Can Global Deforestation Really Cause An Impact In Our Environment?

It is almost unfeasible to calculate the consequences of humankind's diminution over the forests. The conversion of forest lands by means of human desires and actions denotes one of the huge forces in global ecological revolution and one of the great leads to biodiversity extinction.

Its impact on people has been profound and remains to be intense. Forests are turned to barren lands, tarnished and shattered by log harvests, transformation to agricultural lands, road constructions, human made catastrophes, and in many other inexplicable ways. People view forests as a means of total transformation in societies, lands and even businesses. The rate at which it is growing is totally unstoppable that global deforestation came to be a big impact for the survival of lives in this planet.

If the number continually rises, more and more sources of life will be totally depleted. The world will not only suffer from the untoward effects of the environment but other outcomes as well such as ailments, social fights and poverty. Currently, if the evil doers think that development is the key to saving the population, then they might consider thinking twice. Even though how far advanced the development may be, nothing can save us from the turmoil if the earth hits back at us.

Global Deforestation Effects On The Atmosphere

It is a scientific fact that trees help minimize pollution through elimination of carbon dioxide. Forests then are condensed of enormous amounts of carbon dioxide since trees are the ones responsible for absorbing them. In cases of deforestation however, the burned trees give off the polluted gas back to the atmosphere, thus leading to an immense amount of pollution in the air.

The evil acts of global deforestation accounts for one-third of the carbon dioxide emissions from all over the earth. The remaining values are caused upon by other factors such as car air pollutants. When much of the earth is going to be removed, expect that the air that we breathe can turn out to be more than just 50% of the toxic carbon dioxide.

Global Deforestation Effects On Water Cycle

Global deforestation can result to a number of tormenting consequences, and one of these is the change in water cycle. The green environment holds much of the responsibility in preventing floods, erosions, and other land filled problems. For example, trees seep water in case of heavy rains, thus preventing flood.

Trees also help through the evaporation of excess water back into the environment; they also lessen surface-runoff which helps lessen calamities. Overall, their work for our world remains to be unpaid especially now that global deforestation continues to rise.

As a result, the amount of water on the surface area can be changed by either the absence or the presence of trees. They control water which can be found not only in soil, but the atmosphere and groundwater as well. The ecosystem therefore cannot function with lesser trees on the picture. Thus, man's survival also depends on the capabilities that the ecosystem brings.

The forest truly provides us with much in life, from the air that we breathe, to the water that we consume, and to the food that we eat. If rampant global deforestation and killing would not be put to a stop, it will definitely result to several complex problems.

In one way or another, the denuded green areas will unstoppably backfire at us and human survival can be the next in line to extinction.

A Deep Sea Fishing Family Guide

Deep sea fishing is one great activity that a lot of
families enjoy. Itís something that can give you and
your family momentous experiences and priceless
memories that can last for a lifetime. The family
bonding experience with nature at hand is simply
indescribable.

If youíre new to this sport and wonderful past time,
there are some things that you should know before you
go on with your deep sea fishing trip. It is indeed
one big adventure for you and your family. However,
you should consider some things first to make your
trip a successful one. Other than not forgetting to
bring your camera, for those momentous snapshots, here
are some things that you have to think about before
even making some plans.

Judgment Time: Are They Capable?

First off, you should take a realistic look at your
familyís abilities and age. Letís face it, you canít
really maximize a deep sea fishing trip if youíre kids
are still infants or toddlers. If youíre deciding on
what kind of excursion to have, deliberating on these
kinds of factors are important too.

In case youíll be getting the service of a charter
boat, this would play an important factor too, since
most boat companies have set age limits. Generally,
age limits start at about eight years old. You should
understand that companies set these kinds of rules to
guarantee safety on your part.

Additionally, you should consider the duration of how
long youíd want to be on water. Most inexperienced
fishermen would usually prefer half-day trips, so that
it wouldnít be that stressful and still be enjoyable
for the whole family. On the other hand, lifelong and
expert anglers would definitely want to have overnight
trips. However, regardless of how long or short you
have been fishing, you should still remember your
familyís physical comfort would affect the tripís
overall enjoyment. Factors such as attitude and age
play important roles on how can your family adjust
with a temporary boat life.

Be Distance Conscious

Another important consideration is how far away your
target fishing location is from your home. The
packages that you may encounter can vary greatly,
depending on the company. This means the provisions
that theyíll give to you on the boat would also
differ. If you will be travelling a huge distance just
to fish, you might be more interested in availing
packages that are all inclusive, which provides you
with everything youíd need for the trip.

However, packages like these are usually hard to find,
and of course, they are way more expensive than those
for average day trip packages. An average package
usually provides you bait and tackle. But if youíll
need a license, some packages already include it,
while some can charge you extra for the cost.

Know The Terms

Generally, boats would ask you to bring your own hats,
sunglasses, clothing, sun block, medications for
motion sickness and everything else that you think is
important to bring. Make sure that you are clothed
appropriately with a number of warm layers, since it
would be colder when youíre on water than being on
shore.

Also, most of the day trip packages would ask you to
bring your own food. If this is the case, you should
plan accordingly. Try to pack items that are easy on
your stomach, just in case that waters will be rough.

4 Tips for Planning a Girls Trip to a Day Spa

Are you recently decided that you and some of your friends could use some quality time together? If you have, you may want to consider planning a girls day at the spa. After speaking it over with a few of your close friends, there is a good chance that everyone will agree that it is a great idea!

A nice as it is to hear that you can plan a girls trip to a day spa, you may be curious about making the plans. This may be particularly true if you have never visited a day spa before. For tips on how you can plan for your upcoming girls trip to the spa, please continue reading on

1 Examine All of Your Options

Examining all of your options is important. No matter where you live, you should have at least a couple of day spas within the surrounding area. For starters, be sure to find a spa that can accommodate to you and your group. If you have more ten girls, you may be required to arrange a private party, as opposed to a traditional day spa visit.

It is also advised that you examine spa services offered as well. If you are looking for the largest selection of treatments, examine establishments that double as both salons and day spas. Here, you may be able to get a haircut followed by a relaxing massage with your friends. If any members in your group are on a budget, examine day spas with affordable rates.

2 Know Who Will Be Going For Sure

Before making your reservations or appointments at a day spa, it is important that you have an exact total of those who will be going. There are some upscale day spas that require you to cancel your reservations within four-eight hours of your scheduled visit. If you cannot, you may be responsible for a late cancellation fee or you may still be charged for the whole session! That is why it is important to not count on those who are still saying maybe. If you must, add their names to the reservation list later.

3 Examine Spa Packages

Most day spas offer guests a large number of packages. These packages often provide you with a full day or at least a half day worth of treatment. In addition to having everyone in your group pick out their own individual packages, you can also inquire about group packages or group rates. Some day spas have been known to offer them. Everyone in your group could receive something like a massage, facial, and body wrap all for one large price, which your group can then split the cost of.

4 Be Sure to Have Fun

Most importantly, it is important to remember to have fun. You and your friends will want to be able to sit back and relax. Encourage everyone in your group to leave the real world and all of the stresses and demands that are associated with it at home. A girls day at the spa should be about receiving some much needed rest, relaxation, and pampering, together as friends.

As a reminder, be sure to make your day spa appointments or reservations well in advance. It is best to aim for two weeks ahead of time. Depending on the size of your group, special arrangements may need to be made.

Cooking Cajun Food

Cooking in the heart of Cajun country is an art form. There really is very little science to this particular form of cooking that includes a lot more than mere lagniappe from the pantry or the spice cabinet. Cajun cooking is something that has often been imitated around the country and around the world but can very rarely be accurately duplicated.

One of the fascinating things about Cajun cooking is the fact that there are very few exact recipes. Most, if not all authentic Cajun cooking is done to taste rather than measurements. Even more amazing is that from day to day one person can make the same dish over and over and it is quite likely to taste a little bit different each and every time it is made. The major reason for this is that in addition to being an art form in and of itself, Cajun food is often made even more delicious or mysterious simply by the mood of the one doing the cooking.

I'm sure that many of you have watched as Emeril Lagasse makes some special concoction and exclaims "Bam!" there is a good bit of that when it comes to Cajun cooking. Something that goes far beyond the ingredients in the recipe and somewhere into the heart and the soul of the cook in question. There is a reason that many southern cooked dishes are referred to as soul food and you should not for one second forget that New Orleans is in the heart of the Deep South.

The most difficult thing, perhaps when it comes to preparing good Cajun dishes outside of the New Orleans region is finding the right ingredients. It is nearly impossible to find the fresh seasonings and spices that are essential to most Cajun cuisine outside the heart of the old south. Not only that, but fresh crawfish and andouille sausage are a little difficult to come by during the heart of a Michigan winter.

If you are determined to learn to make Cajun food of your own, you must first find the ingredients. Specialty food shops or those that will special order might be your best bet. There are some grocers that will carry a limited stock of Cajun seasonings on their international food aisles. Keep in mind that these sources are extremely limited. Once you have the ingredients, it's time to let a little jazz blare from your speakers in order to set the mood. Most of the best Cajun dishes require a substantial amount of time for simmering and this should be considered. Cajun food is not to be rushed-much like the citizens of the Big Easy. The food will be ready in time and as the one cooking the food you must learn to accept that about Cajun food. It has a way of letting you know when it is ready that is almost mythical until you've experienced it for yourself.

Cooking Cajun food will try your patience, try your talents, and in some cases zap your energy, as it tends to be an emotional process for many. On the other end however, Cajun food is some of the richest and most delicious food on the planet. Mastering the ability to cook this wonderful food will make you a slave to its flavor for many years to come.

The History of Coffee Makers

Coffee has been used as a drink for well over 2000 years. The first methods of brewing coffee were pretty crude but they have advanced greatly over the centuries. People used to just chew the cherry that came off the coffee tree to get a stimulant effect. Inside the cherry was the coffee bean. Over time with experimentation, people started to roast and then grind the beans for better flavor.

As early as the the late 1700s, coffee makers began showing up. This made it easy for people to brew coffee and not worry about getting grounds in their cup. This was expensive and not many people had them. The basic design is similar to coffee pots of today. There was a pot on the bottom with a place to put your ground coffee on the top. This was connected to a chamber on top where you poured in your boiling water.

People tried many different types of coffee maker throughout the years since then. There have been percolators, vacuum coffee makers, and drip coffee makers. Percolators use a pot over a heat source that forces the water into an upper chamber where the coffee grounds are. The water drips through the coffee and back into the lower pot. You know it is ready when it stops making percolating noises which are easy to hear. Then you remove it from heat before it boils. Vacuum coffee makers use what looks like two pots, one upside down on the other. As it is heated, the pressure forces hot water up into the top chamber where it infuses with the ground coffee. When you remove it from heat, the pressure is reversed and the coffee goes back to the lower pot ready to drink. Drip coffee makers are the kind we are all used to. Whether automatic or manual they work by dumping hot water over coffee grounds that sit in a filter. It strains through into a pot and is ready to drink.

With the advent of electricity, coffee makers became very popular and a little cheaper. In the early 1900s coffee makers really started to boom and by the 1970s almost everyone had a coffee maker in their home. These were usually of the automatic drip variety as they were the easiest to use. Todays coffee makers have many features. They have timers that allow you to specify when you want your coffee maker to turn on, have built in grinders, storage areas, and much more. You can buy home espresso and cappuccino machines also. Coffee makers today range from the single cup variety to commercial units that make gallons at a time so no matter what your need, you can usually find it.

As more and more people start to enjoy different kinds of coffee, coffee makers become easier to use and offer more features. Many combine espresso, cappuccino, and coffee all in one machine but it is rather bulky still. Look for these to shrink in the near future.

Coin Collections: Beginner's Guide to Coin Collecting

Coin collecting is a hobby that is extremely popular
among a lot of people. Whatever the age of the person
is, collecting coins has its benefits. In most cases,
coin collections gravitate on two things. For
children, they tend to collect coins that look pretty
or unusual. However, for adults, their coin
collections will tend to gravitate towards the value
of it rather than the looks.

People have different ways to acquire their
collection. Some will just collect any coin that they
stumble upon, while there are people who buy in bulk
and eagerly anticipate limited mint edition of coins.
Whatever your methods are, there may be some questions
that you may want to ask about this particular hobby.

The first would be about handling the coin collection.
As a beginner, you must understand that you should
handle the coins as little as possible. The fact that
fingerprints on an uncirculated coin can dramatically
cut the value of the coin, you must never handle the
coin at all. However, if you do need to handle the
coin, do so from the edge and never on the face of the
coin.

If you need to lay the coin down, it is important to
use a velvet pad if it is available. But, if none is
available, a soft and clean cloth will do. If you are
going to handle coins that are extremely high in
value, you must do so with surgical gloves and
protective face mask.

Most people will also tend to ask how to keep their
coin collections clean.

Basically, you donít really need to clean your coin
collection. In fact, you shouldnít even think about
cleaning them at all. Most collectors look for the
authenticity of the coin rather than its shiny
newness. Even if you wipe the coin clean with clean,
soft, and lint-free rag, it will leave hair line
scratches on the coin which will greatly reduce its
value. So, cleaning a coin collection is never really
an option.

Storage is also another question that you may have
about coin collecting. Basically, the goal in storing
your coin collection is to protect it from temperature
extremes and humidity. Also, you may want to protect
your coin collection from dust, dirt, chemicals, and
even fingerprints. So dehumidifying equipments will be
needed as well as locking the storage as airtight as
possible.

In most cases, low value coins are kept in almost any
container and can be handled any way you like.
However, when you are dealing with high value coins,
you will need to give it extra attention. The goal
here is to provide a container that will preserve the
coin's condition. Make the container as airtight as
possible, and the container should also be able to
display the coin in order for you to never need to
take out the coin from the container.

Uncirculated coins are very much valued by collectors.
However, if you really want a valuable coin
collection, go for rare ones if you can afford to have
it. Learning about grading coins can also help you to
determine the true value of a particular coin.

So, if you want to start your very own coin
collections, you may want to keep these things in
mind. With these tips, you can be sure that you will
be able to know how to handle your collection and also
help in appraising its value. Always remember that
this hobby is not just fun, but is also a good
investment.

Collectors Car Clubs of the Past

Wondering about some of the changes that have occurred with car clubs in the last few years? There are numerous, after all as lives go on and technology improves people change as well. What was once fulfilling and satisfying barely meets anyones needs now and the car clubs have all been forced to adapt and adjust as well. This means that the clubs that in the past were the top of the line have also had to adjust in order to meet the needs of members.

Those clubs that did not evolve have all subsided and closed, while new clubs appeared. In the past, many people felt that a car club was only useful for an occasional organized drive and of course participating in only local car shows with. This would generally be a monthly activity that took place for a few hours and usually just involved the members of the club. Todays clubs still take drives, however they tend to occur on a weekly basis now, and are completely voluntary. Additionally the drives are usually very short, or else cover the course of an entire weekend and members are encouraged to bring their entire family along for the adventure.

Additional changes that have occurred include membership fees and acceptance. In the past, most clubs accepted almost everyone who applied and there were few if any that charged membership. Now there are very few that accept everyone who applies and the majority charge at least a small membership fee to help defer some of the costs that the club has. From organizing events to even making some charitable donations many car clubs have a few bills that must be covered somehow. In the past, the clubs were not very well organized. People would simply meet together, possibly wear a jacket that was identical to other members and have a small sticker that they placed on their car. Times have changed and membership often means so much more now.

Car clubs of the past typically involved only men. Women were almost never around cars, after all in the old days the womanís place was in the kitchen cooking or taking care of children, never out in the garage with the men. Todayís car clubs have women who are members and car enthusiasts themselves. The numbers of women who are members have grown dramatically in recent years and continues to grow even more. There are even some clubs that limit membership to only women to help encourage and foster the love that women have for cars.

People also tend to demand more now than they ever did from memberships and clubs and to help adapt many have worked out deals with businesses and services that are useful to the car owner, which allows members to receive a discount. This is something that car clubs in the past never worried about, yet most clubs offer some form of benefit. The benefits that each club offers varies greatly, and even the amount of the discounts that each club has available varies from club to club depending on the deal worked out but you can usually find something that is beneficial to you.

You can only imagine how car clubs of today will compare to those of tomorrow. At this point in time collectors car clubs have changed so dramatically that they are so vastly different and likely more changes are in store as the clubs continue to adapt to life. People always love cars, after all the power and thrill of creating a car from the ground up or even restoring an old and tarnished car into the masterpiece that car enthusiasts love is always thrilling and likely will not disappear anytime in the future. In addition, working on cars is a great way for families to bond and it creates the need for people to get together and learn, show off their cars and admire the work of others. Car clubs have thus far stood the test of time and will continue to do so in the future.

The Benefits of Composting

Besides a free and nutrient rich fertilizer for your soil and plants there are many other
benefits to starting a compost in your yard. A few of the benefits of composting are listed
below.

* You can reduce or eliminate weeds in your garden by using compost as it prevents
weed seeds from sprouting and prospering. This is a natural alternative to
pesticides.
* Mature compost material has been used to stop or prevent erosion in certain areas.
The binding capability in the compost can keep the soil in place and prevent
dangerous drop-offs.
* Reducing the amount of organic material that goes to a dump unnecessarily ñ in
turn this reduces the amount of methane gas a dump creates during
decomposition.
* In wetlands areas that are in trouble, compost has been used to revitalize the soil
and surrounding plant life.
* Healthier plants, compost material can prevent your plants from contracting
diseases that kill or spread to the rest of the crop or garden.
* Can create a stable and healthier pH balance in your soil.
* If your soil is overly dry (sandy), adding compost to the soil and thoroughly
mixing can help the sandy dirt retain more water keeping it moist.
* If your soil is clay-like, you can make the dirt easier to work with and less dense
by adding mature compost.
* Provides important nutrients and micronutrients to the soil and plants.
* Increases the temperature of the soil creating a conducive environment for plant
growth and health.

This is just a few of the important benefits that can be derived from using compost. It
helps the environment, your garden, your plants and the planet. The small amount of
time that it takes to set-up and maintain a compost bin or pile is well worth the time and
effort.

Camping and Picnics: The Perfect Combination

Are you looking for a fun and exciting way to spend time with your family, with your friends, or with your romantic partner? If you are, have you taken the time to examine camping? Camping is nice as it is occasionally referred to as a recreational activity that is affordable. As nice as camping is, did you know that you can do much more, like have a picnic? In fact, when you think about it, camping and picnics really are the perfect combination.

One of the many reasons why camping and picnics are the perfect combination is because it seems as if they are designed for each other. For instance, if you were to go camping, there is a good chance that you would choose to do so at a state park or a public campground park. When examining these popular camping destinations, you will find that many of them have picnic areas, many of which may be right on or near your campsite. It is common to find parks and campgrounds that already have picnic tables installed or you can choose to bring your own picnic blankets to use.

Another one of the many ways that camping and picnics make for the perfect combination can be seen when you examine popular picnic locations. What is nice about having picnics is that you can have them in your own backyard and at local parks. While some of the local parks that you may be interested in having a picnic at may be ìtraditional,î in nature, it is possible to find parks that also have onsite camping available. Often times, you may find that camping is included in the cost of your admission. If the cost of camping is not included, you may be surprised with just how affordable the extra cost it.

When having a picnic, many families, friends, and couples, do much more than just eat. That is one of the many reasons why camping and picnics tend to go hand in hand. Many popular picnic activities, depending on the location of your picnic, tend to include boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking. These are many of the same activities that are associated with camping. In fact, you will find that many state parks and public campground parks have swimming pools, lakes, or other bodies of water, as well as great hiking trails.

As much as camping and picnics make the perfect combination, many individuals do not make this association. One of the reasons for that is because many individuals associate picnics with a few hours worth of fun. Although picnics can last a few hours, there is no need to rush. Many families and couples have their picnics last hours upon hours. If you are interested in doing the same and if you would like to picnic in a public location, like a state park, you may want to consider adding camping to your fun list of activities. Even if you arenít familiar with camping, it is something that you should enjoy and many of the needed supplies are easy to come by, as well as affordable.

As outlined above, camping and picnics really make for the perfect combination. If you have a little bit of free time in your future or if you are looking to take an affordable vacation, you may want to examining combining a picnic with a camping adventure, as you can have an unlimited amount of fun when doing so.

Candle Making Basics

The use of candles for light and heat is known to have existed in ancient times. The remains of candles have been found in the caves of France. It is believed that cavemen used them while painting and etching on the walls. It is believed those candles where made out of animal fat. The Egyptians used candles as well by dripping beeswax onto leave stems. The burning process of a candle involves the four basic elements of matter which are solids, liquids, gas, and plasma.

Today candle making is a fun hobby or craft. For some, it is a very profitable business venture. Candle making provides you with they ability to create wonderful designs and crafts out of your candles. There is no limit to the shapes, sizes, and colors you can make your candles in. A candle is a device to provide light or fragrance. Candles have become very popular for the wonderful aromas more than for their ability to produce light. Some candles give off a popular smell such as vanilla or jasmine. Others smell like a chocolate cake or cinnamon rolls.

The body of a candle is generally made of paraffin wax. It can also be made out of beeswax. Paraffin wax is a natural wax that comes from plants. This wax can be purchased from Petroleum Refinery or the Specialty Wax Processor. Beeswax is also considered a natural wax, and is taken from honeybees. This is the substance the bees use to construct their honeycombs. A wick is placed in the center of the wax before it dries. The wick is made of cotton fibers that have been braided together. The wick is very thin, but also very powerful. Sometimes candle makers will use a wick that is wider than normal to increase the size of the flame.

Safety is a very important part of candle making. The temperature of the hot wax can result in severe burns. There is also the risk of fire. Make sure your candle making area is set up properly and that you have a fire extinguisher in the area. Clean up spills quickly as they will become very slick, leading to falls if you walk across them.

To make candle making fun instead of frustrating, start will making simple candles. This is a great opportunity for you to discover what works well with your set up and gives you the chance to make necessary changes. Initially, work at implementing good safety habits and melting your wax at the proper temperatures. You will also want to experiment with your cooling process. Once you have these areas down, you will start to relax and the process will become more natural to you. This is the right time to start experimenting with dyes, scents, and shapes for your candles.

The candle making process is easy to follow if you take your time and learn from your mistakes. Those who are impatient and take multitasking to an extreme will most likely not enjoy the art of candle making. However, it is very enjoyable by those who have plenty of time to take with the process and who enjoy creating things. Candle making supplies arenít expensive so use the best you can. This will also help ensure your candles form well and burn properly.

California surfing - where are the best places to catch wave?

The Beach Boys made California synonymous with surfing on the world stage but it with the ocean and beautiful shores; it was already ìtheî place to surf! If you feel like some fun hitting the waves, you'll want to head to one of the following beaches in California; with the good weather and great waves, they're some of the most popular surfing areas in the world!

Huntington Beach: Home to the Huntington Beach Surf Series, many pro surfers call this their home. Located in Orange County (the real OC!) this is probably one of the most popular places to surf in the world. They even have a church in the area just for surfers. Now thatís bringing spiritual to the people!

San Diego: Warm weather and great waves is what you'll find at San Diego. A large surfing community has sprung up in the San Diego area, and you'll find many locals are hitting the waves along with the tourists!

Santa Cruz: You'll have nothing but fun at the beaches of Santa Cruz! For an avid surfer, Santa Cruz is a favorite area to find the best waves.

A lot of surfers, especially those who are more experienced, have preferred conditions in which to surf and so a lot of the more popular beaches have webcams (surf cams) set up facing the waves so that a surfer can go to a website and check out the conditions before they head to the beach. There are also dedicated phone numbers you can call to find out the weather conditions, if you prefer to get your information that way.

If you're looking to learn how to surf but don't know where to start, you'll find that there are many surfing schools all along the beaches of California. The varied selection makes it easy to find one that fits your level of experience and learning style, and your pocketbook. Alternatively you could always just head for the beach and hang out with the surfers to pick up tips!

Abraham Lincoln

We would like to think all of our presidents of the United States were truly great men and to be sure, just handling the awesome responsibility of the presidency takes a special kind of individual. One of the unique and great things about the system of government in America is the concept of citizen leadership. This is the idea of an ordinary citizen rising up and becoming president for a while and then returning to private life.

But of the handful of men who have held that office, a few have stood out for their great achievements and leadership in a time that changed the country for ever. And one of these truly great presidents was Abraham Lincoln. Probably more than any other president, Lincoln had to handle an internal civil war that was far more than shouting and name calling. This was a dispute that could have torn the country in half and starting a rupturing that could have resulted in dozens of small weak independent states instead of the powerful nation we know as America today.

It was Lincolnís leadership, his commitment to values and his strong moral fiber that made it possible for America to find its way through that war and then to begin the healing process that would eventually lead the nation back to unity once again. Lincolnís term of service from 1860 until his death was one of considerable challenge. If he only had the problem of dealing with the attempt by the south to succeed from the union and his ability to keep those states as part of the American national territory, he would be lauded as a great American indeed.

One of the little known leadership styles that Lincoln used to his advantage in the organization of his presidency was his appointment of talented national figures from opposing political parties to be part of his cabinet. Lincoln felt that he needed to have close advisors from the opposing viewpoint to keep from having his presidency become insulated from the American people and one sided. By gathering members of the ìloyal oppositionî into his trusted inner circle, Lincoln was always aware of both sides of every issue which made him a stronger leader.

But that is not even his greatest accomplishment or the one that we remember him for the most. His bold and unchanging opposition to slavery is without any doubt his greatest contribution to the history of America and indeed to world history as well. When he was willing to put everything on the line to stop this barbaric social sin, Lincoln made a stand, against the popular opinion of the time in many cases that he would be the figure to bring slavery to an end.

It was not a stand that came without cost. The civil war was one of the bloodiest and costliest in the nationís history if for no other reason than all casualties; on both sides were casualties of America. It would take many decades for the ravages of that horrible war to be repaired. The schism between north and south continued for decades and is still a part of our national personality in this country.

But the end result was what Lincoln wanted to be his legacy. By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation to make the end of slavery permanent, Lincoln followed that up with the passing of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments which made permanent the freedoms that were hard fought and won in the Civil War.

The freedom that was won for so many black Americans in that war permanently enshrined the memory of Abraham Lincoln as one of our greatest presidents in the hearts and minds of all Americans. Small wonder the monument honoring him on Washingtonís national mall is one of the most revered spots in the nation and one that thousands flock to each year to give respect for this great president that made liberty and freedom a reality for all Americans, not just a few. And his face on Mount Rushmore is well deserved so the very mountain itself shouts out, this is one of the greatest leaders in the history of this great country.

The Art of Aikido

Martial Arts is one of the contributions of Asia to the world. Who can forget Bruce Lee and the fact that he was first and foremost a martial arts athlete before being a movie star? Even until now martial arts is still a big hit with the increasing popularity of Asian movies like crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and more recently the House of the Flying Daggers.

The Chinese are the first people that come to mind when it comes to these things but the Japanese are just as athletic with a rich heritage of body contact sports that can be found in their history. The modern Japan still gives honor to these things by holding tournaments and promoting such sports abroad,

One of these is Aikido. It is interesting to note that the word comes from three Japanese words from which one can derive the meaning of the one word. Ai means joining, Ki means spirit and Do means way. From this we can understand why Aikido is beyond just the physical skills of it students especially sin its proponent Ueshiba focused more on the spiritual and philosophical development of his students.

In Aikido, one is not taught violence instead one is taught to be in harmony with the opponent to be able to defeat. This might seem odd but it actually works. In approaching an opponent, the aim of the Aikido practitioner is to be one with the opponent to be able to attack him where he is weakest and in doing so diver or immobilize him but never to kill.

This is where Aikido becomes an art. Art is something beautiful to watch and something positive and Aikido is all that. At least one of the people involved in the fighting strives for harmony and harmony can only be achieved if there is grace in the movements. The moves maybe calculated but there is an air of finesse in doing these movements, not a womanly finesse but just a finesse that emanates peace. The art of peace as what they call in Aikido is one of the most positive influences of Aikido to its students and to everyone who choose to know about this Japanese martial art.

Some of the techniques in Aikido include the following. Ikkyo is the first technique. Using this technique you control an opponent by using one hand in holding the elbow and one near the wrist, this action is supposed to make you pin your opponent down in the ground. Nikyo the second technique is when you do an adductive wristlock that enables you to twist the arm of your opponent that will in turn cause enough nerve pressure.

The third technique is Sankyo which is a pronating technique that directs upward-spiraling tension throughout the arm, elbow and shoulder. There are many other techniques but the first three should get you started.

In studying Aikido, it is important to remember that along with building physical strength to be able to defeat your opponent the mental capacity should also be developed. Just like in any art, it takes a lot of practice and discipline to perfect the art of Aikido. The important thing is the one who wants to get into the art should have determination to give honor to the art by performing it in the best way possible.

A Look At The History Of Airbrush Art

Airbrush art is a popular form of painting various designs on various types of surfaces. Everything from skin, clothing, canvas and automobiles are being used to show fantastic works of art using airbrushing. Motorcycles and building murals are also a target for an artist to show off their creativity with airbrush art.

The history of airbrush art is just as fascinating as the creative designs that artists are using airbrushing for. Experts believe that a primitive form of airbrush art was used by ancient civilizations. The method believed to be used in this primitive form of airbrush art was the use of a hollow bone in which to spray the paint out of by blowing through it. While this is a very primitive method compared to modern day forms of airbrushing, it does still work. Take a look at children's airbrush art kits that require the child to blow through one end of tube to create the airbrushed art. Now ancient forms of airbrush art have bled over to modern day children's crafts.

In 1893 the world seen a more modernized version of airbrushing when Charles Burdick patent the first airbrush device. This device would be used for retouching photographs until around the 1920.

During the 1930s airbrush increased when advertisement agencies jumped on the bandwagon to create advertisement of new products. Soon airbrushing would be used to paint Pin-Up girls on to the American planes during WWII. This is where airbrushing started showing up in the more modern world in the form of art.

In the 1940 Walt Disney would show the world a new use for airbrush art. Walt Disney would take airbrush art to the animated screen. The backgrounds for Walt Disney's animated movies were created using airbrushing. Airbrushing allowed them to create shadows and lighting tricks to achieve a more realistic looking background. While even this seems primitive compared to what we can do with animated movies as well as for airbrush art, this method did pave the way for both the improvement on animation and airbrush art.

The 1960s brought us even closer to what we now know we can do with airbrushing. Airbrush art in the 1960s made its way into the music world. Album covers were done using airbrush art to create the whole hippy style images. The wild psychedelic artwork that was popular with that era were done thanks to the use of airbrushing. Tie dyed looks and large hippy flowers and even the peace signs were making their way onto vehicles during this era. Airbrushing the artwork on took a lot of time out of painting the vehicles over doing the designs by hand. Thus airbrush art was being experimented with on vehicles at this point.

The way we use airbrushing now to create art surly has come along way from the primitive methods used by our ancestors and even our parents. Now a days we can see airbrush art almost everywhere on almost every type of surface. The only limits now a days with airbrush art rests in the limits of the individual artist.

Air Travel Tips for Families

Are you interested in taking a family vacation soon? If you are, you may be looking for some guidance, especially if you and your family will be required to travel by airplane. As stressful as it can sometimes be planning a trip and flying with a family, especially one that is large in size, there are a number of steps that can be taken to ensure that everyone has a fun and pleasant time.

One of the first things that you will want to do, when looking to plan a family vacation, is to make your airline reservations early. You will likely be better off when doing so, for a number of different reasons. Perhaps, the greatest reason is the comfort and peace of mind that you may get from knowing that all of your travel arrangements are made and out of the way.

As for packing for your flight, you will want to make sure that your children’s bag are packed and properly. Not only will you want to make sure that they have all needed supplies for your vacation, but you will also want to make sure that they have items for the airplane ride as well. Each person gets to have one carry-on bag. You will want to make sure that each of your kids have one.

Speaking of carry-on bags for your children, be sure to fill them will fun activities for the plane ride. What you will choose will all depend on your child’s age. For example, younger children may benefit from books and a few small toys. For older children, portable DVD players, handheld video games, toys, and magazines are a great idea.

You will also want to make sure that you have extra snacks on hand and in your carry-on bags. This is important, as you don’t want to have to spend too much money at the airport. It can get costly to feed a whole family, even just with snacks. For that same reason, try to have everyone eat a full meal before you leave for the airport. This step combined with snacks can help to reduce hunger, possibly resulting in shared meals during airport layovers, which can also help you save money.

As for drinks, do not bring any with you to the airport, unless you have a newborn or an infant. If you have a baby, bring one prepared bottle of formula, but make sure to have some dry formula powder with you to prepare during a layover. Drinks, with the exception of drinks for kids, are not allowed past airport security checkpoints and they will have to be thrown away. When buying drinks at an airport store, past security, look for items that are reasonably priced or see if some family members, like you and your spouse, can share a drink.

As for when you arrive at the airport, be sure to stay together. Also, be sure to set ground rules with your children. These rules should include sticking together, not speaking to strangers, and so forth. In fact, you will want to help each other out. For example, if you have an older child, like a teenager, let them help you with finding the right gate, carrying bags, or keeping any younger children occupied. Your trip will likely be much less stressful when everyone works together.

A Little Mexican Adventure Vacation

A lot of people plan their vacations months in advance. The reason why some people do it is because they would want everything to be perfect. They want the hotel checked out, they want the destination close to the hotel, they want their activities lined up and ready for them and of course they want to be treated special because after all they are paying tons and tons of money.

This is how an adventure vacation is perceived. Months of preparation followed by countless weeks of anticipation and anxiety, this is usually how a regular vacationer sees it and it's how they live out the drama of their vacation.

Now when we talk about vacation some people would think that to enjoy their vacation they would need t travel across the globe to seek out and uncharted island blissfully located in the middle of nowhere and strategically located right next to civilization. Some people would also think that they need to spend tons and tons of money just to get them there, an island bordered by the savagery of the out doors and the comforts of civilization. But sometimes when people look too far away they miss what's under their noses.

Many people prefer going to more luxurious and popular places without considering those that could offer exciting adventure and interesting places to visit. Nowadays, when you talk about people missing things that are right under their nosesóI'm talking about missing out on a good place to go to for a vacation. Some people spend too much of their time looking away to places like France, Italy, London etc. etc. when some of the good places to go to are just a border away in Mexico.

Though we must admit not all of Mexico is for the sight seers, there are many places in the heartland of Mexico that are not really for tourist and their vacation getaways. Some are cruel realities of life that really require the attention of the government. Mexico is a really nice place to be in because of the virgin forests and the beautiful beaches, but if there would be any improvement in the tourism scene in Mexico, it has to start now.

Anyway, one of the few places that really deserve hats off is a place called San Blas, Mexico. Long before Spanish settlers set foot in this little gateway to California, people have already started settling here. Some people speculate that the lost civilization of the Incas may have been from there once.

It may not be as popular as Cancun but it does hold it own brand of notoriety especially for birds. Yes that's right birds. Many of the bird watching enthusiast flock to this little barrio surrounded by forests, lagoons, mangroves and endless islets that serve as excellent breeding grounds for both exotic and local species of birds.

Another attraction here are the ruins of Fort San Basilio built atop of a steep hill the La Contaduria. Imagine yourself on an adventure vacation high above the expanse of the town and the harbor. A good place to see the whole town and the beach, a good thing about it is that it's not too far away unlike when you need to have your fix on.

Here, you can enjoy not just a peaceful environment but also a feeling of self-fulfillment and utmost relaxation.

A BACKYARD FISH POND

Water gardens and backyard ponds are for butterflies,
frogs, birds, fish, you, and the whole family. These
ponds may be small, may even be no larger than 3 to 4
feet in diameter. These may be built in patio
containers and barrels. Drawing wildlife in your
backyard may be done by adding water gardens and
ponds. These will not only provide enjoyment and
interest but also a natural and relaxing environment
as well.

A fish pond in your backyard may become the focal
point of your backyard conversation. So spice it up
with this tips and techniques.

Where to Put Up a Backyard Pond

Place your fish pond in a place where you can best
view it from, whether from a deck or the patio. Make
it coincide with the natural surroundings. Do not
place the pond where the sun can overheat it. Nestle
it in a shaded place but not under the trees.

Landscaping

It is best to slightly elevate the soil surrounding
the pond so that excess water will not enter into it.
Plan the drainage system of the pond, making sure that
it draws the water away from your house.

Landscaping the surroundings around your pond will
provide a natural dwelling place for birds and frogs
that need water and land. Make sure that electricity
is available if you plan to use lights, filters, or a
water re-circulating device.

Do not place the pond under the trees to avoid fallen
leaves into the pond. This technique will also provide
less maintenance to the pond. Expose the pond to
sufficient sunlight only since some aquatic plats grow
well in full sun and others do not.

Using Pond Liners

Pond liners are used to keep water from leaking into
the soil. It is almost always necessary for ponds even
if it they are situated in clay soils. Pond liners
come in different shapes and sizes. They even include
built in waterfalls or any design based on your
preferences. They are durable and convenient.

Consider a polyvinyl chloride liner (PVC liner) in
building larger ponds. In determining the size of the
PVC, you have to know the maximum length, width, and
depth of the pond. After which, multiply the maximum
depth by 3. Add the answer to the width and the
length. Now you have enough PVC to securely hold down
the pond edges.

Pond liners come in different thickness as well. The
thicker the pond liner, the more resistant it is to
punctures. Cement may be considered an optional pool
liner. However, it requires more expertise to install
and it may cost more than the regular plastic pond
liner.

However, considering that many ponds are quite small,
other plastics may be used. It may be cheaper but many
may break down easily once prolonged exposure to
ultraviolet light happens. Some plastics also may
prove to be toxic to fish.

Pond Installation

Time your pond building when the ground is not overly
wet or frozen. Dig the hole according to the right
depth and place (and secure) the pond liner. Then
landscape the pond surroundings. Remove any rocks from
the surrounding area. Add water, plants, and a pump.
Let the pond sit for a few days before adding plants
and fish. Let the plants settle for at least one week
before placing the fish.

Then sit back and enjoy your backyard fish pond!

Alternative Energy for the Home

The trend toward homes that are powered by alternative energy sources, ranging from wind turbines and solar collection cells to hydrogen fuel cells and biomass gases, is one that needs to continue into the 21st century and beyond. We have great need of becoming more energy independent, and not having to rely on the supplying of fossil fuels from unstable nations who are often hostile to us and our interests. But even beyond this factor, we as individuals need to get ìoff the gridî and also stop having to be so reliant on government-lobbying giant oil corporations who, while they are not really involved in any covert conspiracy, nevertheless have a stranglehold on people when it comes to heating their homes (and if not through oil, then heat usually supplied by grid-driven electricity, another stranglehold).

As Remi Wilkinson, Senior Analyst with Carbon Free, puts it, inevitably, the growth of distributed generation will lead to the restructuring of the retail electricity market and the generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. The power providers may have to diversify their business to make up for revenues lost through household energy microgeneration. She is referring to the conclusions by a group of UK analysts, herself included among them, who call themselves Carbon Free. Carbon Free has been studying the ever-growing trend toward alternative energy-using homes in England and the West. This trend is being driven by ever-more government recommendation and sometimes backing of alternative energy research and development, the rising cost of oil and other fossil fuels, concern about environmental degradation, and desires to be energy independent. Carbon Free concludes that, assuming traditional energy prices remain at their current level or rise, microgeneration (meeting all of one's home's energy needs by installing alternative energy technology such as solar panels or wind turbines) will become to home energy supply what the Internet became to home communications and data gathering, and eventually this will have deep effects on the businesses of the existing energy supply companies.

Carbon Free's analyses also show that energy companies themselves have jumped in on the game and seek to leverage microgeneration to their own advantage for opening up new markets for themselves. Carbon Free cites the example of electricity companies (in the UK) reporting that they are seriously researching and developing ideas for new geothermal energy facilities, as these companies see geothermal energy production as a highly profitable wave of the future. Another conclusion of Carbon Free is that solar energy hot water heating technology is an efficient technology for reducing home water heating costs in the long run, although it is initially quite expensive to install. However, solar power is not yet cost-effective for corporations, as they require too much in the way of specialized plumbing to implement solar energy hot water heating. Lastly, Carbon Free tells us that installing wind turbines is an efficient way of reducing home electricity costs, while also being more independent. However, again this is initially a very expensive thing to have installed, and companies would do well to begin slashing their prices on these devices or they could find themselves losing market share.

Climbing And Fear

Climbing is no different from any other activity to the extent that fear can be a huge barrier or, if used properly, a significant ledge upon which we can launch our favorite outdoor activity.

Fear can play a significant part in our everyday lives. Fear on the job, as a spouse or parent, or even driving can hold us back and prevent us from achieving our goals. Likewise, fear of climbing and everything it brings with it, can hold us back.

Just as preparation and training of your body is essential to be a safe and successful climber, so to must you prepare your mind. Strength and balance are good and useful, but even more important is an accurate understanding of the challenges and dangers. Only then will you be able to deal with them. Like life itself, if we know and understand our fears we are then able to overcome them and go on to greater heights and challenges.

How do you deal with the fear? While the sport does involve equipment and support from fellow climbers, it still is just one person at a time in contact with the rock. And, unless you can deal with and understand that, you are setting yourself up for great disappointment.

Understand that with rock climbing you must get into your subconscious fears that lie deep within us all. If you do that and work through the inner issues in your mind, you're set to enjoy this wonderful, inspiring sport.

Business experts have shown that fear of failure can be a great motivator to achieve heights that many never imagined possible. Understanding your fears, whether in rock climbing or business or relationships, can push you to greater and greater heights.

Now, go climb that rock!

Exercise: Definition and Benefits

The health benefits associated with regular exercise are numerous. Specifically, exercise can help prevent heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, back pain, osteoporosis. In addition, it can help fight depression as well as promote improved stress management.

To maximize your overall health benefits, experts typically recommend that you perform 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity three or more times a week and some type of muscle strengthening activity and stretching at least twice a week. However, you can also achieve significant health benefits by completing 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, at least five times a week.

If you are just beginning an exercise program, starting at a slow pace with low-impact activities such as walking or swimming will allow you to improve your physical fitness level while safeguarding you from unwanted overuse injuries and burnout. Once you get in better shape, you can gradually integrate more strenuous and varied activities into your routine.

Positive Impact of Physical Activity
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing or dying from some of the leading causes of illness and death in the United States. Further, regular exercise effectively:

Reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.

Reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already Have high blood pressure.

Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer.

Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.

Helps control weight.

Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.

Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling.

Promotes psychological well-being.

The health benefits of exercise can be achieved by virtually everyone, regardless of age, sex, race or physical ability. Therefore, if you want to feel better, have more energy and live longer, simply follow a program of regular, moderate exercise and enjoy a better quality of life.

Enhance Your Flexibility

Staying limber can offset age-related stiffness, improve athletic performance, and optimize functional movement in daily life.

When it comes to the Big Three of exercise - cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training - it's pretty clear which one can get overlooked. After all, while we prize cardiovascular and strength training for their role in helping us lose weight, build muscle and get fit, the benefits of flexibility training are less immediately alluring.

However, as the population ages, more of us are learning to appreciate the rewards of stretching. Staying limber can offset age-related stiffness, improve athletic performance, and optimize functional movement in daily life. Research shows that flexibility training can develop and maintain range of motion and may help prevent and treat injury. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine has added flexibility training to its general exercise recommendations, advising that stretching exercises for the major muscle groups be performed two to three days per week.

How can you include an effective flexibility workout in your fitness program? Here are some guidelines:

Think in Terms of Serious Flexibility Training, Not Just Brief Stretching. Squeezing in one or two quick stretches before or after a workout is better that nothing, but this approach will yield limited results. What's more, generic stretches may not be effective for your particular body. The more time and attention you give to your flexibility training, the more benefits you'll experience. A qualified personal trainer, physical therapist or health professional can design a functional flexibility program specifically for you.

Consider Your Activities. Are you a golfer? Do you ski, run or play tennis? Do your daily home or work routines include bending, lifting or sitting for long periods? Functional flexibility improves the stability and mobility of the whole person in his or her specific environment. An individualized stretching program is best to improve both stability (the ability to maintain ideal body alignment during all activities) and mobility (the ability to use full, normal range of motion).

Pay Special Attention to Tight Areas. Often the shoulder, chest, hamstrings and hips are particularly tight, but you may hold tension in other areas, depending on your history of injuries and the existing imbalances in your muscle groups. Unless you tailor your flexibility training to your strengths and weaknesses, you may stretch already overstretched muscles and miss areas that need training.

Listen to Your Body. Stretching is an individual thing. Pay attention to your body's signals and don't push too far. Avoid bouncing or jerking movements to gain momentum; this approach can be dangerous.

Instead, slowly stretch your muscles to the end point of movement and hold the stretch for about 10 to 30 seconds. Older adults, pregnant women and people with injuries will need to take special precautions.

Get Creative. Varying your flexibility training can help you stick with it. You can use towels, resistance balls and other accessories to add diversity and effectiveness to your stretching.

Warm Up First. Don't forget to warm up your muscles before you begin. Walking briskly for 10 to15 minutes is a simple way to do this.

Find a Flexibility Class That Works for You. Classes that include stretching are becoming more popular and more diverse. Some combine cardiovascular and strength components with the flexibility training; others focus exclusively on stretching.

Stretch Your Mind and Body. Did you know that your emotional state may affect your flexibility? If your body is relaxed, it will be more responsive to flexibility training. Listening to music and focusing on your breath can help you relax as you stretch. You may also want to explore yoga or Pilates. In addition to stretching, classes in these disciplines may include relaxation, visualization and other mind-body techniques designed to reduce stress and increase mindfulness.

It's Not Just for Wimps. Forget the idea that stretching is just for elderly, injured or unconditioned people. Many Olympic and professional athletes rely on flexibility training for peak performance.

Do It Consistently. It doesn't help to stretch for a few weeks and then forget about it. Integrate regular stretching into your permanent fitness program. For inspiration, look to cats and dogs - they're dedicated practitioners of regular stretching and you rarely see them getting the kind of joint or muscular injuries that humans get!

Shoulder and Trapezius Stretch
** Stand upright with shoulders back, chest out, and feet hip-width apart.
** Clasp your hands behind your buttocks.
** Slowly lift your hands up and away from your body until they have reached the furthest comfortable position.
** Keep your chest out and your chin in without hunching over.
** Once you feel a comfortable stretch in your chest and anterior shoulders, hold this position for at least 15-30 seconds.

Lying Quadriceps Stretch
** Lie face down on a mat.
** Lift your right leg up towards your buttocks.
** Reach around with your right hand and grasp your foot. Slowly pull downwards, stretching your quadriceps to the furthest comfortable position.
** Hold this position for at least 15-30 seconds.

Shin Stretch
** Using a wall or chair as support, place your left foot behind your right foot, with the top of your left foot on the ground.
** Extend the bottom of your left shin as far forward as possible. Slowly lower yourself by bending both legs.
** Once you have stretched your anterior tibialis to the furthest comfortable position, hold for at least 15-30 seconds.
** Switch legs and repeat.

Hip, Gluteus and Back Stretch
** Sit on the floor with both of your legs extended in front of you.
** Bend your right leg over your left leg, keeping your right foot flat on the floor outside the left knee.
** Place your left elbow on the outside of your right knee, and extend your right arm behind you with your palm flat on the floor for support.
** Slowly twist your upper body to the right while looking over your right shoulder.
** Lightly apply pressure with your left elbow on the outside of your right knee as you twist. Be sure to keep your upper body straight.
** Once you feel a comfortable stretch in your hips, buttocks, and lower back, hold this position for at least 15-30 seconds.
** Switch sides and repeat.

Calf Stretch
** Put the sole of the top half of your right foot against the wall. Slide your right heel as close towards the wall as possible.
** Slowly lean forward towards the wall stretching your calves. Once you have stretched your calf to the furthest comfortable position, hold for at least 15-30 seconds.
** Switch legs and repeat.

Bird Watching Basics

Bird watching or birding is a very popular hobby that includes the observation and study of birds.Because visual observation of birds is complemented with auditory observation, the term "birding" is more accurate.Birding is the second most popular outdoor activity in America, second only to gardening as the number-one recreation.

For many people bird watching is an opportunity to feel close to nature.They also enjoy the relaxation and peacefulness by watching birds.Some birders,however,will travel long distances just to see a rare bird.These birders are known as twitchers.Twitching is popular in Britain and several other European countries.

Most birders start out by watching and attracting birds to their own backyards.Bird feeding can benefit birds and also provide great bird watching.You can attract a variety of interesting birds to your yard by selecting and offering the right kinds of food. The common types of food offered in bird feeding are seeds,nectar,suet and fruit.Early morning is the best time for bird watching since many birds are then searching most actively for food.

Once you start feeding birds, you'll probably want to identify who is coming to visit.Equipment used for birding includes binoculars,a blank notebook, and one or more good field guides.

Field guides are books with pictures and descriptions of the birds.A field guide shows birds of just one country, or one region of a country, or one habitat.

Binoculars are described by two numbers: 8x32 for example.The first number tells you the magnification power of the binoculars.The second tells you the size of the objective lens at the end of the binoculars in millimeters.Most bird watchers think that 7 or 8 power is about right for most birding.

The next step is to broaden your birding experience beyond your own backyard.Plan a trip to a bird sanctuary, national park and other locations where you can see birds in large numbers.Wherever you go,never harm the birds and always respect other birders.

And don't forget to join a local birding club.Clubs organize field trips,show films of good bird watching destinations and some of them are involved in local environmental projects. Also visit your local library and check out books on birds and ornithology.

Preventing Injuries

Contrary to popular wisdom, stretching is not the cure-all that we've been led to believe. Walking, riding on a stationery bike, or doing calisthenics is a better way to warm up than stretching. If you stretch before your muscles are warmed up, you have a much greater chance of actually injuring the muscles. Stretching is best saved for after a vigorous workout.

Prevention of injury during exercise is best achieved by going slowly and paying attention to the task at hand. If you're not careful, you can let your attention drift, and between that and doing something physically challenging, you can genuinely hurt your body.

Letís look at some different injuries and how to treat them.

During weight- or strength-training, chances are that you might overdo it and injure your muscles in some way. You may strain or pull them, stretching the tendon too far and causing yourself great pain and swelling. Treatment includes rest, an anti-inflammatory medication, and alternating cold and hot packs on the affected area.

You can easily sprain ankle or wrist joints, and knee injuries are common. Exercising should NOT hurt if you are hurting, you need to stop and restart at an easier level than what you had been doing. Brace the injured area and put as little weight on it as possible for the first 24 hours. Alternate cold and heat on it, and use anti-inflammatory agents as needed.

If you have a sharp pain in your shoulder and you can't get your arm over your head, you may have injured your rotator cuff. In this case, bypass the arm exercises and just concentrate on working your leg muscles. If you have injured your rotator cuff, get yourself to a doctor for an x-ray or other diagnostic test. This is not something to be taken lightly.

Make sure that when you lift, you do so with your legs so that you donít injure your back. If you do think you've injured your back, avoid exercises that strain it, stand up straight, and take pain medication as necessary. When the back muscles heal, begin working out slowly again and don't neglect those abs!

Many gyms have the abdominal exercisers that you use by laying on the floor and doing sit-ups. If this hurts your back, don't use this machine. You can still do ab-exercise and get the benefit by using an exercise ball. When you build up strength in your abdominal wall, you also strengthen your back muscles and protect yourself against further injury.

Make sure you don't continue exercises if you're in pain. Give yourself time to rest and the injured area time to heal. Focus on walking or some other aerobic exercise that gives you the benefits of working out without the muscle strain.

Don't neglect that cool-down stretch! You'll continue to strengthen muscles when you do this and be more limber the next time you hit the gym!

Acupuncture: Still The Sharp Choice Alternative Pain Relief Method

The ancient Chinese alternative healing method called Acupuncture is now a popular and widely accepted alternative pain relief method in the United States. An estimated 15 million Americans have tried this ìunconventionalî therapy. It is offered in many chronic pain clinics and is covered by some insurers and managed health organizations. The Chinese therapy of acupuncture has been used for millions of years to treat a range of ailments. Now it looks like Western medicine is getting the point. The intent of acupuncture therapy is to promote health and alleviate pain and suffering. The method by which this is accomplished, though it may seem strange and mysterious to many, has been tested over thousands of years and continues to be validated today.
The perspective from which an acupuncturist views health and sickness hinges on concepts of ìvital energy,î ìenergy balanceî and ìenergy imbalance.î Just as the Western medical doctor monitors the blood flowing through blood vessels and the messages traveling via the nervous system, the acupuncturist assesses the flow and distribution of this ìvital energyî within its pathways, known as ìmeridians and channels.î
The World Health Organization recommends acupuncture as an alternative pain relief for more than 40 conditions as diverse as asthma and chronic pain. The Food and Drug Administration regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices, the same as it does surgical tools. And in 1997, a National Institutes of Health panel found acupuncture to be an acceptable treatment for many pain conditions, including fibromyalgia and general musculoskeletal pain.
Modern studies have revealed that acupuncture stimulates one or more of the signaling systems, which under certain circumstances, can increase the rate of healing response. This may be sufficient to cure a disease, or it might only reduce its impact (alleviate some symptoms). These findings can explain most of the clinical effects of acupuncture therapy.
It is also no surprise that some rheumatologists recommend acupuncture to be used alongside more conventional treatments. There are a few patients who even perform the acupuncture treatments on themselves.
When performed by a properly trained and licensed practitioner, acupuncture is safe and effective, free from adverse or addictive side effects. Quite often, a sense of relaxation and well-being occurs during and after treatments. While undergoing therapy for one ailment, other problems may resolve concurrently. This is a common side benefit that again demonstrates the value of balancing the quality and quantity of ìvital energyî within the entire person.
Licensed acupuncturists know the human anatomy well, and insert needles in a safe fashion. The instruments used to penetrate the skin are either pre-sterilized and disposable after a single use, or disinfected and sterilized in an autoclave, as surgical and dental instruments are, after each use.
Although most evidence supporting acupuncture can be dismissed as anecdotal, trials have been done where acupuncture does show a pain relieving effect above placebo. The effect is not large, of the same magnitude as taking Aspirin or Ibuprofen, but nonetheless it's there and cannot be ignored.

6 Must Have Auto Accessories

Buying a new car is an experience that few will ever forget: the smell, the pristine interior, and the flawless ride are some of the things enjoyed by new car owners. Yet, despite how well equipped even the most expensive cars can be, oftentimes they leave the showroom with several accessories missing. No, they weren't stolen; instead, for some queer reason these ìmust haveî accessories were not included with the sale. Let's take a look at six accessories every vehicle should have.

Floor mats, You have got to be kidding no floor mats?! Oddly, floor mats are the chief accessory typically not included with any sale. Instead, you get a throwaway paper sheet for the driver. Without floor mats in place you can bet that the interior will be soiled in short order. Worse, if you wait too long your carpeting could be damaged which is especially bad news for you if you lease your vehicle. Just wait til you see the price of replacing damaged automotive carpeting!

Cargo liners Like the interior, the cars trunk area is subject to dirt, debris, mud, the elements, and more. Some automakers have wised up over the years and included cargo liners as standard equipment while others make a cargo liner an expensive add-on, after-the-sale accessory for buyers.

Bug shields ñ If you live in a humid climate, a bug shield is a must. No automaker offers one as standard equipment; if you want to protect your hood and windshield a bug shield is a must. Also marketed as bug deflectors.

Car bra ñ Sure, they are stylish, but a car bra is much more than that. Offering protection to your grille and to the front part of your hood, a car bra can help deflect debris kicked up from the road. Who hasnít come across that sort of problem while traversing our interstates?

Brake dust shields ñ No, there isnít a safety aspect with a dust shield, but there certainly are aesthetic reasons why they make sense. You spent a lot for your tires and wheels, so why go through the hassle of a weekly cleaning just to keep your car looking great? Dust shields limit the dust so that you can do what you really want to do: drive.

Car cover ñ Whether you keep your car garaged or whether you leave it outside, a car cover is essential toward protecting your vehicleís finish. Indoor air pollution and dust can damage a garaged vehicle; solar rays, moisture, bird poop, wind, and small impacts can damage exposed vehicles. For less than $200 you can buy a four layer, breathable car cover that will offer the protection your car so desperately needs.

So, there you have it. Six essential auto accessories for every vehicle. Youíll pay a mint for each accessory if you let your dealer add them in after the sale, so why not shop online with Car Stuff to find everything you need for your car and for less?

Glamour Cars

Long and sleek! With Elvis as the hero of the day during the 1950s, whatever he drove become the car of the day. And Elvis loved the glamour that shiny new tail-fins exhibited. His fans loved them, too, which led to over thirty heart-stopping models being designed during the 1950s. No one cared back then whether cars were gas-guzzlers or whether the paint job would last, or whether the shiny chrome that protruded out the back begged to have dents inserted within the first few weeks.

The appeal of cars during the 1950s was more than just Elvis. It was prestige and glamour for even the average working person. The feeling of luxury seeped into oneís feelings and emotions, and romance bloomed with respect while riding in these elegant vehicles.

The Chrysler Town & Country Newport coupe which came out in 1950 didnít have fins (they started creeping into the design around 1952). Yet it wasnít the typical car of the 1940s. Almost a dinosaur compared to todayís styles, the Newport featured distinctive, external wood framing (referred to as being a ëWoodieí) and strongly appealed to the hunter and sportsmen.

Pontiac had a mascot ñ an Indian Chiefñ whose unsmiling face formed the base of the front hood. His headdress consisted of streaks of chrome sliding back over the hood and being picked up again on the trunk. Sleek looking! Everyone wanted a car with a personality, and the Indian Chief gave the Pontiac one.

Because the cars of the early 1950s had a somewhat dowdy appearance but reflected the potential of sparkling glamour, car designers became aggressive in their creativity. By 1957 and 1958 the designers produced disastrously overblown responses. Sharp clean fins reached in all directions. They were streaked with chrome, and somewhere in the middle a body was grafted into them. Bright yellows! Passionate reds! Baby blues! And regardless of the weather where one lived, convertibles were in, even if you never lowered the top.

The intense competition among the car manufacturers meant that each model became extinct quickly. Planned obsolescence meant the customers had to choose between buying a new car each year or being a social leper. Because of the expense of redesigning all models every year, the manufacturers took to keeping the inner workings of the cars basically the same and only changing the outward look.

By 1958 some models,such as the 1958 Oldsmobile, were beginning to be called ëugly.í Some even said it looked like a brick with a hardtop sitting on it. However, the indented chrome on the doors still caught oneís eye of respect.

All systems self-destruct from within. The era of the glamour cars had outdone itself and common sense dictated that what would follow in the 1960s would be based on performance, a concern for the environment, and conservative packaging. During the 1960s people werenít impressed with external appearances to the exclusion of what existed underneath. This attitude was reflected towards both people and cars. Yet, who will ever forget Elvis? Or the glamour cars of the 1950s?

Boating Holidays

Boating holidays are a wonderful way to spend the summer! Just pack your bags and float around on a houseboat or a yacht for a few weeks, enjoying the sunshine, fishing and swimming and visiting towns along the shoreline. It's comparable in cost to staying in a hotel, with so much less hassle. And it's great for the whole family, especially the kids. Children always find entertainment on and around water. They swim and snorkle, while adults relax in a fold-up chair with a cool drink and a book.

Boating holidays, as opposed to travel on large cruise ships, offer a more intimate and relaxed voyage without the bustle of thousands of mega-ship passengers all around you. And the venues are more intriguing than the tourist traps visited by the big cruise ships. The smaller boats are surprisingly well-serviced, with features such as showers and sometimes bicycles for tours around the countryside during stops.

Many online services throughout the world offer trips on local canals and lakes surrounded by historic locations. What about a canal trip throughout Holland? This seafaring nation was built on marshland, and vestiges of the marsh still remain in the form of canals criss-crossing the whole country connecting quaint towns (with architecture carefully preserved, thanks to Dutch laws against the remodeling of historic buildings) to cosmopolitan cities such as Amsterdam.

England and Wales also have canals, are a multitude of tours are available, such as Llangollen, Four Counties and Cheshire Rings, Oxford and Avon canals, and the river Thames. Unknown to most tourists, there is a network of waterways that traverse England from Yorkshire to Avon and into Wales. See different historic towns without battling holiday drivers on Europe's crowded roads (and believe me, if you are used to driving only on North America's wide freeways, European traffic will give you a shock).

In Scotland, how about a boating holiday on 23-mile long Loch Ness? There's no guarantee Nessie will show up, but you are bound to be impressed by the rugged grandeur of the Great Glen and the battle-scarred castles surrounding it. It is one of Europe's most spellbinding locations, and a pleasant surprise to those under the impression that there is no wilderness left in Europe. Eagles, ospreys and other rare birds and even otters live in this pristine environment. Needless to say, opportunities for fishing abound. Visit the Loch Ness Center at Drumnadrochit to learn the in-depth history of the area.

Don't forget to consider a romantic boating holiday on the waterways of France. The canals of Brittany, Burgundy, Alsace, River Charente, River Lot and the South of France offer beauty, culture, and inimitable French food and wine enroute.

In North America, the Great Lakes region is so large it is impossible to see it all on one 2-week boating holiday. The St. Lawrence River is one of the most important rivers on the North American continent. It begins in the Great Lakes, leading to as vast estuary before ending in the Atlantic Ocean. It is approximately 500 miles long, and forms the border between Canada and the USA for approximately 100 miles. Sail up the St. Lawrence canal on a tour into French Canada for spectacular northern scenery and wildlife such as Beluga whales.

While on the topic of North American boating holiday destinations, let's not forget Lake Tahoe. This is a perenially popular tourist destination, and every American who has the chance should visit this unique lake at least once. There are Emerald Bay sightseeing cruises on the Tahoe Queen, and rides on the M.S. Dixie II paddlewheeler. There is also a 44-foot trimaran and 55-foot catamaran. Small family boats are available for private family rental. Lake Tahoe offers many upscale resorts and restaurants as well as historic tours.

Are Electric Cars A Part Of Your Future?

It seems that not so long ago, electric cars were a very distant possibility. However, in today's world, electric cars are becoming extremely popular and may very well be a large part of our not so distant future. Electric cars have been produced, tried, and tested by many manufacturers and consumers are excited about the prospect. Let us take a look at the many positives that can go with the future of electric cars and why we should consider it as a possibility in our own future.

Electric cars are all together cleaner and safer for our environment. By driving electric cars, our generation will virtually eliminate air pollution and make the air cleaner for future generations. Cleaner air to breathe is a necessity and electric cars can work to provide that.

Electric cars are more affordable than fuel powered cars. Studies on electric cars have shown that for a passenger vehicle it will cost less to run the electric cars, than filling your car up every week with gas. In fact, for about $30, electric cars can operate for one full month. With the price of fuel on the rise at a consistent speed, electric cars would offer our finances a nice break. Maintenance is more affordable as well; you will not have to worry about changing the oil, submitting your car for a smog check, or having a tune up performed on electric cars.

Noise pollution is something we all complain about, especially within the bigger cities. Electric cars provide a quieter environment for everyone concerned. The future of electric cars mean no more 3 AM wake up calls by our neighborís loud cars. Furthermore, those that live close to busy streets and highways will sleep and live easier without the extra noises from the cars driving down the streets.

One problem about electric cars is at the present time it cannot travel extremely far without needing a charge. 25 to 60 miles on one charge is about all you can expect at this point in time. However, some areas offer ìcharging stationsî, for example those in California can stop at a charging station and charge their electric cars for longer trips. It takes about three hours to fully charge the electric cars before you are ready to go again. The technology of electric cars is still being manufactured and research; we can expect great things in the markets in the future.

In the end, we all live here on earth and are all responsible for its preservation. Everyone needs to do their part, however seemingly small that may be. Use of electric cars is only one possibility to consider in preserving quality of life on earth for ours and future generations.

Europe: Places to Meet Pure Bred Aristocracy and Royalty

Most of us grew up hearing stories of princes, princesses and kings and queens. In this article, I will show you how you can meet such royalty and even interact with them.

Want to meet a Duke or a true Prince and Princess? One of the easiest and most convenient places to meet pure royalty is at one of the prestigious hotel casinos. They hang out at many of the following five casinos and, once you are in, you can interact with them, play against them and if you are good enough, even beat them. Wouldn't you like to boast that you defeated a King? These five hotel casinos give you that chance.

But do not expect an all you can eat buffet or players with baseball caps and cool shades. Come dressed elegantly and only then will you be let in to share a baccarat game with pure-bred European aristocracy.

The European casinos listed here are the largest and the most luxurious casinos in Europe. Their appointed clientele is less the seasonal tourist gambler and more the upper crust. So, if you are looking for a stylish way to spend your latest lottery winning, you can shoot the dice in one of the casinos listed below while your traveling partners lie around the French Riviera beaches or go on wild shopping trips in the streets of London or Moscow.

1) Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco:
Monte Carlo has been the favorite gaming destination of Europe's rich and famous for almost 150 years with the first casino that was founded by Prince Charles III of Monaco in 1863. Casino de Monte Carlo is a complex of five posh casinos located by the seashore and decorated in French rococo style with marbled columns, golden ornaments and crystal chandeliers. The overall environment would make you feel like an extra in a French history movie.

2) Casino Metropol, Moscow:
The Russian Federation has the biggest number of casinos and slot machines in Eastern Europe. The best casinos for tourists are obviously the ones located in hotels. Casino Metropol is part of the five star Hotel Metropol, which is not only one of the most elegant casino hotels in the area but it is also conveniently located in the center of Moscow within a walking distance from the Red Square and the Kremlin. The lowest minimum table requirement is 25 dollars and a night at the presidential suite will cost you 2,000 dollars.

3) Baden Baden Casino, Baden Baden, Germany:
The veteran European casino was founded in 1809 and although it has changed several ownerships since then, its reputation as one of the finest casinos in Europe in general and in Germany in particular has not change. Nowadays, the Baden Baden Casino is one of the city's landmarks along with the famous thermal baths. If you ignore the table games and the slot machines, walking through the 32,289 square foot casino looks as similar to a visit in an European art museum with permanent exhibits of oil paintings and sculptures.

4) The Clermont Club, London, England:
If you are visiting the UK, you cannot just pop into a casino but have to apply for a membership at least a day ahead. If you plan to follow this procedure, the Clermont Club in Berkeley Square is one of the most reputable gaming clubs around. Set in a 17th century building, the Clermont Club was designed to resemble the Great Hall at Holkham. In addition to its friendly and convenient gaming room, the Clermont Club includes a bar and a clubroom where members and their guests can lounge over a banquet of a vintage bottle of champagne. Note that playing at online casinos is legal in the UK, so you can just pop into any internet cafe for online games.

5) Casino Barriere de Deauville, Deauville, France:
The elegant seaside casino resort had inspired Ian Fleming in depicting the Casino of Royale les Eaux in his first James Bond novel Casino Royale. First founded in the 1860s by the Duc de Morny, the extravagant palace is one of the most beautiful casinos in the world. In addition to its gaming facilities, Casino Barriere hosts variety of exclusive entertainment shows as well as cultural and artistic events.

Buying A New Watch

It is unwise to purchase a non-branded watch. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly the quality of build is often considerably lower for a non-branded watch so you are unlikely to get the years of service that you should expect. Secondly there are often issues with warranties when non-branded watches fail.
Another thing that you should always avoid is purchasing your watch from an unauthorized dealer.

If you buy a branded watch from an authorized dealer then you...

It is unwise to purchase a non-branded watch. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly the quality of build is often considerably lower for a non-branded watch so you are unlikely to get the years of service that you should expect. Secondly there are often issues with warranties when non-branded watches fail.
Another thing that you should always avoid is purchasing your watch from an unauthorized dealer.

If you buy a branded watch from an authorized dealer then you have made two of the best decisions that you can make when buying a watch.

Before you buy your watch you really need to think about the reason why you are buying the watch. Obviously a construction worker will need a different type of watch than the businessman who is looking for a watch to wear when he is attending business lunches.

There are watches designed for all applications, and these factors need to be considered before purchasing. Is the watch going to be for recreational purposes, casual, dress, sports, or active wear, or are you looking for a watch simply to make a statement?

With so many good brands of watch on the market, there is a lot to choose from and with prices ranging from relatively cheap to out of this world it is wise to explore all the options before parting with your money.

Don't just look at the brands that you are familiar with, as there are many excellent brands that might offer more features for your money.

A good watch dealer will be able to help you make a good decision by explaining the differences in the brands and tailoring your purchase to your requirements.

Many of the brands that have been respected for quality also offer cheaper quality watches so you can't assume that a watch is good just because of the brand name. Once again a good dealer will be able to help you decide. There are also a few good watch forums on the internet where people will share their opinions and experiences.

Do not be too concerned with the technical details when buying a watch as most quality watches have the same basic functions. It shouldn't matter to you whether the watch is a quartz, a certified mechanical (chronometer), or a non-certified mechanical, provided it is capable of keeping time with accuracy and maintain that accuracy for many years.

Most expensive watches are mass-produced to a very high level of quality thanks to modern techniques so it is unlikely that you will be buying a watch that has been handmade by craftsmen who have had generations in the trade.

While price is one consideration that needs to be taken into account when making your purchase, it is more important that you get exactly what is needed for your requirements even if that involves paying a little more money for your purchase.

If you choose wisely, a watch can last a lifetime with good care.

You Can Unleash the Great Artist Within You

Each of us has a little child - an artist inside. In each and everyone of us is a direct perception of the world around us which speaks to us. We need to express ourselves, express our feelings and thoughts. This is not a desire to become an artist - we are already artists - we create - we draw - we paint- we write...

The first steps of a child are always the most joyful! Children think in images. Their consciousness is not socially conditioned yet. Their first drawings, the first signs on paper, make a lot of sense to them. They put all their emotions in the first paintings. They create. They are direct. They are artists. Each of us has a little child - an artist inside. In each and everyone of us is a direct perception of the world around us which speaks to us. We need to express ourselves, express our feelings and thoughts. This is not a desire to become an artist - we are already artists - we create - we draw - we paint- we write...

For children, it is not very important if the painting is an exact copy of the reality. What is important for them is how they perceive the reality and how they express themselves and their feelings on paper. If you have a chance to observe a kid painting, you will be amazed how much joy and happiness he/she can experience just by drawing some simple picture. When they draw or paint, they are the creators; there is no separate painting and painter. It is one whole process of creation.

You can do one simple experiment. Go to a kindergarten class or find a group of children about about 4-5 years old and ask them a question: "Who can paint? Raise your hand." There will hardly be any child who will not raise his/her hand. Now go and find a group of adults and ask them the very same question. You will be surprised. There will be few if any of them who will raise their hands. You may wonder: where did those artists go from within us when we grow up.

Unfortunately, when we grow up we become more and more conditioned by the environment. We become more and more self-conscious about our skills. Now, we try to make our paintings and pictures to be an exact copy of the reality, and if it is not so, we get frustrated and give up. We start making excuses like: I am not good enough; I don't have the necessary skills etc. But the trick is to hold on to that child-like state within us. That state gives us joy and the highest degree of happiness while we are creating something. It is that inner artist that will guide us through the challenges and adversities of learning the skills to become a great artist. One of the greatest painters in history of humankind, Pablo Picasso, once said, "For all my life I have been learning to paint like a child". If we stay in touch with our inner child-like artist, then learning any skill will become only a matter of time and practice - nothing more.

What happens if we let the inner guide teach us? During the course of our lives we become more skilled in the ways of transferring our thoughts and feelings on paper. We learn to make a painting more alive and more expressive. We are now able to grasp some laws of expressing ourselves. We look at what others do, we become more and more experienced, we read books, we study. And one day, our skills become excellent. Even other people start calling us artists. We devote all our attention and all our time to the training of acquiring art skills; we continuously think "How to draw... " And " What to draw "

Finally, I would like to give you a some practical advice. If you really want to learn to draw and paint, it is really necessary to paint something that is very interesting, very exciting for you. Something that really speaks to you. You may even feel the necessity to paint it. Only then will you be able to experience the highest degree of happiness in the process of creation. And only then will your work touch others. Probably it's worth to look at your memories, look into your subconsciousness in your early sketches and etudes. It is very easy to miss something that lays very deep in you., but those things can really prompt the inner artist to find an important theme for the work. It can be absolutely habitual things, for example a picture of a yard filled by the wonderful light of a sunset or a painting of a hero from an interesting book you have just read. Look into yourself, into the artist living in you and define your work only by your feelings. Unleash the greatest artist that is already in you. I wish you much success in your creations!