5 Tips To A Wonderful Home Makeover

Whenever you think of a home makeover, you would envisage a massive project that would cost you as much. It does not need to be so. You do not need to call on Texas coatings and Texas Scaffolding whenever you think of a home improvement project.

You can do a lot on your own even if you are not a skilled person in home improvement activities. The first and foremost thing you should know is that not all home improvement activities need to be expensive. Here are 5 things that can totally change your home, without involving too large an investment.

1. Coordinate color - pick a theme and coordinate colors in your home according to that theme. Say, you like autumn. In this theme you use earthy colors such as orange, browns, dark red and green to create a warm and autumn-like look in your home. Pay special attention to the draperies and curtains. You need not refurbish your sofa to match these colors; just make a cover for it and add as many tiny cushions you can.

2. Coordinate furniture - some rooms look great with a woody look, some look lovely with Spartan wrought iron furniture. Choose the material you like and go for it. To obtain a woody look in your home you need spend a fortune on timber finish; just get high quality plywood and place panels where needed to give your home a rich and warm look.

3. Coordinate indoor props - you would have always appreciated the superb show pieces in luxury homes. You can create similar effects with the help of light and inexpensive items such as indoor plants, mini water fountains, aquariums, abstract paintings, and so on.

You are a connoisseur of arts but cannot afford any masterpieces? Relax. Buy poster of your favorite painting of Picasso, Van Gogh, Da Vinci and so on and put in a rich looking frame (you would be amazed what you can get in ceramics and fiber) and voila you have a wow house at tiny fraction of the original cost.

4. Put in rugs and carpets - sometimes it looks good to have bare wood floor. However, for a change try covering your floor with soft warm colored rugs. It would completely change the look of your home. It would be like you have lighted a fire in the hearth and you feel the warmth seeping out caressing you.

5. Get aromatic candles - smell is something we often ignore but has tremendous impact on our senses. When you remember the best things about your childhood, you would invariably remember something very soothing associated with smells in the kitchen. Put in vanilla essence candles or lavender and see the difference it makes to the overall ambiance in your home.

There are plenty more such lovely inexpensive ideas that would have your house transformed for a regular home to wonderfully cozy abode. Let your imagination run wild and you will come across hundreds such activities that would add value and warmth to your home at next to nothing costs.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

The Best Coffees in the World

When considering the best coffees in the world, I went to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) for research. They are the organization that sets the quality standards for specialty coffee, which the public calls "gourmet" coffee. All specialty coffees use arabica beans. The other category of is the robusta bean, which is of inferior taste quality to arabica. Within these categories, there are several varieties of bean. Arabica beans are grown at a higher altitude than robusta.

Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world and is graded in a similar manner as wine. This event is called a "cupping" and has a set of strict standards. Winning a cupping is very prestigious and has a direct effect on the prices a coffee grower can get for his crop.

History of these "cupping" winners has shown that three areas of the world produce the most winners. Interestingly, these regions have a very similar latitude when looking at the world map. The three regions are Ethiopia, Sumatra and Panama.

Ethiopian/Kenyan Coffee (Africa)

Ethiopian coffee is aromatic, highly flavorful, and also known to be some of the best coffees in the world. It is also the origin of all coffee. The Ethiopian people have a legend that says that a goat herder discovered Ethiopian coffee around 850 AD. This legend claims that the goat herder noticed that his sheep were very excited and nearly dancing after eating red berries from a tree. The legend of the founder goes on to say that the herder sampled the red berries for himself and took some of the berries home to his wife who insisted that he take them to the monks. The monks supposedly threw the berries into a fire and noticed the delicious smell that the berries produced. The monks are said to have removed the berries from the fire and boiled the berries in water to create the beverage that we now know as Ethiopian coffee.

Whether this legend is true, or in fact just a legend is forever a mystery. Regardless, Ethiopian coffee has been used for religious ceremonies. These ceremonies are still held today and if a guest is invited to participate in the ceremony, it is well known to be a very beautiful experience.

Locally, Ethiopian coffee is served with either sugar, or in some parts of Ethiopia, salt. Milk or any type of creamer is never used in traditionally brewing. The process of making the coffee varies by region. In some regions it is dry processed and in some other regions it is washed. The Ethiopian coffee found in stores today is dry processed.

The process is often grueling and coupled with with importing adds to the reason of why Ethiopian coffee can be expensive.

When consumers purchase Ethiopian coffee to be brewed at home, it is wise to consider fair trade Ethiopian coffee. The obvious reason to consider fair trade is so that the producers of this wonderful product can reap the benefits of their hard work. Ethiopian coffee has a rich, bold, and exciting history and a taste that has been favored by many people for a long time.

Sumatran Coffee (Indonesia)

Sumatran coffee comes from the island in Indonesia called Sumatra. The taste of Sumatran coffee is spicy, herbal, and very distinct. It is considered to be one of the best coffees in the world and was first introduced by the Dutch around 1699 when the Dutch wanted to keep up with the demand of coffee to Europe. The Dutch traders knew the difference between Sumatran coffee beans and other coffee beans by the appearance, which are irregularly shaped and bright green.

Sumatran coffee is one of the best coffees in the world and has a low acidity which makes it highly favored among other types of coffee. The beans are usually grown in full sunlight and with no chemicals. A highly popular type of Sumatran coffee, yet thoroughly disgusting in many peoples opinion, is the kopi luwak Sumatran coffee. The kopi luwak coffee is coffee beans that have been eaten by the small animal known as a luwak. After the luwak digests and excretes the coffee beans, local villagers collect the excreted beans and roast them. These excreted and roasted beans are said to cost about $300 a pound. Of course, not all of Sumatran coffee comes from the excrement of the luwak. There are many other varieties of Sumatran coffee as well.

Most of the Sumatran coffee beans are processed using the wet and dry processing method. This processing method is another reason why Sumatran coffee is so popular. Most other types of coffee beans are processed by using either a wet method or a dry method, hardly ever both.

When purchasing Sumatran coffee for use at home, a person should try to purchase fair trade Sumatran coffee. Fair trade beans can be found at various online retailers and also at gourmet coffee retailers. This insures that the growers benefit from all of the hard work that they put into growing this delicious coffee.

Sumatran coffee has a taste unlike any other and once you try it for yourself, you may find that it will quickly replace your current brand or at least be a coffee that becomes one of your favorites.

Panamanian Coffee (Central America)

Although Panama is the smallest of all coffee producing countries, they grow most of the best rated coffees every year. The coffee region surrounds the town of Boquete in the western province of Chiriqui close to the Costa Rican border. Some say Panama has the ideal micro climate to grow coffee receiving winds from the north along with a light mist and cool breeze. Most of the coffee is grown on farms and is called an Estate coffee which signifies the farm it is from.

The process includes hand picking, washing and sun drying. The farms work closely with the indigenous people enhancing the community with social, medical and educational services. Because of this, fair trade is not a concern. It is a harmonious relationship between farm and worker.

For years, coffee from Panama was not well known amongst the public but the quality was apparent to the traders. So much so, that one trader was caught selling the lower cost Panamanian coffee beans as Hawaiian Kona beans, a much well known high end arabica bean.

Currently, Panamanian coffee has come of age winning numerous cuppings to the point in 2003 when the competition was changed. Previously, each entry was individual and Panamanian entrants would win up to five of ten awards. Now, they have groupings and each group can produce up to two winners that move up to the next level.

It should be noted that although Panamanian coffee has been established as the best in the region, wonderful coffees do come from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Columbia.

Even though most of the world favors the western coffees, a true coffee lover should be adventurous and taste the best coffees of the world. Try Ethiopian and Sumatran coffees along with those that are in close proximity to those regions. You may be surprised at what you have been missing.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

An Ice machine is an imperative piece of commercial kitchen equipment and commercial restaurant equipment for a food service company. Ice machines are inexpensive and simple to operate and maintain. Buying an ice maker is a beneficial purchase.

Guidelines you should use when choosing the right ice machine for your business.

* Size
* Ice type
* Cooling system type
* Condenser type
* Reliability
* Other (miscellaneous)

Size of your ice machine: When deciding on the right size ice machine, think about the space you have available for the unit and the quantity of ice your business uses yearly. Remember, you will need to manufacture additional ice in the summer time and on weekends. Purchase an ice machine that meets your peak manufacturing needs. Conclude your ice machine purchase by analyzing the major and minor details. Base your final choice on your recent business flow and a potential business increase as well. Evaluate the spec sheets provided for each ice machine and carefully review production charts.

Overview:

* Space
* Annual usage
* Peak usage
* Choose over-production instead of under-production
* Review spec sheets

What type of ice is ideal for your business type? Types: Ice machines produce three different types of ice including different cube sizes and designs as well as flaked or nugget ice.

1. Cubes: Cube ice are available in two sizes; half dice or whole dice. Spec sheets provide information about the size of the cubes an ice machine produces. Considered the most popular ice making machines, cube machines manufacture a solid cube that melts slowly. Full dice ice machines and half dice ice makers are suggested for carbonated drinks, mixed drinks, ice retail, salad bars and ice dispensing.

2. Flakes: Flake ice makers produce small, hard bits of ice. Flakes rapidly cool foods and drinks all the while generating low production costs. An exclusive characteristic of flakes is they can be easily molded into any shape. Flakes are best used for salad bars, seafood, meat, produce, blended cocktails, and for hospital use.

3. Nuggets: Nugget ice makers produce a pliable, chewable textured ice that provides optimal cooling effect for drinks. Purchasing an agitator kit is crucial for a nugget ice machine since the ice can melt and stick together and cause clogging. Nugget ice's recommended use is for blended drinks, carbonated, drinks, salad bars, produce and hospital use.

Which Cooling System is best for you, your business and the environment? There are two types of cooling systems:

* Air cooling machines
* Water cooling machines

An Air cooling machines: are effortless to install and low costing to attain, operate and sustain. The air cooling system works by using air and water temperature. They also need more space to function in order to avoid overheating. Air cooled commercial ice makers are environmentally friendly and the food service industry has considered this new system a key innovation. Water cooled machines: on an industrial level this system is more dependable and resourceful but it is also more expensive to operate because it uses more water. Water cooled machines produce less heat and will not affect your room temperature greatly nor do they require as much space for optimal performance to be attained. Overall, if you have limited space for an ice machine it is most convenient to go with the water-cooling system.

Condenser: Remote System unit The remote system unit is resourceful for bigger machines that produce more than 800 lbs every 24 hours. The remote system performs best when it is mounted on the roof of a building in order to minimize the amount of noise and heat it exerts.

Reliability What commercial kitchen merchandisers are leading the industry in ice machine dependability? Manitowoc ice machines and Scotsman ice makers are the most dependable in the industry according to recent service reports.

Other considerations What ice machine capacity and design fits your needs?

* Models
* Connections
* Plumbing
* Energy efficiency
* Standard Features
* Key Kitchen Applications
* Maintenance Requirements
* Food Safety & Sanitation Essentials

There are two types of ice machine models:

* Floor models (large)
* Under-counter models

Floor-model ice makers are the larger of the two and produce anywhere from 300 to 2,000 lbs of ice daily. They average around 25" in height and range from 22" to 48" wide. Floor models offer the option of stacking; increasing daily production. Undercounter ice makers produce anywhere from 100 to 200 lbs daily. Undercounter ice machine models normally fit in spaces that are 35" to 40" high. Updated models of countertop nugget ice makers produce larger amounts of ice while relying on a smaller amount of storage capacity providing superior efficiency. For businesses that require larger ice production rates, an ice dispenser is essential. Alternatives for dispensing include ice, water or ice and water in one. These high-capacity models can produce anywhere from 1,450 lbs. to 1,880 lbs. of ice cubes daily. Important consideration: Before ordering your ice maker, measure your doors, hallways and overall installation space for assured product convenience. When measuring these dimensions, add an extra 5 to 8 inches for clearance space above, behind and on all sides.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Cute Flash Drives

These days, looks mean a lot to the average consumer. It just isn't enough to be useful and practical anymore. In order for a product to sell successfully it almost has to look cool and flashy. It does not really matter how well they work. If something doesn't look good it is not going to sell. It's been proven that people in general tend to purchase items that look better. Remember when the USB drive first came out? They were extremely useful, very practical and a valuable asset for computer users. These thumb drives were very plain looking. They weren't flashy or trying to make a statement. You probably couldn't have found a neon green USB drive at the time. However, times are changing and USB drive manufacturers are playing catch up.

Cute flash drives are becoming an increasing trend among children and young adults. Many schools are even listing a thumb drive on the list of required items a child needs to have at the beginning of the school year. Many people wonder what the point of a cute looking USB drive is. Well, it is simply really... cute flash drives sell. Manufacturers are being forced to try new things to keep up with constantly changing times. There are many different styles of cute USB drives. Some are assorted neon colors while others may be fun shapes. These cute thumb drives will sell. While that plain black USB drive we all remember sits on shelves, eventually making its way to the clearance section. So why do people want these cute USB drives? Everybody loves attention and having the latest and cutest cheap thumb drives is one way to draw attention to yourself. People like to show things off, that's human nature.

Well as you can plainly see, these cute flash drives aren't going anywhere. They are everywhere, in the purses of women around the world and in thousands of students back packs. They are extremely functional though, they can hold a remarkable amount of information. This data can range from home work assignments, work documents or even your mp3 collection. The next time you are searching for a thumb drive, consider taking the time to glance at a few cute flash drives. Who knows, maybe you will find something you like!

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Wind Energy - How Does It Fit Into Our Future?

I saw a posting on Facebook this week that asked, "Is wind energy for real? I have been told that it is just hype". My thoughts were that if you lived in the Southwest you would witness daily the progress of wind energy. We in the Southeast and Northeast see occasional wind generators and do not relate to the future of wind energy. If we visited the European countries, especially Germany, we would see a major growth in wind energy generation. The progression of harvesting energy from moving air can no longer be thought of as tilting at windmills. Wind energy will be a major player in the replacement of fossil fuels.

The key reason for the acceptance of wind energy is its dropping cost for electrical energy. Over the past three decades, the cost of a watt of electricity generated by wind has dropped to equal the cost of fossil fuel. During the 1970s, turbine blades were 32 feet long and wind power cost $2.00 per kilowatt (kW-hr). Today, wind turbines with blades 130 feet long have cut the cost to around .05 cents per kW-hr. with federal subsidies to build the installation. In the future, the cost of wind energy will continue to decease while fossil fuels will continue to increase.

As noted above, the larger blades are more efficient in producing electricity. This is because more wind is caught by a blade with a larger surface area. A town of 8,000 needed 40 turbines to meet its power needs in the mid-1990s, while just one larger model is needed today to produce the same amount of energy.

There is a great deal of ongoing research around the world to continue to improve the efficiency of the wind turbine. On the drawing boards are turbines with blades almost 300 feet across. This size blade will drive the cost of wind energy down to less than fossil fuel generation. To take advantage of the larger blade, Energy Unlimited in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania has patented the variable length blade or blade with a blade. This innovation extends or contracts depending on wind conditions. A controller in the base of the tower responds to changes in wind speed, extending the inside blade in lighter winds and retracting it in heavier winds. Conventional turbines have to be shut off when the wind is too strong. The variable blade is claimed to be 25% more efficient and is operating as a prototype since 2002 near Palm Springs, California. For those who are technically curious, there is a lot more research occurring in universities and research laboratories on the components of the turbine, the shapes of blades and predictions of the winds. This research will continue to improve the wind turbine efficiency and further reduce the cost of wind energy.

By almost any measure, wind generated energy is exploding. The growth is primarily limited by turbine availability as the higher efficiency turbines are introduced. The global wind-power industry has grown from $11.8 billion in 2005 to $17.9 billion in 2006. Clean Edge Research projects the market will triple to $60.8 billion by 2016. In the United States in 2006 wind was the second-largest source of new generating capacity, trailing only natural gas. More than 2.4 GW of new capacity was installed, a 27% increase that brought total U.S. wind generating capacity to 11.6 GW, enough to power about 2.9 million homes , according to the American Energy Association. Over the past 20 years, a strong DOE-funded R&D effort combined with private partnerships has lowered the base cost of wind energy from around 80 cents/kWh to as low as 4 cents/kWh. When combined with the government tax incentives which provide an incentive of 1.9 cents/kWh for the first 10 years of a project, and other tax considerations, the cost of wind energy becomes very competitive, and is sometimes lower than conventional generation sources.

In Canada the wind generating capacity nearly doubled in 2006, .adding 657 new MW for a total of more than 1.3 GW. The Canadian Wind Energy Association's goal is for 10,000 MW of installed wind energy in Canada by the year 2010, enough to supply 5% of Canada's electricity needs. Denmark currently generates over 20% of its power from the wind, an attainable goal for Canada. If wind energy were to generate 20% of Canada's electricity, it would be the second largest source of electricity behind hydro and ahead of nuclear, natural gas and coal.

European countries are leading U.S. and Canada in the adoption of wind energy. The total capacity of new wind turbines brought on line across the European Union last year was 8,554 MW, an increase of 935 MW on the 2006 total. Total wind power capacity installed by the end of 2007 will avoid about 90 million tones of CO2 annually and produce 119 Terawatt hours in an average wind year, equal to 3.7% of EU power demand. In 2000, less than 0.9% of EU electricity demand was met by wind power. The European countries have resolved that wind energy will be 20% of their generating capacity by 2020.

The Asian nations are also quickly adopting wind energy. India added 1.8GW of wind energy in 2006. Suzlon Energy, based in Pune, is the world most consistently profitable wind turbine maker. Meanwhile, China, which had installed capacity of 2.6 GW in 2006, plans to install more than 30 GW, enough to power 30 million average Chinese homes by 2020.

The common hurdles to Acceptance of Wind Energy are:

Not in my backyard

People do not like the sight or the sounds of windmills in their backyards. This seems especially true for ocean views. This is a major hurdle to conquer. It may be that the wind energy generating platform needs to go further out which brings energy transmission problems.

Kills Birds and Bats

This concern is becoming less each day. A few studies to date have shown that the location of the wind turbine(s) is the major problem. Those turbines in migration paths cause the most problems. Thus the location of future turbines recognizes the concern for birds and bats. Also, different colors for the blades and warning noises are being studied to remove this hazard.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Antique Car History

Owning a car is a necessity for many people, but for many other possessing antique cars is a matter of pride and sort of a prestige symbol. Owning an antique car is in most times as costly as owning a new car as there are many people involved who are in the passion of collecting antique cars. Many antique car enthusiasts collect antique cars as a hobby or a memory. But there are several others who collect antique cars as an investment option. For them antique cars are a way to make profit - these people collect antique cars and sell it after some time at a higher price than originally brought.

Let us look in detail what an antique car is and about antique car history. According to the Antique Automobile Club of America and several other organizations worldwide, an antique car can be defined as any car which is more than 25 years of age. Sometimes it is seen that some classic cars are misrepresented as antique cars, but the real classic cars are those certain specific high quality cars from the pre-World War II era. However antique cars are not profitable to use for everyday transportation, these antiques cars are much popular for leisure driving. Antiques cars which had survived for more than 25 years are considered great survivors. And that's why owning, collecting and restoring such rare antique cars are considered as a well-liked hobby by people all over the world.

Over the years, the antique car market has seen tremendous changes. During the 1980's the value of antique cars has gone a great boom which lasted for several years. But during the early 1990's there was a great fall in price. Antique car collecting can be a type of gambling. According to antique car experts it is better to collect antique cars when you get one as the antique car market fluctuates from time to time and the future monetary value of antique car is completely unpredictable.

Most antique car buffs' love to know antique car history before buying any antique car. For them, buying an antique car is more important than buying a new car. They take enough time searching every thing about the antique car before they make a purchase. Antique car experts say that it is better to take a look into antique car history before making a deal. By spending some time in antique car history you can know whether any alterations and flaws are there in the antique car you are going to purchase. These alterations and flaws can make a big change in the value of the antique car. Determining the antique cars status and how much price it worth if you resell it in any later stage is also a good idea before purchasing it.

As antique cars are those cars which have survived over a period of twenty five years, the antique car history is worth mentioning. If you are an antique car enthusiast check the current position of the antique car you are going to add to your antique car collection. If the antique car is a much fashionable one then the value of antique cars will be highly expensive. If it is not a fashionable one to collect, then the demand will be less and you can obtain it at a low price. The condition of the antique car also influences the value. A good condition antique car will surely cost much more than a poor condition antique car.

Hence before buying any antique car it is advisable to know the antique car history. Don't forget to determine the antique cars status and how much price it worth if you sell it later. Nowadays there are numerous websites which are providing information about antique cars. Most of these websites features photographs of antique cars and collector's forums. Checking these sites will help you to get a brief idea of antique car history. This will be a plus point for any antique car buffs.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Defining Street Photography

Most types of photography can be easily defined by their subjects. A wedding photographer takes pictures of weddings. A portrait photographer poses someone and takes their picture. The nature photographer covers a wide area, but it is easy to categorize.

Street photography is difficult to define because it can encompass just about any subject.

If I were to ask you to name a few famous street photographers, you might pick, Garry Winnograd, Henri Cartier-Bresson, or maybe Robert Frank. But if I asked you to define street photography - that would be more difficult. You might say that street photography is candid pictures of strangers on the street. That might be a good start, but it doesn't really describe street photography.

To start with, street photography doesn't need to be done on "the street." And it doesn't need to be pictures of strangers. In fact, it doesn't even need to be pictures of people, though it usually is. Although there are common subjects for street photography, it is not so much about the subject as it is the style of the photograph. I can easily imagine an astronaut orbiting the earth, using a street photography style.

Just as any object or scene can be painted with in a cubist style, just about any subject can be photographed in street-photography style. I say almost any subject, because the one thing that all street photos have in common are human beings, or human artifacts: things that were made by human beings. So what are the characteristics of this style which can be separated from the subjects of the image.

The most common and famous property of street-photography is the idea of capturing "the decisive moment." The most well-known street moment may be the blurred image of a man trying to jump a puddle at the railway station by Cartier-Bresson. A moment sooner and you have the guy standing, looking at the large puddle. A moment later, and the man has fallen into the puddle, or cleared it somehow. You don't really know. But capturing the moment, even if it is important, isn't everything.

Suppose that photograph were taken with a long modern lens, and the figure was frozen at 1/8000th of a second in mid-air, and the background and foreground were blurred because the depth-of-field with a long lens is very narrow. Well, it might look very much that moment when a pitcher releases the ball in an important game. The foreground and background are blurred. Even the closest part of the pitching mound is out of focus. Can that be considered a street shot.

No. Why not? It's the decisive moment alright - but without context - it isn't street photography.

Since we're imagining shots, let's imagine that you are sitting in the dugout with a normal or wide angle lens, and you hear footsteps on top of the dugout. You wonder what is going on, and at the same time you prepare your camera, and the pitcher is taking his wind up in the background, and just as he let's go of the ball, a naked streaker jumps from the top of the dugout onto the field. And you have snapped just as the figure was in mid-air, and the ball was coming to the plate, and the pitcher was finishing his follow-through. That's a street shot. No street. No buildings. But you have caught two moments, and pretty much everything is in focus, and you can look at the picture and just be amazed. The viewer is as surprised as you were - though you had some idea that something was about to happen.

It's that sort of moment, or juxtaposition of ideas, that street photographers are fascinated by. If you had a lot of money, you could dream up this still shot, and rent out the stadium and the team, and recreate this shot exactly as described - but that would not be street photography. And so long as nobody told about how the shot was set up and planned, it would be considered a great street shot. If everyone found out that they were duped, it might still be considered a great photograph - but not a great street shot.

The moment is not enough. To play by the rules, the shot really does need to be unplanned. It also needs to allow the eye to wander around and make it's own conclusions about the meaning of the photograph. If street photography were a musical form - it might be jazz. It might be rock and roll. The style of music would have a measure of improvisation.

Street Photography is not the same as documentary photography

If you send our imaginary street photographer to photograph the President giving at a press conference, they return with pictures of the other photographers at the photo op. Journalistic images are a dime a dozen. Their style is about curiosity. They need find be surprised in order to press the shutter. And it's not all based on juxtaposition, or the actual event. Maybe they find that three photographers look the same, and that's enough to click the shutter, if they are arranged properly.

The street photographer is a perpetual tourist. They may never leave their own town, but as they walk around, they can see things that the rest of the world is oblivious to. So I say again - it isn't the things they photograph nor is it always about the decisive moment.

I knew a street photographer who became fascinated by the different ways that people hailed a cab in New York. For two years, whenever he saw someone hail a cab, he tried to find a new angle, a new way of shooting this most ordinary of urban moments. One day, after years of keeping an eye out for people hailing cabs, he glimpsed, a young girl with crutches waiting to get into the cab. This might have been just another shot, but as he got closer to take the shot, he saw an old man with crutches was getting out of the cab. You look at the image, and think - what a stroke of luck to find this coincidence but he took years of maintaining this obsession to make something from the idea. And other times you just walk out of the house and are greeted with this sort of coincidental image.

Another common aspect of street photography that makes it different from other forms of photography, is that it is usually not sponsored. (In rare instances the photographer is given a grant to do this shooting, but as I say, this is rare). Just as nature photographers are haunted by their own desire to capture a mountain that is special or the mating habits of some bird species, the street photographer is driven to extract juxtapositions, or similarities, or unusual moments from the swirl of urban life.

The street photographer can best be identified not by what they shoot, but why they shoot. If their purpose is to make a discovery, to find a surprise, to give expression to their own curiosity about people and the things that people construct there is a good chance you've run into a street photographer. The best ones are like Zen hunters. I say Zen hunter, because you can't force the unexpected. You can only be open to it.

You can't force it, but you can put yourself in a place where there are enough people milling around to increase your odds. Looking for that moment is as useless as casting a fishing line and saying, "now I will catch a fish." It doesn't work that way.

The street photographer is the mirror image of the commercial photographer. The commercial photographer sets up the product to be photographed, arranges the lighting, controls as much of the image as he can, and takes the picture. The wedding photographer urges the various families to stand and smile at the camera. The idea of posing subjects is anathema for the street photographer.

The wedding photographer, or the commercial photographer are paid to produce a product. The street photographer is only paid afterwards, if at all.

The street photographer is often an unwanted guest. They need to develop Ninja-like techniques so that they remain unseen in the middle of a crowded street. They may even dress in camouflage. Rather than using a high-powered rifle to pick off wild beasts at a distance, the street photographer photograph strangers at close range. This can be scary for the beginner.

One photographer I knew would dress like a typical tourist in New York and bring a tourist map with him. He might stand near the Empire State building and gawk up at it, all the time taking pictures of the people around him. So here he is, a New York native for fifty years, play-acting the tourist so that he can blend in with the strangers around him.

I'm sure that many a street photographers dream of a cloak of invisibility.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Eye Problems

Eye problems range from mild to severe in symptoms and conditions. With various types of problems that range from dry eyes to bloodshot eyes, and from eye discharge and puffy eyes, we have to remember that our vision is our most important sense, our windows to the world, and therefore if problems occur it's best to seek the advice of an eye care professional immediately.

Ophthalmologists and/or optometrists are your best option. Unlike opticians, they can do it all. They perform exams, diagnose, treat, and prescribe medicines, glasses and contact lenses. Where as, opticians can only perform exams and write prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses.

Bloodshot eyes, or "red eyes" are the most common condition. The red eyes could be due to an illness, injury, eye infection, tiredness, or other condition such as allergies. Bloodshot eyes are caused by the enlarged and dilated blood vessels in the surface of the eye (conjunctiva) becoming irritated. This can be a medical emergency or a medical non-emergency. Don't be surprised if the doctor doesn't take immediate action if you arrive in their office with red eyes, especially if you suffer from allergies or lack of sleep.

Other times, red eyes can be of concern and a red flag that there is a more serious problem lurking such as Blepharitis, Conjunctivitis, Corneal Ulcers or Acute Glaucoma. If you're experiencing other symptoms such as discharge or pain associated with the redness, you might want to schedule an appointment with your eye care professional or primary care doctor to see if one of these conditions is present. To relieve the problem, try your best not to touch or rub your eyes. If it's allergy related, try antihistamines and/or eye drops or artificial tears. If the environment is bothering your eyes, change your location. Stay away from pets and pollens if possible. You could also try using an ice pack over your eyes. The coolness of the pack relieves different symptoms like swelling and pain, and could alleviate the redness. You could also consider rinsing your eyes with warm and cool water.

Eye Pain on the other hand, is a much more serious problem. Some describe it as stabbing, throbbing, aching, burning or the feeling that "something is in your eye". Many people seek medical treatment when they're experiencing pain in their eyes. The word pain is generally open for interpretation. Some people describe it as in their eyes, around their eyes or behind their eyes. The causes of eye pain can be one of two forms; ocular pain or orbital pain. Ocular pain comes from the outer structure of the eye and can be caused by either Conjunctivitis, Styes, Blepharitis, Corneal Abrasions or Ulcers and Chemical Burns.

Orbital pain is caused by a disease of the eye and can be described as a deep, dull ache behind or within the eye itself. Some of the diseases that can cause orbital pain are Glaucoma, Migraines, Trauma, Optic Neuritis, and Iritis. Whatever is causing your eye pain, you should seek medical attention for treatment. But if you think you know what the problem is and do not feel like you'd need a doctor, try different things at home such as flushing your eyes with lukewarm water or commercial eye solutions. Just like with other eye problems, avoid touching or rubbing your eyes until you seek treatment or the problem resolves.

Eye discharge is that icky, sticky, yellowish substance that comes out of your eye. Most people experience this in the morning when they wake up. Nine times out of ten it's harmless. The discharge is actually apart of your body's natural defense system. The one time out of ten, there is a more serious problem. So if the discharge persists and is constant, seek medical treatment. The first and the most common reason is waking up with discharge in the corners of your eyes. This discharge is a sign that some form of bacteria, either from make-up or extra oily skin has tried to make its way into your eye while you were sleeping.

A bacteria invasion can lead to a more serious condition like Blepharitis, which is an inflammation at the base of your eyelashes that produces the thick, yellowish pus filled with bacteria-fighting white blood cells. Other, more serious causes of eye discharge can be associated with medical conditions such as Conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers. A corneal ulcer is an open sore in the outer layer of the cornea and is associated with infections and bacteria. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the membrane that lines the eyelids.

Both of these conditions could lead to more severe problems, so again, if the problem is constant and consistent, seek medical attention. Things you can do at home to relieve the problem is using a warm washcloth, letting it sit over your eyes for a short period of time. The warmth loosens the crust and allows you to open your eyes. Contaminated cosmetics are the leading cause to eye infection, and if not thrown away you'll be reapplying the bacteria. Avoid sharing towels and washcloths if possible. This can spread bacteria quickly and either give yourself or others the problem.

Watery eyes are ironically a main cause of dry eyes. It is absolutely necessary for your eyes to replenish themselves repeatedly everyday. However, too many tears can actually begin to reverse the good and start working against itself. Also known as Epiphora, it's important to note that tearing is not an emergency. Yes it can be annoying, but it can also be treated. The cause of watery eyes can range from dry eyes to allergies, from environmental irritants to age or even clogged tear ducts. Eye conditions such as Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis can also be the cause of watery eyes. Before treating the watery eyes, you have to first know the reason. Each cause has a different treatment. Artificial tears or eye drops can re-wet your eyes, while over the counter antihistamines can alleviate allergy or environmental irritant symptoms. Many older people experience watery eyes.

This is due to aging and a lack of quality tear production, and usually there is another underlying problem. Older people should see their eye care professionals more often to help pinpoint problems they experience before it turns into something worse.

If vision changes, such as blurriness, eye spots, floaters, halos or even blindness occur, this could be a sign that there is a much more serious problem within your eyes. Vision changes should never be ignored, so if you are having any you should seek medical attention immediately. Never let vision changes persist or continue. The changes will only develop into serious, severe problems, diseases and conditions. Presbyopia, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Retinal Detachment, Floaters, Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy are all serious eye diseases that will cause changes in your vision. Other possible causes of vision changes can be simple fixes like fatigue, medications and overexposure to the outdoors.

Medications that can affect your vision include antihistamines, high blood pressure medication, anticholinergics, and medications for malaria, as well as many others. Talk with your eye care professional about any other medications you are taking, as this may be the cause of your vision changes. The biggest thing you can do in preventing and treating vision changes is to see your eye care professional on a regular basis. Doing other things such as wearing sunglasses while outdoors, eating foods rich in antioxidants (leafy greens), avoiding alcohol, drugs or smoking and watching cholesterol levels will reduce the chances of vision changes for many years. But remember, vision changes are bound to happen to all of us once we reach a certain age, so it's best we do our best to maintain good vision.

When it comes to Eye Problems it's important you understand that problems range from mild to severe. Certain conditions such as Bloodshot or Red Eyes can be easily treated. While other conditions such as Eye Pain are due to more serious conditions.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Adverse Effects Of Acid

The term 'acid rain' is commonly used to mean the deposition of acid component in rain, snow, fog, dew, or dry particles. They are the result of air pollution. When any type of fuel is burnt, lots of different chemicals are produced. The smoke that comes from a fire or the fumes that come out of a car exhaust don't just contain the sooty grey particles that you can see - they also contains lots of invisible gases. Some of these gases (especially nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids. The rain from these clouds then falls as very weak acid - which is why it is known as "acid rain".

Acid rain has an adverse effect on forest, freshwater and soil, killing off insects and aquatic life forms as well as causing damage to building and having possible impact on human health.

It is thought that acid rain can cause tree to grow more slowly or even to die. As it falls on a forest it trickles through the leaves of the trees and run down into the soil below. Some of it find its way into streams and then on into the river and lakes, thus effecting its creatures.

On other hand acid rain can affect trees by dissolving and washing way the nutrients and minerals in the soil which help in their growth. It is one of the major causes of the release of harmful substances such as aluminum into the soil. Somewhere, acid rain wear away the waxy protective coating of leaves, damaging them and preventing them from being able to photosynthesize properly.

On lakes and river water, acid rain has a diverse effect. Both the lower Ph and higher aluminum concentration in the surface water that occur as a result of the acid rain can cause damage to fish and other aquatic animals. At pHs lower than 5 most fish eggs will not hatch and lower pHs can kill adult fish. As lakes become more acidic biodiversity is reduced. Acid rain has eliminated insect life and some fish species.

Soil biology can also be seriously damaged by acid rain. Some tropical microbes can quickly consume acids but other microbes are unable to tolerate low pHs and are killed. The hydronium ions of acid rain also mobilize toxins and leach away essential nutrients and minerals of the soil. The effects of acid rain can last for generations, as the effects of pH level change can stimulate the continued leaching of undesirable chemicals into otherwise pristine water sources, killing off vulnerable insect and fish species and blocking efforts to restore native life.

On human health, acid rain have been shown to cause illness and premature deaths. Acid rain can also cause damage to certain building materials and historical monuments. Acid rain can cause weathering on ancient and valuable statues and has caused considerable damage. This is because the sulfuric acid in the rain chemically reacts with the calcium compounds in the stones (limestone, sandstone, marble and granite) to create gypsum, which then flakes off. This is also commonly seen on old gravestones where the acid rain can cause the inscription to become completely illegible. Acid rain also causes an increased rate of oxidation for iron. Visibility is also reduced by sulfate and nitrate in the atmosphere.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Using the Wall Clocks to Beautify Your Room

The clock has long been used by many people because they have the edge in beautify your room. They still use the wall clock with various models and colors. Most homeowners want a nice home interior and they can get it with a good wall timekeeper. You can find them in stores with various styles and types that will facilitate you to find the best model suitable for the interior of your home.

When you have touched home decor, you can use all your creativity and ability to get the best results. If you have a fireplace, you can put the big wall timekeeper above the fireplace to be a focus point in your room. If you have a vast blank wall, you can place oversized wall timekeeper to increase the uniqueness of the wall.

Every house has a different interior design with another house. This is because the decoration of the house can be a mirror for the homeowner. For that, a house with a nice interior will be liked by the guests. You can use a wall clock on all types of walls. In the family room, you can put the Grandfather watch that will seize the attention.

Today, there are many kinds of wall watch with a beautiful voice and if you want to put the timekeeper in the bathroom, use a waterproof watch. Waterproof clock is an outdoor watch type because they can withstand with bad weather.

In addition, you can use many wonderful watches as gifts. This watch has a stylish shape with various ornaments on the timekeeper frame. Online stores will allow you to search for watch that suitable with your tastes because they have a timepiece catalog from various manufacturers.

Discover a variety of good clock review at vintage wall clock. Hopefully you can find the best wood wall clock for your home interior.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Taj Mahal Travel - A Lifetime Experience

To honor Taj Mahal in the most undeviating manner, it can only be said that this Indian wonder is the true "Tribute to beauty." As a world famous monument and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Taj Mahal is often called as a 'Mecca of love.' So, a trip to Taj Mahal for sure offers a life time experience to the travelers worldwide.

It was built in 1653, in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal, deceased wife of mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. It took 22 years and 22,000 people to complete the Taj Mahal. This huge monument of love, built entirely of white marble, is also called as one of the most beautiful building ever. Its look is further enhanced by the precious stones engraved, which has increased its beauty to the optimum level. It is this mesmerizing beauty as well as historic significance that have brought thousands of tourists for the Taj Mahal tour in Agra, India, over and over again.

When you go inside the monument the interiors of the Taj leaves you in a world of everlasting splendor. This magnificent monument stands on a raised, square platform with its four corners curtailed, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design is based on the Italian concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. The principles of self-replicating geometry and symmetry of architectural elements has been used in formulating the whole set up. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy from Qur'an, using precious gems such as agate and jasper.

The whole architecture of Taj Mahal comprises of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The stance of this compelling tribute is further enhanced by the presence of the mighty river Jamuna behind it. The most significant part of the Taj is that when ever you plan a tour to Taj Mahal and at whatever number of times you visit, you will find different aspect of Taj. The Taj at noon, the Taj at sunset, under the full moon, against the setting sun, and against the rising ball of fire, each time the mausoleum acquires a different accent and tells a different story.

If we try to observe it with a bit closer aspect then it can be very truly concluded that no one person conceived the Taj Mahal. Rather, it is the collective creation of different people who contributed to the project at various times over the course of two decades. The design is ever evolutionary. However if you want to witness the full glory of this heart touching architecture, the best time to visit is between March to April and October to mid December, as the weather is quite soothing during these months. So rejoice your Taj Mahal trip to the utmost level.

With an ever touching softness, historical significance, as well as charm that take breath away, Taj Mahal is certainly a great tourist venue with its present dramatic and romantic aura. Hence as per the glory that cosmologically unite heaven and earth, this wonder is truly priceless.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

How to Choose Printer Paper

Everybody wants to know about the correct inkjet cartridge for his or her printer, but what about printer paper? Inkjet and laser printers can print on a variety of surfaces, including photo paper, labels, business cards, stickers, and t-shirt transfers. One of the biggest advantages of laser printers is their ability to churn out quality prints on almost any paper. However, the same does not apply to inkjet printers. Although most of your inkjet printing probably involves standard white papers, when it comes to this medium, you may have more options than you realise.

Inkjet Printer Paper

Although standard printer paper can do the job as well, your printouts will probably be better if you use paper specifically made for inkjet printers. The quality of your printouts is affected by two major factors: brightness and absorption.

1. Brightness

When a type of paper is advertised as being brighter than average, it indicates that the surface of the paper is smoother than average. The smoothness of the page determines the amount of light reflected from its surface. This factor also determines how bright your images appear on the page. The brighter or smoother the printer paper is, the better your printout will appear.

2. Absorption

In this case, if the printer paper absorbs less ink, your document will definitely look better. As the paper absorbs ink, tiny dots on the page may spread outside their borders. This may cause the edges of text and images on the page to look fuzzy and soggy. To counteract this problem, quality printer papers are coated with a waxy substance that prevents the absorption of ink by the paper. A well-coated paper allows for more precise and smoother printing. In general, most of the printers on the market print at a higher resolution on coated paper than on standard paper.

Branded Paper - To Buy or Not to Buy

It's no secret that the big names in printers, such as HP, Canon, and Epson, offer a complete line of inks and papers. Each company claims that you will get the best results when you use its products with its printers, and warns you to steer clear of products sold by other companies.

Generally speaking, they're right. In the case of inkjet printers, especially, companies design printers, inks, and papers to work together to yield the best results. If you use third-party paper with your inkjet printer from a big-name manufacturer, the ink may spread too far into the paper before drying, causing inaccurate colours, lower print resolution, and a dull finish. Plus, it is likely that the prints will fade faster.
The choice, after all, lies with you. Printing great photos from an inkjet printer is a tall order, requiring a perfect match between the ink, paper, and printer to work together; and the companies don't make it easy on the consumer's pocket. You can reach the most economical solution through a little experimentation.

Alternatively, laser printers can print plain text documents or draft-quality graphics with equal ease, and you can stock up on your local office supply store's bright white copy or laser paper to your heart's content.

Getting Past the Jargon

To find out if the paper package on the shelf is right for your printer, simply read the fine print that usually lists out the compatible companies and models. Moreover, if you are interested in high-quality photo printing, you can generally see if a particular paper makes the grade.

For example, some papers may have unusual descriptions such as "swellable" or "cotton rag." Swellable paper is designed for high-quality photo printing--the coated surface actually swells as it absorbs ink. Cotton rag is ideal for inkjets that use pigment-based inks; most low-cost inkjet printers, on the other hand, use dye-based ink, so you should steer clear of cotton rag in this instance.

High-quality paper also has a polymer coating--for both dye-based and pigment-based inks--that keeps the ink from spreading, and it protects the ink from fading over time. However, coated paper can take a number of hours to completely dry your prints. Better quality paper may also be advertised as acid-free and lignin-free; these indicate that your paper is more likely to give you the best image quality and the best overall life span.

Checklist

It is important to remember that most branded photo printer paper from corporate names, including well-known ones, is only suitable for printing at 1440 and 2880 DPI. Here is a simple checklist to help you when deciding the inkjet photo paper best suited to your needs.

1. Always check the DPI (Dots Per Inch) of the photo printer paper.

DPI is an indicator of how much ink the photo paper can absorb per inch on the page. Using low DPI photo paper for high-resolution printing will result in poor quality prints. Usually, if the seller does not advertise the DPI of its inkjet photo paper and card, then it is likely that it is very low and therefore a lower grade paper.

2. Check that the photo paper is instant dry.

Cheaper photo paper may not be designed to dry instantaneously and can result in colour running or smudging while the ink is soaking into the paper. Once again, if the seller does not advertise this feature, then it is likely that it is absent.

3. Decide the weight of inkjet photo paper you need.

Although the weight of photo paper and card vary, the most common weights are between 120gsm to 280gsm.

If you are printing in bulk, then 120gsm is usually sufficient and cost effective. If you are printing photographs at home, then 160gsm to 200gsm should suffice. Buy glossy printer paper if you want shiny pictures, and matt paper if shine is not an issue for you.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

A History of the T-shirt

Know the history of the tee? How did the t-shirt get its start in the beginning of the twentieth century? How did the t-shirt become an American favorite? We're now into the twenty-first century, and the t-shirt remains as popular as ever.

T-shirts of yesteryear were nothing like the t-shirts you know today. It was common knowledge that the first t-shirts, as you will learn, were clearly considered something to be worn underneath clothing. Certainly, the t-shirts of old were not part of a stand-alone industry, nor were they a mode of advertising.

Believe it or not, before the 20th century, there was no consensus that underwear should be included as an essential part of one's wardrobe. Most late 19th century folks wore something like an extended shirt called the "Spiral Bustle." Then in 1901 the predecessor to Hanes introduced for sale through catalog men's underwear, a two-piece set.

The birth of the t-shirt appears to be accredited to the navy (and lots of sailors). No one seems to know for certain when the first t-shirt was made. As early as 1913 the U.S. Navy adopted a revolutionary new garment, a short-sleeved, crew-necked, white cotton undershirt. This garment was to be worn underneath a jumper. And what was the purpose of this undershirt? One must avoid scandalous sights, otherwise known as sailors' chest hairs. The standard issue shirt had somewhat of the silhouette of a "T", thus the name "t-shirt" was born.

It is also notable that during WWI while European soldiers were wearing cooler, comfy, lightweight, cotton undershirts in the humid, hot summer days, that American troops took notice. These duds were nothing like the American wool uniforms soldiers wore.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary listed "T-Shirt" as an official word in the American English language by the 1920's. Around the late 1930's that companies including Fruit of the Loom, Hanes and Sears & Roebuck began the marketing of the t-shirt.

As of W.W. II, the Army and 12 million Navy sailors had t-seasy rider,hirts as standard issue underwear. "Skivvies", these new, inexpensive undergarments became known as. America saw, began to get comfortable with, and reveled secretly, daily news images of their wartime sons, wearing t-shirts (dressed barely, but with pants of course). Underwear was being worn as outerwear. Rules were flaunted about undergarments. Taboos were violated with this show of male sexuality.

Still, by and large, the t-shirt was an undergarment meant not to be seen. In 1934, however, Clark Gable shocked everyone, as he stripped off his dress shirt in the movie "It Happened One Night," to reveal no t-shirt at all. Women swooned, and men as well. Still, the t-shirt kept itself under wraps, to be worn primarily underneath a work or proper dress shirt.

The idea continued to quickly catch on, and due to simple design, a few years later, with the leave of many sailors during the war, the popular civilian "union suit" was reduced to a "singlet" or "jersey." In 1938, Sears introduced a t-shirt they called a "gob" shirt (named after sailors). A "gob" shirt cost 24 cents. The t-Shirt would become an empty canvas, which was allowing men to present themselves in an erotic sense and show their gender.

The t-shirt was becoming appropriate to wear as an undergarment or as an outer one. The Marines standard issue white t-shirt was replaced with sage green for camouflage purposes. In 1944, the Army surveyed enlisted men as to preference of sleeves or sleeveless. Most preferred sleeves, due to better appearance, absorption under arms, among other reasons.

The t-shirt would never be the same. Along with worldwide upheaval, WWII brought along as well the first printed t-shirts. On display at The Smithsonian Institute is the oldest printed shirt on record. This t-shirt is from Governor of New York Thomas E. Dewey's 1948 presidential campaign and sports "Dew-It with Dewey".

After the end of WWII, the t-shirt became the garment able to clearly display and advertise it all: cultural affiliation, class, and sexual orientation. 180 million t-shirts were sold in 1951. The rise of the t-Shirt can be traced back to the movies, and of course those big-screen movie stars: Marlon Brando, John Wayne, James Dean, and a young Elvis Presley who did their part to make the t-shirt, outerwear appropriate, or sexy to say the least.

1951's "A Streetcar Named Desire" featured Marlon Brando's portrayal of Stanley Kowalski, lovelorn, brutish, and primitive, riveting viewers as his buff pectorals and abs revealed themselves as unveiled by a stretched, paper-thin t-shirt. Some felt the picture created was one of a dangerous, incoherent kind of manhood, a sexualized brutality.

1955's "Rebel Without a Cause" showed James Dean wearing a t-shirt without another shirt overtop. He made the t-shirt cool, a contemporary symbol of rebellious youth. Still, t-shirts were meant primarily for men.

In 1959, Plastisol, a stretchable ink was invented, starting a revolution in t-shirt design. After that came the iron-on transfer, and finally litho transfer. Thus was the birth of the t-shirt industry. Now marketing geniuses, like Walt Disney, "flocked" letters and simple designs onto t-shirts to be sold as souvenirs to both men and women.

Still the advertising evolution of the t-shirt would be slow. The military was first to stencil company and rank on their t-shirts. Also, Ivy League Universities made clear advertisement of fraternities on their tees. Budweiser was the first to do actual "corporate-advertising" in the late 1060's, when they sported a Bud can on their company tees.

During the '60s, the hippies abandoned traditional dress for tie-dye. Of course, the t-shirt became one of the cheapest and easiest garments to purchase and dye. Folks began tie-dying and screen-printing basic cotton tees, helping it to even bigger commercial success. In 1969, t-shirt wearing hippies took on the Establishment in Easy Rider. Also, advances in printing and dying allowed more variety and the introduction of muscle shirts, scoop necks, v-necks and tanks into modern fashion.

Throughout the late 60's and 70's, the American Tee was in full bloom. Rock and Roll bands began to realize that they could make significant amounts of money selling their t-shirts. Professional Sports caught on and soon the officially licensed t-shirt became hot merchandise. 1977's "The Deep", helped to form the sexual revolution of the 1970's by means of Jacqueline Bisset's wet tee.

What about the t-shirt in the '80's and '90's? Remember Don Johnson's designer-tee and Armani suit combo ala Miami Vice? And what about the most memorable recent tee-film from 1996 "Mission: Impossible", just a bit of Tom Cruise, clad in tee, doing some serious hanging from a wire. The 80's and 90's both saw amazing production of t-shirts with improved mechanics of printing them in increased volume for increased availability. The American t-shirt has now become known as a commodity item. More than one billion t-shirts were sold in 1995.

And now, with the advent of the internet, the t-shirt continues to become even bigger. Tee art symbolizes the cultural and social climates of our generation. Tees tell the story perfectly, and now more than ever, the t-shirt is becoming an even more individualistic mode of personal expression.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Help the World, Save Trees, Use eBooks

Have you known eBooks? If you have been around the internet for some time then you have probably seen and read an eBook. It is simply a book, with pages and all. The great difference is that eBooks comes in electronic form. It can only be read using electronic readers or by using computers. But other than knowledge, eBooks offers a lot of convenience.

One of the most importance advantages of eBooks from conventional books is the fact that is does not use paper. But why is it very important? Have you known that about three full grown trees are being cut down to cater the average need of each individual each year? And it is known that trees can help our world to cope with the bad effects of harmful gases like carbon dioxide.

Trees are the ones that make the oxygen we breathe. It purifies the air that comes in contact with harmful gases. It simply makes the world balanced to render us human to live. It is also important to know that we can never live without trees and plants as other than giving oxygen it also gives the food we eat.

But if we are to cut down billions of full grown trees each year, the world might not cope with the changes. Remember that trees would require years to grow and it would barely require a minute to cut it down. If we are to trim down the remaining trees, it would be best that we also plant some in return. But that may not be enough to cope with the situation. Trimming down our need is very important.

EBooks will greatly help in this cause without having some complicated setup. The technology is already present and that it comes with lots of convenience. Other than not using papers for its pages, eBooks are also easy to keep. In a single device you can keep hundreds or even thousands of books. That would not only save trees because it does not use papers but will also eliminate the use of shelves.

Technology should go side by side with environmental concern. Preserving our world will help us make a better tomorrow.

Help the world heal. Use green technology.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Glass Furnitures Add Style To Your Homes And Offices

Glass furniture is a part of modern furniture, though its origin can be traced back to as early as 1350 A.D. You must be surprised to know that people long as far as medieval, in kings and queens time period especially in European countries of Italy, England and France have used glass made furnitures in different ways to give them a separate identity from the rest. People with refined tastes, have always used designed work of glass to appear different from the ranksGlass furniture has seen many types of materials defining its make since the time it arrived. From silica, a type of sand used to make glass sheets which were then blended with wooden furniture to give a modern contemporary look to nowadays fully assembled, precision engineered glass components supported by classic metallic touch, glass furniture have seen it all.

Whatever the transition, over the years, glass furniture has been able to keep all of its charm and extraordinarily diverse qualities intact.

Glass furnitures: its unique features

Glass is fragile yet resistant, solid yet light, beautiful and at the same time, functional. They are perfect for dark walled less spaced interiors or those rooms without many windows, because glass absorbs less light than wood, metal, or stone. It gives a virtual addition of space by reflecting light in your home. Secondly, the best gift of glass furniture for any home owners who are choosy about designing their homes or offices is that it does not need to be coordinated to match woodwork or surrounding colors. It is one of the classic intrinsic qualities of glass is that it will blend perfectly with any interior design theme and/or color scheme.

A touch of style and sophistication is instantly added when decorating with glass furniture. Glass works wonders when you have to beautify a space instantly. Glass lends a touch of beauty and elegance to any area. Glass side or center tables like coffee tables are easy for decorating purposes, but they are also highly functional. Glass-topped tables are less susceptible to spills and staining with clean wipe using your regular glass cleaner will get back your beautiful furniture.Glass furniture also has a symbol of transparency. This gives a neat look and therefore enables the flow of positive vibes. Glass cuts through the boredom in office environment too. The days of the heavy solid wood furnitures ruling the roost, is on decline. Also these days, transparency is the in-thing in offices in UK as well as around the world and as a result glass furnitures are increasingly making way in the professional corporate world

Glass furnitures: what to look before buying

One of the greatest fear for you as a buyer of glass furnitures is whether it is safe and long lasting. The good news, relax!, technology has taken care of it. Almost all glass furnitures are made from tempered glasses or toughened glasses nowadays and if the one you are buying are not, keep your self away from it. The reason for this is other types of glass when breaks gives out sharp broken pieces and there are many cases of people getting severely injured with this pieces whereas when tempered glass breaks, it breaks into small pieces that aren't likely to cause serious injury. Glass that has been tempered can stand up to oven-like temperatures and a lot of abuse. Its much spoken durability will not leave you with furniture full of scratches and bruises. It is a very strong material that can withstand a lot of scratches from rough tableware or crushing due to something heavy being dropped. This manufacturing quality of tempered glass makes it a beautiful piece of work that is intended to be used time and again for many years to come. However there are many glass furnitures shops who advise their glass furnitures to be tempered which is proved wrong when the accident happens.

In UK, the BS institution hence has provided standards applicable to glass furnitures. These standards make sure that the glass used in the furnitures is of standard thickness of glass that should be used along with the polishing of exposed edges and the long lasting stability of the glass.

If an item of furniture contains safety glass it may have the following markings to prove they are genuinely safe;

* The British Standard number 'BS 6206' carved into the glass or as a sticker on the glass. This may also be followed by the letter, A, B, or C and the word 'Toughened' e.g. BS6206/A Toughened
* A British Standards Kitemark followed by 'BS 6206' etched into the glass or as a sticker on the glass.
* Some items may also be marked 'TEMPERED GLASS' this means the glass has been toughened.

Next thing to look at glass furnitures is how they are joined with the other part of the furniture like a metal or wood. Nowadays U/V bonding based adhesives are much safe and have significant benefits over traditional construction methods. An adhesive distributes loads and stresses over the total joint area to give a more even distribution of static and dynamic loads, instead of concentrating these at high stress points. The adhesive bonded joint is therefore more resistant to flex and vibration than, for example, a bolted joint. Moreover UV (Ultra Violet) curing adhesives are invisible, clean to use and can be used on the UV passing glass to form a permanent and strong bond. This nature of UV bonding gives glass furnitures a minimal form with easy to assemble pack.

Now comes the real part of knowing which type of glass furniture is right for you? Due to the versatility in home decorating designs these days, glass furniture could potentially be a superb addition to your home or office. The major question to consider when determining if it is right for you, though, is functionality with peace of mind. With advancement in manufacturing technology and ever increasing competition, glass furnitures are available in varied types and forms. Tables with glass tops are quickly becoming the favorite choice of many home owners when furnishing homes.

While going for a glass top table, make sure that the glass is safely perched over the base with adequate protection and all glass edges polished radius for extra safety. If you have small living room, then you can go for a compact platform dining table which will not only add a statement to your home but will virtually increase the living room area. You can also look at attractive glass chairs to further add to the style of glass dinner table. If you have long craved for furniture complimenting your sofa set then there are wide ranges of stylish glass coffee table like zig-zag coffee table, double z oval coffee table and many funkier furnitures available in the market. Here too if you are concern with space, there are many space saving designer glass side tables with fantastic metallic stands to opt for. If you are still in thought about buying these glass furnitures, there are various other glass accessories like glass house signage or glass media storages or may be trendy glass audio video support to not miss the glass furniture bandwagon.

Lastly while looking around for glass furnitures, see that you are provided with various ranges in terms of colours, flexible custom sizes at your request like modular or stack options for glass center tables, and some may even provide glass frosting for uniqueness. Also look for flat packed sets which can be easily assembled. This saves you lots of trouble and fear of breaking them while moving houses or to pack it if there lots of guest especially children are coming to your home for a party.

Care and maintenance

It is important, though, to be realistic about the glass furnitures you are going to buy and its future maintenance. The reason for this being that if there is constantly clutter for instance, underneath, on top of or even, around the table, it will be apparent to everyone. One might say it is the beauty and the curse of glass: you can see right through it. Furthermore, if your house tends to collect dust quite easily, you should remove it on a fairly regular basis. But to cheer you up, technology has made glass furniture just a snap to clean. Simply use regular glass cleaner on the counter top. You can also use a solution of lemon juice and warm water will make them shine and sparkle and then use newspaper to wipe them. No need to worry about spills seeping into the furniture, like might occur with wood. Simply wipe away any dirt or spills and get back your beautiful glass furniture. In addition, glass is less likely to get scratched and nicked and will maintain it's polished, sleek look for years to come.

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