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

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tips To Improve The Quality Of Your Photos

By Jake Lei


Of all the art forms in the world, photography can be quite opposing and requires a lot of training in combination with a natural talent. This does not mean that you must be born a photographer, but you must be willing to learn a few new trade secrets and remember to stick to a formula that works for you.

Keep an eye out for all kinds of natural geometry when taking pictures. Pay special attention to any "lines" that your eye can pick up on in the area or on the subject that you will be shooting. Find the "line" and use it to take a good shot.

To get a great photo, make sure your subject fills the frame. Too much empty space will distract the viewer, and they will not know what they are meant to be focusing on. A tight crop on your subject will direct the eye and show more details that will transform your image into a story.

If you find yourself out and about with your camera and see something that you would love to photograph, make a little note to come back to that spot, when time permits and you are equipped to take the photo. Carrying a little notepad with you is a great way to keep track of the spots that you would like to revisit.

Photographers generally do not like having to think about using regular flash photography. The reason is most people cannot stand not knowing what the flash is going to do with the picture. Flash is sudden and a huge burst of light, and it is hard to tell what effect it will have. Adequately monitored however, knowing more about its effect can be attained.

Make your subject more comfortable by introducing some kind of a prop. Give a lady a flower to play with or a man a football. Give a bride and groom some bubble gum and have them blow bubbles together. You do not really have to include the prop in the frame in some cases but there may be shots that work out well with them.

Watch the horizon lines in your photos. You need to ensure that they are completely straight in order for your shot to appear straight. If they are crooked or slanted, it will look like the subject matter crooked. That makes you look incapable of a straight shot, so take the time to make sure your horizons are straight.

In conclusion, you want tips on how to improve your photography skills but do not wish to involve yourself in any sort of formal training or in depth instruction. The tips and tricks explained in this article should give you just the right amount of detail to improve your current situation.




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Tips For Getting Auto Loans Today

By Ian Scottsman


Many options exist today for financing a vehicle. Choices for auto loans are available for people regardless of their credit history in many cases. You will quickly discover however that if you have bad credit the cost of that financing will be higher for you.

When considering financing you will need to understand the costs involved. First when a person has good credit they may be offered choices without an amount of cash down on the vehicle or a trade in. If you have poor credit you are almost guaranteed to need an amount of cash down before financing will be allowed.

Choices that will allow you to buy the vehicle are varied. Depending on a variety of different things, there are several influencing factors. First, your credit score will be considered. Second, the type of vehicle as well as the cost of the vehicle will also influence the amount of financing you might be granted as well as the amount of money you need to put down.

With a bad credit score you will usually find that you pay a higher interest rate. This is due to the added risk that is assumed by the lender. Whether you have a long history of late payments or the problem is a recent issue, you will still be subject to the same type of restrictions.

When you need to finance, you might want to use caution when you agree to the terms. Some loans today carry high monthly payments and short repayment terms that can lead to issues with making the payments. As a result the person may be forced to give up the vehicle.

There are many choices for the type of auto loans you might find these days. It is good to make sure that you look at each choice carefully before making your decision. If you have to have a vehicle, you will likely need financing of some type. As a result you will want to know the choices which can be found.




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Ship Management Companies - Benefits To The Marine Industry

By Cindy Cortney


The island of Singapore is recognized as having one of the world's busiest ports. It is not surprising to discover a number of ship management firms with successful operations in this island country. The marine industry in the country has a lot of undertakings which call for the competency and support that ship management companies can offer.

Ship management companies may be of service to a range of businesses coming from different industries, and most often, these are the offshore and international shipping firms. These clients mostly avail of such marine services such as consultancy, organizing, crew training, vessel inspection, docking, surveying and offshore structure management.

There are a lot of valid reasons for engaging the services of ship management firms in Singapore. For one, they have a roster of trained experts in maritime engineering and management. Maritime businesses find these experts valuable for projects that require technical support and supervision along with exceptional managerial skills. Ship managers lend themselves well to brainstorming sessions and problem solving.

The support offered by these management companies extends to operational requirements, pre-commissioning processes, and even for smooth communications among clients. With ship managers, clients are assured that their projects run smoothly and are on schedule to achieve a high quality output. Due to the efforts put into them, these well managed projects eventually end up being the most cost effective.

Ship management companies in Singapore have the capability to supervise as well as manage a number of specialized maritime vessels. Examples of these are the Remotely Operated Vehicles or the ROV which are underwater vehicles used for offshore extractions, Deep Submergence Vehicles (DSV) which are used for underwater rescue and salvage operations, Ice Class ships with strengthened hulls to steer through sea ice, deep sea cable ships that lay underwater cables for purposes of telecommunications and electrical power, AHTS vessels that aid in oil rigs, and even tugs.

Therefore, aside from the day to day existence of maritime life, ship management companies in Singapore are indeed a boon to such maritime operations as oil rigs, offshore drilling projects, retrieval operations and industrial and commercial ports.




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6 Must Read Tips For Choosing Bridesmaid Dresses And Outfits

By John Jones


When is a dress not really a evening dress patterns? When it is two separates that form the look of one dress. Two piece styles are often more flattering than a one piece dress, and they are one of the most popular ideas for bridesmaid dresses.

Now, add the criteria of finding the right dress in the right size with the right price tag and also in the perfect color. This challenge results in driving from store to store, or even ordering an estimated size online with the hopes it will fit perfectly. Add the stress of sending each bridesmaid to the store to find the exact dress replica in their size or the bridesmaid who accidentally ordered the wrong color shade without time to exchange.Perhaps you even found a great steal on the perfect dresses, say even an ideal bridal grown, but you can't take advantage of the savings since it is not the right color. In today's tough economic times, planning a wedding and asking others to extend their income to be involved is just not as easy as once before.

For example, in a lavender themed wedding, light purple is a good choice; whereas in a white themed wedding, light green could bring freshness. A blue themed wedding would really work well with light blue, but the main thing is to sit down in advance with some color swatches (you can pick them up for free from the paint section of your local hardware store if you're on a budget) and choose colors which match well and please your eye.

Don't worry that separates will make your bridesmaids look choppy. Most companies will offer numerous cuts for tops and skirts in the same fabric and color. All you have to do is choose the fabric and color that you want, and then let each bridesmaid pick out her specific pieces within that framework. To further unify them, you can set other guidelines, such as floor length skirt and sleeveless top.

Dyeing the dresses offers ease, convenience, and oftentimes a less expensive way to obtain your dresses in the perfect color. In the day and age of DIY, we are essentially given the freedom to get creative, be resourceful and leave our mark, even if it's our wedding day.




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Ideas to Brighten Up Black Bridesmaid Dresses

By John Jones


There was a time when it was expected that all bridesmaids wear the same exact dress, in the same colour, regardless of their shapes or personalities. Much in the same manner you could go to a parochial school and see everyone in a uniform, so too would be the fate of your bridesmaids of yesteryear. Thankfully, the wedding industry, like all in the world of fashion, has evolved a great deal.

If you have a midday day or early afternoon wedding, darker colors will look dramatic against the sand and the sea. Dark colors also opt well with most skin tones. Should you have bridesmaids in your bridal party that have a variety of complexions, from ivory to olive to darker skin tones, go for a dark color. Most hot bridesmaid dresses will have come black in them. Hues such as emerald, crimson and black will lead for dramatic effects, especially during the bridal party's photograph session.

Accessories are a great way to brighten up black bridesmaid dresses. The bridesmaid jewelry can be a particularly fun way to add a splash of cheer to dark attire. Classic white pearls are lovely, but when the attendants are all wearing black, it can be better to opt for Swarovski crystal bridesmaid jewelry sets.

This will give you a huge range of color choices, and will also get some shimmer and sparkle into the bridesmaids' outfits, which is always a good thing. For summer, aquamarine crystal station necklaces would be gorgeous. In the winter months, a rich color like jade or cinnamon will be just the right amount of color for the bridesmaid jewelry to make it pop against the dark Mother of the Bride Dresses.

If the wedding is scheduled for sunrise or sunset, then you can opt for a teal, rose or cyan. Those are colors that will look beautiful when the sun is not so prominent in the sky. During this time, ivory might also work, but consider again the complexions and personalities of your bridesmaids. Sometimes patterns might work on a dress, like a tropical flower or sea horse pattern. The patterns have to be subtle, and not tasteless like a Hawaiian shirt. If you can find a colorful pattern that blends with a dress, then you might consider that option.




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5 Flattering Bridesmaid Dress Styles

By John Jones


One hears so many horror stories about hideous bridesmaid dresses! From the ones with the poufy sleeves, enormous butt bows, or those which are chosen without any consideration of the bridesmaids' figures, there are many ways to get a bridesmaid dress all wrong. Spare your attendants the agony of a dreadful dress by picking one of these five flattering bridesmaid dress styles.

Let' s face that: accompanying the beautiful bride, contemporary bridesmaids also clamor for dressy look to underline their individuality as well as their diverse senses of fashion and thus there may be some conflictions against the bride as she really wants her friends or relatives dressed according to her desire or wanted feel. How to deal with this ambivalent situation? All the while, a screaming "bridesmaid" look is absolutely not appreciated by any bridesmaid but the bride really wants that in most cases. Is there any appropriate force to balance both? Well, bet on the bridesmaid dresses with sashes and I' m sure the result will prove to be a worthy try.

A-line. There is not woman in the world who does not look good in an A-line skirt. This forgiving cut hides a multitude of sins that a tighter skirt would reveal. The A-line also suits slim women who could use more shape, as well as busty gals who need a skirt that can balance out their top half. Tall or short, thin or heavy, it does not matter - every figure loves an A-line skirt. Choose a bridesmaid dress in a fabric which has a crisp enough hand to hold the A shape of the skirt. Good choices include taffeta, organza, satin, and faille.

Gathered Chiffon. While a single layer of chiffon (or even worse, a bias cut chiffon dress!) is very revealing, when the fabric is lightly gathered over a more substantial lining, it is very flattering. The fabric gently skims the body, but when it is gathered, does not cling. A wrapped chiffon bodice is also a great way to wear a fitted top that does not reveal every lump and bump. Floaty and feminine, a gathered chiffon dress will make your bridesmaids look like goddesses.

Separates. In many bridal parties, each bridesmaid has a different figure, which makes it very hard to pick one dress that suits everyone. A great solution to this age old dilemma is to allow your bridesmaids to select separates. Many black bridesmaid dresses designers now offer tops and bottoms which can be mixed and matched in the same fabric and color. This lets each attendant select the top and skirt in which she feels most comfortable. If you want to ensure a relatively unified look for the whole group, you can give them each the same set of bridesmaid jewelry. Between their coordinating accessories and wearing the same color and material, your bridesmaids will look harmonious, while allowing each woman to feel her prettiest.




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