Out in May 2008 on V2 / Cooperative Music.
We have all heard Wedding Dress Shop word tempo in relation to the Papell Dresses swing. Announcers on television speak of the
Wednesday is traditionally Yay or Nay day across the Shinyuniverse (see below for other offerings). Although it hasn’t been a regularfeature here for a while, as soon as I saw this OTT Valentino clutch ($895 fromsaksfifthavenue.com), I knew it was perfect Yay or Nay material.
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Being a baby boomer, it hasn’t been that long ago at least in my mind, that I was a kid and I think back to all the things that we Green Balenciaga in the lines of recreation and fun. Boy, I remember waiting for school to get over for the year so we could get into some summer time fun.
The first thing that comes to mind in the lines of early recreation was of course the bike. This for all practical purposes was really the only other form of transportation besides walking that we had as kids in order to get to where we wanted to go. Do you remember those days? Bikes back then were pretty simple with only one speed and the ole back peddle braking system. They did eventually come out with the 3 speed which was really exciting for us. Some even had the new handle bar brake levers. After that, about the only other real excitement was when they introduced the banana seat. That was cool as you could ride two people much easier and more comfortable. We also put the baseball cards on the frame with a clothes pin so that the spokes hit it and made noise. We thought that was awesome. Compare that to what’s available now a days. I don’t even know how many speeds they go Italian Designer Handbag to anymore. Now you can get the BMX bikes, stunt bikes, speed bikes, mountain bikes and touring bikes with a wide variety of options.
The next thing that hit the scene back in my day was roller skates. They were made to fit on your shoes with a strap to hold the back on to your foot and a set of adjustable clamps that one would adjust with a special key to clamp to the front of the shoe. They also had a slot in the middle with a screw that could be loosened to slide the front and rear wheels apart to make the skates longer or shorter, depending on the shoe size. These incredibly enough worked quite well and we really got some use out of them. I also got some scuffed up knees, elbows and hands falling on the cement sidewalks. It was worth it though.
It wasn’t too long after that when the first skate boards came about. Once we saw these, but we didn’t have the money to buy one, it didn’t take long to cure that desire ourselves. We simple took our old skates apart in the middle so we had the front wheels and back separated and grabbed an ole 2×4 laying around and attached the wheels to it with some nails or screws. Believe it or not, these homemade boards were loads of fun, but a little more dangerous than the skates themselves. No, we didn’t have helmets back then and to this day I don’t know how there weren’t more serious head injuries, at least not in my neighborhood. Have you noticed how skateboarding has developed into quite a competitive sport? If you have ever seen the X-Games on TV, then you know that the things people do now a days with skateboards are amazing. They have all the special ramps and equipment which they use to really put on quite a show. You have probably heard the names Tony Hawk or Bob Bernstein at some point in time as they are two of the top competition skateboarders.
As a few years pasted, it didn’t take long before these self powered forms of transportation were getting old. We wanted something that had it’s own power. It was also around this time that some companies started producing go carts. Once we caught wind of this, everybody wanted to have one. The ones you could purchase came in two forms. Already assembled or in a kit that you had to put together. The kits were less costly and you could buy them with or without a motor, but it took the time and skill to assemble them. One of the kids down the block came tooling by one day in a go-cart as his grandpa had purchased a kit, assembled it and painted it for him. Oh yeah, we were jealous and knew we had to come up with something. My one good friend’s dad had just bought a new lawn mower and he still had the old one in the garage. It was the ole reel type mower. It had a Briggs & Stratton 2-1/2 horse power engine with a horizontal shaft which was exactly what you needed for a go cart. We grabbed our hammers and some scrap pieces of 2×4 and plywood and put together a real simple frame.
The steering actually was nothing more than just a couple of 2×4’s perpendicular to each other with a bolt through them and a rope attached to the ends of the one with the front tires mounted on it. You pulled the rope to make the front wheels turn right or left. Very simple indeed but it worked. We took the pulley system off the mower and used it as a way to engage and power one of the rear wheels. We used everything off that mower, tires, engine, gears and pulleys, belts, chain and sprockets. We managed to get a cart up and running. It didn’t look as nice as the other neighbor kids but if was faster which made up for the looks. We ran this thing for a couple of good years and had a ball with it. With that being said, I have to admit that not too long ago I built a frame with steel tubing, found a motor, centrifugal clutch and everything else I needed and put together a pretty nice cart for my son.
So what happened next? The neighbor kid up the street got a mini bike from his dad. The go-cart was no longer cool. I had to have a mini bike. I even bought plans for one that you could build, supposedly easy. If you’re interested, you can get the story and scoop on my mini bike adventure by simple visiting the website at the end of this article.
What about the recreational vehicles of now a days? The BIG thing that comes to mind is the invasion of the scooter. Sure they too originated from the past. The self-propelled two wheel foot scooter has been around for a while. But, for the newer generation, they have added electric and gas power to these babies. We bought an electric one for our son and I must say I wish I would of had this option when I was a kid. They are fun.
But as time goes on, so does ones desire to find something new. Another of todays big hits to come about is the 3 and 4 wheelers. There were a lot of accidents and injuries with the instability of the 3 wheelers and they have pretty much disappeared from the scene due to regulations and laws. The 4-wheeler, is still going strong and very popular. Yes, my son would like one of these too. I don’t know as of this writing, if this is in his future or not, lol.
Who knows what the future holds in the lines of recreational toys, but with all the latest technology and growing electronic accomplishments, I’m sure they will be quite different from anything I have had in the past. What have you done or what are you currently doing in the lines of recreational toys and fun?
Paul is an average guy who enjoyed many memorable times over the years and as a kid. He enjoys sharing his stories, tips, tricks and helping others. If you have something to share or would like to learn more about recreational toys, where to buy them or find parts, visit: http://www.recreation.cash2burn.com Paul is an individual who has been on the Internet for a few years now. You can visit his main site at: http://www.cash2burn.com
Fighting for the rights of the fury? Turning to a vegan life? Looking for guilt free glamour? Regardless of why, many women are turning to animal friendly makeup products. While this is a terrific idea and possibly one that should be taken less lightly, it’s not always very easy or cost effective. If you’re interested in freeing your makeup of animal cruelty, here are a few tips that can help you out.
For more information on makeup like this, be sure to visit the experts at MakeUpTip at www.makeuptip.com.
“Bag check!”
When you’re waiting in the screening line at the airport, silently admonishing yourself for not giving yourself more time to get to the plane, those may be the worst words you can hear.
Oh, it’s a simple enough process on paper. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screener operating the X-ray equipment yells it, and as the line comes to a dead stop a supervisor comes over to look at the screen. If he or she agrees that there’s a problem, the offending bag is pulled out to be opened and visually inspected, and the line resumes movement at the normal glacial pace.
But wait. That’s your bag. Don’t panic. There’s still… no, your watch is metal so it’s in the bin. You have no idea how much time you have to get to the plane. Not enough.
All of this is lost on the TSA worker who’s inspecting your bag. He or she is explaining in a cheerful voice that your bag is going to be opened, and that swabs will be used to detect the presence of explosives.
Explosives? Can’t they just look at whatever caught their attention?
You don’t ask. It wouldn’t help if you did. The TSA worker has a checklist to follow, and now that your bag has been opened, it has to be checked for explosives.
Once the light flashes and your bag is determined to be free of Claymore mines, plastique, and Molotov cocktails, the search gets underway. Every compartment is opened. They find it in the outside zipper pocket: that small bottle of mascara you bought this morning, still factory-sealed.
“You can’t bring gels or liquids through without a quart-size, zip-top, plastic bag.”
But mascara isn’t a gel or a liquid.
“We’ve decided to classify it that way. That means it can’t come through without a quart-size, zip-top, plastic bag.”
Why? If it were dangerous, wouldn’t it still be dangerous in a quart-size, zip-top, plastic bag? If it’s safe, isn’t it just as safe outside of the bag?
The TSA worker launches into a list of the merits of quart-size, zip-top, plastic bags. They’re see-through, so their contents are easier to see. They limit the total quantity of gels and liquids per passenger. Setting them aside makes screening go faster than if each item had to be individually checked.
Sure, okay. But your mascara has already been taken out and individually checked. And it’s still in its factory-sealed packaging.
“I understand, but you can’t bring it through without a quart-size, zip-top, plastic bag.”
Does TSA provide such bags?
“No, we don’t have any.”
It’s ridiculous. You can’t take your physically inspected mascara that was bought just this morning and is still sealed beyond security because you don’t have a quart-size, zip-top, plastic bag. If you did, you could take that same bottle of mascara and drop it into the bag right in front of the agent, hand it back, and it would be allowed.
How does this make America safer?
But then you remember the plane. You’re running late, and it’s only a bottle of mascara. You’re just not prepared to deal with the hassle of missing your flight.
“Fine. Toss it.”
The mascara goes into the trash, the TSA agent cheerfully hands you your bag before turning to walk back to the line, and you rush off hoping you’ll make it to the gate on time.
But that same night, you make a wise decision: you pack one quart-size, zip-top, plastic bag into your bag to make sure that this never happens again.
James C. Samans is the author of Spontaneous Tourism: The Busy Person’s Guide to Travel. He travels more than 200,000 miles each year by air, rail, road, and sea and holds elite status with United, Continental, and Amtrak.
Visit his web site at http://www.spontaneoustourism.com or email him at author@spontaneoustourism.com
Digital vs. film
(What really matters? see below)
Here is a quick breakdown (and maybe more info than you were hoping for)
Digital vs. film should be a non-factor in your decision. Both have their positives and negatives. Digital has come a long way over the last several years. I would say at least 80% or higher of major magazine photographers shoot digital in their editorial work. That being said, what is the difference?
Film (35mm and medium format 120 / 220)
In this case, we will look at 35mm and 120 / 220 film. There are many other sizes of film. The general populations, when they say film are referring to 35mm film. It is the main size sold in Target, Wal-Mart, etc.
35mm is your standard film body camera (example: Nikon F series, Cannon). These cameras allow for interchangeable lenses and shooting flexibility much like a digital in that they are easy to move around. Film is more forgiving in terms of exposure than digital. The downside to film: if you have a certain speed of film (film speed below) in your camera, you cannot take it out to change film speed in the middle of that roll. Digital allows the user to change the speed of the film or ISO from frame to frame.
Medium format is rarely used by documentary wedding photographers and is usually the choice of the portrait photographer. Compared to 35mm, medium format uses 3~4 times as much film surface. This allows for better tonality (smoother gradations), finer detail, and less apparent grain. The downside is that medium format cameras are bigger, heavier; they are not great cameras to shoot candid images.
(Note on filmspeed: This is the main division between types of films (i.e. 100, 200, 400 etc). Speed is how fast a film can capture an image when exposed to a minimal amount of light. Slower film (the lower the number, the slower the film, 25 would be considered a slow film, 100 is also fairly slow) requires a lot of light to hit it to get an image. Slower film is great for making large enlargements from a small negative it has less grain and allows for more vivid colors. Faster films (200-800) need less light but you will see substantially more grain in an image as the film speed increases.
Digital equipment has improved dramatically in the last several years. I am a digital shooter who grew up using film and very much enjoy film and working in a darkroom. I use digital for two main reasons. 1.) It better fits my workflow 2.) It allows for more creativity. I take more risks when shooting digital than film because I can see if I got the image I wanted and if not, I can re-shoot it. I believe the biggest drawback to digital is that it cost more to shoot digitally. Camera bodies are significantly more expensive and it takes much more time to edit digital than film. With film, you drop it off to your pro lab and then get the images back when they are done. With digital, the photographer edits all the work. It increases time considerably per wedding, but the creative factor outweighs all others factors, for myself at least.
WHAT REALLY MATTERS in the camera bag?
The most important items in a camera bag are the lenses. I would much rather have a 1500.00 lens on a 50.00 camera body than a 200.00 lens on a 5000.00 camera body. Glass and the individual behind the camera are the most important factors to a great image. A pro lens allows for a much shallower depth of field. They also allow for greater flexibility in low light situations.
So if you have to ask about equipment, ask about lenses. What are the primary lenses the photographer shoots with. Which is his/her favorite lens and why. This will give you some insight into how the photographer will shoot your wedding.
Craig and Andy are lifestyle and wedding documentary photographers based out of Austin and Houston, Texas where they shoot for their studio, studio563.
Yes that’s right money for free, no this is not a mistake or a misprint, and this is how you can get money for free.
It is the latest idea on the internet, all you have to do to get your money is what you already do and that is surf the internet, you also get paid for referring other people who sign up for free and they get paid for surfing the net.
This is about to become the biggest thing on the internet as not only do you get free money when you surf the internet but you also become a part owner in the company when you sign up.
Take note if this idea becomes as big as the experts think it will be as big as you tube which google just bought for 1.8 billion dollars, now that’s interesting.
Could the same thing happen with this that is very possible?
The only things we have to do is sign up surf the internet for which we get free money, and refer others to sign up who then get free money for surfing the internet.
It’s that easy.
So lets look at this, it costs us nothing to sign up it costs us nothing to refer other people to sign up it costs those other people nothing to sign up and so on, we then all get free money for doing what we do anyway, plus we become part owners in a company that has the possibility to become as big as you tube and therefore worth as much money.
I know what my feelings are on this, Show Me The Free Money, And in the future maybe even a lot more free money.
So if you like the idea of getting free money the same as i do, then I think it is time for this idea to become very succesful, don’t you agree.
My name is Gordon and I live in Australia. You need to Check this out at http://www.agloco.com/r/BBCK0161
Peace and satisfaction will never come because the looming possibility of something or someone bigger and better coming along will always exist. One relishing their position at the top of the hill can never rest easy for too long. Pride is a false sense of accomplishment because it is not based on true or pure motives. As C.S. Lewis observed, “Pride is a spiritual cancer; it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.”
Pride is having security in external things like possessions, degrees, influence, or position. People who have too much pride constantly compare themselves to others in an attempt to help them feel better about themselves. They love to gossip and pull others down. They are always concerned about who is right instead of what is right. They have a scarcity mentality that there never is enough for everyone. As Stephen R. Covey wrote, “An abundance mentality springs from an internal security, not from external rankings…”
Self-esteem and pride are actually opposites, even though the terms are commonly thought to be interchangeable. Pride is usually a red flag for low self-esteem because people use it to cover their weaknesses and insecurities. People afflicted with pride usually have a low opinion of themselves. They often will bully or berate others to feel and manifest their own self-importance. With self-esteem, there is an internal security about who you are. You are fine with what you are and what you are doing. You like to help others and are not concerned with what people think. You like to bring others up and enjoy an abundance mentality.
We all have an ego, and at times a very fragile one. We all yearn to feel important. The ego, or the individuality of each person, demands respect, wants approval, and seeks accomplishment. Deep inside every man and woman is a desire for importance and approval. This ego of ours can cause us to act illogically and destructively, or it can cause us to act nobly and bravely. When our ego is starved, we seek nourishment for it in any way we can get it. Feed the hungry ego and it will be more persuadable. This hunger is universal; we need our ego fed on a daily basis. We have to have an affirmation every day that our worth as a human being is still intact and that we are appreciated and noticed. After analyzing many surveys, J.C. Staehle found that the principal causes of dissatisfied workers stemmed from the actions of their supervisors. Those actions included the following, listed in the order of their importance:
* Failing to give employees credit for suggestions
* Failing to correct grievances
* Failing to encourage employees
* Criticizing employees in front of other people
* Failing to ask employees their opinions
* Failing to inform employees of their progress
* Practicing favoritism
All of these causes are related to a bruised ego. This is unfortunate because studies show that employees are most effective when they are recognized for their efforts. Psychologists at the University of Michigan found that the foreman of a construction crew who is interested in the people working under him gets more work out of them than the bossy type who tries to force them to work harder.
In an interesting study, school administrators sought to find the ratio of positive to negative statements overheard in the schools’ faculty lounges. Thirty-two schools throughout the nation were visited. Now would you be more likely to assume that there were more positive or more negative comments? Negative? Well, you’re right, but you may not realize how right you are. Researchers were shocked to tally up the statements and find that the ratio was 6 percent positive statements and 94 percent negative statements! This is certainly a startling result for those of us who find ourselves in positions of leadership.
When you find yourself in a persuasive situation, it is essential that you seek to enhance your prospect’s ego in some way. Too often we present ourselves in a manner that instills feelings of threat, competition, jealousy, and mistrust. When enhancing someone’s ego, be sure your praise is sincere and genuine. When we solicit someone’s cooperation, everyone wins. For example, what happens when a sales associate tells a woman she looks great in the dress? The woman changes back into her original outfit and heads straight for the register! She feels great and the associate gets her sale. Or how about when the lady in shipping says she can really tell you’ve been working out? You do your “Can you tell?” expression, and then the next thing you know, you’re helping her carry boxes. You get to bask in the glory of someone announcing that they think you look strong, and then you’re extended the opportunity to demonstrate your power and might.
We can all learn from General James Oglethorpe’s example. The general desired King George II of England’s permission to establish a colony in the New World. Yet none of his arguments or presentations, no matter how carefully crafted, won the king over. At last, the general had a brilliant idea. He proposed that the colonies be named after the king. Suddenly, the general had not only permission, but abundant financial means and even people to help populate the new colony of Georgia.
There is a particular set of ego rules that should be employed when dealing with a superior. If you are trying to impress your boss, you should approach it differently from how you would handle an employee. Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents. Otherwise, you might accomplish the opposite of what you hoped for by inspiring fear and insecurity. When a student outshines the master, there is a blow to the ego. The master wants to appear more brilliant than the student.
Kurt Mortensen
You may have wondered if you really need a hybrid wireless home security system, especially when there are other alternatives, that may be even more cost effective in the long run and are easy enough to set up on your own. What are the major differences between a hybrid wireless home security system and protecting your home the old fashioned way? First consider some of the most common forms of protection.
Some people may choose to buy a simpler alarm as opposed to a hybrid. These types of systems are cheap and actually quite easy to build on your own. They mainly involve alarm sirens and flashing lights that alert the neighborhood that trouble is lurking nearby. This does have an advantage in that it scares away burglars from the scene of the crime. However, unlike a hybrid these alarms do not inform anyone that there was a break in and they are easy to fool and disable. A hybrid wireless home security system monitors your house and can inform police officials immediately.
The benefits of hybrid wired and wireless technology is that because outlying components are wireless and the control system is hardwired into your property, you get the convenience of a wireless system and the affordability of a wired homes alarm system. There are benefits to a wired system as well. In the case of remodeling or home building, wired components would be cheaper. A hybrid wireless home security system can give your family all the protection you need and the peace of mind that security brings.
Instead of relying on a dated form of protection why not order a hybrid wireless home security system to protect the inside of your home completely and thoroughly? Napco’s Freedom64 is a unique combination of hybrid wired and wireless technology that provides complete monitoring as well as smart motion sensors for full protection. Contact Security Service Provider for more information on a quality hybrid wireless home security system.
Napco sells quality home security. If you want to know more about how a wired or wireless home security system can help you, visit their website. All the information is available at http://www.securityserviceprovider.com/.
I sat down with a friend over coffee recently and, in the course of conversation, told her about a new pair of boots I had bought. I described them. She sighed. I sketched them. She furrowed her brow. I mimicked their shape with my hands. She looked at me like I was nuts. The problem was that we did not speak a common language. So, on behalf of myself, my friend, and every confused shoe-shopper out there, I researched designer shoes specifically heel type, and have described the four most common below.
Stiletto
High heels are nothing new. 16th century men and women courtiers wore them regularly. But the Stiletto as we know it is a recent innovation. The Stiletto heel, named for its resemblance to a stiletto dagger, is long, thin and va-va-voom, typically ranging in height from three to four inches with a diameter at the ground of less than half an inch. It was only in the 1950’s that the technology required to create a Stiletto, wherein a metal shaft is implanted in the heel itself, was developed. The Stiletto was popular throughout the 1950’s and again in the Eighties. Anyone over 35 shamefully recalls the power suit/shoulder pad/Stiletto combo. The sexy shoes all but disappeared in the grunge-obsessed Nineties but triumphed again with the advent of designer denim, dressing up casual Fridays across America. Despite shifts in popularity, the confidence boosting capabilities and inherent sex appeal of the Stiletto make it a classic. Something happens to a woman when she slips on a Stiletto. They enhance posture, elongate the legs and cause even the most unassuming woman to strut. But confidence and sex appeal come at a price. The pressure transmitted through the narrow heel of a Stiletto exceeds that of an elephant standing on one foot.
Kitten
Kitten Heels are the gentler, more conservative cousin of the Stiletto. Generally between one and two inches in height, this heel, like the claw of a kitten, curves slightly inward beneath the sole before coming to a point. Kitten Heels were introduced in the late Fifties as a high heel alternative for young girls on whom stilettos would have been unseemly - imagine a pre-Britney era when girls dressed their age. Kitten Heels were often referred to as “trainer heels”, but with the endorsement of Audrey Hepburn, became fashionable for women of all ages, contributing to the demise of the Stiletto in the mid 1960’s. Today, Kitten Heels and women’s shoes are the healthy heel alternative for women on the go. I wouldn’t recommend running a marathon in them but running errands? No problem. And wearing Kitten Heels puts you in good company. Super-tall, super-gorgeous actresses and models like Nicole Kidman and Uma Thurman are often spotted in them.
Amanda Cargill is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, NY. She blogs about the urban-western fashion nexus at Western Belt Buckles.com women’s designer shoes, women’s shoes, designer shoes, women’s designer shoes, jildor shoes, stuart weitzman, michael kors, marc jacobs, ladies shoes, ladies footwear.
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