So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Popular Underwater Digital Cameras

By Ed J Price

An essential part of scuba diving equipment for professional and amateur scuba divers is the underwater digital cameras. There are so many opportunities to capture once in a lifetime photos of the undersea life, vivid colors of coral reefs or a remote shipwreck in the underwater world of a scuba diver. Capturing images in a life- like picture that can be shared with friends or sold professionally is possible, with the use of underwater digital cameras.

Underwater- Standard digital cameras:

Just a few of the more popular dive cameras are the Sony A200Digital SLR, Canon G10, Nikon D3 and the Sea Life Dc800. These cameras has been revolutionized to take clean and clear pictures that reflect true images of marine and plant life. All these scuba diving cameras can also withstand water pressures underwater.

Top of the Art Compact Dive Cameras:

The Canon G10 and Canon housing WP- DC28 is one of Canons most advanced compact cameras that sells for under $500. It is a well-rounded underwater digital camera package that gives richly detailed, high resolution images and has an excellent LCD that is large and crisp. With a superb wide-angle lens and lots of dedicated controls, it gives great performance for even the most serious photographers. The WP DC28 underwater dive camera housing enables you to take the Powershot G10 to depths of 130 feet.

With an auto- focus system the Sony A200 Digital Camera with Ikelite #6841.20 housing is an entry level digital camera that captures enough detail for photo quality prints. With the lowest sensitivities the Sony A200 SLR camera has a large view finder, wireless flash control and good quality photos. With an affordable package this well constructed camera also offers all of the essentials of a good camera. With an Ikelite underwater housing the Sony A200 SLR can give a corrosion-free performance of up to 200 feet.

First grade performance with First Grade Dive Cameras:

The SeaLife DC800 diving scuba camera offers sleek, modern design with high-tech functionality. You can take colorful underwater pictures since this dive camera offers 5 new dive-specific color correction modes. By setting the camera to Sea mode, you can restore lost colors that happen with underwater pictures and dive up to 200 feet with this rubber armored underwater digital camera that is designed for shock protection. It has a quick shutter for fast action shots and has a long lasting battery for a full day of diving photography.

The Nikon D3 is a bit expensive than its competitors but it is top of the line digital camera. Together with the Sea MDX-D3 housing it makes for a perfect combination for professional photographers. This camera is popular with professionals because it has an auto focus that is fast and accurate, a huge viewfinder and auto exposure that is dead on perfect. Ergonomically built this camera housing is built so a photographer has one finger on the camera the other finger shooting pictures. The Sea underwater housing and the Nikon D3 together is very impressive.

Look at the advanced underwater digital cameras on the market and one that will fit your budget to capture your underwater memories. For those looking for information on good digital cameras with suggested housing, visit http://scubasoul.com, the recommended website for any scuba diver looking to purchase scuba equipment or just seek information on scuba diving.

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Yes, You Can Cook With Chocolate for Your Valentine

By Art Barron

You know what they say: 'the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach.'

Who ever said that you have to eat out this Valentines Day? A public restaurant is hardly the place to be intimate. And let's face it, to do so is a bit clich. If you want to impress your man with how much you care, it's time to prepare something with your own hands.

And the best ingredient? Chocolate! February 14 IS the day of hearts, and what better food to prepare than the one that really does get your heart pumping? Even it's simple aroma - sweet, luscious, and oh-so-tempting - can already incite thoughts of seduction and romance.

More so, having chocolate on the table sends the clear message that the day is special. As chocolate rarely finds its way to everyday recipes, your partner would immediately know that you've gone out of your way. Like champagne, having chocolate suggests that a celebration is in order. Isn't it that you don't start a party without at least an inch thick Black Forest cake?

Think about it:

Breakfast: How about adding chocolate chips on your pancakes? Diners have been known to make waffles and pancakes using chocolate chips, but that trend seemed to have gone out of fashion. Why not bring back those good old days and be kids again? Eat it straight from the pan, and the chocolate would simply melt in your mouth. Add a mug of steaming hot cocoa and vanilla for those finishing touches!

Appetizer: What is a better time to put up a fondue fountain than Valentines Day? Gather your favorite fruits --- apples, bananas, pears, peaches, coconuts --- and skewer them all up. Throw in a couple of marshmallows and some bread sticks. Your fondue can be kept warm and served all day long!

Lunch: Are you up for being bold and experimental? Mix some chocolate in your barbeque sauce. Chocolate can serve as the sweetener of your marinade instead of sugar. Add some salty soy sauce and jalapenos. That will give your grilled beef a little kick!

Dinner: Trace back chocolate's origins for your main course and you've got pure cocoa. It is one of the most savory of ingredients out there. It tastes a bit tangy and lightly bitter to the palate, but it goes perfectly well with tender meats like salmons and seashells. It would definitely be a teaser on every bite!

Dessert: Of course, dessert should be the thing that you're really going to make a bang with! Cakes, flans, brownies, pies, mousses - the choices are endless! You can also go for drinks such as shakes, a tasty hot cocoa with marshmallows, and even liquor.

The challenge here pretty much isn't what to cook, but what you can think of! Chocolate is fun to prepare, so fold it, drizzle it, or use it as a dip. The sky is the limit, and your only obstacle here should be knowing when to stop!

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Why Discount Office Furniture Is A Good Idea For Your Budget

By Pat Borden

One man's loss is another man's gain. The world seems to live by this motto - you live at the expense of others. So don't sympathize when you hear news about the bankruptcy of a company. Just remember that a new opportunity follows from their loss, particularly if you lean toward a facelift for your office.

There are several business dealers that thrive on other peoples goods. Whenever a company breaks down, all its possessions are sold off. These possessions involve office furniture too! You will get anything there- study desks, conference tables, chairs, and even cubicles. So if you wish to receive the required package, you should go to them instantly.

Search for discount office furniture with other companies especially since you want to keep the cash outflow within the budget. Moreover, here you can find spare parts that you can put together to assemble your own discount office furniture. These discount stores also use home based furniture and remodel them a little to give them the professional official look. Like, for example, a large dining table can easily be passed off as a conference table.

There are numerous internet sites that you can browse and access many different kinds of discount office furniture that you require. It is important that you enquire when the discount office furniture will be delivered to you and how long it will take to start up the office. You can always be abreast of the latest and best discount office furniture if you keep in touch with classified ads, newspaper advertisements, mail-order catalogs and the yellow pages. During the holidays when there are super sales, a lot of shops offer discounts on discount office furniture. This is a chance that you shouldnt let by pass you since you can acquire your office furniture at very low rates, and this in turn is profitable to you later. Once you polish and glean this office furniture, they look as good as new and a lot of people will not even tell the difference.

Connoisseur, official look must be workplace etiquette to make an impact on customers instantly after entering your work area. Your vicinity will forever reveal your own personality, and its necessary to employ it to your benefit. You may choose bold, powerful appearance when selecting your workplace concession furnishings, given that it will finally facilitate to popularize your industry remarkably

When shopping for office furniture, costs are an important issue to consider. Search local yard sales and flea markets for furniture to save money on shipping. Keep in mind, however, that just because something is cheap doesn't necessarily mean it's a good deal. If you're uncomfortable with the deal, don't purchase the item. By shopping for discount furniture, you can transform your office into a sharp new space. You might not be spending that much money, but if you can find some deals, it's definitely a wise choice.

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Show Your Skills at Alabama Fairs and Festivals

By Wendell Oswald

In Alabama, we are proud that there are a lot of fairs and festivals. Off hand, I'd have to say that the National Peanut Festival is one that immediately comes to mind. It is celebrated during the harvest season and is something to honor the peanut growers. And, like similar events, the festival is also chock full of interesting activities like rides, and outdoor amphitheater and others.

One of the most exciting things in the National Peanut Festival as well as other fairs in Alabama is the craft show exhibits. Here, talents from all over the Heart of Dixie congregate to show off and sell the fruit of their talent. This is where people go if they wish to find something they have yet to see.

Perhaps you also have an interest in the arts. Maybe you dabble a bit in a particular art or craft when you have time, and are just a bit jittery about showing off what you've already created. You may have a fondness for painting with watercolors, or skilled with a wood carving blade, but whatever your talent is, you should not be afraid of letting the world see. These God-given gifts should be admired and you can never tell; maybe you'll be able to make a living out of it.

Join a craft show, and see the wonders that have come from equally talented people. If you want to build up your confidence first, though, you may visit at the start; judging the works of these other craftspeople and integrating them in your own expressive talents. But whatever the case may be, do not be held back by cold feet.

I sincerely encourage you to go out in the open and show those talents. Like all creations of God, you have been gifted for a purpose. The arts have a far-reaching hand, and you may be able to touch and change lives for the better without even knowing it. So what are you waiting for? Look for craft shows in Alabama today!

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Home Decor with Iron Chandeliers

By Samantha Dox

The best way to have a nicely lit courtyard can be installing outdoor iron chandeliers. Before proceeding to your purchase, you have to make sure, though, that you have enough money to afford such chandeliers. They can be expensive, but their beauty is worth every penny.

Iron chandeliers can also make a great appearance indoors, helping you create a memorable interior, where your friends to feel great. Be careful if your ceilings are low, chandeliers are not a great idea. Somebody taller will have troubles in circulating and may even get hurt.

When buying an iron chandelier for your bedroom, the ideal would be to buy also the wrought iron bed from the same manufacturer. In this way, you'll have the two pieces of furniture perfectly matching. This creates harmony and style.

Mountain lodges, country residences or hunting cabins can be illuminated with Antler chandeliers. Antler matches very well this style, based on a lot of wood, stone and other natural materials. A lodge chandelier will give enough light for creating a cosy atmosphere.

Chandeliers can be mounted outside the house, in the garden or in the patio. You have to make sure you buy a model which is specially designed for outdoor use. They are made of weatherproff materials and insulated very well against bad weather.

Modern iron chandeliers can include crystal pieces, which make the light to look very interesting, thanks to the rainbow like reflections on the walls of your room. Crystals are known to have healing properties, so if you are a believer, you could consider buying a crystal chandelier for your living room.

Wrought iron can look very nice in combination with those bulbs in shape of candles. You can bring the church effect in your home, but you have to make sure not to exaggerate with such eclectic decorations. It may simply not be a good idea.

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Choosing a Food Mixer Speed for Better Preparation

By Moses Harun

There is no way that a particular mixing option will work when preparing each kind of food. Every food mixer will need to function differently for different forms of food. Providentially, most mixers can have a variety of different food mixer speeds. A range of available speeds is necessary because they increase the flexibility of a typical mixer, such as a copper Kitchenaid Mixer.

The slower speeds are normally intended to be used for thicker types of foods. As an example, mixers that have dough hooks must have the ability to turn at lower speeds when they are in operation. This is so that the dough hook can be allowed to knead the bread dough at the correct speed and the dough shall be properly mixed.

If you are mixing other kinds of foods, greater speeds are more effective. Cake batters need to be combined at a high speed to smooth out the batter properly. Egg whites require the quickest possible mixing to force enough oxygen into them for a respectable meringue base. When combining flour with your mixture, though, you should at first blend the flour in slowly and gradually to prevent it from being blown over the rim of the bowl. A good brand and color of food mixers is the copper Kitchenaid Mixer, available in many sizes and styles.

One more consideration for mixing speeds is that certain speeds are used forindividual attachments. Dough hooks are designed to move on low settings and are sturdy enough to push through thicker foods. Wire whisks, on the other hand, are ineffective at low speeds and need to mix foods at high speeds.

Of course it is recommended that the speeds may be effectively controlled. A better quality mixer will feature speeds which are able to be controlled through the use of a simple knob or button system. The controls really need to be large enough to turn or press easily. This also needs to be easy to read because each machine will offer several different speeds.

Another point concerning different speeds; it will be important to make sure that a mixer has a good number of speeds. Some economy mixers will offer about four or five available speeds but at the same time the highest end mixers usually work with up to ten speeds. No matter what style of mixer you buy, it will very likely offer a variety of speeds.

The wattage that the mixer requires can make a difference too. High wattage mixers will usually be powerful enough to offer more speeds.

Food mixer speeds are going to be particularly important when using any mixer, such as the copper Kitchenaid Mixer. The speeds should be versatile enough for different types of functions. The speeds should be properly controlled and easy to read. it is effective to work with these speeds so your mixer is more versatile and useful.

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Gout Home Remedy: Eat Your Way to Good Health

By Rashel Dan

If you're looking for a gout home remedy, you may need not look further than your very own kitchen. You no longer need to jump from one pharmacy to another to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by gout. Commonly used gout home remedy are fruits, herbs, vegetables and roots. These have several benefits and are generally safe to use. They can also be used simultaneously and together with your medication.

A good gout home remedy will do the following:

- Relieve pain. - Reduce swelling - Eliminate stiffness - Detoxify and rid uric acid crystals from the body - Boost healthy blood circulation to aid in the flushing away of toxins - Speed healing of joint tissues to prevent uric acid build-up.

Fruits as gout home remedy:

Potassium turns acid crystals into a solution that can be easily flushed out by your body. Fruits that are especially high in potassium are your best bet when it comes to curing gout. These high-potassium fruits include dried peaches, avocados, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, tomatoes and dried prunes.

Other fruits have their benefits as gout home remedy too.

Lemon fuels the production of calcium carbonate, which balances acids in the body. Take the juice of lemon, dilute in water and drink as a gout home remedy.

Berries and cherries are also known to be effective against gout. You can start by purchasing blueberries, cherries and strawberries from your local supermarket as fresh produce or concentrated juices. These fruits are rich with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds and enzymes that neutralize uric acid in the body. Grapes are good, too, since they contain Alkalines that neutralize acidity.

Other fruits known to treat gout are apples and bananas. Maintaining a gout-preventing diet is as easy as eating 1 apple a day and 2-3 bananas per day for 4 days.

Herbs as gout home remedy:

Turmeric has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Now it is known to be a potent antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant and blood strengthener. It is also considered to treat inflammation just like cortisone. Another herb, cayenne pepper, is known to have the same effect.

Another effective herb against gout is the artichoke which contains cynarin. Cynarin is a compound known to prevent liver impairment and joint problems, thus benefiting those with gout.

Drinking herbal teas like buchu tea is another helpful treatment against gout. Other gout-fighting herbs include parsley and saffron, which can be a natural diuretic and acid neutralizer.

Some of the vegetables you can use against gout are spinach, potatoes and carrots since these are rich in potassium. As mentioned earlier, foods high in potassium detoxify the body from uric acid crystals. Also try eating more garlic as a gout home remedy-popularly known to be good for the heart, garlic has also been found to relieve gout symptoms. Finely chop fresh garlic and add to salads and other dishes as a natural gout home remedy.

Although these ingredients safe to use and are excellent gout home remedy, you should still consider consulting a physician.

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How to decide on a Bathroom Vanity

By Zaina Zidan

When you are looking for some pointers on decorating your bathroom you are amazed by the all attention focused on your bathroom vanity. The toilet is used the most outside of the mirror. It is hard for a person to miss a mirror when they are entering your bathroom.

When you use a public bathroom, you spot the mirrors on the wall above the sinks. No matter if you are in public or in the comfort of your home, you want to be able to feel relaxed when all the necessities are available to you. When a bathroom vanity is included into your bathroom design it creates an inviting feel to your bathroom. If it is a plain piece of mirror, it could give off the image of a public bathroom.

After all, while you can decorate every room to the maximum, the bathroom is the obligatory stop for almost every house guest while the den and dining room may or may not be of use to them. Thus, it is this area of the house people are going to notice the most. Plus, obviously this is the room people will have the time to notice, since they are alone while they visit the restroom. Thus, since the bathroom vanity is the only big item you get to purchase; you want to make it the best you can.

When the new bathroom vanity isn't the proper size than the floor plan of the entire lavatory will be unbalanced. The size and shape of the sink makes all the difference when deciding on a mirror. The mirror can swamp the vanity area this is why maintaining balance between vanity and mirror is important in lavatory design.

A smaller bathroom vanity that has a larger sink can be accented by adding a few accessories that match the trim of the cabinet. In this case, choosing a natural wood framed mirror, you can pick up some wood towel racks that can enhance the wood theme and add a unique style to your lavatory. You can even add a toothbrush holder and soap dish combination to follow through with the theme and take the focus off of the walls. This can create a warm and comfortable atmosphere that everyone will be happy with.

Wood trimming is always nice for a bathroom vanity when the colors of the towels and blinds are hunter green or reds. Both popular colors for bathroom themes, the wood trimming brings a warm welcoming feeling to a room that most likely is already cold and sterile instead.

You need to think of your theme when you are purchasing your bathroom vanity. For example, wood trim in a bathroom can add warmth and adding a matching mirror can compliment the entire bathroom. If you are looking for a sleek approach, you may search for a mirror that has gold or silver trim which depends on your color scheme of your bathroom fixtures or your theme.

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