Kamis, 30 September 2010

The Different Types of Boat Tarps

A tarp is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water resistant or waterproof material. Usually, cloths such as canvas coated with plastic or latex are used to make tarps. Generally reinforced grommets at the corners or sides form attachment points for rope, so that the tarp can be tied down or suspended. Nowadays, tarps are sometimes made from woven polyethylene as well. Such tarps are called Polytarps. Tarps have been used for a long time to protect boats from the weather and to cover them.

Types of boat tarps:

Tarps are primarily classified on a basis of their material. Some common types of tarps are:

• Poly tarps: These are the most commonly used tarps, and provide excellent cover from rain. The material is high-density resin, with heavy-duty grommets which complete the tarp. These poly tarps are mildew proof, tear resistant, acid resistant, and can be easily used in sub arctic temperatures.

• Canvas tarps: These kinds of tarps are hemmed and stitched all round and reinforced. The reinforcement is made of eyelets, which are composed of materials that will not rust easily. They are better used for outdoor storage etc.

• Mesh tarps: They are also called Shade Screens. They are not very good for use as boat tarps, and can be used in light breezes only.

Most boat tarps can be purchased without any fittings, so they are usually sold in pre-standardized shapes that will fit just about all kinds of boats. If the boat is made of wood, then using a mildew proof tarp is a good idea. Traditional boat covers are out of fashion, but tarps are in. Tarp repair kits are easily available, and if you are sailing they are a good idea, as they can tear.

There are many new tarp designs made everyday, as people have started taking an interest in them finally. If you want, you can get a boat tarp customized for yourself. The tarp is also useful in protecting the boat from parasites. This is why most seasoned boat owners always buy the boat tarp first, then buy anything else for their boats afterwards.

The tarp is used along with rope, which helps owners tie the tarp to their boat without any gaps, by putting the rope through the D hole. The proper customized boat tarps may be expensive, but they serve a good purpose of protecting your boat. Boat tarps are an excellent way to protect boats against every kind of weather.

Rabu, 29 September 2010

The Different Types Of Candles

It is no wonder that candles are so popular. These simple light sources create a romantic setting in seconds. However, candles are also used in aromatherapy, to create a pleasant scent, or just to add a decorative element to a room. Candles can even be used in religious ceremonies and weddings.

One of the most popular types of candles is the pillar candle. These candles are cylinder shaped and are made with wax. They are usually scented. People use these versatile candles to create a relaxing ambience in the bath, a romantic ambience in the bedroom, and a pleasant atmosphere in the dining room. Pillar candles are also frequently personalized to commemorate important events, such as a child’s christening or a wedding.

The taper candle is used to add some soft lighting at the dining room table. These candles are designed to fit easily into traditional candlesticks and burn slowly for several hours. They also are used in standard wall sconces.

Votive candles are small candles, but they are usually grouped together to make a big impact. You can use votive candles in lanterns or decorative candle holders, but you should never burn them without having them contained in some way, since they are short and could burn down quickly before you notice that the flame has almost reached the furniture surface.

Floating candles are the ideal way to create a beautiful centerpiece. Having candles float in water is beautiful, since the flames reflect on the water’s surface, but also is a great way to burn them safely.

Jar candles are scented candles made with high quality paraffin or soy. These candles can really make a room smell wonderful. Soy candles are a bit more costly than paraffin candles, but burn more cleanly.

Finally, since candles have an open flame, they can be dangerous to use. To keep your home safe while you are enjoying your candles, there are a few simple tips you may want to follow.

1. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
2. Always use some sort of candle holder. They will help protect furniture from dripping wax.
3. Consider using a candle shade to reduce soot from candle flames.
4. To enjoy scented candles without worrying about an open flame, try candle warmers. The candle warmer heats an unlit jar candle from beneath to release the scent. When you use a candle warmer, you will also help your candles last much longer than candles that are burned.

Selasa, 28 September 2010

Stop Burglars In Their Tracks – How To Choose A Home Alarm System

If you think technology is a blessing then think again! Although we are in the age of the advanced computers, internet, leaner and powerful machines etc., we are also in the age where guns have improved and are more easily available. The result is the increase in the crime rate. Burglary is one such crime that is being committed randomly. So is there a solution that can prevent burglary?

The solution is installing a home alarm system. There was a time when those who had the money would employ a home security guard or personnel but today you can do better with a home alarm system. In fact in the recent times, the home alarm system has become one of the most popular methods of safeguarding homes.

There are different types of home alarm systems available in the market and they can cater to various types of residential properties from condos to villas to apartments. You can have home alarm systems for fire, smoke, and burglary. Off late, more and more people have been installing home alarm systems for preventing burglary.

The use and application of home alarm systems for preventing burglary has changed or rather evolved over a period of time. Today, you will find home alarm systems that have multiple features and some of them are quite advanced. Some of the features of a complete home alarm system include enabling you or the homeowner to contact the nearest hospital or police. Most of the home alarm systems have a working mechanism that is dependent on the combination of motion sensors placed on your windows or at your door and certain contact points.

Choosing a home alarm system can be quite a difficult task but you can follow the tips mentioned below while shopping for one:

Identify Your Requirement
First things first: Identify the number of windows and exit doors your home has so that you can have them connected to the home alarm system. Then determine the different locations where you will install the keypad and the control panel. Some people would prefer to have it installed near the front door while others might find it convenient to install at the exit door at the back of the house or in a more central location within the house.

Once this process is complete, you need to determine the distance from the control panel to the doors and windows so that you are able to get a fair idea regarding the length and placement of wires routed through the home alarm system.

The next step is to decide if you really require a monitored home alarm system, which has the ability to monitor all events and movements 24-hours a day. A monitored home alarm system will comprise of a central monitoring station that can watch your home but you will be required to pay a monthly fee to the home security company. There is a less expensive alternative too, which is in the form of a basic sensor driven home alarm system. This system has a dialer accessory, which can connect your home alarm system directly to the phone lines within your home and automatically dial a preselected set of numbers if and when the security of your home is breached.

Choosing the System
There are different types of home alarm systems in the market for preventing burglary and then there are companies who provide home security. The latter option is expensive. So if you have identified your requirement then the next best thing is to consult a reputable home alarm system adviser. You can even talk to a home security adviser and get ample information on the different advantages and disadvantages of the various home alarm systems available in the market.

The next step is to choose a home alarm system, which has a control panel that will enhance monitoring of the premises or zones. A basic home alarm system for preventing burglary will be able to monitor a maximum of eight zones. The more advanced the home security system is, the more zones it can monitor to a maximum of 32 zones. You need to make sure while choosing the home alarm system that it can perform even in the farthest zone.

Be certain that the system you choose can accept fire-protection sensors, carbon monoxide sensors and combustible-gas detectors, anti-freeze-up low-temperature switches (especially in cold climates) and water detectors. Make sure that panic buttons are or can be included.

Make sure that the home alarm system that you choose is user-friendly and working with codes integrated into the keypad should not be a cumbersome and confusing process.

Lastly, look for an anti-burglary home alarm system that has a built-in alarm noisemaker. Some of the home alarm systems produce a siren that will alert the nearest police station as well as the neighbors and this can help to protect your home.

Senin, 27 September 2010

The Cobra Tandem Kayak - A Review

The Cobra tandem kayak offers unmatched flexibility. It allows you to use it with another person for whatever your adventure is.

Tandem has built various kayak models but none of them can compete with the Cobra Tandem kayak. This kayak is one of the best currently on the market, certainly one of the most stable! Whatever the reason is that you are buying a kayak, the Cobra Tandem will be perfect for you. It is suitable for all your recreational adventures.

The Cobra Tandem is among the lightest kayaks available. It is lighter that any other in the tandem collection, weighing a mere 57 pounds. Weight is an important factor in selecting a kayak. Heavier kayaks are often harder to maneuver than lighter ones. Also, a lightweight kayak is easier to transport and load onto the roof of your vehicle. Easier travel makes it more likely that you will want to go places with your kayak.

The Cobra is made with a front and a rear seat, with room in the middle for another seat. You might find it useful to invest proper seating rather than the seating supplied as it is a bit basic. It is designed to let you socialize while you paddle. This aspect makes your kayak experience so much more enjoyable and comfortable.

With plenty of underdeck storage room for cargo and accessories, your kayak can give you an enjoyable day trip! The Cobra tandem is among the few kayaks that can go on flat water, on the ocean and can be used for surf kayaking. You can have a large amount of fun time in the Cobra tandem. It is perfect for anybody!

If you have been looking for the best kayak, look no more. The Cobra tandem is absolutely perfect regardless of what your plans for it are. The Cobra is not expensive. Even though it seats three people, it is lightweight! You won't find a better kayak. With a name like tandem on to it, it must be good! You will risk nothing with this kayak; you will fall in love with it at first sight!

Minggu, 26 September 2010

The Basics of Binoculars

Also called field glasses, binoculars are like a couple of telescopes put together and pointed at a similar area. Unlike a monocular, it is easier to perceive depth thanks to the two lenses of binoculars.

Binoculars are not exactly a new invention since man has been using it for the past couple of centuries. When the telescope was invented, people began to look through telescopes mounted side by side.

In the 18th century a prism kind of binoculars came out, enabling greater perception as the eyepieces were spaced wider.

Porro prisms are the most inexpensive types, allowing bright images. These are also precise instruments, since the binoculars are wider, although they also need to be re-aligned.

The roof prism binocular, on the other hand, is an expensive type. It is smaller and narrower, although it losses some of the brightness. However there is no need to realign the binoculars. Optical coating is used for this type of binoculars.

This is a great feature among binoculars, as optical coating helps in creating a brighter image through the reduction in the amount of light reflected. Images are often seen hazy when there is reflected light inside binoculars.

There are also other types of binoculars like general binoculars, which are focused through movement of a round wheel, which in turn focuses both telescopes. More advanced types make use of independent focus; meaning one has to adjust both sides separately.

There are binoculars, which make use of image stabilization technology preventing sudden movement. The binoculars can be turned off or on by the user. High-powered binoculars are also handheld, although the image quality leaves a lot to be desired. The prices are also steep.

In most tourist destinations, binoculars appear in coin-operated machines allowing tourists a more detailed sight of the tourist attractions. Most of these coin-operated binoculars are placed on a pedestal, and they are normally high powered.

Binoculars are also used by military personnel. Military binoculars are hand held, with a magnification of at least 5 to 7 times of the image. The typical military binocular is far tougher and rugged compared to other binoculars. They also boast of other features like the capability to work even when wet and capability of blocking out laser beams

Those who are interested in viewing stars and planets would need an astronomical binocular. Pluto, Uranus, and Eris can be viewed using astronomical binoculars.

Sabtu, 25 September 2010

The Basic Starting Point In Selecting A New Comforter Set

There are literally thousands of options available in comforter set designs. However, there are several critical issues that one must consider in order to make the best choice possible when picking out a comforter set. Many comforter sets, quite frankly, can be a bit of an investment for your home. That is why it so important to do your homework and make your selections based upon multiple factors, not just one or two.

It is after numerous hours of dedicated research and careful consideration, that the average consumer will understand their options well enough to make a solid product purchase decision. Hopefully, as you conclude reading this article, you will have a much better idea as to which direction you would like to go in selecting a new comforter set for your bedroom.

A comforter set can mean many things to different people. There are some sets, which come only with the comforter, while others will include the complete "bed in a bag." If you know up front what accessories you wish to get with your comforter set and the budget you have to spend on your bedding, it will help you reach the end of the process in a more satisfactory purchase decision.

Bed comforter sets can run the gamut of styles and pricing, ranging anywhere from a hundred dollars to thousands. This is why it is so important to understand how much you are willing to spend before you engage the shopping process. Once you understand your spending limits, then you are better prepared to determine whether you might just want a comforter, a bed in a bag package, or the full meal deal with pillow shams, canopy covers, dust ruffles, additional sheet sets, etc. If your budget is not a major concern, you may even opt to have a comforter set custom made just for you.

Once you have determined how much you are willing to spend on a comforter set, now it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty of picking one out.

One of the primary questions to answer, after you have set your budget, is how many bedding accessories do you want to purchase with your comforter? Many bedding manufacturers will offer items such as a matching dust ruffle, coordinating pillow sham, sheet sets, even window treatments. Depending upon the name brand of the product, many bed comforter sets can also be found with additional elements that the average consumer may not have even considered, such as wallpaper, borders, and coordinating bathroom decorations. Many of the comforter sets available today provide so many more options, which are designed as companion products to be sold with the comforter set.

Once a shopper understands how many and what accessories they want to get with their comforter set, they need to determine what types of materials they want to pursue in their bedding products. Polyester, cotton, and silk are the primary fabrics used to enclose the comforter package. On the inside of the comforter, polyester fibers, cotton, wool and down are often used as a stuffing material. Each kind of material, at each level of the comforter's design, has its positives and negatives to consider.

It is important to understand in advance what fabrics you would like your comforter and bedding to be made from, because, depending on the individual, there are some fabrics that the consumer will want to avoid at all costs. For example if you want to stay within a reasonable price frame, then choose fabrics such as cotton or polyester synthetic blends. There are multiple comforter sets available in these fabrics, which tend to be reasonably priced with various design options. If money is no issue you may want to go the route of a silk comforter set. Lightweight yet warm, this may be a great choice for you if you have no fears of breaking the bank.

Wool filled comforters can be a wise choice in a comforter set if you are allergy-prone and desire a natural product. These, however, can get very warm so you should know your internal thermometer well, before choosing this kind of comforter. Additionally, a down-filled comforter can make for a great comforter set that offers plenty of warmth on those cold, winter nights, but down-filled products can create havoc for those who are prone to allergies. Many people like the down-filled option, since it typically offers product choices that range from lightweight to heavy, and the new baffle box stitching keeps the down product from shifting like it did in the comforters of old.

You should also consider your individual style when it comes to making a comforter set selection. After all, the design and styling of a comforter set speak to the personality and taste of its owners. There are numerous choices that one now has when choosing styles, colors, and patterns. Determine which color palette works best with your individual tastes and start there. Decide if you would like to see this palette in solids or if patterns are a better fit with your taste. Also know which patterns and styles work with your fabric choices and this will further help in the decision making process.

Choosing the right comforter set for you can be a challenge, but it can be made just a bit easier when you follow the above guidelines. If you do that, you will be able to turn your humdrum bedroom into one of luxury and bliss with your new comforter set, suitably tailored to meet your own unique individuality.

Jumat, 24 September 2010

The Automatic Champion

“Babe” Didrickson Zaharias was a phenomenal athlete. This Texan ran, jumped, rode horses, and played basketball and baseball—with tremendous flair.

In the Olympic tryouts in 1932, she won five first places in track and field events. In the games of that year in Los Angeles, she won a gold medal in the women’s 80 meter hurdles, a gold medal in the javelin throw, and a silver medal in the high jump.

After the Olympics, Zaharias turned to golf. Although she started from scratch, she won the National Women’s Amateur and the British Women’s Amateur.

The press hailed her as a “natural athlete.” They often referred to as an “automatic champion.”

But the real story behind Zaharias fairy-tale success was her painstaking diligence. Her success came from studied repetition. In every sport she undertook, she was methodical, deliberate, and persistent. She was neither “natural” nor “automatic.”

When, for example, she played golf for the first time, she did not automatically master the game. Instead she studied the game carefully, covering all its complex skill sets, under the tutelage of the finest golf teacher she could find. She looked at all the elements of the golf swing, broke it down into parts, then put it all together in a fluid movement.

Besides using an analytical approach to understand the game, Zaharias also locked the information into her motor nervous system through exhaustive practice. She would spend as many as 12 hours a day on the golf course, hitting as many as a thousand balls. Her hands would often becomes so sore that she could hardly grip her club. She stopped only long enough to tape up her hands before picking up the club again.

Zaharias learned to play golf the right way. She started out by hiring an exceptional teacher. She analyzed each part of the golf swing then put them all together in a fluid motion. She practiced for about 12 hours a day. She exercised self-discipline and self-sacrifice. And she didn’t doubt herself. Her previous successes had created an enduring self-confidence. She believed that if she applied herself she would be a golf champion. She proved this belief true.

Zaharias took a risk. She risked her reputation as an athlete by trying something new. She also risked the time and money it cost her to perfect her new sport.

Above all, she was methodical in the way she went about inventing herself as a champion golfer. She chose a gifted teacher, studied all aspects of the game, and put her new knowledge into practice, converting theory into motor learning, coordination, and stamina.

Kamis, 23 September 2010

The "Magic" of Weight Loss

"The 'Magic' of Weight Loss."

There are almost as many weight loss products at this point as there are stars in the heavens. But is that fast weight loss that they promise really guaranteed? Can these products live up to the promise of a healthy, fit body?

In the US today, an estimated 50 million people try to lose weight annually, but unfortunately only about 5% are successful. The promise of a "magical way" to lose weight is too enticing for some and the result is plenty of money spent on products with little result. Some of the more bizzare methods have included magnetic diet pills, guar gum, electrical muscle stimulators and eyeglasses that suppress appetite by projecting images on the retina!

Here are some of the examples of weight loss products on the market today:

- Herbalife Program. Dieters rely on shakes with two meals per day and herbal supplements. The diet is not sustainable as normal healthly eating patterns are not incorporated into the diet.
- Nestle's Sweet Success. Recommended to take three times per day. The inital quick weight loss is difficult to maintain once the product is stopped.
- Ultra Slim Fast. A diet drink or powder to mix with beverages that is a meal substitute. Once again, good eating habits are not taught nor maintained. Weight loss is usually regained after stopping the drinks.
- Diet pills containing Ephedra and/or PPA (phenylproanolamine hydrochloride). These products have been proven to raise blood pressure and heart rate with even one dose. Many body builders have made the mistake of taking these products just before working out and the results have ranged from heart palpitations to hypertensive crisis (dangerous blood pressure levels).
- Chitosan products. These contain fibers from shellfish and can cause diarrhea and gas. Once again if a healthy diet is not in place, with exercise, these pills have little effect.
- Chromium supplements. Claims have ranged from lowering blood sugar levels and body fat but in reality the doses that could cause this are too high to be tolerated. Those doses have the potential for anemia and most studies have shown minimal or no beneficial effects.
- Green Tea Extract. This is a well known anti-oxidant which in sufficient quantities could benefit the immune system, but there is no evidence that it could cause significant weight loss.
- St. John's Wort. A mild anti-depressant that has known interactions with many medications and several foods such as preserved cheeses and tyramine. Therefore, it is difficult to work into a healthy diet regimen.
- Xenical. Proven in clinical trials and FDA approved for weight loss. This product binds to fat in the gastrointestinal system but may result in bloating and gas. It tends to work best when worked into a sensible diet and exercise program.

Well, that covers some of the more popular products. The final verdict is that no matter how much "magic" you are looking for, there just isn't any. It took awhile to gain the weight after all, and it will take some time to lose it. You will still have to heat fewer calories than you burn on a daily basis. If you do decide to choose a particular weight loss product or program, be sure to research it thoroughly first.

Rabu, 22 September 2010

Texas Holdem: 4 Betting Structures Explained

Even though the United States have made it illegal to gamble online, poker keeps on gaining popularity through the different tournaments that are shown on television such as the World Series of Poker by ESPN. This created a problematic situation: while players claim that poker is not a game of chance, the US government decided that it is.

For a few weeks, panic erupted in the poker world as rumors spread like bushfires that this ban would stop all tournaments. But this proved to be untrue. In fact, because of the online gambling ban, the popularity of tournaments only increased. And in most of these tournaments, the favored game is Texas Holdem.

This article focuses on those planning to take what was once their online casino pastime to a poker tournament close by. You will need to follow some basic betting structures, and we describe these for you. Even if they seem difficult to follow, don't worry. Just practice these at home with friends and you will soon learn the flow of these wagering structures.

Note: Remember that all the games rely on a basic maximum and minimum wager, and all the betting structures should be understood accordingly. Keep in mind that each game has a set limit that is fixed before the game commences. Once begun, the limit remains unchanged until the end. Note also that the tournament organizers or the casinos are those that decide these limits.

1) Structured Wagering Limit:
This means that there are two limits you play to. During the first two rounds, you place wagers according to the lower sum, and then you start betting according to the higher amount set. When you find a game called according to two amounts such as 4/8 dollar limit, then, it means that this game will be played according to the structured wager. Another thing to remember when entering such poker games is that you can only place four wagers each round and not one more.

2) Spread Limit Wager:
Here, you are free to place wagers in a pre-set range and you don't have to place fixed bets. When you find that the limit is within a range then it means that you have found a game that will be played according to the spread limit. Examples are games which can be played between a range of twenty to a hundred dollars. Note that such games do turn out to be expensive because some might bet according to the high limit. Another variation of the spread limit bet is to have a range of four wagers. What this means is that there is a certain amount you can bet for the round before the flop, for the round on the flop, and on the round after the flop and a certain amount for the river.

3) Basic Pot Limit Bet:
In such Texas Holdem games labeled as being played according to the basic pot limit, what it means is that you can place wagers anywhere between the amount that is the big blind and the total size of the game pot. Here too, take note that games such as these can result in high cash pots.

4) No Limit Betting:
This is the one version that pulls in the high rollers from all over. Here, there is not limit at all one how much you wager or raise. Note that unless you are a high-roller or unless you have a tremendous amount of experience playing Texas Holdem at tournaments, stay clear of such games.

Selasa, 21 September 2010

Sunglasses – Cock A Snook At The Sun

In a recent online poll a large number of people were asked what they couldn’t do without when going outdoors on a sunny day. The answer with the highest percentage was ‘sunglasses’! When King Nero of Rome used rubies and emeralds to look through at the Gladiators fighting for their lives in the Colloseum, little did he realize that the jewels in his hands would become the precursor of the most well known outdoors accessory in centuries to come.

Only now, sunglasses are more than an accessory, they are a bare necessity. What with the pollution and the sunlight falling harsher on the earth, you need something to shield the most fragile part of your body - your eyes - from damaging UV rays and all the dust and grime. An especially useful thing to have, “glares” are inevitably a fashion accessory as well, made popular by movie and pop celebrities sporting super - brands like a RayBan or a Gucci.

Several global companies manufacture and market shades today; one of the top most being Bausch & Lomb. Bausch manufactures a variety of sunglasses to suit different ranges and preferences. Designer shades cost more but are a very coveted fashion accessory and Gucci, Prada and Versace are hot property in this segment. If you don’t feel like spending a bomb on designer ware, there are a whole host of other brands that offer very stylish and affordable sun – shades.

Most shades use lenses made of high-resolution plastic, glass or polycarbonate. Glass shades are the best quality, though if it’s just for a few days at a beach resort, you can try other qualities. The best and the easiest place to buy glares is the Internet where you can window shop, look for the best rates and buy, all without ever having to move from your chair.

Senin, 20 September 2010

Sunglass Displays & Sunglass Racks

Why care?
If you wish to sell sunglasses, then it could be as easy as buying Sunglass Racks and letting people decide, but while you’re at it you, should make the job even easier to the client. How can it be easier than looking and walking? That is actually the key; you should try to cut down on the amount of looking and walking the customer does.

Where should the sunglass displays go?
Depending on how you actually want to tackle the market, there are two different ways to deal with this issue.

If you place your sunglass racks facing the entry point of your store, then you hope that the customer was searching for sunglasses to begin with. Customers are more conscious of what they buy when entering a store than when they are leaving, with that mind, if you decide to go with this approach, you will attract customers that came to your store for sunglasses (among other things.) I would recommend this method if the prices of your sunglasses are higher than normal, as you will not attract as many impulsive buyers as the second approach.

The second key position is to place your sunglass display near the cash register. This method allows the customers to browse through your sunglasses while they wait in line; however, this tactic relies heavily on the fact that the customer is an impulsive buyer (he or she was not even thinking about buying a pair of sunglasses in the first place). With this method, you are less likely to sell an expensive pair of sunglass, but you will likely sell more pairs that the average customer will categorize as inexpensive.

What Kind of Sunglass Displays?
This is another issue that seems simple (and actually is) but which shouldn’t be neglected. Roaming through stores, we have all seen sunglass racks that are shaped like columns, and with an easy push, will rotate graciously for the consumer. This may sound simplistic, but this technique is quite beneficial. By allowing the rack to rotate, you allow the customer to quickly view different selections without actually asking them to move around. Since your customer is going to try on sunglasses, you might as well allow them to be motionless.

If you positioned your sunglasses near the cash register, then you may want to look at a different approach. In this scenario, we cannot stop the customer from moving, since he or she is most likely standing in line. For this application a waist-level small and very long rack will grab the attention of the customer throughout the time that they wait in line.

For Your Eyes
You should also use the subliminal technique used in grocery stores of showing off your best pairs of sunglasses (whether it be the most expensive one or the cheapest is up to you) on a rack that is at the same level as the customer’s eyes. This way, you will be sure that this particular item is the first one seen when the person walks into the store.

Minggu, 19 September 2010

Suggestions for Selecting Saws

1. Pick a blade size

Saw blades are extremely expensive - the fewer of them you buy, the happier your wallet will be. If you plan on getting a miter saw, table saw, a radial arm saw, or some combination of these saws, pick a blade size and stick with it. While there are a variety of sizes available, the most common and popular sizes are 12" and 10". If you stay with the same blade size for all of your different types of saws, you'll be able to share saw blades between your saws. In the long run, this will save you a lot of money.

2. Cordless or corded

Batteries for cordless tools have made remarkable advancements during the course of the last several years. Tools that you would never think would have a cordless option, such as circular and miter saws, now offer cordless models. If you are thinking about getting a cordless saw and you have, or may someday have, other cordless tools, think about sticking with a single battery/manufacturer system -- that way you can use batteries between your tools. Extra batteries are extremely expensive -- it's often cheaper to buy a brand new tool than to buy replacement batteries. If you purchase several tools from the same manufacturer using interchangeable battery systems, you'll have extra batteries available to finish your job, this can significantly increase the amount of work you can complete.

Before deciding to get a cordless saw, remember that even though cordless technology is very advanced today, there will be limits to the amount of work that can be completed in a single session with a cordless saw. If you're a hobbyist or you don't use your saw for extended periods of time, a cordless saw may be a good solution for you. But if you are a contractor the type who will be sawing all day long, you will probably want to bypass cordless technology for saws that draw excessive amounts of power when cutting.

Battery operated saws are also more costly to purchase and to maintain. Your cordless saw may last for 10 or 20 years; but you'll be lucky if the batteries last for two. On top of the steeper cost up-front of a cordless saw, you can plan on shelling out more money in the future too as the batteries will need to be replaced eventually.

3. Do your reading before you buy

Saws are a big investment -- they are expensive and they get a lot of use in the typical workshop. Buying the right saw is important and even more important is to avoid getting a saw that doesn't work for you. Prior to buying a saw, surf the web for reviews, rankings, and opinions for the type of saw you are thinking about purchasing. If you use a saw for a week or so, you will form an opinion about it. But it is almost impossible to get a real feel for a saw just by studying the specifications. When you read the internet for saw reviews and rankings, you'll be getting the opinions of people who have worked with the saw and who have an informed opinion. If people have problems with their expensive new purchases, they are usually more than happy to let other people know if something is not good. Let their bad luck save you from getting stuck with the same bad saw.

Before getting a saw, read the user manual. You can learn a lot about how easy a saw is to use by reading the manual. If it takes a whole bunch steps and an iterative process to make sure that the table and blade are square, you can be sure that this will lead to frustration in your future. If you are thinking about a saw with several cutting configurations, look at the user manual to find out what level of effort is needed to alter the cutting configuration. If the set up is difficult and hard to understand, it may be more trouble than it is worth and you will be inclined to just not use your saw this way. Even though your saw has some neat features, if they are too hard to use, you won't use them. So why fork out the money for them? You can discover a lot of these sorts of issues just buy reading the manual before you purchase it.

Sabtu, 18 September 2010

Stu Unger: Rise and Fall of a Poker Genius

Stu Unger is one of the biggest superstars to have immerged from the professional poker world. Besides being a true poker genius and a three time World Series of Poker champion, Stu Unger had a fascinating life story. It was not surprising that after his death Stu was the subject of a biography and a biopic.

Stu Unger lived the life of a rock star including the quick rise to fame, the drugs, the comeback and the unavoidable death at an early age. Here you can read about the life story of the legendary poker player Stu Unger.

The Beginning

Stuart Errol Ungar was born in 1953 to a Jewish family who lived in Manhattan on the Lower East Side. Stus father was a well known bookmaker and his mother was too ill to fight against her sons fascination with gambling. After the death of his father, 13 years old Stu had found a father figure at his neighbor Victor Romano, one of the infamous Genovese family soldiers.

Stu and Romano had at least one thing in common: they both had an incredibly sharp memory, which was mainly used in poker and gin games. By that time, Stu was already an accomplished gin player who had gained vast experience in winning gin tournaments. Stu dropped out of school to become a full time gin rummy player. The Genovese family had benefited from Stus talent. In return, they provided him protection from other gamblers who found themselves offended by his harsh and arrogant playing style.

The Rise

As a professional gin player, Stu had managed to beat all the professional gin poker players around. According to the rumors, Stu caused Harry Yonkie Stein, one of the best players around to stop playing gin completely after beating him in a gin match. Since he was out of proper competition, Stu decided to focus on playing poker professionally. In 1976, he and his girlfriend relocated to Las Vegas where they got married and had a girl, Stephanie.

In 1980, Stu won the World Series of Poker Main Event after beating experienced poker pros such as Doyle Bronson. Stu was the youngest WSOP champion in history and was nicknamed The Kid. Even though Stu won the 1981 WSOP Main Event, he still considered himself more a gin and rummy player than a poker player. After winning his first WSOP championship title, he was quoted saying that the poker world would meet better no limit players than him, but no one will ever be able to play gin rummy better than he does.

At the same time, Stu had tried to use his skill to grab money at the blackjack table. Nevertheless, the casinos were not happy with Stus presence around the blackjack tables and he was constantly barred. In 1982, he was fined by the New Jersey Gaming Commission for cheating, although Stu has not done anything illegal but using his natural skill and phenomenal memory.

The Fall

In 1990, Stu made another appearance to the WSOP. This time, he was heavily into drugs. He was a chip leader for the first three days of the event and then disappeared. He was found lying at his hotel room, unconscious from a drug overdose. However, it did not stop him from finishing ninth and earning enough money for his future cocaine supply.

The Comeback

After seven years of disappearing from the professional poker circle, Stu had returned to the WSOP. In 1997, he was broke, with damaged nostrils from cocaine abuse, addicted to horseracing and sports gambling, but still in shape to beat all the new contestants and gain back his WSOP Championship title. The local media was happy to embrace The Comeback Kid, but his success did not last long.

The Death

Stu Unger did not attend the 1998 World Series of Poker since he could not get the money to pay the entry fee. Seven months after Scotty Nguyen won the 1998 WSOP, Stu Ungar was found dead at his motel room in Las Vegas with 800 dollars in his pocket. Apparently, he died of a heart condition caused by years of drug abuse.

The Biography

Read: One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey The Kid Ungar, The Worlds Greatest Poker Player written by Nolan Dalla, Peter Alson, Mike Sexton.

Watch: High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story directed by A. W. Vidmer and starring Michael Imperioli, Christopher Moltisanti of The Sopranos, as Stu Unger

Jumat, 17 September 2010

Tea: Origins, Flavors and Health Benefits

How many times do we just want to drink tea after a heavy meal, but are then bombarded with all the various tea flavours that we get lost. This article answers that need.

What you should always remember is that there are only four types of tea.
1) Black tea
2) Green tea
3) White tea
4) Oolong tea

All these are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, also known as the tea plant. Other herbal infusions such as chamomile tea, ginger tea or red tea made of rooibos leaves are disqualified as types of tea since the tea plant is not involved in their making. The difference between the four tea variations lies in the process of making them. In addition, each type of tea has another flavor and various health benefits.

1) Black Tea
The strong flavored burnt Sienna colored hot beverage is the most popular type of tea in the West. Either served with a squeeze of lemon or added milk and a cube of sugar, the cup of black tea is part of daily tea ceremonies that take place worldwide. Black tea is made of heavily oxidized Camellia sinensis leaves. When served plain, it contains no calories, carbohydrates, or fats. A cup of black tea contains more caffeine than any other types of tea but less than in any cup of coffee.

2) Green Tea
The lightly oxidized tea has been popular in China, Japan and Korea for centuries. Recently, rumors on its health benefits increased its popularity in the West as well. It has been proven that drinking green tea can lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, increase metabolic rates and be helpful in variety of other conditions and illnesses. The green tea is lightly oxidized, dried, but not fermented. It is usually served plain, without sugar or milk. Since some of the green tea variants taste a bit bitter, it should be brewed in lower temperature than the boiling point.

3) White Tea
White tea is rarer and more expensive than the other types of teas mentioned above. Originated in the Fujian province of china, the white tea is made of young Camellia sinensis leaves, which go through a long process of steaming or frying, inactivate fermenting and drying. Since the leaves are harvested while the buds are still covered by white hair, it is called white tea. White tea has the most delicate, sweet taste than the other types of tea. Moreover, it contains the smallest amount of caffeine and the largest amount of antioxidant that help prevent cancer.

4) Oolong Tea
The traditional Chinese tea is the common companion of Chinese foods such as dim sum and chop suey in American Chinese restaurants. The oolong tea, black dragon in Chinese, got its name after its long, dark distinguished leaves that look like wild black dragons when brewed. The unique taste of the oolong tea is achieved by a long process that includes sun drying of the Camellia sinensis leaves, light oxidization, cooling and drying processes. The result is a lighter flavor than the popular black tea and stronger than the delicate green tea.

Strong Blades Deliver Strong Results

When repairing and improving your home, anything less than a good utility knife and blade just won't cut it.

A quality utility blade is a must for tackling home repair and maintenance projects. Investing in a good blade and knife can make the difference between a botched job and a professional result.

Bathroom and kitchen repairs offer an opportunity to test the strength of a new utility blade and knife. A good blade can remove excess caulk, strip grout, strip electrical wire, repair holes in the wall and cut drywall.

Insulating or reinsulating a home is another popular repair project that benefits from the use of a strong utility blade. When shopping for a utility knife and blade, look for one that has four notches, which permit greater blade extension from the knife and makes cutting through thick insulation quick and easy.

For example, the shatterproof construction of the Lenox® Gold™ bi-metal utility blade and knife allows for safer cutting as well as longer-lasting blades. Superior cutting ability is a function of the blade's bi-metal construction, which fuses two different types of steel together to get the performance benefits of both. The blades are also the first to feature a Titanium Nitride (TiN)-coated edge, which doubles edge hardness, making it the longest-lasting utility blade ever made.

Utility blades and knives are also very helpful for craft and hobby projects. The many uses include cutting fabric, corrugated cardboard, mats for framing, wires, foam board, paper or upholstery, just to mention a few. A strong blade stays sharper, making it easier to make precise cuts, which is vital to the success of many projects. A sharp blade is also a safer blade. It takes less force to cut through an object with a sharp blade and it gives you greater control of the knife.

Choosing a bi-metal utility blade and knife for a project not only leads to better results, it can also prove to be a safer and more time-efficient option. The versatility of a bi-metal utility blade proves it worthy of a space in your toolbox.

Kamis, 16 September 2010

Tactile warning triangles for screen clean

Highly decorative self-adhesive labels – featuring a tactile warning triangle – have been produced by Sessions of York in the UK for the launch of Decosol’s Tip’n’Measure Screen Clean. The labels are printed in eight colours with a gold lacquer onto a silver metallised label stock.

The Tip’n’Measure bottle has just won a silver star in the Star Pack Awards. Decosol reports that it is also set to meet its first year’s sales target helped by positive trade and consumer reaction to the new label and bottle combination.

Sessions’ expertise includes printing these statutory symbols to allow application to curved or flexible pack surfaces without risk of cracking the symbol.

In the case of Tip’n’Measure Screen Clean, the triangle is transparent which provides a solution where on-pack space is limited. The tactile warning appears over a visual symbol without obscuring it.

Sessions prints the Decosol labels using combination processes; nine colour UV flexo and UV varnish plus UV screen for the tactile warning triangle.

As Tip’n’Measure Screen Clean is a premium, Albatross Marketing was briefed to design a label that would reflect the quality of the product’s contents. The Tip’n’Measure bottles are a proven success in the agrochemical industry but its use with this type of product is a first.

Rabu, 15 September 2010

Steel Yourself With a Stun Gun

There is no shortage of danger out there in today's world. Whether you live in small-town America or the big bad city, crime seems like a permanent fixture in society. It's no wonder, then, that tools of self-defense have become one of fastest-growing items on people's shopping lists. And at the top of the list, for both everyday civilians and even cops, are stun guns.

Stun guns work by zapping an attacker with a high electrical voltage. Usually, the "gun" is more of a wand, something you wield in your hand, which has two metal prongs at the end. The charge emanates from these prongs, so you'll want to touch the bad guy with those. Then zap! watch as the stun gun immobilizes him or her.

No worries, though, on whether or not you severely harmed the attacker. Stun guns are designed to incapacitate somebody, not to kill them, so the charge that they put out has more bark than bite. Stun guns have just the right amount of bark to do the trick.

They work by completely discombobulating a person's nervous system. As you probably learned in high school biology class, the human nervous system includes our brain, spinal cord, and nerves, and it works by passing along electrical signals from the brain to all parts of our body. It's what helps us to speak and see, and our nervous system allows us to move our muscles at will, as well as involuntarily.

The stun gun stops all that. The energy pulse causes a person's muscles to go practically haywire, contracting at a very high movement rate. All of this muscle activity causes the muscles to put out lactic acid. Remember the last workout or jog you had, when your muscles started to burn? That was lactic acid, which makes it hard for your muscles to do anymore work.

The electricity from the stun gun also causes a "blackout" in the whole nervous system, so the messages between the brain, spinal cord, and nerves get interrupted. The total end result from the stun gun is a person who can't move their muscles, who loses their balance and their bearing, and remains 'out of it' and harmless for several minutes afterward.

Of course, like anything else, the stun gun has a different effect depending on the person it is used on. Some people may go down like a sack of potatoes after only a second of touching the stun gun, while another attacker my need five seconds of exposure to the stun gun to be incapacitated. There is a direct relationship between the time a person is exposed to the stun gun, and the effects of the stun gun. In other words, the longer you hold the stun gun to someone, the more debilitated they become. Once a person is down, and you cease and desist with the weapon, the effects will eventually wear off.

Unlike other forms of electricity, the stun gun's power cannot be passed by touching the person being hit, or by standing in a puddle with them. That is good news for you.

When buying a stun gun, you should consider its voltage and size. Of course, if you're carrying the stun gun in a small purse, you'll need a small stun gun. But try to buy the highest voltage stun gun possible.

Selasa, 14 September 2010

Sports Betting Tips: How to Bet on Sports Successfully

Sports betting is one of the most exciting types of gambling. The suspense, the tension, the great satisfaction when it turns out that you have made the correct prediction, not to mention the added bonus of winning cash money… Even if you are not a particular sports fan, betting on sports certainly adds an interest in sports.

There is more than one way to bet on sports. You can choose between flying to Vegas and placing a bet at one of the flashy casino sportsbook while watching sports on big plasma screens, staying at home and wagering at one of the thousands of online sportsbooks available on the net, at your neighborhood bookie, your office pool… Wherever you choose to wager, here are some useful sports betting tips.

Sports betting is a game of skill, which takes years of learning and practicing to master and still, even professional gamblers who make their living from betting on sports, lose. It basically means two things: first, intuition and luck are great benefits in sports betting as in other types of gambling, but if you rely exclusively on them, you are doomed to lose lots of money. Second, restrain your expectations and try to have fun.

In sports betting, as in most types of gambling, the advantage is not on your side. However, the knowledgeable bettor has better odds of enjoying a successful sports betting experience than the spontaneous gambler who places a bet following his gut feeling and wishful thinking. Therefore, do your homework and make sure you understand the basics of sports betting.

Learn everything you can about the odds, the type of sports, the teams or players who take part in the match you are betting on. All the information you are seeking is available online within a mouse click distance, so there is no reason to be lazy about it.

If you are betting online, choose only reputable online sportsbooks that have been around for at least a year, are licensed, regulated and members of a gambling association, so if you will not be paid on time, or at all, at least you would have an address for your complaints.

Limit yourself to a small selection of games to wager on. The more games you pick the lower the chances of stepping out as winner.

While you choose, make sure that you know why you making your specific decision. Again, giving full trust to your intuition and or your emotion as a sports fan is the best strategy to empty your bankroll.
If you cannot help but wagering on your favorite team regardless to the odds and to the basic common sense, at least make it minimal: place small amount of money so you would still be able to have fun watching the game.

If, God forbid, you lose, do not be tempted to bet more or you will end up in an endless circle of chasing your bets. Trust me; you do not want to go there.

If you win big time, do not invest your entire winning on betting at once. It will be wiser and more responsible to be satisfied with betting only a certain portion of your winning.

Remember, proportion is a key word. Taking everything in proportion, including when winning, losing your money and or watching your favorite team lose, is the best strategy to minimize the financial and emotional damage.
and do not forget to have fun!

Senin, 13 September 2010

Spike Lee: Top Films and Unforgettable Controversies

Spike Lee is one of the most influential and provocative American moviemakers. Recently, he celebrated the 20 year anniversary for the release of his remarkable debut film Shes Gotta Have It. His films are groundbreaking in their controversial approach towards social and political issues and offer different perspective on race, class and gender issues in contemporary America.

Spike Lee was born as Shelton Jackson Lee in 1957 in Atlanta, Georgia to a jazz musician and an art teacher. When Lee was a young child, the family relocated to Brooklyn, which was used as a background for many of Spike Lee's movies. Lee's talent was recognized while he was still a film student in NYU. His thesis film Joes Bed Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads won 1983 Student Academy Award for best director.

Spike Lee's debut movie Shes Gotta Have It was released in 1986. The movie was shot in 12 days in a budget of 175,000 dollars. The film was written, produced and directed by Spike Lee. Shes Gotta Have It tells the story of Nora Darling, a young, independent African American graphic designer who cannot commit to any of her three lovers. Tracy Camilla Jones played the role of Nora Darling. Tommy Redmond Hicks and John Canada Terrell along with Lee himself played the three men in Noras life.

Shes Gotta Have It was a landmark film in its presentation of African American characters in an American movie and part of the explosion of 80s independent movie industry. The African American community embraced the movie, which displayed a non stereotypical group of young, intelligent black American people. The film won the Prix de Jeuness at the Cannes film festival for the best new film by a newcomer.

The 1992 biographic epic Malcolm X is considered by many as Lee's best film. The 195 minutes movie depicts the story of the African American activist Malcolm X, from his early childhood to his assassination. Lee uses the Malcolm X story to confront the audience with the racial discrimination and violence that black people went through during the 1950s and 1960s in America.

Spike Lee's name was associated with many controversies. He was often accused of anti Semitism and racism for portraying Jews and Italians in his films a stereotypical manner. His 2001 television miniseries about one of the Black Panthers founders, Huey P. Newton, stirred another controversy, which helped establish Lee's image as a provocative and radical figures in the American film industry.

Lee's latest project is the documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, which tells the story of New Orleans post and pre hurricane Katrina. The four hours documentary is about the New Orleans culture, the damage caused by hurricane Katrina and the recovery efforts. Lee does not spare his critic on the government inadequate reaction to the destruction.

5 Top Movies Directed by Spike Lee

Do The Right Thing: this 1989 comic drama shows what happens in Brookline when the interracial tension heats up during the hottest day of the year. Starring: Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, John Turturro

Mo Better Blues: Denzel Washington as a jazz trumpeter who makes all the wrong decisions regarding his musical career and relationships.
Jungle Fever tells a pessimistic interracial love story between an African American man and an Italian American woman.

Girl 6 looks at the life of a young black actress who prefers working as a phone girl than being abused by movie directors

25th Hour is dedicated to the last 24 hours in the life of a New York drug dealer before his jail term begins.

Minggu, 12 September 2010

Sony Playstation Portable Versus Nintendo DS

Both the PSP and DS have been vying for the top spot in the handheld console genre ever since, with recent releases of slim and lite models for each brand.

The PSP is a sensational handheld gaming console owing to its wide screen and graphics engine. The graphics on its gorgeous 4.3 inch LCD screen displays about 16.77 million colors with a screen resolution of 480 by 272 pixels. The graphical clarity of its games comes close to the Playstation 2 caliber. The PSP is capable of displaying stunning graphics and animations as well as DVD quality movies. No handheld gaming console ever comes close to the visual quality of the PSP.

The DS is by all means unique in terms of its graphical interface and gaming style. Amusingly, the DS has two 3 inch LCD screens capable of displaying 260,000 colors with a resolution of 256 by 192 pixels. The DS is inferior in terms of graphical quality, so you might say. But get this, with dual screens and with the touch-sensitive bottom screen, the DS revolutionized the world of gaming as we know it.

If you have previously tried Sony gaming consoles, you will be very familiar with the control scheme of the PSP. The PSP lives up to the Playstation name by inheriting its renowned button layout. Much like the original Playstation and Playstation 2 controller, the PSP offers comfortable and effective gaming controls as the company was known for. Probably a major setback was the exclusion of the two shoulder buttons and the right analog stick, which played a vital role in many games especially in First-Person Shooters. But hey, it’s a portable console and it’s supposed to be handy and not bulky. So it is acceptable for the PSP to have some limitations in controls compared to the much flexible Playstation controller. Nonetheless, the PSP’s control scheme brings the gaming feel to whoever wants to have some hardcore gaming fun.

The touch screen feature is arguably the most amazing feature of the DS. In terms of control flexibility and style, the DS can’t be beat. With the included stylus, you can play a number of games by touching the bottom screen. What’s even more impressive is the handwriting recognition of some DS games. There are puzzle and math games which require you to write onto the screen the correct answers to win. Many other platform and interactive games require you to perform certain strokes using the stylus to perform feats such as jumping, swinging the sword, and others. Another surprising feature of the DS is voice command using the unit’s integrated microphone. Some DS games require you to speak words or phrases. With its uniqueness, the DS brings fun in gaming in the quirkiest and most amusing way.
With regards to the game library, the PSP is flooded with games compared to the DS. This is because the PSP is capable of receiving ports or mellowed down versions of games from the major consoles due to its powerful graphics engine. With this, one might notice that most of the PSP’s games are portable versions of console games. The DS on the other hand, has its own unique and exclusive game library composing of famous Nintendo franchise games and the like. Although lacking in epic games such as those in the PSP, the DS makes up by having its own share of short but fun games. Therefore, the common connotation for many is that the PSP is for hardcore gamers while the DS entertains both casual gamers and fans of the Nintendo franchises.

Handheld gaming consoles are meant to give the fun gaming experience expected of these devices. However, since the development of special firmware for the PSP, the ability to play games is just one of its many functions. The PSP is capable of viewing pictures and playing music and video files. The PSP also has an internet browser for surfing the net using wireless LAN. There are even custom firmware or homebrew applications to enable the PSP to play games from previous generations of consoles. Having special firmware is the huge advantage of the PSP over the DS. The DS is sadly not capable of any of these, except being able to play Game Boy Advance games and running Pictochat, an embedded messaging application that wirelessly connects all DS units within range.

Both the PSP and DS can play multiplayer games through their wireless connection capabilities. PSPs can connect with other PSPs via Ad Hoc, which is a small range wireless frequency for exclusive PSP use. The DS can also do the same, having its own exclusive frequency only detected by DS units.

Being portable gaming consoles, the battery life is one of the user’s major concerns. With a CPU clock running at a tremendous 333 MHz equaling a Pentium III’s power, the PSP can only last up to 4 to 6 hours when in use. The DS takes one big leap as it can surprisingly last for up to 10 hours even while supporting its brightly lighted dual screens.

In the end, it is really up to you to determine which portable gaming console suits your preferences. The visual prowess, multimedia perks, and wide array of games may draw you to the PSP, but you have to consider the unique gaming style and exclusive games of the DS. The PSP is sold generally at a higher price, which makes the DS more affordable among the two. Whatever your choice, you are certain to experience the gaming pleasure anytime and anywhere with the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS.

Sabtu, 11 September 2010

Solitaire Klondike: Learn How to Play

Since computers entered each and every household, classroom and office, solitaire became the most popular game. It is simple to learn, easy to play, and addictive because of its simplicity. But that was ages ago, and people have begun to grow tired of that same old game. As a result, they turned to new variations and Klondike is the most popular of them.

Ironically, its not a new game. The term Klondike as a game surfaces somewhere in the latter part of the nineteen hundred, and historians suggest that it evolved from miners in the Alaskan and Californian mountains to pass the time.

How Can You Play Klondike?
This is not a difficult game to learn, but what's good is that though you will get the hang of it quickly, its difficult to beat in an addictive way. Its not frustrating, but fun and invigorating. One of the things you must learn is how to lay the cards out.

1) Start by placing one card on the table in front of you. Place it facing up.
2) Place another six cards to its left, but keep these facing down.
3) Place a card facing up to the card left of the first card you placed down.
4) Add another card facing down to all the remaining cards a bit below them so as to form a column. Likewise, continue by placing one open card and then by adding a closed card to the rest.

If you follow the instructions properly, you should have it so that last column will have seven cards. Check also that you have twenty-four cards in your hand because these are the cards you will play with.

Now What?
What you have to try and do is place all the cards on the four different aces. These will appear whenever they do, and you have to try and create the four suited sequence from the ace to the king. The moment you see and ace, place it on the side and start adding the next card. (eg: After an ace, place a two and then a three.) Note that each suit must be according to colour and type. By this I mean that the ace of diamond gets only diamonds, the ace of spades gets only spade cards and so on. Likewise, you can create card sequences down on the base cards as well by placing the card lower than it of the opposite colour. For instance, under a six of clubs, you can place either a five of diamonds or a five of hearts, but the five of clubs or the five of spades is out of the question.

Opening the Cards Facing Down
When you can use the cards facing up, then you can open the card that appears under it. And like in regular Solitaire, when you manage to open a base card and have only six or less bases, you can open a new base by placing a King there.

Moving Sequences
You can also move card sequences from one base to another and this doesn't depend on the length of the sequence. All that matters is that the rules of sequence are kept.

To use the cards in your hand, take the top three cards and turn them over. But remember that you can use only the top card. Only if and when you use that card, you can use the next one under it. Continue revealing batches of three. Once done, pick up all the cards and start again.

Jumat, 10 September 2010

Solar Panels - The magic behind this environmentally friendly power source and why its sensible to buy them now.

Solar panels can be made to harness the reservoir of energy of the sun to some other type of energy. Generally the power that results will be available in the form of heat (to heat a building for example) or electricity which can be used to power anything from a radio to a complete business.

In this article we are going to talk about the bigger residential and industrial panels which are designed to provide power for the home or business, where these panels are regularly placed on the top of the home or in close proximity to the home if space permits. We are also going to focus on the type of panels that generate electricity known collectively as Photovoltaic panels.

Solar panels are a terrific way to cut energy costs and to reduce your carbon emissions, and to become more self-sufficient. They are now becoming extremely popular in urban areas where alternative energy advocates and law makers are creating incentives for this friendly and quiet alternative energy source. The state of Colorado, for example, has been offering massive rebates on the up-front cost in acquiring and implementing a residential solar system.

After the panels are installed, energy from the system will be used to energize the house, or, when energy is being made in excess of demand, diverted for use on the grid, where it is purchased back by the electrical power company. There may be times when you are actually making income from your panels. With rebates factored into the initial cost it will generally take from seventeen to twenty-four years to get back the initial expense, at which time you will essentially be generating power from the sun at no cost.

One little-known fact, however, is that solar panels are initially contributory to greenhouse emissions because it takes power to manufacture a solar panel, that this energy is very often fossil-based, and front-end loaded, and that therefore there is a time period during which the solar panel has actually added to carbon emissions rather than detracted from them. Until such time as the solar panel has produced energy equivalent to the energy used to manufacture it (its fossil-emission payback period) it is actually a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This fossil-emission payback period is generally considered to be five to ten years.

Low power solar panels are normally available in 12 v or 14 v configurations, while high power panels are available in 24 volt. As solar panels are DC, you may normally need a power inverter that changes it from low-voltage as Direct Current to another-voltage Alternating Current to change it to be compatible with the voltage and type that feeds both the home and the grid.

Conventional solar panels are constructed using twin sheets of semiconducting silicon, combined with phosphorus and boron atoms. Amorphous silicon solar cells are a highly powerful, emerging array of photovoltaics that differ in output, structure, and manufacture than traditional photovoltaics that use crystalline silicon. The H-AS solar panels are produced in the same way, but they are made just 1 micrometer in depth by laying down polymorphous silicon at very high pressures and temperatures.

Solar panels are normally maintenance free and many manufacturers will supply a guarantee of electrical output often for as long as 20 years.

Solar panels are installed on whichever side of your house that gets the maximum solar exposure. In locales south of the equator this would be the north-facing aspect, and in locales north of the equator its the south-facing aspect.

Kamis, 09 September 2010

Soiree Comment Organiser votre Soiree a Domicile

Plusieurs choix s'offrent à vous. Vous pouvez soit faire appelle à une société événementielle qui se chargera alors de vous

fournir les tables professionnelles de chaque jeux ainsi que leur croupiers ( ou croupières) formés spécialement pour vous.
Oui mais voilà, reste la question du prix : environ 200 euros/ euros par table selon les organisateurs pour seulement 4

heures de plaisir.
Quand vous savez qu’il faut au minimum 1 table pour le poker, 1 pour le Black jack, 1 pour la roulette et autre, les 4 heures

de plaisir peuvent devenir un véritable gouffre financier.

L’autre option consiste à se procurer ces éléments. L’avantage, c’est que l’évènement peut être renouvelé à tout moment et le

plaisir du jeu durer autant que vous le souhaitez durant la soirée.

Ou se procurer les tables de jeux et cartes adéquates ?

Vous pouvez vous procurez le site e.bay.fr, actuellement en vente pour 100 euros le set complet de salon. Actuellement 36

sets sont disponibles. Il comprend tous les jeux de cartes et de roulette, les jetons etc…
Une excellente affaire.

Sur Shopping.kelkoo.fr, un set de 3 jeux de tables tous feutrés, 1 tableau tournant de roulette. Il comprend les jeux

Roulette, de Blackjack et de dés avec les règles du jeu. Ces jeux se jouent à l’aide de jetons de couleur. Son prix : 79

euros

Sur Maximiles.com, une mallette comprenant tous les jeux tous les jeux de casino ainsi que tous les jeux de dés et de cartes

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Rabu, 08 September 2010

Sleeping Bag Ratings - A New Idea

It seems that sleeping bag ratings have no consistency. Temperature ratings are still determined entirely by the manufacturers of the bags. My 3-pound Sierra Designs bag, for example, was rated to 20 degrees. Honestly, it never kept me as warm as my 17-ounce Western Mountaineering sleeping bag, which is only rated down to 40 degrees. Isn't this a problem when you buy a bag? Maybe a 45-degree bag will keep you warmer than a 30-degree bag.

Consistent Sleeping Bag Ratings

No matter what temperature a bag is rated for, under any system of testing, it won't necessarily keep you warm to that temperature. We can't solve the problem of people having different metabolisms and bodies. A particular bag might be good for one person down to 20 degrees, while for another it is only good to 40 degrees. You generally can figure out if you are a cold or a warm sleeper, but that doesn't help if you don't know whether a bag is rated too high or too low.

You need to know that if a bag says 30 degrees it will keep you warmer than one that says 40 degrees. With that, even if you add or subtract 10 or 20 degrees for your personal tastes, you can still figure out which bag is the warmer one. How do we get this consistency?

Begin testing with any sleeping bag, by putting a bag of water in it that is human-sized, weighing perhaps 160 pounds. Have three standard sizes for small, regular and large sleeping bags. Always start with the water temperature at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and measure how long before it drops to 90 degrees. External air temperature has to always be the same too, whther it is 60 degrees or 40.

The numbers are not crucial. What's important here is that once the standards are chosen, every bag is tested the same way, with the same conditions (even the temperature and material of the testing platform would have to be the same). This is what will give consistency to the sleeping bag ratings for warmth.

Now, if a bag rated to 40 degrees keeps the water above 90 for two hours, a bag rated for 30 would obviously have to keep it above 90 degrees for a longer time. Pegging heat-retention times to specific temperature ratings would be a bit tricky at first. However, once done, each new bag on the market could be submitted to the testing and quickly given a consistent rating. We would know that a lower rating would always mean a warmer bag, degree-by-degree. We could even have old bags tested to see if it is time to replace them.

Manufacturer Acceptance?

Would manufacturers pay a private testing company to have their bags rated? Some, at first, because it would be a an advantage for those companies who are already conservative in their temperature ratings. They would have "proof" that the bags are even warmer than they were claiming. Then, eventually, all bag makers would feel some motivation to have their sleeping bags tested, because consumers would be wary about buying ones that weren't tested.

I hope someone will take this idea and run with it. An existing consumer rating company, like Consumer Reports, could do this on their own and report the results. Even if they listed the bags without temperature ratings, but in absolute order by which held the heat in the best, it would be very useful. One could look at the list and if their current bag kept them warm to 25 degrees, ythey would know that any bag higher on the list would be warmer. Isn't it time for consistent sleeping bag ratings?

Selasa, 07 September 2010

Shopping For Cheap Airsoft Guns

For the interested person who is looking to join the exciting and exhilarating fun of the sport of Airsoft, finding an affordable Airsoft gun is not as complicated as it may seem. Although some of the higher-end guns can be expensive, the average newcomer does not have to spend a small fortune to purchase and enjoy a quality Airsoft gun. Before the interested buyer begins to search for his optimal weapon, an understanding of the different types of guns that are available, and how these guns work can be very helpful.

Generally speaking, Airsoft guns fall into three different categories, which are defined by how the guns are designed and operate. The more complicated the inner mechanisms that fire the guns, usually the more expensive they become. The first category we will examine is the Automatic Electric Airsoft Gun or what is commonly referred to as the AEG. These electric guns are arguably the most popular guns among veteran Airsoft players. They have given the sport its greatest appeal and are singularly responsible for its explosive growth around the world. The AEG has an electric motor that is powered by an onboard battery. The motor turns the gears inside the gun, which in turn causes a piston to compress and release. The piston creates a blast of air that propels a 6mm plastic BB through the barrel of the gun. This fully automated system gives these guns the exciting rapid-fire feature that makes them so popular. These guns also tend to be the most expensive of the Airsoft gun family, usually costing around several hundred dollars.

The next group of guns to look at is the Gas Powered Airsoft guns. These guns operate by compressed air that fires the BB. The gas is either stored in an onboard cylinder or a gas filled magazine that connects to the gun. Some of the more popular styles are the gas blowback guns or commonly called the GBBs. The compressed air that fires the BB also returns the firing slide to the fire position at the same time. This return action creates a realistic “recoil” sensation from which the name blowback is derived. Reputed to be great fun to play with, the high-end GBB model guns can also cost around several hundred dollars. The non-blowback gas guns are less costly and start at around 40 dollars.

The last category of guns to look at is the Spring guns, which are also referred to as the “Springers”. Commonly tagged the cheap Airsoft gun, these spring guns were the original Airsoft models. In order for the gun to fire, a spring mechanism must be manually cocked back each and every time. Due to their simplistic design, the Springers are the most inexpensive and cost effective Airsoft guns. These guns are recommended as perhaps the best for entry-level players. Most players at some point have owned one of these models, which can be purchased for as little as 20 dollars.

In an effort to find a cheap Airsoft gun the shopper must keep in mind the value for the money. Even though one can purchase a gun for around 20 dollars, this does not mean that the gun is cheap in quality. A well made 20 dollar Springer can be a great value for the money, just as a two hundred dollar AEG can be a great value as well. Usually no matter the price, buying a gun from a well-established Airsoft manufacturer is important and worth the investment.

Senin, 06 September 2010

Shakira La Diva Latina

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll nació en 1977 en Colombia y desde los años 1990 en Latinoamérica, y desde los 2000 en los Estados Unidos se ha convertido en una gran figura de la música latina con estilo oriental que la destaca entre los demás artistas.

Ella es una exitosa cantante, escritora, instrumentalista, productora de discos y bailarina la cual ha logrado atraer los oídos y corazones de la millones de jóvenes y no tan jóvenes que disfrutan de su música original, creativa y rebelde.

Sus líricos son originales ya que escribe poesías inusuales en las cuales incluye frases como:"Tu mordiste la manzana y renunciaste al paraíso, y condenaste a una serpiente, siendo tu el que así lo quiso."

Logra producir rimas de una forma única que solo ella conoce y a su vez en sus versiones en ingles que comenzó en el 2001, logro adaptar su propio estilo sin problema de idioma.

Su primer disco en ingles se llama "Laundry Service" (Servicio de Lavanderia) convirtiéndose en un hit impresionante con el cual gano la mayoría de sus 10 Grammys ganados hasta ahora. Las canciones mas conocidas de aquel disco don "Underneath Your Clothes" (debajo de tu ropa) y "Whenever, Wherever" (Suerte) fueron los mas populares. Su música incluye tiene un estilo de Pop con Oriental, Tango, Latino y otros nuevos ritmos originales.

Fijación Oral Vol 1 and 2, fue su siguiente álbum que saco con Alejandro Sanz la canción "Tortura", con Wyclef Jean "Hips don't Lie" y luego con Vellones "Beautiful Lie" otro gran éxito.

Shakira tiene un origen descendiente catalán-Italiano mezclado con católico Libanés, la cual la caracteriza por tener un estilo oriental, latino que ha logrado obtener a lo largo de su popularidad que la diferencia de cualquier otro artista.

Shakira escribió su primer poema llamado "La Rosa de Cristal" a los cuatro años y siguió escribiendo poemas que luego se convirtieron en canciones. A la edad de 8 cuando su hermano fue matado en un accidente de motocicleta Shakira escribió su primera canción llamada "Tus Gafas Oscuras".

Su personalidad por su puesto es expresada en sus líricos y poemas, así es como también políticamente mantiene opiniones bastante polémicas como comentarios "anti-israelíes" salidos en alguna entrevista en la radio resaltando su origen libanés frente al conflicto en medio oriente.

Tu actual novio, futuro marido es Antonio de La Rua, hijo del previo Presidente de la Republica Argentina, quien no es exactamente querido por la población Argentina. A pesar de sus decisiones personales, su éxito como cantante y bailarina sigue siendo un hit y aplaudido por Sudamérica, Estados Unidos, España y demás países.

Su estilo puede ser comparado al de Alanis Morisette, pero con una sensualidad y habilidad de bailar Belly Dance, que la destaca de las demás cantantes. Lo que la ha ayudado a despegar en el mundo Internacional fue cuando saco su disco MTV Unplugged, "Donde Están los Ladrones" en 1999 el cual llego a las casas de millones de jóvenes en Estados Unidos e Europa.

Minggu, 05 September 2010

Sewing Machines: A High-Tech Gift for Mother's Day

What contains computer chips, an LCD touch-screen control panel, USB ports and the capability of connecting to the Internet?

The answer: today's high-tech sewing machine. The same advances in digital engineering found inside the latest personal computers and electronic entertainment gadgets also drive the modern sewing machine.

Not surprisingly, sewing machines are catching on as Mother's Day gifts. The bells and whistles actually make sewing easier than ever and let Mom customize what she creates with her new machine. She can personalize a pair of jeans with her daughter's name, turn ordinary T-shirts into glam garments, and whip up fabulous decorator pillows, thanks to modern advances in sewing-machine technology.

Simply put, today's sewing machine is a high-tech wonder-and best of all, you need no special knowledge of technology to put it to work. "If you haven't seen sewing machines since high school Home Economics you'll be amazed at how far they've come," said June Mellinger, Director of Education for Brother International Corporation's Home Appliance Division.

Today's sewers and embroiderers take to their computers to hook up to the Internet and download the latest embroidery patterns, or create their own heirloom stitches using templates from inside their machines; create portraits of friends with optional software, family members and pets using thread as paint; and customize gifts with names, faces, messages and unique designs.

Many are inspired to go online and communicate via chat-rooms, blogs and podcasts across the globe, sharing stitches, patterns, and how-to information.

The new technology also does away with the tedium once associated with stitching. Many of today's machines feature automatic threading, cut threads and craft perfect buttonholes. Some machines even let you design your own unique stitch.

And it's all done at "warp" speed. "Sewing today is so fast, people are amazed," Ms. Mellinger continued. "Some machines sew up to 1,000 stitches a minute. What used to take hours to do now takes minutes."

All that's fine, but according to Ms. Mellinger, the real "wow" factor is how the machine lets you customize your work. People enjoy giving gifts that are as unique as the gift giver, without needing an engineering degree.

"You can really personalize what you do on your machine, and that's what Brother users find the most thrilling," she said. "With the help of optional software, to be able to take a snapshot and let the machine turn that into an embroidery pattern is pretty remarkable-and what's even more remarkable is how easy it is to accomplish, thanks to Brother's technology."

Sabtu, 04 September 2010

Sewing Machine – From Fabric To Clothing In Seconds

The sewing machine has been around for more than two hundred years now and is still as popular today. Most households have a sewing machine, whether it’s for ornamental use or for taking care of those sewing chores.

The sewing machine was invented to help join fabric together using thread in order to make clothes. In order to create stitches, which are used to join pieces of fabric together, these machines take two threads and join them together within the machine and put them through the fabric.

There are many different model sewing machines available today and many of these can produce a great variety of both plain and patterned stitches that include cross stitch, chain stitch, and zig zag stitching. Regular sewing machines use what is called a lockstitch. This is a stitch that is created using two threads. Older model sewing machines have been known to use chain stitches and sergers.

There are hundreds of models of sewing machines and they all vary considerable in both price and performance. The more expensive models are sophisticated electronic machines that are also computerized. Even with all this technology however, these machines still work based on one main principle, and that is the loop stitching system.

Sewing machines consist of a number of different components and these include the electric motor, the spool holder, the tension disc, the drive wheel, the bobbin holder, the needle, and the foot pedal. Of course these are only the basic components, there are many more. The motor on sewing machines is controlled by the foot pedal and this lets the user vary the speed they require when sewing.

Like most devices, sewing machines do take a little bit of practice and patience especially when it comes to threading your machine. Perseverance however does have its rewards and in no time you could be mastering the art of sewing and creating your own garments.

Jumat, 03 September 2010

Seven secrets to buying the right air-brush compressor

If you're looking for an air-brush compressor, there are a few things you have to consider. The first big question is to ask whether this is for home or professional use. Home use doesn't require the same dependability or rugged construction (and comes with a lower price tag) while commercial use requires better quality, these compressors will last longer under heavy-duty usage but come with higher costs.

Both home and commercial applications however require the same amount of airflow. Understand that the brush attachment doesn't know if it's a home job or a commercial job - all it understands is if it's getting the right airflow going through the nozzle. Note that your gun should tell you what airflow it requires to operate at the best capacity, and if in doubt, ask at the outlets that sold you the air brush.

And once you know this figure, experts advise to "oversize" that compressor at least a little to smooth out the demands. Remember you can always adjust or downsize the airflow to the brush if necessary. Note though that if you have a higher airflow, you can handle a thicker paint.

So what's important in air compressors? Noise is. This is particularly true when you're using it all day but even for occasional home use, you're going to want to muffle this baby. If a lack of sound is important, then look for airbrush-specific compressors. They are the quietest form of air compressor on the market but you'll wind up paying at least $1000 for this privilege. It is far cheaper to buy a compressor from a local box store and build a soundproof box around it.

You also require an oil-free compressor. Oil-less compressors cost more but you eliminate "fish-eyes" from your work with the miniscule droplets of oil put out by a machine lubed with oil. And the interesting thing is that oil-less compressors are noisier than similar oil-lubed machines. Oil-less machines run hotter without oil lubrication and they tend to have a shorter lifespan.

Water is a pain in the paint. All compressors spit water out the working end. This is a function of compressing air and can't be ignored. You will have to have a good compressed air filter at the working end of the line to remove the free water. If you are spraying onto a cool surface, you may inadvertently get some water droplets forming on that surface as water vapor in the air condenses. That being the case, you'll need an in-line air dryer.

If you're serious about using your airbrush compressor, you're going to want to install a good air regulator. This evens out the airflow and makes life a ton easier. It also enables you to lay paint with a steady flow rather than creating blobs because of uneven airflow.

A somewhat technical term "duty cycle" means whether the compressor is rated as continuous use or intermittent use. If you buy a compressor from a box store (mostly cheaper intermittent use models) do not expect it to paint an entire van side in one go without giving the compressor a rest, or you risk it burning out. They are not rated for long-term use rather they are better suited for filling up tires.

And those are the seven secrets of buying an air-brush compressor that you'll need to know.

Kamis, 02 September 2010

Selecting the Right Nailer for You

Unlike most tools, nailers are not meant for general purpose use - there is not an all-purpose nailer that you can use with all your jobs. Nailers are meant to carry out specific tasks, so before purchasing a new nailer it's important to understand the jobs for which it will be used.

The types of nailers available are:

- Framing nailers: These are intended to drive bigger (1-1/2" to 4") box-type nails into larger pieces of wood. These nailers are usually fairly big and heavy and are usually stick-type nail guns, they there are some coil-types available also.

- Finish nailers: These may be also called pin or brad nailers. They are designed for nailing small finish-type nails into small pieces of stock. These nailers are usually smaller and lighter than framing nailers, and they are intended for trim or finishing work. These are usually stick-type nail guns.

- Siding and Roofing nailers: These are intended for the specific task of putting up either siding or roofing. They store large numbers of nails that are designed for the task at hand (siding or roofing). These are usually coil-type nailers.

Once you decide on the sort of nailer you need, some other characteristics that are useful to have and which you should consider are:

- A directional exhaust output. When nails are driven in, air is expelled from the nailer. It's nice to have this adjustment so that this air is not shot into your face.

- A large trigger. If you are going to be working with your nailer in cold weather, you'll want to be wearing gloves. In that case you'll want to have a easy to pull trigger so that you can operate it while wearing gloves.

- A pivot on the air connector . If you move around often with your nailer, this will help reduce the knotting of your air line.

- An easy-to-use depth setting. Nearly all nailers have an adjustment to controlmanage the force with which the nail is put in. Using this adjustment, your nail is not sticking out , or sunk too deep far in. Many nailers need tools, and time, to perform this adjustment, others can be set without using tools and these tend to be quicker to set up. If you suspect you'll need to be changing this setting often, the easier and quicker it is to adjust, the easier it will be to use this nailer.

- If you are planning on delivering a lot of nails, you will want to think about the nail capacity of the nailer as well as the the labor required to load nails into the gun. Buying the correct nailer can save you a lot of time, or cost you a lot of time if you make the wrong choice.

Finally, be sure you look at the reviews for the nailer you are thinking about getting. Researching a tool in a store or on line, it is really tough to be sure how well it will work for you on the job. By consulting the reviews of people that have actually used the nailer, you will get a better feel for how this nailer will work for you.

Rabu, 01 September 2010

School Days: it could happen to you

The Japanese video game industry, particularly the eroge segment of it, has produced some odd storyline and characters over the years. Games of this sort, generally labeled as “dating sims” by unaware Western audiences, have a set of stock character archetypes that developers tend to inevitably draw upon. Games of this sort also tend to be set in idyllic, happy high school settings, far removed from the social anxiety and performance anxiety that Japanese youths feel during that age. Games that deviate from the formula do appear, but they hardly make a major impact. That was the case until 0verflow, a moderately known eroge developer, came out with “School Days.”

Eroge players from inside and outside Japan have praised “School Days” for two reasons. First, it took the risk of being the first fully-animated game of this sort. This move is sometimes seen as a result of the status anxiety that developers have felt since eroge games have started to be converted into animation by Japanese networks. However, it is the second reason for the praise that has people talking about the game a full year after the initial release.

That second reason is that, barring three of the 21 different endings available in the game, characters act with the same social anxiety and status anxiety problems that Japanese teenagers experience. In fact, aside from the occasional reference to performance anxiety on Japan's infamously difficult standardized tests, the characters could be of virtually any nationality or culture. The realistic depiction is heavily focused on the emotional turmoil of the game's multiple possible story arcs, depending on the player's decisions at certain points of the game.

Central to the story of “School Days” is the main character, Makoto, whose actions are actually controlled by the player by determining the courses of action throughout the story. Aside from being considered as one of the most impulsive, hated, and unlikable lead characters the genre has ever produced, Makoto is also a representation. He is an aloof loner, a well-meaning loser, or an overachieving Romeo. He represents the average, hormone-controlled teenage male, thrust into a situation involving two (possibly more, depending on the player's actions) attractive females. He also showed mild signs of status anxiety early on in his relationship with one of the lead females, well aware of her family having a higher social status than his.


Players and critics have also praised Kotonoha, one of the lead females, for being among the most realistic and developed members of the cast. Her character initially starts out showing the same signs of social anxiety that many Japanese girls feel, particularly if there is something about them that makes them stand out immediately. In Kotonoha's case, as pointed out by several other characters, it was the fact that her bust size was larger than the average Japanese girl's. She also suffers from a form of performance anxiety in certain routes in the game when she feels her relationship is threatened, consciously questioning whether she is performing her role as a girlfriend properly. She also exhibits signs of status anxiety, seemingly uncertain of where she stood after the revelation that her boyfriend, the aforementioned Makoto, was cheating on her.

It is difficult to explain the realism of the game, as that would involve explaining the nature of how the game is played. Since there are multiple endings and multiple in-game “routes” by which those endings can be achieved, the task is a complex one. However, “School Days” shines because the characters stay true to their personalities, exhibiting the natural evolutions of their own unique psychological make-ups as the story goes along. The game, like life, shows little mercy to the characters on certain routes.

While extreme, three of the possible resolutions are still arguably realistic. Since events in the game, when applied to the real world, can result in severe emotional and psychological instability, it is arguable that the violent resolutions are also realistic. After all, given the right combination of psychological factors, the possibility of temporary insanity, and emotional instability, and even a sweet schoolgirl can commit murder.