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Posts Tagged ‘howto’

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Catalog Printing Services: Making Catalogs as Good as Done

You know it’s the ripe time to look for the right catalog printing services if you’re going full blast in advertising and promoting your product. After spending for newspapers and billboards space to get the attention your product deserves, it is time to shift gears and invest on how to provide more details and market your entire product line up if possible.

And you do this by choosing the right marketing tool known as the catalog.

Consumers rely on the catalog if they wish to find out more about a particular brand or store. No wonder that catalogs are often considered as product encyclopedias. Because apart form the images, they contain detailed information to help readers know more about the objects they crave for.

Yet, creating catalogs is quite difficult and time consuming. More often than not, it requires a team effort to be able to create one - one to do graphics and lay out, one to do the copy, and another to proofread or edit.

So, what does it take to create a good catalog? Are good photos enough? Apparently, there is a lot more to it and here are some ideas to get you through it.

Get Photo Savvy

A catalog is primarily about photos and images of various products. As such, investing on a good photographer can save you a lot of time and money.

A catalog is an extension of your business or store. It follows that it should only showcase the best of what you have to offer so wrap it up in an enticing manner using great photos.

Excellent photos represent an important step in establishing and increasing the appearance of your catalogs. Getting the services of a photographer who has the trained eye for finding the best angles to take photos makes catalogs creation a lot easier. After all, excellent photos are marketing tools by themselves.

Employ graphic artists

Once you have all the photos you need, it is time for the graphic artists to weave their magic. This may include drafts for the layout and illustrations for the innumerable pages.

More importantly, they will be working on establishing a design or theme that will grace the cover of the catalog – making sure that it has the right images and design to pull more customers in and create buzz.

Keep to your timeline

Catalog projects may drag on if you don’t supervise it well. A timeline is always necessary so you don’t have to put off days or assigned hours intended for completing the catalog.

A timeline monitors and evaluates various stages of the project. It is better to plan for a realistic and practical timetable that would clearly allot time for revisions, printing, and shipping.

Proofread your text

Although the catalog is primarily an image-based document, you should set aside enough time for proofreading.

All the information especially about the product details and specifications that your consumers read should be given proper attention. Even spellings and punctuations can disrupt their focus and their interest in reading the catalog.

Eliminate this barrier for the presence of such errors, however minimal, can also discredit the brand and turn away potential clients.

Choose a print company wisely

The importance of choosing the right printing company is often overlooked. Most people aren’t familiar how print quality affects the catalogs.

Added to this, you might be overly concerned with printing expenses and think that printing companies are all the same. As such, high-quality printing might even be too great an expense to try.

Fortunately, printing is riding in the wave of innovation and technological advancement. High quality printers have increased in number thus driving printing prices lower.

More and more are offering full color printing services too. This is often considered the best option for catalog printing services which you can easily afford to your satisfaction.

Remember to insist on using full color printing at the very least for your catalog project. Given the quantity of images it contains, your catalog will be a visual delight and a color feast for the senses which could be enough to draw its share of enthusiasts.

Creating catalogs demands a lot of dedication and skill. For all that effort, choose wisely and have a catalog printing experience that could not go any smoother.

With high-quality catalog printing service, your plan is almost as good as done. For with professional printers, you can feel confident in the knowledge that your catalog project is in the right hands

About the Author

To find more interesting topics on Catalog printing services please feel free to visit Catalog Printing Experts: Full Color and Digital.

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Car modifying is here to stay

Car customising and modifying has been around since the car was first invented, but really took off with the introduction of the original Mini.

This was a car people really took to their heart, seeing a raft of extras and aftermarket parts springing up on the market to suit every style of customisation.
From rally style lights to full wide arch bodykits, even the Cooper family who prepared engines for F1 saw the potential of this little car, rebuilding it and giving
rise to the Mini Copper, a car that is still an icon to this day. Car modifying and customising has came a long way since then, from uprated suspension,
engine parts, bodykits and light sets for almost any car you could imagine, giving birth to a trade worth billions in the UK alone.

You would be mistaken to think this was a young mans game, all car enthusiast have taken to car modifying with equal vigour. Classic cars have just as many modified parts available to them as the little Vauxhall Corsa or the old Citroen Saxo’s we are so used to seeing being driving by the teenagers today, covered in aftermarket parts, sporting in car entertainment systems that quite often cost more than the car they are installed in. This in its self has created a car culture of its own, the cruise scene.

People from all walks of life turn up in car parks all across the country to show off their modified pride and joy. Mazda RX-7’s, Honda Preludes, Nissan Skylines that have had ten thousand pounds worth of extras, from full bodykits, uprated suspension, bugger turbos, uprated engine internals, full interior re-trims, some of the latest technology crammed in them, satnavs, ear splitting sound systems, games consoles, in fact more things that you would ever expect to see in a car. There are the modifiers that only go for pure speed, who would rather strip bare the interior of their car to save weight rather than fill it with all sorts of ICE.

Cars like the little Honda Civic and Nissan Pulsar that modifiers have managed to sqeeze over 300 BHP from the engine, putting quite alot of super cars to shame, and costing a fraction of the cost. Even manufacturers have gotten in on the act, Volkswagen showing the world their modified Golf, with a mid mounted W12 650BHP engine wedged in where the back seats should be, borrowed from a Bentley. Renault with the equally insane V6 Clio, this too doing away with the rear seats in favour of a V6 power plant, giving this little car power that would only be seen in the likes of a Porsche 911.

Car modifying and customisation has created a class of its own, giving rise to a whole host of magazines like Max Power, Redline, Banzai, Fast Ford to name a few, as well as films such as Fast and Furious. Race tracks have also seen the rise of this car culture and have opened their doors to allow car enthusiasts the test their machines on a wide open racetrack, giving them the freedom to test the cars and their own reactions, in the safe setting of a real race track.

Car modifying is here to stay.

About the Author

Jamie Cairney

http://jbodystyles.com

hundreds of bodykits and styling parts, from us at jbodystyles

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Body Kits – Rejuvenate Your Car !

Every few weeks, months or years we go and spend or even splurge on ourselves. We give ourselves a better look or new knowledge or a new skill. Why do we do that? Because though essentially we are fine, even happy with our good old selves, there is the excitement that adding something new brings that makes life, well exciting.

Have you ever thought this could work just as well with your good old car? That there are products available such as body kits that could transform your car? Yes it is still reliable and the performance is still great. It now has a personality of its own and is almost a family member. But let us face it, the last time it set your pulse racing was years ago.

Here is the good news. You can bring back the excitement almost as good as when you first bought it. Give you car a smashing new look, consider body kits. Car body kits can make a 90’s car outshine the next car that is going to be launched.

If you didn’t opt for a body kit when you first bought your car, or the smart body kits available now were just not available then, go for one now.

Body kits cost nothing compared to a new car and will change your car’s personality dramatically.

You can find information on car aftermarket products to rejuvenate your car including a great range of body kits at www.ilovebodykits.com.

Do not worry that your car maybe too old to be rejuvenated. If it still gets you from A to B reliably then it deserves to get a new body kit after all these years.

And the great thing is you can find full body kits for a wide range of car models here.

So even if you have a car doing faithful duty for a decade or more you can still give it a new look with a great body kit. And add excitement to your own life.

About the Author

Louie Liu has been in the car aftermarket products industry for 5years. He has specialized in body kits, headlights, cold air intakes and other aftermarket products. He has deep knowledge of a wide range of products including knowledge of benefits of body kits and other products, product options and how to choose a car aftermarket product. You can learn about a wide range of body kits and other car aftermarket products at his site www.ilovebodykits.com.

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Exterior Car Body Accessories That Can Be Used

There are many good reason why accessorizing of your car can be of that importance. One is, when you want your car to look brand new even if it is as old as you. Remember, a car without an accessories is just like a home without furniture or a garden without flowers.

Adding them to your car means minimizing the risk factor and maximizing the comfort level. If alloy wheels are there to make the wheels scintillating then security alarms are there to keep you free from tension. If exterior body styling is there then interior car styling are also available.

Ideally, accessories are needed to equip car for higher comport or for better capability. Your car and you deserve to have the most significant accessories without so much time needed for accessorizing. Without these car accessories, the car still able to serve its owner but, it may be not that attractive at all.

If you want to make your car stand out from others and if you want to look your car on its best design and make it as comfortable place, then you should care to put accessories on it. You can put some sticker designs of different colors and and shapes.

These are some of the accessories you can put as its exterior car bodies accessories:dash kits, body kits, alloy wheels, car security and alarms, lockwood dials rear spoilers, snooper DPS detectors, roof boxes, racks etc. are mostly used. You can make use of these for your own.

Interior designs may also include the following: gear knobs, tax disc holders, pedal sets, leather gaiters, handbrake handles and loads are frequently in use.

There are also accessories that are designed for specific season. Winter car accessories may include designs for winter like snow chains and protection from frost, tybond covers. Wiper blades for winter, spoilers, and light brows.

Use of various types of lights like rear lexus style lights, halo ring headlights, indicators and side repeaters add attraction to any car and contribute to increase its security level as well.

If you want to learn more about exterior car body design, you can buy car magazine or visit your local car accessories store. You can also make use of the Internet for your car review and for finding some good accessories for your car. Just search the topic that you want to know in search engine and you will be prompted of things that you need.

About the Author

http://www.carinfo101.com/

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pipe extrusion line

According to one aspect of the present invention, a roll assembly for guiding a pipe in a pipe extrusion line for producing pipes of different diameter, includes a bracket, a roll supported by the bracket, and an adjustment device for automatically positioning the roll in vertical direction in dependence on a weight load upon the roll.

The present invention resolves prior art problems by so constructing a roll as to adjust its vertical position in dependence on the weight load acting on the roll. Hereby, the invention is based on the recognition that pipes of greater diameter normally have a greater weight per meter. Thus, when the roll is loaded by a pipe of greater weight, and thus normally also of greater diameter, the roll moves further downwards than would be the case, when the weight load on the roll is smaller as a result of a smaller pipe and thus of smaller weight. Thus, when being exposed to a smaller pipe, the roll moves upwards in opposite direction. In this way, the center line for pipes of different diameter can still be maintained at substantial same vertical height in a simple manner.

The roll is rotatably mounted on an axle which is supported indirectly or directly by an elastic element that forms the adjustment device. A plurality of materials and devices known per se may be used as elastic element, such as, e.g., rubber-like elements. Currently preferred is the use of a spring, in particular a spiral spring, as elastic element, for movably supporting the axle so as to allow the roll to move downwards as a load on the roll increases. Suitably, the spiral spring has a spring hardness which is suited to a weight per meter range of the pipe which range correlates with the dimension range. Thus, the roll for guiding the pipes aligns itself spontaneously to the weight load.

According to another feature of the present invention, the roll assembly includes a plurality of such rolls which are arranged in succession, whereby the rolls may have varying roll geometries. For example, rolls may be used which correspond to a maximum pipe radius. The rolls may also be constructed in such a way as to laterally support also the smallest pipes to be produced. Such pipes are preferably arranged in the area of the vacuum tank. The subsequent spray baths may use roll geometries which are configured in the form of a double-V-block so that the pipe is guided also in this case always on both rear sides.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a pipe extrusion line for producing pipes with different diameter includes an extruder for plasticizing a starting material to produce a melt strand, an adjustable calibration device sizing the melt strand to shape for forming a molten tube, a cooling device for cooling the tube, and a roll assembly for guiding the tube during advance through the calibration device and the cooling device, wherein the roll assembly includes a plurality of rolls arranged behind one another in a travel direction and constructed to have at least two different roll geometries, and an adjustment device for automatically positioning the rolls in vertical direction in dependence on a diameter of a pipe being produced.

By providing rolls of varying roll geometries, different support functions can be realized and varying support lines can be provided, for example a support of the pipe in the bottom area and various side areas. For example, one of the rolls may have a first roll geometry to conform to a maximum radius of a pipe being produced, and another one of the rolls may have a second geometry for lateral support of a smallest pipe to be produced.
Pipe extrusion lines are generally known. The production of plastic pipes involves initial melting of a plastic starting material in an extruder and discharge via a pipe die. The exiting thermoplastic molten tube from the pipe die is cooled under shape constraint and calibrated. Calibration is of great importance as far as pipe dimensions and tensions in the pipe wall are concerned. Plastic pipes are calibrated predominantly on the outside, whereby a vacuum calibration device is typically employed.

The still soft molten tube is drawn shortly after discharge from the die through a calibrator which is mounted in the vacuum tank. This calibrator can be configured as sleeve-type calibrator or disk-type calibrator depending on the thermoplastic material. The required contact pressure upon the calibrator is realized by the pressure differential between the normal pressure inside the pipe and the vacuum in the vacuum tank. The vacuum calibration device includes a vessel which can be sealed vacuum-tight and may be equipped preferably as cooling basin with spray nozzles. In and following the calibration path, the extruded pipes must be cooled down to such a degree as to be sufficiently stable in shape for subsequent loads (for example take-off device, winder). Cooling of the pipes may hereby be carried out in tanks with water baths or spray nozzles.

About the Author

According to one aspect of the present invention, a roll assembly for guiding a pipe in a pipe extrusion line for producing pipes of different diameter, includes a bracket, a roll supported by the bracket, and an adjustment device for automatically positioning the roll in vertical direction in dependence on a weight load upon the roll.

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Wood Dash Kits - Luxury Personified

Wood dash kits are more than an automotive accessory; they are a "second chance" at elegance that only few other options provide. They are also surprisingly affordable, given their far-reaching capability. So if you've ever thought that your vehicle needed an upgrade in identity, a suggestive and enduring dash kit may very well be the answer.

More Than Enough Options to Go Around

Thinly layered wood veneers coated with polyurethane make up the bulk of the industry's finest. These pieces are actually extracted wood, hence the term "real wood veneers." These real wood veneers are treated and measured to provide a logical level of flexibility. They are then designed, cut, and fit to exact specifications of a certain model's dash configuration. Other options include synthetic veneers, which are very similar in style and presentation. Some synthetic choices can be limited, depending on manufacturer and vendor. However, a reputable company should offer a wide selection of both real and synthetic, respectively.

For any given model, there are practically dozens of veneers and colors that are available. Most of these selections are referred to as burls (very similar to the type of term referring to wood products such as furniture and etc.). There are veneers that give off a subtle, tasty appeal (Honey Burl, Real Walnut Burl, and Real Rosewood), while many others offer a more striking brand of elegant zest (Real Japanese Cherry Wood, Real Platinum Burl, and Titanium Burl). Some veneers are more popular than others, but almost all of them get some play. Drivers seem to gravitate most towards Real Japanese Cherry Wood. Real Japanese Cherry Wood implemented on certain dashes adds a shockingly attractive dimension. It is a rich, deep grained red that can blend or contrast with most models, and to say that it engages a luxurious look is a severe understatement. I would strongly suggest checking it out the next chance you get.

Wood dash kits don't always have to hint at the decor of a fine English country club. They can also suggest a sporty appeal along with the added hint of sophistication. This is where real carbon fiber dash kits come in. Real carbon fiber dash kits pay homage to the contemporary climate, featuring an increased accent for those who enjoy a futuristic foreground to compete with their interior spread. Real carbon fiber dash kits are a favorite for the more edgy, high-speed type of drivers normally, but they are beginning to see action in every kind of vehicle. You can find the real carbon fiber look on a variety of dash kits, including Real Blue & Black, Real Light Blue, and Real Silver Wire, but there are many more where those came from.

Solid colors are available as well, and like most dash kit styles, come in a vast selection. You have the requisite red, blue, orange, and yellow - these solids are the preferred choice for drivers who own a racing-inspired car and wish to match a color scheme. But there is also Brushed Aluminum and Real Chrome; with both delivering a sizzling refined image once fitted to the contours of most any dash area. It is their versatility why solid color dash kits are so engaging. Along with real wood veneers (which are considered the class of the field), solids enact their own brand of custom enthusiasm for drivers of diverse automotive tastes.

Finding the Fit

Wood dash kits are not universal. They are crafted to adhere exactly to a certain car or truck's dash measurements. In turn, dash kits do not come in just one way. Flat dash kits for a long time were the main choice that most drivers got their hands on, and are still an option for a host of vehicles. Flat dash kits (2D) come in pieces that fit over sections of the dash. This is an important note, as many vehicles' dashes are arranged in right-angled sections in numerous spots. Therefore, one encompassing piece would not logically fit over an entire area. Molded (3D) wood dash kits are a modern pleasure. They still come in pieces - just not nearly as many. Molded dash kits are constructed to fit onto dashes that offer a plethora of curves, contours, and edges. This is crucial.

Because of the advent of 3D molded dash kits, more vehicles are eligible than ever before. Those sleek, curvy dashboards that were once immune to the delicate class that a prime wood dash kit could initiate now have all of the ability their less-than-esteemed brethren have enjoyed for so long. While flat dash kits are still an excellent route for a substantial amount of models, molded kits can certainly be viewed as a wave of the future.

Searching for Your Defining Wood Dash Kit

If you've ever taken a stroll down the soda aisle in the supermarket, you have seen Coke®, Pepsi®, and everything else. There are even the generic brands of cola displayed on the shelves here and there. Now, if you're after a results-oriented beverage that won't rot in your fridge in two days, you'll probably lunge for that bottle of Coke® or Pepsi®. But if you just want something to quench your thirst at half the price and give yourself a stomach ache on top of it, then generic might be your game. It is the same thing with wood dash kits. Quality lasts and imitations don't. There are always customers telling stories how they ordered some fly-by-night dash kit that didn't stick-on right, the edges peeled off, and bubbled up when heat from the vents got to it. This is an example of a victimized consumer being had, and also shoddy quality, which believe it or not, you can find in droves.

I would suggest sticking with Sherwood and B&I when it comes to your dash kit selections. Both companies go through a ton of trouble in producing top-quality dash kits with all of the fits and finishes under the sun. Both companies also have terrific reputations when it comes to precise fitments, eliminating the worry of ordering a kit that "kind of" fits, but not all the way. If there is one ideal that Sherwood and B&I share, it is that proper fitment is the way they work. With both Sherwood and B&I respectively, you will likely hear nothing but praise from anyone who has purchased one of their wood dash kits, which is more than I can say for several others. You can certainly trust any product with either of their names on it.

The fun part is scanning around for your dash kit's veneer or color. As we covered earlier, there are dozens and dozens of choices. If you drive a branded "luxury" sedan or SUV, a real wood veneer might be your goal if you are looking to keep up that authentic, extravagant interior image. You may look to check the grain patterns, depth, and gloss. Or if you are more sporting and aggressive, real carbon fiber might be your choice. You definitely have a world of possibilities out there. Be sure to look around and check out as many designs as you can, and then confirm their availability for your vehicle. The odds favor your model being a match for most, if not all. The more reputable dealers also offer samples of veneers and finishes for you to see and hold in person. This may aid you greatly when it is time to decide which one is going to bring all of that class out of your interior!

Installation

Virtually all wood dash kits come backed with automotive-grade 3M tape and a sheet of instructions, or schematic. The instructions display a diagram of your dashboard and surrounding areas with all of the exact specifications. Each piece is normally numbered to coincide with that number on the diagram. After that, it is a simple "peel-&-stick" operation. Even still, here are the basic installation steps you may want to follow once you receive your wood dash kit:

1) Before affixing pieces (molded or flat), clean the dash. Isopropyl alcohol is highly recommended, as all dirt, must, dust, and oils MUST be removed from the area for the pieces to adhere properly.

2) Be sure to have all dash kit pieces in order along with instructions (diagram).

3) Coat the dash area that will receive kit pieces with adhesion promoter. Do this carefully and deliberately so that it does not "run" onto surrounding areas.

4) In the event that it is cool outside (below 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit), you may use a blow-dryer to warm pieces. This will enable them to conform easier to your dash.

5) Peel back tape and stick pieces into place. For larger pieces, unpeel bottom-first when sticking. This will allow you to adjust as needed. When satisfied, simply peel away the remaining tape and adhere the rest of the piece.

6) Once content with positioning, press pieces into place firmly. "Thumb" them down for a tight, concise fitment.

Your Interior Has a Say In Its Looks, Doesn't It?

Wood dash kits play an important role as an aftermarket tool. Most models, regardless of make, year, or trim level do not come with a refined dash surface. It is mostly that plasticky, rubbery facsimile that does little to inspire greatness in your interior. What wood dash kits do is transform a place that was empty and in the background into something that is vibrant and in the foreground. It is that simple. The luxurious and elegantly styled veneers can work magic, even if your model is considered old or "out of date." And if your car is right out of the assembly plant, a shimmering dash kit can enhance what is already fresh and exciting. There is, after all, a reason why they exist! And there is an even bigger reason why there is such a broad market for them. Wood dash kits can single-handedly initiate a graceful presence within your ride that you never thought possible. Their accessibility and affordability are what has elevated them to the top of the auto accessory food-chain, and chances are that your vehicle's interior is naked with one!

About the Author

Timothy J. Hands is a Writer/Editor for WoodView.Com, the fastest growing automotive accessory store on the net. To add that missing touch of affordable luxury to your interior, visit them today and check out their expansive selection of Dash Kits that ooze class in every direction. Wood Dash Kits are always on sale and available for ALL vehicles!

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Schuco Tin Toys

The internationally well known and loved German Company, Schuco, can be traced as far back as 1887, infact right back to the birth of one, Heinrich Muller.  As a teenager, Muller began making his own toys and pretty soon started working for another famous German toy company, Bing.  However, in 1912, Muller left the Bing Company and, together with Heinrich Schreyer (a local merchant), formed their own company, Schreyer & Co.  In 1921, this company became known as the now famous Schuco Company.

Schuco began by making small felt and plush figures and animals, but like all other German toy companies, like Steiff for example, the outbreak of the Fist World War halted their business.

However, once back in business, Schuco introduced it's Schuco-Patent-Motor-Car.  The great success of this product quickly gave way to Schuco producing a wonderful range of tinplate vehicles.  The Patent Car is powered by clockwork, but what really makes this tinplate car so very desirable is the fact that it "turns back from the edge", or,  in other words, the car will never fall from a table or play surface as, when it reaches the edge, it simply will not fall off - Amazing Isn't It !!  This incredible model, which we must not forget was made in the mid 1930's.  This idea was, as you can imagine greatly copied by many other toy companies, despite the fact that this model was 'patented'.

Once again, the outbreak of the Second World War stopped toy production at Schuco.  As early as 1946, the Schuco toy company had started to become a legend in the toy world and was talked about all over Europe and on both sides of the Atlantic.  Just like so many other German toy companies, such as Steiff, the toys produced in Germany had a quality which really were second to none and it was this great quality that was greatly impressing the American market.  Muller was personally responsible for all Schuco designs and he was also responsible for quality.  It is rumoured that Muller would throw each new model on the floor, to test it's resilience when the model was put into the hands of a child.

Tin Toys boomed in the late 1940's - 1950's, but then sadly, sales started to decline in the mid 1960's.  Tin toys started to be deemed as 'unsafe' for children, due to their sharp edges, but also a further contributory factor to the tin toy decline was the introduction of plastics to the toy world, which were both safer and more affordable.  Sadly then, Schuco went out of business in 1976.

In 1980, Gama (Georg Adam Mangold) who ironically was once a rival to the Shuco company, obtained the Schuco brand name and began creating reproductions of the old Schuco models.  In 1999, Schuco was sold to the Simba-Dickie Group (one of the largest toy companies in Europe).  Today Schuco's main aim is to re-establish the same quality as Schuco's past models.  They also tend to make reproductions of the tin toys that Schuco made iconic in the past.

Many grown-up's collect the old Schuco tin toys today, as they are small and extremely worthy works of art.  They certainly look amazing either shown as a collection, or as a single display item.  A Schuco tin toy model will almost certainly provoke a reaction from your friends, regardless of their age.

The condition of a Schuco tin model is, like so many other collectables, very important in terms of it's financial value, unused and also boxed items of course, being the ultimate.  However, sometimes a small amount of playwear, the odd dent or chip, adds a great amount of age history and character to a model.  Just like the old teddy bear that is age-worn, you wonder about the toy's history and this can sometimes add to the toy's desirability, depending of course on the collector.

There is always the option of having the model 'restored'.  Restoration such as having a repaint to body work will, almost always de-value an old model but then, on the plus-side some things are acceptable such as replacing a broken windscreen or repairing a clockwork spring, which leads us on to the Schuco Keys.  Owning an original Schuco tin toy, together with it's original key is always very desirable and, once again, adds to the model's value.  It really is down to the collector alone to decide whether or not he wants to collect just 'mint' models or whether he wants to collect 'used', perhaps like so many collectors he would prefer to seek a compromise.

Many toy companies around the world has indeed made really good tin toys and today's standards are very high, but setting aside modern replica tin toys, we find it highly unlikely that today's toys would even come close to the old Schuco models.

How many old and battered tinplate cars, for example, would still run?  After sixty years an old Schuco model will still run, infact it is very hard to find an old Schuco model that will not run.  Simply Amazing !!

Schuco tin toys is worthy of collectors.  They always have been and certainly always will be.

About the Author

Gino loves fast cars, especially fast italian cars.  Gino also loves anything Italian. Gino heads a specialist teddy bear site but now has a section called Gino Racing where you can find motoring memorabilia, limited edition Ferrari models and some collectible tin cars and toys.

Please visit his website at www.ginosbears.co.uk

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Starting a Custom Rod Building Business

Do you enjoy rod building as a hobby? Have you ever heard other people compliment the finished result of your rod building? If you answered yes to either question or if you are just interested in testing the water, then starting a custom building business could be a good option for you.

Basically, to get started there would be a few considerations you would have to keep in mind. Those are listed below and should help you decide if a rod building business is in the cards for you.

High Quality Workmanship

If you're serious about starting a rod building business, you'll need to be very confident in your skills. Don't start such a business if you've never crafted your own fishing equipment before or if you've only used kits to develop the finished products. The more experience you have going into the industry the more capable you'll be of satisfying the needs of your customers.

Another good idea is to have built several finished products that can be showcased for potential clients through a web site. People respond well to photographs and to testimonials so build some for your fishing friends and get their feedback for your site.

Setting the Price

Another good reason not to jump into custom rod building as a business without plenty of experience is that you won't have a good idea of what to charge for your efforts. Although the actual building process doesn't take much time, you may need to do some shopping and some research to make exactly what the client wants. You also to keep in mind that you'll charge two prices: one for parts and one for labor. It's the labor price where you'll have the most flexibility.

Setting the right price is important. If you don't charge enough, you'll be wasting your time and will have nothing to show for it. If you charge too much, you won't get any business. It's a delicate balance.

Finding Customers

When you're starting a rod building business, you'll need to figure out how to attract new business. You could focus your initial efforts on local customers but eventually you'll end up wanting to expand. The Internet can be a good source for customers if you do some marketing, such as writing a blog or submitting articles to submission services.

Another idea for finding rod building customers is to create some pieces and sell them on online auction sites. You'd be surprised at how much you could possibly earn for your efforts. Plus, it could be a good way to attract attention to your site and to your services.

Having Good Rod Building Vendors

An essential part of being successful in your rod building business is the vendors you choose for supplies. Obviously, you'll need to buy components and all of the other elements that go along with rod building so having a place you trust and a place that you can reach conveniently to place orders, such as Sea Isle Tackle, is going to be important.

About the Author

Rod Building
Sea Isle Tackle has been proudly serving the saltwater fishing community for over 45 years. Since opening day in 1962, we have dedicated ourself to providing the finest fishing tackle and Shimano Reels the industry has to offer. Sea Isle Tackle has a great selection of
Rod Building
Accessories.

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Car body kits and aesthetic appeal

Body kits are one of the items that car owners use to enhance visual appeal of their car. It is relatively a low cost option to adorn a car. But do not confuse it with window dressing. Window dressing suggests highlighting certain aspects of a product while hiding others which need not be publicized. Some element of deception may be associated with the term window dressing. There is no deception in the use of body kits. They fulfill the urge of the car owners to make their car look beautiful. People have an inherent desire to make their possessions like houses, furniture etc. to have an aesthetic appeal. Cars are not an exception. People try to make their look as pleasing as possible by various ways.

Body kits are fitted externally and so are better suited to enhance visual appeal. Technological innovations have also contributed in enhancing their appeal. Besides metals other materials like polyurethane, fiber glass, carbon fiber, and special plastics are also used in manufacturing them. As a result there are body kits in numerous shapes, designs, and colors. Buyers have a wide choice to select from. Every one can acquire what he or she fancies.

Car body kits mainly consist of bumpers, side skirts, side guards, and spoilers. One has to be careful while acquiring body kits. Body kits meant for one particular vehicle would not ordinarily fit vehicle of another make. Their proper installation is another job to be properly executed. Experts having previous experience have to be engaged, as some times some alterations in supports etc. become necessary before installing body kits. This is emphasized because body kits are not mere decorative parts, they contribute to safety aspects of a vehicle and have their specific use.

You can ride in a car fitted with body kits of your choice, and notice how your friends and onlookers react. If these are smartly chosen they will admire your car and your taste. The experience will be worth the time taken in choosing and installing body kits. With body kits you can truly personalize the aesthetics of your car. You can see the latest body kits at www.ilovebodykits.com.

About the Author

Louie Liu has been in the car aftermarket products industry for 5years. He has specialized in body kits, headlights, cold air intakes and other aftermarket products. He has deep knowledge of a wide range of products including knowledge of benefits of body kits and other products, product options and how to choose a car aftermarket product. You can learn about a wide range of body kits and other car aftermarket products at his site www.ilovebodykits.com.

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Something I Said - Chris Shillock Profiled

Something I Said - Chris Shillock

Dwight Hobbes - Pulse of the Twin Cities archives

Ain't many beatnik poets left. Chris Shillock is one. As in true, old-school spoken word. Before even The Last Poets there was Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and the rest of that bunch from the early 1960s. They pioneered the spoken-word part of avant-garde theater, preceding the likes of Amiri Baraka (when he was LeRoi Jones), Sonja Sanchez, Miguel Pinero and such contemporary icons as Sekou Sundiata and Rhodessa Jones. These days, in the Twin Cities, we've got premier proponents J. Otis Powell, Louis Alemayehu and Shillock sustaining the genre.

John Christopher Shillock, as he calls himself after he finishes a poem or a book, profoundly impresses—with bleak stuff that is brilliant as hell.

His books include "The Revolutionary's Creed," "Testament of Fear," "Millenium City" and "Irregular Conjugations." And he has read at a slew of open mics, including venues in Duluth, Tucson, Chicago, New York and Mexico. In the Twin Cities, he's all over the place— Minnesota Spoken Word Association, Minnesota Fringe Festival, S.A.S.E.: the Write Place, Powderhorn Arts Festival, Hopkins Center for the Arts, with Michael Quinn and the Virgin Suicides at Terminal Bar and so on. And he has appeared on Minneapolis community access television shows "Art Temple," "Pulse-TV" (no relation to this publication), "Cheap Theater" and, slated for early Dec., "Spectator." On air appearances include guesting on KFAI's "Write On Radio!" and on the pirate station, Radio Free Twin Cites.

He now has a pair of releases that stand to ratchet his career up a notch. "An Invitation to the Terrorists' Ball" offers, in a deluxe DVD package, live readings at a funky space called Skindog Productions. Shillock's richly emotive, baritone delivery of poems and translations is complemented by artful footage that punches up the immediacy of his writing. While watching the performance, you can, if you're so inclined, pull out the booklet and read along to such verse as the title cut's "Throw away your parachute. This is free fall. This is war. Leave your lovers standing there at the corner, where they sold you out so long ago." To boot, it is tightly directed by Ian Shillock, Chris' son.

For Invisible Jazz, Chris Shillock partners with vocalist-composer Tabatha Predovich to head up a deft ensemble. Sparse bedrock (David Gullickson, drums; Tom Zosel, tenor sax; Rich Patterson, guitar/composer; Lynette Reini-Grandell, violin) underscores fluid, expert imagery. Textures range from old-style folk rock (the Marty Balin-Paul Kantner flavored "Ballade") to tasty jazz (the title cut) to an eerie ballad of love and war ("Blue Nile"). Shillock is in fine form with lines like "Invisible jazz in the city, invisible hands pounding on steel. Machinery pulse deep underground. The city shakes on the skin of a drum. You can catch the vibe throbbing in panes of cool glass, high in your lofty window." Predovich's voice is tailor-made for this material. Her dramatic, barebones style puts the right notes in the right places, bringing out the best in each cut, rather than falling into the trap of trying to be artsy.

Shillock brought in two singers before Predovich, writing lyrics and spoken word verse for them to perform. They were, he recalls, "very serious about their musical careers and figured out that this wasn't going to make them particularly rich or famous." Then, Tabatha Predovich answered his classified ad. Shillock initially says he went with her because "I needed a singer. Nobody else would do it. Everybody else quit." With some pressing, he acknowledges that it wasn't at all a case of settling for whomever he could get. "She's got a great voice. Every time I [perform] with her, I'm astounded that this [artist] is working with me. She's got feeling. She takes my words and makes them her own, basically. I can sit and write this stuff and she gets inside the words. She gets inside myself."

One reason Pedrovtich worked out is that she does a bit more than sing—she's a fine spoken-word interpreter with attendant acting chops. She started out in Minneapolis in 1990, creating Velvet Rat — an improv outfit unit accompanied by a rotating line-up of musicians. In 1993, she was recruited by the English band Elysium, and relocated to London. There she wrote, recorded and toured until 1996, over time bringing the band into techno, a still-flowering genre that already showcases the likes of phenomenal Twin Cities songbird Bobbi Miller. Predovich came back to the States, specifically Detroit, Mich., working with the band Radium on a sound culled from goth and punk. Didn't quite work out. So, in 2002, she and musician/songwriter husband, Rich Patterson, put together another band, Uzza. They plan to eventually put it back together in the Twin Cities.

Chris Shillock was born in Lisbon, Portugal and grew up in South America and Europe where his parents served in the U.S. Foreign Service. He's got a B.A. in Spanish from Haverford College in Pennsylvania and a master's degree in philosophy from the City University of New York. In 1972, he left the Big Apple to attend the University of Minnesota. During the '80s he got active in several communist and anarchist groups. Since then, he has adopted the working hypothesis that "the creative life is itself a radical act in a world dedicated to ignorance and exploitation." Along the way, he also dedicated himself to raising a family. He's no longer married but does have three sons and as many grandchildren.

Hard as it is to figure for one of with sterling output, the man's been doing poetry only the past 10 years. Before that, he says, sitting at the desk in his book-filled, downtown Minneapolis apartment, "I was trying to overthrow the government, abolish property, make everyone the same." Usually, when I hear somebody talking like that it's cause they're homely as a mud fence or mad as a hatter and, either way, can't get laid, much less get a life. So, they fill the void with some nobly maniacal manifesto. Shillock's handsome enough. And is not crazy (apparently, at least, any more than most creative types). He is, though, as I can see in his perfectly lucid stare, absolutely serious. It also turns out he isn't talking about just the government, he's talking about any and all government, period. OK, why? "Because, it makes sense. They're no good. They're all rich. They keep themselves in power. Everybody would be better off if the goods were distributed evenly to the people that actually do the work, that deserve it." Very well, he is a real, live anarchist. "Any government is a form of oppression. We are perfectly capable of governing ourselves. Certainly the distribution of property is inequitable. Those of us [who] create the property, that do the work, don't get it. It all goes to a handful of people that don't do anything. Except own the means of production. Everybody would be better off if there were actually no property. Then, everybody would have more rather than a few people having a whole lot and most of us having almost none." He has never used the Freedom of Information Act to see what FBI file or files exist on him. He did, however, include the message on his answering machine from FBI Task Force Agent Robert Wagner (St. Paul branch) as an audio track on his DVD.

What prompted this freewheeling enemy of the state to become a poet? "I've always done some writing. I did a lot of political writing. [But] I got kicked out of every [political] group I was in. So, I'm thinking, ‘What can I do?' I met this guy, Scott Vetsch, at a bookstore in Dinkytown. He invited me to a party. They were nice people. And they were having a reading [at] one the bars downtown. Why don't you come on? I went. I saw it and I figured, ‘Hey, I can do that.' And so I did. Not that he was filled with a world of self-confidence. "People I respected said I was [good]. I don't have that feeling within myself certainly. I look at my stuff and there's stuff there that makes me cringe. I really don't know what I'm doing a lot of the times when I'm writing. I just sit there and keep at it until somehow it comes out right. I don't really know, a lot of times, until I perform. When I'm on stage. That's where I get the feeling, I guess. A lot more than sitting and trying to sound it out in my head."

Modest to a proverbial fault, he was pretty surprised when I told him Pulse had assigned a story on him. Though it didn't catch him completely out of the blue. The publisher's long been an admirer. "Every time I go in there, Ed [Felien] has me take my shirt off." That's so Felien can admire a tattoo on Shillock's left shoulder, an image of French anarchist Pierre Joseph Proudhon above the legend, "La propriete, c'est le vol" ("Property is theft"). "For some reason, Ed thinks I haven't sold out. Of course, I have. You don't get our age without selling out." Shillock's 65. Felien's not talking. I spoke with Emily Carter, a good friend of Chris Shillock and probably the baddest white woman in Twin Cities lit. She corroborates that his modesty is misplaced. "Two things about Chris' work stand out for me," Carter states. "One is the training and discipline that his background in the classics [St. John of the Cross, Ezra Pound, Leonard Cohen] and knowledge of language gives his poems. The other is their integrity. Of course, quality plus integrity often add up to obscurity and that may be why Chris hasn't been able to quit his day job. Or retire. After a life of hard work and dedication to his craft." She disagrees, though, with that business about his having sold out. "Chris is practical, of course. He's managed to live la vie boheme (the bohemian life) long past the point when most of us either started out for the suburbs, went crazy or died."

On the cover of Invisible Jazz, Chris Shillock looks meaner than hell. Glowering beneath a black, gunslinger brim, clad in Johnny Cash-black, he reminds you of, say, John Huston, with that weathered, wizened thing. Beyond the requisite poet's mystique, though, the guy's a pussycat. A grizzled old kitten. "People," he acknowledges, "always say I'm a nice guy." Then, he adds, "But nice finishes last. I want people to see the dark side [of me]."

It's Nov. 18 at the ever eclectic and eccentric Patrick's Cabaret. The billing is Christopher Shillock/Tabatha Predovich. And things are not off to what seems a promising start. Less than a half-hour to showtime the sound check is done, but exactly three people have walked in the door. I dread the prospect of a talent like Shillock having to perform in front of maybe a polite handful of patrons in one of those awkward, dead houses, where the applause is self-conscious pitter-patter, embarrassing everyone there—performer and audience alike. Ten minutes later, I look up from scribbling notes. There is traffic, after all. Seats fill. In the lobby, a knot here, a knot there and, by a quarter of, it's a crowd. Hell, J. Otis Powell is in the house (the lone black face in the place besides mine). There's smiling, chatting, the touching of one another on the arm: all the makings of a nice, warm get-together. I spot, in the background, taking money, serving tea, coffee and fancy water, Patrick Scully, a soft unassuming presence tall as a tree, looking for all the world like a kinder, gentler Clint Eastwood.

It doesn't take long to reveal that Shillock may just be onto something hot with this ensemble. There is, straight off, the image—like it or not, given the choice between art and art with compelling stage presence, audiences will eat up art with compelling stage presence every time. Without his practically ever-present hat (someday he's going to find it missing and a ransom note in its place), wearing glasses, he looks like a lecturing professor—who happens to not have any color in his closet except black. Tabatha Predovich, on the slim side, in black jeans and a black blouse, with straight, two-toned (red & black) hair, has a model's face and a stark gaze that would choke a pimp's best line off, dead in his throat. With these two in front, you've got the crowd's interest before anyone says or sings a word. As the set starts off, I look around at some fascinated folk: all very white, very earnest and much impressed, enjoying the hell out of some authentic bohemia.

Good thing: Tonight, the sound isn't particularly well-mixed. The first number, "Dark Night," works because it's pretty much all Shillock, voicing lines like, "It was an Edward Hopper evening in our hotel room downtown. Light dredged in through the curtains. It tangled in our clothes. It set our garments glowing in the dark and polished woods.We draped ourselves in twilight for our furtive little waltz, our bodies hid in marble, that was veined with alcohol." When the drums, sax and guitar kick in for the second number, "Invisible Jazz," Predovich's vocal vies with the sax. Shillock is drowned out. Things work out better for "Orgy Song," ribald humor for the erudite, that has Shillock and Predovich trading rich one-liners to depict a horny couple imagining hot enough sex between them to satiate a roomful of Old-World Romans. With "Blue Nile," the sound finally balances out. Shillock gives a reflective read, Predovich ringing clear in ironic counterpoint. The brief set is over. The crowd's happy. And I'm hoping (in vain, it turns out) that I can make it back tomorrow night, when the sound problems should be fixed and violinist Lynette Reini-Grandell is scheduled to sit in.

Up next for Christopher Shillock/ Tabatha Predovich is a show on Dec. 11 at Acadia Café in South Minneapolis, for which Shillock has engineered a strong bill: His band, Desdamona and David Daniels & the Talkin' Roots Crew.

Hip-hop star Desdamona, is about a break this side of going national. She bagged a fourth Minnesota Music Award with her CD, The Ledge, and is gearing up to go in the studio for the follow-up, projected for early next year. David Daniels, ganja guru to the counterculture set, uses spoken-word to lens American life through Rastafarian sensibilities. His concept CD, Talkin' Roots, sold out before he had time to even think about financing a second printing.

Shillock picked this lineup for a reason aside from the mere sight of watching poetry fans, hip-hoppers and stoners sitting around giving one another funny looks. He believes in breaking down boundaries between spoken-word genres. Desdamona's looking forward to it for the same reason. "I like being a part of an eclectic bill and hearing what other people are doing," she says. "It gets stifling and uninspiring to be around artists that are making similar kinds of musical expression. It feels like there is no expansion and we get caught up in our style or the way we think we're supposed to do it. It gets too comfortable. I like to be uncomfortable. You can feel yourself changing in the moment." As for Daniels, "I know from my own experience with hippie stoners that they are very reluctant to support artists who are not fellow hippie stoners. One of the reasons I invited Chris to be part of David Daniels & Friends at Surcumcorda (in 2001) is that I wanted to inspire hippies to explore good work outside of that realm, following the spirit of The Grateful Dead who once brought Miles Davis to open for them."

Ultimately, Chris Shillock's performing and writing is driven, he attests, by "the same [thing] that drives my politics. I want to restore poetry to its preeminence as a popular art form. Also to use it to make people feel and think. And, then, to act."

About the Author

Coming: "Angels Don't Really Fly" EP by Dwight Hobbes & The All-Star Hired Guns featuring Alicia Wiley. The crew: Me, Alicia Wiley, Stanley Kipper, Chico Perez, Jeff "Boday" Christensen, Aaron "Orange A.C." Cosgrove  and Yohannes Tona. Singer-songwriter Dwight Hobbes recorded the single "Atlanta Children" (BeatBad Records) and gigged 10 years in the Long Island/NYC area, including The Other End, Kenny's Castaways and My Fathers Place. Fronted the Boston blues band Midlight. In Minneapolis, Hobbes opened for David Daniels at First Street Entry, James Curry at Terminal Bar, sat in with Yohannes Tona, Alicia Wiley at Sol Testimony's Soul Jam, The New Congress at Babalu, Willie Murphy at the Viking Bar and Wain McFarlane & Jahz at Lucille's Kitchen. Dwight Hobbes still drops in at the occasional open mic around town. Dwight Hobbes has written for ESSENCE, Reader's Digest, Washington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, City Pages, Mpls/St. Paul, MN Law & Politics, Pulse of the Twin Cities, Twin Cities Daily Planet, Women & Word, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Circle, to Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (where he contributes the commentary columns Hobbes In The House and Something I Said. He's spoken his mind over National Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio and KMOJ in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Was regularly featured as guest commentator on NewsNight Minnesota (KTCA-Minneapolis/St. Paul) and Spectator (Minneapolis Television Network). His monthly column "Hobbes In The House" in MN Spokesman Recorder comments on domestic abuse and rape. His plays are Shelter - produced at Mixed Blood Theatre by Pangea World Theater, Dues - produced by Mixed Blood Theatre, University of Southern Illinois in Point of Revue, selected for Bedlam Theatre's 10-Minute Play Festival and published by Playscripts, Inc. You Can't Always Sometimes Never Tell - produced by Theater Center Philadelphia, Long Island University, reading at The Kennedy Center and published in the anthology CENTER STAGE, In the Midst - produced by Long Island University, starring Samuel E. Wright. Hobbes spoke on the panel "Farewell To August Wilson" at the Guthrie Theater, broadcast on Conversations With Al McFarlane (KFAI, KMOJ). Twin Cities Daily Planet articles archived at www.tcdailyplanet.net/dwighthobbes

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Unknown Error 0x80040116 When Accessing Data File Settings

The File/Data File Management option of Microsoft Office Outlook lets you organize Outlook e-mails and perform various settings of various .pst files. For performing the required changes in any of the PST files, it requires the file to be in perfect condition. In other words, it should be error-free. If you fail in your attempt to access the file settings of a particular PST file from File/Data File Management option, the reason can be corruption of PST file. In such circumstances, running different PST Recovery solutions often brings effective results in extracting e-mails.

Let's specify the given problem by following realistic illustration. Here we have considered the case of an Microsoft Outlook 2007 user who has an important PST file that contains critical e-mails, calendar items, contacts, and other items. When he/she tries to open the file, it would either not open or give errors. On trying to access the settings of this PST file, it behaves unexpectedly, while prompting the below error message on screen:

"An unknown error occurred, error code: 0x80040116"

Cause

The above depicted problem is most likely to occur because of the damage of Outlook PST and/or Outlook profile. It can be an upgrade related problem. When you upgrade, the process might in turn corrupt your PST mail profile and/or PST file on account of some incompatibility issues.

Solution

To begin with troubleshooting this problem, you should first recreate your mail profile. Once the new profile starts working perfectly and you can access the settings of a new PST file (Outlook creates a new PST file with each mail profile you create) and attach the existing PST file. If it works properly, corruption was related to profile and not with the PST file, which now has been resolved. But if Outlook behaves in the same manner as before, your original PST file is corrupted that you need to Recover PST file.

Try to repair the PST file using Outlook's built-in Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe). If this doesn't help, a third-party PST File Recovery utility is your answer. These software can scan your corrupted PST file and restore all file contents at a safe location.

PST Recovery Software is a high-end utility that can repair your corrupted PST file and create a new file to extract all e-mails, notes, calendar items, contacts, etc. To Recover PST file using this software, you need to perform just a few simple steps. The PST Recovery Tool supports MS Outlook 2007, 2003, 2002, and 2000.

About the Author

Axel Culver has passion for writing Technical article. He is right now writing articles related to Product like PST Recovery Tool and Exchange Recovery software to solve pst and edb file related problems.

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Paper Airplane World Records

World Record, New Time Aloft
Takuo Toda set a new récord for longest paper airplane flight at a competition in Hiroshima Prefecture in April of 2009. His record flight topped Blackburn's by 0.3 seconds, now the world récord is 27.9 seconds. He folded his plane, measuring approximately 10cm in length, from a single sheet of paper. The previous record of 27.6 seconds was achieved by Ken Blackburn in the USA. Ken is one of the superstars of the paper aircraft world today and keeps all of us, all over the World, working hard to match his skills. He is also very much a gentleman and has been surpassed once by Chris Edge and Andy Currey from England, only to smash the 20.9 seconds set by Chris and Andy with a world topping 27.6 seconds. This time is going to take some beating. The very best of luck to all who try.

World Record, Old UK Time Aloft
The longest UK (ex-World Record) duration of a flight by a paper aircraft, indoors, is 20.9 seconds.  This was achieved by Chris Edge of British Aerospace Defense LTD, and Andy Currey from the Defense Evaluation Research Agency. By an amazing coincidence they both recorded exactly the same time and on consecutive throws. “The Guinness Book of Records” allowed two World Record holders, because this record is about the times set at the same event, so it’s similar to setting identical pole position times in formula one.  This record was established on July 28, 1996 at Cardington Airship Hangars in Bedfordshire, England.

Here are the rules for setting a Guinness world record for paper airplane time aloft: 1. The flight must take place indoors. 2. The plane must be made from a single sheet of paper that is no larger than 9.84 by 13.90 inches (250 x 353 mm) and weighs no more than 5 ounces (150 grams). Typing or copier paper works great. 3. It is OK to use some tape or glue. 4. The plane must be thrown from level ground. The stopwatch must start when you release the plane, and end when the plane touches anything (the floor, a wall, a chair…). 5. You are allowed six attempts. 6. You must submit the following to file a record claim: • Signed statements from two witnesses saying that they saw you set the record. • A newspaper clipping about the event. • Color photographs and a continuous video tape of the flight (you must have both). NOTE: it is not required that a Guinness representative be present.

World Record – Distance
The longest distance flown by a paper aircraft launched indoors, from the ground, is 193 feet (58.82m) This was achieved by Tony Fletch of Wisconsin, USA at the La Crosse Centre on May 21, 1985 and is a world record. The distance flown is almost equal to the length of a Jumbo Jet, and much further than the first flight by one of the Wright brothers.

NASA – Helps Pupils
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in the Langley Research Centre Hangar used ex-astronauts and engineers to help pupils from various schools in Hampton, Virginia, USA to develop, build and fly a record breaking large paper aircraft, with a wing span of 30ft 6in (9.15m) on March 25, 1992. If you think that’s large see the current World Record for the Largest wingspan.

World Record – Largest Wingspan
The paper aircraft with the largest wingspan, 40ft 10in (1.97m), was made by a team of students from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.  It was flown indoors on May 16, 1995. Launched indoors by one person, it flew a distance of 114ft 2in (34.80m) from a 10ft (3m) high platform.   In order to comply with the rules, it only had to fly more than 50ft (15.24m) from the edge of the launch platform.  This aircraft would have covered a greater distance, but for a wall which stopped it in mid flight, causing extensive damage to the nose section, and still smashing the world record in the process.

Most Expensive – One of NASA’s
One of the most expensive and lightest paper aircraft ever flown, was the paper aircraft thrown inside one of NASA’s space shuttles, during a routine space flight. The fuel alone used to carry it into space makes that paper aircraft one of the most expensive. It was the lightest because of the lack of gravity in space.

Amazing Fact: Fly on Forever
In space where there is no atmosphere, if a paper aircraft were thrown it would not fly at all; it would float away in a straight line. With no gravity to pull it down, it would possibly fly on forever until it hit an object.

Paper Aircraft – Fly Up not Down
Paper aircraft that are trimmed to fly on earth will, when thrown inside a spacecraft, fly up and not down, as would normally be expected. This is because there is no gravity in the spacecraft, but there is lift created by the wings, as they fly in the atmosphere inside the spacecraft.

The Smallest Paper Airplane
The smallest origami paper model of a Crane Bird was folded under a microscope using tweezers by a Mr Naito from Japan and was made from a piece of paper 2.9 mm square. It is displayed on top of a sewing needle. Now that’s small – what a pity it didn’t fly! If Mr Naito were to make small paper aircraft, how would he see them fly?

 

About the Author

For more information about Paper Airplanes, please go to my web sites Origami - Paper Airplanes and Airplane Game Simulator

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Make Role Modeling a Hobby

Like in most families, children are around you everyday. Whatever you show to your children is what you teach and impart to them regardless of your intentions. In their eyes, you are a teacher. Everyday you are teaching “live” — whether you like it or not. You’re like a walking lecture in your child’s life.

What are you willing to show to your child? What are you going to teach your child through you? Do you want to be credible?

The best way to teach is to model what you preach

Parenting articles and books tell us that we should be role models for our kids. However, finding a reliable source on how we can become one is a challenge. Being a role model is not an easy task. It requires determination, self-control, self-reflection, and discipline.

One of the best ways to become a role model is to simply practice what you preach. Obviously, you can’t tell your child not to have vices when you smoke a pack a day or you have several drinks before going to bed. Likewise, you appear phony to your kids if you advise not to use foul language when you verbally abuse your spouse at the dinner table.

Your teachings should be followed by action

“Talk is cheap,” as the saying goes. Your advice is of most value to your children if you back your pronouncements with action. I know a father who preaches to his children not to punch back but the same father never hesitates to grab his kitchen knife every time his neighbor makes a noise.

Show your children the behavior that you want them to show to others. Talk the way you want them to talk to others.

If you want your child to practice self-control, then you have to show self-control yourself. If you expect household rules to be followed, then don’t violate these rules yourself.

Don’t preach anything that you are willing to violate

Don’t make a household rule that you can’t follow. Never make a rule that you intend to break if no one is watching. A rule is only effective if it is consistent and properly implemented.

A rule is designed to establish order and harmony in the household. If you constantly break household rules, you are better off not having them. Try to be realistic. Make a rule that is reasonable and easy to follow.

Don’t create rules that you intend to break if they are inconvenient

Don’t make a rule that you plan to violate at your convenience. A rule is created to serve as a guideline regardless of whether it’s convenient or not. However, don’t be rigid. As you now, there are exceptions to the rules.

Occasionally, you have to be flexible to accommodate these exceptions. For instance, I have a rule that food should not be brought into the bedroom. However, when one of my children is sick, then this rule does not apply. I’m not saying that we should be flexible all the time. In essence, there should be a compelling reason to break a rule.

Make role modeling as your passion

Make role modeling as your interest and passion. Enjoy doing it. Practice and master it. Observe how you speak and behave in front of your family. Make sure the behavior you show is the same behavior you want your kids to learn and that your speech should reflect what you want to hear from them.

You can’t preach that they should be happy and enjoy life when you’re grouchy all the time. You can’t teach your children good moral values if you’re making a plan on how to cheat your neighbor — in front of your children’s watchful eyes.

In the eyes of your children, you are a hero. They love to hear you and watch you. They love to be around you. They even love to be like you.

So watch out. Your speech and behavior becomes your child. Praise yourself if your children turn out to be good people. But don’t blame anyone if they show inappropriate behavior. Remember — they are just trying to be like you.

About the Author

Copyright © 2008. Dr. Michael G. Rayel - author (A 31-Day Series and First Aid to Mental Illness) psychiatrist, and inventor of emotional and social skills games -- The Oikos Game Series and The CEO. Visit www.oikosglobal.com to learn these games more. Since 2005, he has published www.oikosinsights.com as personal development resource. As author of psychiatry review books Passing Strategies and Successful Preparation, he has offered psychiatry board review for ABPN II. Most recently, he has provided web seminars on EQ, Family, and mental health. For details, visit www.psychedu.com

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Basic Guitar Set-Up is Affordable and Unavoidable

The matter of setting up a guitar is not a new vibe, especially if you are a regular reader of my blog. My enthusiasm for a good playing guitar is compelling and becomes infectious to people. One more time, if you want to play at your top level, than your guitar needs to be set-up, or adjusted properly, which is a rarity for a new factory guitar. Needless to say your guitar will sound better too.

Realistically speaking, any equipment that is not in proper working order or out of adjustment is a hindrance to your success and can be frustrating. An out of tune car, runs poorly, gets bad fuel mileage and is not much fun to drive, get it?

Simply put, here are the steps considered to be etched in granite for a competent, quality guitar set-up:

#1. Talk to your customer and find out as much about their playing style as possible. If you have an opportunity to watch them play their guitar, that is an added bonus. Perhaps you can make a recommendation.

#2. Inspection of the whole guitar is imperative, we need to repair anything worn or broken before we actually start our set-up procedure.'Sight' the neck for straightness and for any warp-age. So the first thing to do is to check the relief, or bow of the neck with a special tool and then adjust the truss rod. Briefly, the guitar must be strung and tuned to concert pitch to check and adjust relief. We go as far as checking relief in the normal 'playing position'. We try for a flat neck, flat necks play and sound better.

#3. Once the neck is flat the frets must be leveled and dressed up. Meaning that rarely will you find a guitar that all the frets are exactly the same height. If not, we use a precision ground leveling file and make sure the frets are all even, then polish them up with a super fine grade fret dressing file. If you have some custom measurements you would like to use, then this is the time to give them to me.

#3. The act of lowering the string action, meaning, getting the strings the proper distance between the frets and strings is a very precise job, and a mess-up requires a new nut to be cut, so we are very careful at how slowly and accurately we go. Measuring the distance with a dial indicator in a special tool is the most accurate way of checking distance. Other ways such as a feeler gauge is a popular and accurate method as well.

That being said, we use special width diamond files to cut the string notches deeper in the nut, using small increments. Until we have the correct distances set for all strings. We also stagger the heights, to put it in terms you understand, the high E string would be the lowest string, then the B would be two thousands of an inch higher. Each string there after, the B, G, D, A & low E and would receive about the same 2 thousands of an inch in height increase over the string before it. A nice touch that makes the guitar easier to play.

#4. Setting the final height of the strings, which is generally measured at the 12th fret is done by adjusting the tremolo or bridge height. The technicalities of this sort of adjustment vary from guitar to guitar. Don't discount it, especially if you play a lot of lead above the 12th fret. Either way, it is a difference maker.

#5. Lastly, and with great precision we need to set the intonation. Intonation is a way of making sure it is in tune anywhere on the neck you are playing. Without getting detailed, the guitar is almost impossible to have and keep in perfect tune. Mainly due to the design, where pushing a string down to the fretboard actually stretches the string a bit and therefore makes perfect tune everywhere on the neck impossible. By intonation of the guitar we get the best of both worlds.

#6. Lastly, I play the guitar for a short while, then recheck and readjust my work, wait until the morning and recheck it again. Then I call my customer. When my customer arrives, I have them play it,and make sure they like it too.

Bottom line, don't get set-up with a guitar that is not set-up. The cost is cheap and the results are "priceless"!

About the Author

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Leathercraft Tool- Different Types of Leather Working Tools for You

Would you like to start a wonderful arts and crafts hobby? Working with leather will be good for you especially if you love fashion and design. It is one of the popularly practiced arts around the globe. You could do it for fun or for making extra money. Perhaps you have never known about your hidden leathercraft talent. Now is your chance to reveal this talent to yourself. You never know if later you will become a star leather goods designer. All the same, start by buying the correct leathercraft tool. The reasons why tools are important include:

1) Correct leatherwork tools make your task exciting and worthwhile

2) By using correct and quality tools you can finish the task quickly and productively.

3) High quality tools ensure that learning how work with leather is simple.

You should never buy leatherwork tools blindly. You are likely to spend your money imprudently if you do not research first. Internet has good resources and you should make use of it. There are several stores dealing with leather working tools and supplies. Choose tools that are within your budget plan. At the same time avoid going for cheap and inferior tools. These will automatically become expensive in the near future. It's better to avoid buying a poor quality second hand leathercraft tool. Below are the most important tools to buy:

1) Stamping tools: Leatherwork is a broad art and craft category. You are free to choose the area you would like to pursue. Many people who do leatherwork as a hobby prefer stamping. If you are one of them, make sure you know the right tools. These are also called the leather tooling or embossing tools. It is easy to buy these tools on the Internet and most of them are dual purpose. Most of them are user-friendly as well.

2) Embossing wheel: Embossing leather is not a difficult task and many leather workers go for it. If you plan to emboss, you do not have to attend school. Buying an embossing wheel is recommended. It is available in numerous designs and is an alternative for stencils.

3) Hammer and chisel: tooling leatherwork technique is manually and uniquely done with a hammer and chisel. Perhaps you already these tools in your house.

4) A cutting board: You need a leather board whether you are an expert or a beginner leather worker. It facilitates cutting to help you prevent wasting the textile. It can also help you work fast and professionally.

5) Marking tools: you certainly need marking tools including pencils, ruler, metal straight edge and so on.

6) Cutting tools: Needless to mention, a leather crafter cannot do without an X-acto knife, a pair of scissors, a retractable knife, pliers and other spare blades.

7) Needles and threads: As a leather worker you have to choose sharp needles and quality beeswax threads. At some point, stitching is required to hold pieces together, to decorate or to reinforce. Do adequate research to find out the best stores to buy your needles and threads from. It is easy to buy the best leathercraft tool within your financial abilities and needs.

About the Author

G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from leathercraft patterns to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!