WISHING OUR READERS A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR 2009

INTRODUCE THE REWARDS OF HAVING A HOBBY TO YOUR CHILD

In today's fast-paced stressed life, even children need to take a little time off with some form of relaxation. However, instead of raising a couch potato who listens to MP3s, plays video games, surfs the Internet or just watches TV, encouraging a child to take up a constructive alternative, such as, a hobby could open a whole new dimension to his life. Parents should support their child in discovering the rewards of having a hobby.

What is a Hobby?

A hobby is a pastime or activity that a child does in his spare time for individual accomplishment. It is something they have an interest in and that they enjoy. It differs from an activity that is forced on them. For instance, a parent may think that her son needs some exercise and signs him up for soccer.

While her son may not mind playing soccer, he is not especially enthusiastic about it either. This is not a hobby for him; whereas, a daughter begs to take up ballet. Here she is not only getting exercise, but she lives and breathes ballet. That then makes it her hobby.

What kinds of Hobbies are there?

1. One type of hobby is collecting, such as, key chain, lunchbox, autograph, stamp, trading card, comic book, postcard, doll, spoon, patch or coin collecting.

2. There are educational hobbies. A few of them would be amateur radio, bird watching, genealogy, chemistry or astronomy.

3. Then there are creative hobbies. They could be painting, photography, playing a musical instrument, cooking, scrap booking, building models, HO gauge trains, kite building, wood carving, needlepoint, knitting, sewing and crocheting.

4. Also there are physical hobbies, for example, playing sports, yoga, bicycling, running or hiking.

5. Next there are the games. Many of which can be played in competition. Several are chess, checkers, bridge, gin rummy, backgammon and scrabble.

6. Some are then a combination of hobby types. For instance, hobbies that are a blend of the collecting and educational varieties are rock and mineral, fossil, butterfly, feather, shell and arrowhead collecting. Gardening could be considered both physical and educational; whereas, the art of dance is creative and physical.

What are the Rewards of Having a Hobby?

1. It can promote relaxation.

2. It can encourage physical exercise.

3. The hobby may further advance creativity.

4. Through the process of self-discovery, a child may realize a talent they did not know existed.

5. A hobby can teach. A child may learn about the particular subject they are engaged in and perhaps become an expert. They can learn organizational skills through setting up a collection or planning the next phase of their hobby's development.

6. It may aid a child in increasing the drive and persistence to attain their goals.

7. Due to self-achievement, the hobby can help in building confidence. For example, when a budding gardener takes some seeds, cultivates the soil, adds the right amount of water and proper sunlight and wins first prize for growing the largest tomato at the fair.

8. It can also aid in developing social skills like how to handle competition with learning to win politely or lose gracefully.

9. The hobby could result into a lifetime passion or eventually turn into a career.

There are very few downsides to having a hobby. Unless, of course, the child becomes obsessed to the point where everything else in their life falls to the wayside. It is the duty of a parent to keep their child on track with what is appropriate and not to allow them to become too fixated on their hobby.

To further the desire to take up a hobby in a child, it is important that the parents have a hobby themselves. They also should attempt to expose their child to various experiences so that possibly their child may form an interest in some area.

When an interest seems to develop, parents should support it wholeheartedly. Perhaps take a trip to a museum, show, or exhibit that features the hobby.

However, parents should not demand absolute perfection from the child. They should allow the child to try, fail, and learn from their mistakes. After all, it is their hobby and they should be allowed to explore it their own way.

A child who discovers his own personal pursuit will surely reap many rewards from his hobby that he otherwise would not have experienced.

INTRODUCING YOUR CHILD TO THE WONDERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Give a child a camera and you have given them a time machine which will create wonders and may, at some time in the future, be considered family treasures.

Expect that, at first, film will just be used quickly in order to see the pictures, but be patient, this will soon be over and selectivity will begin to be shown.

You will undoubtedly be treated to some early shots of grandma as a headless wonder, but these will also be accompanied by some unexpected jewels. As the young photographer learns more about his or her new hobby and why grandma’s head was not in the picture, skills will begin to develop and you will start to see a legend of the world through the eyes of a six year old, or whatever age your young photographer is, begin to emerge.

Expect to see more pictures of the family pet than you will see of any other member of the family. Hey, don’t let it get to you! The kid really doesn’t love the family dog more than he or she loves you, I’m sure of it.

Buy the young photographer an album and fill it with these pictures. Don’t forget to put the date on the back. You might also want to keep a written journal of your own to include with these picture when special occasions are observed and are photographically recorded for all posterity.

You may want to consider buying or borrowing from the library a book or books on photography for children and share it or them with the young photographer. If the book or books is/are written for someone older, you can simplify it.

Helping your child to set up a scene with toys can make for good shots also. Let him or her see how toy trucks and cars can be set up and photographed in such a way that they look like their full sized counterparts.

Is there a younger sibling in the family? Read up on taking pictures of babies and small children, then share the tips that you have learned with your young photographer.

Such things as putting a piece of scotch tape on a little one’s finger for example can lead to some fantastic facial expressions, as he or she tries to figure out what has happened and how to get rid of that thing.

Armed with a camera, encouragement and a little bit of knowledge, your young photographer may be the one to get THAT picture, making it doubly a family treasure.

Getting a child interested in photography, is giving them a gift that may well last them a lifetime

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Digital photography is the number one choice among photographers today. A few major advantages of digital photography are:

The elimination of paper, you only print what you like.
Immediate results, you can see your shot instantly.
Computer touch ups and manipulation.

The process is so simply with a little practice any amateur will be able to do an excellent job. You simply take your photos and import your digital images to your computer or laptop. Now you can use the digital files to only print the digital photos you want instead of wasting an entire roll of film to get one or two great shots.

Next you can save them to your hard drive, or burn them to a CD. A growing number of amateurs and professionals are also uploading them to online storage vaults for safekeeping. After you are done with the last batch of digital photos on your camera you can delete them from your camera's media card and start all over again.

To learn more about which types of cameras are available to suit your needs, you can conduct an online search. Begin at comparison sites like My Simon at www.mysimon.com and Digital Photography Review at www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp

Just identify what type of camera you might like and let the review sites shop for you. They will show you comparisons in seconds. Then look at the pros and cons, figure out what fits into your budget and check the model a little further on your own.

Here are some research tips to get you started. To get going fire up your favorite search engine and key in the model number of the cameras that interest you. You will find manufactures websites and review sites with helpful information on the different makes and models.

Beware, some reviews are done just to attract affiliate sales through their links, so the article writer may not have actually purchased and tested the camera they are reviewing.

Also check out new and used digital photography equipment at Amazon.com for more details and to look at all the accessories that are available. Before buying used items always check the feedback ratings for the seller and make sure you ask all your questions before you buy.

You can also add a trip to Ebay to your research. It's the world’s largest online auction site for great buys. You may find some package deals these wills include flash cards and other accessories. Remember to check feedback and ask questions before you buy.

One other over looked place to go for a deal is www.Froogle.com. Simply key in camera products by brand name, store, price, model number, etc. for more information.

Here are some popular accessories to be on the look out for while you are doing your research.

Camera bag
Flash cards, buy the largest capacity you can afford.
Batteries, buy extras
Recharging unit
Adapters
Cleaning kit

Photography is the largest hobby in the world and now it's easier than ever when you go digital. My wish for you is to have many wonderful digital photography moments.

IS THERE A DARK SIDE TO DIGITAL CAMERAS?

OK, so we live in a world that likes to fantasize about the dark side of things, both in our movies, books, and other entertainment options.

One could even say that post 9/11 we even live in a world fearing the real dark side in our midst, but we tend to live in our consumer world of devices that aid us and amuse us on a daily basis.

Digital cameras and camera phones are everywhere now. Just about everyone is using one or the other or even both at the same time (have you been to a concert lately and seen folks holding up their mobile phones the way we used to hold up lighters in he old days?).

So, these devices have become ubiquitous through our usual consumer desires to have the latest in high tech, consumer advertising, and let's face it...the appeal of having a device that makes things easier for us.

Now is that bad?

Probably not, or most people wouldn't own several of them and have a desire for even bigger and better digital cameras. The news media seem to like it just fine as they now have folks everywhere taking images for them when events occur and they can get almost instant access to these images for use in the newspaper or even on TV.

In the old film days there were no way you could get the images from a normal citizen and use them almost instantly for news coverage. Now if something happens and someone is there with their mobile phone camera or digital camera the images can be relayed in a heartbeat to the news operations and used in coverage very quickly.

During the London bombing of the subway system in 2005 the images from the underground terror were on the news within the hour and the world was transported into that terrible scene by those images when it would not have happened in the past.

Of course then there is the dark side of digital images that took place at the Abu Grabe prison in Iraq. The military personnel who shot those images of the prisoners in degrading positions were simply taking them for their enjoyment and to show to their friends. Of course once they got out of the circle of friends the world was shocked and dismayed by these actions.

The ease of sharing digital images made this a dark affair to say the least. However if we were to fool ourselves that these things would not have happened if digital cameras were not present it would be sad indeed. Those folks would have carried out their sick little game even without the ability to share the images amongst themselves.

Now some have said the other dark side of digital cameras is the whole storage issue and how this could be the Achilles's heal of digital photography. With folks out taking tons of images in increasingly higher resolutions there are more and more storage issues for the digital photographer.

Granted, the devices come with larger storage capacity and our computers now have huge hard drives, but if you keep filling them up with more and more images and don't bother to organize them in some fashion you will just end up with folders of data that never gets seen or used.

Did you know that at recent imaging expo not one new 35mm film camera was introduced? All of the major camera makers are now completely focused on digital cameras.

So the big deal in the near term for digital imaging will be for these same camera companies to invest in figuring out not only how you can print your nice photos easily but also how you can store and organize them efficiently so that you can use them and find them as needed.

They have made the cameras easy enough for all of us to use. Of course it is up to all of us digital photographers to go through and hit the delete key/button on a regular basis and get rid of the bad images in order to help the situation.

This is the joy of digital...that you can play with your camera and try things out. When you do store your images make sure to file them in a folder that gives as much description of what is in the folder as possible.

Watch out for those mobile phone cameras as competitors to our digital cameras. Nokia has just released the N90 camera phone and it rivals many digital cameras for quality and usefulness.

It can take still and video images at 2 mega-pixel resolution using a Carl Zeiss lens. You can do just about everything with this device including listening to MP3 music, watching video on the 352x416 pixel screen, connect to the internet and check your email, send photos over the network, and connect to a Bluetooth wireless headset as well.

Oh my! Now we can be saddled with devices that won't even let us live our lives. We will be too busy multi tasking as we walk down the street. Now THAT may be the dark side of digital cameras!

DIGITAL PHOTOS AND PHOTOS LABS - 6 THINGS TO CONSIDER

The popularity of digital cameras has skyrocketed in recent years. Every event or celebration you go to now has at least several people snapping away. Once you pay for the camera and memory cards, your costs are zero, until you actually have a picture you want to print.

You can take 40 pictures of your new child, niece, nephew, grandchild, etc, and if only two good shots came out of that, then you only pay for those two.

The question is - where should you print those two masterpieces?

Owning your own photo quality printer is definitely faster. There are even people who take a small printer with them and make prints for other guests right away. Almost as easy as a traditional Polaroid camera.

Is it cheaper?

The large chains have jumped into this fray in a BIG way. Wal-Mart, Blacks, Business Depot, and many others. With all this competition comes low, low pricing.

A typical 4x6 print from a big chain is cheaper than the retail cost of the do-it-yourself paper that the same chain sells in their photography center. And at home you still have to pay for the ink!

Here are 6 things to consider when getting a photo lab to print your digital pictures.

(1) Price. All the major players have priced their 4x6 size very competitively. The larger sizes though, like 5x7 or 8x10, are usually higher in cost than what you can do it for at home.

(2) Drop Off. Can you upload your digital pictures to them via the internet (very convenient) or do you have to deliver them on a floppy or CD?

(3) Delivery. Does your photo lab let you pick them up in the store, or do you have to wait for the post office or a courier? Picking them up at the store should be a no-cost option. If you can pick them up, is the location easy to get in and out of?

(4) Timing. How fast do they work? One photo lab has a reputation of having most orders ready in one business day. Another is a bit cheaper, but takes a week.

(5) Quality. You may have to talk to relatives, friends, and co-workers about this one. Find others who have already tried various printers. One photo lab's web site states that they will not print a picture with too low a resolution (nothing under 150 DPI allowed). This can be inconvenient, but assures you of a quality print.

Speaking of resolution, a 4x6 printed at 200 DPI requires a digital print that is 800 by 1200 pixels. An older model 1.0 megapixel camera can do this easily. If you have a more modern 3.3 megapixel camera you can create a 200 DPI print that is 8x10.

One of the advantages of a better camera, say a 5 mp, is that you can "crop" part of the picture away and still have the 3.3 megapixels required for an 8x10.

There is one more item you need to be concerned with.

(6) A standard "snapshot" for a photo album is 4x6 in size. That is a ratio of 1.5. Most new cameras have a photo ratio of 1.33! What happens if you send a 1.33 picture to a photo lab and ask for a 4x6?

They cut off ("crop") part of the picture you took, making it shorter on its longest side. You may not like the part they cut off! The best internet upload systems for photo labs allow you to indicate what can be cut off.

Alternatively, use a program on your computer to make the digital picture the correct size and ratio before uploading.

Memory for digital cameras is getting cheaper all the time, so load up on memory, take lots of pictures, and proudly display the ones that turn out well.

DIGITAL PHTOGRAPHY AS A HOBBY

If you are interested in making photography as a hobby, you might want to learn more in order to better enjoy it. Photography is not just something that you can do overnight. Such a hobby would require that you need to learn something a bit more.

For one, there are techniques that need to be learned in order to get great pictures. Then there is also the need to know about the different equipment used in photography that is just as important.

If you want to further enjoy photography as a hobby, the best way to start is by getting into digital photography. Digital photography is currently one of the most preferable by some hobbyists because of the convenience that it can provide.

With digital photography, no longer is the photography hobbyist limited by the rolls of film that he or she has.

Digital photography provides a "film-less" way for hobbyists to continue on their hobby for as long as their camera memory can provide (and it can be way more than what any ordinary photographic film may be able to give).

Digital photography also offers hobbyists with a way to easily learn about photography in general. Most digital cameras are fairly easy to use. They provide easy methods for first time photographers to learn the ropes bit by bit.

In digital photography, mistakes may not be as costly since most digital cameras offer taking a considerable amount of shots without ever the use of expensive film. And with digital cameras, it is easier to get prints from your shots.

All you will need is a PC and a printer setup in order to get prints. It may even be easier for you to send copies online anywhere on the world.

If you want to learn more about photography, there are several digital photography courses now available that would really help. Out of these courses, you would be able to learn more about the ins and outs if digital photography, both as a hobby and even as a profession. One of the things that you will learn is how to properly shoot pictures by using the digital camera.

You can also be taught how to best use your digital camera given certain lighting conditions and weather. This will greatly help improve the shots that you will be getting; now that you have a pretty good idea on how each shot can be set in ideal conditions.

Digital photography can be an amazing hobby which you can pursue as a hobby and learn a lot of things along the way.

4 SIMPLE TIPS FOR TAKING PHOTOS

Photography as an art has never been more exciting or enjoyable. Todays photography enthusiast has many styles, topics, and tools open to them. Plus, the blending of digital with print makes the craft of taking photos very versatile.

While it is true that taking photos is as simple as running out and grabbing a cheap five dollar camera, taking GOOD photos has never been easy. So lets explore some quick ideas that can help you take photos that you will be happy to send home.

Here are four tips to help.

1. Get a little closer, don't be shy. One of the biggest mistakes most beginning photographers make is shooting from so far away. They leave too much distance between themselves and their subjects.

Instead, get up close and personal. Fill up as much of the camera frame, with your subject, as you can. You can always reshape, trim, and resize a good quality shot. But you can't continue to blow up a distant subject and hope that it will come into focus. It just won't happen.

2. This tip springs directly from #1(above)... focus your shot on only one subject. Determine what the main subject of the photo will be, and catch that image. Try and find the one key subject, person, or event that accurately portrays the feeling you are trying to capture.

3. In addition to getting one subject, in your photos, you will want to make the background of the photo as simple as possible. Busy, distracting backgrounds pull the attention away from the central theme of your photo.

The subject of your photo is absolutely the most important element, and anything that detracts from the subject can ruin your shot.

4. Finally, you want to take your subject out of the exact center of the frame. You do this by using the rule of thirds. Imagine having a camera lens split into 9 equal sized boxes, 3 across and 3 down (like having a tic-tac-toe game printed right on your camera lens).

Where those "tic-tac-toe" lines cross, should become the focusing point of your subject, when you are arranging to take your photo.

Based on this tip, every time you compose a shot, the main subject of your photo should be located primarily on one of these "third" lines.

These are just four very basic tips and strategies to help improve your photos. As you know, photography skills can always be improved. In fact, most professional photographers exhibit a life long passion for learning new techniques, photography angles, and photo inspirations.

TIPS FOR BUYING YOUR FIRST DIGITAL CAMERA

If you have been thinking about buying your first digital camera, you should do a bit of research first. With the rapid progress in technology, there is a dazzling array of options to choose from in the area of digital cameras. A bit of research on your part will ensure that you buy the right camera for your needs.

There are three basic grades of digital cameras, consumer, midrange and professional. Your first step is to determine what type of camera and accessories are important to you as a photographer.

Are you looking for a fun little camera to take pictures of family celebrations?

Are you more interested in developing your photography skills and becoming an expert at photo shooting and editing?

No matter what your photography goal, you want good, clear pictures from a camera that is easy to use.

The four basic styles of digital cameras are:

1) Ultra-compact- these cameras are about the size of a credit card, and fits easily into the front pocket of your jeans.
2) Sub-compact- these cameras will fit easily into your shirt pocket.
3) Point and Shoot - these are normal size cameras with more features, and generally require a camera bag.
4) Single Lens Reflex (SLR)- high quality cameras that have the look and feel of a 35 mm, with a detachable lens.

Another consideration is the type of pictures you will be taking. Are you going to share your pictures over the internet, or are you more inclined to save them in a photo album?

The camera resolution determines the quality of picture produced. A resolution of less than one mega pixel is suitable for web graphics. Resolution of one to two will give you good web graphics and good 4x6 prints.

If you will be printing 5x7 photos, look for a resolution of two to three mega pixels. Resolution over six mega pixels will give you excellent quality prints up to 16 x 20.

Bigger is better when it comes to resolution. You can always set your camera to a lower resolution, but you cannot increase the maximum. You should buy the highest resolution that fits your budget.

Another important decision is battery type. Alkaline AA batteries don't hold a charge as long as lithium batteries will, particularly if you are using a flash. However, the ability to purchase AA batteries almost anywhere can be important, especially if you travel.

Lithium batteries last a long time, but they are expensive to replace. Nickel Cadmium batteries are rechargeable. They must be fully discharged prior to recharging, or you will get very poor performance from them.

Another type of rechargeable battery is the Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH). These batteries come in all standard sizes, and last about 400 charges. These are probably your best buy. Lion (Lithium Ion) batteries last about twice as long as the others last, and are generally purchased as an 'extra'. They are a newer type of battery and not as widely available as the others are.

Some other features to explore before deciding on your new camera include size and weight. A heavier camera is easier to hold steady, a lighter camera is easier to store and carry. Some cameras offer a multiple exposure option that will let you take a preset number of exposures when you depress the button.

A self-timer will allow you to automatically shoot the picture after a preset time. A remote control option will allow you to take your pictures from a distance. Other options include a time and date stamp that display the information when you are viewing your photos through the camera or software, and sound recording, which lets you add captions to your photos.

Most cameras come bundled with software that allows you to edit your pictures. The type of software varies with each camera. This should be a consideration when making your purchase.

There is no such thing as the ultimate camera. You have to consider your photography goals, your budget and your experience level to determine what camera options will be best for you.

PROTECTING YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA - THE STATE OF ART!

Digital cameras have come of age in the last two years. Once a new fangled way to take images that were going up against the standard film cameras in the marketplace and meeting with consumer resistance, and now digital has become the king of the mountain in photography.

Digitals only competition for the consumer’s hearts is the ubiquitous mobile phones equipped with cameras (both still and video).

Side note -- have you been at any mass events of late (concerts, rallies, speeches, sports events) and seen how many people are using their mobile phones to take images? I was at a concert recently and witnessed over 5000 people taking mobile phone pictures at the same time.

Amazing. Not sure if many of them actually do anything with their images but it was still impressive to see that many people snapping images at the same time.

How can we say that? Well one just has to look at the facts from the industry itself. The number one digital camera seller for over a year and a half now in the USA has been Kodak. Yes that is right, Kodak, the giant film photography company has transformed itself in the face of a disaster that was a digital wave coming their way.

Several years ago Kodak was a film company, a huge film company, and here comes digital photography and the consumers were going wild for it.

Can you imagine the bonus that was paid to the Kodak executive or executives who had the foresight to demand that the company adopt a digital strategy instead of standing firm on their film based roots?

Now granted Kodak is still a huge player in the film business (which has not gone away by any means) but they have done a marvelous job of creating a consumer product line in the digital camera arena.

These products are super user friendly and they take great images to boot. The Kodak EasyShare cameras are number one in the USA and number three world wide behind Sony and Canon.

Not bad for an old generation industrial giant. They have turned the ship to take advantage of the prevailing winds of the digital age.

Now in the middle of this decade digital camera technology is easier than ever for consumers to use. The cameras come ready to take great images, allow novice users to snap photos without learning all the bells and whistles they offer, and most of them have made it super easy to share, print or email photos to friends and family.

Many cameras feature one button to push in order to share or print an image, now it doesn't get much easier than that.

You can spend from $100 (or less but I am not sure I would go there) all the way up to the top of the line at $3200 for the top of the line digital SLR camera for your imaging needs.

Some of the best current models on the market include the new Canon E5D SLR at the high end of the cost scale at around $3200, the ultra slim Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T5 which is compact and makes a fashion statement to boot, the super easy to use and share images Kodak Easy Share One, and for great price to quality you can't beat the Fuji FinePix F10 at around $350.

One potential problem with digital cameras has recently to light and some manufacturers have issued service advisories to owners of some digital camera models with regard to a problem in a chip called the CCD or charged couple device.

In the defective chips pictures often appear distorted, have a colorcast that appears gray or purple, or appear completely black. Now this is not a huge industry problem most of the models with the defective chip are over a year old. Therein lies the interesting nugget with regard to the changing nature of the digital business.

Industry specialists now estimate that digital cameras have a life cycle of about a year. That means that new product is constantly coming onto the scene to replace the old technology and consumers are supporting that by buying newer and fancier cameras as they are released each year.

So a chip problem comes on to the scene but it is eclipsed by the fact that the market is moving so fast that it almost doesn't matter. However if you should be one of the owners of a digital camera with a defective CCD you can get help from your camera manufacturer.

Visit the Consumers reports website for details on the recall and service advisories that have been issued.

Now of course there have to be new services that benefit form the digital camera wave. The local corner film shop may have disappeared but the printer companies have found a new heaven in the market.

Color printers, the ink to fill them (find a bargain or perish...), paper, and image printing services both offline and online are proliferating in the digital age. One of the big online digital printers was bought up by Kodak themselves in order to help garner a share of online digital image printing business.

My current favorite new find for image printing supplies is Cartridge World. They recycle printer cartridges and then give a good price on the refilled ones. Saving the Earth a bit and making it easier to print more great digital images, now that seems like a good step forward.

There was a time when pictures from cameras with huge lenses had to be developed in the darkroom. That was the best method during that time but technology has changed it all. With the emergence of the digital camera things are now different.

There are different models now to choose from. From those that can fit into your palm to those that look like the old models; these new models allow pictures to be developed at home using the computer and the printer. Gone are the days of darkrooms and ultraviolet lights.

How much does it cost to have these toys? Depending on the features and quality of pictures that you want, what used to cost a huge amount can now be bought for less than a thousand dollars.

This can be attributed to the surge in demand in the marketplace. It will always be a good idea to compare one brand over another. Since these items are very popular a price comparison can easily be done via photography shops or auction sites online.

When you buy a camera, you would most likely also buy other accessories such as batteries, bags and even an upgrade for your lens.

Given the amount that you are spending wouldn't it be wise to protect your purchase?

One such protection is insuring your digital camera.

Insurance coverage could include accidental damage or loss especially when going off on a trip. You can check out various insurance companies to see what rates and terms are affordable and reasonable before signing up.

Most of these insurance companies will honor the request regardless of the brand of the digital camera.

When the right one has been found, it will be a good idea to keep the original copy of the policy at home. A duplicate can be kept in your wallet or in your hand carry bag. This will make things easier should you need to file a claim.

Another kind of protection is to clean your equipment regularly. This can be done using a non-abrasive cloth and a blower brush. Lastly, storing in a dry and secure place when not in use would be advisable.

The digital camera has revolutionized how photography is done in the 21st century. Buying a camera can be an expensive move and protecting your investment makes good sense.

It does not take much to ensure that you can sleep at night knowing it is better to be on safe side than being sorry.

CAMERA OF THE FUTURE

One time you had only to look into a little lens and press a button to take a photo, but these days cameras are more complicated. Much advertising money is spent on telling us all just how simple and easy it is to take a photo, and it is certainly easier to load a film in the average camera now than it used to be, but you still have to know more about it.

You can’t just pick up that brownie box and ready, aim, fire. There are warning lights that tell you to change your angle or adjust your exposure, to mention just a few.

So what is the camera of the future going to be like? Will it be so complicated that only a rocket scientist will be able to operate it?

Probably not, since manufacturers must get good sales for their products. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that there are more sales in the masses than in an elite group of rocket scientists.

So come on guys, make it simple. How about a talking camera to tell us what to do? Just imagine Great-aunt Ethel lining up her new camera to take a picture of the latest nephew.

The sun slides behind a cloud and the camera growls, “Hold it, stupid!” Ethel retrieves the camera from the grass, dusts it off and focuses again. “Beep-beep-beep! The subject is not smiling!” As the family gathers around with fans and cool drinks for Aunt Ethel, little Johnny grabs the camera and drops it into the fishpond, where it happily snaps the goldfish every time they wiggle.

The camera of the future may not talk, but at a recent exhibition in New York Canon had a prototype that waits until all the subjects are smiling before taking the picture.

Another can tell if you’re blinking. These are expected to be commercial within a year. Fuji has already announced it has a digital camera far superior to most in clarity and resolution.

We think of the digital camera as possessing the most modern technology, but what if it is simply the Model T of cameras?

Perhaps today’s digital cameras are the forerunners of some amazing new technology hiding around the corner, just waiting for someone with vision to invent it?

Some time in the future, there will surely be moving 3D images that can be clicked into being on our desktops, in mid-air, or beamed to the other side of the world in less than a second.

They’ll be in full color and at the click of a button, we’ll be able to hear what is being said. I can hardly wait!

THE PHOTOCHROME REA OF POSTCARDS

Photochrome postcards finally merged beautiful brilliant colors and glossy photo quality images. Previously, postcards could only produce one or the other, but not both. Real photo postcards permitted actual photographic views, but only in black and white.

Others, like linen postcards had the vibrant colors, but were only artistic renderings. For the first time, Photochromes allowed the ability to capture people, places and things as they actually were and in realistic color.

Photochrome postcards are also known as Chrome postcards. The shortened word "Chrome" stems from Kodak's Kodachrome process because Chrome postcards looked very similar to how photographs appeared.

They were made from color film and printed using four-color halftones. The picture did not have a border and the image ran straight to the edges. They were finished with a topcoat of varnish resulting in beautiful glossy postcards.

Chrome postcards were introduced in 1939 by Union Oil Company when they placed them in their service stations as an advertising promotion. Since they were of good quality and inexpensive to print, they were an instant hit. 1945 began what is now known as the Modern Chrome Era.

By the early 1950's, after the war, chrome postcards had nudged out linen postcards in popularity.

These early Chromes were manufactured by and large between the years of 1945-70. They were standard size cards just as earlier types of postcards had been.

Although, of course, there were always some exceptions, the standard size was roughly 3.5 inches in height and 5.5 inches in width. During the 1950's, publishers experimented with fancy edges, like scalloped or deckled.

Continental Chromes came onto the scene in the 1970's and by the early 1980's, eventually replaced the standard size postcards. Their basic size was larger, about four inches in height and six inches in width. The time from 1970 to the present is identified as the Continental Period.

Today, manufacturers are also publishing postcards called Supercontinentals. They can be very large. Supercontinentals are considered anything bigger than 4.5 inches in height and seven inches in width. Some are as large as six inches in height by nine inches in width!

Currently, the United States Postal Service charges any postcard larger than 4.25 inches in height by six inches in width at a higher fee than its normal postcard rate.

With the arrival of the computer age, graphic artists now have no restraints on their creativity and can design postcards with dazzling colors, graphics and text.

Chrome postcards are still going strong today and probably will for sometime to come in the future since travelers enjoy sending them and collectors desire to collect them.

CARE AND STORAGE OF MINIATURE ART COLLECTIONS

In 2005, a new movement began in the art field called "Art Card Editions and Originals (ACEO)." The only prerequisite for ACEO renditions is that they measure 2.5" x 3.5". These miniature art forms traditionally were created for several reasons.

As early as the 16th Century, miniatures were handpainted, original portraits that were sold, generally to wealthy clients, to be carried in one's pocket.

Later, the art form was used among artists as advertising or to share techniques. At times, they were traded for food or shelter.

Today, purchasing and collecting miniature art has become a happy hobby. Many talented artists display their art in their own shops or sell them on popular auction sites.

The price for these pieces is very reasonable and almost anyone can build a very nice collection of art, a hobby that is denied to many in traditional art collection due to the high cost.

Once purchased, the question then becomes, "How do I care and store my collection?" Caring for art miniatures mandates that it be handled by the edges to avoid smudging or disturbing the medium used.

Most art cards are shipping in some type of protective plastic covering to ensure its arrival at its location in pristine condition. Remember: the price may less expensive than that of traditional art forms, but the subject matter itself is priceless, original work and great care should be exercised in enjoying it.

There are many ways to exhibit art cards, including:

Frames: ACEOs can be matted and framed traditionally and displayed in nooks and crannies that would defy placement of larger items. There are also many frames available at hobby stores, including acrylic see-through frames, which stand quite sturdily on table or shelf.

Baskets: Leave art cards out for people to enjoy by placing them in a decorative basket or dish on a coffee table or other convenient spot. If this option is chosen, the protective plastic sleeves that the ACEOs are mailed in should be left on to prevent damage from water drops, pets or small children.

File boxes: Empty CD boxes are ideal for this type of storage. A mat board frame can be made for each card, if desired, sizing it to fit into the storage box. The cards can be filed by subject matter, artist or any organization system that is pleasing to the owner.

Albums: Inexpensive nine-picture, three-hold punched plastic 8-1/2" "sleeves" can be purchased in any office supply store (the same as used for baseball card collections). Insert the art pieces and arrange the sheets in a three-ring binder.

This storage system is easy to handle, can go anywhere and can also be arranged by artist or subject. If you are the artist, this is a great way to store art cards before they are mailed out to customers.

The fun of ACEO collecting is not just the purchase, but the freedom of choice in displaying the pieces, be it simple or elaborate, standard or creative, requiring a few minutes of time or hours of pleasure putting the collection together.

Explore the fascinating world of miniature art collection. A simple web search will lead the way to enjoying one of the most popular, relaxing and inexpensive hobbies today.

MINIATURE ART COLLECTING

Growing up in the 40s and 50s, many parents played cards--Canasta, Poker, Gin, to name a few--with their friends on Saturday nights; first at one family's house and the next week at another.

As a result, hundreds of decks of cards were purchased just for this purpose. Children were more interested in the backside of the card as they featured horses, dogs, cats, and mountains--just about every subject imaginable.

Depending on the game the parents' played, there were always extra cards from the deck, which then became available. Thus, collecting cards and trading those cards was all the rage for children in many neighborhoods.

A little digging into the history annals reveals that in the 16th Century, "art cards" or "miniatures" were actually hand painted, original portraits that were sold, not traded, and were often used as "wallet photos."

In the 1700s, French artists, and then the English, began using the art cards for advertising. The Impressionist artists used art cards to share their styles and techniques with each other by trading. Sometimes the art cards were traded for supplies, food and a place to stay.

And then there were baseball cards. In 1887, baseball cards were not mass-produced. A card from this era would be very valuable and almost impossible to find, so their composition cannot be determined.

Between 1902 and 1935, baseball card collection reached the height of its popularity. The cards generally came in a box of Cracker Jacks, bubble gum or chewing tobacco. The sizes of these cards varied and it was not until the 1960s that the 2.5" x 3.5" card size was standardized.

More recently (2005), a movement emerged that is reminiscent of the card collecting and trading practices of days past. These cards are called "Art Card Editions and Originals (ACEO)."

The only abiding rule for art cards is that they must measure 2.5" x 3.5". Otherwise, the field is wide open to the interpretation of the artist.

The subject matter is all encompassing, as are the styles--Impressionist, mixed media, watercolor, acrylics, oil, pencil, chalks, outsider art, folk art, surrealism--and the medium upon which they are created is also an artist's choice, as long as the card adheres to the standard measurements of 2.5" x 3.5".

Historically, art cards were made to be sold and traded. What then happens to the person who is not able to draw, paint or create art cards to trade?

Because of the new popularity in art cards and their creation, there are many resources for collecting for artists and non-artists alike, including online auction sites, community groups at popular search engines and even collector groups sprouting up in cities all over the world. The very best part of art card collecting is being able to afford a little piece of true artistry at a very small price.

The ACEO movement is worldwide and adding new collectors, traders and artists every day. It has been said that everything "old" is "new" again. ACEO card collecting and trading is an energized and renewed version of a long-standing tradition.

GETTING STARTED COLLECTING ROCKS AND MINERALS

Nearly everybody likes to collect something. Collecting is fun, and allows you to keep and build an ongoing inventory of something you love and enjoy looking at.

What do you like to collect?

Rocks and minerals are popular items to collect, because you can admire their beauty, hold them in your hands, display them various ways, and trade them with others.

It's very easy to see the attractiveness and potential value in a rock, unlike other collections such as stamps or coins which are hard to evaluate with the naked eye.

Rocks are also very easy to start collecting, because they are everywhere you look. There's nothing to say that your rock collection has to be of a certain type or value of rock; if you collect rocks simply because you like the way they look and feel, that's fine too.

This means you can start your collection by picking up rocks from your yard, your driveway, or a nearby street or park. Once you get really into your new collection, you might want to join in a group that's going on a field trip to collect special rocks.

There are three ways most rock collectors get their specimens: picking them up from field trips, buying them, or trading them.

If you'd like to start going on field trips, look for a local rock and mineral club to join. Members of the club will know what rocks and minerals can be found in which local areas, and will have interesting specimens to show you.

It will be a lot like just collecting rocks from the ground on your own, except that you will have some guidance, expertise, and camaraderie to help you along and make it even more fun.

If you choose to go on your own, you'll probably want to get a good book on identifying rocks and minerals, with big colored pictures in it, so you know exactly what treasures you have.

One of the best places to collect rocks is at a road cut, where the highway goes between two steep rock cliffs. Look for veins of different colored or sparkling rocks and minerals as you drive by, because that will indicate a good place to stop and look for rocks that have been blasted from the cliff during road construction.

Sometimes there are rules on what kinds of rocks or minerals you're allowed to take from nature, so be sure to check your particular state or provincial laws. Also, be very careful when working on the side of the road; keep away from the traffic, and watch out for falling rocks or broken glass on the ground.

If you are breaking rocks off rather than picking up ones that are already free, be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves, and use a proper rock sledge made for this purpose.

If you're more interested in buying or trading rocks and minerals, then your local rock and mineral club is a good place to start once again. They will likely hold regular Gem and Mineral shows where you can get some good deals to add to your collection.

You'll soon discover that collecting rocks and minerals can be a lot of fun. Good luck and enjoy your hunting!

FOSSILS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE
 
Fossils are remains of animals and plants that existed in past geological periods. These remains have been preserved in the earth crust for millions of years. The word fossil comes from the Latin word fossilis, which means "dug up" signifying that many fossils are found by digging the earth.

They can vary in size from microscopic to the size of dinosaur. The fossil remains give us plenty of information on history of life on earth, movement and behavior of animals, geological history and other subjects.

Fossils exist in various forms. The skeletal structures we see in fossils are usually hard rocks that have preserved the shape of the skeletal parts. The impressions of the animals and plants, such as footprints are also preserved in fossils.

Frequently these impressions are deformed and vary in size and shape from the original impressions. In rare cases parts of bones, teeth, shells, or softer body tissues are present in the fossils.

Formation of Fossils

There are certain conditions for the formation of fossils. For this process to start the body of the organism is prevented from extensive decay which occurs naturally in the atmosphere.

Before substantial decay can take place the body sinks in mud or water, or is covered by sand, thereby obstructing direct contact with atmosphere. Scavengers feed on the softer parts of the body leaving behind harder parts such as bones, teeth and shells.

Gradually more layers of soil and silt are deposited on top and the physical remains of the organism are buried deeper and deeper.

The hard part of the organism buried in sediments may be subjected to various changes. The pores in bones and shells are filled with mineral infused water. The minerals are deposited and fossilize the remains. This process is called permineralization.

In other cases the original skeletal material is totally replaced by mineral matter, a process known as mineralization. The fossil has same shape as the original object, but is actually rock. This process also results in loss of original color.

Majority of fossils are preserved in water environment. The dead organism falls to the floor of the water body and gets covered by silt and sand. The decay process is much slower in water.

On the other hand the remains on the land are more easily destroyed due to ravaging by scavengers, chemical actions and erosion.

We have seen that essentially two conditions must be met for organism to be preserved in fossilized form - rapid burial to retard decomposition and destruction, and possession of hard parts that can be fossilized.

Types of Fossils

There are different types of fossils depending on the way they were formed and preserved. We already know about fossils created by permineralization and mineralization.

There are cases where an organism is preserved in unaltered condition. For example insects trapped in tree sap can get preserved in unaltered condition when sap turns into amber. The amber resists chemical and physical attack on the trapped insects for a very long time.

Carbonization or coalification is another process in which all elements except carbon are removed from the body of the organism. Fossil moulds and casts are formed when organisms have completely rotted away leaving behind only the impressions.

These were examples of fossilized body parts. There are other types of fossils called ichnofossils, which are fossilized traces of the movement of animals, such as footprints, tooth mark, dung and nest.

Recovery of Fossils

All fossils are formed and preserved deep inside the earth crust. Over a period of time the lower layers of the earth crust are pushed up making it easier to find fossils in those layers.

Many fossils are exposed when top layers of soil and rocks are removed by erosion. At many places people have found fossilized skeletal remains of large animals.

A lot more fossils are found and recovered by digging. After a fossil is found it has to be removed from its rocky matrix in which it had been lying for thousands or millions of years.

There are specialized tools for digging and recovering large and small fossils. The fossils have to be handled delicately to avoid any damage. Very often the fossil is removed along with its rocky case from the site and taken to the lab where final recovery is done.

Why Study Fossils?

There are several reasons why study of fossils is important. They give information about the evolutionary process, the changes in life forms that have occurred progressively, and the movement and behavior of extinct life forms.

The so-called index fossils help geologists in quickly assigning the age of the strata where fossils were found. The fossils also provide information on the climate and atmosphere of the site where they were deposited. In addition, they help in exploration of minerals and mineral fuels.

Our geological and evolutionary history is preserved in the fossils.

MODEL RAILROADING - THE MOST DEMANDING OF MODEL HOBBIES!

Model railroading is not just for kids anymore. In matter of fact with the prices of even the most inexpensive trains in the $40 to $50 dollar range model railroading is out of the reach of most kids today. No longer is it the thing of a Lionel train running around a Christmas tree in fact it is a highly skilled, demanding and rewarding hobby for adults.

In fact today's model railroader has so many options and products open to him/her to chose from, the world is their stage. You have scales of trains running from the briefcase sized z scale to the Garden Railway G scale outdoor railroader scales all the way up to live steam scales you can ride on yourself.

Not only has the selection of scales grown but also the range of products available for one to chose from. One could decide to concentrate on the trains themselves or to center more on the buildings and structures that make up the modern day railroad layout.

Some railroaders don't even have layouts and simply love to model the trains themselves concentrating on super detailing there models to the point that they have working lights, sound and fine details seen on the real trains themselves.

Of all the model hobbies railroad modeling offers the largest verity and the most demanding of modeling skills with tiny details to bring to life miniature trains so real you would have to look twice in a picture to tell them apart.

It also offers International appeal with many modelers in Europe and the Far East modeling sections of the USA West or Appalachian Mountains of the East. While there are those in the USA which choose to model the beginnings of railroading itself in the early British Steam Era.

When setting out to decide what you want to model there are many factors to consider before getting started. Probably the biggest question one needs to answer first is what kind of space you have to work with?

Is your layout space limited to say a 2 foot by 8 foot area if so you may want to consider one of the small scales like z or n scale. If you have a fairly large space like half a basement or more, then the scales of HO and O scale would do nicely. If your space is outside then you should probably stick to the larger scales like G or live steam size.

Next thing you want to consider is your budget just because you have the space doesn't mean you have a budget that can afford to do the scale you choose as well. Many a railroaders dreams have been shattered by the price tag that goes along with the hobby.

When this arises down "scaling" your project can often make it obtainable as in general the farther to either side of HO scale railroading you get the more expensive it gets. Also within any scale there are differences in the quality and level of detail or realism you can get.

Next on your list of things to consider would be the Era you intend to model. Today's model railroader again is in luck as manufacturers of trains and accessories offer a wide range of time periods to model your railroad empire in.

Everything from the earliest of steam trains to the most modern diesel locomotives produced by EMD, General Electric and other similar manufacturers. Most modelers tend to model their youth, choosing to reminisce of times past and youthful wonder as model railroading has a way of bringing out the inner child in all of us.

The last thing you will want to consider is mostly a thing of personal preference and people choose this last thing for many different reasons.

Some choose the location where they grew up, some choose to model the opposite of where they live say as the country boy dreaming of big city lights while the city modeler choosing to model the wide open prairies of Midwestern America longing for a place to stretch out.

No matter which you choose, the choice is after all up to you. Just keep in mind you will be modeling your own miniature railroad world and playing the role of the creator can be very demanding yet youthfully refreshing.

A place that might really be or one that you only wished was. A little homework up front will save many dollars and many headaches down the road if you arm yourself with some basic information first.

A GUIDE TO ELECTRIC-POWERED RC CARS

Radio-controlled cars are becoming more and more popular, with people of all ages and gender getting into the hobby. However, as one first enters the world of RC cars, one learns that there are so many choices on the type, model, and kinds of cars.

For example, you have to choose what will be the source to power your car: electric or fuel. As a beginner, you will look at the pros and cons of each. This article will be looking further at advantages and disadvantages of electric-powered RC cars.

Advantages of electric-powered RC cars:

1. These cars are easy to clean. With batteries as the source of power, these will have no grease nor oil patches to scrub off.

2. These cars are lightweight; they do not carry the extra load of the fuel and tank.

3. These are easier to control. Unlike in the fuel-powered RC cars, engines of electric-powered cars have a more balanced torque. This makes swerving and drifting easier to control.

4. These cars have better throttle response. With a lighter weight and a smoother engine, electric-powered cars respond better to an increase in engine power, and, thus, they accelerate faster. This is a very important advantage in short distance races.

5. These cars are quiet and don't give off gasoline fumes. Without the roar similar to a real car and fumes like those from fuel-powered cars, electric RC cars are suitable for indoor racing.

6. These cars have minimal regular maintenance. Since electric-powered RC cars don't use fuel, you don't need to perform oil changes, engine tune-ups, fuel checking, and other maintenance activities as you would with fuel-powered cars. Maintenance of electric RC cars are limited to dusting off the dirt, checking any damaged and worn-out parts, and replacing them.

Disadvantages of electric-powered RC cars:

1. It may take a long time to fully charge the batteries of these cars. The cars may run for only 10 minutes before the batteries need recharging, which may take thirty minutes to fully charge them. In some models, it may not be practical to carry spare batteries and replace the dead ones.

2. These cars achieve lower speeds than fuel-powered cars. Electric cars can run up to 40 mph while fuel-powered cars run over 70 mph.

3. Engines of these cars use permanent magnets that may overheat and get damaged during long runs. Thus, remember to cool down the engines after each run.

4. With the popularity of fuel-powered RC cars, manufacturers produce more of this kind of cars than electric-powered ones. Hence, replacement parts for electric RC cars may not be readily available in the market.

Even with these disadvantages, it is better for a beginner to start with electric-powered RC cars. The simplicity and easy maintenance of these cars make them ideal to the person who is just starting out with this hobby.

YOUR GUIDE TO COLLECTING DIE CAST MODELS

Collecting miniature cars is, at some point, every child's passion. Collecting highly detailed die cast models has also proven to be a real fascination of collectors who are always on the hunt for rare vehicles.

Die cast refers to the technique and the materials used to manufacture miniature cars, the metal used is a mixture of the zinc and aluminum which makes these miniature models very durable. Because of the fascination that these models create between people of all ages, many have started to purchase these models with the intent to start a collection.

However, starting a die cast collection involves a lot more than just buying them; today we are going to give you some pointers to help you start your die cast collection.

Find a die cast forum

If you are going to start a collection of anything in particular, the first step should always be to try to get in touch with people who share your interests and who may know a lot more than you in regards to this topic.

Finding a good die cast forum will not only help you learn more about the many models available and how to collect them but it will also fuel your passion for this new found hobby.

Participating in an online forum will also help you learn more about the way people refer to specific cars for instance, when someone talks about HW they are really referring to hot wheels, which is a reasonably famous brand of die cast vehicles, when someone says something about a "chase car" what they are really trying to say is that they are interested in talking about cars which collectors "chase" hence the phrase chase cars.

There are many more abbreviations and phrases used by die cast collectors that you will learn as you exchange thoughts and ideas with people in the community.

Get good storage for your collection

Buying boxes or containers which will allow you to store your die cast vehicle collection and keep it in mint condition will increase the value of your vehicles and will also let you appreciate the art of your miniature vehicles.

Pick specific models to start your collection

Starting a die cast collection requires that you choose the type of vehicle that you want to collect, if you are a fan of vintage cars then it would be a good idea to start collecting vintage die cast vehicles, those who prefer pickup trucks, motorcycles or classic cars can also narrow their selections to these specific models.

Choosing a niche will add more value to your collection because you will not have all sorts of vehicles lying around but instead you will have a more defined group of die cast vehicles. Choosing a niche will separate you from the casual die cast buyer.

If you want to start a die cast vintage collection then it would be a great idea to visit antique shops, yard sales and auction websites as they are great sources for you to find rare models at great prices, and often for almost nothing.

If you want to increase your collection or if you want to find a specific die cast model then it is a good idea to nurture a network of friends and people who share your passion, having several friends who collect die cast vehicles or being a member of an online community will open the doors to resources that were not available to you before, you can take advantage of your contacts by trading vehicles to refine your collection.

Get to know the vehicles in your collection

Some die cast collectors tend to spend years looking for "chase cars" and after so many years, when their passion starts to fade away, they decide to sell their collection.

In many occasions people have sold die cast vehicles that are so rare that if they were to be put on an auction website they would undoubtedly fetch thousands of dollars so, make sure you know what you have got and take good care of it.

GET WOUND UP WITH VINTAGE TOYS ROBOTS

Toy robots are not just for kids. It seems adults are amassing their own collections of these wonderful toys. In fact, vintage toy robots have become extremely collectible items, especially vintage Japanese tin toy robots.

Serious collectors prize them for their artistic value as well as their contribution to science fiction. Some can command very high prices in today's marketplace, even though they were inexpensive toys that originally sold for only a few dollars. A robot with its original beautifully illustrated box will fetch even more.

There is some debate as to the actual year the first mass-produced Japanese tin toy robot was manufactured. It is believe to be sometime between the late 1930's to the mid 1940's. A little yellow robot, named Robot Lilliput is generally thought to be the first Japanese tin toy robot.

Japanese manufacturers produced numerous fine tin robots using sheet iron material plated with tin and printed with a process called lithography. The first robots were friction or clockwork robots that could be wound up.

They were followed by battery operated ones. These robots could perform various play actions, for example, walking, bump and go, moving head and arms, flashing lights, puffing smoke, operating tools or vehicles, shooting guns and turning gears, talking voices or making various sounds. Each style of robot had its own unique personality.

Many United States importers traded in them. The following is a list of the better known Japanese manufactures and some of the robots they made.

1. Asakusa - Thunder Robot

2. Daiya - Astronaut Robot, Laser Robot 008, Ranger Robot

3. Horikawa - Busy Cart Robot, Engine Smoking Robot, Excavator Robot, Mr. Patrol Robot

4. Masudaya - R-35 Robot, Gang of Five Robots

5. Noguchi - Mechanical Robot, Mighty Robot

6. Nomura - Musical Drummer Robot, Radar Robot

7. Yonezawa - TV Space Man, Buzzer Robot, Directional Robot, Easelback Robot, Moon Robot, Space Explorer Robot, Talking Robot, Winky Robot, Mr. Atomic Thinking Robot

8. Yoshiya - Chief Robotman, Chief Smoky Robot, Mighty Robot, High Wheel Robot, Sparky Robot

It is important for a collector to protect his valuable collection. Taking out batteries before storing or displaying robots to prevent damage caused by battery leaks. Care should be taken to shelter the robots and their boxes from direct sunlight to avoid fading.

Also, they must be protected from excessive cold, heat and moisture. It is recommended to operate the robot occasionally not only to enhance the collector's pleasure in his hobby, but also to maintain the robot's machinery.

Vintage toy robots are able to stir up magical memories and feelings of nostalgia with people who enjoyed these toys as children. Many excellent reproductions are currently being produced.

Which should allow waddling, blinking and beeping robots to continue delighting generations of children well into the future.

A Beginner's Guide to Radio Controlled Cars

Remember the exhilaration of driving your first car?

How about watching Kyle Busch take the checkered flag as he crosses the finish line?

Wouldn't you have wished that you were in the driver's seat, feeling the power of your car, as you speed down the racetrack?

However, owning a race car, much less driving one, is not within the financial means of most. But don't fret, for having a radio controlled (RC) car may be the next best thing in being another Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

How does one start with the hobby? Here are a few guidelines in helping a newbie:

1. Start with toy grade RC cars.

There are two kinds of RC cars: toy types and hobby grade cars. Toy types are cheaper; hence it is a good place to start. If, later, you think that the hobby is for you, you may upgrade to hobby grade RC cars.

The latter are higher in quality but more expensive. You also need to have more expertise, as hobby grade cars need assembling and maintenance.

2. Buy ready to run (RTR) cars.

RTR cars are pre-assembled; hence you won't need to build the car from scratch. These kinds of cars will let you know how an RC car really works. You can learn how you can control and maneuver your car. Although these are already assembled, you can still upgrade and replace some parts to soup up your car.

After you have gained experience, you may want to build your car from ground up. There is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in assembling your own car and making it run. It is as if you are building a real one.

3. Choose battery-powered cars.

Two types of power source are available for RC cars: electric and fuel. Electric-powered cars have rechargeable battery packs as their main source of energy. On the other hand, fuel-powered cars use a special kind of fuel, called nitro. This fuel is NOT gasoline, but a mixture of three main components: nitromethane, methanol, and oil.

Electric-powered cars are easy to maintain, and, thus, are suitable for beginners. You only have to clean the dust, check any damaged parts, and replace worn-out parts. The batteries only need to be recharged and you are ready to run the RC car once more. These cars also weigh less hence they accelerate faster.

Fuel-powered cars run much faster, reaching speeds of over 70 mph. They can give the feeling of a "real" car, emitting gas fumes and engine roars. However, maintenance of the cars is much more involved. Like real cars, fuel-powered RC cars also need tune-ups and maintenance, such as oil changes and electrical tuning.

Later, as you become more adept, you may enter races pitting against other RC cars, adding excitement to your hobby.

Having radio controlled cars as a hobby can provide you with endless fun and satisfaction. But you have to start small, for the hobby may involve much time and money.

Buying simple and cheap cars will not be a waste of money, since you can learn from them, upgrading your RC cars as you become more experienced.

BEER BREWING AND HOPS, A GREAT WAY TO UTILIZE A USELESS PLANT

Beer is essentially comprised of four primary ingredients: water, malt, yeast, and hops. These ingredients are boiled, cooled, and stored to ferment.

Beer historically was brewed without hops, which is now one of beer's primary ingredients. Hops are the flower of a vine type plant that is related to cannabis, but does not contain any of the chemicals that makes marijuana popular.

It can be grown in nearly any climate that provides sufficient water and sunlight. The vine may achieve a height of as much as 40 feet.

Hops, first used in Europe around 1100 AD, help to create more beer from the same quantity of malt. Hops act as a preservative and flavoring agent. It adds a bitter flavor that tends to counterbalance the sweetness of malt sugar (maltose). It adds a fragrance that varies from piney to citrus-like.

As a preservative, it allows for lower alcohol content to be present, while helping keep the beer fresh enough to be consumed for more than just a few weeks.

Since the alcohol is the result of fermentation of barley grain, adding hops allows the brew master to use less grain to brew the same amount of beer. That keeps production costs lower.

Hops contribute to the flavor of beer in many ways. Hops contain alpha acids. As is common with some acids, when they are heated they become bitter. At the same time, hops contain oils that add distinctive aromas.

Aroma and taste are closely intertwined, and the introduction of a scent such as herbal or pine can influence the taste experience of the final product. Additional hops are put in during the production process, because these oils easily vaporize and escape when they are heated.

To add even more aroma and flavor, additional hops are sometimes introduced at the end of the brewing process. This technique contributes to ale's more heady nose and flavor compared to most lagers.

Hops even contain a mild antibiotic that helps inhibit some of the organisms in the brew, allowing the yeast to conduct the fermentation process more efficiently.

The use of hops in brew making began around the beginning of the 12th century in Germany. Early in the 16th century, the practice spread to Britain. Scottish ales began using hops much later as they will not grow in the cold climate. The United States started using the technique in 1629.

Considering the geographic diversity and extended history, it is not hard to understand why today there are several dozen basic varieties of hops and several hundred sub-varieties. Noble hops alone exist in four types.

Low in bitterness and high in aroma, they originate in Central Europe and have exotic names like Saaz and Spalter, Tettnanger and Hallertau. The names are derived largely from their region of origin.

An English hop used in some ale, Goldings, may be a name more familiar to English readers. Fuggles is a woody hop developed in England in the late 19th century.

Hersbrucker is a German hop used in pale lagers, and Lublin comes from Poland. Having a berry-like aroma is the Pacific Gem, from New Zealand.

Since hops have practically no commercial value other than their use in beer making, the world is lucky to have clever brewmeisters that can include the plant in the manufacture of such a delightful beverage.

BREWING YOUR OWN BEER

Many of the beers available in our stores are brewed to similar recipes. This is because many breweries went out of business during the days of prohibition, leaving only large corporations that produced mostly American light beers.

If you prefer something different home brewing gives you the opportunity to experiment with ingredients and recipes, creating beers that suit your palate.

If you know of a beer you like but it is just a little too bitter or too light you can find the recipe for that type of beer and experiment by adding a different amount of hops, yeast or malt, letting the yeast ferment slightly longer, or using a different ingredient that is usually used in a different beer.

To produce an ale or lager you use different yeasts, ferment at different temperatures, and brew for different amounts of time. Be aware that the yeast used to brew lagers contains more sulfur compounds and often produces a smell of rotten eggs.

The type of malt used also makes a difference to your brew. Barley malt is probably the most commonly used. Wheat malt has fewer types of tannin, and rye malt adds spiciness to the brew. There are also biscuit malt, caramel malt, chocolate malt, and dextrin malt.

The easiest way to start brewing is with a kit. This will have all the special ingredients you will need. For most kits you will also need about five gallons of distilled or boiled water.

Start by boiling two gallons of water. While it is boiling stand the containers of ale extract and malt extract in lukewarm water. This will make the contents easier to pour.
Once the water has boiled remove it from the heat and pour the two extracts in. Stir until the extracts have dissolved then return the mixture to the heat and boil for about half an hour. Let it stand and cool.

Next put the yeast in half a cup of warm water to rehydrate it. This and the cooled mixture are poured back into the original container of distilled or boiled water. Stretch and secure a cloth over the top of this container and keep it in a cool, dark place for two weeks.

Keep checking the condition of the cloth and the temperature. If the cloth becomes wet it should be replaced. If the ambient temperature is too warm carbonation may be affected and your beer will be flat.

After two weeks the beer should be ready for bottling. A mixture of corn sugar and water is added to the five-gallon container and mixed. Use a sanitized hose to siphon this into bottles, leaving an inch or so gap at the top.

Place the filled bottles in a dark place for another two weeks. They will then be ready to be placed in a refrigerator.

The next step is the best. Drink your brew, evaluate it, decide on any adjustments, and repeat as often as you please.