Sunday, October 31, 2010

Immortalize Your Pets With Irish Tattoo Designs

When it comes to tattoos, one of the world's most requested designs are Irish tattoo designs. There is no arguing about it. With its interesting history and the imagery of Ireland reflected on all Irish tattoo designs and the meanings that comes with every pattern, it is not a wonder why people of non-Irish descent, are so enamored with it, oftentimes infusing it with a meaning of their own. I know you would, too.

Over the years Celtic and Irish tattoo designs have merged and had came to be known as one and the same, except for a handful of designs that are truly Irish such as harps, the shamrock, and the claddagh symbol. Celtic patterns and knot work have long been considered to be Irish and these knot works and plaits helped make Irish tattoo designs gain worldwide recognition among tattoo lovers and body art enthusiasts.

However, Irish tattoo designs are also getting more popular among the regular folks: people wanting to have a tattoo, not to show off or to be more popular or to belong to a group, but to have a part of a loved one etched on their skin as a tribute. It could be for a person, or for a pet that is considered by the owner to be part of the family. For example, you have a pet dog and you want to keep him with you forever but you know you it is impossible, you actually can opt to have an image of your pet tattooed on you, done with an Irish twist with all its intricacies. In a way, he is with you whatever happens, wherever you go.

What's fascinating about these Irish tattoo designs is you can infuse into it a design of your own without disrupting the exotic Irish appeal of the original pattern. If you want a tattoo of your pet dog done in Celtic knots, you can do so and with an excellent tattoo artist, the outcome would be quite fascinating. The image of the animal would not be easily recognizable among the knots and patterns, but if you look a little closer, you will first make out the outline and the more you look, the more you will see the image of your pet artfully embedded into the design, into your own skin, permanently. Not only did you get a tattoo of your pet, you got it in a mind-blowing design, too.

Some people just love their pets so much that they are willing to immortalize them in the form of a tattoo. For some, it is okay to have their pets boldly tattooed on their body but it is not always appealing that way. One of the best ways is to do it with an Irish or Celtic flavor to add more mystery to it. It is more fascinating and more interesting when it is not too obvious and, more often than not, it is a lot more meaningful that way. And that is what a tattoo should be.




Irish tattoo designs is a league of its own. And as far as the art of tattooing is thriving, these designs will be here for more centuries to come. Visit http://www.body-jewelry-useek.com for more popular tattoo designs such as religious tattoos and dragon tattoos.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Things That We Know About the Open Heart Pendant

Jewellery is considered to be a woman's best friend. Buying her an open heart pendant can bring tears to her eyes when she thinks of the meanings that surround this item of jewellery. Thoughts of some of the most wonderful times of her life will come flooding back to her.

The various meanings and interpretations that people have in regards to this pendant can help a person recall many moments that they have cherished. Thinking of it in the terms of being able to open up their heart to all of those that surround them is one of the most common of them.

Religions as well have their own beliefs when it comes to jewelries. Spiritual people believe that it is the symbol linked to fertility and the love that we have for others. Other common associations, that the majority of people link to gems is that of love and desire for a certain individual. There are also people that have their own unique appreciation and thoughts. The way it is interpreted is something that is up to the person that has the open heart pendant.

A lot of women wear this piece of jewellery as a lucky charm that has helped them through bad times that have occurred and feel that it will help them with any bad luck that may come their way. It is very inspirational to women that think this way about the heart pendant that adorns their neck.

These are just a few of the many reasons why a pendant of this type can be a beautiful and much appreciated gift. You will understand this more fully when you see the look on the recipient's face after it is unveiled to their eyes. An anniversary celebration is a great time to bestow this gift on your loved one.

Other occasions can be just as nice for a person to receive it as a gift. Christmas or a birthday can also be great times to share something special like this with that special person in your life. It is entirely up to the person that is doing the gift giving to decide.

Shopping for an open heart pendant does not have to be a difficult task. Thinking of the likes of the person that is receiving the gift is very important to keep in mind though. There are a lot of options that you can find on the internet, so why wait, start your shopping now!




Buying her an open heart pendant will bring tears of joy to her eyes! Go on, give her that something special to treasure forever. Check-out http://www.overstocksilver.com/ for more info.

Friday, October 29, 2010

How to Untangle Your Silver Chains & Necklaces

Untangling silver chains or necklaces requires patience so if you don't have the ability to sit through a tedious task, don't even attempt it. You'll end up damaging your jewelry.

The thin and fragile silver chains are the toughest to handle even if they have just a single knot. However, whatever chain you're handling don't pull or jab at the knot. You will also need to work on one knot at a time.

Step 1: Begin by taking out the pendant if possible.

Simple knots can easily be worked out with a safety pin or ballpoint pen nib. Use a used felt tip pen if you have one. The nib is pointed yet soft enough to work with the fragile links. Understandably, pick a used pen that has no ink. Begin by inserting the nib or safety pin needle into the center of the knot and turn it about slowly. Soon, you will feel the knot hole widen and eventually you can pull it loose. If you are working with difficult knots and a fragile chain, you will need to work differently.

Step 2: Fetch a card sheet and thumb tacks. Pin down one end of the sterling silver chains and spread them out across the sheet. Take the first knot of each chain and pin one edge of it down very firmly. The trick lies in not pinning the entire knot but only one part of it. 

Step 3: If the silver chains have corroded, dip them in a solution of a quarter cup of vinegar and one tablespoon of baking soda for about 15 minutes. Wash the silver chains with warm water and then pin them to the card sheet.

Step 4: Locate the end of the chain running out from side of the knot that is not tacked down. Slowly start pushing it in towards the knot. Do this repeatedly and also simultaneously use a safety pin if required.

Step 5: After performing Step 4 repeatedly, unpin the knot and check if has loosened and you can pull it out with your hand. If it is still tight enough, you will need to pin half the knot back and try again.

You may need to use some baby oil to rub into the knots in the sterling silver chains before attempting to untangle them this way. Another trick is to work on one knot a day in badly tangled sterling silver chains. That ways you are unlikely to give up the project too soon. However, if you still cannot work the knots out, you will need to take the silver chains to a jeweler for help.




Sarah Carnagie is head of product development for Dreamland Jewelry, the largest online retailer of Italian silver chains. For more information and to get discount Sterling Silver Chains at 70% off retail, and to find the largest online selections of Silver Chain Necklace staring at just $2.93 please visit DreamlandJewelry.com today!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

The Choking Game

News out that kids who are looking for an easy, cheap, and pretty much undetectable high are choking themselves with belts, ties, ropes and dog leashes. The ligatures cut off oxygen to their brain to the point that they pass out. They describe experiencing a dream-like state. In fact, in Ireland this game is known as "The American Dream." Elsewhere it's known as the "Choking game", "Fainting game", "Something dreaming game," etc.

Often, in this deadly practice, there is a choker and a chokee. This is dangerous enough as a child puts her life in someone elses hands. (Would you bet your life on the judgment of a12 year old?) More and more often, though, kids are doing this alone with predictable consequences.

Children playing this deadly game alone have only a small window of opportunity in which to loosen the knot before they pass out. If they miscalculate and collapse before they can untie themselves they will likely fall and asphyxiate.

Recent news reports include a 10 year old boy who hung himself from a tree in Idaho. Also in Idaho, a 13 year old girl who was found hanging in her closet and in California a kid was found by his twin brother with a belt around his neck and his math book in his lap. He'd been dead for hours.

Warning signs parents should look for are headaches; unusual marks around a kid's neck; ropes or scarves or belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor; increased hostility and bloodshot eyes.

In addition, any parents who are allowing their kids access to the Internet and are not checking the history of sites visited are simply asking for trouble. Information on this game is freely available on the internet. Let's face it, everything is freely available on the Internet.

The most instructive part of this recent spate of stories on the "Choking Game" is that human nature will out.

We all need to escape every once in a while. Look inside yourself and see how you handle it. TV, beer, running, sleeping?

Teens and pre-teens are no different. They experience pressures and stress in school these days which would have been unimaginable to their parents. They need a release every once in a while.

Even "good kids", who would never dream of taking a toke off of a joint or drink hard liquor, feel the pull to go into an altered state every once in a while.

If they're smart, they'll get it from sports, food or lose themselves in a video game. If they're not smart ,or they just want to fit in, they can opt for something far more deadly.

It's impossible for parents to talk about every conceivable hazard and dangerous practice out there. For one thing they don't know about them. Most parents have never heard about this "choking" game - but kids as young as sixth-graders have. The mother of a young girl who recently strangled herself while playing this game had actually had heart-to-heart talks about drugs with her daughter. Somehow the child didn't generalize this advice to other, less traditional, forms of getting high.

What parents can do is talk to their kids about how they handle stress and how they choose to escape from it. They can open a non-judgmental line of communication on peer pressure, anxiety and curiousity; acknowledge the fact that we all feel the need to get out of our heads and our skins at one time .

If parents have experimented in their past they should feel free to share this information. Adolescents can sniff out a hypocrite a mile away.

There's no subsitute for communication. As a parent, you talk and talk and talk again. And then you listen.




About The Author
Mary Rosendale is a Weiter, Speaker and Personal Coach. She specializes in using Constructive Living principles to assist her amazing clients with overcoming procrastination, bringing organization out of overwhelm, and getting into action. Visit her on the web at http://www.TheConstructedLife.com.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

How to Use a Check Cord

A check cord is a valuable tool that can be used to train your dog for simple commands as well as hunting abilities. A check cord slips around the D ring in the leather collar on your dog. It is made of strong nylon that is easy to handle and will not bend like a rope. When you tug on the cord, you are letting your dog know that he is doing something wrong.

When you are training a hunting dog, you want him to close to you. There is a point when you are working with your dog when he will have to be away from you. This is where the check cord comes in handy. You should use several drills to use the check cord to train your dog on basic commands.

The check cord should be used in quartering drills. The dog should not tug on the cord to try to take off running. He should quarter in front of you. You can use the cord to get him to turn when you want as well as to sit and come to you. The cord should ideally be about 20 to 25 feet in length. The purpose of the cord is to tug at the collar, giving your dog a reminder that he is doing the wrong thing. When the cord does not pull, he knows that he is behaving accordingly.

There is a bowline knot at the end of the check cord that will keep the cord from getting tangled. The D ring should be at the back of the collar of the dog. When you are using the cord, you should be careful not to tug on it too hard. You should give a brief tug when the dog steps out of line. Using a cord is similar to using an electronic dog collar in that you want to give gentle reminders to the dog when you are going through drills. If the dog takes off running, you can then pull firmly on the cord.

Your dog should walk in front of you at about ten and two, as if comparing to a clock. When you first put a dog on a lead, his instinct will be to pull at the lead and try to move further away from you. One of the first things that you need to teach a dog is how to quarter. This is imperative for a hunting dog and also for any dog.

Sitting is another drill that you can practice with your dog using the check cord. You can also teach him to retrieve in this way. Instead of using voice commands, however, you are better off to start using voice commands to sit and come after he has gotten used to the check cord. This will make it easier for him to make the connection to the verbal command and will also make training easier.

Training a dog with a check cord is not difficult and should be a practice for all dog owners. A check cord is easy to use and will help you train your dog in basic command drills.




Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to hunting dogs. Their site has a wide variety of dog supplies such as Garmin 220 dog tracking collar, Dogtra 200 NCP GOLD, and Innotek ADV-1000.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Celtic Design Tattoos - Pure and Powerful Art

Celtic design tattoos, both because of their ancient historical symbolism and because they are simply among the most beautiful tattoos in the entire tattoo universe, are among the most requested of all tattoo designs. Both men and women of all ages have become intrigued with the aura surrounding Celtic design tattoos, and are hoping some of it will rub off on them.

The inspiration for Celtic design tattoos originated in Great Britain, dating as far back as drawings from the sixth century which appeared in manuscripts of Scripture which was copied in elaborate calligraphy by the Christian monks of the period. The manuscript decoration was extremely ornate, but Celtic design tattoos can be as intricate or as simple as their wearers desire.

The Monks responsible for the Celtic manuscript had the responsibility of combining the pagan imagery of the Celts with their accepted Christian symbols, to aid in the evangelization of the Celtic peoples. The Celtic design tattoos which most clearly illustrate this blending of symbolism is the Celtic cross tattoo, which is a traditional Christian cross with a circle at its center said to represent the ancient Druidic symbol for the sun.

Celtic design tattoos are most often known for their fascinating knots and interlacing, or "plaitwork" which will entertain viewers endlessly as they try to unravel them. The Celtic knot is another Druidic symbol, evoking the unending cycles of life and death, and the perfect and eternal circle.

The universal appeal of Celtic design tattoos, in fact, many lie in their abstract nature. With flowing spirals, squares, and geometrical forms, they are more of an attempt to create an emotion in the viewer rather than to be representational art.

One of the most delightful elements of Celtic design tattoos, in fact, is in their portrayal of animals. The animals in Celtic design tattoos are as complex as the Celtic knots; cats, deer, dogs, lions, tigers, birds and dragons are portrayed when the lines and thread of plaitwork, instead on forming eternal knots and loops, end with the depiction of animal heads, feet and tails. Many of the animals are inspired by medieval depictions of animals, and have a highly appealing air of whimsy.

The shamrock, of course, is one of the oldest Celtic design tattoos; while for the Irish it signifies excellence, and even has religious significance as a sign of the Holy Trinity, it is most widely known as a good luck charm. Those of Irish descent are especially fond of using an Celtic Shamrock tattoo to display their pride in their heritage.

The one drawback to having Celtic deign tattoos done is that they demand a tattoo artist with an exceptional amount of skill. Their symmetrical designs require a precise outline and steady had in the inking process, and some of them can take hours to complete. But done properly, Celtic design tattoos are true works of art!




Author: Matt Garrett - © 2007 www.TopTattooDesign.Com

Discover how to avoid being the one in four who Hate thier new Tattoo, including simple Tattoo safety tips, in our your free Tattoo Guide : -

Free Tattoo Guide

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Will Regulating the Financial Markets Work?

The financial markets are self-regulating, which makes them highly efficient. Well, that used to be how people viewed them before markets self-regulated themselves off of a cliff.

The current situation is grim and few deny it. The optimists are grumpy and the pessimists are walking around saying, "I told you so." With AIG sucking down money handouts like a drug addict, the magic word you here over and over is "regulation." There will be many prices to pay because of this economic situation, and regulation will definitely be one.

Financial companies like to flexible and quick moving. Regulation is the equivalent of hooking a dog to a leash. No matter how much the dog wants to go sniff the skunk, he can't get off the leash to do it. In the current market, most people would probably think that sounds like a good thing. There is only one problem. Will it actually work?

The financial field may often seem like a static one. After all, you've always been able to apply for a fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage, right? While this is true, the financial market is actually a very flexible one. We need look no farther than the infamous subprime mortgage loan to see as much. In the 1970s, the idea of giving a person with a credit score of 570 a home loan would have been laughable. For much of this decade, however, it was standard operating practice. Why? The comfort level with risk changed over the years and a delusional belief in a housing market that would always appreciate tied the knot on the Faustian bargain.

So, if we regulate the financial and mortgage market this year, will it have the intended impact? Regulations will certainly have an effect on subprime lending and stated income loans with no documentation, but those are the products of yesterday. What about the products of tomorrow? Since we have no idea what creative lenders and borrowers will come up with, one would have to hazard a guess that much of the regulation being considered would be a kin to closing the barn door after the horse is off and galloping.

Credit default swaps are being fingered for a lot of the blame when it comes to figuring out why big investment institutions are failing. The incompetence of the managers of each company should be getting the focus, but who am I to say. Regardless, these deadly credit default swaps should have been heavily regulated, right? Therein lays the problem. You have to know two things to regulate a financial tool. One, it exists. Two, that it is a problem.

Credit default swaps were not even invented until 1994. Even then, they really did not become a major player in the markets until 2000. From that point on, there was never a real problem with them. Given this, why would someone regulate them? Even now, one has to wonder what the regulation would be. Credit default swaps are essentially a form of insurance against a loan failure. Are we not going to insure these now? Oh, we might trim down the type of loans that can be handled through swaps, but the swap market is valued at 54 trillion dollars. It is hard to see how regulation can really save the day!

Should regulation be introduced to the market to try to stop this situation from arising again? Sure. There should be some regulation, but going nuts will have the opposite effect. It is vital that we realize that tightening up the mortgage process, i.e., not giving loans to bad risks, will do far more to prevent an economic meltdown than creating regulations that strangle the market.




Stephen Teak writes about issues related to commercial loans for CommercialLoanStop.com.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Top Venues For Your Over the Top Sweet Sixteen

The birthday parties these days are changing especially the sweet sixteen celebrations. A lot of teenagers feel very embarrassed about throwing a party which is very formal or for the uncles and aunties taking care of all the friends preventing them to enjoy and make them feel as if they are still kids. When a person reaches sixteen, he wants it to celebrate with loads of fun which is very informal.

More prevalently known as the sweet sixteen, the sixteenth birthday is a very significant event, especially in the life of a girl. Once you turn 16, you are no longer a child but at the same time you do not attain the seal of an adult. When you are 16, you reach an in-between phase which allows you to be called woman.

The tradition of celebrating a sweet sixteen birthdays started in the United States of America. It was mainly celebrated in the honor of the girl for her virginity. A lot of people in New York celebrate the sweet sixteen birthday party in a very grand manner. They throw a big party in huge and well known hotels and restaurants and spend generously. Many event spaces and nightclubs are their in the city of New York which hosts these parties on a large scale. But a celebration at a home or in a guest house is much better than the big restaurants as you can arrange everything according to your own wish and can save a lot.

Home: You can organize a great sweet sixteen birthday party at your own home. Organizing a party at home will save your loads of money, whereas a party in the grand night clubs or event spaces may even take away your last penny. The restaurants arrange every thing according to their own wish which you may not like. When you celebrate a party at your own home, you know exactly how you want every thing to be done. You give your personal touch which results in a higher satisfaction. You can organize an intimate family and friend dinner party at home to celebrate your milestone party. You can decorate your home to give it a party atmosphere and play games to may it more fun.

Guest house: The guest house is yet another place and a great option to celebrate your sweet sixteen birthdays. There are lots of good guest house which offers superb modern amenities and other facilities to the guests. You can throw a birthday party here in low budget. The guest house is cheap as compared to the costly and grand night clubs and restaurants. They become a pain than fun as you have to spend a lot. The guest house is a better option as you get everything arranged according to your own wish. The guest houses are best to accommodate a large number of guests.

It is very essential to keep in wits- the chief aim for the party is that the occasion star has lots of enjoyment and loads of memories to cherish till years.




Mario Stewart has a passion to write about New York City and the event spaces, clubs, bars and restaurants in the city. He is internationally popular for providing the most apt reviews about the party planners in NYC. You may visit one of his websites to know more information about party planning.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Strategic Planning Begins With Mission and Vision Statements

A sure-fire way to start the success of your business strategic planning process is to identify the foundation upon which your business was built. Lacking a well defined mission statement and equally communicated vision statement identifying your desired future will make the job a great deal more difficult. Rather like threading a needle and thread without tying a knot at its end, an undefined business floats its intended outcome with little to anchor its goals and strategic activities. "Your mission and vision statements should be used to help focus your business in terms of direction, leadership, and goal-setting ; mission and vision statements are the basis for your organization's strategic planning", said Don Midgett, author of Mission and Vision Statements: Your Path to a Successful Business Future.

"Visionary businesses excel because they set goals that relate directly to their mission and vision statements. They communicate their vision statement and vision-based goals to both customers and employees. They come up with strategic activities and daily/weekly/monthly actions to reach their goals and, over some period of time, achieve their vision. It is in this way that a business can control its own destiny, rather than let outside forces determine a business direction." A periodic review by management of your strategic planning actions will let you know if you have chosen the right strategic activities for your business. Additionally you can also make sure that the strategic planning activities you have chosen to do are all supportive of your mission and vision statements. Use your mission and vision statements to chart and stay the course.

Need help with this? Go to http://www.missionvisionstatement.com and obtain Mission and Vision Statements: Your Path to a Successful Business Future - you will get well constructed exercises and examples to help you develop meaningful and useful mission and vision statements for your strategic planning process.




Don Midgett, Author
Mission and Vision Statements: Your Path to a Successful Business Future
81 pages, is available in digital format (pdf) at
http://www.missionvisionstatement.com

Don Midgett is the managing partner for the GenesisGroup, helping organizations and leaders discover their full potential. Don specializes in workshops on mission and vision, strategic planning, and team building.

To schedule an interview with Don, email him at don.midgett@missionvisionstatement.com or call 805-746-3161.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

How to Braid an Agility Training Tab With Paracord

Agility Tabs are a "mini" leash that is used for training a dog for running an agility course. They are primarily used during the early stages of off lead work, when the handler needs a little handle to quickly grab their dog to get it back on course.

This tutorial will show you how to make an agility training tab using a four strand braid method and then finishing the tab with a terminal turk's head knot.

Tools And Supplies

Tools that you will need are; scissors, a C-clamp, hemostat clamps, a wood burning tool, paracord and a small leash snap. If you don't have a wood burning tool, a lighter to melt the cord ends will suffice.

Paracord will shrink when it gets wet, so it is VERY IMPORTANT that you preshrink the cord before you start to braid. If you don't, the first time that you walk your dog in the rain, your leash will get all misshapen and lumpy.To preshrink the cord, soak it in hot water for about five minutes and then hang it to dry. You can toss it in a pillow case, knot it closed and dry it in the dryer as well, it's your choice.

I am making an eight inch agility tab To determine how much paracord that you will need, break down the length of your project into inches and multiply by four. 8" X 4 = 32" so I will need 2 separate paracord strands that are EACH 32" long

STEP 1 - Arranging The Cords

Thread the cords through the eye of the snap, laying them side by side. Clamp the snap down to a steady surface like a table. This will prevent the cords of twisting during braiding, which can be frustrating for the novice braider.

STEP 2 - Braiding Move One

A and B are the first strip, while C and D are the second strip. Now take A and cross over B. D lies to the left of B while C lies to the right of C. Keep a constant, light tension on the strands.

STEP 3 - Braiding Move Two

Now cross D behind B and cross over A.

STEP 4 - Braiding Move Three

Now take C and cross behind B and over D. To continue making your leash, cross B behind D and over C. Remember that the new strand that you will use to keep making the braid will always be the topmost strand.

STEP 5 - Arranging The Cords To Start The Turk's Head Knot

While you are making your knot, plug in the wood burning tool since it takes a little while to heat up.

Grasp the end of the braid with the loose ends poking through the top of your fist and arrange the cords in an X pattern. Cord 1 goes over Cord 2. Cord 2 goes over cord 3. Cord 3 goes over cord 4 and cord 4 goes over cord 1.

STEP 6 - The Turk's Head Knot Part Two

Gently side the knot off of your thumb and tighten it up. Take the hemostat clamp, poke it through the center of the knot. Grasp cord one, sliding it under cord two. Continue this process until all the cords have been pulled through the center of the knot. Pull all the cords tightly so that the knot appears even.

STEP 7 - Finishing The Turk's Head Knot

All the cords are now poking through the top of the turk's head knot. Trim the loose cords very close to the top of the knot. Gently melt the cord ends with the wood burning tool in a sweeping motion until they are flush with the top of the knot.

Your agility leash is now finished and ready to be used for your next training class!




Karen Friesecke is the author of Bloggie Stylish a new blog dedicated to recipes and free projects for dogs. Please visit Agility Training Tab Tutorial to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Build Your Own Paraglider - Honest

Well, it's possible to 'build own paraglider'. But it's been pretty hard in the past to find a paraglider kit or a set of decent paraglider plans. So you have to admire the small number of enterprising companies on the web that have now made it possible to 'build own paraglider', and dirt cheap at that. Let's look at a few now...

knitted-paragliders.com

I found this paragliding website about knitted paragliders quite useful, but only with a lot of help from my sister. Mum pitched in too. Thanks Mum! And it was good to know that those hours spent learning to knit as a 6 year-old weren't entirely wasted too.

The site offers the following information, materials and services so you can knit up your very own knitted paragliders. It's a total package, even the lines and harness are knitted from the supplied massive skein of wool. Ordering online is straight-forward, with the usual secure credit card facilities available on the order page.

- Knitting patterns for all the latest DHV-1 paraglider designs (downloadable PDF)

- 570 km (354 miles) of premium-grade, low-porosity sheep's wool (delivered to your door)

- A knitting needle set (machined alloy, delivered to your door)

- Supporting documentation for the trickier bits (downloadable text files)

The beauty of knitted paragliders is that when you are confident in the air, you can unravel your DHV-1 design, download a DHV-2 pattern, and knit up your first cross-country wing! Fantastic! Yes, there are patterns for some of the higher-rated wings, but naturally the prices are a little higher. Because many pilots choose to unravel/re-knit, the knitting patterns are available separately. Good to know.

Whatever you do, stick to the manufacturer's recommendations for the ratio of Pearl stitches to Plain stitches over the upper surface of the wing. Failure to do so adversely affects the low-speed performance of knitted paragliders, since it thickens the boundary-layer airflow.

Here's something else to be careful about. If you fly through some rain showers, the wool will shrink badly. But only in the fore-and-aft direction. So your wing area will go way down, and at the same time the aspect ratio goes up. So when you reach the Landing Zone, you will discover you are flying one hot racing wing buddy.. Don't say I didn't warn you. I've still got grazes on my knees. Honest.

oragami-paragliders.com.jp

Another paragliding website you can try, this one offering oragami paragliders. This site has a secure order page through which you can order their CD. It costs $120, which I thought was a bit steep, but anyway.. The CD features a polite Japanese gentleman with a faint French accent who takes you step by step through the process of folding your paraglider.

The design is AFNOR Standard rated, and requires just a single sheet of glossy paper! A fairly heavy grade mind you. Why glossy paper, you ask? Turns out it's quite important for reducing the depth of the boundary layer airflow over the upper surface of paper-based paragliders. Bottom line is you get an extra 2 points of L/D. If you don't know what L/D is, you need to explore my website a bit more. :-)

I must admit I had some trouble locating a stationery outlet that could source sheets of paper the size of my house roof. But really, despite this hassle, what a great idea. A shorter materials list than even the knitted paraglider, beats trying to work with dozens of fiddly bits and pieces that can roll off under the sofa and so on. Viva oragami paragliders!

A warning. Quite a serious one actually. I was doing some coastal soaring, and didn't take much notice of the rain squall approaching. I should have. The handling became, you know, sort of soggy as the rain drops starting spattering my face. Next thing I knew, I was in the drink, with the sodden remains of my wing plopping down all around me. Splooosh. Plip-plup... Plop, Plip. Pip-pip-pup.

Back to the living-room table, another sheet of paper. Man, folding oragami paragliders takes forever. Not to mention the paper cuts. I'd really hate to have to re-do a tandem design, with all that wing area.

wearable-paragliders.com.fr

Well, trust the French to come up with wearable paragliders! In a surprise fashion hit, an almost unknown French fashion house, Para-parel, has successfully blended the long French tradition of fine fashion with the more recent French obsession with paragliding. So this paragliding website also doubles as a fashion website.

Yes, a whole line of para-apparel is available for sale after the success of Para-parel's first airing (no pun intended) of their colorful togas, sarongs and shawls. Naturally, some compromises are evident in the resulting line of clothing. The main compromise is that when used as paragliders, these creations have a rather small wing area.

Chief designer, Claude S'ucke, has considerable experience in Alpine paragliding, but deliberately chose to go with very small wing areas for these wearable paragliders. In fact, half the clothing range is designed to be used as training wings only. You know, for practicing 'kiting' of a paraglider canopy.

The other half are the winter collection which are more heavily constructed. Hence they have the structural strength to be used as special heavy-weather paragliders. It was not unusual last summer to spot slope-soaring pilots braving 35 or even 45 knot breezes on the western French coast, in their colorful Para-parel wings. Everyone else was on the ground of course. Heck, even some airliners were grounded on those days.

Sorry, I've ignored those of you who are much more interested in the clothes. Ok, where do I start. Let's start with the shawls. These are really stuff bags for wearable paragliders. But with carefully chosen textures and shaping, Para-parel has done a lot to revitalize the popularity of this traditional concept in clothing.

In a clever move, Claude managed to use a variety of special clasps to transform most of the detachable paraglider lines into underwear. Very daring underwear, even by French standards. Ooh la la. Similarly, clasps and brooches are used to transform the canopies of wearable paragliders into loose-fitting togas for men and flowing sarongs for women. For the wearer's convenience, thin colored strips are sown into the fabric which highlight the most important fold lines to get the wearable paraglider look 'right'.

As a final touch, some of the shorter detachable lines are brightly colored and double as headbands, belts and even shoelaces. Shoelaces with outrageously large and floppy bows mind you. Wearable paragliders! What a concept. Viva le para-clothing!

silken-paragliders.com.ch

Finally, let's check out the Silken Paragliders crowd from Shenyang Province in China that exclusively uses low-quality silk. Yup, a visit to this paragliding website will get you a package delivered to your door with canopy, lines, harness, everything in one lovely soft bundle. The only reason it's 'build own paraglider' is because you do have to attach the lines, risers etc yourself.

Takes nearly three hours to put together, it's quite fiddly. The instructions are terrible, they should fire their translator. On the other hand, some parts are hilarious. Found myself searching the Silken Paragliders Instruction Book for the funniest bits actually!

The whole package is only US$99. How is that possible, considering the entire paraglider + harness is pure silk? Well, remember I said it was low-quality silk they use. I emailed the webmaster and he says that only rejected skeins of silk from some of the major silk factories in China are used.

Sometimes silk-worms have 'off days'. Funnily enough, if one starts going off they all do. And for people who know their silk, it's just so obvious in the finished product. So the factories can't afford to include any below-par stuff in their output of raw silk. They have to practically give it away. So it ends up in the mail-order paragliders from the sweatshops of this remote Chinese province.

If I were you, I'd order one of these beautiful hand-woven paragliders today. With the incredible growth which is occurring in the sport of paragliding, the limited supply of rejected silk is sure to prove insufficient before long. Prices will soar as the Silken Paragliders company struggles to keep up with demand.

Conclusion

So there you have it. All you need to know to get out there and 'build own paraglider'. Fly these contraptions at your own risk. Maybe strap yourself into some nice big fluffy pillows before you take off. Or flap your arms hard. Good luck. You'll need it. ;-)




Tim Parish is a motorless flight enthusiast, the webmaster of Paragliding Tales and Reviews, a site which will introduce you to many aspects of paragliding, with a sprinkling of humor. Tim has had the pleasure of soaring in sailplanes, hang-gliders and paragliders in the past, both real and simulated. His enthusiasm for these activities is evident in his writing, which he hopes will inspire others.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Why We Celebrate Father's Day

Father's Day is not just an American holiday, but it is celebrated all over the world. Even though different cultures celebrate it on different dates and have different ways to celebrate it, the concept is the same: To honor your father for all the love and support he has been giving you throughout the years.

Amazingly, the first Father's Day card is said to have been made 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. It was a message carved in clay of a son wishing his father good health and a long life.

The concept of Father's Day in the United States can be claimed by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington in 1909. She was listening to a sermon on Mother's Day and thought about her father, William Smart, who was a widowed Civil War veteran and raised his six children by himself on a farm. She felt it only fair that he be honored as well. In response to that, Spokane's mayor chose a day in June for the celebration since William Smart's date of birth was June 19, 1910.

It wasn't until 1966 that there was a presidential recognizing of fathers. President Lyndon Johnson set up the third Sunday in June to be Father's Day. Father's Day became an annual national holiday permanently in 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed it into law.

In the United States Father's Day is still the third Sunday in June. It is set up to be a day where children show how thankful they are for their father's love and affection. Usually this is done by sending a card. Many times a gift will be given. One of the most popular Father's Day gifts are neckties.

The tradition of Father's Day spread to neighboring Canada. There, too, it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. Red roses are usually worn to show appreciation for their father. If the father is deceased, a white rose is worn instead. Cards and small gifts are given to not just the father but grandfather and any other man than has played a father figure role.

In Ireland much is the same as the U.S. and Canada. One striking difference is that if the father is deceased, his children will honor him by sending donations in his name or by doing acts of service.

In Australia and New Zealand the date for Father's Day is the first Sunday of September. Like other countries, many send cards and buy gifts like neckties for their father to show their appreciation. Although most celebrations are kept within the family setting, there are many programs and activities arranged to encourage the children and fathers to spend enjoyable quality time together.

Father's Day highlights the important role that fathers play in the family. A good father is important to the physical and emotional well-being of a child. Father's Day gives children the opportunity to express their gratitude for his love and attention.




Hendrik Pohl is the owner and founder Ties-Necktie.com an online retailer offering a wide range of quality handmade silk ties, as well as useful dress code tips for men, men's fashion advice, necktie knot instructions, and more.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Finding the RIGHT Necktie

Forget "business casual" when dressing for an interview. When interviewing with a small or large business, a professional organization, a political organization or a non-profit entity, the way one dresses matters. For men, nothing matters more than the tie. Much can be said of haircuts, suits, dress shirts and accessories. These will be addressed in future articles. But to be honest, if one wear the wrong tie, the other items of attire will not matter.

Why wear ties? They are archaic. They are uncomfortable. They are difficult to knot and keep looking neat. There are so many choices of colors and styles that it is overwhelming. The simple answer is that ties are still considered essential items of attire for professional men.

What style tie should one wear? Ties have been skinny and wide and back again to skinny. If a tie is too skinny or too wide it looks either dated or faddish. Stay away from both. The tie should be long enough to touch one's belt when tied in whatever knot. While this article will not go into how to tie a necktie, there are step by step directions on a number of men's grooming web sites. Knots vary from full Windsor (big knot), to the half Windsor (medium knot) to four in hand (a simple and narrow knot). I prefer the four in hand. Some men like a "dimple" or a small crease just below the knot. Most men's catalogs show the knots in detail. Some men prefer the tie without the dimple below the knot. It is a matter of personal taste and style.

What ties are appropriate for an interview? In the world of ties, the best ones for interviews are: foulard, regimental stripe and small dot.

The foulard tie has repeating patterns of diamonds, circles (like little tiny flowers), ovals (like little tiny pine cones) or other shapes. The patterns are symmetrical on a solid colored ground. These are not the whales, dolphins, ducks, hunting dogs or golf clubs woven into the tie. Those are club ties. Keep them for the country club functions and point-to-point races. The foulard tie is traditional, understated and speaks volumes about being well heeled.

The regimental tie is based on the ties worn by British graduates of public (U.S. calls them private) schools, universities plus members of clubs and veterans of regiments and other military organizations. The stripe and color combinations vary widely. Stripes are wide or narrow or combinations of wide and narrow. Wider stripes are better with suits. If one thinks the interviewer may be British or from a former British colony, AVOID the regimental tie because they may ask about one's affiliation to the school or unit.

Finally, the dot tie is acceptable and very traditional. While more formal (think Winston Churchill and ambassadors), the tie with a solid colored ground and small, evenly spaced dots is very understated and clean looking. All of the ties mentioned above should be in 100% silk.

What about the other styles of ties? There are more ties than I can describe here. They may be fine for some activities and functions but not for interviews. The other styles of ties include the club ties which were already mentioned, paisley ties which say "I am artistic and intellectual", knit ties which are too casual and colorful madras ties which are good for summer weekends with a blazer. Pastel colored linen ties are in the same category as madras. Solid ties which is safe but a bore. The very expensive patterned fine silk ties from Europe say "I spent way too much for this tie and I am trying to impress you". Save these for wear after the promotion. Avoid ties that say anything on them. One's tie can make a statement without clever words or initials. Finally, there are all the wild ties of random patterns and garish colors. These ties may be acceptable once in a while once established in a career. They are not for job interviews. Some people never wear them and that is fine.

What about colors? With navy suits, ties in yellow (the old power tie), red, maroon and light blue (the new power tie) are acceptable as the dominant color or the ground. With gray suits, ties, in navy, light blue and maroon are best. Do not wear brown, black or tan suits to a job interview - ever. Avoid green, pink, purple and orange ties for interviews. Green ties can be nice for the country club and weekends but not generally the office. Since one are wearing a white shirt for the interview, it is always nice to have a foulard with a touch of white as an accent, a regimental stripe with one of the stripes in white or silver or a dot tie with the dots in white to pick up the white of the crisp dress shirt.

Sources for the right ties include: Brooks Brothers, Polo Ralph Lauren, Jos. A. Bank, some department stores (but be careful), J. Press and Ben Silver. All these quality gentlemen's stores have web sites and catalogs that one can review prior to making one purchase.

Following these tie rules will not guarantee one a job. Being qualified and coming across well during the interview are essential. Having the right tie will insure that the interviewers are not distracted by the tie. It also insures that the tie is saying all the right things about the job candidate.




George F. Franks, III is the President of Franks Consulting Group, a Bethesda, Maryland based management consulting and leadership coaching practice. Franks Consulting Group's clients include businesses, non-profit organizations and individual leaders. You can contact Franks Consulting Group at: franksconsultinggroup@gmail.com
Franks Consulting Group is on the web at: http://franksconsultinggroup.com
George's weblog is: http://consultingandcoaching.blogspot.com

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Love Horoscopes - A Brief Introduction to Chinese Horoscope Compatibility Tests

With the rising incidence of divorce and break ups, it is a good idea to have your love horoscope matched with your prospective life partner well before you tie the knot. Having an affair with someone you are not compatible with, leads to a difficult married life. Though many incompatible partners lead a peaceful life, they remain dissatisfied from their life.

Divorce and break ups happen because we do not take our love life seriously. Though you fall in love without thinking about compatibility, it is better to check if you compatible with your partner. It saves you from a lot of differences that develop later in life. Matching love horoscope gives you an idea of what kind of person you are compatible with.

There are various types of compatibility tests available these days. Based on your date and time of birth, they can give clues about how you love life is going to be. Like many other zodiac readings Chinese horoscope compatibility test gives you a report based on the year of your birth. Chinese horoscopes are based on a 12 year cycle. Each year is represented by an animal. Depending upon your year of birth, you are associated with that animal. Your personality traits are determined as per your animal sign.

Your animal sign is like your zodiac sign of many other types of astrological readings. Each sign in compatible with two other signs forming a group of three signs known as "trines". All 12 signs have been divided into 4 trines consisting of 3 most compatible signs. These 4 trines are as follows

• Rat,Dragon, Monkey
• Ox, Snake, Rooster
• Tiger, Horse, Dog
• Rabbit, Ram, Pig

When two partners do not fall in the same trine, they usually lead a life full of discord and differences. Initial attraction fizzles out as soon as they get married. Even if you do not believe in horoscopes and astrology in general, you will find some remarkable similarity with the traits of your animal sign. Popularity of Chinese horoscope has gone up in recent years because it gives you somewhat more straightforward love compatibility report than many other astrological readings.

Compatibility test in general is a good way to find out if you are dating the right person. Though there are ways to lead a happy life even if you are incompatible with your partner, it is better to have an affair with someone you will naturally go along with.




Would you like to find out if you are compatible with your dating partner? Get one of the most accurate personalized Love Horoscope that will tell you if you should take your relationship to a higher level. Read more about types of astrology and order your Love Compatibility test report now

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Men's Dress Shirt Features

A tailored dress shirt is an important feature of formal wear. But what are the features of a man's dress shirt? What differentiates a dress shirt from any other shirt? A men's dress shirt has 6 basic features, each of which will be discussed individually in this article.

Buttons

Buttons are perhaps the most distinctive feature which makes a dress shirt a dress shirt. In order to be a dress shirt, it must open in the middle and have buttons running from the collar down to the waist. Every tailored dress shirt has at least seven buttons on the front, regardless of size. Some high end shirts will have eight buttons, but seven is the norm. Oftentimes shirts will also have buttons on the collar and cuffs, although this is not a requirement.

Collars

Another key feature of the men's dress shirt is the collar. Having a collar is a must, however collar styles do vary. Some examples of collar types are: the Windsor, which has a wide spread at the edges and is named after the Duke of Windsor, a Straight Collar which has a very narrow spread between the edges of the collar, or the Tony, a highly formal collar which covers the entire neck as well as the knot of the tie. Some collars are also buttoned to the shirt; these are called "Button-down" collars.

Cuffs

Next in line of tailored dress shirt features are the cuffs. These are the sections of the shirt which cover the wrists. There are two main styles of cuff: the barrel cuff, in which the sides of the cuff overlap and button one on top of the other, and the French cuff in which the edges of the cuff are pulled out to the side and linked together there.

Placket

The placket is a feature related to the buttons of the tailored dress shirt. It is the strip which runs down the front of a man's dress shirt where the button holes are sewn. The standard width of a placket is 1.5 inches. It is generally sewn fairly finely so as to be as unnoticeable as possible, although some different variations of plackets do exist.

Pleats

Pleats are not a universal feature of a tailored dress shirt, however most dress shirts do have them. A pleat is a part of the shirt where the fabric is folded back over itself. Generally pleats are found on the either side of the back of the shirt. For less formal wear, there is a single box pleat in the middle of the back. Pleats are also often found on the sleeves just above the cuff. Pockets

Pockets are another feature of the tailored dress shirt which is not universal. In some places formal shirts do not include pockets at all; however a single pocket on the left side of the shirt is common in many places such as the United States. Occasionally these pockets can be buttoned shut; even more rarely they come with a cover flap.

Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley




[http://www.designmyshirtonline.com/] offers quality dress shirts [http://www.designmyshirtonline.com/] at an affordable price worldwide. With hundreds of fabric styles and various customization options, you can create the tailored shirt that meets your needs. They are dedication to exceptional customer service ensuring tailored shirts are delivered on time, every time.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Do Toupees Look Better Than Full Lace Wigs?

Toupees can be defined as the partial hairpiece used to cover bald patches. They are usually used by men experiencing baldness and are rarely used by women because they generally prefer alternative hair replacements such as extensions or wigs. They can be used on different parts of the head and some will actually cover the entire head even though they are only applied on a specific area.

Custom made toupees are also available for a more tailored and natural appearance. They can be applied with the use of adhesives such as glue or tape and depending on the hairpiece; they can also be woven into the user's natural hair to camouflage mild hair loss.

The two main important characteristics of a toupee are the color and texture because its main purpose is to blend into your own natural hair. Unlike a full lace wig where its color and texture is not so important because it covers the head completely; the toupee is generally used to cover a balding area of the head. In addition, when obtaining an adhesive for your toupee, it's advisable to test your skin for a period of 24 hours to ensure that you are not allergic to the products.

Many of the times, a hair replacement unit is designed to suit your hair texture and scalp, where the base material used to knot the hair follicles is very thin and un-noticeable. There are many other options that are available in the market for men and women; however if you experiencing hair loss in a crown area of your head, a hair replacement unit such as a toupee is a convenient solution.

It is a great alternative for mild hair loss because it can instantly increase your hair density and confidence without feeling as though you are wearing one. In addition, if you are considering whether to obtain a toupee or a full lace wig, it's also in your best interest to consider the approximate price for the two alternatives. A good hairpiece is Kapenzo Lux. Which can range anywhere from $300 - $ 1000 and a wig developed from lace can range from $300 - $5000, sometimes even more.




TheLaceWigSStore is an educated, reputable, stable, honest and sincere company that's looking out for YOUR best interest! It's the responsible thing to do! Protect your investment and yourself. SHOP SMART @ TheLaceWigSStore! Look and Feel Glamorous with Lace Wigs!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Tantalizing Tanzanite

Do you remember the Oscar winning Hollywood movie titled 'Titanic', featuring a romantic love story? Definitely, it looked tantalizing over Rose's neck while drooling Jack made a sketch of hers in the incandescence. The movie had Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio as the leading protagonists. Academy Award nominee for the movie, Kate Winslet wore a beautiful, deep-blue tanzanite necklace which she happened to hurl into the sea, at the end.

Named 'Heart of The Ocean', James Cameron featured this gemstone in the blockbuster of 1994. They say, the gem actually attracted Ms. Winslet and she kept it with her most of the time on the set.

Elaborating about the profile of the precious gemstone, as the name suggests, Tanzanite is a stone only found in Tanzania. The actual site of its incarnation is said to be in the Merelani Hills, about 30 miles southeast of Arusha, Northern Tanzania. One very fine day, a Masai tribe's man found a brilliant blue stone and handed it over to an Indian tailor named Manuel D'Souza. D'Souza, a Goan tailor was a resident of Tanzania.

Then over the long haul, the part-time gold prospector showed the alluring blue gem to various learned people and geologists across the world. It should be noted that, interestingly, the stone acquires the unique color when lightning struck the mineral particles lay scattered on the surface of the earth. Ultimately, the Gemological Institute of America followed by mineralogists at Harvard, the British Museum and Heidelberg University examined the samples and certified it as a member of the family Zoisite. This stone being rare is only found in Tanzania.

This market pulling stone, named technically zoisite, boasts of perennial demand unlike other stones of its class. Named after Baron Sigmund Zois von Edelstein who was an Italian nobleman, businessman and but of course an ardent mineralogist in the 18th century. However, the stone was formed 585 million years ago, it was found in the 20th century. The hardness scale calls for a range of 6 to 7 Mohs on the scale.

Apart from the reference and history spared above, in today's world, tanzanite is a much happening precious gemstone.

Appearing in two colors mainly, purple and violet-blue, it's the color quality that makes a tremendous difference in price. Discussing about the color, all kinds of tanzanites are heated at a temperature of 450°C with clear guidelines, particularly on color. The excessive heat initiates the development of the lighter color tone purple which is much less intense than the deep mystifying violetish-blue hue which is much more vivid. However, purple tanzanite sells less than violetish- blue tanzanite.

"Tanzanite is an amazing deep purple blue, and personally I find it more appealing than sapphire," says London jewelry designer Stephen Webster, who first worked with it in the early 1980s in Los Angeles. (However, he warns that it is more fragile than some stones: 6.5 on the hardness scale, compared with 10 for diamond and 9 for sapphire.)

The world of gems is real vast. Precious gemstones on constant demand include emerald, diamond, ruby, sapphire etc.

Emeralds are found in Columbia and in Zimbabwe; sapphires from Sri Lanka, amethyst are mined in almost every continent; diamonds in Africa, Russia and Australia. However, Tanzanite remains loyal to its origin place, the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro near Arusha.




Tanzanite Pendants

Monday, October 11, 2010

Women - Don't Be Overemotional

Here is something that I've noticed about women. Women are just so much more dramatic than men. I say this not to criticize women, but because it raises a great issue in terms of the differences between the way men speak and the way women speak.

Women will send an email to a guy whom she's dating - or it can even be to a male co-worker - asking a question that makes her feel vulnerable. The guy may not respond right away.

When a guy doesn't respond to her email right away, a woman will start thinking and obsessing about it. She'll wonder "Why hasn't he responded? How come he didn't respond? I don't understand why he didn't respond." Then she might even lob another email to the guy saying "I don't understand why you didn't respond to that last email" or "Why haven't you responded to my email?"

As the woman is going through all this thinking, analysis and sending out of that follow-up email, the truth is that many times the only reason the guy didn't respond to that email is because he was doing something else. It's not he didn't want to respond to the woman's email, it was just that he was busy doing something else.

As a woman, you're very emotional and you react very emotionally to things. What you have to understand is that if we don't respond to you on the very same day, it's not because we're callous and it's not that we are being mean. It's just that we may have been doing something else.

I give the same advice to men. When I give this advice to women, I always tell them to stop getting their panties in a knot and give us men the opportunity to respond to you.

Life is about being patient. Life is not about analyzing every little thing.

You don't want to analyze very little thing until you beat it up. You want to be able to really process things over a period of time, because what things appear like right now are very often not at all what they're really about.

So the next time you send a guy an email and he doesn't respond within the time period you think he should, you need to exercise some patience and not immediately over think and overreact to the situation. Just chill out, relax and allow him the opportunity to send you a response.

So ladies, don't get your panties in a knot ... because, really, there can't be too many things more uncomfortable than walking around with panties in a knot. I can only imagine what that would feel like, especially if you're wearing certain kinds of those little g-strings.




Hailed on Fox News, The LA Times, The NY Times, Playboy and more...
Legendary Dating Coach
Launches a New Revolution
For over nearly 20 years David Wygant has been earning the trust of American men and women looking to transform their love lives. Today, no dating coach on earth commands more respect from the media, from other experts, and from real-life individuals.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Claddagh - A Symbol of Love, Loyalty and Friendship

The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish symbol consisting of 2 hands holding a heart with a crown representing love, friendship, and loyalty.

The way that the ring is worn portrays a meaning. If worn on the right hand with the heart facing outward, the person is single. When worn on the right hand with the heart facing inward, the person is in a relationship. If worn on the left hand ring finger facing outward, the wearer is engaged. On the left hand ring finger facing inward, the person is married.

There are a few different stories about how the Claddagh came to be.

One story tells of a prince who fell in love with a maid. To convince her father that his intentions were pure, he designed a ring representing love, loyalty and friendship. When the father learned of this, he gave his blessing.

A second story mentions Margaret Joyce, who married a Spanish merchant and moved to Spain. He soon died leaving her a large sum of money. Upon her return to Ireland, she married the mayor of Galway, and funded the construction of bridges in Connacht. As a reward for her charity, an eagle dropped a Claddagh ring into her lap.

A third, and possibly more realistic story, involves Robert Joyce from Galway. He headed to the West Indies to work, intending to marry upon his return. His ship was captured and he was sold as a slave to a Moorish goldsmith. His new master trained him in his craft. When William III became king and demanded that all British prisoners be released, Joyce was set free. The goldsmith offered Joyce his daughter and half of his wealth if he would stay. Joyce refused and returned home. During his time with the Moors, he had forged a ring as a symbol of his love. He gave the ring to his love and they were married.

If you're looking for something special for a friend or loved one, why not give jewellery with meaning.




Rauncie Kinnaird owns Celtic Jewellery Site specializing in Scottish, Irish and Welsh jewellery, including gold and silver pendants, rings, and earrings.
Sign-up for free articles on Celtic Jewellery, history, events at http://www.celticjewellerysite.com

Saturday, October 9, 2010

How School Ties Are Made?

A necktie is a piece of cloth which is fastened just around the neck. It sounds simple and one may wonder about the specialty of this tiny portion of cloth. The most attractive fact about necktie is that it offers a person both formal as well as casual looks. It depends on how one is using this. These play a vital role as a beautiful and classic addendum to the institutional uniform. For maintaining the standards of institutions, the perfect way of wearing school ties represents the etiquette of a student.

These are made in three ways. The first way is stitching the fabric on normal sewing machine. However, the school ties might be difficult and inflexible to knot because of lower and upper thread seams. The second method engages the LIBA machine. In this, it is sewn from inside with a single thread and then reverted to the original side. The third way is handmade. It is cut manually first, brought to the correct form, then secured by pins and finally sewn. The best one are prepared by the combination of two last methods. If it is of single color fabric, then machine is used to cut the whole mound of sheets. While the pattern fabrics are cut individually so as to make sure that the planned design is accomplished after it is sewn. The templates are normally made of the transparent plastic specifying the width and length so as to assist the cutter in making precise cuts.

The inlay can be wool or cotton depending on weight and yarn count of fabrics exterior. The inlay has to fit properly so as to make sure that school ties can be fastened easily. The exterior material has to be filled exactly equal to the rim. If not so, then fabrics exterior will crinkle. The hand made are locked manually by slip snitch. The final step comprises of streaming to remove pressure marks. The choice of this depends on person's personal style.




Get more information on School Ties

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Celtic Knot Pendant

A most recognizable Celtic design is the Knot. It can be seen carved in stones, artifacts and jewelry. The popularity of Celtic knots began during the Christian era. This type of knot is incorporated in Christian architecture as seen in its religious structures and in Christian writings and texts. This ornamental interwoven design holds different meanings. For the Celts, these knots with no apparent beginning and end, symbolized the concept of eternity, the spiritual quest for rebirth, or a person's attempt at making sense of the maze that he is traversing in life.

This distinctive piece of artwork is translated into different geometric forms - circle, triangle, square, and rectangle. From the simple single knot patterns to complex grids and mazes, the Celtic Knot has many variations.

The Trinity Knot or Triquetra is the most recognizable variant of the knot. Triquetra is Latin for three-cornered. This pattern is often linked to the concept of interconnectedness of three elements. Early Christians saw it as a symbol for the Holy Trinity. For pagans, it symbolized Mother, Crone and Maiden. The more metaphysical representation is the concept of mind, body and spirit. Other styles of Celtic knots are the Quaternary knot and Dara knot.

Many Celtic pendants are made of intricate knot patterns. A pendant is a hanging piece of jewelry that slides or hangs on a chain. A locket is a type of pendant that opens. You can insert a picture or a very small object in the locket. One of the earliest types of jewelry was the pendant. Men wore objects around their necks in the ancient times in order to make statements about themselves. Nowadays, men still enjoy wearing pendants as much as women do.

Knot pendants incorporate other Celtic elements or designs. For instance, the cross is usually infused with knot work. The Celtic cross is a type of vertical cross with a ring around the junction of the cross. You can sometimes see knots embossed on the cross itself.

The Claddagh design made up of two hands holding a heart with a crown above it is also seen in pendants with knot work mixed in.

Many Irish jewelers incorporate knots with hearts. The knots are inlayed into the heart making an ornately designed pendant. Celtic animal or plant pendants are also popular designs. The shamrock or four-leaf clover, the Irish symbol for Luck, features prominently in jewelry, especially pendants and are often mixed with knot patterns. Other objects used in pendants are the moon and the sun. Jewelers have made pendants with detailed designs mixing together knots and these two astronomical symbols. Celtic arrows with knot designs are also seen on pendants. This is a popular pendant for men.

Depending on the design elements, the shape of Celtic knot pendants can be geometric - triangles, squares, circles, rectangles, etc. There are also teardrop shaped knot pendants.

For the base of the pendant the different precious metals used by jewelers are Sterling silver, platinum, titanium, pewter and gold in different carats (starting from 9cts. upwards) and colors (yellow, white, rose, black and others). Some pendants are two-tone, a combination of the different metals or two different colors of gold.

There are pendants that make use of crystals, glass, precious and semiprecious gemstones like diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst, jade, opal, turquoise and many more, pearls and other materials. The personal choice of adornments may be influenced by the wearer's birth month or the perceived metaphysical qualities that it may bring.

The chain holding the pendant can use the same material. Chains can be simple or ornate precious metals or strings of gemstones, pearls, beads and others. Leather, cord or rope, and ribbons are sometimes used to hang the pendant around the neck. The length of the chain also varies.

Celtic knot pendants are a wonderful addition to anyone's jewelry collection; women, men and children. Whether you buy it as a gift for yourself or someone else, this intricately designed piece of jewelry will most definitely be a keeper.




About the Author:
Tim Lazaro is a Celtic Symbols enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on the
Celtic knot pendant visit http://www.allaboutcelticsymbols.com.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Why Mens Beaded Bracelets Make Awesome Gifts

Any woman who has been in a serious relationship with a man will tell you just how difficult it can be to buy a man a great gift. You rack your brains, tear your hair out, listen closely for hints and grasp for clues as to what would stand out as a great gift for your man. We all want to be remembered for giving great gifts, especially to the important man in our lives.

See ladies, the thing is most men don't like to admit just how much they enjoy looking good. All men, even if they are happy with you and your relationship, get a kick out of looking amazing from time to time! One of the best ways to look better instantly is to add some tasteful accessories. In addition, they don't have to be expensive to make a powerful impact on your overall look.

If you are looking for a great gift, you can't go wrong with mens beaded bracelets. Here's why mens beaded bracelets make awesome gifts:

1) Bracelets are a great addition to your overall look: Bracelets are such an understated way to accessorize a look. There's no need for a real man to wear flashy jewelry to prove how manly he is. All he needs is the simplest adornment to stand out above the rest. Nothing says relaxed but stylish quite like a mens beaded bracelet. Bracelets are more relaxed, more informal and yet are able to add a unique twist to an otherwise plain look.

2) The variety of bracelets available is astounding: There is a huge range of bracelets available today. From the imposing, to the delightful, mens bracelets come in every imaginable design, shape and material.

3) Handmade bracelets are thoughtful and good looking: Because beading is so easy, this usually means it's handmade. A handmade mens beaded bracelet is one if the most thoughtful gifts you can buy for a man. Take some time to select colors and a design that matches your man's complexion and style, and you will have a surefire winner on your hands. Top that off with the fact that your beaded bracelet was made with love, and you have a recipe for success!

4) Make a grand gesture, or a small one: Bracelets make great gifts for the men in your life, whether it's your husband, boyfriend, brother or father, a simple beaded bracelet or an extravagant high quality bracelet. You can easily find cheap bracelets that are great for a modest budget, or you can splurge on some of the top of the range designer bracelets. It's all up to you how much you can spend on the gift. You don't need to leave home to browse the best collections of bracelets, both designer and homemade. Order online and have one less gift to worry about.

5) Everyone can appreciate a beaded bracelet: No matter what age or size or style, any man will appreciate a beaded bracelet as a gift.

There's no doubt about it, beaded bracelets make great gifts. When it comes to finding great gifts for men, nobody argues that it can be quite challenging, but you can be sure the special man in your life will appreciate the thought that went into the gift.




Heath Enslin has been involved in the mens jewelry industry for a number of years and has been sharing his extensive experience with the online community in the form of blog posts and article submissions. For more information on mens gold bracelets you can visit the following site: http://www.buymensgoldbracelets.com

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Choosing the Right Dog Toys For Your Dog

Dogs and puppies love dog toys, but how do you know what toy is right for your dog? With so many choices available, from plush toys, to tennis balls, to rubber toys, the right choice isn't always obvious.

First, consider the size of your dog. A large dog certainly requires a different toy than a small dog, for instance. One of the most important points to consider is that all toys you buy should be of a size that your dog can't swallow. Even large dogs may accidentally swallow a ball that is too small for their mouth, especially if the dog is running and playing with the ball in it's mouth.

Another point to consider is how rough your dog plays and it's energy level. Is he or she a real strong chewer? Then stronger, more dense toys will be needed. Or does the dog simply like to cuddle with a toy? Then a soft, plush doll type of toy would be the answer.

Safety should be your first concern when choosing dog toys. Read the label carefully. What is the toy made from? Are some parts toxic? Sometimes, inner parts of dog toys are made of toxic materials, so it's important that you keep an eye on the dog while playing with this type of toy. If the toy falls apart or is chewed apart, you need to take the toy away and throw it in the trash.

If you're in the habit of leaving your dog for long periods each day, consider a toy which will involve activity for your dog, such as a toy that bounces funny, makes noises or has a treat hidden inside. These toys will keep your dog occupied while you're not at home.

When you give your dog a new toy, make sure to remove any labels, price tags, bows, ribbons or packaging. These can cause your dog to choke.

Often, the simplest toys will keep your dog the most occupied and happy. Consider a thick, strong rope that's tied into a knot on one end. Dogs can spend hours trying to unravel this type of toy.

You'll also want to rotate your dog toys, for instance, if you give your dog some new toys for Christmas, then put the old, summer toys away for a while. Variety is good for your dog and rotating toys will help to keep their attention.

Rubber toys are good choices for dogs, they tend to last a long time, resist damage and resist bacteria and have a bounce that can keep a dog's attention for longer periods of time. Watch out though, as a strong chewer can break off a piece of rubber and they can choke on it. Once a rubber toy has broken apart, throw it away.

Take the time to inspect your dog's toys once in a while, and throw away any that look too dirty or that look like they may be falling apart. It's also a good idea to wash your dog's toys in a mild dishwashing soap when you can.




Lydia Quinn writes for KnineTraining.com, offering a dog training toolkit [http://www.kninetraining.com/] and free gourmet dog treats recipe book for instant download. Visit us at: [http://www.kninetraining.com/]

Monday, October 4, 2010

Ice Fishing For Trout

Now that the winter has officially settled on us like a lazy dog lying on his bed next to the fireplace, ice fishing is really starting to heat up. One of the most popular fish to target when fishing through the ice are trout, and in this article I will outline a few tips that will help you catch more fish when ice fishing for trout. Add one (or all) of these simple ice fishing tips to your ice fishing repertoire and you will begin experiencing more ice fishing success.

When discussing ice fishing, I think it's important to reiterate safe ice thicknesses. I realize this info is "old hat" to experienced ice fihermen, but it's nonetheless worth mentioning for anyone who might be new to the idea of fishing on a frozen body of water. In almost all cases four inches of ice is considered safe for walking and fishing through the ice. I personally like to see six inches of ice, but this isn't necessary.

The following tips are being listed in no particular order. Use the ones that feel right to you, discard the rest, but all of the following ice fishing tips are effective.


  1. Be On The Ice When The Trout Are Most Active: So how the heck do you know when the trout are the most active? Simple, by paying attention to the weather and moon and planning your fishing trips accordingly. The weather and moon have an amazing affect on the feeding behavior of trout and using this information to your advantage can be a big help when ice fishing for trout. Not only this, but when fishing through the ice the warmer parts of the day are generally more productive than the colder parts of the day.


  2. Small Jigs Tipped With Bait Are Effective: Small jigs, either traditional twister tails or marabou, tipped with meal worms or maggots can be very effective when trout fishing through the ice. A key is to not provide much jigging action to your jig. As a matter of fact jigging you rod every few minutes should suffice. Trout are extremely sluggish under the ice and a lot of movement can "spook" them.


  3. Powerbait Is Effective: I realize that this may sound strange, but if the body of water you are fishing on contains "stocked" trout, Powerbait can be very effective when ice fishing. A great technique when ice fishing for stocked trout is to us a set of gang-hooks with a small ball of Powerbait covering each hook on a set of gang-hooks. This ice fishing rig can be fished on a rod or a tip up.


  4. Small Spoons Are Effective: Small spoons such as "Little Cleo's" can be quite effective when fishing through the ice for trout. Just as with jigs, any jigging action should be minimal in many cases. Small spoons can also be tipped with maggots or meal worms for more trout attracting power.

The bottom line is that when fishing for trout through the ice these tips have helped me over the past two decades and I know they will do the same for you. Now get out there and begin starring through a hole in the ice!




Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.

Learn When Fish Are Most Active For FREE - http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Pomeranian Cuts Are Really Cute

A Pomeranian is a toy dog. Pomeranians are designer dogs, as many celebrities own these little dogs. They carry them wherever they go, whether it is to a highbrow party or to their hair salon. They are always groomed and dressed very fashionably. The Pomeranian cuts on these dogs are becoming more recognized worldwide because of these celebrities. There are only three basic Pomeranian cuts that are normally seen on these dogs. The teddy bear cut is the most popular, the lion cut is the second in line for popularity and the shave comes in last. The shave is least popular because it can harm the dog if the whether turns cold. Since these dogs are small they need their coats to keep them warm. They can catch cold from sitting too long in front of an air conditioner. Pomeranians are happiest when they are groomed. They love the attention and when a Pomeranian goes in for a specialty cut, the salons dote on the dogs.

Because Pomeranians get groomed so often they must get used to the water, clippers, trimmers and brushes at an early age. Pomeranian puppies must be groomed at a young age to get them used to the process. These dogs will eventually love their trips to the salon to receive their Pomeranian cuts. They love the attention they receive during the washing, trimming and brushing sessions. These dogs seem to know instinctively that they are to show off their gorgeous longhaired coats in a glamorous fashion.

So it is only natural that so many people dress their dogs in a fashionable manner and carry them wherever they go. Pomeranians are fun but arrogant dogs and know they are beautiful animals and this is probably why the teddy bear Pomeranian cut is the most popular cut. This Pomeranian cut will show off the luxurious long haired coat to the utmost degree. This is, by far, the most popular Pomeranian cut in the American Kennel Club competitions.

Pomeranians can instinctively display glamour. They are aware when they are groomed beautifully and want to display themselves to the world. The best of the Pomeranian cuts is a teddy bear cut. This Pomeranian cut can be maintained with weekly brushings and monthly trimmings. There is no shaving involved in a teddy bear Pomeranian cut. As long as the dog's coat is free of knots and matting, the cut is easy to maintain.

And a well maintained Pomeranian cut means a happy dog. There is no shaving involved in the teddy bear Pomeranian cut, only short trimming sessions to keep the Pomeranian cut in a uniform shape. It is common for a matted, knotty Pomeranian to be a very unhappy and unfriendly dog. They want to be beautiful and they want to show the world how beautiful they are. The teddy bear Pomeranian cut is the best for this display of beautiful. The beautiful coat of a Pomeranian is beautiful to behold and it would be sad to not let the dog display its most beautiful asset.




Rosie Allan is an expert on British royal dogs and lives in the countryside of London with two Pomeranians. The Pomeranian, a favorite of royalty, is a descendant of the Spitz sled dogs. Queen Victoria of England, who once had 35 Pomeranians, made the dog popular in England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Helpful Pomeranian information such as that found here is also available at libraries and through the American Kennel Club.

Friday, October 1, 2010

The Celtic Cross Necklace is Unique Among Jewelry Items

The Celtic cross necklace, ring and other jewelry items bearing this distinctive form of the Christian symbol is a much sought after gift item at Christmas or any other time of the year. But what exactly is the Celtic cross?

The Celtic cross, also know as the Irish cross, is similar to the Latin or Christian symbol except for a circle placed in the intersection. Another difference is a typically ornate pattern that embellishes the piece. It is very distinctive and is a favored jewelry item for many Christians worldwide.

Trying to determine the exact meaning of this version of the cross is challenging because they were first made prior to man's ability to communicate via the written word. Some theories do exist as to the origins of it. One is that it symbolizes the sun and the moon. Another, that it represents the four corners of the globe. They are a significant part of Celtic art and are the symbol of Celtic Christianity, although it is believed by some experts that they may have existed prior to the days of Christ.

It is a common legend in Ireland that this design was the work of Saint Patrick and that he blended the symbol of the Christian religion with the sun cross, to give pagan followers a concept of the significance of it by relating it with the idea of the vitalizing attributes of the sun.

In Ireland, during the Celtic revival of the mid-1800s, there was a renewed interest in the cross and many of large proportions were built and displayed prominently around the country. It is believed that these displays helped to renew a sense of pride in the Irish people for their homeland and heritage. Since its revival, the cross has also been used widely as grave markers.

So as you can see, wearing a Celtic cross necklace or any other item bearing this ancient and distinctive symbol is like wearing history. Historic, and always in style.




To see a fine selection of the Celtic cross necklace priced for just about any budget, please visit http://www.celticcrossnecklace.org which updates almost daily with new items.

Dog knot women idea