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Hong Kong – Top Attractions in "Central"

Central, on Hong Kong Island, is the area where modern Hong Kong started its life from, and although many of the fascinating colonial buildings that once dominated the area had given way to glittering skyscrapers and swish shopping malls, there are still more than a handful of attractions around here that are well worth visiting.

This article will lead you through some of the best attractions in “Central”.

  • Statue Square will be the first attraction on our trip. This 19th century square hosted the statues of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Edward VII and Sir Thomas Jackson, the legendary chief manager of HSBC, who was responsible for financing the development of the city in its early days.

    The statues were removed by the occupying Japanese forces during World War II but were brought back to Hong Kong as soon as the war was over.

  • The Former Supreme Court Building is located on the eastern side of Statue Square, west of Chater Garden.

    This 1912 neo-classical building was designed by Sir Aston Webb, the British architect responsible for the eastern facade of Buckingham Palace and the Cromwell Road frontage of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

  • Designed by the internationally known architect, Norman Foster, HSBC Hong Kong Headquarters Building (or simply HSBC Building) was the world’s most expensive building at the time it was inaugurated, back in 1985.

    Supported by five enormous steel modules, with no core structure whatsoever, the building has a colossal atrium and enjoys an excellent Feng Shui, as it is planned to allow a free flow of positive energies.

  • Bank of China (BOC) Tower, just a heartbeat from HSBC Building, is one of the most eye catching high-rises in Hong Kong, and is noticeable from almost everywhere around Victoria Harbour and the city.

    Soaring to an impressive height of 315 meters, this monumental skyscraper used to hold the title of “Asia’s tallest” building until 1992, and was the first building outside the US to break the 1000 foot mark.

    The zigzag frames around the tower help to equally distribute the structure’s weight between the five supporting columns, and the unique angles they form make the building look different when viewed from different locations.

  • Hong Kong Park, right opposite Bank of China Tower, is a heaven of greenery and tranquility amidst the skyscrapers, with lotus ponds, manmade waterfalls, Tai Chi Garden and a particularly beautiful walk-through aviary.

    Another notable attraction in Hong Kong Park is Flagstaff House: The city’s oldest remaining colonial-style building, which once served as the military headquarters office and residence of the Commander of the British forces in Hong Kong, and is now home of the Museum of Tea Ware, where you can see some fascinating collections of tea related artifacts.

  • Inaugurated in the early 1870s, the Hong Kong Zoological and botanical Gardens is one of the world’s oldest existing zoos, and although its collection of animals is far smaller than that of counterpart zoos in other metropolitan cities across the universe, it is still a very nice place to visit, especially the botanical section, where you can familiarize yourself to some unique plants, indigenous to this part of the world.

    There are some interesting colonial buildings near BOC Tower and the park that are worth taking a look at, as they give you a glimpse into how the city looked like in its early days… Those include the neo-classical Former French Mission Building, with its granite and red bricks facade (currently housing the Court of final appeals), the 1840s St. John’s Cathedral, which is possibly East Asia’s oldest Anglican church, and the 1916 Helena May main building, near the Peak Tram Lower Terminus, which is a colonial style members-club, initially built to provide a safe respite for unaccompanied women who arrived at the city.

  • On the other side of the Zoo, below Government House, you should visit places like the old stairway at tiny Duddell Street, where Hong Kong’s only remaining gas lamps can still be seen, or Bishop’s House and The Fringe Club on adjacent Lower Albert Road.

    Conclude the trip with a cup of coffee at the alfresco piazza in Exchange Square Complex, surrounded by contemporary sculptures, and uber-glitzy skyscrapers that will give you neck-aches… Two IFC Tower, the gigantic obelisk-shaped tower standing between Exchange Square and the Star Ferry Pier, is currently Hong Kong’s tallest building, although it is going to be surpassed soon by the upcoming International Commerce Centre in Kowloon.

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Being a Make-Up Artist

As a matter of fact, Malaysia make-up artist is said to be a person with skills of knowing every secrets and tricks of drawing on the face. These people should also be well-equipped with the fine techniques and tiny details of make-up to create a wonderful facade of the face. Usually they are the hidden people behind the screen working on the make-up. They are often seen working in filming and glamorous industries, stage shows, beauty salons as well as television broadcasting companies and modeling performances.

A facial artist should be an expert in few fundamental techniques of the make-up. They include the basic make-up and beautifying methods, barbering techniques and even certain hairstyling procedures. They should be able to blend the face and hair well to present the most stunning looking features of the person. They should also be able to alter the make-up and beauty styles according to the occasion and scenarios. Like other artists, a Malaysia make-up artist requires much experience to be famous. They should be incessantly working on research and refurbish themselves on the design techniques to keep their skills updated.

Basically a facial artist will have to equip themselves with few important criteria. As their job often requires the collaboration with other people such as producers, directions and event managers, they should enjoy working with people besides being able to follow instructions. They should also have a strong capability to visualize sense and render creativity and new make-up ideas.

They must also have the ability to create the best out of people. As the saying goes, make-up can make wonders and miracles to a person’s expression. Thus these people should be able to bring out the best appearance of a person even if the look is pretty ordinary. Apart from that, it is better that they can voice out suggestions and list out the possible appearance for the people to choose. Most of the time, a facial artist is also required to have strong ability to cope with high working pressure besides displaying a consistent and relentless stamina and concentration throughout the working duration. Also, one has to be very methodical, disciplined and accustomed to the make-up art. They should be able to work in a team and corporate with other people. A make-up artist must also never give up in striking excellence and perfection in beauty.

A Malaysia make-up artist is no longer a typical working occupation as these people are becoming more important as a constituent in the entertainment and glamorous industry. Everyone portray strong desires to look beautiful thus make-up artists can give them the best immediate necessities towards their goals.

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How to Install a Motorcycle Alarm the Right Way

This article is written for beginners with little electrical experience; however, some knowledge of electricity and mechanics are assumed. This information is provided by West Coast Cycle free of charge and on an “as is” basis, without any representation or warranty to the products being installed. It is your responsibility to insure proper installation. West Coast Cycle assumes no responsibility with regards to the accuracy or currency of this information. Proper installation in every case is and remains the responsibility of the installer.

We think you’ve made a good choice in deciding to use an alarm system to protect your motorcycle, after all, in 2005 over 70,000 motorcycles were stolen. Now the question is: “How in the world am I going to install this – there are so many wires.” What seems like a hard task is actually not too bad; however, you need to have a least some mechanical ability. You will need to know how to test the polarity of a wire using a digital multi-meter. So if you don’t have a clue as to what a multi-meter is, save yourself the headache and take it to a motorcycle shop. Lastly, you will need basic tools to remove some side panels and covers to access the motorcycles wiring.

Gathering Information and Reference Material.

Information is the backbone of your soon to be successful installation. You should gather documents with vehicle specific wiring colors, locations and polarities. These charts are available in a multitude of places, generally free of charge. You can locate this information in the bike’s shop manual, at the dealership of the motorcycle, or possibly online.

Planning the Alarm Install.

Your plan will be the difference between a finished product and a job left for next weekend. A few minutes of planning and prepping will yield at least an hour and a half less install time. It’s not fun, but it needs to be done! Begin by studying your motorcycle’s specific diagram side by side with your bike alarm installation diagram. Identify which features you plan to use on the alarm, not all features are necessary. (e.g., engine immobilizer, remote starting)

Preparing the Wiring.

Before installing, be sure to disconnect the (-) negative terminal of the motorcycle’s battery. This will eliminate the possibility of accidental electrical shorts and/or unnecessary battery drain.

Once you identify which features you will install, eliminate the unused wires, if any, to prevent clutter. It is common practice to twist the wires of a same plug together then secure them to each other with black electrical tape. Do not wrap the entire bundle, as different wires go to different locations. Once you finish wrapping all the harnesses, tape them to each other to create one large pigtail containing all of the used wires. This keeps the wires together, secure and free from frays and obstruction. You will now want to identify the locations of the wires which you will connect to on your bike. Here is a hint: the majority of your wires will run from the ignition of your motorcycle back toward the center of motorcycle where the fuse box is usually located. The easiest way to locate these wires is to open the ignition key switch, and test the wires at this point to verify it is the correct wire. You won’t want to tap into the wire right next to the ignition. Rather, trace the wire back toward the fuse box or center of the bike where it is closer to the mounting location of the alarm system. This way you won’t have to run wires as far. The further you have to run wires the greater chance for something to go wrong.

Execution: Removing the Panels.

The right tools are the difference between bloody knuckles or no sweat. We suggest you seriously consider the specialty items, as they will be handy in other wiring projects in your future. You will want to begin be removing the panels where your wires are located. Be sure to notate where all clips and screws go, there is nothing worse than leftovers – if you know what we mean.

Wiring the Alarm Unit.

Once the panels are removed, you will want to locate a good spot to mount the main alarm module. The harder to see, the better. This will make it much more difficult for a would-be-thief. You will generally tie strap or adhere (if adhesive pad is provided) the module to a support brace or flat surface. Be sure to mount the unit in a location that is not too close to the engine. As a general rule we suggest at least 12 inches from the engine. Also, if an adhesive strip is provided with your alarm system, be sure to prep the surface with rubbing alcohol or degreaser prior to mounting. One of the best locations to mount the alarm module is beneath the seat of the motorcycle. Another possible location is within the spare tool compartment, if you don’t mind giving this space up.

Next, run the LED display light, siren, and external antenna, if equipped. Be sure to mount your siren in an obscure location also. At this time, everything which will be plugged into the unit should be. Begin by wiring any necessary relays first, if any are necessary. Most motorcycle alarm systems do not require relays; however, remote starting applications will often require relays on motorcycles with electronic fuel ignition. If you don’t have a remote start feature chances are you won’t need any relays. Getting these relays out of the way now will save you from a rat’s nest of wires. After the relays are wired, begin connecting your wires to the proper locations. You may want to read West Coast Cycle’s article on testing wire polarity before making any connections; you can find it at http://www.wcc-tech.com. You should always test wires before you make a connection. Connecting the wires can be done in a number of fashions. You can splice the wires and tape them using electrical tape. You can solder then tape or heat shrink. You can use t-tap connectors, although we personally do not recommend them for long-term use. T-tap connectors work well for preliminary tests of wires, but once you know the alarm system is working correctly, go back and solder the connections. It is completely your preference, but we suggest soldering connections followed by heat shrinking. Just be sure the connection is solid and free of any tension.

Identifying the correct wires.

If you don’t know the correct wire color to look for, here is how you can determine the correct wire. We also have an article on the technical support page of our website that offers detailed information on using a multi-meter to locate the correct wires.

Most motorcycle alarm systems have 5 basic alarm system wires:

ACC / Interface Wire: The ACC wire of the Installation Harness connects to the IGN / ACC wire in the bike’s ignition key switch harness. The wire you need to find in the bike’s harness should be +12v only when the ignition key is switched to the ON position; and if the ignition key is switched off, this wire should not show any voltage. Two tips: This wire runs from the ignition to the fuse box. If the bike already has a factory immobilizer, you can use the ACC alarm wire to shut off the fuel pump or cut the starter line.

Engine Immobilizer Wires: This common alarm system feature always uses two wires. This feature is like connecting a second kill switch to your motorcycle which is housed in the alarm system module and can be shut of via remote. There are three ways to use this feature; we’ll address the easiest way here. If you want more information on alternative ways to install this feature see the FAQ section of our website. You need to cut the side of the Kill Switch wire that leads back to the main power of the bike. You then connect one end of the cut wire to one of the two immobilizer wires and the other end of the cut wire to the other immobilizer wire. Hint: it does not mater which end is connect to the immobilizer wires, the feature will work either way.

Power and Ground Wires: We saved the easiest wires for last; we thought you’d appreciate that after all your hard work. All alarm systems have a power and ground wire. It is recommended that you connect the power and ground wires directly to the battery terminals. You may need to purchase wrap-around clamps, terminal taps or extensions for making an easy connection to each battery post. Failure to use the proper connecting method is surefire way to have problems with your alarm system down the road.

Congratulations, your bike is now safer!

Your installation should now be complete. Before putting the panels back on the motorcycle, open your alarm manual. There should be a section which displays the functions of your alarm system; this is great for testing your installation. Go through this process thoroughly. You will want to address any issues immediately. If you are having problems, refer to troubleshooting the troubleshooting section of your alarm system and check all your connections. If not, congratulations!

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The Health of Ham Radio Today

The Amateur Radio Service has an almost unduplicated position for a recreational activity/leisure time pursuit because of its historically tight coupling to the wireless telecommunications, broadcasting, and military communications industries. Few other hobbies have supplied such a sizable number of both motivated and trained workers and of useful technological improvements to their associated commercial industries.

There was once a time in the industry when it would have been routinely assumed that an applicant for a technical job was a licensed Amateur and had a station on-air. No longer is that true, of course. But, whether or not most people in the industry explicitly recognize it, the health and survival of the Amateur service is still very important for the industry – if for no other reason, because Amateur radio is one of the few remaining services where an individual can still develop practical, hands-on, trial-and-error RF experience on his own! And since such practical RF experience is becoming scarce in today’s raging digital flood, that’s not a small concern.

In the Curmudgeon’s view the health of the Amateur Service today is only average. Not robust but just “so-so,” a kind of flabby middle-age. And that is ironic, for the level of RF technology available to the Service has improved tremendously in the fifty years since the Curmudgeon earned his first license. But during these decades the sociology associated with the Service has degraded considerably. That degradation extends to licensees’ on-air behavior, to their motivation and interest to learn and to experiment, and to their willingness just to “lend a hand” to benefit others, whether in helping new initiates to qualify for licenses or in public service activities.

Today’s Amateur Service is not your grandfather’s hamming. “Yep, Bubb, it really was more fun back then!” Too many of today’s active hams are too disinclined to pick up a soldering iron, too egocentric in their on-air operating practices, too focused on artificially-produced competitiveness when cooperation would work equally as well. The character of the Service has degraded over the decades, perhaps tracking that of the larger American culture, and the obvious question is “Why?”

The Curmudgeon ascribes the sociology problem to two causes, one natural and one man-made. The natural cause is the aging-out of the senior ham population and with that the demise of some semblance of historical understanding, experience, and quality in the ranks. That of course is unstoppable. The man-made cause is something that the Curmudgeon now has to admit that he erred in initially favoring. That was the restructuring of the FCC license exam process as manifested by the establishment a few years ago of the “No Code” Amateur Radio licenses (i.e., no requirement to demonstrate ability to send/receive the International Morse Code, plus other unrelated changes).

Prior to the advent of restructuring, earning an Amateur license probably required more than the amount of work and dedication that would have been proportional to the reward, and thus the arduous licensing requirements overly restricted the entrance of new participants. Now the qualifications for the restructured Amateur licenses are probably set too low, and this has resulted in the influx of telecommunications consumers and casual hobbyists in quantities that threaten to seriously change the nature of the Service.

To be fair, the elimination of the code proficiency requirement itself was inevitable; it was a change that occurred in the same time period when Morse Code was also being dropped as an authorized emissions mode for other (commercial) radio services. By itself “No Code” is probably not sufficient to account for all the degradation. Rather, the Curmudgeon believes that the open publication of the license exam question pool, with its “just cram for the exam” ethic, and the concurrent rise of commercial “Amateur exam quick study courses” of various kinds has created much of the damage.

Just consider the advertisements for the nascent “FCC Amateur exam preparation industry.” In one case an entrepreneur advertises that an individual can go from zero telecommunications knowledge to passing the (entry level) Technician Class exam in a one-weekend “camp!” In another case an individual possessing the entrance grade license reported that he successfully passed the (highest level) Extra Class exam after just twelve hours of study using an on-line (for profit) Web site. There are testimonials also from individuals who claimed to have passed all three current levels of license exams from scratch in the course of only two months, using the various exam preparation services! These rapid time scales and minimal work loads were unknown in the Service prior to restructuring.

But perhaps the most telling example of the lowered level of the current exams involves an English ham…a chap who is a graduate engineer and a long-time holder of the highest level UK ham license. Recently he attended a UK national ham convention where he unexpectedly discovered that the US Amateur license exams were being given. With no preparatory studying whatsoever, never having ever read the FCC’s Part 97 Rules, and acting strictly on impulse, he instantly decided to take the US exams. Ninety minutes later he departed with a new US Amateur Extra Class license! A “special case,” of course, but what does it say about the quality of the current exams?

The Curmudgeon asks, “Where is the growth of skills and knowledge that comes with invested time, experience, and dedication to the Service, producing as a natural consequence the ever-increasing ability to pass the exams? Where are the proven benefits from this new license structure to the Amateur Service? To the industry? Isn’t this just more instant gratification for the ‘I want it….and NOW!’ crowd?” And so the culture and quality of the Service shift and continue to move over time.

Overall, this is a serious problem, and there aren’t any quick and easy solutions. Much of any reform that may occur will have to come from within the Amateur Service itself. But there is a definite role for the industry in the pursuit of this reform: recognizing, encouraging, supporting, and demanding the improvement of the Amateur Service! Not solely as a pro bono initiative; it’s really in the self-interest of the industry too!

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Small Business Web Host

A small business needs a web host with different requirements than sites that are targeted for personal use or for pleasure. Business sites needs to ensure that the host can guarantee reliable uptime and other important issues such as security and secured pages for payment protection. If you want to project a professional image to your prospects and potential customers, you can look around to find one that would suit all your needs. Choices are plentiful and you can easily find one that would be right for your small business.

If you are looking for a web host for your small business here are some issues to consider when choosing one.

Disk Space

To start off your search you need to be aware just how much disk space you would need to store your files and make sure your hosting provider can meet this need. The bigger the file size of your application, the more space you would need to store those files. If you are planning to run a large social networking site, then you would obviously need a dedicated server to do this.

Reliability

Some hosting companies are really bad on their promise and do not deliver the reliability you need. The worst thing that can happen to you is site downtime. This would include the time spent that your provider needs to maintain and service their servers. If the servers are prone to getting crashes and they do not offer a near 100% uptime guarantee for reliability, then you should avoid using these companies.

Bandwidth

You can find out the amount of bandwidth allocated for your hosting plan. Some hosting providers offer unlimited bandwidth which can be a real treat for you are looking for value for money. Bandwidth allocation is crucial to enable you to ensure your website visitors are able to access your site at anytime without any problems.

Security

Some hosting providers have very low security measures and your site can get hacked by external threats such as malicious third parties if you are not careful. Choose hosting provider that offers a tight measure to protect all of the files in the server. Getting a low security server is disastrous for your business website. Just imagine what would happen when your family-related site is attacked by unknown virus or third parties that place pornographic pictures on your company's home page?

Integrity

This would refer to the accuracy and genuineness of the data that is transmitted over the network.

Whenever a data is intercepted and changed before arriving to the intended recipient then the integrity is list. This can happen in a company website when a third party intercepts a particular data and replaces it with another and pretend to be coming from your site. It can replace the header information and acts as if those files are really originating from your server.

Secure Socket Layer

Secure Socket Layer refers to the protocol that is used to protect the integrity of the data that is going in and out of your website to the intended recipient. Most payment pages make use of this method to ensure the integrity and security of the sensitive data being transmitted over the network.

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YouTube Videos About Opening Car Door Locks

If you were born during the age of the internet, there is no denying that YouTube is a cultural phenomenon of global proportions. This is where people post videos that turn out to be legends in their own right. The more popular videos are the ones that feature techniques on how to open car door locks.

This is a very popular video because it opens the possibility of getting access to the car door without a real key. It is like keyless entry in a way. It also made people concerned because it could mean that their expensive cars may be in danger of getting stolen.

One of those myths deals with opening a locked car door with the use of a cellular phone. In the video a person locks in their key inside the car. The car makes use of an automatic radio controlled lock. Luckily the car owner has a spare key at home and a mobile phone. He calls his roommate and asks him to press the unlock key and point it to the receiver of the phone. He then points the speaker of the phone towards the car and the door magically opens.

The theory behind this is that a cellular phone and the remote control on a door lock operate using the same technology which is radio frequencies. That is why when a person presses the signal through the mobile phone it travels like our voices do when we talk to our friend.

It may seem that it is a valid point, but this is merely a hoax designed to generate hits in YouTube. Although a cellular phone uses radio frequencies to send the signals through it does not operate within the same frequencies.

A mobile phone is designed to cut signals not within the normal range of human hearing or their speaking voice. The frequency of a remote control door lock is either too high or too low for the human ear to hear, much like the frequency of a whistle used to call dogs. It would be more effective to use a mobile locksmith to open your door than it is for a mobile phone to do so.

Another popular YouTube video is the one where they try to open a car door that is locked and they do it by using a tennis ball. The way the video opens the door is by punch a small hole going directly to the center of the ball.

The theory is that the tennis ball, when pressed would produce air pressure that will push the mechanism in the lock open long enough for the door lock to be opened. If this were true, a girl would just bring a tennis ball in their purses and they instantly have a master key in their purse.

The problem is that there are holes in that theory. First of all the tennis ball would not be able to push the pins on the lock since the pins are spring loaded. It will also be difficult for the tennis ball to create a steady stream of air for the lock to be activated. Finally, it will not be possible for the tennis ball to maintain the air pressure to open the lock because the lock mechanism is not pressurized to contain air.

The moral lesson of the story is to not believe the videos you find in YouTube. If you are ever locked out of your car, it would be better to call a Locksmith than make a futile attempt at trying these videos out.

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Feeding and Nesting in Style

The variety of birds feeding in my yard during the winter — chickadees, finches, sparrows, blackbirds, starlings and woodpeckers –is amazing. The birds mingle together fairly peacefully, but the starlings are rather bossy when it’s feeding time. I’ve learned if I use more feeders, the smaller, less aggressive birds can get more to eat. So I designed a gazebo-style feeder. Then, thinking about spring, I made a matching bird-house.

If you plan to paint the birdhouse or bird feeder, you can use any material in your scrap box, but if you intend to stain them or leave them unfinished, use redwood, cedar or cypress.

The rooflines make the structures unique. Making the angled cuts on the roof panels is easiest to do with a band saw or scroll saw, but you can use a table saw or a radial arm saw. I used 1/2-in. stock for some pieces and 3/4-in. stock for other parts, which reflected what was in my scrap bin. You can use 1/2- or 3/4-in. solid material for any of the pieces. I don’t recommend using plywood for either project because it tends to warp and delaminate.

Start by cutting the stock to size. Bevel the sides of the roof panels 30 degrees. Miter the sides, top and roof supports 60 degrees (see drawings, above and on p. 24). If you plan to hang the structures, drill a 1/4-in.-dia. hole in the center of each roof support and a 1/8-in.-dia. hole in the center of each top.

Before you begin assembling the basic structure, check the fit of the roof panels by temporarily attaching them to the top. Fasten the roof support to one roof panel with a small finishing nail so that a mitered edge fits flush with the beveled edge of the roof panel. Next, set the top on a piece of 1/2-in.-thick scrap that is slightly smaller than the top; then put the roof panels in place around the top. Use small plastic bags filled with sand to keep the roof panels from slipping out of position. Check that the roof panels fit the top properly. If they don’t, change the thickness of the scrap piece to raise or lower the top as necessary. Also check that the roof panels fit correctly at the peak. If not, lower the roof support slightly. When you’re satisfied with the fit of the roof panels, remove each of them one at a time, marking them where they join the top.

You can shingle the roof using ready-made dollhouse shingles if you like, but making your own shingles is not difficult. You’ll need a band saw with a 1/4-in. blade or a scroll saw to cut the shingles. Begin with 3/4- or 1-in.-thick cedar about 24 in. long and cut it lengthwise into 1/16- to 3/32-in.-thick strips.

Take a stack of strips about 1 in. high and drive a 1-in. brad near the end of the stack to keep the strips aligned. Using a fence on your band saw, cut the strips into 1-1/2-in. lengths. To bevel the comers of the shingles, align a 2-in. stack and grip it tightly between your thumb and forefinger; then grind the comers on one end of the stack using a belt or disc sander.

To attach the shingles, mark the centerline on a roof panel; then draw horizontal lines 1 in. apart starting at the bottom of the panel. Glue a 3/32- x 1/4-in. edge strip along the bottom of the panel. Apply a bead of yellow glue to the edge strip and to the roof panel just below the first horizontal line. Place a shingle on the edge strip next to the centerline with the top of the shingle on the horizontal line. Continue to add shingles to complete the first bottom course. Leave about 1/32 in. clearance between shingles.

Stagger the shingles on the subsequent courses so that they cover the spaces between shingles on the previous courses. Let the shingles overlap the edge of the panels; then when the glue is dry, trim the shingles with a band saw or utility knife.

Before you assemble the birdhouse, use a hole saw to drill a 2-in.-dia. hole in one of the side pieces. Glue and nail a perch about 1 in. below the hole. The perch will be inside the birdhouse.

Join the sides of the birdhouse together with glue. A web clamp or an elastic band will hold them in place while the glue dries. Attach the top and bottom to the sides with no. 8 x 1-in. flathead wood screws.

To assemble the bird feeder, mark and drill 3/8-in.-dia. through-holes in the top and bottom; then assemble them with the dowels. Apply yellow glue to the ends of the dowels and drive them into the holes so they’re flush with the edges of the boards.

After you’ve assembled the structures, attach the roof panels to each top and roof support with glue and 1-1/2-in. finishing nails. An air-powered brad nailer works best, but you can use regular finishing nails. If you do so, drill a 3/32-in.-dia. clearance hole through the roof panels; then hammer carefully to avoid breaking the shingles.

If you’re going to hang the structures, cut about 12 in. from a wire clothes hanger, form a coil in one end and thread it through the hole in the roof support and the top; then make a 90-degree bend in the end. Insert the wire before you assemble all the roof panels. If you place the structures on a pole, insert a ball and dowel in a 5/16-in.-dia. hole in the top.

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Numerology & The Number 11 – What it Means & Why it’s so Challenging

Seeing the number 11 over and over in your daily

life can mean many things.

It’s possible you have prominent “11” in your

comprehensive natal and, or timing charts, which

would mean the number 11 is especially

important to you.

It’s common for people to favor certain numbers, or for

certain numbers to mysteriously show up time and again

in their lives, without even realizing that the numbers are

of great magnitude (i.e., position and, or frequency) in

their comprehensive charts.

Or, perhaps it could be purely a subconscious attachment

to the number 11 for any number of reasons.

An article (see “Column” link on site) dated January 6th,

2006 posted on our web site features more information

about the phenomenon of seeing the same numbers over

and over (whether it is the number 11 or other numbers).

Our Numerology Decoder Software correctly calculates

Master Numbers, can tell you where in your basic charts

you have them and what they mean in those positions.

11 is a Master Number, as are all double digit numbers,

such as 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, and 99. “Master

Number” is an appropriate term because the high side

of each Master Number represents rare and exceptional

energy originating from outside mundane reality, far

from the norm. But too often the low side of these

double digits manifests, and operating productively

under the energy is like trying to tame a wild horse,

especially when the person lacks the discipline and

general overall capacity to deal with life’s challenges

in the first place. Difficult personal timing as reflected

by the collective patterns of time cycles also symbolically

prohibits the constructive expression of Master Numbers.

11 is not an easy number, especially for material interests.

You want to avoid heavy speculation, for example, if you

have a lot of 11 energy in your comprehensive charts.

There is a huge potential for loss in high risk material

concerns, depending upon the rest of the patterns in the

natal and timing comprehensive charts.

Some of the more challenging traits associated with

the number 11 may include any of the following (other

considerations in the charts collectively either support

or mitigate the energy): Nervous energy, intense fear,

unpredictability, unrealistic outlook, lack of

discernment, religious dogma, fanaticism, insecurity,

hyper-sensitivity, controversial behavior, overly

receptive and vulnerable to the point of being an easy

target, self-deprecation, low self-worth, health issues,

stagnant energy, vacillation, excessive mutability or

changeability to the point of constantly riding the fence

and lacking true personal convictions, dual nature,

excessive idealism and unrealistic spiritual ideas

resulting in a cosmic fu-fu-based dogmatic outlook,

complex personality, untamed, wild inspiration,

emotional volatility, infamy, extreme behavior, or

insanity.

On the high side (again, other aspects/patterns

collectively either corroborate, moderate, or cancel

out the qualities), those with heavy 11 may possess

illumination, unparalleled spiritual awareness (if they

are otherwise grounded, as symbolized by the rest of

the comprehensive charts’ energy), magnetism, vision,

prophetic talent, charm, grace, inventive inspiration,

and they may have regular revelations to help guide

them on their earthly path. They are often natural

channels and mediums, messengers for the Gods, and

they frequently end up well-known or famous

(frequently very famous). Artistic talent is common,

as are big ideas, high standards, strong interest in

metaphysics and holistic healing, humanitarianism,

and public service, often through their work (although

it may not appear directly as public service).

11 pertains to heightened awareness and those with

plenty of 11 tend to get regular shocking insight about

their life and other people. After growing into their talent,

it’s not shocking any longer, at least to them. While they

are often vulnerable, they see others as they are, beyond

the personas and facades. They must learn to trust their

insight and avoid going with the expected modes of

thought and behavior. Grounding disciplines, such as

meditation, exercise, or artistic pursuits serve them well.

Those who try to ignore and deny their piercing

illumination risk phobias, obsessions, and even

psychosis.

Those with a traditionalist point of view possessing

heavy 11 who expect life conditions that appeal to

society (out of a desire for approval) are prone to

embarrassing life situations. For example, a messy,

very public divorce, or a daughter who comes out of

the closet in a very public way in a part of the world

where expressing one’s true sexual orientation is still

significantly frowned upon is typical.

Again, 11 isn’t easy. Those with a potent 11 along with

heavy materialistic considerations in the comprehensive

charts, sadly, are often challenged with integrity issues.

Duplicity and deceit eventually gain them infamy.

Kenneth Lay (The former CEO of Enron was convicted

of 10 counts of securities fraud in one of the most

publicized corruption scandals in U.S. history; Enron’s

bankruptcy was the biggest in U.S. history when it was

filed in late 2001.) and Manuel Noriega (The Panamanian

dictator was accused of taking payoffs from a Columbian

drug cartel; in the early 1990s he was convicted and

sentenced to 40 years in U.S. prison.) are two prime

examples.

Divine revelation is intimately tied to the number 11.

The two columns of the side-by-side number ones

comprising the 11 symbolize a channel from higher

dimensions.

Unfortunately those with plenty of 11 are too often

seen as empty-headed. This is partly because it’s not

easy being in two places at once under the 11 (easier

with other Master Numbers, such as 22 or 77). They

split their energy between the earth plane and other

dimensions, often-times preferring the latter. It’s as if

in their most previous existences, they spent more time

in angelic form instead of in human form. It’s natural

for them to psychically tap into the mysterious, unseen

levels of being while generating their phenomenal

visions. However, they suffer from not spending 100%

of their time rooted on the earth plane, and it detracts

from a solid “feet on the ground” existence.

Number 11 demands that one lives their light, no

matter how “good” or “bad” that light might seem to

society. To do otherwise makes their life more difficult

than necessary. A compassionate viewpoint and candid

way of life, living within their ideals, allows them to

effectively spread their vision, fulfilling their earthly

mission.

Some great examples of known individuals with heavy

11 energy (in various, prominent positions in the

comprehensive charts) include the following:

*Leonardo DiCaprio, American actor, lead in Titanic,

the biggest grossing film of all time.

*George Patton, American military commander of

WW1 forces. He Claimed he had lived previous lives

as, among others, a Greek soldier and a Roman

Legionnaire.

*Jackie Stewart, Scottish-American pro race car

driver; one of the most famous race car drivers of all

time.

*Gene Wilder, American comedian and actor. Joined

the army in his 20s and spent two years in the

psychiatric hospital ward, which he later drew upon

for his role in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

Copyright © 2007 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo

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How To Apply Makeup For Office Lighting

If you work in an office with fluorescent lighting you have probably noticed that this type of lighting is quite unflattering. Do not despair! There are ways of applying your makeup that will make you look as lovely in this lighting as you do everywhere else.

Because these lights can make your skin look almost green or sallow, you want to offset this by using warm and golden makeup colors. Stay clear of pink in this light because it can tend to look muddy and almost orange under the harsh cast of the fluorescent lights.

Your blush should be in the rose or apricot shades because, again, pink or anything reddish will appear too harsh in this lighting.

For your lips, anything in an earth tone color, like browns, taupes or brick reds, will look almost dirty under fluorescent lights. Try a nice peach or nearly nude gloss or lipstick instead for the office.

The same guidelines apply for your eye makeup at the office. This is not the place for the dark brown, smoky eye. Blue and gray shadows will also not be right in this light. Rose, peach and gold will look best in this lighting because they will offset the sallow and greenish cast of the lighting. Black mascara and liner will play much colder and harsher in office lighting than anywhere else, and so you may want to experiment with brown mascara and liners for work.

There are makeup mirrors available with settings for various types of lighting, and fluorescent lighting is a setting available on most models of these mirrors. The lighting mimics what you would have in an office, and you can apply the makeup as if you are already in that lighting. You may want to pick up a mirror like this, if you do not own one already.

Now that you have an understanding of how the lighting in your office can effect how your makeup looks, it should be a bit easier to pick the right colors. A makeup mirror with the various settings will really help you a lot! This is a fairly inexpensive item that has huge payoffs. You can see your makeup in daylight, night light and office light right in your own home! These minor adjustments will allow you to wear your makeup in unflattering light and still look great. If you must be in an office all day, you might as well look your best while you’re at it!

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Installing Vapor Barrier

Your house should have airtight insulation to prevent heat loss, which also will prevent moisture buildup in the walls. Read here about how to get the vapor barrier completely sealed.

A vapor barrier prevents the warm indoor air to seep into the insulation and create condensation. And it makes the house so isolated that the heat loss is reduced to a minimum. With a completely sealed barrier, you’ll meet the requirements for air tightness and the prevention of condensation.

The barrier is a powerful, durable plastic film, which should be carefully sealed at all joints. It should be used one and only one, barrier, and it should sit on the warm side of insulation. Whether you are building a new house or remodeling it is advisable to place the vapor barrier about 1/3 inside the warm side of the wall, to prevent unexpectedly to create holes in the plastic.

Misplaced vapor barrier can lead to extensive fungal decay and damage to the house’s load-bearing structures, and your insurance company may soon begin to argue when you ask them to cover the damage.

In the “old days”, there were leaky doors and windows that helped to provide a “natural ventilation”. As one began to fill in the insulation and sealed windows and doors, there came requirements that all the light parts of the building should be sealed, because the warm room air would seep into the insulation, in a construction with no vapor barrier.

In winter, the moist indoor air will condense in the insulation when it cools to the dew point. Similar to the dew on the mirror in a cold bathroom when you’ve taken a shower. The result is that moisture accumulates in the wall, and it leads to partially reduced insulation ability, and partly a much higher risk of mold and rot.

Proper placement of barrier.

To keep moist indoor air away from the insulation, put vapor barrier on the inside where the insulation is warm – it will get colder and colder, the farther out in the wall you get.

The vapor barrier should be airtight

Equally problematic as, or perhaps worse than, a misplaced vapor barrier is a leaky barrier. The moisture can quickly get through the plastic sheeting through bad joints and holes. A leak at about 1 mm, and 1 meter long, can easily generate 1 liter of water a day inside the wall.

Therefore, it is important that all joints are 100 percent clogged.

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Is Your Marriage Fire Proof?

It has been a two years since the film, “Fire Proof”, has been out, but with all of the talk of Tiger Woods cheating, I presumed I might ask the question, is your marriage fire proof?

There are 3 things that everybody can do to fire proof their marriages. If you put into action these three simple commitments, your relationship with your spouse will be successful and long. Now I say commitments because without commitments, there’s no marriage or relationship. Without commitments there’s little at all about anything.

Commitments make the world go around. I think America has trouble with commitment, that’s why fifty p.c of all marriages will end in divorce. We make commitments in business, with pals, our children and our spouse, but give little attention to when we break those commitments. Our commitments need our daily calls to make those commitments work.

Here are three commitments, if put into place and followed everyday without wavering, will change your life.

1. Commit to Always Keep Growing With your partner

can you remember when you and your other half first were dating? Was not that great! Nothing but uninterrupted time together. Do whatever it is that you want. Go wherever you wanted to go. You laughed and talked for hours, and did not care what time it was. What has happened to it? It should never stop. There are times when it may slow down, nevertheless it should never stop. Your children will grow up and move away, you will retire from that job some day, but you’ll always have your other half. Put some time back into your relationship and watch it grow.

2. Make Barriers and Stay Way Behind Them

The scene is two folks having words with one another and the one draws a line in the ground and says, ” I dare you to cross it”. You have to set up and follow those lines before you get into those sticky scenarios which will need you to make a split 2nd call. It’s not if those scenarios might occur, it’s when they can happen, and they may happen. That’s when the choice you make, could define the rest of your life. Just ask Tiger Woods.

3. Find an accountability Partner

A responsibility partner is someone that you go to talk about your personal stuff, whatever it is. Someone you are close to and trust with these intimate parts of your life. It might be an older person, or more then one person, but it can never, ever, be somebody of the opposite sex. Unless it is your mother, and then you may not wish to share that kind of stuff with your ma. This is essential. To have someone that can step your decision and say, “I believe your wrong….. You better be cautious about this….watch where your going. ” These aren’t common folks indeed, because we have a inclination to always cling to those that will say what we would like them to say.

Tiger Woods was always so close to his pop. I do not know for sure, but I think that his father was kinda like his responsibility partner. They almost certainly talked all of the time about different things. He went to all his contests and was always there to welcome him when he came off the course. It was really hard for Tiger Woods after his dad died. I recall that first tournament that he won after his fathers death. Tears streaming down his face, the emotional Tiger Woods wept in the arms of his wife. His good buddy was not there to greet him this time.

All of the cheating issues that Tiger has been handling have all come after his father’s death. This is perhaps the most significant part of the three. Learn how to be responsible to somebody. It might mean the difference between a healthy marriage or divorce.

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Customize Your Cell Phone With Ringtones and Wallpaper

As an important part of your daily life, your cell phone should reflect your personality. At one time, the only way to personalize your phone was to get one in your favorite color. Today, great cellular accessories such as ringtones and wallpapers make it easy to create a phone that's as unique as you are.

A ringtone is the sound your phone makes when there's an incoming call. Custom ringtones are fun cellular accessories to personalize your phone and help identify your phone in a room full of cell phone users. Ringtones are available for purchase or as free downloads on a variety of websites. To download these cellular accessories, your phone must have internet access. Many cell phone providers have websites containing custom ringtones, but you can also type "cell phone ringtones" into any search engine to find sources for these cellular accessories. If your cellular phone supports SP-MIDI files, there are online tutorials that can teach you how to create your own ringtones. However, not all cell phones are capable of playing custom ringtones and some models will only play either polyphonic or monophonic ringtones. If you're planning to use ringtones, make sure your phone is compatible with these cellular accessories.

Custom wallpapers are also great cellular accessories for people looking to personalize their phones. Cell phone wallpaper is just a smaller version of the desktop wallpapers for your home computer. Wallpapers can feature your favorite movies, actors, or music groups. Your wallpaper can be of a place you'd like to visit or of the car you'd like to own. You can even use your favorite photo to create your own wallpaper. To download these cellular accessories, your phone must have internet access. Like ringtones, wallpapers are available for purchase or as free downloads on many websites. You just need to type "cell phone wallpaper" into any search engine to find sources for these cellular accessories.

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Does Your Home Contain Cancer-Causing Asbestos Ceiling Tile?

Is asbestos ceiling tile hiding in your home? Are there asbestos fibers in your flooring tiles, acoustic or decorative ceiling or wall plaster, electrical insulation, or other items used to build your house? It is essential for you to answer these questions before beginning any remodeling jobs. Disturbing any building products that contain asbestos will most likely release asbestos fibers and dust particles into the air where they may be deeply inhaled. This may lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma, a lethal form of lung tumor.

When asbestos dust particles are inhaled into the lungs they are going to cause the body to dispatch immune system cells to fight them. Sadly, while making an attempt to free the body of these cancer-causing fibers the immune cells will die. As the years pass by scar tissue will grow around the lifeless cells, ultimately creating so much scar tissue the lungs will cease to function. Recognizing and carefully removing or encapsulating items created with asbestos should be completed before any remodeling or repair work is started. Asbestos removal cost is not economical, but is a minor price to pay for eradicating this danger in your residence.

Where does hazardous asbestos come from?

Asbestos occurs in nature all over the world. It’s present in an estimated 2/3 of all rocks within the earth’s crust. Naturally-occurring fibers are released into the open air resulting from erosion. A typical individual will breathe in about 15,000 asbestos fibers and dust particles each and every day. Though this appears like a lot it isn’t actually a health hazard. However, being exposed to higher amounts can lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Where are asbestos materials present?

Up until the Nineteen Seventies asbestos was a common ingredient found in items that had been used to build schools, office buildings, and residences. Typical items that contain this toxic mineral are asbestos ceiling tile, vinyl flooring, cement, heating ducts, sprayed-on wall and ceiling plaster, textured paints, blown-in insulation, roof tiles or shingles, sealants, sprayed-in fire-retardant items, and many thousands of additional items. The amount of asbestos used at this time has dramatically decreased due to government warnings and restrictions of usage. However, it still appears in lots of older homes, schools, and office buildings.

What is asbestos ceiling tile?

Asbestos fibers are strong and flexible enough to be made into materials that are fire and flame retardant, in addition to being resistant to heat and electricity. This makes them excellent as an insulating material. In addition they absorb noise effectively which makes them nice for soundproofing rooms. Asbestos ceiling tile was most often used in ceilings that had been dropped or suspended from the roof. This permitted a space to be created between the roof and ceiling tiles which helped reduce noise. This area is also where heating and ventilation ducts are found which may blow harmful fibers all through the building.

Some asbestos ceiling tiles are clearly labeled as containing the toxic mineral and may easily be spotted, whereas others are not. It is very tricky to determine if unmarked ceiling tiles contain asbestos or not. Being clearly labeled is the one way to know for sure if the product contains toxic material. By law, a ceiling tile is assumed to contain asbestos if it was made previous to 1981.

It is exceedingly important not to disturb any possible asbestos-containing items if you intend to remodel or restore items in your residence. The best approach is to have an inspector tell you if it is safe to begin remodeling before the remodeling work begins. If your home contains this toxic material it should be encapsulated or removed. Deadly consequences may be the consequence if correct measures are not followed.

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Explaining the Dangers of Buying Chinese Laminate Flooring

There is no escaping the fact times are hard – however people are still on the move and homes are selling. One of the most important, probably the most important feature of your home is the floor, it will be the first thing the potential buyer, guests or visitors will see when they come in to your home.

So to increase the change of selling your home or just make a grander entrance – improve the floor in your home – but how can you do that on a budget?

Laminate flooring, with is glueless installation helps many consumers solve that problem, today laminate flooring in the correct format, single plank, 10mm thick, beveled, hand scraped, etc is indistinguishable from real hardwood flooring but for a fraction of the cost. Take into account that installation cost on hardwood is $2-$5SF and you can do laminate flooring yourself the savings just keep adding up.

So the decision is made, laminate flooring it is, you will install it yourself and save a small fortune, and when complete it will look like a million dollars.

Now you go online to start the research process, you are probably even reading this article, if you are a complete novice here are the different quality levels of laminate flooring:

The Worst: 6mm thick, paper backing, particle board core and smooth finish, this will look ugly and as it is a 6mm product the boards will bow, installation will be very hard and I would hate to say it but probably come with a 10-15year warranty but will fall apart in 3 years, this will cost $0.69SF – stay away.

The Better: 7mm thick melamine backed (not paper backed as above) slight ticking finish on the surface, HDF core (not particle board again as above). This is a good product, number one selling in all the Home Centers, it is perfect, but it will look like laminate however is inexpensive and will cost from $0.75SF (online) to $1.99SF in stores.

The Best: 10mm/12mm thick (does not matter), HDF core, melamine backed, installation will be a snap as the thickness will create the structure for simple install. This should also come with a one plank look and beveled edges – it will look exactly the same as hardwood flooring, once down no-one would could tell the difference. However your bank account will notice the difference over hardwood, this premium laminate will cost from $1.29SF (online) to $3.95 for the same Pergo product. If you find this product for $1.29SF from a European manufacturer and it is 10mm, beveled and hand scraped – BUY IT!

Now that you understand the differences in quality – this is probably the most important piece of advice and we see the consequences of this almost daily. The issue of where the product is made, it’s origin of manufacture. In 1998 there was just1 Chinese laminate flooring factory today there are over 40 – it is shocking. The risk is there is no recourse on the warranty – how do you get the Chinese to fix the faulty product? Many USA retailers, especially wholesalers or online companies that sell the Chinese laminate, due to current economic hard times are going out of business. Who do you then call about your damaged flooring.

So here is the scenario – you bought the laminate from ‘ABCXYZ Laminate’ due to economic hard times they close the doors, you bought ‘Chau Ling’ laminate from them with a lifetime warranty – your floor gets water damage, or worse in the doorway wears through the planks – the manufacturer did not finish the surface correctly all was fine for a few months, even a year and then you have a problem.

Who do you go to now on the warranty? You cannot go back to the retailer, as they are no longer there, how do you find the Chinese factory – basically you know where you are and it sucks – you may have to replace the entire floor.

I cannot say this plain enough – buy from a company that has a USA corporation, not a retailer selling their product, but a Manufacturer with a USA identity – or at the very least a European Company – at least we have reciprocal agreements and understanding.

So when you see that 12mm (or 12.3mm) Chinese laminate Gingerwood, Wenge, Maple and it is beveled, random planks and looks perfect and it costs just $1.39SF with a lifetime warranty, you are actually just buying a laminate flooring with a 6-12 months warranty, maybe.

So it is a simple choice really – go with the 7mm for a great affordable product or spend a little more and get a hardwood (laminate) flooring that is 10mm thick for $1.29SF, from a reputable manufacturer with a USA corporation – even better made in the USA.

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Penis Pumping – 5 Deadly Disadvantages of Penis Pumping Exposed!

Penis pumping devices are widely promoted by sex toy companies. They claim that these gadgets can help in enhancing sexual stimulation or increasing penis size. But before you go ahead and use one, you should know the pros and cons of this gadget first. This article might let you see that penis pumping performed inappropriately may prove to give you far more problems than pleasure.

Penis pumps can be dangerous if used improperly. Listed below are just few of the disadvantages of penis pumping:

#1. Bursting of Blood Vessels

Before you buy a pump, make sure that it possesses a dependable pressure gauge and a detailed instruction manual. The pressure gauge should be able to read accurately as too much vacuum pressure might cause blood vessels in the penis burst.

#2. Thinning of Penis

Too much friction and pressure will eventually create a thin penis. Along with this disadvantage is that the penis might have reduced durations of erections.

#3. Deformation

No one wants a deformed penis. Performing penis pumping can make the sex organ look unnatural because of the frequent manipulation it undergoes.

#4. Dependence

Most users who’ve used a pump claim that once they have started using the tool and have relied on it for a period of time, they become highly dependent on it. This means they only get an erection if they use the pump.

#5. Temporary Enlargement

It is a common notion that when you use a penis pump frequently, you will be able to possess a bigger sex organ in the long run. The fact is, penis pumping provides only a temporary solution. Because blood is only sucked and trapped by the ring surrounding the base, there is no truth that using the gadget might enlarge the penis after lengthy use.

There are other side effects that may occur due to incorrect use of penis pumps and these may include peeling off of skin, extreme soreness and pain on the genital organ. Merely looking at the definition of penis pumps will let you see that it does not provide a permanent solution to your penis size problem.

There are natural ways in enlarging your sex organ and using pumping methods are definitely not one of these. Performing penis exercises is just one of the highly recommended means of penis enlargement. This is because penis exercises not only increases the size of your sex organ but is likewise very beneficial to your overall health.