Munch Museum. This time, the robbers used a gun and took another of Munchs painting with them. While Museum officials waiting for the thieves to request ransom money, rumors claimed that both paintings were burned to conceal evidence. Eventually, the Norwegian police discovered the two paintings on August 31, 2006 but the facts on how they were recovered are not known yet.

Jumat, 15 Januari 2010

An Introduction to Shrink Wrapping Covering Applications as well as Materials and Machinery

Shrink wrapping is a particularly well-established form of packaging that has developed over the past four to five decades.

Essentially, material is produced such that molecules are stretched as part of the manufacturing process. When this material is subjected to heat, the elastic memory of the plastic is activated, causing the material to shrink around the product.

This is a traditional division between packaging for transit and packaging for display, whilst the latter has a further division into food and non-food applications.

The key to the application of shrink wrap for transit is cost so that the material and its application provide the lowest cost solution in delivering the product from the manufacturer to the end user.

The conventional definition of a transit wrap involves the use of a sleeve sealer and polyethylene film. An individual or bundled wrap provides the necessary solution of achieving the shipment at the lowest cost.

A typical wrap offers two open sides as a consequence of the use of a sleeve although in certain applications the sleeve may be effectively eliminated by the use of appropriate machinery. Generally, the latter is not a particular requirement.

Polyethylene has the attributes of strength at a certain thickness together with shrink ratios and slip. Accordingly, a user will be able to specify a thickness to provide the necessary pack integrity to the end user and shrink ratios to ensure that the wrap is tight. Slip can be altered to ensure that packs stack appropriately.

There are further benefits of shrink wrap since waste disposal after delivery is relatively insignificant whilst the material has clarity to allow product to be identified. In addition, there are tamper-evidence and moisture-prevention benefits depending on the exact application.

Normal applications involve the collation of products although individual packs are readily benefited from transit wrapping.

The market also offers developments in this area such as coloured and printed films. Polyethylene is not a particularly good medium for product enhancement through printing or pigmentation as it has a naturally soft surface which allows scuffing and dust retention whilst it is also relatively cloudy.

However, polyethylene may frequently offer sufficient optics so that it is acceptable in these applications.

As technology has advanced in this market so have applications crossed over traditional definitions in certain areas.

Consequently, certain transit packs are found using normal display films where the pack and its marketing benefit from the increased investment in a material that offers better optics and machineability.

There are highly specialised display films that are designed to offer the same strength as polyethylene but with far better optics and the marketing benefit is such, in these very specific areas, that the greater film cost can be justified.

Display shrink wrap is traditionally oriented towards non-food point of sale packaging where the principal goal is product enhancement with some limited pack protection through an overall wrap.

The latter is the main distinguishing feature of display packaging, the partial wrap with a sleeve generally found is replaced with a total wrap involving the creation of a two dimensional bag around the product.

Some years ago, the conventional film used for this purpose was PVC – polyvinylchloride with plasticiser; an amorphous crystalline structure.

PVC has largely been replaced by polyolefin shrink film although PVC continues to be offered.

PVC has particular benefits in that it is the easiest of any films to seal and shrink but it suffers from problems on sealing, whilst it also has strength and storage issues.

PVC’s sealing temperature is very close to its degradation temperature at which a number of by-products are created. These include very small quantities of hydrogen chloride gas and carbon deposits on the sealer.

The HCL may be dealt with through ventilation. It is to be stressed that all materials should be used with regard to good manufacturing practice and as a consequence, polyolefin films will also require ventilation in the same way. The by-products of combustion should always be considered in relation to the use of any specific machine operator.

Carbon deposits require regular cleaning whilst the presence of HCL will give rise to a need for regular maintenance of the sealer. As polyolefin’s have no chlorine, this does not arise with their use.

The plasticiser in PVC will harden in cold conditions and soften in hot conditions and this may well cause strength problems in cold weather and equally machineability problems in hot. Again, as polyolefin material has no plasticiser, these are not issues where this film is concerned.

PVC requires storage at normal room temperature failing which it is likely to start to shrink. Polyolefin will tolerate higher storage temperatures.

The overall machineability of PVC still gives this material some market share but, increasingly, polyolefin has dealt with its lower overall machineability whilst offering the benefits noted above so that it is now by some considerable margin, the principal display material.

Display wrapping involves the creation of a two dimensional bag around the product.

This is conventionally performed using an L Sealer with centre folded film. The sealer allows continuous production of wrapped packs that are then processed through a shrink tunnel.

L sealers are found in a variety of forms – manual, semi and fully automatic. A large part of the manual and semi automatic market has been taken by combined seal and shrink machinery. These machines are commonly referred to as chamber machines.

Fully automatic L sealers have found increasing use as their cost and versatility have improved.

The highest output speeds are offered by flow wrappers using side seal or overlap mechanisms. Nevertheless the common feature of a two dimensional bag remains the principal similarity between all these sealers.

Polyolefin films offer a variety of attributes so that a very large range of applications can be made.

In general, these are not found in food applications although once more, definitions continue to be stretched. Polyolefin is quite well used in certain applications notably pizza and egg wrapping as well as produce packaging. However, a more precise definition might be that polyolefin is not used to extend the shelf life of a food product. This applies generally except where shrink barrier film is used although this latter product is particularly specialised.

Normally, other materials than shrink are used to extend shelf life and as a consequence, shrink is found only in certain food applications although volumes can be significant.

Display applications for polyolefin have almost no limits as materials have been engineered to deal with any given requirement.

Soft shrink as well as perforation and printing are standard offers. At a more specialised level, slip and anti-fog treatments are also available.

There are a few notable ranges of polyolefin shrink film that offer better machineability and performance than the majority of the market and these are particularly distinguished by technical differentiation in manufacturing. These lead to irradiated grades which offer enhanced strength and multi-layer complexes that may be tailored to a particular requirement.

Polyolefin manufacture typically uses three or five layer extrusion and this confers performance benefits as a consequence.

It will be noted that the key to market movement is the development of material to address specific requirements, since its application is relatively uncomplicated.

There is no doubt that polyolefin shrink film will continue to develop so that it addresses even more uses than at present.

Kamis, 14 Januari 2010

Air Beds in Today’s Age

A large number of peopel seem to be avoiding the purchase of an air bed as a result of a lackluster experience in the past. Although this is certainly understandable, people need to realize that the air beds of the past couldn't be any more different from the ones available today. Given that a quality air bed is purchased, almost all of the things which were once issues should no longer be areas of concern.

The first impression which most seem to be under is that they'll wake up to a deflated air bed come the first night of utilization. This scenario is not only unlikely but downright outrageous. Modern air mattresses are constructed of heavy vinyl and are designed to support large amounts of weight. In contrast, older air mattresses were made with either thin plastic or vinyl. This thin material made them very prone to air loss.

The second concern on the minds of many is that of comfort. For some reason, it is believed that air bed manufacturers would be ridiculous enough (as they've been in the past) to leave bare vinyl atop their air beds. Let me assure you that these manufacturers know what they're customers demand and thus line the top of their beds with a comfortable, velvet-like material. With that, comfort should be anything but a concern.

Finally, many have been mislead into thinking that they'll be inconvenienced in adjusting the firmness of their mattress. Current air bed models offer the convenience of firmness adjustment from a remote control. This is far less burdensome when compared to the trial-and-error method involved with older air mattresses.

Now that you've been dug out of air bed lies, we hope you will put some thought into purchasing one. Chances are in your favor that your new air bed experience will be worthwhile.

Rabu, 13 Januari 2010

A Time before Clock and Watches – A Series (part 1)

How Time Was Measured Before the Clock

How many times have you wondered, “What time is it?” and turned to your wrist only to find you forgot to put on your watch.  We have become so programmed to know what time it is and schedule our lives around it that it is second nature to bend your arm, turn your wrist and get the answer. It has not always been so easy, or even necessary as you will see by looking back to a time before clocks and watches.

Like Night and Day

The precision with which we measure time today is light years away from how it was done, not so long ago. Time was once measured completely by the universe around us – and still is in a sense when you understand the science and physics behind the measurement of time and what makes a clock work (more on this in part 2). What earlier civilizations knew and relied upon each day was that the sun came up and went down and that block of time became a day.  To measure greater expanses, the moon and its reliable cycles were also observed. The moon was used to measure the time period which came to be known as a month – more technically a lunar month of 28 days – or the time it took for the moon to go from new to crescent to full and new again.

Ancient Civilization

Even more than just observing the moon, sun, and planets, there are artifacts that show us that time was measured a bit more precisely. Early calendars and “clocks” were found in what is now Iraq, once the dwelling place of the ancient Sumerians, and consisted of a calendar that was divided into 30 day segments according to the cycle of the moon.  It was then divided into 12 sections which corresponded to 2 hours of today’s time. Further, the calendar was sectioned off into 30 more parts equivalent to 4 modern-day minutes.

Stonehenge is located in England and was built more than 4,000 years ago.  Not much is completely understood about this mysterious structure, but the way it is positioned has scientists believing that it somehow was used to record seasons and the phenomenon of lunar eclipses and the like.

Sundials

The Sumerian culture passed away without the information about their timekeeping being discovered until more modern times.  The next phase of more precise time measurement was used by the Egyptians. They created the Obelisk around 3500 BC which looked like today’s Washington Monument, well-known to visitors of the Nation’s capital.  This tall, tapered monument would cast shadows throughout the day, but was primitive still in how closely the time periods could be measured. It mostly reflected a change between morning and afternoon, and how the days would get shorter or longer with the seasons.

The sundial on the other hand was first used about 1500 BC and was a much smaller and more portable timekeeping device. It was divided into 10 equal parts with two additional segments representing twilight and dawn.  The sundial itself then emerged from a horizontal plate to a bowl shape with pointer and inscribed lines to mark off the hours.  It is believed that by 30 BC there were more than 13 different styles of sundials used in the evolving societies of Asia Minor, Italy, and Greece.

When one thinks about the precision of a finely crafted Swiss timepiece it is hard to imagine a time when time was so ambiguous.  Could society function without time measurements to the very minute? Perhaps in another millennium society will wonder how we functioned living in just one time.

This is the first of a series of articles on the evolution of time measuring and how timepieces come to become what they are today.

Selasa, 12 Januari 2010

Altria to Launch Marlboro Filter Kretek in Indonesia

PT H.M. Sampoerna, the Indonesian world's largest tobacco company, has begin launch clove flavored cigarettes or the Marlboro mix 9 brand name.

The subsidiary of Altria Group Inc. will start selling filtered Marlboro Mix 9 from July 9, its first new brand in 18 years, said the people, who declined to be identified before an announcement next week. Clove-flavored cigarettes, known as kretek, dominate sales in the Southeast Asian nation, the world's fifth-largest tobacco market.

The launch may help Indonesia's largest producer of tobacco products win a larger share of the estimated $10 billion market for kretek cigarettes by attracting customers of PT Gudang Garam, owned by the family of Indonesia's richest man, and the Djarum Group. Sampoerna's sales growth has been cut by tax increases.

"It's a fantastic and excellent strategy," said Rezza Zulkasi, an analyst with PT First State Investments Indonesia in Jakarta, which manages 1.5 trillion rupiah ($167 million) in assets. "People want to have the international brand, but also want the local taste."

Sampoerna will start selling the kretek Marlboro in Java and Bali, the people said. Leo Burnett, a unit of Publicis Groupe SA, the world's fourth-biggest advertising firm, will help market the product. The ad agency created the "Marlboro man" advertisement campaign in 1955.

Where To Buy
Salecheapcigarettes.com start selling on July 12, the most trusted website that sells clove cigarettes. With a long history in the clove cigarettes business and over 8 years of offline or online experience, Salecheapcigarettes.com not only offers the quality cigarettes with competitive prices they also guarantee full satisfaction that all of their products are freshly deliver to their customers.

For more information please kindly visit http://www.salecheapcigarettes.com or http://www.saleclovecigarettes.com.

Senin, 11 Januari 2010

Air Compressors - How To Choose One

There are three main types of air compressors. Which you need will depend on the air pressure you need and how portable your compressor needs to be.

Reciprocating compressors come in a range from 5 HP to 1000 HP. The smaller compressors are portable, sometimes being mounted on wheels. These may be petrol driven or electrically powered. They compress air by a series of pistons in cylinders. The pistons are driven by a camshaft. Reciprocating compressors are often used in Auto Body Repair shops.

Larger reciprocating compressors are gradually being replaced by simpler rotary screw compressors. A large reciprocating compressor can discharge air at 35 Mpa, more than 5,000 psi.

If you are looking for a compressor for continuous use a rotary screw compressor may be suitable. These compressors use helical screws to compress the gas into a smaller volume. Portable and fixed rotary screw compressors are available. These compressors vary in size from 5 HP to 500 HP. You will find rotary screw compressors that give you a low pressure gas output, or a high pressure output, up to 8 Mpa. These compressors are used to power pneumatic drills when workers are digging up roads and pavements.

For continuous, heavy industrial uses you need a centrifugal compressor. A centrifugal compressor uses a rotating disk with vanes. Output from centrifugal compressors can be as high as 70 Mpa, 10,000 psi. Snow blowing machines use this type of compressor. Superchargers and turbochargers in car engines are centrifugal compressors.

When you buy compressed air for diving the air has been compressed using a three stage, reciprocating compressor. The cylinders in the compressor are ceramic lined, so no lubrication is needed. This avoids the air in the cylinders being contaminated with lubricating oil. If a non-recommended lubricating oil is used it can undergo partial combustion and cause carbon monoxide to enter the air cylinder.

The compressed air is filtered through silica gel to remove water, then through activated charcoal to remove any traces of oil.

Sometimes air from a cheap, low powered compressor will be stored in a bank of large high pressure cylinders. Air from these cylinders is then used to quickly fill diving cylinders. The diving cylinders need to be filled slowly to prevent the compressed air inside them from getting hot. If the gas inside is hot, it will expand and the cylinder maximum pressure will be reached with less air inside. The gas cools and the cylinder may only be half full.

For valves check out http://www.valves-today.info.

Minggu, 10 Januari 2010

Air Bed Shopping with a Convenience Factor

Looking to beat the crowds (and prices) that are currently allotted by traditional stores, many people have headed to the internet to make their air bed purchase. While this is a perfectly understandable notion, it is important that consumers are informed of the precautions they should take while shopping online.

First and foremost, air bed shoppers need to be sure they're purchasing from a reputable vendor. Many have been stung (sometimes severely) from not sticking to this rule. While you may be forking over a few more bucks buying from a reputable online vendor, it's truly worth the piece of mind. We recommend checking out Amazon, Target, or QVC. If you unsure about a particular vendor, we suggest heading over to the Better Business Bureau for more information.

Second, online shoppers should conduct adequate research on the bed they plan to purchase before inputting any sort of credit card number. Don't stick to the description and review(s) available on the vendor's site. These might be biased and thus inaccurate. Once you've got a good overall idea on the product, then you can go ahead and either purchase it or scour the net for a new one.

Finally, you should check to see what the final price will come out to. Remember, when your purchase things online, you have to factor in shipping costs. Although air beds aren't very heavy, they can rack up a noticeable shipping bill. Analyze the final cost and see how it compares to the price at a retail store.

We wish those looking to purchase their air beds online the best of luck! If you exercise good judgment, chances are good that your online shopping experience will be pleasant. Review each and every site you visit before purchasing from a specific one. The last thing you want is to get scammed.

Sabtu, 09 Januari 2010

About Embroidery Machines

What happens when you combine the old hobby of stitching designs to a cloth or fabric with computer technology? You get an embroidery machine! Before embroidery is being done by hand that meticulously and painstakingly takes for several hours to finish. With the development of the embroidery machine, the process narrows down to a mere few minutes and even seconds. What is good about embroidery machine is that accuracy and perfection is always assured every time the needle starts to move. Since it is computer generated, every stroke of needle is assured to land on the right spot.

If you are considering buying an embroidery machine, here are some things you should do:

Doing an initial research on different embroidery machine on the market (online or offline) is the best first step towards your goal of owning one. This would give you an overview of the type of embroidery machine you would need. From here you can now set your budget. Limit your shopping to your set budget so as not to get surprised once you are already shopping. One important remainder: an embroidery machine could cost thousands of dollars so you have to be mindful of your set budget. Make sure you don’t go with the most expensive for sometimes, cost cannot be equated with quality.

After you have done some initial research and have already set your budget, you should not rush on the nearest appliance store or online shops. You should identify the features you want. Some embroidery machines are built for industrial purposes- the ones that are tough and can do several stitches in short span of time. Some embroidery machines are capable of stitching on soft fabrics. Some would do well in leather and heavy fabrics. So what should you choose? If you think you would not be able to put it under extreme work, then there is no need to buy high-end machines. Other embroidery machines are so complex; they can do several tasks in one time. Though it is very tempting to buy this kind of machine, still have to ponder if you can maximize this type. Make sure that the embroidery machine you buy would definitely serve your purpose.

If you are only beginning to love embroidery, make sure you settle for basic machines. Upgrade only once you progress your technical skill. Most people would tend to buy the most sophisticated and complex embroidery machine you could find. And more often than not, these machines are left useless and gathering dusts for owners do not know how to use it.

If you are planning to make embroidery a living, you still have to consider its purpose. Choose a machine that would answer the specific task you expect them to give. For example: if you desire a machine that would solely do embroidery, then settle for a particular one that would do the specific kind.

Several embroidery machines have additional accessories that could be added afterwards. Usually additional accessories compatible with the machine are enumerated. Choose an embroidery machine that does not necessarily have the most accessories. Instead, choose one with accessories you can use.

Finally, make sure you do not go primarily for brand names. Although you can surely trust those with good and tested names, go after the product, features, warranty, service, and price.

Jumat, 08 Januari 2010

A Review of Popular Metal Detector Products

Metal detectors come with a control box that contains the circuitry, controls, speaker, batteries and the microprocessor; a shaft that connects the control box and the coil; a search coil that actually senses the metal; and a stabilizer that keeps the unit steady as it is moved. The performances of the detectors are based on the features of these parts.
Metal detectors come with a control box that contains the circuitry, controls, speaker, batteries and the microprocessor; a shaft that connects the control box and the coil; a search coil that actually senses the metal; and a stabilizer that keeps the unit steady as it is moved. The performances of the detectors are based on the features of these parts.

Tesoro Metal Detectors

At less than 2½ pounds, the Tesoro Golden Max lets you control what you want to find. It is the lightest detector in the market with full size depth, sensitivity, four tone audio ID and a user adjustable Notch Filter Discriminate.  The Tesoro DeLeon is a Target Identification Detector (TID), named after the famous explorer Ponce de Leon, who searched Florida looking for treasure and the Fountain of Youth. The DeLeon is designed as an easy to use, turn-on-and-go detector.

Whites Metal Detectors

The Whites E-series metal detectors include the following models.  DFX™ brings together the ultimate combination of sophisticated microprocessor technology, and turn-on-and-go simplicity. It has an operational frequency of 3 kHz and 15 kHz.  The XLT® Metal Detector is high-performance simplicity and versatility at its best. It has five programs to choose from along with 10 Basic Adjustments, and 29 Pro Options.  The MXT has three completely separate operating modes -- gold prospecting, coin/jewelry, or relic.

Prizm series

The Prizm series include Prizm II, III, IV, and V. All have a pinpoint mode that zeroes in on target location, instruction videos that show when and where to hunt.

Fisher Metal Detectors

Dr. Gerhard Fisher, a German immigrant, obtained the first patent ever issued on aircraft radio direction finders in the late 1920s.  Fisher's 1266-X comes factory shipped with 8-inch Open Center Spider Coil, instruction manual and Fisher's 5 Year Warranty. It has a duel discrimination system, which will allow you to search at a great depth. This unit does not work very well on wet saltwater beaches.

Garrett Metal Detectors

The Garrett Super Scanner hand-held detector can detect a medium-sized pistol from distance of 9" and even a tiny 1” piece of jewelry. Simplicity of operation of this metal detector is unmatched.  The Garrett SuperWand Security metal detector is one of the most popular metal detectors. It provides uniform sensitivity 360° along the scan area and pinpointing at the tip to detect weapons and other metal objects with extreme accuracy.  The Garrett Magna Scanner PD 6500 Walk through metal detector has some unique features. Its ultra-enhanced multi-coil detection field pinpoints the exact location of any metal object within 33 distinct areas of the archway.

Bounty Hunter Metal Detectors

Bounty Hunter metal detectors are made by First Texas Products. The Tracker IV priced at $160 is streamlined in appearance, with only two operating controls and a mode selection switch. The Tracker IV has a built-in Automatic Ground Tracker that maintains ground balance.  The Bounty Fast Tracker offers value for your money. It is a user-friendly instrument that delivers effective performance over a wide range of conditions and applications.

Minelab Metal Detectors

The Minelab Explorer II priced at approximately $1395 is a coin and jewelry detector with an operating frequency between 1.5 – 100 kHz. The signal travels deeper at a lower frequency and the signal detects objects close to the surface at a higher frequency.  The Minelab Quattro MP, priced at approximately $1300, is suited for use in parks, beaches or the battlefields. Minelab’s FBS technology provides outstanding performance even on saltwater beaches.

Kamis, 07 Januari 2010

A Sticky Situation for Do-It-Yourselfers

Though people have been stuck on duct tape for decades - using it for everything from short-term home repairs to creative fashion fixes - advances in the tape world are now getting repair gurus out of even stickier situations.

Originally green and called "Duck" tape, this kind of tape was first used by soldiers in World War II for repairs and to keep moisture out of their ammunition cases. After the war, it became known as "duct tape," when people began using it to connect heating and air conditioning ductwork.

Duct tape was credited with saving the lives of three NASA astronauts aboard Apollo 13, and more recently, the Department of Homeland Security recommended using duct tape with plastic to protect against bio-terrorism. A 2002 study showed that duct tape can even be used to treat unsightly warts.

While it's good for a quick fix, consumers find that duct tape needs to be replaced often, particularly on rough, porous or metallic surfaces. But one company recently improved upon this household staple by creating a tape with a double-thick adhesive that sticks to wood, stucco, plaster, brick and metal.

Gorilla Tape, developed by the company that makes the popular Gorilla Glue, also has a unique webbing that makes it stronger than traditional duct tape yet still easy to rip by hand, and an "all weather" shell that allows it to stand up to the toughest elements. Gorilla Tape has a multitude of uses, from sealing leaky hoses to repairing broken lawn furniture to patching holes in convertible tops.

"The fact is that normal duct tape doesn't work well unless the surface is perfectly clean and smooth - something we all know is rarely the case," said Doug Roach, director of product development for Gorilla Glue. "Gorilla Tape simply sticks to things that ordinary duct tape can't stick to."

While duct tape has long been a notable part of American history, recent developments make it certain that the tape will continue to be a part of everyone's toolboxes for years to come.

Rabu, 06 Januari 2010

A Moving Experience

I’ve found a cool apartment! Okay, okay…so it’s not perfect. Just a few bugs. I mean literally! First expense? An exterminator! Is it worth the cash? Well, I can’t afford a more expensive place, so a one-time (please!) cash outlay should be okay. Maybe just a can of “Raid?”

I need a way to move my stuff. Daddy, can I borrow your truck? You don’t have one? Why not? Do you want one? I’ll help you pick it out! Well, it was just a suggestion. No need to get all bent out of shape! I guess I’d better call the truck rental places. What do you mean…$200…PLUS mileage? AND Gas? Good grief!

While I’m on the phone I’ll call the utility and phone companies. Yes, I know I haven’t used your services before. No, I don’t have a credit card; this is my first place. You want what? A $100 deposit? For EACH? Holy cow…do you people have a license to steal?

Daddy, I need $500 for moving expenses! I used all my money for the first and last months rent AND the damage deposit. Well, how was I to know this was going to be so expensive? Sell something? Daaaaad…I NEED my TV!

Boy, this place is pretty empty. Maybe I should buy a couch and a chair. Nah…I have my bed. That’ll be good enough. I don’t need a table; I’ll just use this box.

Renters Insurance? I don’t think so! What do I have to insure?

Just got my first phone call! I’d love to come to your party! Daddy, I need a car. Because it’s too far to walk to work, that’s why. Umm, Daddy…there’s car insurance too! Thanks, Dad…you’re the best! And gas? I didn’t think so…

Time for dinner. Let’s look in these boxes. Oh, No! No dishes or pans. No FOOD!

Uhhh, Mom?

Selasa, 05 Januari 2010

Deauville La Magnifique

Les grands hôtels de Las Vegas, Macao et Monte Carlo font tout pour obtenir le privilège de les faire jouer. Ils sont la source assuré de gros profits car statistiquement, ils vont perdre. Les hôtels n'hésitent pas à mettre à leur disposition un avion privé pour les faire venir ainsi que leurs meilleures suites. Quant on est en mesure de perdre des centaines de milliers de dollars, tout le reste peut ètre offert. On peut dire en français "un flambeur".

Mais pour nous, simple debutant ou joueur non encore confirmes, je vous propose de decouvrir le casino a la francaise: DEAUVILLE.


Le Casino de Deauville est l’un des premiers casinos du groupe  qui comprend entre autre les casinos  Barrière de : Besançon, Ribeauvillé, le Palais Casino du Touquet, Carnac, Dinard, Enghien-les-Bains, l’unique de la région parisienne, Chamonix, Cannes, Sainte-Maxime, Biarritz et bien d’autres répartis entre la France, la Suisse, la Belgique et Malte.

Depuis 1990, le capital de l’empire est répartit entre Barrière-Desseigne, le Groupe Accor (34%) et Colony Capital (15%).
Le chiffre d’affaire du casino de Deauville s’élève à lui seul à :215,3 millions d’euros en 2004.
.
Découvrez à la fois le luxe et la sobriété du Casino Deauville!Son immense palais blanc vous ouvre ses portes sous ses prestigieux tapis moelleux et une architecture incomparable, pour mieux vous faire vibrer au son des
cliquetis rythmé des jackpots, les tables rutilantes, ses bars et ses restaurants toujours avenants…

Dans cette ambiance festive et chaleureuse, venez retrouvez au Casino Barrière de Deauville tous vos jeux favoris.
Casino Deauville c’est 325 machines à sous réparties en 3 salons, 6 tables de Boule, sans oublier ses Machines à Rouleaux et Vidéo Poker de 0,10 à 20 euros

Entrez dans la salle de la Boule.</b> Vous y retrouverez 6 tables avec mise minimale de 2 euros.

Le Casino Barrière de Deauville porte l'héritage de la splendeur du passé. Dans ce décor somptueux, vous pouvez varier les plaisirs à chaque instant.

Vous y retrouverez les jeux à mise minimale d’un euro :
2 tables de Roulette Française (mise minimale de 5 euros),
1 table de <a href="http://www.casino-en-ligne-3.com/jeu-de-casino-roulette.html" target="_blank">flash roulette</a> Française (mise minimale de 10 euros), <br>
4 tables de Roulette Anglaise,
10 tables Black Jack,
4 tables de Stud Poker,
1 table de Punto Banco,
1 table de Craps.



Mais Casino Deauville, c’est aussi ses spectacles tels le festival swing et ses loisirs tels le Golf. <br>
Celui-ci,  situé sur le Mont Canisy, à quelques minutes du centre de Deauville, offre une vue exceptionnelle à la fois sur la mer et toute la campagne environnante, dans une tranquillité absolue. Vous y retrouverez les parcours à 9 ou 18 trous. Des compétitions y sont aussi organisées.
Alors pourquoi attendre plus longtemps ! Rejoignez vite le Groupe Casino Lucien Barrière à Deauville ! Le seul Casino à vous offrir en plein cœur de la Normandie le plaisir des jeux mélés au plaisir du sport !

Senin, 04 Januari 2010

A Guide To Discount Laminator Products

A discount laminator allows you to perform lamination in your home or office. There are several choices in machines, depending on the volume and size of the projects you need to cover. Read about the equipment that is available to help you find the perfect machine to fit your needs.

Types of Laminator Equipment

Pouch Laminators
Pouch machines are the most common types of equipment found in the office or the home. Depending on the machine, they can laminate projects from a small identification card up to an 11X 17 sheet. They use V shaped pouches. The document is placed in the center of the V and is fed into the machine. The rollers are used for heating the laminate and adhering the film to the document.

There are a few benefits to pouch machines. they are the easiest of all machines to use and are a great first laminating machine for most people. They are also the least expensive of all equipment. Pouches are inexpensive and the easiest way to make your documents water proof.

Roll Laminators
These machines use rolls of laminate. They are able to accommodate larger documents than pouch machines. Depending on the machine, they will work for documents from twelve to eighty inches wide. The laminate is pressed between the two rollers to adhere the glue to the document. Roll machines are often used in digital printing and wide format work.

Most roll machines can work with either hot or cold film. If it is a cold laminator, it will only work with cold film. A hot laminator will work with either hot or cold film. For hot, the rollers are heated to a temperature of about 240 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat activates the glue and the pressure seals the document inside. These can be used with cold film by not heating the rollers.

Liquid Laminators
Liquid laminating machines are newer, less common machines. These are generally used on digital, wide format machines. Most work for projects up to sixteen feet long. The laminate can be applied in a variety of thicknesses, depending on the project.

These machines use either gravity or a pump driven system to apply the liquid laminate. Both types have a drying system built into the machine to dry the liquid on the paper. When it comes out of the machine, it will be surface dry and will need extra time to completely dry before being used. These laminating machines take some time to get used to and aren’t the best choice if you are new to laminating.

Choosing a Discount Laminator

Laminators come in a variety of sizes for different uses. The sizes range from a small identification card all the way to the large, wide format machines and everything in between. The size you choose will depend on the size of the projects you typically need to laminate. If you generally need to laminate smaller documents, you may opt for a pouch machine. You can always send the occasional wide format job to the local print shop.

The volume of the lamination you need done will also determine the size of the machine you need. If you only need a few things each week or even each day, a pouch machine will probably be sufficient. If you do many pages per day, you may want to invest in a more expensive roll machine.

Where to Buy a Discount Laminator

The internet is the best place to find a great deal on laminator equipment. Sites offering office equipment often carry laminators. Sometimes you can find a good deal offering free shipping on more expensive machines. If you want to see the equipment up close, visit an office supply store and then shop for the machine you have chosen online for a better price.

Learn about the different machines available before making a purchase. This equipment is very expensive and you want a machine that has all the features you want. This will ensure years of use. When comparing laminate equipment, compare not only the price, but the warranties and shipping costs. Sometimes a slightly more expensive machine will end up being a better deal, if it includes a better warranty and free shipping.

Minggu, 03 Januari 2010

A Guide To Choosing Expresso Machines

Expresso machines are one of the most popular kitchen appliances. They have gained popularity in recent years. With one of these machines in your house, you can have your favourite coffee shop drink whenever you want, without having to leave the house.

Specialty coffee machines can be very expensive and are a significant investment. The most common machines are semi automatic or super automatic machines. Both have benefits, depending on your preference and the amount of money you are willing to spend. Take some time to learn the features and benefits of each type before you make a purchase.

Semi Automatic Expresso Machines

Semi automatic machines allow you more control in the brewing process. These are the most popular in home machines. You start and stop the brewing process, which only takes about thirty seconds. Most come with either a frothing adapter or a stem want for making cappuccino or other specialty drinks.

Semi automatics come with either a pressurized or a commercial portafilter. A commercial portafilter has a metal holder with a plastic handle. These are found on coffee shop cappuccino makers. You need to get the grind setting, tamp pressure and timing right to get the best cup possible. It takes a few tries to perfect this process.

A pressurized portafilter has a ring inside that adjusts the flow of the water. the water will flow slower for coarse grounds and faster for finer grounds. The ring also enhances the crema on top and makes a better cup with less effort from you. With a pressurized portafilter, you don’t need to worry as much about the tamp pressure or grind of the beans.

Super Automatic Machines

Some people prefer a super automatic machine. With a super automatic, you can make a complete cup of Expresso or cappuccino with the push of one button. When you first set up the machine, you pre program everything and then it’s ready to go. If you want a fast cup with little effort, or aren’t skilled at brewing, you may want a machine that can do it all for you.

Great Features of Expresso Machines

There is a wide difference in the price of Expresso makers. Part of the price difference lies in the features of the machine. The more features, the higher the price.

o A digital display allows you to control many options on your machine. You can set the timer to shut off or enter the energy saving mode. Program the machine for the water level or amount of coffee grounds to affect the taste and strength of the drink. Set the temperature for the finished drink. Some even allow you to program the machine for the hardness of your water.

o A bypass doser allows you to use different coffees. With this feature, you can bypass the grinding process and use pre ground coffee.

o An adjustable dosage feature allows you to adjust the amount of beans to be ground. Most allow for between six and thirteen grams, depending on the machine.

o A rapid steam feature will go from brewing temperature to steam temperature in ten seconds.

Sabtu, 02 Januari 2010

A Brief History Of Pocket Watches

Everything has its beginning. And if you believe that time starts from somewhere, also consider the beginning of time measurements.

Early people have devised a system to tell the exact date. But a device that exactly tells the precise time comes much later. Water clocks, sundials, and candle clocks are the earliest instruments that somehow manage to tell time but accuracy is far from achievable.

In the 13th century, weight-driven clocks were developed. It used gears while hour hand was already used while the minute hand was an indication of luxury and wealth. The weight-driven clocks were publicly displayed on church towers, city halls, and monasteries.

In the 16th century, clocks were produced using spring instead of weight. The portable clocks or the pocket watches were the first timepieces that the public can own. During this time, the only persons who can own them were the rich and owning one signified the status, authority, and wealth of the person. Often, portable watches were placed on the wall of the house. The term “portable” though did not mean it could be carried on your pocket. The term changed its meaning some years later.

The first transportable watches or pocket watches was used also in the 16th century. This time, clocks no longer had to stay at one place. Pocket watches can already be worn around the neck or carried on a pocket. The same era also brought revolution to the development of pocket watches. Mechanisms were introduced to bring time-telling precision. Some packet watches even had an alarm.

The entry of the 17th century made pocket watched even more desirable. The box-like image was removed and was replaced by more rounded and slimmer cases. Clockmakers also became instant artists as they infuse designs and craftsmanship to every pocket watch the made.

When Christian Huygens discovered the law of pendulum, which for your information was different from Galileo’s, clock had yet again moved one step further. The law proved to be very helpful in the development of pocket watches.

In the 18th century, pocket watches continued to evolve. This time, jewels were used as bearings. Diamonds became part of some pocket watches that boosted the price of a single pocket watch to the ceiling. Oil was also became part of pocket watches during this period. This was to lubricate and smoothen the movement of the watch’s hands. In the second half of the 18th century, pocket watches were produced with three hands. Contrary to the inclusion of the minute hand during the 16th century, second hand made sense since accuracy in telling time was far better.

In the 19th century came the glory days of the packet watches. This era brought the several watchmakers into the picture. Names such as LeCoultre & Cie, Ulysse Nardin, Minerva, Heuer, IWC, and many others were established in this period. The quality of pocket watches became better than ever.

By the turn of the 20th century, certificates were issued to those watchmakers that created precise watches. Unlike the previous years, issuance of certificate became more of a requirement than luxury.

And as the years gone by, the popularity of pocket watches diminished as wristwatches became more popular.

Although pocket watches are not so much used today, it has served as one of the important instruments for several centuries.

Jumat, 01 Januari 2010

5 Tips For Fountain Pens Gift Giving

Fountain pens make great gifts. They're personal, stylish and fun, not to mention very useful in everyday life.

There are so many fine pens to choose from, and you can guarantee personalization by having them engraved. However, because there are a lot of options, choosing the "right" pen for that special person on your gift list can be intimidating. Here are some tips for making it easy and enjoyable instead.

Tip #1: Focus on the other person's preferences, not your own.
If you like the same things, you've got it made. But that's usually not the case. Put yourself in the other person's shoes and you're off to a good start.

Tip #2: What type of writing instrument?
There are four choices: Fountain Pen, Ball Point Pen, Rollerball Pen and Mechanical Pencil. What type is used as an everyday writing instrument? How about for special occasions like signing documents or writing personal correspondence? What is his or her profession? Answering these questions will help you determine the type.

Tip #3: Evaluate a handwriting sample of the person.
This is especially helpful if you're going to pick out a fountain pen. And it's easier than it may sound. For instance, a fine nib is your best bet for smaller writing or writing that has slimmer lines. On the other hand, a medium to broad sized nib works well for writing that's larger and darker. If the sample wasn't written with a fountain pen, it will either confirm or change the decision you made as a result of Tip #2.

Tip #4: Decide how much you want to spend.
This can help you narrow the field and not get too distracted. But give yourself a reasonable range so you'll still have plenty of choices. Sometimes a slightly more expensive writing instrument will make a big difference in quality, performance and appearance.

Tip #5: What's the person's style?
Is he or she traditional, a trendsetter or somewhere in between? Get your clues from personal or business attire, accessories such as watches, jewelry and eyewear, even what the person drives. These answers will help you pick a pen brand, finish, color and more, until you've made your final selection.