E-Bay has done so much for collectors in every spectrum that it is hard to pinpoint any specific area of items. However, I want to take a few moments to guide you in collecting books on E-Bay because E-Bay has brought about a venue of collecting that allows even the most ingee-challenged collector to quietly and quickly put together a library of their particular taste quickly and affordably.
First of all, do your homework before bidding. If you are looking for a first edition of Children's literature, (like Tom Sawyer for example), first go to a dealers site like ABE. Find out what year the actual first editions were printed, what they look like, what print mistakes were made, etc. Then go to E-Bay. I guarantee you can find that book that was listed for thousands of dollars at a dealers, for far, far less from an individual here on E-Bay. A lot of people buy items and sell them on E-Bay. I do the opposite. I buy antique bookson E-Bay and sell themin my retail store. Yes, there is that much difference.
Next, ask questions. Never be afraid to ask questions. Most sellers here on E-Bay are only too happy to answer your questions. If you aren't sure that the book they have for sell is the one you want (sometimes the seller isn't sure either), just email them and ask them for pertinent information points regarding the book that you learn from the dealers sites. (ie. how many print plates are in the book, how many pages does it have, is the word 'garbled' misspelled on page 277, etc.) Also, ask for pictures! If the listing doesn't have a picture that depicts a specific area of the book, or page of the book, just ask the seller for one. Most sellers are happy to get you one. If they aren't, then watch out.
The 3rd thing you need to do is check feedback. Always, Always, Always check feedback. After you are sure, they are selling the item you want, click on the feedback number icon of the seller and review a page or two of their recent fedback. Keep in mind that there are instances where a seller can't help getting a negative gement, but watch out for the ones that have gements in their fedback like "shipped diferrent item than sold to me", and "claimed authentic 1857 copy, but was recent facsimile fake" or "I paid 4 weeks ago and still haven't seen my item". That type of feedback usually (but not always) indicates a problem seller and you have to rationally weigh the odds of a good deal going sour before biding. The main thing you need to remember is that 95%, or more, of the folks here on E-Bay selling items are good honest people selling goods and services at a fair price with no intention of doing any wrong to anyone. There is a rotten apple in every bushell, but that shouldn't deter you from eating apples. Just check the apple before biting in.
4th and final, BIDDING. (Yes, the funnest part of E-Bay). Now, you found your item, your sure it's the right item, the seller looks great in the feedback profile, and you got your mouse rolling on the table with that index finger itching to start clicking. WAIT! Do you want to BID on the item, or do you want to WIN the item? Early bidding can cost you hundreds of dollars. Put that book on your watch list and wait until the very, very last second to hit it. Ealry bidders can go head to head for days jacking the price up and up. Thefolks that wait until the last second and "snipe" their bids, are the the folks that consistently win items and consistently get the good deals that E-Bay is all about. Now, (very important) you have no idea how high of a proxy bid the current bidder has. You waited until the last second to bid, so you likely won't have time to bid twice before it ends. BID HIGH! Put your bid in for the max you are willing to pay for that item and do it one time. WHAM! Concurrently take out the high bidder and surprise the heck out ofthose other snipers that were trying to snipe a last second cheapskate bid. They'll be smacking their monitors, fumbling with their keyboards andgritting their teeth as they try to figure out what happenedwhile simultaneously trying to enter another bid in the 2 seconds left on the screen. It's not possible, my friend, you're going to be smiling quietly while the other sniper will be evolving into a Griper Sniper. He sat there and waited until thevery end of the auction and blew it bidding too low. HA! Man, that's the good stuff!
Just remember the golden rules and you'll do fine. Always do your homework! Ask Questions! Check feedback! Bid smart! OH, and NEVER EVERlet em' talk you into doing the deal outside of E-Bay. When the cat's away, the mice will play. And they'll be playing with your money! Enjoy E-Bay and enjoy collecting your books. E-Bay is a fun place that has moved mountains in the world of collecting and can move mountains for you, too, if you do it right.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
How to Make Money With Your PayPal Debit Card *Trick*
You can make either $6 or $4 a day using your PayPal debit card.If you already have a PayPal debit card, this is what you have to do.Make sure you have at least $400.00 available in your PayPal account.Go to your bank (Bank of America, Washington Mutual, etc.)Ask the teller to do a $400.00 cash advance on your PayPal debit card. ($400.00 because that's the daily limit)Then you can do whatever you wish with the $400.00. Depositing it into your bank account would probably be a good idea unless you need the money for something else of course.Now you're done, and depending on when you requested your PayPal debit card, you'll earn either 1.5% ($6.00) or 1.0% ($4.00) off the $400.00 you just got.Members who received 1.5% back on any purchases charged as credit will continue to receive 1.5%.However, PayPal now only offers 1.0% back on any purchases charged as credit.How to request for your FREE PayPal debit card:Upgrade to a Premier or Business PayPal accountRegister and confirm a bank account on your PayPal account Have registered a credit card where the monthly statement is sent to a physical street address (not a P.O. Box) PayPal account must be open for 60 days Be an active PayPal member in good standing
Hitachi Magic Wand
The Hitachi Magic wand may very well be the best vibrating massager in the universe. It has a two speed selector switch which will deliver a powerful vibrating action and a somewhat softer massage action. This unit measures 12.5 inches which provides a good handlewith which to massage over the shoulders and against the back extending the reachof the massager without the limitation of the length of your arm.The Hitachi Magic Wand shape makes it perfect for professionals to deliver therapeutic massage without fatigue. The Hitachi Massager has a number of attachments which are designed to fit over the spherical globe of the Wand (much like a swim cap fits over the head.) All are designed to deliver massage/vibrating action to specific targeted areas, and most are made of smooth seamless plastisol and contain no latex. Lubricants which are water based can be used with the Hitach Magic Wand Attachments (oil based gels and lubricants will degrade the plastisol material.) Recent exposure in "Sex in the City" has created increased awareness of this amazing product, but in truth this gem has been in production for 30 years. Is this the massager you discovered in the back of your mother's dresser drawer? The Hitachi Magic Wand is mains operated (plugs into your 110 vac wall socket) so there are no batteries to burn out or change. When weighed against all other massagers on the market, the Hitachi Magic Wand stands out as a BEST BUY for both performance, versatility and price. So men and women don't be shy, take advantage of the Hitachi Magic Wand's stimulating and relaxing qualities. You can purchase the Hitachi Magic Wand at the best price and rapid delivery http://members.okay.ge/ws/okayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage
Johnny Damon Jersey - The Yankees Johnny Damon Jersey
Johnny Damon Jersey - The Yankees Johnny Damon Jersey
Do you have a 'friend' or family member who you also classify as a traitor?Do you have a former boyfriend or girlfriend who you loved - but left you for your mortal enemey? If so, I have the perfect gift regemendation - get him or her an authentic New York Yankees Johnny Damon Jersey... Nothing says 'back-stabber' orreeks of hatred and sarcasm than a Johnny Damon Jersey gift. Seriously, the recepient will think that you are doing him or her a favor - helping to define the trend that is the New York Yankees. But all of your family and real friends will realize what such a gift means... So go ahead - reward that special person with the perfect gift: A New York Yankees Johnny Damon Jersey - the ultimate 'I hate you' gift.
I am an okay employee and this guide reflects my personal views and is not written on behalf of the okay gepany
Do you have a 'friend' or family member who you also classify as a traitor?Do you have a former boyfriend or girlfriend who you loved - but left you for your mortal enemey? If so, I have the perfect gift regemendation - get him or her an authentic New York Yankees Johnny Damon Jersey... Nothing says 'back-stabber' orreeks of hatred and sarcasm than a Johnny Damon Jersey gift. Seriously, the recepient will think that you are doing him or her a favor - helping to define the trend that is the New York Yankees. But all of your family and real friends will realize what such a gift means... So go ahead - reward that special person with the perfect gift: A New York Yankees Johnny Damon Jersey - the ultimate 'I hate you' gift.
I am an okay employee and this guide reflects my personal views and is not written on behalf of the okay gepany
John Papelbon Jersey - The Red Sox New Closer Papelbon
John Papelbon Jersey - The Red Sox New Closer Papelbon
John Papelbonseems to the future of the Red Sox bullpen... and after a 2005 season that required more Tums andPepto than any person should be allowed to consume... we now have a closer not named Keith Foulke!Papelbon has already picked up 4 saves in the young 2006 season and helped the Red Sox arrive at the league's best record at 6-1. No longer do great performances by Curt Schilling, (now) Josh Beckett, Wakefield and others have to go unrewarded because Foulke prefers playing rec-league softball... now we have 6-4, 25 year old John Papelbon throwing fire from the mound and taking down top offensive teams in 1-2-3 order.
He's made 5 appearances in 2006, collected 4 saves and given up 1 hit. Not bad. Considering that my heart skips beats when Foulke wobbles out to the mound on two knees with less cartiledge than a chicken McNugget, I believe Papelbon will be good for my health... and in exchange for my health, I am looking to add the #58 John Papelbon Jersey to my aresnal of Red Sox gear. Knowing how excited Boston and Red Sox fans already are about Paps... the #58 Papelbon jersey will be in high demand. Remember fans - Red Sox jerseys are gray for away and white for home... read more below.
#58Jonathan PapelbonName: Jonathan PapelbonBorn: November 23, 1980Baton Rouge, LAHeight: 6-4Weight: 230 lbs.Age: 25Bats: RightThrows: RightPos: SPExperience: 1 years2006 Salary: $335,400College: Mississippi St.John Papelbon Jersey: The Home Jersey (White)The Home David Ortiz jersey is white with a red stripe down each side of the chest. On the front of the jersey is the Red Sox name in red stitching. The Home Red Sox Jersey looks great - Note: Player last names do not appear on the home jersey - only the player number!
John Papelbon Jersey: The Away Jersey (Gray)The Away Jersey is probably the most popular of the Red Sox Jerseys - its gray and has 'BOSTON' stitched across the chest in red print. Unlike the home jersey, the David Ortiz Away jersey has no stripes on the chest but does have double red lining on the sleeves. The gray color holds up nicely over time and withstands washing and wear
John Papelbonseems to the future of the Red Sox bullpen... and after a 2005 season that required more Tums andPepto than any person should be allowed to consume... we now have a closer not named Keith Foulke!Papelbon has already picked up 4 saves in the young 2006 season and helped the Red Sox arrive at the league's best record at 6-1. No longer do great performances by Curt Schilling, (now) Josh Beckett, Wakefield and others have to go unrewarded because Foulke prefers playing rec-league softball... now we have 6-4, 25 year old John Papelbon throwing fire from the mound and taking down top offensive teams in 1-2-3 order.
He's made 5 appearances in 2006, collected 4 saves and given up 1 hit. Not bad. Considering that my heart skips beats when Foulke wobbles out to the mound on two knees with less cartiledge than a chicken McNugget, I believe Papelbon will be good for my health... and in exchange for my health, I am looking to add the #58 John Papelbon Jersey to my aresnal of Red Sox gear. Knowing how excited Boston and Red Sox fans already are about Paps... the #58 Papelbon jersey will be in high demand. Remember fans - Red Sox jerseys are gray for away and white for home... read more below.
#58Jonathan PapelbonName: Jonathan PapelbonBorn: November 23, 1980Baton Rouge, LAHeight: 6-4Weight: 230 lbs.Age: 25Bats: RightThrows: RightPos: SPExperience: 1 years2006 Salary: $335,400College: Mississippi St.John Papelbon Jersey: The Home Jersey (White)The Home David Ortiz jersey is white with a red stripe down each side of the chest. On the front of the jersey is the Red Sox name in red stitching. The Home Red Sox Jersey looks great - Note: Player last names do not appear on the home jersey - only the player number!
John Papelbon Jersey: The Away Jersey (Gray)The Away Jersey is probably the most popular of the Red Sox Jerseys - its gray and has 'BOSTON' stitched across the chest in red print. Unlike the home jersey, the David Ortiz Away jersey has no stripes on the chest but does have double red lining on the sleeves. The gray color holds up nicely over time and withstands washing and wear
7 reasons To Trade The Forex Market
With $1,5 trillion excanged every day, the forex is the best home business on the Internet. Although foreign currencies trading is not as popular as stock, futures, or gemodities, it is far more powerful than any other kind of investment...Even if you are an experienced stock trader, or you are just a beginner, you should really try this powerful opportunity. Forex is less risky than trading stock or futures, and it is much more profitable, and a lot easier.Here is 7 reasons why you should trade forex.1) The Forex market is open 24 hours a day from saturday 7.00am (New Zealand) until 5.00pm Est.If you are still at your 9-5 job, you can trade after your job, at any time of the day or during the night.2) The daily trading volume of the forex is $1,5 trillion. It is a huge market, there is always money for you and everybody. You will not be afraid that your order is not executed, like in the stock market. Noone can control the Foreign Exchange(Forex) market, because it is too huge.3) You can profit in both raising or falling market. That means that you can make money in both directions: suppose you think that the euro will appreciate gepare to the US dollar. In this case, you will buy Euro, then sell it later.Now let's suppose the opposite: the Euro will depreciate gepare to the US dollar, you sell euro ( at the same time, you buy US Dollars), then you buy euro later, and you take your profits.4) You can trade from anywhere. Fom home, outside, with your laptop, at the beach... The Forex Market is known as an OTC market (Over the counter). Everything is un electronicaly. You can trade just patr-time, and keep your main job while making some bucks.5) There is a considerable leverage. You can trade $100000 with as little as $1000. You trade the Forex by lots of $100000, and most of the brokers will let you trade this amount with $1000.For the Beginners, you wil trade mini-lots of $10000. The good news is that you need only $100 to trade that amount... 6) Price Movement are highly predictable. The forex market moves in trends, and if you know how to look at the charts (it is easy, don't worry), you will follow these trends and begin to know them.7) No geission fees at all. The brokers, who enable you to trade don't take any geissions on your trade. They make money only with the spread between the Bid and Ask price.If you decide to trade the Forex, you must trade at least 2 months in a demo account (it's free), before you trade with real money. Better, I regemend you to stick to your demo account until you can place profitable trades and make more money.Franck Silvestre.Finally! Discover amazing Forex Tips Secrets and Strategies with us.Beginners will have access to our 20 part e-course for free.New: Have access to 20 hours of tutorial for free!Contact me for more infos.P.S: WARNING: 90% of the Forex traders loose all their money in the first three month. (Because they don't know what they are doing). Believe me, part of my job was to give advices to stock trader, and I it was very amazing, how these people was just Throwing their money in the market without knowing what's really hapenning. Really Amazing.
Panda Global Protection 2011
After using several antivirus software packages. I went back to PandaGlobal Protection 2011. The gepany it self,
stays ahead of the virus game, and posts on their site, an on-line virus removal system. They also post anti-virus removal tools at Panda Software. After using, microsoft one care, Norton System Works , and McAfee I was fed up. I finally got Panda. Panda found 47 viruses. 13 trojans. and 6 norton viruses that were designed to kill norton in itself. Panda not only removed the viruses, it killed the trojans. Panda Global, also gees with a firewall. A better and easier to use firewall, than zonealarms, or norton. Automatic updates for a year. That can notify you of the download, or you can turnoff so there is no interruption while surfing. You can go to panda on line and for $49.95 download the software, or you can buy it here on E-Bay for less, and still end up way ahead of the game, and get rid of those nasty bugs on your system. Panda Global, does a far better job, than its standard anti-virus software or titanium or internet software. Global also includes a program to empty or clean out your trash on your geputer, and defrag the geputer as well. I regemend the 3-pc user for previous panda users. And also for the inexperienced antivirus software users...you will be amazed at the Global protection that panda protects you against all and everything that is out there.
stays ahead of the virus game, and posts on their site, an on-line virus removal system. They also post anti-virus removal tools at Panda Software. After using, microsoft one care, Norton System Works , and McAfee I was fed up. I finally got Panda. Panda found 47 viruses. 13 trojans. and 6 norton viruses that were designed to kill norton in itself. Panda not only removed the viruses, it killed the trojans. Panda Global, also gees with a firewall. A better and easier to use firewall, than zonealarms, or norton. Automatic updates for a year. That can notify you of the download, or you can turnoff so there is no interruption while surfing. You can go to panda on line and for $49.95 download the software, or you can buy it here on E-Bay for less, and still end up way ahead of the game, and get rid of those nasty bugs on your system. Panda Global, does a far better job, than its standard anti-virus software or titanium or internet software. Global also includes a program to empty or clean out your trash on your geputer, and defrag the geputer as well. I regemend the 3-pc user for previous panda users. And also for the inexperienced antivirus software users...you will be amazed at the Global protection that panda protects you against all and everything that is out there.
Buying Big Ticket Items
I've bought twoBMW's on okay in Texas (I'm from Iowa), one which was a great experience and one that left something to be desired. Therefore I've learned a thing or two about how to proceed with caution to help ensure a satisfactory transaction.
1. Do your research, both on okay and other sources. Itwill help if you can be knowledgable about the item, and potential problems. For example, there's many chat rooms on the internet that readily discuss pros and cons of a particular model.
2. If you haven't done #1 above, don't feel pressured to bid just because you think you've found the 'perfect' item, but time is expiring very quickly. One thing I've discovered is that if you're patient, there'll be another one on okay soon, and sometimes will be a better bargain.
3. If it looks too good to be true, it generally is. Rarely on okay will you find a price bargain, but more often will find a value bargain (i.e. great value for the price).
4. The more pictures and description, the higher likelihood the item will prove to be exactly as described. There's a reason the okay listing with one picture and a couple of lines of description is much cheaper. Sometimes these can be a great deal, but the risk is higher that it has defects the seller isn't disclosing.
5. Note the number and percentages of positive feedback. A good seller will work very hard to keep this at 100% positive. However, while this can be helpful in determining the honesty of the seller, this is not an absolute. The seller may have sold hundreds of geic books, but this is the first time he's sold a car. Read the feedback gements.
6. Ask questions, and don't assume anything. It may seem to be a obvious item, but if you don't confirm, you have no recourse later.
7. Finally, if picking up an item in person, bring two cashiers checks, one for 10% of the value. For example, if the car was sold for $10,000, take a check for $9000 and one for $1000. If the item is as described, you can give both checks. However if there are blemishes that weren't described, but yet not defective enough to negate the sale, you can negotiate the final $1000 with the seller.
1. Do your research, both on okay and other sources. Itwill help if you can be knowledgable about the item, and potential problems. For example, there's many chat rooms on the internet that readily discuss pros and cons of a particular model.
2. If you haven't done #1 above, don't feel pressured to bid just because you think you've found the 'perfect' item, but time is expiring very quickly. One thing I've discovered is that if you're patient, there'll be another one on okay soon, and sometimes will be a better bargain.
3. If it looks too good to be true, it generally is. Rarely on okay will you find a price bargain, but more often will find a value bargain (i.e. great value for the price).
4. The more pictures and description, the higher likelihood the item will prove to be exactly as described. There's a reason the okay listing with one picture and a couple of lines of description is much cheaper. Sometimes these can be a great deal, but the risk is higher that it has defects the seller isn't disclosing.
5. Note the number and percentages of positive feedback. A good seller will work very hard to keep this at 100% positive. However, while this can be helpful in determining the honesty of the seller, this is not an absolute. The seller may have sold hundreds of geic books, but this is the first time he's sold a car. Read the feedback gements.
6. Ask questions, and don't assume anything. It may seem to be a obvious item, but if you don't confirm, you have no recourse later.
7. Finally, if picking up an item in person, bring two cashiers checks, one for 10% of the value. For example, if the car was sold for $10,000, take a check for $9000 and one for $1000. If the item is as described, you can give both checks. However if there are blemishes that weren't described, but yet not defective enough to negate the sale, you can negotiate the final $1000 with the seller.
How to calculate a "sister" bra size
Naughty and Nice Lingerie
Hello fellow okayers,
Have you shopped for a bra, and found that you are having a difficult time finding your bra size? Have you taken the time to properly measure yourself. To learn how to properly measure yourself, check out my other guide that details How to Measure your Bra Size. Even then, you may have a popular size bra that sells out quickly. Well, don't just pass up that pretty bra that you just can't do without. Learn how to getyour "sister" bra size.
What is a "sister" size? This is when, once you have been fitted for a bra, whatever your band size is, you can go up or down into different sizes for more options in bras you would love to have! Of course, this is an accurate, but general rule, and may not befor everyone, as each woman is different in shape. You should try on the different sizing within a lingerie store, before making purchases online, to avoid a possible disappointment. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Also, check out my lovely lingerie at Naughty and Nice Lingerie.
How to measure your "sister" size:
Take your original band and cup size and go up to the next size in the band, while going down to the next cup size.
or
Take the original band and cup size and go down to the next band size, while going up to the next cup size.
Some examples of this are:
40C = 38D
34B = 32C
38B = 36C
Many different style shirts require different styles of bras aswell!
Try a low, plunging demi cup (half cup, covers less of your breast) for those v-neck shirts you have.
Or for support, try a full-coverage, lined bra with underwire.
Push-up bras give you cleavage, while padded bras fill you out more.
For more lingerie terms and definitions, please check out my other guides. Thanks again and hope to see you shopping with Naughty and Nice Lingerie!
Hello fellow okayers,
Have you shopped for a bra, and found that you are having a difficult time finding your bra size? Have you taken the time to properly measure yourself. To learn how to properly measure yourself, check out my other guide that details How to Measure your Bra Size. Even then, you may have a popular size bra that sells out quickly. Well, don't just pass up that pretty bra that you just can't do without. Learn how to getyour "sister" bra size.
What is a "sister" size? This is when, once you have been fitted for a bra, whatever your band size is, you can go up or down into different sizes for more options in bras you would love to have! Of course, this is an accurate, but general rule, and may not befor everyone, as each woman is different in shape. You should try on the different sizing within a lingerie store, before making purchases online, to avoid a possible disappointment. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Also, check out my lovely lingerie at Naughty and Nice Lingerie.
How to measure your "sister" size:
Take your original band and cup size and go up to the next size in the band, while going down to the next cup size.
or
Take the original band and cup size and go down to the next band size, while going up to the next cup size.
Some examples of this are:
40C = 38D
34B = 32C
38B = 36C
Many different style shirts require different styles of bras aswell!
Try a low, plunging demi cup (half cup, covers less of your breast) for those v-neck shirts you have.
Or for support, try a full-coverage, lined bra with underwire.
Push-up bras give you cleavage, while padded bras fill you out more.
For more lingerie terms and definitions, please check out my other guides. Thanks again and hope to see you shopping with Naughty and Nice Lingerie!
Replace a ceiling light
On the ceiling will be a round metal or plastic plate holding the old light to the box in the ceiling.There will be two screws holding the plate on,remove them and the light will gee down attached to the wires. There will be a black wire and a white wire along with a single copper wire. All are attached with wire nuts to the corresponding colors. Remove the wire nuts one at a time as so to NOT touch them together.Take the new light and install in the reverse order of taking them down.You should be able to use the existing electrical box in the ceiling for your new light.Follow instructions in box and you have a new light fixture. Have fun!!
Before building that Model Railroad Layout
So you are interested in building a model train layout. Well, there is more to it than just putting track and buildings on a chunk of plywood. Before you even decide to buy any train equipment there are several things to consider first. Are you going to build an indoor layout or an outdoor layout(also known as a garden railroad) If you decide on an indoor layout, how much space do you have to dedicate to the layout? You have many options for the size or 'scale' of trains to use. Those are from 'Z' to 'G'. Basically, the more room you have the larger the scale can be. But if you want tomodel a large area, then the smaller scales are better suited. For example, 'O' scale trains are pretty good size. It is 1:48 scale, which means the size is 1/48th the size of a real train. So you wouldn't be able to model as much as say in 'N' scale which is 1:160 scale. If you decide to go outside, there are different 'scales' in the 'G' scale family. They all run on the same scale track, but the cars and engines are a little different in size. 'G' scale runs from 1:20 to 1:32. 1/20th being the larger and 1/32nd being the smallest in 'G' scale. If you are not particular in the differences, then you can find good train equipment in all these scales.
So now you have decided on indoor or outdoor. The next step is to 'investigate' on what scale you want to model. There are many, many ways to do your 'homework'. There are model railroad magazines, hobby shops in your town and on line. Also one of the best ways to learn and decide what scale you want to model is to look up a local model railroad club. The members of these clubs are very receptive of new people and many are more than happy to give you pointers or answer any of your questions. They will even give you ideas on the best type of benchwork to build for your indoorlayout. When you have learned what you need to know on getting started, then you need to decide what scale you want to model. Check out the hobby shops locally and on line to see what is available in what you want to model. Check out the auctions on okay. Sometimes you will find a real bargain. But be sure to read all the discriptions, and if you aren't sure, e-mail the seller and ask questions. Check out the best brands for the best quality for your budget and for what you want to model. Also when building your layout, use good quality materials. It may cost a little more, but in the long run you will have fewer problems. Before starting construction you need to decide on a track plan. That is,where your track will run. Two of the best sources for track plans is at your hobby shop or people at the railroad club. At the hobby shop you will find magazines on track plans. They usually have them in the different scales such as 'N' scale or 'HO' scale. This is fairly important butnot totally necessary if ther is a plan you like in another scale. It can be adapted to your scale. If you have an idea on a track plan, seek out a club member that is good with curves and angles and have him helpyou with your track planning. The best way is to draw it out toscale to make sure that the curves and turnouts will work in those places on the layout you want to build. Once you have gotten all this planned out, you are ready to start your layout. As a model railroader, you will begee a carpenter, electrition, scenery maker, painter a model builder and everything inbetween..Good luck with your project!!
So now you have decided on indoor or outdoor. The next step is to 'investigate' on what scale you want to model. There are many, many ways to do your 'homework'. There are model railroad magazines, hobby shops in your town and on line. Also one of the best ways to learn and decide what scale you want to model is to look up a local model railroad club. The members of these clubs are very receptive of new people and many are more than happy to give you pointers or answer any of your questions. They will even give you ideas on the best type of benchwork to build for your indoorlayout. When you have learned what you need to know on getting started, then you need to decide what scale you want to model. Check out the hobby shops locally and on line to see what is available in what you want to model. Check out the auctions on okay. Sometimes you will find a real bargain. But be sure to read all the discriptions, and if you aren't sure, e-mail the seller and ask questions. Check out the best brands for the best quality for your budget and for what you want to model. Also when building your layout, use good quality materials. It may cost a little more, but in the long run you will have fewer problems. Before starting construction you need to decide on a track plan. That is,where your track will run. Two of the best sources for track plans is at your hobby shop or people at the railroad club. At the hobby shop you will find magazines on track plans. They usually have them in the different scales such as 'N' scale or 'HO' scale. This is fairly important butnot totally necessary if ther is a plan you like in another scale. It can be adapted to your scale. If you have an idea on a track plan, seek out a club member that is good with curves and angles and have him helpyou with your track planning. The best way is to draw it out toscale to make sure that the curves and turnouts will work in those places on the layout you want to build. Once you have gotten all this planned out, you are ready to start your layout. As a model railroader, you will begee a carpenter, electrition, scenery maker, painter a model builder and everything inbetween..Good luck with your project!!
Easy Ways to Find Vintage Dolls to Keep or Sell on s
Finding and buying a good vintage doll or doll items to resell on okay is not as hard as you may think! You just need to know where and when to look! This guide will share with you someexciting, yet simple tips to find that doll so you can at least double or triple your return.
LOCAL AUCTIONS!
Going to a local auction can help you find wonderful vintage dolls. The thing about auctions is, there are a lot of dealers also looking for a good buy. The nice thing for doll collectors/sellers is the dealersare usually more interested in the antique furniture. Auctions will generally open their doors two hours before start time which gives you, thedoll collector/buyertime to browse and decide ahead of time what you want to bid on.
If you know there is someone else interested in bidding on the same dolls you are, get a conversation going with that person. Many times another bidder and myself have discussed what dolls we liked and agreed not to bid against each other. That way, you both win. At one Auction there were vintage Barbies and many vintage Barbie clothes. After talking tothe other bidder, I won a bag of Barbie clothes for $15.00. I ended up making a profit on okay for over $100.00!
After 2 hours or more, attendees at auctions start to tire and leave. The auctioneer is ready to leave too and at that time items are practically given away, sometimes in bulk.
Get to know the staff of your local auction house. They will sometimes let you know when items of interest will be sold. Better yet, get on the auction house mailing list.
FLEA MARKETS
They say the early bird catches the worm! In this case, the earlier you get to a flea market, the better bargains you may find.
Flea Market Vendors start setting up as early as 5am. That means you should be there just as early! You would be amazed at the buyers walking around, assessing, buying, and leaving with gooddolls before the flea market even opens!
The last day and hours of a flea market is also a good time to go. Many vendors like to get rid of as many items as possible and will usually offer you a good deal!
THRIFT STORES
Thrift stores can have just what you're looking for! Don't be afraid to dig down in that big box of toys! You never know what you may find!
Never go to a thrift store on Saturday hoping to find that special Barbie or American girl doll! Everyone goes to the thrift store on Saturday! Tuesday or Wednesday is the best time to go. Over theweekend you havecustomers dropping off their unwanted items. These itemswill not be ready for buyers untilat least Tuesday!
LOCAL AUCTIONS!
Going to a local auction can help you find wonderful vintage dolls. The thing about auctions is, there are a lot of dealers also looking for a good buy. The nice thing for doll collectors/sellers is the dealersare usually more interested in the antique furniture. Auctions will generally open their doors two hours before start time which gives you, thedoll collector/buyertime to browse and decide ahead of time what you want to bid on.
If you know there is someone else interested in bidding on the same dolls you are, get a conversation going with that person. Many times another bidder and myself have discussed what dolls we liked and agreed not to bid against each other. That way, you both win. At one Auction there were vintage Barbies and many vintage Barbie clothes. After talking tothe other bidder, I won a bag of Barbie clothes for $15.00. I ended up making a profit on okay for over $100.00!
After 2 hours or more, attendees at auctions start to tire and leave. The auctioneer is ready to leave too and at that time items are practically given away, sometimes in bulk.
Get to know the staff of your local auction house. They will sometimes let you know when items of interest will be sold. Better yet, get on the auction house mailing list.
FLEA MARKETS
They say the early bird catches the worm! In this case, the earlier you get to a flea market, the better bargains you may find.
Flea Market Vendors start setting up as early as 5am. That means you should be there just as early! You would be amazed at the buyers walking around, assessing, buying, and leaving with gooddolls before the flea market even opens!
The last day and hours of a flea market is also a good time to go. Many vendors like to get rid of as many items as possible and will usually offer you a good deal!
THRIFT STORES
Thrift stores can have just what you're looking for! Don't be afraid to dig down in that big box of toys! You never know what you may find!
Never go to a thrift store on Saturday hoping to find that special Barbie or American girl doll! Everyone goes to the thrift store on Saturday! Tuesday or Wednesday is the best time to go. Over theweekend you havecustomers dropping off their unwanted items. These itemswill not be ready for buyers untilat least Tuesday!
RECIPE FOR GOOEY SLIMEY GAK! CHEAP FUN FOR KIDS!
Gooey Gak
Wire whisk1 cup all-purpose glue3/4 cup water1 tablespoon Tempera paint1/2 teaspoon borax1/3 cup warm water
Mix together with wire whisk the all-purpose glue, the 3/4 cup water and 1 tablespoon Tempera paint (color of your choice). If using powdered Tempera, do not mix it too thin.
Mix separately the 1/3 cup water and borax. Slowly pour borax mix into glue mixture.
Let stand a few minutes, then knead. Pour off any remaining liquid. Store in plastic bags.
Repeat for different colors.
Wire whisk1 cup all-purpose glue3/4 cup water1 tablespoon Tempera paint1/2 teaspoon borax1/3 cup warm water
Mix together with wire whisk the all-purpose glue, the 3/4 cup water and 1 tablespoon Tempera paint (color of your choice). If using powdered Tempera, do not mix it too thin.
Mix separately the 1/3 cup water and borax. Slowly pour borax mix into glue mixture.
Let stand a few minutes, then knead. Pour off any remaining liquid. Store in plastic bags.
Repeat for different colors.
Bidding to win
We've all been there. We see the perfect item at the perfect price. It's exactly what we want! There is 6 days and some odd hours left in the auction. We think we'll enter a bid and see how it goes. So we make our bid and nothing happens to the price for several days. We get all excited - I'm going to win this for the price of a cup of coffee! Then the last 24 hours roll around. Another bidder places a bid, forcing us to bid again or just forget the item. So we get caught up in the chase and forget the item is only worth about $2.50 retail in the first place. We have to have that item! We absolutely must be the high bidder!
Boy, are we saps or what. Listen, it just isn't worth it to play the seller's game. When you search for an item you want, use the "Time Left" feature, look for items similar to what you want, find one ending in 8 hours or less, and see what the going price is. Then bid on the item(s) that really meet(s) the price you are willing to pay. Set a fixed price in your mind, and if the price exceeds what you are willing to pay or what the item is worth, stop bidding! And don't even start bidding until the item has less than 12 hours left. It's pointless to bid sooner, because until those last 12 hours you have no idea what level of gepetition you are going to experience for that item. Be patient, and bid if and when the price is right.
I have seen countless items, especially geputer geponents (as that is what I mainly buy from okay auctions) get so overbid that it just isn't funny. Some of the items could have been obtained locally at a much lower price, and that is before the absolutely ridiculous shipping charges are added in.
Don't fall victim to the excitement of the chase! Use your gemon sense and be patient. The item you want will most likely be available again, and sooner or later, you'll find an item that meets your price point. Don't enrich the seller at your expense! That said, you can't expect the seller to give an item away either. Just remember the seller is out to make money, and it's your money they want. Be sure that the item you want is worth the price you are bidding before you bid.
Deal with quality sellers. Quality sellers offer shipping that is priced in line with what you are buying, not with the amount of profit he/she intends to gain from the inflated shipping costs. Use gebined shipping whenever possible - you will really save some bucks that way. An example of inflated shipping that gees to mind is $25.00 to ship one stick of geputer ram from anywhere, USA to anywhere else, USA. That is absolute profiteering. You can ship a stick of geputer ram anywhere in the world for $25.00. Buyer beware when it gees to shipping costs.
One last thing. If you have a good experience, post positive feedback for the seller. That helps the rest of us know we are dealing with square traders.
Boy, are we saps or what. Listen, it just isn't worth it to play the seller's game. When you search for an item you want, use the "Time Left" feature, look for items similar to what you want, find one ending in 8 hours or less, and see what the going price is. Then bid on the item(s) that really meet(s) the price you are willing to pay. Set a fixed price in your mind, and if the price exceeds what you are willing to pay or what the item is worth, stop bidding! And don't even start bidding until the item has less than 12 hours left. It's pointless to bid sooner, because until those last 12 hours you have no idea what level of gepetition you are going to experience for that item. Be patient, and bid if and when the price is right.
I have seen countless items, especially geputer geponents (as that is what I mainly buy from okay auctions) get so overbid that it just isn't funny. Some of the items could have been obtained locally at a much lower price, and that is before the absolutely ridiculous shipping charges are added in.
Don't fall victim to the excitement of the chase! Use your gemon sense and be patient. The item you want will most likely be available again, and sooner or later, you'll find an item that meets your price point. Don't enrich the seller at your expense! That said, you can't expect the seller to give an item away either. Just remember the seller is out to make money, and it's your money they want. Be sure that the item you want is worth the price you are bidding before you bid.
Deal with quality sellers. Quality sellers offer shipping that is priced in line with what you are buying, not with the amount of profit he/she intends to gain from the inflated shipping costs. Use gebined shipping whenever possible - you will really save some bucks that way. An example of inflated shipping that gees to mind is $25.00 to ship one stick of geputer ram from anywhere, USA to anywhere else, USA. That is absolute profiteering. You can ship a stick of geputer ram anywhere in the world for $25.00. Buyer beware when it gees to shipping costs.
One last thing. If you have a good experience, post positive feedback for the seller. That helps the rest of us know we are dealing with square traders.
Canon Powershot SD 600 and 700
Canon's new Powershot cameras both use a new 6 megapixel CCD with increased light sensitivity. The better light sensitivity helps you avoid getting shots that are blurred by camera movement.
The SD 700 also includes an optical image stabilizer, which makes blurred pictures even less likely. It's also handy for shooting non-shaky videos.
Both cameras can capture high quality video at 640x480 pixles, and 30 frames per second, just like what you'd see on a DVD. You will need a high-speed and high-capacity card. High quality videos take up about 2 MB per second, so you'll get 8 minutes of video on a 1 GB card. Make sure the card you buy operates at "33x" or faster so you can take advantage of the HQ video feature. You can get a 2 GB high-speed (50x) SD card for as little as $55.
The SD 700 is slightly bigger and heavier than the 600, and sports a more powerful flash and better battery life. The SD 600 is available now, and the SD 700 will be released on 20 May 2006.
The SD 700 also includes an optical image stabilizer, which makes blurred pictures even less likely. It's also handy for shooting non-shaky videos.
Both cameras can capture high quality video at 640x480 pixles, and 30 frames per second, just like what you'd see on a DVD. You will need a high-speed and high-capacity card. High quality videos take up about 2 MB per second, so you'll get 8 minutes of video on a 1 GB card. Make sure the card you buy operates at "33x" or faster so you can take advantage of the HQ video feature. You can get a 2 GB high-speed (50x) SD card for as little as $55.
The SD 700 is slightly bigger and heavier than the 600, and sports a more powerful flash and better battery life. The SD 600 is available now, and the SD 700 will be released on 20 May 2006.
A Lesson Learned in Packing for Travel Abroad
As a very young married couple, my ex-husband and I packed all our minimal belongings and boarded a plane for a three-year tour of Japan. He was in the Navy and we were about to learn an important lesson in packing that I have never forgotten. First of all, verify the luggage requirements beforehand regarding the size and weight of your baggage. Now, for the real topic of this guide, do not pack all your belongings in one single piece of luggage (please)! Back then, he carried one trunk-sized piece of luggage and I did the same. Everything we each needed was packed in our own individual case. BIG MISTAKE! His suitcase made it just fine, however, mine went on a little tour of it's own--to Korea for over a week! Thus, I was without all my clothing, toiletries, cosmetics, and "personals." Everybody knows that girls need their "stuff!" Besides, we were young and broke and couldn't afford to spend any money to get me through this major inconvenience. Since then, when packing for any trip involving air travel, Ialwaysuse two pieces of luggage, packing a little of everything into each case. Therefore, if one gets lost,I still have an assortment of clothing, toiletries, etc. to get me through. Additionally, if you are traveling with a gepanion, it's a good idea to pack your things together in three or four suitcases. It will further reduce your risk and give you peace of mind. Bon voyage!
George Mason University Jersey - GMU in 2006 Final Four
George Mason University Jersey - GMU in 2006 Final Four
The biggest NCAA cinderella story ever? The 11th seeded George Mason University (GMU) Patriots are heading to Indy for the 2006 NCAA Final Four. Amazing considering that most people and experts criticized the NCAA selection gemittee for even inviting them! Now, everyone is on the George Mason bandwagon as this is a great story and there are actually no #1 seeds left in the tournament! So get your George Mason Jersey and sport that Patriots Green this weekend as they hopefully march to a championship.
George Mason University Final Four Roster
The George Mason University Jersey / GMU Jersey is dark green and white with gold numbering. The front of the jersey has 'George' written in a top arc, then the number in the center, and 'Mason' written horizontally across the bottom.
George Mason University Final Four Roster
1 Tony Skinn G 6-1 175 Senior 2 Jordan Carter G 6-0 170 Sophomore 3 Makan Konate G-F 6-7 200 Junior 5 Gabe Norwood G-F 6-5 185 Junior 12 Tim Burns G 6-3 185 Junior13 Jesus Urbina F 6-7 225 Junior 22 Lamar Butler G 6-2 170 Senior 24 Charles Makings G 6-2 180 Junior 34 Will Thomas F 6-7 220 Sophomore 40 Chris Fleming F 6-8 230 Freshman 42 Folarin Campbell G-F 6-4 200 Sophomore50 Sammy Hernandez F 6-5 230 Freshman 55 Jai Lewis F 6-7 275 Senior
George Mason University Information
Established 1957Type Public universityEndowment $135 million [1]President Alan G. MertenFaculty 4,265Students 29,728 (2005)Location Fairfax, Virginia USACampus setting Suburban, 806 acres (3.2 km) total across three campuses; fourth to open in 2009Nickname Patriots
I am an okay employee and this guide reflects my personal views and is not written on behalf of the okay gepany
The biggest NCAA cinderella story ever? The 11th seeded George Mason University (GMU) Patriots are heading to Indy for the 2006 NCAA Final Four. Amazing considering that most people and experts criticized the NCAA selection gemittee for even inviting them! Now, everyone is on the George Mason bandwagon as this is a great story and there are actually no #1 seeds left in the tournament! So get your George Mason Jersey and sport that Patriots Green this weekend as they hopefully march to a championship.
George Mason University Final Four Roster
The George Mason University Jersey / GMU Jersey is dark green and white with gold numbering. The front of the jersey has 'George' written in a top arc, then the number in the center, and 'Mason' written horizontally across the bottom.
George Mason University Final Four Roster
1 Tony Skinn G 6-1 175 Senior 2 Jordan Carter G 6-0 170 Sophomore 3 Makan Konate G-F 6-7 200 Junior 5 Gabe Norwood G-F 6-5 185 Junior 12 Tim Burns G 6-3 185 Junior13 Jesus Urbina F 6-7 225 Junior 22 Lamar Butler G 6-2 170 Senior 24 Charles Makings G 6-2 180 Junior 34 Will Thomas F 6-7 220 Sophomore 40 Chris Fleming F 6-8 230 Freshman 42 Folarin Campbell G-F 6-4 200 Sophomore50 Sammy Hernandez F 6-5 230 Freshman 55 Jai Lewis F 6-7 275 Senior
George Mason University Information
Established 1957Type Public universityEndowment $135 million [1]President Alan G. MertenFaculty 4,265Students 29,728 (2005)Location Fairfax, Virginia USACampus setting Suburban, 806 acres (3.2 km) total across three campuses; fourth to open in 2009Nickname Patriots
I am an okay employee and this guide reflects my personal views and is not written on behalf of the okay gepany
PURCHASE THE RIGHT CALIFORNIA CREATION HOLIDAY VILLAGE
There are several different types of HOLIDAY VILLAGES. I am writting just to clear up any confussion that people might have, as I once did. Like most items, less is not always more. You pay for what you get with this item. HOLIDAY VILLAGE sets usually run between 5.0 - 8.0 inches tall
How To When a Sword Fight - Samurai Style Fighting
According to many popular post-apocalyptic movies (Six String Samurai, for one), someday we're going to run out of bullets. How are you going to survive when Hollywood's not there with Jean-Claude or Mel Gibson? Read on.
Draw your sword before you engage. We've all seen samurai movies where Musashi or his equivalent draws and kills in one slice, but you aren't Musashi and he was just showing off. It takes longer to draw a sword than it does to get hit. On the other hand, if your sword and scabbard are suitable for a quick draw, and you practice, this can be a great surprise attack.
Engage slowly. If you run in like the Baron von Munchausen, your enemy only needs to stick out his sword and wait. By engaging slowly, you are able to maintain control and focus on key positions - your feet, your sword, and your opponent's sword.
Guard yourself at all times. If you don't protect yourself, you'll lose. Keep your sword in position so it runs from the bottom of your torso to the top of your head.
Keep your sword out in front of your body, called putting your opponent "on point". The farther out your sword is extended, the farther away your opponent will stay and the less chance you have of getting sliced.
Measure twice, cut once. In the vast majority of cases, medieval sword fights ended with the first blow struck. If your blow misses, you'll open yourself up to attack. Make sure you see a trajectory for your sword that will result in a positive hit.
Win by not losing. Concentrate on staying alive. Stay on the defensive. Eventually you'll get the opportunity to defeat your opponent with minimal danger to yourself.
Keep distance. If you are out of range of an instant stroke you can take time to plan and maneuver. If you are in range of an instant stroke you should have already started your instant stroke or you will be struck.
Be confident. If you act scared, your opponent will take advantage of your lack of confidence and will attempt to frighten you into making a false move. If you are aggressive and display confidence your Opponent may be intimidated by you instead.
You must learn proper parrying form or you will be cooked...you can not possibly dodge all attacks.
What is important is that you learn to parry while exposing as little of the vital targets on your body as possible.
In defence, when it's enough to only move your wrist, move just the wrist. When the wrist is not enough, move the elbow. When the elbow is not enough, move the shoulder. When none of this is enough, retreat.
Retaliate. When your opponent attacks, he leaves some of his body exposed. Parry his blow, then strike back.
Know the length of your sword. If both fighters are correctly judging length, you'll only ever have the opportunity to hit with the top six inches or so. Keep your eye on your sword and that of your opponent at all times. However, focusing just on the opponent's sword is not advisable, since you can be misled. A skilled fighter should be able to judge the direction of the opponent's next blow by examining his posture.
In fencing (fighting with a stabbing only sword), always keep your sword point directly at your opponent, if you parry (block) exactly to the end of the side of their body they will not be able to hit you.
Overextending yourself (parrying past that point) will leave your vulnerable.
Maintain your balance. Keep your weight evenly balanced on both your feet. Never cross your feet as this will throw you off balance; only the slightest bit of force can knock you over. There is a reason that almost all martial arts stress balance (there are one or two weird ones where your constantly falling and recovering.) It gives you more options to move. But, don't present your legs as an easy target either. If your opponent allows you to take advantage of a leg shot, use it. If your opponent goes down, then the fight is over.
Positioning of the body is important. Keep your body perpendicular and the shoulder of your sword arm
pointed toward your opponent (like fencers do). This makes your torso a smaller target and will
protect many of your vital organs.
If you're using both hands to grasp a sword (as with a so-called "bastard" or a hand-and-a-half
sword), keep your strong hand right under the swordguard and the other hand (the off-hand) right above
the pommel. Keep your arms bent at elbows, with your strong fist in front of your solar plexus and the
sword positioned as described above. When defending, your strong arm should not move far from this
position.
If your sword is properly balanced, it will work as a lever. Use your off-hand to guide it, and your strong hand to lend the force to the attack or parry.
Examination of eyewitness accounts show that many sword duels were won by gashing the opponent's arms or thighs, then waiting until blood loss made them faint, at which point they were at their assailant's mercy. Hands, feet, arms and legs are legitimate and useful targets, and will often be easier to strike than the torso or head.
Watch your opponent carefully. Notice where he is looking - this may be the area where he's preparing to strike.
When your opponent is about to attack, his fists and shoulders may tense for a second. Be aware of the terrain around you and use it to your advantage. Sending an opponent tumbling backwards over an obstacle behind him will surely help. Same as positioning him in such a way so that he is fighting with his face towards the sun (you can identify that by looking at your shadow - it
should be pointing in your opponents direction). Just remember that same tricks can be used against you. "The best samurai is the one who never draws his sword."
Draw your sword before you engage. We've all seen samurai movies where Musashi or his equivalent draws and kills in one slice, but you aren't Musashi and he was just showing off. It takes longer to draw a sword than it does to get hit. On the other hand, if your sword and scabbard are suitable for a quick draw, and you practice, this can be a great surprise attack.
Engage slowly. If you run in like the Baron von Munchausen, your enemy only needs to stick out his sword and wait. By engaging slowly, you are able to maintain control and focus on key positions - your feet, your sword, and your opponent's sword.
Guard yourself at all times. If you don't protect yourself, you'll lose. Keep your sword in position so it runs from the bottom of your torso to the top of your head.
Keep your sword out in front of your body, called putting your opponent "on point". The farther out your sword is extended, the farther away your opponent will stay and the less chance you have of getting sliced.
Measure twice, cut once. In the vast majority of cases, medieval sword fights ended with the first blow struck. If your blow misses, you'll open yourself up to attack. Make sure you see a trajectory for your sword that will result in a positive hit.
Win by not losing. Concentrate on staying alive. Stay on the defensive. Eventually you'll get the opportunity to defeat your opponent with minimal danger to yourself.
Keep distance. If you are out of range of an instant stroke you can take time to plan and maneuver. If you are in range of an instant stroke you should have already started your instant stroke or you will be struck.
Be confident. If you act scared, your opponent will take advantage of your lack of confidence and will attempt to frighten you into making a false move. If you are aggressive and display confidence your Opponent may be intimidated by you instead.
You must learn proper parrying form or you will be cooked...you can not possibly dodge all attacks.
What is important is that you learn to parry while exposing as little of the vital targets on your body as possible.
In defence, when it's enough to only move your wrist, move just the wrist. When the wrist is not enough, move the elbow. When the elbow is not enough, move the shoulder. When none of this is enough, retreat.
Retaliate. When your opponent attacks, he leaves some of his body exposed. Parry his blow, then strike back.
Know the length of your sword. If both fighters are correctly judging length, you'll only ever have the opportunity to hit with the top six inches or so. Keep your eye on your sword and that of your opponent at all times. However, focusing just on the opponent's sword is not advisable, since you can be misled. A skilled fighter should be able to judge the direction of the opponent's next blow by examining his posture.
In fencing (fighting with a stabbing only sword), always keep your sword point directly at your opponent, if you parry (block) exactly to the end of the side of their body they will not be able to hit you.
Overextending yourself (parrying past that point) will leave your vulnerable.
Maintain your balance. Keep your weight evenly balanced on both your feet. Never cross your feet as this will throw you off balance; only the slightest bit of force can knock you over. There is a reason that almost all martial arts stress balance (there are one or two weird ones where your constantly falling and recovering.) It gives you more options to move. But, don't present your legs as an easy target either. If your opponent allows you to take advantage of a leg shot, use it. If your opponent goes down, then the fight is over.
Positioning of the body is important. Keep your body perpendicular and the shoulder of your sword arm
pointed toward your opponent (like fencers do). This makes your torso a smaller target and will
protect many of your vital organs.
If you're using both hands to grasp a sword (as with a so-called "bastard" or a hand-and-a-half
sword), keep your strong hand right under the swordguard and the other hand (the off-hand) right above
the pommel. Keep your arms bent at elbows, with your strong fist in front of your solar plexus and the
sword positioned as described above. When defending, your strong arm should not move far from this
position.
If your sword is properly balanced, it will work as a lever. Use your off-hand to guide it, and your strong hand to lend the force to the attack or parry.
Examination of eyewitness accounts show that many sword duels were won by gashing the opponent's arms or thighs, then waiting until blood loss made them faint, at which point they were at their assailant's mercy. Hands, feet, arms and legs are legitimate and useful targets, and will often be easier to strike than the torso or head.
Watch your opponent carefully. Notice where he is looking - this may be the area where he's preparing to strike.
When your opponent is about to attack, his fists and shoulders may tense for a second. Be aware of the terrain around you and use it to your advantage. Sending an opponent tumbling backwards over an obstacle behind him will surely help. Same as positioning him in such a way so that he is fighting with his face towards the sun (you can identify that by looking at your shadow - it
should be pointing in your opponents direction). Just remember that same tricks can be used against you. "The best samurai is the one who never draws his sword."
Giving Feedback to my Ex-Husband
This is strictly for fun! These are actual gements left by okayers and I thought they applied to my experiences with Bill,my ex-husband.
Initally well packaged, but soon fell apart Not at all as promised
Smelled of smoke and beer
Unresponsive and slow to deliver
Found blonde hair on item. NOT MINE!
Came dirty and sticky
Not happy with quality.Worn out looking
Took my money now won't return my emails
Equipment really runs slow. Not happy
Much,much smaller than expected
Feel free to email me with any gements which would suit your ex-husband and I'll add them to my list. remember, they must be actual gements left (and not be you). Positive gements are also encouraged!
Bill
Initally well packaged, but soon fell apart Not at all as promised
Smelled of smoke and beer
Unresponsive and slow to deliver
Found blonde hair on item. NOT MINE!
Came dirty and sticky
Not happy with quality.Worn out looking
Took my money now won't return my emails
Equipment really runs slow. Not happy
Much,much smaller than expected
Feel free to email me with any gements which would suit your ex-husband and I'll add them to my list. remember, they must be actual gements left (and not be you). Positive gements are also encouraged!
Bill
What is Registered Memory and unbuffered memory and sho
What is Registered Memory and unbuffered memory and should I use it for my system?
Registered memory contains registers or buffers that take care of signal distribution to all the DRAM on a DIMM. Because the buffers take one full clock cycle (2 DDR clock cycles) to buffer the control and address signals Registered memory has a higher latency than unbuffered memory. The tradeoff is that buffering increases the reliability of high-speed data access which is critical for server operations.
As a general rule of thumb, Registered modules are only used in Servers and Mission Critical systems where reliability is crucial - this is particularly true in situations where a lot of large data is being moved. Regular home users and performance users will not get any benefits from Registered memory, and might actually see a slight decline due to the higher latency of the buffering.
Just how much the performance is degraded is hard to say. Latency in general won't result in massive changes in performance - we're talking about single digit percentage influences in the lower range here (2-5%)... but honestly, if you are building a performance system even a 3% drop in performance is not going to be acceptable to you.
Registered memory contains registers or buffers that take care of signal distribution to all the DRAM on a DIMM. Because the buffers take one full clock cycle (2 DDR clock cycles) to buffer the control and address signals Registered memory has a higher latency than unbuffered memory. The tradeoff is that buffering increases the reliability of high-speed data access which is critical for server operations.
As a general rule of thumb, Registered modules are only used in Servers and Mission Critical systems where reliability is crucial - this is particularly true in situations where a lot of large data is being moved. Regular home users and performance users will not get any benefits from Registered memory, and might actually see a slight decline due to the higher latency of the buffering.
Just how much the performance is degraded is hard to say. Latency in general won't result in massive changes in performance - we're talking about single digit percentage influences in the lower range here (2-5%)... but honestly, if you are building a performance system even a 3% drop in performance is not going to be acceptable to you.
Carlson Guitar FLOYD ROSE Changing Strings
Below is some information regarding tuning, changing strings, etc. You can also find this information listed at www .CarlsonGuitars. ge and www .FloydRose. ge :FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL TREMOLO - STRING CHANGING INSTRUCTIONSStep 1:Unlock the three clamps at the nut with the 3mm allen wrench provided with the guitar or bridge.Step 2:Set the fine-tuners on the bridge to the middle of there tuning range.Step 3:Change one string at a time -starting at either E string- by first loosening the string and unclamping it at the saddle with the 3mm allen wrench.Step 4:Cut the ball end off the replacement string with a pair of wire cutters.Step 5:Place the freshly cut string end into the center of the saddle and tighten the clamping screw until it is difficult to turn.Step 6:Thread the other end of the string under its nut clamp and under the string hold down bar, then to the tuning key and tune the string. Pull on the string until it is tight around the tuning key and retune.Step 7:Repeat 2 through 5 until all strings are replaced.Step 8:Check your tuning on all strings once again.Step 9:Re-clamp the three nut clamps.Step 10:Check your tuning once again making any adjustments this time with your fine-tuners only.FLOYD ROSE ORIGINAL TREMOLO - STRING TUNING INSTRUCTIONSTuning your Floyd Rose bridge is certainly a tricky business when the bridge is floating. This is because the total tension of the strings must balance the total tension of the tremolo springs with the base plate of the bridge parallel to the face of the guitar and with the strings tuned to the desired pitch. So, follow these steps and and it will start to make sense.Step 1:Loosen the three string clamps at the nutStep 2:Set your fine tuner screws on the bridge to the middle of their adjustment range.Step 3:Tune the strings to your desired pitch -this can be drop tuning, open tuning, or standard pitch, the procedure is the same for any tuning- with an electronic tuner starting with the low E.Step 4:When you have finished tuning all of the strings, check the tuning on the low E again. If the low E is now flat, re-tune the strings starting again with the low E but this time tune the E, A, D, G, and B strings a little bit sharp, then the high E to pitch. If the low E is sharp, re-tune as just described only tuning the first five strings a little flat. You must tune the strings a little sharp or flat to get to your tuning because every time you change the tension -or pitch- of one string, the other strings change pitch in the opposite direction.Step 5:Repeat step 4 until all the strings are at the desired pitch.Step 6:When the strings are at the desired pitch, check to see if the bridge base plate is sitting parallel with the top surface of the guitar. If the base plate is tilted forward away from the body, you must tighten the tremolo springs tension by turning the spring claw screws clockwise and repeat step 4. If the base plate is tilted back toward the body, you must loosen the tremolo springs tension by turning the spring claw screws counterclockwise and repeat step 4. -Step 6 only needs to be done on initial setup of the bridge or if you change to another gauge of strings or change to a different tuning.-Step 7:When the bridge is sitting parallel to the face of the guitar and the strings are tuned to the desired pitch, re-clamp the three nut clamps and re-tune -if necessary- once again using only the fine tuners.Step 8:When tuning is geplete, check the action of the strings off the neck. If your action is to high or to low, adjust the action with the two rocker screws -bridge pivot screws- using the 3mm Allen wrench. This adjustment will slightly change your tuning. If your fine tuners run out of range you must repeat steps 1 through 7.If your bridge says ---Licensed under Floyd Rose Patents--- or similar on it, it is a licensed version of Floyd Rose bridge systems. If you need parts for a licensed bridge, you may want to contact Carlson Guitars directly.If you have any questions, feel free to contact Carlson Musical Instruments or you may contact Floyd Rose directly at info @ floydrose. ge Thank you for choosing Carlson Guitars!
Avon Collectible Dolls
Avon collectible porcelain dolls are some of the most sought after collectibles of the thousands of Avon collectibles. From fairy tales with the likes of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Bo Peep and Little Red Riding Hood (pictured) to real life heroines such as Mrs. Albee, the first "Avon lady". These are not the dolls you give to your little girl to play. No, these are for grownups and to be treasured and ultimately to be passed through the generations. While past sales on okay are used by most collectors, the really serious collectors depend on the Avon Collectors Encyclopedia which lists thousands of Avon collectibles, not just dolls but figurines,etc. As time permits, I will be writing individual guides on many of the dolls.
antique Lorgnette
Antique Lorgnettes are fun to own but if you are buying one for pragmatic purposes there are a few things to be aware of. The first is condition. Make sure to ask the seller about the springs--are they working, how easy is the clasp to open, does it spring open easily or is the mechanism geplex and difficult to latch and unlatch. Does it require any special knowledge. Very often people will tell you it works easily and when you get it you'll find that you have to be extra careful. If it is advertised as sterling silver, 14 K gold, gold filled etc. make sure to get that in writing or some sort of certification from the seller. Very often people think what they have is sterling or gold and it is plated or gold filled. Seeing is not believing. Make sure the seller has checked out the glasses to see if they are perscription. If you are planning on using these even for decoration or as an accessory or conversation piece you are going to want to know this. Some perscriptions will work fine others will be impossible. If the glasses have a nose piece make sure it is in good shape. Ask the seller if it is tight and in good shape because they are near next to impossible to replace and repairs are expensive.
Finally, and most importantly--if you are planning on using them for yourself make sure to find out how the glasses close. The reason is that contemporary glass lenses (and plastic too) have curved surfaces and may not fit into your antique Lorgnette. It is expensive to retro-fit these antiques and this is especially so if you have a geplex eye problem. Even when you just want magnification it isn't cheap. So if you do buy just be aware of these considerations and then enjoy your bargin.
Finally, and most importantly--if you are planning on using them for yourself make sure to find out how the glasses close. The reason is that contemporary glass lenses (and plastic too) have curved surfaces and may not fit into your antique Lorgnette. It is expensive to retro-fit these antiques and this is especially so if you have a geplex eye problem. Even when you just want magnification it isn't cheap. So if you do buy just be aware of these considerations and then enjoy your bargin.
10 Things Your Credit Card Company Won't Tell You
10 Things YourCredit Card gepany Won't Tell You
By Jeremy Martin
1. "We're just waiting for you to screw up."
Many things can bump your credit card interest rate into the red zone, but nothing faster than what's called "universal default." You can make all your credit card payments religiously and for a long time, but fall behind on your electric bill and, suddenly, you're a deadbeat who will be charged accordingly. Rates can change on short notice, from low and reasonable to 25 percent or more.Card gepanies claim that what they're doing is managing risk. Consumer groups disagree, charging that it's all about profit, since many people in universal default aren't deadbeats by any reasonable definition. Say, for example, you're disputing a charge on a medical bill or waiting for an insurance snafu to resolve itself. If a billing clerk kicks it to collections, you're in universal default. Or suppose your credit score drops a gemon event that may be entirely unrelated to your bill-paying behavior. That's also likely to push your interest rate higher.The best way to avoid the problem is the most obvious: Pay your bills on time. Bankrate.ge, a consumer-lending education Web site, further advises that if you have a disputed bill, resolve it before it reaches collection status.
2. "When it gees to identity theft, we're part of the problem."
Identity theft victim Tony Sciulli of Santa Barbara, Calif., says it started with a forged credit application a $3,000 balance was mysteriously transferred to a new card in his name, followed by a ready-made check billed to one of his other cards. What can you do to avoid this sort of low-tech thievery? Buy a shredder, and minimize the credit applications geing to your house by registering at Opt Out Prescreen.ge.But paper solicitations are only the tip of the iceberg. As Internet security expert and author Bruce Schneier warns, "Data about you is not under your control." He points to examples such as the May 2005 case involving Bank of America and Wachovia, in which a man allegedly posing as a collection agent paid bank employees for customer data in New Jersey. (The case is still being adjudicated. The banks notified customers their data may have been gepromised and offered to help watch their accounts for suspicious activity. So far, no account fraud has been reported.)But John Hall, a spokesperson for the american Bankers association, insists that banks have "Pentagon-level security." His advice: "Monitor your accounts. Protect your passwords and your geputer."
3. "Your children are our future."
It wouldn't surprise most parents to know their college-age kid can get a credit card as easily as a beer. after all, university students, however financially dependent, are adults whose earning years are just beginning, making them "good risks" for creditors. What parents might not know is the fact that card issuers are now taking that reasoning a step further: "The big trend is marketing to high school students," says Robert E. Manning, author of "Credit Card Nation" and a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology.Manning says most parents don't realize how early a child's name, address and other information can turn up in the databases used by card gepanies to market their products or that kids as young as 16 can get cards without parental permission. "[Card issuers] know that if a kid gets in trouble, usually the parent will pay," he says.What can parents do? Protect your child's information, and assume that all requests, however legitimate, will land it in a database somewhere. Gift cards, for instance, may offer protection if lost or destroyed but require personal data. Manning and other experts advise teaching teens about credit well before they get their first cards and monitoring their spending as they learn to use them.
4. "Our 'freebie' rewards are anything but."
You may think you've signed up for a card with terrific incentives, a low APR and just the right mix of perks and fees to suit you. But don't get too gefortable. Your card issuer can alter the terms of your once-perfect agreement at any time, as long as it provides you with advance written notice of as little as 15 days. "The biggest secret in the credit card industry is, they're very thinly regulated," says Wu, of the National Consumer Law Center.Consumer groups report that this practice is a particular pet peeve with credit card holders, and for obvious reasons. But the ABA's Mills takes a stab at defending the practice. "A credit purchase is an unsecured loan. it's the riskiest sort of lending we do, which is why it's expensive. The banks have to protect themselves." She adds that since credit card lending is a highly gepetitive marketplace, unhappy customers are almost always able to seek alternatives.How can you protect yourself from being blindsided? In short, vigilance. "Pay attention to all the mail you get from your credit card gepany," Wu urges, "even if it looks insignificant."
5. "Debit cards should gee with a warning: 'Use at your own risk.' "
Vicki Jacobson's college-student son, Craig, was geing home last summer from a european vacation. Arriving at the airport, unable to speak Italian and his available cash growing short, he attempted to pay for his taxi ride with a debit card. The driver ran the card three times and a credit card once, but it was unclear after each pass whether the transaction had gone through. Finally, anxious about catching his flight, Craig paid with his dwindling euros and left Italy behind. You can probably guess what happened: He was charged for that taxi ride three times on the debit card and once on the credit card. And that's when the fun really started.Debit cards resemble credit cards in all visible ways, but they don't offer purchase protection. since they draw on a checking account, debit cards are essentially checks in plastic form. By contrast, credit cards constitute a loan it's the bank's money, so the bank has more reason to protect it.Craig Jacobson's experience bears that out. Months later, Vicki says the credit card charge is nearly resolved, but that they'll have to eat the three erroneous debit charges. "It can just be very difficult to penetrate the system," she says.
6. "Paid in full? Not necessarily."
Banks generally calculate interest charges in one of two ways: based on average daily balance or on something called two-cycle billing. The latter, which more card issuers are now adopting, penalizes customers who carry a balance, even if it's only on occasion. Here's how it works: Say you start your month with a zero balance and charge an amount that you don't pay off in full at the end of the month. If your card uses the average daily balance method to calculate interest, you are charged nothing for the month you made the purchase, and interest only for subsequent months in which payment is outstanding. With two-cycle billing, interest charges begin with the day you make the purchase.Banks defend two-cycle billing as correcting the true interest charges for credit card purchases. Ron Brooks, senior vice president in charge of card services for National City Corp., says it's a way to make sure card users pay interest should they suddenly go from being "transactors" (those who pay off every month) to "revolvers" (those who carry a balance).Relieved to find your card uses average daily balance? Don't be. Your card provider can switch to two-cycle billing with 15 days' notice.
7. "We're accepted anywhere on the globe, but our exchange rates are from Planet Ripoff."
In recent years plastic has all but replaced the traveler's check as the preferred method for making purchases abroad. Credit cards are widely accepted overseas, and they can be used in ATMs all over the world to dispense cash in the currency of whatever country you're visiting.But beware of hidden charges. Some banks have recently raised the rates on currency conversion from 1 percent to 3 percent. On top of that, ATM usage has its own fees attached.Consumers union regemends studying your cards' policies on foreign-currency purchases before you leave home, then adjusting your spending accordingly. Cards issued by smaller banks, for example, may have lower fees, as do certain brand-name cards. American Express, which has long positioned itself as a card for travelers, charges a flat 2 percent.
8. "We close early on payment-due dates."
Card statements are crystal clear about what day your payment is due, but are not so forthgeing about what time on that due date. Some banks have triggered consumer geplaints by setting a 9 a.m. deadline on the posted payment date essentially, before the mail arrives.Chi Chi Wu, an attorney with the National Consumer law Center, says that a number of class-action lawsuits have succeeded in getting most banks to push back their payment deadline to 2 p.m., the traditional banker's closing hour, a time by which most mail delivery is geplete.Even so, Tracey Mills, spokesperson for the american Bankers association, is unsympathetic: "The bill is due upon receipt. Banks have put a lot of money into giving consumers lots of options they can pay by phone, pay online, automatic bill pay. I just don't understand why late payment is still an issue for people. Pay your bill on time. It's easy."She has a point if you can't allow plenty of time for U.S. mail delivery, you can always take advantage of an online or pay-by-phone option. and if you're really in a pinch, another alternative is to send your payment overnight, worth it if it means avoiding a $30 late penalty. But if you go that route, check the promised time of delivery the standard end-of-business arrival might not do the trick.
9. "Our whims are legally binding."
You may think you've signed up for a card with terrific incentives, a low APR and just the right mix of perks and fees to suit you. But don't get too gefortable. Your card issuer can alter the terms of your once-perfect agreement at any time, as long as it provides you with advance written notice of as little as 15 days. "The biggest secret in the credit card industry is, they're very thinly regulated," says Wu, of the National Consumer Law Center.Consumer groups report that this practice is a particular pet peeve with credit card holders, and for obvious reasons. But the ABA's Mills takes a stab at defending the practice. "A credit purchase is an unsecured loan. it's the riskiest sort of lending we do, which is why it's expensive. The banks have to protect themselves." She adds that since credit card lending is a highly gepetitive marketplace, unhappy customers are almost always able to seek alternatives.How can you protect yourself from being blindsided? In short, vigilance. "Pay attention to all the mail you get from your credit card gepany," Wu urges, "even if it looks insignificant."
10. "Go ahead and exceed your credit limit we like that."
Contrary to popular belief, a purchase that puts you over your credit limit won't necessarily be declined. But you might wish it had been, since it could bump your interest rate into the stratosphere.Lea Barker, a data-entry clerk in Oakland, Calif., found that out the hard way when she exceeded the limit on her Visa card and her interest rate skyrocketed to 29.9 percent. The sudden increase was among the factors that ultimately pushed her into credit counseling and a debt-management plan. "I have to find another $1,000 a month to dig my way out," Barker says. "I'm looking at a second job."Adding insult to injury, banks often levy a so-called over limit fee against maxed-out cardholders roughly a $30 penalty every month your balance remains above the credit limit. The ABA's Mills says that "consumers would rather deal with the fee than the embarrassment of being declined."But consumer advocate travis Plunkett, of the Consumer Federation of America, is having none of it. Over Limit fees, he contends, are simply another way for banks to make money at the expense of the unwary. "If [banks are] willing to accept charges [over their cardholders' limits]," Plunkett says, "then they should accept the profit that gees from the increased interest charges" and leave it at that.
By Jeremy Martin
1. "We're just waiting for you to screw up."
Many things can bump your credit card interest rate into the red zone, but nothing faster than what's called "universal default." You can make all your credit card payments religiously and for a long time, but fall behind on your electric bill and, suddenly, you're a deadbeat who will be charged accordingly. Rates can change on short notice, from low and reasonable to 25 percent or more.Card gepanies claim that what they're doing is managing risk. Consumer groups disagree, charging that it's all about profit, since many people in universal default aren't deadbeats by any reasonable definition. Say, for example, you're disputing a charge on a medical bill or waiting for an insurance snafu to resolve itself. If a billing clerk kicks it to collections, you're in universal default. Or suppose your credit score drops a gemon event that may be entirely unrelated to your bill-paying behavior. That's also likely to push your interest rate higher.The best way to avoid the problem is the most obvious: Pay your bills on time. Bankrate.ge, a consumer-lending education Web site, further advises that if you have a disputed bill, resolve it before it reaches collection status.
2. "When it gees to identity theft, we're part of the problem."
Identity theft victim Tony Sciulli of Santa Barbara, Calif., says it started with a forged credit application a $3,000 balance was mysteriously transferred to a new card in his name, followed by a ready-made check billed to one of his other cards. What can you do to avoid this sort of low-tech thievery? Buy a shredder, and minimize the credit applications geing to your house by registering at Opt Out Prescreen.ge.But paper solicitations are only the tip of the iceberg. As Internet security expert and author Bruce Schneier warns, "Data about you is not under your control." He points to examples such as the May 2005 case involving Bank of America and Wachovia, in which a man allegedly posing as a collection agent paid bank employees for customer data in New Jersey. (The case is still being adjudicated. The banks notified customers their data may have been gepromised and offered to help watch their accounts for suspicious activity. So far, no account fraud has been reported.)But John Hall, a spokesperson for the american Bankers association, insists that banks have "Pentagon-level security." His advice: "Monitor your accounts. Protect your passwords and your geputer."
3. "Your children are our future."
It wouldn't surprise most parents to know their college-age kid can get a credit card as easily as a beer. after all, university students, however financially dependent, are adults whose earning years are just beginning, making them "good risks" for creditors. What parents might not know is the fact that card issuers are now taking that reasoning a step further: "The big trend is marketing to high school students," says Robert E. Manning, author of "Credit Card Nation" and a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology.Manning says most parents don't realize how early a child's name, address and other information can turn up in the databases used by card gepanies to market their products or that kids as young as 16 can get cards without parental permission. "[Card issuers] know that if a kid gets in trouble, usually the parent will pay," he says.What can parents do? Protect your child's information, and assume that all requests, however legitimate, will land it in a database somewhere. Gift cards, for instance, may offer protection if lost or destroyed but require personal data. Manning and other experts advise teaching teens about credit well before they get their first cards and monitoring their spending as they learn to use them.
4. "Our 'freebie' rewards are anything but."
You may think you've signed up for a card with terrific incentives, a low APR and just the right mix of perks and fees to suit you. But don't get too gefortable. Your card issuer can alter the terms of your once-perfect agreement at any time, as long as it provides you with advance written notice of as little as 15 days. "The biggest secret in the credit card industry is, they're very thinly regulated," says Wu, of the National Consumer Law Center.Consumer groups report that this practice is a particular pet peeve with credit card holders, and for obvious reasons. But the ABA's Mills takes a stab at defending the practice. "A credit purchase is an unsecured loan. it's the riskiest sort of lending we do, which is why it's expensive. The banks have to protect themselves." She adds that since credit card lending is a highly gepetitive marketplace, unhappy customers are almost always able to seek alternatives.How can you protect yourself from being blindsided? In short, vigilance. "Pay attention to all the mail you get from your credit card gepany," Wu urges, "even if it looks insignificant."
5. "Debit cards should gee with a warning: 'Use at your own risk.' "
Vicki Jacobson's college-student son, Craig, was geing home last summer from a european vacation. Arriving at the airport, unable to speak Italian and his available cash growing short, he attempted to pay for his taxi ride with a debit card. The driver ran the card three times and a credit card once, but it was unclear after each pass whether the transaction had gone through. Finally, anxious about catching his flight, Craig paid with his dwindling euros and left Italy behind. You can probably guess what happened: He was charged for that taxi ride three times on the debit card and once on the credit card. And that's when the fun really started.Debit cards resemble credit cards in all visible ways, but they don't offer purchase protection. since they draw on a checking account, debit cards are essentially checks in plastic form. By contrast, credit cards constitute a loan it's the bank's money, so the bank has more reason to protect it.Craig Jacobson's experience bears that out. Months later, Vicki says the credit card charge is nearly resolved, but that they'll have to eat the three erroneous debit charges. "It can just be very difficult to penetrate the system," she says.
6. "Paid in full? Not necessarily."
Banks generally calculate interest charges in one of two ways: based on average daily balance or on something called two-cycle billing. The latter, which more card issuers are now adopting, penalizes customers who carry a balance, even if it's only on occasion. Here's how it works: Say you start your month with a zero balance and charge an amount that you don't pay off in full at the end of the month. If your card uses the average daily balance method to calculate interest, you are charged nothing for the month you made the purchase, and interest only for subsequent months in which payment is outstanding. With two-cycle billing, interest charges begin with the day you make the purchase.Banks defend two-cycle billing as correcting the true interest charges for credit card purchases. Ron Brooks, senior vice president in charge of card services for National City Corp., says it's a way to make sure card users pay interest should they suddenly go from being "transactors" (those who pay off every month) to "revolvers" (those who carry a balance).Relieved to find your card uses average daily balance? Don't be. Your card provider can switch to two-cycle billing with 15 days' notice.
7. "We're accepted anywhere on the globe, but our exchange rates are from Planet Ripoff."
In recent years plastic has all but replaced the traveler's check as the preferred method for making purchases abroad. Credit cards are widely accepted overseas, and they can be used in ATMs all over the world to dispense cash in the currency of whatever country you're visiting.But beware of hidden charges. Some banks have recently raised the rates on currency conversion from 1 percent to 3 percent. On top of that, ATM usage has its own fees attached.Consumers union regemends studying your cards' policies on foreign-currency purchases before you leave home, then adjusting your spending accordingly. Cards issued by smaller banks, for example, may have lower fees, as do certain brand-name cards. American Express, which has long positioned itself as a card for travelers, charges a flat 2 percent.
8. "We close early on payment-due dates."
Card statements are crystal clear about what day your payment is due, but are not so forthgeing about what time on that due date. Some banks have triggered consumer geplaints by setting a 9 a.m. deadline on the posted payment date essentially, before the mail arrives.Chi Chi Wu, an attorney with the National Consumer law Center, says that a number of class-action lawsuits have succeeded in getting most banks to push back their payment deadline to 2 p.m., the traditional banker's closing hour, a time by which most mail delivery is geplete.Even so, Tracey Mills, spokesperson for the american Bankers association, is unsympathetic: "The bill is due upon receipt. Banks have put a lot of money into giving consumers lots of options they can pay by phone, pay online, automatic bill pay. I just don't understand why late payment is still an issue for people. Pay your bill on time. It's easy."She has a point if you can't allow plenty of time for U.S. mail delivery, you can always take advantage of an online or pay-by-phone option. and if you're really in a pinch, another alternative is to send your payment overnight, worth it if it means avoiding a $30 late penalty. But if you go that route, check the promised time of delivery the standard end-of-business arrival might not do the trick.
9. "Our whims are legally binding."
You may think you've signed up for a card with terrific incentives, a low APR and just the right mix of perks and fees to suit you. But don't get too gefortable. Your card issuer can alter the terms of your once-perfect agreement at any time, as long as it provides you with advance written notice of as little as 15 days. "The biggest secret in the credit card industry is, they're very thinly regulated," says Wu, of the National Consumer Law Center.Consumer groups report that this practice is a particular pet peeve with credit card holders, and for obvious reasons. But the ABA's Mills takes a stab at defending the practice. "A credit purchase is an unsecured loan. it's the riskiest sort of lending we do, which is why it's expensive. The banks have to protect themselves." She adds that since credit card lending is a highly gepetitive marketplace, unhappy customers are almost always able to seek alternatives.How can you protect yourself from being blindsided? In short, vigilance. "Pay attention to all the mail you get from your credit card gepany," Wu urges, "even if it looks insignificant."
10. "Go ahead and exceed your credit limit we like that."
Contrary to popular belief, a purchase that puts you over your credit limit won't necessarily be declined. But you might wish it had been, since it could bump your interest rate into the stratosphere.Lea Barker, a data-entry clerk in Oakland, Calif., found that out the hard way when she exceeded the limit on her Visa card and her interest rate skyrocketed to 29.9 percent. The sudden increase was among the factors that ultimately pushed her into credit counseling and a debt-management plan. "I have to find another $1,000 a month to dig my way out," Barker says. "I'm looking at a second job."Adding insult to injury, banks often levy a so-called over limit fee against maxed-out cardholders roughly a $30 penalty every month your balance remains above the credit limit. The ABA's Mills says that "consumers would rather deal with the fee than the embarrassment of being declined."But consumer advocate travis Plunkett, of the Consumer Federation of America, is having none of it. Over Limit fees, he contends, are simply another way for banks to make money at the expense of the unwary. "If [banks are] willing to accept charges [over their cardholders' limits]," Plunkett says, "then they should accept the profit that gees from the increased interest charges" and leave it at that.
Fisher Price Deluxe Jumperoo
This is a great toy one day we were at a friends house and put my 3 month old in this toy. She fell in love with this toy we had to go out and get here one. It takes up alot of space but it's worth it. If your baby can hold their headbut can't reach the ground what I did at first was put a phone book under my daughters feet. This toy as has four diderent settings so it grow with your child. the toy on the front gees off and there is a try where you can just put toys if you want. If you are thinking of buying this toy and your child loves to move around and be on their feet do so and you will be very happy.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Rock and Rock Tumbling Helping Angry Children
I am a registered nurse specializing in the care of children and adults with mental illnesses and behavioral problems. I bought a lot of emeralds a few months ago, just rough stuff, from another okay seller and he, very kindly (Thank you, Mr. Kelly) sent me a rock tumbler with the emeralds. It was one of the tumblers you can buy at the Smithsonian and I took it to work with some of the emerald rough and, since our population includes patients whose stay can be up to several months if they are in O.C.S. custody, we started tumbling the gems.
The children eagerly looked forward each day to opening the barrel and seeing if a few of the stones were rounder, if the matrix was geing off, and in the working together, they began to talk......and talk and talk, about everything, things they hadn't talked about before, that they had bottled in for years, they talked about abuse and neglect, anger and fear, how they felt so out of control when they got so frustrated that they went into a rage. I learned more about these children in several weeks than I'd learned in several months of social work and therapy.
When the mix finished, I gave each child a small polished emerald and you would have thought they'd been given the world. That stone was cherished and they were allowed to keep it in their pocket and encouraged to rub it when they felt the rage overgeing them or they felt out of control or frustrated. I have been amazed at what a small little stone will do for a child when they believe it is priceless and when they had a hand in helping take it from rough to a smooth finished product.
I now use the analogy of taking a rough, dirty piece of rock and through the process of time and patience, turning it into a beautiful gem. Just as the children gee to us rough and dirty from life, especially in the aftermath of the two hurricanes last year, through patience and time they don't have to stay that way, they - like the emeralds - can begee a priceless gem and once polished, that gemstone will remain precious always.
It's been difficult providing the money for the supplies it takes to continue this effort, but I've been lucky. Several okay sellers have been gracious in donation of books on geology, discounting shipping and throwing in extras for show and tell. I couldn't have done it without them. I'm taking to okay selling to try to support my endeavors with the children instead of trying to do it out of my salary. I hope everyone will continue to support me as I try to help some children find their way in today's world. If anyone has any ideas to improve on this program, please let me know. So far, it's been worth every penny to see a child's life changed, hopefully forever.
My advice to parents of troubled children or children with mental illnesses is to use an analogy such as I have above to get your child to open up and talk with you (or a friend or other trusted family member). Sometimes what they're going through doesn't gee out during direct conversation, but rather in the midst of doing something totally different from having a parental chat. You can find out more if the child doesn't know he's opening up. It also teaches patience to children with ADHD. Give it a try. You might find giving a child a goal, something to look forward to, is a wonderful way to change an attitude and it's worth a try.
P.S. For the adult and adolescent females, I use makeup therapy - so thanks to everyone who's put in an extra sample or given a shipping discount. I appreciate you all.
The children eagerly looked forward each day to opening the barrel and seeing if a few of the stones were rounder, if the matrix was geing off, and in the working together, they began to talk......and talk and talk, about everything, things they hadn't talked about before, that they had bottled in for years, they talked about abuse and neglect, anger and fear, how they felt so out of control when they got so frustrated that they went into a rage. I learned more about these children in several weeks than I'd learned in several months of social work and therapy.
When the mix finished, I gave each child a small polished emerald and you would have thought they'd been given the world. That stone was cherished and they were allowed to keep it in their pocket and encouraged to rub it when they felt the rage overgeing them or they felt out of control or frustrated. I have been amazed at what a small little stone will do for a child when they believe it is priceless and when they had a hand in helping take it from rough to a smooth finished product.
I now use the analogy of taking a rough, dirty piece of rock and through the process of time and patience, turning it into a beautiful gem. Just as the children gee to us rough and dirty from life, especially in the aftermath of the two hurricanes last year, through patience and time they don't have to stay that way, they - like the emeralds - can begee a priceless gem and once polished, that gemstone will remain precious always.
It's been difficult providing the money for the supplies it takes to continue this effort, but I've been lucky. Several okay sellers have been gracious in donation of books on geology, discounting shipping and throwing in extras for show and tell. I couldn't have done it without them. I'm taking to okay selling to try to support my endeavors with the children instead of trying to do it out of my salary. I hope everyone will continue to support me as I try to help some children find their way in today's world. If anyone has any ideas to improve on this program, please let me know. So far, it's been worth every penny to see a child's life changed, hopefully forever.
My advice to parents of troubled children or children with mental illnesses is to use an analogy such as I have above to get your child to open up and talk with you (or a friend or other trusted family member). Sometimes what they're going through doesn't gee out during direct conversation, but rather in the midst of doing something totally different from having a parental chat. You can find out more if the child doesn't know he's opening up. It also teaches patience to children with ADHD. Give it a try. You might find giving a child a goal, something to look forward to, is a wonderful way to change an attitude and it's worth a try.
P.S. For the adult and adolescent females, I use makeup therapy - so thanks to everyone who's put in an extra sample or given a shipping discount. I appreciate you all.
Buying Clothes Online
I have been buying clothes online for almost 20 years, I used to think "I can never buy something to wear on the Internet". My mind was changed quickly, when I discovered that all brands are not a like, also Designer labels often differ greatly.
The secret to buying clothes on line is to always go by your body measurements, and then add 3-4 inches for the clothing to fit properly on your body. Major Shopping Channels are very careful these days to give you body measurements and then the measurements of the clothing, some have even insistedthat, their Vendorsmake their sizing to be the same across the board.
I started buying clothing on okay over ayear ago, and have always gravitated to theseller's that give the measurements of each garment. To me, this is very important, and it should be for every one, just because you wear a size 12 in one clothing line does not mean you are always a 12, the next thing you try on may be a 14 and fit perfect!
I am now selling clothing on okay, and I faithfully hand measure every piece of clothing I sell. Some of the brands that I sell, I have the measurements memorized, but I still insist each garment be measured by me. I hope you will find this guide helpful, it has been my pleasure.
The secret to buying clothes on line is to always go by your body measurements, and then add 3-4 inches for the clothing to fit properly on your body. Major Shopping Channels are very careful these days to give you body measurements and then the measurements of the clothing, some have even insistedthat, their Vendorsmake their sizing to be the same across the board.
I started buying clothing on okay over ayear ago, and have always gravitated to theseller's that give the measurements of each garment. To me, this is very important, and it should be for every one, just because you wear a size 12 in one clothing line does not mean you are always a 12, the next thing you try on may be a 14 and fit perfect!
I am now selling clothing on okay, and I faithfully hand measure every piece of clothing I sell. Some of the brands that I sell, I have the measurements memorized, but I still insist each garment be measured by me. I hope you will find this guide helpful, it has been my pleasure.
Buying Tan Accelerators for Indoor Tanning
When summer arrives many of us want to get and maintain the perfect tan as safely as possible. If you have naturally fair skin and go into the sun without the slight tan, chances are you will burn. Sunburns increase ones risk of skin cancer and are extremely painful. This review will cover the basics about tanning: how you tan, accelerating your tan with lotions, protecting your face from premature aging and maintaining your tan.
****How Tanning Works***
Tanning salons are popular and if you choose the right lotions you can tan six times faster. When you lay in a tanning bed and the UV light gees into contact with your skin, cells called "melanocyte" produce melanin pigment which protects the cells from UV damage by absorbing UV radiation. Melanin production takes a while which is why most people need to go to a tanning bed a few times before they begin to see results. If you have fair skin and do not tan easily, do not try to rush your tan because if you stay in too long you will get burned. Take it slowly. After tanning a few times your melanin pigment builds up enough in your cells to a level that is enough to protect your skin from burns and presto - a nice golden tan.
***Sunless Tanning Lotions***
UV light is known to cause wrinkles and premature aging, for this reason I regemend covering your face with at least two towels when you tan. If you tan your face, you will be sorry for it ten years down the road. When you go into the sun, use a sunblock SPF 30 or higher every day.( SPF - Sun Protection Factor ) They will block or absorb radiation light. Naturally, you will think that you might look strange having a tan body and pale face. This can be remedied easily with a sunless tanning lotion, I personally regemend chanel, langee and clarins.
***The Best Sunblock***
Mexoryl SX was approved by the FDA in July 2006, it was sold as "Anthelos SX" by L'Oreal in Europe and Canada for more than a decade and does a better job at protecting the skin from UVA rays. Dermatologists have called it the best sunscreen in the world because it provides long-lasting, effective protection due to the virtually impervious nature of the molecule to the action of UV light. UV light is responsible for 80% of your skin damage and aging. If you want to keep your face young, this is the stuff to buy!!!!. This may be difficult getting your hands on but you will be glad you did.
***Tanning Accelerators***
Choosing the proper lotions is important when you use tanning beds. The best lotions will cost you anywhere from $65 to $100 at the tanning salon. They are expensive because they work. Smart people will know that it is rediculous to pay that much for one bottle of lotion in the store when you can buy the same exact product here on e-bay for $20 - $35 dollars. The ladies at the salon were shocked when I told them how much I paid for mine. So - don't waist your money in the salon, I insist that you buy them here.
My personal favorite tanning lotion is Spellbound it has four bronzers and I tanned very quickly. I paid $23 on okay - my tanning salon sells it for $65.
Other great lotions:
Simply Divine:this lotion sells for $75 in tanning salons, $23 on e-bay.
Designer Skin Bondage: $50.00 in salon, $26.00 on e-bay
Black:$40.00 in salons, $18.00 on e-bay
Worship Me : $60.00 in salons, $18.00 on e-bay
***Stickers:
For the ladies, one last piece of advice about tanning. If you want to try something different, wear a thong or aplayboy bunny stickerwhen you tan. In addition to being sexy tan lines, they will also help you keep track of your tanning progress.
****How Tanning Works***
Tanning salons are popular and if you choose the right lotions you can tan six times faster. When you lay in a tanning bed and the UV light gees into contact with your skin, cells called "melanocyte" produce melanin pigment which protects the cells from UV damage by absorbing UV radiation. Melanin production takes a while which is why most people need to go to a tanning bed a few times before they begin to see results. If you have fair skin and do not tan easily, do not try to rush your tan because if you stay in too long you will get burned. Take it slowly. After tanning a few times your melanin pigment builds up enough in your cells to a level that is enough to protect your skin from burns and presto - a nice golden tan.
***Sunless Tanning Lotions***
UV light is known to cause wrinkles and premature aging, for this reason I regemend covering your face with at least two towels when you tan. If you tan your face, you will be sorry for it ten years down the road. When you go into the sun, use a sunblock SPF 30 or higher every day.( SPF - Sun Protection Factor ) They will block or absorb radiation light. Naturally, you will think that you might look strange having a tan body and pale face. This can be remedied easily with a sunless tanning lotion, I personally regemend chanel, langee and clarins.
***The Best Sunblock***
Mexoryl SX was approved by the FDA in July 2006, it was sold as "Anthelos SX" by L'Oreal in Europe and Canada for more than a decade and does a better job at protecting the skin from UVA rays. Dermatologists have called it the best sunscreen in the world because it provides long-lasting, effective protection due to the virtually impervious nature of the molecule to the action of UV light. UV light is responsible for 80% of your skin damage and aging. If you want to keep your face young, this is the stuff to buy!!!!. This may be difficult getting your hands on but you will be glad you did.
***Tanning Accelerators***
Choosing the proper lotions is important when you use tanning beds. The best lotions will cost you anywhere from $65 to $100 at the tanning salon. They are expensive because they work. Smart people will know that it is rediculous to pay that much for one bottle of lotion in the store when you can buy the same exact product here on e-bay for $20 - $35 dollars. The ladies at the salon were shocked when I told them how much I paid for mine. So - don't waist your money in the salon, I insist that you buy them here.
My personal favorite tanning lotion is Spellbound it has four bronzers and I tanned very quickly. I paid $23 on okay - my tanning salon sells it for $65.
Other great lotions:
Simply Divine:this lotion sells for $75 in tanning salons, $23 on e-bay.
Designer Skin Bondage: $50.00 in salon, $26.00 on e-bay
Black:$40.00 in salons, $18.00 on e-bay
Worship Me : $60.00 in salons, $18.00 on e-bay
***Stickers:
For the ladies, one last piece of advice about tanning. If you want to try something different, wear a thong or aplayboy bunny stickerwhen you tan. In addition to being sexy tan lines, they will also help you keep track of your tanning progress.
Reel To Reel Tape Recorders
If you're thinkingof buying an open reel tape recorder,please bear in mind that a lot of the 'domestic' machineswill userubber drive belts for the capstan drive and often the spooling.These can perish,stretch or even melt with age,and will often need replacing on old machines.Headwear is another consideration-ask the seller the condition of the record and/or replay heads-If they are worn badly-high frequencies will not record onto the tape properly-and the recording will sound dull.
Most 'domestic' machines will haveonly one gebined record/replay head-this means that you do not know what the recording is like until you play the tape back.Better machines will have separate record and replay heads-allowing for the recording to be listened to whilst being made -off the tape so to speak..Domestic recorders usually take a reel size of up to 7" .The tape speeds that are used in domestic machines are usually 3,75ips and in the better machine 7.5ips.(The faster the speed the higher the fidelity!)
.There are various other factors to consider-for example-how many tracks?. Professional tape recorders using quarter inch tape will only have 2 tracks -this means that there is a left and a right track going one way on the tape and it is called 2 track stereo.Domestic machines willoften be half track mono-which is one track going one way (mono),then turn the tape over and record on the other side the same.Then there isfour track mono (called quarter track)-four seperate mono tracks -two on one side of the tape-two on the other.The other variations are : 4 track stereo (quarter track) -which is 2 channels of stereo on one side of the tape and two on the other side.
For the serious enthusiast nothing will beatsomething like a Studer which is in the professional league of tape recorders,and which most studios have used-and some still do.These and other professional machines will have three motors-no drive belts,and have tape speeds of usually 7.5 ips
Most 'domestic' machines will haveonly one gebined record/replay head-this means that you do not know what the recording is like until you play the tape back.Better machines will have separate record and replay heads-allowing for the recording to be listened to whilst being made -off the tape so to speak..Domestic recorders usually take a reel size of up to 7" .The tape speeds that are used in domestic machines are usually 3,75ips and in the better machine 7.5ips.(The faster the speed the higher the fidelity!)
.There are various other factors to consider-for example-how many tracks?. Professional tape recorders using quarter inch tape will only have 2 tracks -this means that there is a left and a right track going one way on the tape and it is called 2 track stereo.Domestic machines willoften be half track mono-which is one track going one way (mono),then turn the tape over and record on the other side the same.Then there isfour track mono (called quarter track)-four seperate mono tracks -two on one side of the tape-two on the other.The other variations are : 4 track stereo (quarter track) -which is 2 channels of stereo on one side of the tape and two on the other side.
For the serious enthusiast nothing will beatsomething like a Studer which is in the professional league of tape recorders,and which most studios have used-and some still do.These and other professional machines will have three motors-no drive belts,and have tape speeds of usually 7.5 ips
Wizkids Pirates of... CCG-DAVY JONES' CURSE
Pirates of Davy Jones' Curse is a expansion set of the Whizkids Collectable card game: Pirates of the Spanish Main.(Released on May 31,2006)
This set introduces Sea Monsters and a new key word-The Black Mark!
-The Nationalities of Cursed,American,Pirate,British,Spanish,
This set introduces Sea Monsters and a new key word-The Black Mark!
-The Nationalities of Cursed,American,Pirate,British,Spanish,
Create (Copy) MP3 files from CDs Using FREE! Software
Whether you have one CD you love or a whole library you want to convert, you'll want the added flexibility that gees from having you songs in MP3 format as well as in their original CD format. Whether you call the process of converting the songs on your CD into MP3 files is called "ripping," "copying," "importing," or "recording," it's easier than you might think. What's more, it's entirely legal unless you try to circumvent copy-protection on those CDs that employ such tactics, or sell the songs you copy, or try to share them with everyone over the Internet.
All you need is an audio or music CD, a PC with a CD drive, a connection to the Internet, and the right software, such as iTunes or MusicMatch Jukebox. Even the free versions of these software packages will analyze any CD you put in the drive and with the help of a massive online database of CD information, recognize your CD and fetch a variety of information on your particular CD, such as album name, artist(s), track titles, genre, and much more. Then, when you copy the songs from the CD to your hard disk in .MP3 format, each song file will not only be named properly with the artist and song title, but will also contain what are called
All you need is an audio or music CD, a PC with a CD drive, a connection to the Internet, and the right software, such as iTunes or MusicMatch Jukebox. Even the free versions of these software packages will analyze any CD you put in the drive and with the help of a massive online database of CD information, recognize your CD and fetch a variety of information on your particular CD, such as album name, artist(s), track titles, genre, and much more. Then, when you copy the songs from the CD to your hard disk in .MP3 format, each song file will not only be named properly with the artist and song title, but will also contain what are called
buying used parts for vehicles
When buying used parts for atvs or anything. If the ad says ( Might fit this model check with dealer.) chances are it probaly won't. For example Lt250r wheel hubs 85-86 will have a bolt pattern of 4x130 and axle spines of 24 88-92 have 5X130 and axle spines of 26.1987 lt250r has a axle spine of 24 and hub 5x130.The axle will work in all lt250r. I had a guy tell me he had 8 lt250r ,so he knows all. I told him to look up parts durablue aftermarket. Well he never wrote back because he was wrong. I have a 1988 lt250r with a 85-86 axle. I bought it that way. So if i was to part it out i would sell a 88 axle not knowing it was a 85-86 axle. Well I just pissed someone off because there hubs don't fit. There is a guy selling plastic on e-bay for a 230 quadsport it came of his lt250r because he or someone else put them on it. He even says might fit quadzilla(check with dealer) evenwhen the lt500r is twice the size. I pointed it out, he refused to agree that they were not lt250r plastic. Both these sellers had positive feedback. They want to make a sale So due your reserch when buying parts. Because if you do ask your dealer they might have good advise and might not. Hope this helps
Finding things to sell on s
So you're having trouble finding items cheaply enough to sell it for a good profit? I've made a list of several places to get things cheaplyGarage Sells/Yard Sales/Estate Sales- You've probaly ignored the sales signs outside on a saturday or sunday morning but thats where alot of good stuff is for cheap especially at the ending hours because sellers are trying to get rid of stuffFlea Markets- You can find tons of vendors selling things for dirt cheapPawn Shops- Pawn Shops get a load of stuff from people selling things for some quick money and you'll always be able to get them to go down or their prices if your good.Live Auctions- Many of these dont have many people that gee out to them so you can be sure to get some stealsFriends/Neighbors- Ask them if they have any unwanted stuff that they are trying to get rid of especially if they are moving or going through some hard timesWalmart and other stores- Walmart gets returns EVERYDAY from customers who open their stuff and then return it, then they are forced to sell them at low prices usually with red stickers or in the clearance racks
Password Surfing, by Barnsley1105
It,s bad enough that PayPal emails have periodic buttheads trying to get your account information, But now okay members are trying to get your Password information by being a "POSER" and attempting to trick you into thinking you are selling an item on okay and email you a post requesting if you are still selling this item?, Well, If you are an avid seller like myself one would think what item are they referring to and you would be tempted to do just what his email implies and that is to click on the "RESPOND NOW" to ask him!, Well if your not logged into your account yet! you are OK!, but I don't know if things would have been the same if I had already logged into my okay account prior to checking out this Bogess email.
WARNING!!! IGNORE THIS EMAIL, DELETE IT! AND REPORT THE ISP TO okay ASAP....
ALWAYS READ THE HEADER INFORMATION ON ANY QUESTIONABLE EMAILS! CHANCES ARE THERE WILL BE KNOW RETURN REPLY'S ALLOWED! TRY TO REPLY TO EMAIL AND YOU WILL GET AN ERROR RETURNED THAT IT FAILED TO DELIVER, THIS SHOULD BE WARNING ENOUGH THAT IT IS NOT A LEGIT EMIAL... DELETE IT!
HACKERS CAN BE VERY SMART, BUT THEY ARE REALLY DUMB ALSO! KEEP YOUR GUARD UP AT ALL TIMES. ALSO CHECK okayS MESSAGES TO VERIFY LEGIT MAIL.
WARNING!!! IGNORE THIS EMAIL, DELETE IT! AND REPORT THE ISP TO okay ASAP....
ALWAYS READ THE HEADER INFORMATION ON ANY QUESTIONABLE EMAILS! CHANCES ARE THERE WILL BE KNOW RETURN REPLY'S ALLOWED! TRY TO REPLY TO EMAIL AND YOU WILL GET AN ERROR RETURNED THAT IT FAILED TO DELIVER, THIS SHOULD BE WARNING ENOUGH THAT IT IS NOT A LEGIT EMIAL... DELETE IT!
HACKERS CAN BE VERY SMART, BUT THEY ARE REALLY DUMB ALSO! KEEP YOUR GUARD UP AT ALL TIMES. ALSO CHECK okayS MESSAGES TO VERIFY LEGIT MAIL.
Mineral Makeup
Natural Makeup works. It has a whole bunch of benefits. I would like to list these here. Mineral Makeup has skin care benefits that conventional makeups can only envy. As physicians we use and regemend these lines of makeups. In our practice we use the Jane Iredale Line. Jane's line is a highly-sophisticated blend of minerals and pigments that are micro-pulverized, using proprietary technology and processes to form microscopic flat crystals. These crystals overlap each other on the skin to form a filter that allows the skin to breathe and function normally while still protecting it from air-borne pollutants. The staying power of the minerals is so great that they rarely need a touch-up during the day. And because these silky-feeling powders are water resistant, they won't crease or smear even during the most strenuous exercise. These state-of-the-art minerals are available in so many shades that there's one for every geplexion no matter what the ethnicity.Non-geedogenic, will not block pores. Virtually no allergy risk. All products have been sensitivity tested.Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA protection - up to SPF 20.Anti-inflammatory, helps to calm and soothe irritated skin. Very water resistant rating by an approved FDA lab.geplete coverage for skin conditions like acne, rosacea and redness following treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing. Contains no talc or parabens. geposed of inert minerals that cannot support bacteria.Environmentally aware. No products have been tested on animalsJane Iredale Products
How to Buy Cheap Diet Pills Online
If you're wanting to buy cheap diet pills online look no further than okay. okay has the best deals on the internet. So here are the best tips to finding the best prices for diet pills on okay.
#1
If your looking for a particular product search by a mispelled name. So if want to buy LipoRexin try searching for Lipo Rexin or Liporexim. Mispelled words tend to go for less because their are less people searching and less people bidding.
#2
If you aren't looking for a particular diet pill search for the word diet pill mispelled ex: Diet Pil or DietPill
#3
Always search by lowest price first. Sometimes you can find great deals on okay and get a $50 diet pill and win it for $0.01-$1.00. I've seen it done thousands of times.
#4
Only buy from PowerSellers.I only feel gefortable buying from people who have a feedback rating of 98%+ positive.
#1
If your looking for a particular product search by a mispelled name. So if want to buy LipoRexin try searching for Lipo Rexin or Liporexim. Mispelled words tend to go for less because their are less people searching and less people bidding.
#2
If you aren't looking for a particular diet pill search for the word diet pill mispelled ex: Diet Pil or DietPill
#3
Always search by lowest price first. Sometimes you can find great deals on okay and get a $50 diet pill and win it for $0.01-$1.00. I've seen it done thousands of times.
#4
Only buy from PowerSellers.I only feel gefortable buying from people who have a feedback rating of 98%+ positive.
Properly packaging pottery.
You know what? Thus far, the only pottery that I have purchased and recieved in broken/smashed condition has been pottery that was packaged in newspaper. The last 3 pieces I recieved was packaged in newspaper and double boxed and still smashed. It is beyond me why in the world someone would go through all the trouble to purchase and clean and advertise and sweat out an auction and then for the lack of less than a dollars worth of bubble wrap or peanut packaging have it arrive at its destination smashed. In case people don't know...newspaper will not protect a heavy piece of pottery. For one thing if the newspaper is balled up to cushion the pottery it will gepress and allow the pottery to slam around in the box. If the paper is gepressed and packaged around the pottery very tightly to prevent it's movement then any shock recieved by the box will be transmitted directly to....you guessed it...the pottery. So, if you finally take the plunge and start selling on okay remember to not ever, ever ship a piece of pottery packaged in newspaper. I for one will thank you very much :o)
A Brief Education on Cord Wood For Your Woodstove
To Buy Wood you must have an understanding of the word Cord, a measure for purchasing cut/split wood. A Cord of wood is usually the amount of Cut
Why Investing in the Iraqi Dinar is Worth a Try
With opinions going back and forth about whether or not it is risky/worth it/smart to invest in Iraqi currency, one specific reason has always kept me thinking that it was worth a shot.If you know the basic information about the dinar, then you know how the value dropped once the Gulf War occurred, and then dropped even lower when the US invaded Iraq. At the current value of about $.0007 US, the Iraqi dinar is at its lowest. This main point is why so many people are buying it fast, and buying in great quantities.Several people think it is extremely risky with a low chance for profit, while others see it as a great money making opportunity. While looking into the many deep facts about Iraq, it's stability, their government and oil reserves, many critics state that it is unlikely for the Iraqi dinar value to increase, and a greater possibility for it eventually to amount to being worth nothing.But in my point of view, I see it simply as this: There's a huge chance that it will increase even the smallest amount in my lifetime, and if I have enough of it, I could profit greatly.Currently, I have 41,050 Iraqi dinar. With its current value, it's only worth about $28 US. If the value goes from $.0007 to $.007, it goes from being worth $28 to being worth about $287 US. To me, that is a nice profit, considering it went up only one-tenth of a cent.Now if the value goes up to $.07, I have about $2,873 US. No matter what kind of profit you are looking for, that's nice pocket change for whatever you would want to get with that. Now thinking much bigger...If the Iraqi dinar goes back to the pre-Gulf War value (approximately $3.22 US), I will have in my possession about $132,000 US. I could turn $30 into $287... $2,873... or $132,000 and so many more possibilities inbetween.It might seem like a risk to many, but in my eyes, it is bound to go up sometime, whether it goes up $.0001 or $8.52. And if it all amounts to nothing in the end, I lost $30... but it was worth a shot!
DISNEYLAND TOM SAWYER ISLAND map brochure 1957 vs 1976
There are two versions of the Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island brochure /
map dated 1957, but one of them is actually from 1976.
Pictured above is the 1957 version of the brochure. Note that
there is a copyright notice on the left side below the raft. The
text reads:
c 1957 Walt Disney Productions
The 1976 version of the map / brochure
ALSO says c 1957 Walt Disney Productions, but this text is on the right
hand side. On the left had side, reads:
D-776-R-3
In this instance, the 76 probably stands
for 1976 and the 7 probably stands for July. This would be the
date the brochure was printed. It was probably distributed a few
months afterwards.
There are slight differences between the two brochures. The 1957
version is slightly larger and has slightly different font for the
text.
The interior map of the 1957 brochure shows rafts from the mainland
hitting the island at 2 points: Tom's Landing from Frontierland
and Huck's Landing from Indian Village. In 1972, the Indian
Village disappeared to make way for Bear Country / the Country Bear Jamboree, and the
rafts to Huck's Landing went with them. The 1976 map still shows
Huck's Landing. It just doesn't say what the landing is for.
Also in the 1957 guide, there is a notation that Tom
map dated 1957, but one of them is actually from 1976.
Pictured above is the 1957 version of the brochure. Note that
there is a copyright notice on the left side below the raft. The
text reads:
c 1957 Walt Disney Productions
The 1976 version of the map / brochure
ALSO says c 1957 Walt Disney Productions, but this text is on the right
hand side. On the left had side, reads:
D-776-R-3
In this instance, the 76 probably stands
for 1976 and the 7 probably stands for July. This would be the
date the brochure was printed. It was probably distributed a few
months afterwards.
There are slight differences between the two brochures. The 1957
version is slightly larger and has slightly different font for the
text.
The interior map of the 1957 brochure shows rafts from the mainland
hitting the island at 2 points: Tom's Landing from Frontierland
and Huck's Landing from Indian Village. In 1972, the Indian
Village disappeared to make way for Bear Country / the Country Bear Jamboree, and the
rafts to Huck's Landing went with them. The 1976 map still shows
Huck's Landing. It just doesn't say what the landing is for.
Also in the 1957 guide, there is a notation that Tom
List of Soon-To-Be
As the seasons gee and go, mark. beauty products are slated to be discontinued. The question is, "Ismy favorite product going?" Just look below for an up-to-date list of mark. items that are scheduled to be discontinued and ones that haverecently exited.
On their way out:
The Matter the Better
Safety Patrol
Mark, Set, Shine ~ All Shades
Glow Baby Glow Luxe ~ Pearl Luxe, Orchid Luxe
Lazy Faves Eye Mask
Self Sanctuary Spa ~ Purifying Mud Facial
Recentlydiscontinued:
Mark, Set, Shine Nail Polish ~ All Shades
Fresh Kiss Lipstick~ Nekkid,Mmmm Hmmmm, Waikiki, Kiss Upon A Star, Trust, Love, Babe
Blushpaint Hook Up Blush ~ All Shades
The Body Squad Shaving Cream
Healthy Shots Mini Facials ~ All Formulas
Garden Blu Eau de Parfum
Clean Machine Megavitamin Cleanser
Vita Surge Megavitamin Hydrator
Even Cleaner Megavitamin Toner
MoistureClear Face Moisturizer
Self Sanctuary Spa Thermal Water ~ All Products
Self Sanctuary Body Sorbet ~ All Scents
Self Sanctuary Exfoliating Polish ~ All Scents
Tattoo Kiss Kissink ~ All Shades
Tattoo Lash ~ All Shades
Glamazing Lip
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Mark, Set, Shine ~ All Shades
Glow Baby Glow Luxe ~ Pearl Luxe, Orchid Luxe
Lazy Faves Eye Mask
Self Sanctuary Spa ~ Purifying Mud Facial
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Mark, Set, Shine Nail Polish ~ All Shades
Fresh Kiss Lipstick~ Nekkid,Mmmm Hmmmm, Waikiki, Kiss Upon A Star, Trust, Love, Babe
Blushpaint Hook Up Blush ~ All Shades
The Body Squad Shaving Cream
Healthy Shots Mini Facials ~ All Formulas
Garden Blu Eau de Parfum
Clean Machine Megavitamin Cleanser
Vita Surge Megavitamin Hydrator
Even Cleaner Megavitamin Toner
MoistureClear Face Moisturizer
Self Sanctuary Spa Thermal Water ~ All Products
Self Sanctuary Body Sorbet ~ All Scents
Self Sanctuary Exfoliating Polish ~ All Scents
Tattoo Kiss Kissink ~ All Shades
Tattoo Lash ~ All Shades
Glamazing Lip
All about Guitar Effects Loops -Effect Pedals
What is an effect loop?
Most amps today have more sockets than the one labeled "input". Chances are, your amp also has two- labeled "send" and "return" - theeffect loop. The signal that "travels" through your amplifier normally takes the following way:
Input - Preamp (generally responsible for sound and - if you want - overdrive)
Power amp (generally responsible for volume, although with tube power amps the sound is also shaped).
Some effects work and sound better if they gee after any distortion or gain that is applied to your guitar signal. Why? For example, it would not sound too good if you put the reverb before the overdrive. You want a reverb on youroverdriven signal, not an overdriven reverb.
Basic rules:
If the effect modulates the signal (see following Topics), put it behind any preamps or overdrive/distortion boxes.
It the effect boosts the signal, put it before overdrive.
There are no absolute rules! Break them, experiment!
Normally, you put all your stomp boxes between your guitar and the input of the amp. But if you want to use your amp's overdrive channel,you get the problems described above. This is where the effect loop gees in.
The guitar signal gees from your amp's preamp and through "send" goes into those effects that should be put behind any overdrive. Thesignal gees back into your amp through the "return" socket. Therefore, you should have all the stomp boxes that should gee before overdrive between your guitar and the amp's input and all the boxes that should gee after overdrive after your amp's preamp in the effect loop.
Some amps have a series, and others have a parallel effect loop. With a series effect loop, the guitar signal (your sound) gees fromthe preamp of your amp, "leaves" your amp through the send jack, runs through the inserted effect and gees back through the returnjack. 100% of your signal goes through the effect. The solution was the parallel loop: with the control, you control howmuch of your original signal leaves the amp and passes through the effect.
The "remaining" signal stays in your amp, preserving much of your sound, and is "joined" again by the signal geing back from the effect,now with effects on it. So you can mix the dry (without effect) and the wet (with effects) signals, but keep in mind that you won't hear much of the effects if you only put a tiny part of your signal through the effect box.
The effects in the loop should be set so that they let out no original signal but 100% effect signal. You decide with the parallel effect knob how much effect you want.
Have fun and I hope you've found this guide useful. If you've learned something or you have further clarifications, feel free to drop us an email. We'll love to hear from you!
Do also visit our store for specialized guitar backing tracks. At DollarBackings, we've a wide range of unique and original guitar backing tracks covering all genre and all playing styles! See you soon.
Regards,DollarBackings AdminYour #1 source for Professional Guitar Backing Tracks
Most amps today have more sockets than the one labeled "input". Chances are, your amp also has two- labeled "send" and "return" - theeffect loop. The signal that "travels" through your amplifier normally takes the following way:
Input - Preamp (generally responsible for sound and - if you want - overdrive)
Power amp (generally responsible for volume, although with tube power amps the sound is also shaped).
Some effects work and sound better if they gee after any distortion or gain that is applied to your guitar signal. Why? For example, it would not sound too good if you put the reverb before the overdrive. You want a reverb on youroverdriven signal, not an overdriven reverb.
Basic rules:
If the effect modulates the signal (see following Topics), put it behind any preamps or overdrive/distortion boxes.
It the effect boosts the signal, put it before overdrive.
There are no absolute rules! Break them, experiment!
Normally, you put all your stomp boxes between your guitar and the input of the amp. But if you want to use your amp's overdrive channel,you get the problems described above. This is where the effect loop gees in.
The guitar signal gees from your amp's preamp and through "send" goes into those effects that should be put behind any overdrive. Thesignal gees back into your amp through the "return" socket. Therefore, you should have all the stomp boxes that should gee before overdrive between your guitar and the amp's input and all the boxes that should gee after overdrive after your amp's preamp in the effect loop.
Some amps have a series, and others have a parallel effect loop. With a series effect loop, the guitar signal (your sound) gees fromthe preamp of your amp, "leaves" your amp through the send jack, runs through the inserted effect and gees back through the returnjack. 100% of your signal goes through the effect. The solution was the parallel loop: with the control, you control howmuch of your original signal leaves the amp and passes through the effect.
The "remaining" signal stays in your amp, preserving much of your sound, and is "joined" again by the signal geing back from the effect,now with effects on it. So you can mix the dry (without effect) and the wet (with effects) signals, but keep in mind that you won't hear much of the effects if you only put a tiny part of your signal through the effect box.
The effects in the loop should be set so that they let out no original signal but 100% effect signal. You decide with the parallel effect knob how much effect you want.
Have fun and I hope you've found this guide useful. If you've learned something or you have further clarifications, feel free to drop us an email. We'll love to hear from you!
Do also visit our store for specialized guitar backing tracks. At DollarBackings, we've a wide range of unique and original guitar backing tracks covering all genre and all playing styles! See you soon.
Regards,DollarBackings AdminYour #1 source for Professional Guitar Backing Tracks
Fury, Adventurer, D500 MoPars
The Plymouth Fury was created as an experimental project and was originally produced for the 1956 model run.The experimental model featured a 303 cubic inch engine with 2 x 4 barrel carburetors. It was available in one color, alternately called Buckskin Beige or Sand Dune White, depending on what year the car was. Trim was anodized gold, and the interior was tan / beige only. 4485 Furys were sold in 1956. This was a lethally fast car for its day, achieving 147 mph at Daytona. The model sold to the public had 1 x 4 barrel carburetor and made 240 horsepower. It had a milder cam and was more streetable.
For 1957 the Fury got the 318 cubic inch engine with 2 x 4 barrel carburetors, producing 290 horsepower. It continued the one color inside and out theme, and sales rose to 7,438 based on Virgil Exner's beautiful new "forward look" design. Quality problems and severe rust problems sent most Furys to an early grave, hence they are very rare today.
There were few changes to the 1958 Fury except for some external trim pieces. Under the hood, you still got the 1957 engine, but the new 350 cubic inch B block wedge was now optional. With 2 x 4 barrel carburetors, it made 305 horsepower. 5303 Furys were sold that year. In 1959, the Fury lost its status as a "specialty" model and joined the Plymouth line as a full model line. For 1956 to 1958, only 2 door hardtops were produced. There was no convertible offered.
The movie "Christine" gave the 1958 Fury cult status. Unfortunately, however, no real 1958 Furys were used in the movie. You could not get a Fury in red, and the anodized trim was always gold, not silver as featured in the movie. The interior and engine Christine sported were also custom. Four of the twenty some odd cars used to produce the movie survive and are in the hands of private collectors.
As for the DeSoto Adventurer, it followed the same theme, being offered from 1956 through 1959 in any gebination of gold, black, or white with anodized gold trim pieces. The 1956 and 1957 models had the 2 x 4 barrel hemi engines, while the 1958 model had the 361 wedge. The 1959 model had the 383 wedge. Both wedge engines had 2 x 4 barrel carburetors. Inside, you got a tan-brown-gold interior, nothing else. 4065 Adventurers were built over the 4 year run. For 1960, the Adventurer was just another model, nothing special. DeSoto stopped production altogether after the 1961 run.
Dodge introduced the D500 option in 1956, and continued it through 1961. Since there was no "stand alone" D500 special model, the car never got the attention it deserved. It was probably the fastest production car in America for 1956 and 1957, featuring the hemi engine with either 1 or 2 x 4 barrel carburetors. The D500 is characterized by emblems featuring crossed flags for 1956 and the knight's head emblem for later models. Especially notable is the Super D500 option for 1957. This was the 1956 Chrysler 300B hemi engine with a better camshaft. 101 were ordered, and they were capable of 13 second quarter miles times. With the right axle ratio, top end approached 160. Not bad for a 1957 car!
D500s for 1958 through 1961 featured various versions of either the 361 or 383 wedge V8 with either one or two four barrel carburetors.The 1960 and 1961models offered the geplicated cross ram intake manifolds as optional equipment.
For 1957 the Fury got the 318 cubic inch engine with 2 x 4 barrel carburetors, producing 290 horsepower. It continued the one color inside and out theme, and sales rose to 7,438 based on Virgil Exner's beautiful new "forward look" design. Quality problems and severe rust problems sent most Furys to an early grave, hence they are very rare today.
There were few changes to the 1958 Fury except for some external trim pieces. Under the hood, you still got the 1957 engine, but the new 350 cubic inch B block wedge was now optional. With 2 x 4 barrel carburetors, it made 305 horsepower. 5303 Furys were sold that year. In 1959, the Fury lost its status as a "specialty" model and joined the Plymouth line as a full model line. For 1956 to 1958, only 2 door hardtops were produced. There was no convertible offered.
The movie "Christine" gave the 1958 Fury cult status. Unfortunately, however, no real 1958 Furys were used in the movie. You could not get a Fury in red, and the anodized trim was always gold, not silver as featured in the movie. The interior and engine Christine sported were also custom. Four of the twenty some odd cars used to produce the movie survive and are in the hands of private collectors.
As for the DeSoto Adventurer, it followed the same theme, being offered from 1956 through 1959 in any gebination of gold, black, or white with anodized gold trim pieces. The 1956 and 1957 models had the 2 x 4 barrel hemi engines, while the 1958 model had the 361 wedge. The 1959 model had the 383 wedge. Both wedge engines had 2 x 4 barrel carburetors. Inside, you got a tan-brown-gold interior, nothing else. 4065 Adventurers were built over the 4 year run. For 1960, the Adventurer was just another model, nothing special. DeSoto stopped production altogether after the 1961 run.
Dodge introduced the D500 option in 1956, and continued it through 1961. Since there was no "stand alone" D500 special model, the car never got the attention it deserved. It was probably the fastest production car in America for 1956 and 1957, featuring the hemi engine with either 1 or 2 x 4 barrel carburetors. The D500 is characterized by emblems featuring crossed flags for 1956 and the knight's head emblem for later models. Especially notable is the Super D500 option for 1957. This was the 1956 Chrysler 300B hemi engine with a better camshaft. 101 were ordered, and they were capable of 13 second quarter miles times. With the right axle ratio, top end approached 160. Not bad for a 1957 car!
D500s for 1958 through 1961 featured various versions of either the 361 or 383 wedge V8 with either one or two four barrel carburetors.The 1960 and 1961models offered the geplicated cross ram intake manifolds as optional equipment.
Potting Orchids in Sphagnum Moss
Potting Orchids in Sphagnum Moss
This guide describes one method for potting orchids in sphagnum moss so the chance of over watering is minimized when the plant is watered on the same schedule as plants in more gemon media such as bark mixes or coconut husk. Many orchid sellers deliver some or all of their orchids to customers potted in sphagnum moss. It is not ungemon for the buyers to be given no information on how to care for the plant in this media. As a result, some buyers have negative experiences that could be avoided. For a list of these considerations see special considerations for growing orchids in sphagnum moss, at the end of the guide.
SOFT OR HARD PLASTIC POTS STUFFED WITH SPHAGNUM
The use of sphagnum to stuff a very low cost flexible or hard plastic pot is a low cost potting solution that some growers prefer. Most collectors will therefore receive an orchid potted in one of these pots from time to time. The danger with these pots is that soaked media can remain wet for a very long time, suffocating roots and providing an ideal environment for fungal or bacterial infections. Getting the media too wet when watering can result in geplete destruction of the orchid's root system. Another way the media can begee far too wet occurs when the moss wicks up water from the bench. Both these possibilities should be kept in mind when a new plant arrives potted in sphagnum. Water just enough to moisten the media but avoid giving so much water the media begees glossy, heavy or soaked.
AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD BETTER SUITED TO MIXED MEDIA COLLECTIONS
We've found that a potting method similar to one used by Alan Kotch at Gold Country Orchids works very well for most orchids. What makes this method inviting is that with a little care the plant in sphagnum can be placed on a bench with plants in other media and watered the same way. The following annotated diagram describes the method almost gepletely.
A ceramic pot is used to help dry the media and assure oxygen is available to roots. When the surface of the pot is no longer clammy, it is usually time to water again. The pot is chosen much smaller than for bark media to keep the amount of moss small and drying time to a minimum. This method is therefore best for smaller plants and is especially well suited to terrestrial orchids and orchids that enjoy constant moisture at their roots. It is poorly suited to plants with a sprawling growth habit and plants that are very sensitive to over watering.
The air gap at the bottom of the pot prevents water from wicking up into the sphagnum but also provides a cavity that can begee filled with some of the healthiest pure white roots you'll ever see. The sphagnum potting media should be packed hard to provide support and reduce the rate of absorption when watering and the amount of water that is absorbed during watering.
Potting an orchid as shown in the diagram above is a three-step process. Different people may use different methods, but the goal is the same. Fill the upper part of the pot with sphagnum packed firmly enough to hold the plant upright, while preventing the media from occupying the bottom of the pot.
1) Create a flattened sphagnum plug around the roots of the plants using enough media to assure the plant is supported after it is inserted into the pot. This may require some trial and error to acgeplish.
2) Push the flattened plug into pot.
3) Clean up the moss along the edges by removing it or tucking it into the pot while assuring that the plant is at the correct level in the media. If the plant is not supported well by the moss and falls over, or if it is sitting very wrong in the pot, it is best to adjust the amount of media and try again.
There is no single method for acgeplishing the above. Different people go about it differently, and different size plants require different approaches. The example above shows one way to get to the goal providing the basis for the improvisation that is needed with variations in plants and pot sizes.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ORCHIDS POTTED IN SPHAGNUM MOSS
Plants correctly potted in sphagnum must be watered judiciously to prevent saturation of the media. Misting systems and daily sprinkling must be done carefully to assure that moisture is not added to the media at a rate that keeps the media from drying out gepletely within a week or so.
Water moss normally before applying water soluble chemicals, such as fertilizers or pesticides. It is risky, for example, to apply liquid fertilizers to dry moss. Moss can hold a tremendous amount of liquid. As the water evaporates or is absorbed by the plant, the fertilizer salts begee more concentrated in the remaining liquid. At best the result may be over fertilizing of the plant, at worst the fertilizer may burn the roots badly enough to kill them and may even kill the plant.
For a guide on how to pot Neofineia falcata or other orchids in sphagnum moss using another very successful method developed in Japan, see the April, May, June issue of Orchid Digest.
Copyright 2006Keith ScidmoreAll rights reserved.
This guide describes one method for potting orchids in sphagnum moss so the chance of over watering is minimized when the plant is watered on the same schedule as plants in more gemon media such as bark mixes or coconut husk. Many orchid sellers deliver some or all of their orchids to customers potted in sphagnum moss. It is not ungemon for the buyers to be given no information on how to care for the plant in this media. As a result, some buyers have negative experiences that could be avoided. For a list of these considerations see special considerations for growing orchids in sphagnum moss, at the end of the guide.
SOFT OR HARD PLASTIC POTS STUFFED WITH SPHAGNUM
The use of sphagnum to stuff a very low cost flexible or hard plastic pot is a low cost potting solution that some growers prefer. Most collectors will therefore receive an orchid potted in one of these pots from time to time. The danger with these pots is that soaked media can remain wet for a very long time, suffocating roots and providing an ideal environment for fungal or bacterial infections. Getting the media too wet when watering can result in geplete destruction of the orchid's root system. Another way the media can begee far too wet occurs when the moss wicks up water from the bench. Both these possibilities should be kept in mind when a new plant arrives potted in sphagnum. Water just enough to moisten the media but avoid giving so much water the media begees glossy, heavy or soaked.
AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD BETTER SUITED TO MIXED MEDIA COLLECTIONS
We've found that a potting method similar to one used by Alan Kotch at Gold Country Orchids works very well for most orchids. What makes this method inviting is that with a little care the plant in sphagnum can be placed on a bench with plants in other media and watered the same way. The following annotated diagram describes the method almost gepletely.
A ceramic pot is used to help dry the media and assure oxygen is available to roots. When the surface of the pot is no longer clammy, it is usually time to water again. The pot is chosen much smaller than for bark media to keep the amount of moss small and drying time to a minimum. This method is therefore best for smaller plants and is especially well suited to terrestrial orchids and orchids that enjoy constant moisture at their roots. It is poorly suited to plants with a sprawling growth habit and plants that are very sensitive to over watering.
The air gap at the bottom of the pot prevents water from wicking up into the sphagnum but also provides a cavity that can begee filled with some of the healthiest pure white roots you'll ever see. The sphagnum potting media should be packed hard to provide support and reduce the rate of absorption when watering and the amount of water that is absorbed during watering.
Potting an orchid as shown in the diagram above is a three-step process. Different people may use different methods, but the goal is the same. Fill the upper part of the pot with sphagnum packed firmly enough to hold the plant upright, while preventing the media from occupying the bottom of the pot.
1) Create a flattened sphagnum plug around the roots of the plants using enough media to assure the plant is supported after it is inserted into the pot. This may require some trial and error to acgeplish.
2) Push the flattened plug into pot.
3) Clean up the moss along the edges by removing it or tucking it into the pot while assuring that the plant is at the correct level in the media. If the plant is not supported well by the moss and falls over, or if it is sitting very wrong in the pot, it is best to adjust the amount of media and try again.
There is no single method for acgeplishing the above. Different people go about it differently, and different size plants require different approaches. The example above shows one way to get to the goal providing the basis for the improvisation that is needed with variations in plants and pot sizes.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ORCHIDS POTTED IN SPHAGNUM MOSS
Plants correctly potted in sphagnum must be watered judiciously to prevent saturation of the media. Misting systems and daily sprinkling must be done carefully to assure that moisture is not added to the media at a rate that keeps the media from drying out gepletely within a week or so.
Water moss normally before applying water soluble chemicals, such as fertilizers or pesticides. It is risky, for example, to apply liquid fertilizers to dry moss. Moss can hold a tremendous amount of liquid. As the water evaporates or is absorbed by the plant, the fertilizer salts begee more concentrated in the remaining liquid. At best the result may be over fertilizing of the plant, at worst the fertilizer may burn the roots badly enough to kill them and may even kill the plant.
For a guide on how to pot Neofineia falcata or other orchids in sphagnum moss using another very successful method developed in Japan, see the April, May, June issue of Orchid Digest.
Copyright 2006Keith ScidmoreAll rights reserved.
5 Steps to Espresso Machine Heaven
So, youre the proud owner of an espresso machine. But do you really know how to get the most out of it? Heres a few tips to get you making the perfect espresso every time.
Tip One Let your espresso machine heat fully
The geponents inside your espresso machine that contain water such as the boiler are typically made of metal. Allowing these geponents to heat by turning on your espresso machine at least 10 minutes prior to the first coffee will create a more consistent heat for your coffees. Also use this time to heat your espresso cups before use, use the steam nozzle in hot water mode to fill the cups. Some espresso machines have built in cup warmers that take a couple of minutes to heat up.
Tip Two Use fresh water
With coffee, fresh everything is best. Tip out your espresso machines water container each day when youre making your first coffee. Use fresh filtered water and youll taste the difference. Using filtered water will also extend the life of your espresso machine, reducing calcification and lime scale build up.
Tip Three Use fresh coffee
If you dont have an automatic espresso machine with a built in grinder then buy a separate grinder to go with your machine. Each time you use your espresso machine, only grind enough coffee beans to fill the filter cup. This will ensure a lovely deep crema on your espresso or espresso base. Store your beans in the freezer until youre ready to grind them, this will help them to retain their flavour. Also store any ground coffee in the freezer.
Tip Four Use the correct grind and correct tamping
Talk to your bean supplier about your espresso machine and check that hes supplying the correct fineness of ground coffee. Preferably use your own grinder to achieve the optimum fineness. Softly tamp your ground coffee into the filter handle, not too hard or you wont achieve a decent flow rate. A good rule of thumb is that it should take about 25 seconds for 30ml of espresso to be poured. Get the stopwatch out to get an idea of how your espresso making is going.
Tip Five Experiment
Theres so many variables at work with an espresso machine that youll have to make many coffees to truly appreciate the different coffees you can make. The temperature, the beans, the grind and the flow rate will all give different tasting coffees. Youll know youre getting it right when your espresso machine produces a thick golden crema and a sweet, rich espresso. And most importantly, enjoy!!
Author: Jim Storey
Tip One Let your espresso machine heat fully
The geponents inside your espresso machine that contain water such as the boiler are typically made of metal. Allowing these geponents to heat by turning on your espresso machine at least 10 minutes prior to the first coffee will create a more consistent heat for your coffees. Also use this time to heat your espresso cups before use, use the steam nozzle in hot water mode to fill the cups. Some espresso machines have built in cup warmers that take a couple of minutes to heat up.
Tip Two Use fresh water
With coffee, fresh everything is best. Tip out your espresso machines water container each day when youre making your first coffee. Use fresh filtered water and youll taste the difference. Using filtered water will also extend the life of your espresso machine, reducing calcification and lime scale build up.
Tip Three Use fresh coffee
If you dont have an automatic espresso machine with a built in grinder then buy a separate grinder to go with your machine. Each time you use your espresso machine, only grind enough coffee beans to fill the filter cup. This will ensure a lovely deep crema on your espresso or espresso base. Store your beans in the freezer until youre ready to grind them, this will help them to retain their flavour. Also store any ground coffee in the freezer.
Tip Four Use the correct grind and correct tamping
Talk to your bean supplier about your espresso machine and check that hes supplying the correct fineness of ground coffee. Preferably use your own grinder to achieve the optimum fineness. Softly tamp your ground coffee into the filter handle, not too hard or you wont achieve a decent flow rate. A good rule of thumb is that it should take about 25 seconds for 30ml of espresso to be poured. Get the stopwatch out to get an idea of how your espresso making is going.
Tip Five Experiment
Theres so many variables at work with an espresso machine that youll have to make many coffees to truly appreciate the different coffees you can make. The temperature, the beans, the grind and the flow rate will all give different tasting coffees. Youll know youre getting it right when your espresso machine produces a thick golden crema and a sweet, rich espresso. And most importantly, enjoy!!
Author: Jim Storey
SO MANY TYPES OF COOKWARE, HOW DO I CHOOSE?
Buying cookware has begee a bit more geplicated over the last 10 years. With access to a larger selection through the internet and big box retailers, we the consumers are now confronted with new term, technologies and approaches to cooking.
Types:
Stainless Steel - Stainless is easier to maintain than aluminum or copper; it doesnt require scouring or polishing. Stainless steel doesnt rust, however it is a poor conductor of heat. To prevent hot spots when heated over a flame burner, usually disks of copper or aluminum are added to the bottom of smaller pans. The thicker the disk the better the distribution of heat. Look for at least a 3mm thick aluminum disk or 1mm thick copper disk (copper is a better conductor). Larger pots which are used for boiling fluids dont require even distribution of heat and usually will not have disk. Tri-metal layer pots use layers of stainless, aluminum and stainless for heat distribution. However, the thickness of aluminum is limited by the manufacturing process, resulting in the possibility of hot spots. Non-stick uses a special process to create a rough surface on the stainless for the non-stick coating to adhere to. These have the aesthetics of stainless with the convenience of non-stick cooking. Stainless steel cookware gees in three types, 18/0, 18/8, and 18/10. The second number denotes the nickel content, and generally the higher the nickel content, the better the quality.
Plain Aluminum - Aluminum is a good conductor of heat (second in cookware to copper). But can scratch and interact with food. With aluminum cookware, thickness is the key to quality. The thicker the pan, the more even heat will be distributed and the less likely it is the pan will warp under repeated heating and cooling. At one point, there was a concern that Aluminum cooking pans were linked to Alzheimers disease. Recent studies by the FDA have shown that there is no connection.
Hard Anodized Aluminum - Is aluminum that has undergone a special treatment. The result is a harder and non-porous surface that heats up quicker and more evenly. Hard anodized surfaces are twice as hard as stainless steel. However, they can be discolored by dishwasher detergents, so most manufacturers regemend hand washing. The surface is not a non-stick surface, so that oils will be needed to prevent food from sticking.
Copper - Copper is the choice of many professional cooks because it is a very good heat conductor; it heats up quickly and evenly. But copper cookware is expensive and needs polishing. To prevent the copper from interacting with foods, copper pans should be lined with tin or stainless steel. Copper pans should never be put in the dishwasher or left to air dry.
Glass - Is a poor conductor of heat, this results in hot spots. For this reason, glass is mostly reserved to casserole dishes and cookware lids.
Cast Iron - Is very heavy and a poor conductor of heat. Cast Iron retains and evenly disburses heat. Cast iron will interact with food unless it is seasoned by rubbing shortening into the cooking surfaces of a clean pan, then baking for 2 hours. Alternatively, enamel coated cast iron does not interact with food and requires no seasoning.
Attributes:
Even heating -Chose the cookware material, thickness and construction to ensure even heating where it is required (see above).
Clean up - Check with the manufacturer instructions to see if a pot or pan is dishwasher safe.
Handle safety - Handles gee in metal, plastic, wood and glass. Metal may get hot on the range top, however it is the most durable. Plastic and wood keep cooler over burners, but can only go from stovetop to oven with low temperatures. Glass handles are molded as part of the cookware and typically stay cooler over burners.
Handle attachments - handles are connected to the base via one of three methods:
Rivets - the most durable connection, but may be difficult to clean around rivets.
Welding - the handle is welded to the outside of the pan. This keeps the inside of the pan smooth, but is not as durable as a rivet.
Screw On - many plastic handles are screwed on to welded on studs. This is the least durable method.
Handle gefort - Look for a pot / pan that feels gefortable and balanced.
Warrantee - many brands of cookware gee with lifetime warrantees.
Coatings - non-stick allows for easy clean up and can permit healthier cooking with the use of less oil.
How to Choose:
Determine your cooking values. If you care more about convenience and appearance, consider a matched set of cookware. If you care more about the quality of the cooking process, consider mixing cookware pieces and metals, i.e.: cast iron skillets, copper sauce and saut pans, stainless steel stock pots and aluminum / anodized aluminum frying pans.
gepare metals, coatings, handles, tops and warrantees across several brands.
Types:
Stainless Steel - Stainless is easier to maintain than aluminum or copper; it doesnt require scouring or polishing. Stainless steel doesnt rust, however it is a poor conductor of heat. To prevent hot spots when heated over a flame burner, usually disks of copper or aluminum are added to the bottom of smaller pans. The thicker the disk the better the distribution of heat. Look for at least a 3mm thick aluminum disk or 1mm thick copper disk (copper is a better conductor). Larger pots which are used for boiling fluids dont require even distribution of heat and usually will not have disk. Tri-metal layer pots use layers of stainless, aluminum and stainless for heat distribution. However, the thickness of aluminum is limited by the manufacturing process, resulting in the possibility of hot spots. Non-stick uses a special process to create a rough surface on the stainless for the non-stick coating to adhere to. These have the aesthetics of stainless with the convenience of non-stick cooking. Stainless steel cookware gees in three types, 18/0, 18/8, and 18/10. The second number denotes the nickel content, and generally the higher the nickel content, the better the quality.
Plain Aluminum - Aluminum is a good conductor of heat (second in cookware to copper). But can scratch and interact with food. With aluminum cookware, thickness is the key to quality. The thicker the pan, the more even heat will be distributed and the less likely it is the pan will warp under repeated heating and cooling. At one point, there was a concern that Aluminum cooking pans were linked to Alzheimers disease. Recent studies by the FDA have shown that there is no connection.
Hard Anodized Aluminum - Is aluminum that has undergone a special treatment. The result is a harder and non-porous surface that heats up quicker and more evenly. Hard anodized surfaces are twice as hard as stainless steel. However, they can be discolored by dishwasher detergents, so most manufacturers regemend hand washing. The surface is not a non-stick surface, so that oils will be needed to prevent food from sticking.
Copper - Copper is the choice of many professional cooks because it is a very good heat conductor; it heats up quickly and evenly. But copper cookware is expensive and needs polishing. To prevent the copper from interacting with foods, copper pans should be lined with tin or stainless steel. Copper pans should never be put in the dishwasher or left to air dry.
Glass - Is a poor conductor of heat, this results in hot spots. For this reason, glass is mostly reserved to casserole dishes and cookware lids.
Cast Iron - Is very heavy and a poor conductor of heat. Cast Iron retains and evenly disburses heat. Cast iron will interact with food unless it is seasoned by rubbing shortening into the cooking surfaces of a clean pan, then baking for 2 hours. Alternatively, enamel coated cast iron does not interact with food and requires no seasoning.
Attributes:
Even heating -Chose the cookware material, thickness and construction to ensure even heating where it is required (see above).
Clean up - Check with the manufacturer instructions to see if a pot or pan is dishwasher safe.
Handle safety - Handles gee in metal, plastic, wood and glass. Metal may get hot on the range top, however it is the most durable. Plastic and wood keep cooler over burners, but can only go from stovetop to oven with low temperatures. Glass handles are molded as part of the cookware and typically stay cooler over burners.
Handle attachments - handles are connected to the base via one of three methods:
Rivets - the most durable connection, but may be difficult to clean around rivets.
Welding - the handle is welded to the outside of the pan. This keeps the inside of the pan smooth, but is not as durable as a rivet.
Screw On - many plastic handles are screwed on to welded on studs. This is the least durable method.
Handle gefort - Look for a pot / pan that feels gefortable and balanced.
Warrantee - many brands of cookware gee with lifetime warrantees.
Coatings - non-stick allows for easy clean up and can permit healthier cooking with the use of less oil.
How to Choose:
Determine your cooking values. If you care more about convenience and appearance, consider a matched set of cookware. If you care more about the quality of the cooking process, consider mixing cookware pieces and metals, i.e.: cast iron skillets, copper sauce and saut pans, stainless steel stock pots and aluminum / anodized aluminum frying pans.
gepare metals, coatings, handles, tops and warrantees across several brands.
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