The Beauty of Nature Photography

Nature is all around us, and its beauties are unlimited. In this fast-paced world of mocha-lattes and traffic jams at rush hour, too many of us take the beauty of nature for granted. Luckily, there are still people in the world who see this beauty and choose to share it with those of us that are too busy to normally take notice. Poets and photographers are great at this. They take what seems like the ordinary and present it to us in a way that shows us the elegance, the magnificence and the amazing that is on this rock we call Earth.

What is Nature Photography?

So what do we mean when we say nature photography? Well, it may seem obvious but let's go ahead and explain. Nature is our natural environment. It is those things that exist in our world without human intervention; such as trees, grass, flowers, a forest, a river, and animals in their natural environment.

Nature photography is the photography of these things. There is a wide spectrum that is included in nature photography. Pictures of sunsets, sunrises and ocean waves lapping at the shore are all nature photography. So are the trees in the forest and beautiful flowers growing in an open field.

But nature photography can go even deeper than that, showing us parts of the world that we may not be able to see otherwise. If you live in the south, you may not see snow-capped mountains if it wasn't for nature photography. You may not be able to see a deep canyon, a volcano, or a beautiful beach if it were not for photographs of these places.

The photographers that bring us pictures of these places give us an image of something we may never see. It's truly an amazing gift to give.

Nature Photographers

But what if you are one of the people taking these pictures? What if you are the nature loving photographer that gives this fantastic gift to someone else? You are giving a gift to other people. But you are also doing something you love. Nature photography can only be achieved by someone who has a love for nature and sees its beauty and can capture it in a photograph so others can view it and have a touch of the same experience.

So how do you take great nature photography? The first step is to have an eye for these beautiful images. The second step is to have a camera. That's really all it takes. But as you grow as a photographer, you will learn how to take the best pictures and capture the image in a way that others can view it as the amazing sight that you saw. You will learn about lighting and backgrounds and focus and you will take better pictures.

Nature photography is a rewarding experience for the photographer and also for the people who get to view the results. You have taken a piece of nature that may otherwise go unnoticed such as a rainbow, and you capture it permanently in an image that you can look at any time you choose. This is a pleasing and rewarding part of photography. In nature photography, you are able to take two things that you love and combine them in a beautiful and artistic way.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

The History Of Coffee

Coffee - THE Drink of Choice

Did you know coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world. How did coffee get this ranking? What country first figured out coffee was safe for consumption? When was the first drink of coffee prepared? Where did the first coffee shop come in being?
There are many questions about the starting point of drinking coffee. It has been so long ago no one really knows all the facts. But, one thing is for sure, coffee is the most consumed beverage on the planet.

The Beginning of Coffee

It looks as if the first trace came out of Abyssinia and was also sporadically in the vicinity of the Red Sea around seven hundred AD. Along with these people, other Africans of the same period also have a history of using the coffee berry pulp for more than one occasion like rituals and even for health.

Coffee began to get more attention when the Arabs began cultivating it in their peninsulas around eleven hundred AD. It is speculated that trade ships brought the coffee their way. The Arabs started making a drink that became quite popular called gahwa--- meaning to prevent sleep. Roasting and boiling the bean was how they made this drink. It became so popular among the Arabs that they made it their signature Arabian wine and it was used a lot during rituals.

After the coffee bean was found to be a great wine and a medicine, someone discovered in Arabia that you could also make a different dark, delicious drink out of the beans, this happened somewhere around twelve hundred AD. After that it didn't take long and everyone in Arabia was drinking coffee. Everywhere these people traveled the coffee went with them. It made its way around to India, North Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, and was then cultivated to a great extent in Yemen around fourteen hundred AD.

Other countries would have gladly welcomed these beans if only the Arabs had let them. The Arabs killed the seed-germ making sure no one else could grow the coffee if taken elsewhere. Heavily guarding their plants, Yemen is where the main source of coffee stayed for several hundred years. Even with their efforts, the beans were eventually smuggled out by pilgrims and travelers.

Coffee Shops Appear

Around 1475 the first coffee shop opens in Constantinople called Kiv Han two years after coffee was introduced to Turkey, in 1554 two coffee houses open there. People came pouring in to socialize, listen to music, play games and of course drink coffee. Some often called these places in Turkey the "school of the wise", because you could learn so much by just visiting the coffee house and listening to conversations.
In the sixteen hundreds coffee enters Europe through the port of Venice. The Turkish warriors also brought the drink to Balkans, Spain, and North Africa. Not too much later the first coffee house opens in Italy.

There were plenty of people also trying to ban coffee. Such as Khair Beg a governor of Mecca who was executed and Grand Vizir of the Ottoman Empire who successfully closed down many coffee houses in Turkey. Thankfully not everyone thought this way.

Coffee Tips Arrive

In the early sixteen hundreds coffee is presented to the New World by man named John Smith. Later in that century, the first coffee house opens in England. Coffee houses or "penny universities" charged a penny for admission and for a cup of coffee. The word "TIPS" (for service) has it's origin from an English coffee house.

Early in the 17th century, Edward Lloyd's coffee house opens in England. The Dutch became the first to commercially transport coffee. The first Parisian café opens in 1713 and King Louis XIV is presented with a lovely coffee tree. Sugar is first used as an addition to coffee in his court.

The America's Have Coffee

Coffee plants were introduced in the Americas for development. By close to the end of the seventeen hundreds, 1,920 million plants are grown on the island.

Evidently the eighteen hundreds were spent trying to find better methods to make coffee.

The Coffee "Brew" in the 20th Century

New methods to help brewing coffee start popping up everywhere. The first commercial espresso machine is developed in Italy. Melitta Bentz makes a filter using blotting paper. Dr. Ernest Lily manufactures the first automatic espresso machine. The Nestle Company invents Nescafe instant coffee. Achilles Gaggia perfects the espresso machine.
Hills Bros. begins packing roasted coffee in vacuum tins eventually ending local roasting shops and coffee mills. A Japanese-American chemist named Satori Kato from Chicago invents the first soluble "instant" coffee.

German coffee importer Ludwig Roselius turns some ruined coffee beans over to researchers, who perfected the process of removing caffeine from the beans without destroying the flavor. He sells it under the name Sanka. Sanka is introduced in the United States in 1923.

George Constant Washington an English chemist living in Guatemala, is interested in a powdery condensation forming on the spout of his silver coffee flask. After checking into it, he creates the first mass-produced instant coffee which is his brand name called Red E Coffee.

Prohibition goes into effect in United States. Coffee sales suddenly increase.
Brazil asked Nestle to help find a solution to their coffee surpluses so the Nestle Company comes up with freeze-dried coffee. Nestle also made Nescafe and introduced it to Switzerland.

Other Interesting Coffee Tidbits

Today the US imports 70 percent of the world's coffee crop.
During W.W.II, American soldiers were issued instant Maxwell House coffee in their ration kits.

In Italy, Achilles Gaggia perfects his espresso machine. The name Cappuccino comes from the resemblance of its color to the robes of the monks of the Capuchin order.

One week before Woodstock, the Manson family murders coffee heiress Abigail Folger as she visits with her friend Sharon Tate in the home of filmmaker Roman Polanski.

Starbuck's Hits the Coffee World

Starbucks opens its first store in Seattle's Pike Place public market in 1971. This creates madness over fresh-roasted whole bean coffee.
Coffee finally becomes the world's most popular beverage. More than 450 billion cups are sold each year by 1995.

The Current Coffee Trends

Now in the 21st century we have many different styles, grinds, and flavors of coffee. We have really come a long way even with our coffee making machines. There's no sign of coffee consumption decreasing. Researchers are even finding many health benefits to drinking coffee. Drink and enjoy!

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Ice road trucking is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. With a job description that includes sub-zero working conditions, long hours with little sleep, and the risk of potentially falling through a road made of ice, it's amazing that anyone signs up for the job. Incredibly, these are only a few challenges of being an ice road trucker.

Ice road trucking has been dubbed as a two month long "dash for cash." Road crews spend weeks preparing the ice road for the trucks. Using ground-penetrating radar to measure the ice depth, road crews ensure the ice is thick enough (usually a minimum of about 27 inches) to support the big rigs. In what can become a scheduling nightmare, 600-900 truckers are tasked with delivering 10,000 loads at an average speed of only about 20 miles per hour. Drivers haul loads throughout the day and night, often getting little or no sleep before receiving their next load. In addition, drivers constantly battle the cold, physical injuries and mechanical problems. TJ Tilcox is one driver that was unlucky enough to experience all of the above in just his first season on the ice road.

Tilcox, a 22-year-old truck driver from Hillsburg, Ontario, read a newspaper advertisement about a job hauling equipment, blasting materials and food in Western Canada. While relaxing in a bar with some friends in Yellowknife, NT, Canada, a camera crew came in and asked TJ about documenting his journey on the ice road. As it turns out, this crew was from The History Channel's new hit series "Ice Road Truckers." With a 'Why not?' approach to braving the frigid ice road with cameras watching every step, Tilcox agreed and embarked, not looking for the extra money, but for the experience. That's a good thing, because throughout his two month run, there were lots of experiences.

TJ's first careful entrance onto the ice was an experience in itself. The ice, under the extreme weight of the truck, cracks loud enough to be heard inside the cab of the truck. Tilcox remarked that you get used to the fact that you usually hear the ice crack while driving. The times that you get out of the truck on the ice road can be unnerving. "When you're standing there with the truck you can see air bubbles popping in the ice from the weight of the truck sitting there ... and you're just like 'Oh God, I gotta get outta here!'" TJ explained. But it's not only the ice road that poses a hazard to the truckers. Sometimes it can be the truck itself that's dangerous.

One of the first episodes of "Ice Road Truckers" shows TJ tying down a load with a load binder. "I was chaining down a load and the load binder snapped open--I was still hanging onto it and it slammed me into the truck behind me," TJ recalled. Not feeling any immediate pain, TJ finished tying down the load and went back to work. Several days later, TJ began experiencing severe abdominal pain and was to forced struggle through the remainder of his trek before he could receive medical attention. His injury was so severe that he had to be flown to the nearest medical center where he made a speedy recovery.

After getting back on the road from his injury, TJ's truck woes continued. He had been given a 1999 Freightliner Classic flat top with no heat to battle the bitter cold outside. "There's an episode where you can see me building snowballs in the sleeper because that's how cold it got ... and me duct-taping the door ... because the wind just blew through it. Another guy was going home and he asked me if I wanted to drive his truck and I said, 'Sure I'll drive it, as long as it's got heat,'" TJ remarked. As it turns out, TJ's new ride was a brand new 2007 Volvo; a far cry from his last truck.

Things were looking up for the ice road rookie, right? Wrong.

TJ didn't even get to the ice road with the Volvo before he was again plagued by misfortune. An air line in the trailer detached, disabling the brakes. TJ slid on the icy roads until he collided with a pick-up. Tilcox was quickly cleared of responsibility and allowed to continue driving on the ice road.

With the trucks under such enormous strain during the two month stretch of pulling loads in excess of 50 tons, it is understandable that they often have problems. In fact, only minimal modifications are made to the trucks before they hit the ice road. For starters, mechanics install a "belly tarp" under the truck in order to better hold in the truck's heat. Drivers have all the oils and lubes changed in order to minimize the stress on the truck and hopefully prevent mechanical failure. It's also imperative that the truck stays on if at all possible. "You don't want to turn it off because, fifteen minutes [without running] and you might not start it again," Tilcox said about the frigid conditions. TJ added that tire chains are only needed in case of a spinout on an icy hill, or if you get stuck.

While it is important to have the truck in top running order, it could be said that it is even more important to make sure the driver is well rested. With some trips requiring 20 or more hours one-way, driver alertness becomes an issue. When it comes to keeping focused, TJ advised, "The best thing to do is to talk to the people [other drivers on the ice road] around you." He also mentioned that he brings along plenty of snacks and drinks to help him not only stay awake, but also be prepared in case of a breakdown. TJ always makes sure that he is properly rested before he gets out on the road.

With all the precautions taken to ensure the safety of the drivers, none is more important than that of the drivers' speed. As the drivers make the transition from the hard top to the ice, a wave immediately forms under the ice. The heavier the load, the bigger the wave becomes. The danger occurs when two loaded trucks meet at normal speeds, with each truck's wave slightly in front. When the two waves meet, the pressure becomes too great for the ice to withstand and it causes the ice to "blow out." This can result in a truck falling through the ice, and it is for this reason that drivers carrying heavy loads must slow down to 7mph when meeting another loaded truck. When a loaded truck and an unloaded truck meet, it is not necessary for either truck to slow down because the unloaded truck's wave is not significant enough to cause a problem.

To further maintain the safety on the ice road, speed limits vary by location. Near the southern end of the ice road, where the ice is thinner, speeds can be as slow as 7 mph. At the northern end of the ice road, thicker ice allows loaded trucks to travel up to about 25 mph. Unloaded trucks can travel up to about 37 mph.

So what do you do if your truck does start to slip into the icy waters below, you ask? "Jump out!" replied TJ quickly. It's as simple as that, with no special safety procedure or high tech gadgets in place. TJ stated that some drivers have been known to drive with one hand on the wheel and the other hand on the door in case of an emergency. "The ice is pretty safe, it's watched and the depth of the ice is checked by ground penetrating radar so they're constantly out there checking the ice and flooding it and making it thicker. They figure about 45 seconds is all you have to live once you go in the ice," he said.

TJ has enjoyed being able to meet new people and see different places as a result of being featured on "Ice Road Truckers." One place he never expected to be was on the set of the late night television show "Jimmy Kimmel Live." "I never liked an audience, I never like to be in a crowd and stuff like that. But you get used to the video camera and I guess being on Jimmy Kimmel you zone in on whoever's watching you and just pay attention to what Jimmy's saying," TJ revealed. "The cameras were a bit different in the truck and stuff like that to start ... but you just start hee-hawing and having fun," TJ said.

Television has not changed TJ, however. "I drive because I love driving and nobody's looking over my shoulder," Tilcox confessed. When he's not driving a truck, TJ still enjoys going hunting, fishing, hanging with his friends, and skeet shooting. He also finds it amusing when people recognize him in public. "They look at you and they're trying to figure out who it is and they've seen you before but they don't know if they should ask, so I get lots of that," Tilcox joked.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Girls Cute Tattoo Ideas

When you are deciding on cute tattoo ideas for girls, you should look into Zodiac designs. There are many different Zodiac signs which can be applied using different fonts and colours to bring out the personality and style which is all your own. There are other great ideas, which include religious symbols. Many people who are adamant in their faith will get tattoos of Madonna and Child, of Christian crosses, Latin crosses, or even Jesus.

Other ideas are Celtic knots, Celtic crosses, or flags for the country of your origin. There are endless phrases and words which can turn into cute tattoos. These are all based on the personal experiences and which things, people, or places matter most and/or have had the biggest effect on your life. If you are married or in love, the name of your significant other can become one of many great tattoos ideas, while those with children can incorporate the names of their children or a symbol for each child.

Every animal makes for an adorable and meaningful tattoo, especially those which are often associated with me ethereal natures such as goats, sheep, rabbits, or even dogs, cats, fairies, flowers, stars, moons, teddy bears, hearts, or vines. The ideas are only limited by your imagination, creativity, and personal desires. Ideas for girls include Chinese Zodiac symbols or Zodiac signs such as the dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, mouse, cow, tiger, rabbit, dog, and pig.

Once you have determine which tattoo you want, the next step is working with yourself, an artist, friend, or tattoo artist to develop the design. It is not abnormal to go through many drafts of your cute tattoo ideas for girls. Because of the permanent nature of tattoos, designing the right look for your tattoo is one of the most important steps. Once you have decided on a design and are comfortable with the design, you must think in terms of the placement of the tattoo. If you want a detailed dragon tattoo with an elongated tail and neck, putting it on your wrist or fingers would not provide enough skin to achieve the level of detail you wish. Therefore, you need to consider the location before finalizing the design.

There are many popular locations on the body for cute tattoo ideas for girls. Some of the most popular placements include the lower back, the shoulders, around the ankles, around the wrists, on the fingers, around the waist, on the feet, or on the hips.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Man Vs Wild - Dangerous Advice

There are some who say that the star of the television program Man Vs. Wild, Bear Grylls, is a fraud. I am not one of them. I think he has a lot of skills and training. He probably can climb and swim better than most of us, and more easily chokes down scorpions and worms for food. But he also sets a terrible example in almost every program, doing things that nobody in a survival situation should do.

For examples, I'll refer to just one program, the one in which he parachutes into the Montana wilderness. He starts by dropping into a lake because there are supposedly no other open areas to land, other than the grassy stretches the camera can't quite exclude. Obviously this is done for show, and choosing to get wet in a survival situation in the mountains of Montana would almost always be a bad idea.

To get to lower ground where it will be warmer, he then runs down a slope of loose rock. Scree-running may be fun, but if you are truly lost in the wilderness, the last thing you want to do is risk injury. This is just plain foolish.

The Waterfall

Grylls then follows a stream, which isn't a bad idea. But when it becomes a seventy-foot waterfall, he assures us that the best way to proceed is to climb down the slippery dead tree leaning against the cliff between the two parts of the falling water. The tree doesn't quite reach the bottom, so a ladder of sticks and para-cord is made, which still doesn't quite get him to the bottom.

I missed the last part (right after a commercial), but it is safe to assume that Bear Grylls did his trademark jump into unknown water to finish his descent. All you have to do is imagine a sharp point of a stump or rock just under the surface, right between where your legs will go into the water, to understand why this is a bad idea. Don't jump into water when you can't see what's there.

Of course, soaked again, Grylls must start a fire to dry his clothing. Now you have to ask it the time spent building a ladder, descending a slippery dead tree, swimming out and drying off for hours really saved time versus finding a safe way around the waterfall. In fact, I can tell you from experience that it is very rare to find a waterfall that doesn't have a relatively quick and safer route around it versus climbing down it.

The Rest of The Story

Bear finds a lake that is several miles across, and decides, without really explaining why, that it's important to cross it rather than follow the shore. As in many episodes of Man Vs Wild, he runs into the water fully clothed, ignoring the common sense rule to keep clothing dry when in a wilderness with cold nights. He finds a broken canoe in the muck and cleans it out, patching the holes poorly.

Almost across the lake using a kite made from the remains of his parachute, the canoe is full of water and capsizes, soaking him for the fourth time that day.

Later in the program things get really ridiculous when Bear decided that rather than finding a safe way into a deep gulley (which he thinks he must enter), he'll create a "zip line" and slide over to a tall tree. I won't get into all the details, but he uses a grappling hook made with a deer antler, and a cable he found by an old homestead. Hooking onto a tree with an uncertain attachment and climbing out over a deep gulley on a thin cable is clearly reckless and unnecessary, to say the least. Anyone with modest abilities could have found a safe route down and been waiting for him at the bottom long before he completed this asinine maneuver.

Along with other reckless actions I probably forgot, he eats uncooked grasshoppers, risking parasites while standing next to a perfectly usable fire. He later climbs at least 100 feet up a train bridge over a meadow, in order to follow the train tracks, rather than simply walk along them below. He even throws a chain over the lip at the top and swings out into space to climb up, with no idea what he hooked the chain on. Of course he probably knew, had safety crews up there, etc, but that wouldn't be the case in a real survival situation.

Did I mention the death-run out of the narrow train tunnel by the whole film crew, ending in them jumping to safety just as the train came through? Man Vs Wild is entertaining. Bear Grylls is fun to watch. But it seems likely that people will be hurt if anyone in a true wilderness survival situation follows his advice or example.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Kitchen Lighting - Everything You Want To Know About Them

The scale of activity that takes place in the kitchen makes it an important place where use of effective practical and also decorative lighting is a must. Some things to look at;

Some questions to ask before you start lighting your kitchen

First and foremost question you need to ask while design your kitchen lighting is how much you are ready to spend. After all the light fixtures do cost something – and this are not only the wires and switches but also the type of light fixtures, shades and bulbs. Next question that should come in your mind is whether you have a kitchen lighting plan. A good plan will surely blend lighting into the architectural and decorative details of the room. A plan will help you out it investing wisely into kitchen lighting needs. If you want to go for a gradual lighting design process seeing you don't have enough budget say for example for a series of pendants over the center island or a glass chandelier at least install enough junction boxes The fixtures can then be purchased at a later date and easily added to the kitchen lighting needs. After determining the budget and a plan, you need to think about the space area of your kitchen. This is important in determining the amount of lighting required and in which areas of the kitchen need specific lighting. One also needs to consider whether the room apart from needing single central light, how many other multiple lighting options may be needed. This is determined by the area or space of the room, all the activities that are place in the kitchen and are important, as well as the placement of all interior objects such as the cooking range, counter top and the kitchen-cum-dining table if present. For example, small kitchens may require only a central ceiling pendant light and some recessed task lighting tucked under a cabinet. More elaborate kitchens will demand a blend of general, task and accent lighting.

Know the types of Kitchen lighting

Lighting a kitchen is a different ball game compare to lighting other rooms in your house since no single light source can provide all the necessary kitchen lighting needs. It is very important to know that good kitchen lighting is not only considered from an aesthetic standpoint, but also from a functional standpoint. This will allow us to make sure that we incorporate different types of lighting and nowadays techno paced LED lights to fulfill the various levels of Kitchen activities. This is commonly referred to as layering of lights which instead of single lighting, demands a blend of three to four varied types of lighting. To meet these demand of layered lighting, there are basically four types of lighting that meet up the mark;

Task Lighting or Chore Lighting: It illuminates the most functional and practical part of your kitchen by providing adequate lighting for kitchen core tasks like chopping vegetables, cooking food and yes, reading recipes. Most of the accidents which occur in kitchen are mostly due to this tasks and proper task lighting design can really prevent them. Task areas should have sufficient light so you can easily see what you're working on without too much brightness or eye-straining dimness. The main thing to remember here is most of the time task lighting instead of brightening up a task area, shadows it. For this to not take place, task lights is best placed between the actual work place and your head which makes lighting located say below the upper cabinets very helpful. For example, task lighting is placed over the sink, gas cooker and food preparation area, where close work is done regularly. Most of task lighting is achieved by using conventional recessed lights that assure even illumination, surface lights or table tops lights. Remember that each task lights if possible should have its own switch and honestly you will be pleased with the result. Considering the types of bulbs for task lighting then halogen and CFL (in energy efficient bulbs category) being bright and shadow less with large surface area are best to go for. It electrifies the look of granite and marble counter tops and it even let you enjoy your food cooking task, seriously.

Ambient or Glow or Indirect Lighting: This type of lighting lends a pleasant glow to your kitchen, thus giving a warm welcome to the people entering into the kitchen. It plays a major role in softening unwanted shadows, reducing kitchen room contrast and lighting vertical surfaces to give the space a brighter feel. It is generally observed that out of the four types of lighting, ambient is most often overlooked. In fact, the most dramatic and soft look you can achieve in a kitchen is by blending indirect lighting with other types of lighting. It is often created by hiding the light source from view where it bounces off a ceiling or a wall and produces a warm glow that adds enormous amounts of ambiance if done correctly. Best places for ambient lights can be hidden on top of wall cabinets if the ceiling is bit high or they can be installed in layered ceiling areas that surround the entire kitchen space. In case your kitchen has light colored surfaces and lots of windows then you can desire to have plenty of natural ambient light during the day. CFL based lights tubes (light link) are well suited to the job of providing ambient light.

Accent or Prominent lighting: This type of lighting gives a depth and dimension to your kitchen. It helps you to display your most decorative items in your kitchen like a fancy glassware or tableware, stylish luxury cutlery sets, beautiful canvas art prints or may be your nicely prepared food. For example lighting fixtures can be placed inside glass-front cabinets to illuminate glassware, and other collections as well as recessed, adjustable low-voltage fixtures used to spotlight canvas art prints. You can put to use spotlights to illuminate your cooked food which will also help it remain hot for longer period of time.

Decorative or ornamental lighting: This type of lighting is basically used for adding sparkling effects to the kitchen that can be envious to your neighbours. It can be further helpful to look at this type of lighting especially if kitchen is also used as the dining area of the house. Nowadays due to wide range of lights available, you can opt for decorative lights which can be functional also. For example, many functional lighting fixtures come in a number of finishes like wrought iron, rust, nickel which will provides an aesthetic feel to your kitchen. Painted finishes are also popular along with catchy colored glass bypasses plain white. You can also consider a decorative fixture with three or more lights. Like a trio over an island provides good light since it breaks up the kitchen into decorative module areas but you can still see through it. Some other decorative lighting ideas could be like dinner table space is illuminated with a decorative candelabra-style fixture, which provides ambient light during meals.

Finally some tips and common mistakes to avoid

No matter how many lights you install in your kitchen, it is recommended to circuit them separately so the lighting is zoned. This allows you to create ambience by mixing the various lights which is turned on.

If possible even while you shop online, take a picture of your kitchen or at least know your kitchen dimensions. How tall is the ceiling? How much space is there between the cabinets and the ceiling? How much space is there between the cabinets and the countertop? To make sure you cook up the best lighting scheme for your kitchen, use some free advice from light shop professional. The best thing is to do some window shopping before the actual purchase.

You might have found the perfect light fixture, but we can’t forget the equally important light bulbs. To make the most of your lighting, try using bulbs with different beam spreads for different effects. Flood lights are great for creating widespread lighting like a on central ceiling, while spotlights are ideal for shedding light on specific areas like for accent lighting.

No matter how many types of lighting or fixtures you install, use lights of the same color for all the kitchen lighting

If you are spending the money on nice cabinets or a dinner table in the kitchen, for example, you want to make sure they are lit properly. If not, the light actually creates gray shadow areas. If you have deep cabinets in dark corners, you might even want to consider installing lights inside them so you can see what's hiding in the back

When it comes to kitchen lighting, the most common mistake is trying to light the entire room with one ceiling-mounted fixture. The result ends up visually overpowering everything in the kitchen space. Recessed lighting, if installed in a generic grid, isn't much better. A lot of people do it incorrectly, and they'll end up with too much light in some areas and shadows everywhere else

On the other end, another common mistake we all do is over-lighting and result is, the kitchen gets too hot. The goal here is to have moderate, even lighting and more importantly blends of different lightings. For example, you just can’t keep on adding recessed lights for the sake of visual look, instead of mixing various lighting types.

We at in trying to make your better homes gardens really hope the above provided information will help you to make a sound decision on your kitchen lighting design and let you enjoy your food more. So when are you inviting us over a meal!!

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Digital Camera Information

A combination of a digital camera, a color scanner and image manipulation software is highly recommended. The software digital camera software that is included also provides professional level workflow solutions for seamless use.

Most of the software is designed for digital camera users, compatible with most current digital camera models.

photo editing software & photo printing software that's renown for its ease of use. At last there's easy-to-use digital camera software for both home and business users.

Image

The image sensor employed by most digital cameras is a charge coupled device (CCD). Some current digital camera models store combinations of video (MPEG or AVI movies), image sequences or sound. Although Canon's images are slightly better, the Casio is an ultra-thin, sleek digital camera that doesn't sacrifice overall image quality.

Easy-to-understand information about digital cameras, accessories, image editing and more. Image quality depends on the resolution of the digital camera. To make image files smaller almost every digital camera uses some form of compression. This EasyShare digital camera's resolution of 5 megapixels, 3x optical zoom and an all-glass lens combine for amazing image detail and clarity.

With an image stabilizer, this digital camera produces clear, even images even in shaky conditions. Resolution is the most talked about digital camera characteristic and is often used to describe image quality.

If you have the option, choose optical rather than digital image stabilization in your camera. It is probably the best digital camera made and produces image quality that rivals medium format film (e.g., 6x6cm Hasselblad).

Image processing for single-sensor digital camera: a mathematical challenge This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. A typical slave unit will fire on the pre-flash it senses while the digital camera captures the image on the last flash. The image quality available from digital cameras is astonishingly good.

Film

In fact, a digital camera is better quality than a film camera in many important respects! The digital cameras enjoy the advantage of a built-in digital signal processor that your roll of film doesn't have.

Add an external or speed light flash to your digital camera or film camera. Many digital cameras are comparable to a 35 mm camera in price without the extra added cost of buying or developing film. Back to top Printing pictures Unlike with film cameras, you can print digital photos at home.

Is considering laying off the development of new film cameras as it focuses resources on its digital camera business. Though digital cameras don't use film, they have adopted the same rating system for describing the sensitivity of the camera's imaging sensor. So far, very few digital cameras have been produced with a receptor using the full size of 35mm film.

Whether you're using film or a digital camera, bring a sturdy tripod. Shooting with a digital camera is somewhat like shooting slide film. A couple years ago, I got into the digital camera thing to the point that I pretty much parked my roll film cameras. The digital camera scenario is similar in that mega pixels are similar to film size. To design and build a high performance digital cine camera with the quality of 35mm film and convenience of a camcorder.

Quality

The quality of your pictures can be enhanced by the digital camera accessory you choose. You'll find quality brands of digital cameras, 35mm cameras, lenses, video cameras, memory cards and camera accessories at great prices. An easy to use quality digital camera purchase will be fully used by staff and students. However, not all digital cameras can produce prints of the same quality. I wanted a go-anywhere high quality digital camera that's user-friendly with both auto & manual controls. At the cheaper end of the digital camera scale, the quality can be remarkable for the price.

Buy

It is better to buy a digital camera with a 100% glass lens for the best pictures. Many retailers advertise their best buy digital camera as one with a plastic lens. You should also look for the best buy digital camera packages with the most RAM that you can afford. A lot of unscrupulous retailers will advertise a price for a best buy digital camera but then charge high shipping costs.

Finally, ensure that you have accounted for any shipping costs before you make your final decision over which best buy digital camera you purchase. There's never been a better time to buy a digital camera. Having to buy re-chargeable batteries and a charger will typically add from $20 to $100 to the cost of your digital camera.

As a person constantly taking photos I made this page as a lot of people keep asking me what digital camera they should buy. Find discount computers, cheap digital camera, buy digital cameras. Try before you buy - I've always been a firm believer that you should handle a digital camera before you buy it.

Size

Experienced digital camera users know pixel size isn't everything. The small size and versatility allow easy integration of digital cameras into all parts of the curriculum. If you care more about price and features than compact size, choose a standard size digital camera.

There are three basic "sizes" of digital cameras, and knowing what size camera suits your needs will make your search much simpler. For digital SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses it's more difficult as different cameras have different size sensors. This is why I am currently looking for an extra digital camera featuring a minimal size combined with a maximum amount of useful features.

These are about the size of a matchbook and used in digital cameras made by Nikon, Canon, Kodak and many others. When choosing a digital camera you have to think about the resolution of the pictures, size and memory. A larger inner diameter makes the L-Ring 3200 perfect no matter the lens size of your digital camera. This has nothing to do with your camera being digital it is entirely a result of smaller frame size.

Video

Webcams are digital cameras attached to computers, used for video conferencing or other purposes. However, modern digital photography cameras have a video function, and a growing number of camcorders have a still photography function. Modern compact digital cameras are typically multifunctional, with some devices capable of taking photographs, video, and/or sound.

Classification Digital cameras can be classified into several groups: Video cameras Professional video cameras such as those used in television and movie production. Some digital cameras have direct video out..... Another alternative, although not directly a digital one, would be to purchase one of the analog peephole video cameras.

Lens

The super multi layer lens coating reduces flare and ghost, a common problem with digital cameras. The vast majority of digital cameras are "point-and-shoot" models with a single, non-interchangeable lens. Because auto focusing in most digital cameras is done through the lens, the focus shift is automatically taken care of. Focus and Exposure: Fixed-focus digital cameras have a lens that is preset to focus at a certain range. These depend on the actual (as opposed to relative) diameter of the lens aperture, which makes them especially painful for digital cameras.

Memory

You can find a memory card reader or extra battery to keep your digital camera powered up for any circumstance. Some professional digital cameras and memory card readers connect to the computer over FireWire. SD is now the most popular type of digital camera memory. Many types of memory cards are available for use with your digital camera. Files deleted from PC, digital camera or memory stick can be restored with high speed and reliability. When using your digital camera to make movies it is also very important to have ample Flash Memory on hand too.

Battery

All digital cameras can run on rechargeable batteries of one of two types: an expensive battery pack or a set of AA batteries. A battery is taped to the inside cover of the box that the Olympus digital camera came in. Take a few moments to look around, keep your camcorder, digital camera or laptop computer working like new with a fresh battery today! The Digital Camera Battery can power two devices at the same time and has adjustable outputs that match each device automatically.

Photography

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All About the Twilight Series

You'd have noted that the Vampire based movies such as the Dracula, Van Helsing and many more to list have become greatest hits in the Hollywood. Things aren't very different in the case of the novel world. The Vampire based fantasy novels will always create a spark among the readers worldwide. Infact there are thousands of such novels with millions of fans for them around the planet. One such world famous vampire based fantasy novel is the "Twilight Series" comprising of four great novels of all time. This series which is a love story combined with the fiction of the existence of Vampires is written by Stephenie Meyer. Now since this article is about a novel based on love story and vampires, I am sure that you will find it very much interesting to read the rest of this passage.

The Storyline:

Unlike the common novels based on the fantasy of Vampires, the Twilight series is based on a rare concept of love between a human and a Vampire. This novel is centered on the changes occurring in the life of young "Bella Swan" who falls in love with "Edward Cullen" who is a Vampire. The Twilight series is written as the life of Bella is narrated by herself. This novel is interesting to read as it covers the purity of love and the excitement of Vampires. The uniqueness of this novel lies in the nature of the vampire Edward to whom Bella falls in love with. Unlike other Vampires who drink human blood, the Vampires of the "Cullen Family" drink only animal blood. The ending of the novel has the Vampires of the Cullen family defend the human blood drinking Vampires and help Bella to escape to Phoenix, Arizona.

The Records

The Twilight series has set many records in the novel world. Surveys indicate that over 53 million copies of this novel series have been sold worldwide till date. Twilight series is available in 37 languages too. This book has become one of the largest sold books in the United Sates for 3 consecutive years till 2008.

The Twilight Fans

This novel gathered millions of young fans across this planet. There are Twilight fan merchandises like Twilight shits, Twilight posters, Twilight Jewelry and much more. The rise of the concept of social networking has given birth to some Twilight Fansites too. These twilight fansites are engaged with groups and forums where the fans of this fantasy novel can share their thoughts. Some of the twilight fansites allow people to express their design ideas to be printed on Twilight T Shits, coffee mugs and other such products.

If you still haven't read this great fantasy novel, you should really start reading it now. It's for sure that you will be searching for the Twilight fansites as soon as you finish reading the novel.

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Cut Glass and Glass Blowing History and Development

Natural glass, like obsidian, is a dense volcanic glass, and has been used by man for millennia. To early man, obsidian glass was an extremely rare and valuable commodity, Because of the way volcanic glass fractures, sharp edges occur. This inherent quality of natural cut glass was put to use and was often made into sharp spear points and blades.

Man-made rudimentary glass was made from silica sand, plant ash and lime. Over time it was discovered that if glass was heated until it became semi-liquid, it may be molded or shaped and left to cool into a solid new piece or vessel. In ancient times glass pieces were valued as a substitute for precious stones or gems.

During first century BC, the craft of melting and blowing glass into useable objects was developed. Glass pieces and items gradually became more common after the discovery of glassblowing. Objects such as vases, bottles, and cruets were mouth blown and mold blown during the Roman Empire, usually for ordinary purpose and daily use.

Common glass normally has a greenish hue. The green tint is caused by miniscule amounts of iron impurities in the sand used to make glass. Glass producers learned to make decorative and colored glass by adding metallic compounds and mineral oxides such as cobalt. Colored glass of reds, blues and greens became prevalent. After craftsmen learned to score and cut glass, they found clear glass refracted light in spectacular fashion. Thus, clear cut glass became popular, and demand for colored glass plummeted.

Around 1000 AD, a new development was made in glassmaking. The glass making component of soda-lime, was replaced by potash obtained from wood ashes. From this time on, glass from the northern part of Europe differed greatly from that made in the Mediterranean area, where soda-lime remained in common use. Centuries later in Bohemia, ashes from beech trees were used. The production of Bohemian "forest glass" was progressively refined over the years.

During the 11th century new ways of making sheet glass came about in Germany. Glass blowers would blow spheres, and then form them into cylinders. They would cut the glass while still hot and then flatten the glass into sheets. Glass makers in Venice, Italy improved this method in 13th century. By the late 1300's there was as many as 20 glassworks in Bohemia and Moravia. The 12th century saw the arrival of stained glass production. Stained glass, another form of colored glass, was made by adding metal impurities. Church and monastery applications of stained glass can be traced back to examples that remain today, i.e. St. Bartholomew church in Kolin. A glass wall mosaic is preserved there from around 1380.

Venice became the dominant center for glassmaking during the 14th century. Here new glass making methods were developed and export trade such as mirrors, tableware, and decanters flourished. Secrets of glass making were highly guarded in Venice, but eventually glass workers moved to other areas of Europe taking their knowledge and skill with them.

A technique called "the Crown glass process" was used to make glass until the mid part of the 1800s. A glassblower would spin around 9 lbs of molten glass at the end of a rod until it spread out into a flat disk nearly 5 feet across. The glass disk would then be cut into panes. Glass from Venice was highly prized for over four centuries as they managed to keep this technique secret. In 1688, a method for casting glass was invented. This led to glass and glass panes in becoming a much more common material. The glass pressing machine was invented in 1827 and facilitated mass production of relatively inexpensive glass items. The glass pioneer, William J. Blenko, is recognized as first glass producer in America to use the cylinder method of creating flat glass by the 1920s.

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Woodsball Paintball Fields

It's your choice as to whether you play on a commercial field or home field. A commercial field is a paintball field set up as a business. Usually these fields charge entry fees and often rent equipment. The bonus to playing on a commercial field is that you get to use established bunkers without having to purchase or set any up yourself. Also, if you are a beginner, commercial fields that rent paintball equipment make it very easy to get started and try the game without committing to a large initial purchase.

At a commercial field you can jump right into the game because the rules are already established and upheld by the staff of the facility. This not only allows more playing time, but it also offers a safer game. Despite the entry fee, commercial fields are great to play at and can add much fun to your game. If you can't afford going to a commercial field or you don't have one in your city, you can always play paintball in any open field or wooded area.

With the popularity of woodsball ever increasing, most commercial paintball parks now have woodsball fields. Large commercial woodsball fields often offer giant scenario game competitions or war simulations. There's nothing more fun than using realistic military paintball gear at a realistic mil-sim oriented scenario. The rental equipment at these type of fields is also usually tactical style paintball equipment; military replica markers, camouflage protective gear, etc.

Woodsball fields are primarily used for scenario paintballing. In general, there are three types of woodsball fields, the forest, hybrid, and hay field. The forest field is the most natural of the three; basically, you're playing paintball in the woods. Rather than using bunkers, trees, fallen logs, outcroppings of rocks and tall grass are what players use as cover. Sometimes players can manipulate this playing field a bit by piling up leaves or branches, but essentially everything on the field is already there naturally. This type of field is excellent for scenario and military simulation play.

The hybrid field is very similar to the forest field, only with an addition. In the hybrid field, play is still in a wooded area (just like the forest field), however there are also bunkers that have been placed throughout the woods. Common bunkers seen on this field are often old cars, stacks of tires, barrels and piles of natural items, like rocks or logs. Some parks have elaborate scenario hybrid fields with huge forts, castles, buildings or giant, life size inflatable military vehicles to hide behind and play on.

The hay field is just like it sounds, a field of hay. These fields are a lot less common but every bit as fun. The bunkers in hay fields are tall stacks of either round or square bailed hay. Even without solid structures such as logs or inflatable bunkers, bails of hay can present new challenges making the game different and fun. Sometimes hay fields also have old tractors and farm equipment to hide behind as well.

If you live close to a commercial field, whether you play woodsball or speedball, frequent their establishment as often as you can afford. Paintball fields are small businesses that can always use the support, not to mention they give you great places to play! Try to find a commercial woodsball field and play on it; then play woodsball in the forest and see which you like better. If you know the woodsball field you'll be playing on in advance, try to wear the appropriate camouflage clothing to match your environment!

Dan Levesque is the owner and operator of a successful online paintball retail store, ChoicePaintballGuns.com. He also owns and operates several other successful businesses and is the treating doctor at a full time chiropractic clinic. He is also a professional powerlifter and trains several top level strength athletes.

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Watches - Changing With Time

Many things have changed throughout time. The clothing we wear has evolved from leaves to tunics to the clothing that is on our backs today. Transportation has evolved from traveling by foot to traveling by animal to traveling by cars, airplanes and trains. Telling time has also evolved. Many years ago man told the time merely by the sun's placement in the sky. Then the invention of the sundial came about. Finally the clocks and watches that we use now were invented.

Watches have also evolved with time and change. Watches have been mechanical, battery powered, solar powered, and kinetic. In the nineteenth century Cartier among others popularized the wrist watches that we now wear.

The function of watches has also evolved. The first watches only told the time. Then many watches told the time and the date. Now you can find a watch that will calculate for you. You can also take photographs, listen to music, and watch movies using a watch.

The function of watches is not the only thing people look at when they decide on the watch that they are going to wear. They also look at the style of the watch. Divers look for a diving watch that can withstand a lot of pressure. Connoisseurs look for golden watches, watches with gems, or watches that are unique in different ways. Scientists search out wristwatches that can help them do their work better. Adventurers seek out watches that are tough and functional for their lifestyle. Children are attracted to the watches that are cute and whimsical. Sometimes they seek out the ones that play the little tunes, like the Disney watches. Teenagers tend to look for a watch that is fashionable and trendy.

The watch that we wear is not only functional but tells who we are as a person. Make sure that the watch that you choose shows people your true self. Your watch should compliment your arm as well as your fashion sense.

The place to purchase watches has also evolved from specialty shops to just about anywhere that you find merchandise. Antique stores have wristwatches. You can find watches in many of the stores that you would find in a mall. Auctions, boutiques, and even street corners are also places where you can buy a watch. Another place that you can shop for watches is online.

Watches are not done evolving and changing. People are still tinkering with wristwatches. They are continually looking to improve the technology in wristwatches. They are also continuing to seek out new functions that they can add to watches. Just as our fashion sense in clothing changes so does our fashion sense in watches. Watches are forever being redesigned to fit the current trends and styles. Some things in this world may be done changing, the watch, however, may change so long as people's needs and wants continue to change.

Whoever you are you can find a watch that fits your needs and wants. Remember that people are continually making watches to fit our functional needs and wants so that we will always be able to find the watch that best fits us.

Zai Zhu is a watch collector and a watch dealer. Visit Discount Watch Store to learn more about watches. You can also shop over 3500 fine watches including 100's of Citizen watches, Seiko watches, and Invicta watches as well as other brand name watches such as Luminox, Bulova, Movado, Orient, Croton, and Wenger.

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Seven Wonders of the World

The Seven Wonders of the World are the most magnificent sites known to man. Choosing the top Seven Wonders of the World is a tradition which is started by the ancient Greeks who believed that seven is the magical number. Since then Seven Wonders of the World are chosen time to time according to the public feedback and heritage importance of that site. These sites are very special and are known for their beauty and architecture. These sites are not only man made but many of them are natural also. They are chosen from all around the world. These wonders are the special protected monuments and sites which are helping in promoting the tourism of the world. These are very important since they are also helping in maintaining healthy foreign relationship and promote the concept of globalization.

The seven wonders of the world are today divided in the three categories namely wonders of the ancient world, wonders of the medieval period and wonders of the modern world. The modern wonders are further categorized in several ways like natural wonder of the world, wonders of the under water world, wonders of the industrial world and so on.

In an event held on 7th July'2007 the latest Seven Wonders of the World were announced at Libson in Portugal. The event was organized by the New Open World Corporation (NOWC). On 1st Jan 2006 NOWC announced the 21finalists of this race out of the existing 200 monuments all around the world. Public voting was conducted and the whole world participated in this voting.

The latest wonders of the World came out as:

Great Wall of China

Petra

Christ the Redeemer

Machu Picchu

Chichen Itza

Roman Colosseum

Taj Mahal

Wonders of the world define the beauty of this planet of life. They are respected for their beauty and architecture and bring us close to the excellence, man and nature can achieve.

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Melitta Coffee Pods

Just like any other pods, Melitta coffee pods are just coffee grounds with small filters wrapped around them, designed for use in special brewers. There are a lot of different companies that produce these, and Melitta is one. Melitta also differentiates their pods a bit by calling them "javapods" instead of using the traditional name.

Are Melitta Coffee Pods Popular At All?

Yes, they are pretty popular, and only the Senseo brand is moreso. There is a big gap between them, though, with Senseo coffee pods being searched more than five times as often as Melitta. Number three is Tassimo coffee pods, which aren't actually pods at all, but T-Discs, which are only usable in Tassimo brewers. It would be fairly reasonable to say that lots of people use Melitta.

Can Any Pod Coffee Brewer Use Melitta's Product?

To that, I would say "most likely". As a very general rule, most pods will fit in almost any pod coffee makers, although there are exceptions. Melitta actually labels theirs as "Universal", though, so your particular machine would have to be a real oddball for them not to fit. If you have ever experienced problems with a pod not wanting to fit, though, you probably want to only use whatever has worked for the pod coffee maker that you currently own. As related to the pods fitting, don't worry about the javapods label, it's just a marketing thing. Melitta does license their name out for a few companies that make machines, but they don't really make them. There is, all things considered, no real reason that a Melitta pod would work any better in a Melitta branded brewer.

For What Reasons Would One Pick Melitta Instead Of Other Brands?

There are a few benefits to using Melitta's pods over others. Although their pods fit just about every coffee pod brewer out there, they contain over a quarter more coffee in each pod. More coffee means richer flavor and a stronger brew, which is preferable to most people, although some people might want to avoid stronger coffee if whatever they're drinking makes them twitchy. So, remember, if you're looking to try new things, and wanting to cut down on your caffeine intake, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. Melitta's are also separately foil wrapped, which seems like a no brainer since freshness is one of the main draws of this product, but is not necessarily normal.

Most Companies That Make These Pods Make Other Pods, Too. Does Melitta?

Since coffee pod machines are perfectly capable of brewing just about anything with a filter, pod makers in general offer things other than coffee as well. Melitta makes a couple of tea blends, but not much else except coffee. Of course, just like their coffee, their tea pods should easily fit just about anything that can brew coffee pods.

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Beautiful Designer Cushions

A gorgeous selection of designer cushions, artfully arranged throughout your home, can provide colour, contrast and interest. There is an endless array of designer cushions available and you can select from different colours, fabrics, designs and textures. The advent of online commerce has provided an even wider variety of choice for the consumer. You can peruse online, pay online and have your beautiful cushions delivered to you. For those of you who love the real- life sensation of shopping, there are boutiques and department stores that stock designer and handmade cushions.

Design Options

With so many design options available it is relatively easy to find a selection of cushions that appeal to your own individual sense of taste and style. Designer cushions are specifically created to be distinctive and unique. These cushions can truly become works of art in your home and work very well when tying together your overall inspiration for each room.

Natural Colours

Natural colours are always timeless and classic, however, this season they are particularly popular. You can reflect the outdoor environment and create the illusion of drawing the outdoors inside. Printed flowers, leaves and images of nature always work well on cushions. A lovely soft and neutral colour palette has the potential to create a delightful, warm and inviting atmosphere - think mossy greens, rich browns and mustard yellows.

Strong Geometric Shapes

Bold, geometric lines work very well on designer cushions and create interest and maximum visual impact. Select colours that reflect your overall colour scheme or add interest with strong black and white prints.

A Sense of Luxury

You can create a wonderful sense of opulence and luxury by adding exotic silk cushions, Middle Eastern inspired creations and rich beading or fur finished designer cushions. A few carefully positioned and luxurious cushions can allude to wealth and mystery without seeming too over the top.

Fabric Selection

Designer cushions are finished in high quality fabrics that feel luxurious to touch and look exceedingly elegant. If you are selecting a fabric for your living and entertaining areas, you may wish to choose a strong wearing and durable cushion fabric. Some lovely fabrics that work well on cushions include:

Linen - Linen is absolutely stunning and is a highly strong wearing and durable fabric. The magical design combination! A set of gorgeous linen designer cushions will last forever and elegantly grace your home in a timeless fashion that will endure.

Silk - Silk is soft, sensuous and beautiful and creates a lovely sense of contrast. Silk can evoke a vivid, glowing and shining feeling of drama in any room.

Fur - Modern fur cushions look lovely and work well with most contemporary interiors. For animal lovers, faux fur designer cushions can be a suitable option.

Beading - Beaded cushions add a striking accent of colour and provide a strong contrast and sense of interest and movement to your home décor.

Cotton - Cotton cushions are strong, soft and beautiful. This lovely natural fibre can be dyed and printed in an endless range of styles and always stays in fashion.

A Great Interior Decorating Idea

Indulging in the lovely extravagance of a few designer cushions is a great way of projecting the image of style, class and elegance. You may have less expensive cushions arranged along the length of your lounge and you can then add a few carefully placed designer cushions to create the illusion of expensive interior design without excessive cost.


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Protect Your Home Or Business From Lock Bumping

The videos on lock bumping are all over the Internet and on local news stations throughout the country. It is becoming common knowledge how to bypass a lock using the method called lock bumping. The spread of this information is causing great concern for individual safety and security for home and business.As a security professional, I am often asked, "Can people really open locks that easy?" "Should I be concerned?" "What can I do about it?" and "What do you recommend?"The method of lock bumping using bump keys has been around for many years. The recent spread of information on lock bumping across the Internet and the news has increased the use of this technique for illegal purposes, and now requires individuals to take precautionary action to protect themselves and their property.In addition to the security concern, there is an insurance issue. If your home or business is burglarized and there are no signs of forced entry, does your insurance cover the loss?

If the method used to break into your home or business was the lock bumping method, the signs of forced entry would likely be minimal and might not even be visible.To protect your home or business from lock bumping you need to upgrade your lock cylinders. This may be done by replacing your locks with bump proof locks, or you may be able to replace just the lock cylinder. Residential grade doorknobs are not designed to use different cylinders. If you have doorknob locks, you must upgrade to a commercial grade knob lock and include a high security cylinder. We highly recommend installing a deadbolt lock for added protection. Doorknob locks are easier to bypass than deadbolt locks. If you have deadbolts on your house you may be able to replace just the cylinder itself and keep the existing deadbolt. To determine if this is an option, removed the deadbolt from the door and see if the lock cylinder is held in with a screw from the backside of the lock. If it is, then you will be able to replace the existing cylinder with a high security or bump proof cylinder. Most residential grade deadbolts do not have a removable cylinder.

The solution is to purchase a new deadbolt with the bump proof high security cylinder. The standard holes existing on most doors for deadbolts is a 2-1/8 inch diameter hole with a 1 inch hole coming in from the edge of the door. To insure that the replacement lock you purchase will fit your door, the critical thing is to measure what is called "backset", which is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the lock. This distance is typically 2 3/8 inches or 2 3/4 inches. While some locks have adjustable backsets, others have fixed backsets, so it is important that you have this measurement when purchasing your new locks with bump proof, high security cylinders. Most high security or bump proof locks have some type of restricted key duplication. This provides the homeowner or business owner the benefit of no unauthorized key duplication. Typically the purchaser will be provided with some form of identification or registration card that would have to be shown in order to have keys duplicated. High security keys usually cannot be copied at your local hardware store.

It is best to order all of the keys that you need with the purchase of your new locks. When ordering your bump proof locks, have all of the keys numbered. Maintain a list of who has keys to your home or business. As long as all keys can be accounted for, there is no need to change the locks. This is a nice feature when you have to provide temporary access for someone to your home or business. Once the key is returned to you, you know that no one has copied a key and your home or business remains secure.The cost to upgrade your locks to prevent lock bumping is more than the cost of your average lock, but it is a worthwhile investment to maintain the security of your home or business. The cost is small when compared to a denied claim for loss from your insurance company!For your safety and security at home and for your business, I recommend that you install bump proof locks. With all the information about lock bumping on the Internet it is important that you stay one step ahead of criminals instead of one step behind them.

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