Tuesday, September 27, 2011
spoof s
I was taken by a spoof okay sight (joel sims) is his line he sent a genuine looking okay buyer protection and everything so beware. if you get taken okay wont care even with somebody ripping you off with their logos and name so watch out.
Larger s Guide Photos!
BIG, BIG Photos ...
Yes! You can have larger photos in your guide!
Using the Guide Image Uploader
The Guide editor has an image uploader that
automatically resamples and shrinks your uploaded images to fit in a 200x200
area. If your images are smaller than 200, the Guide editor will show them at
true size. This 100x75 thumbnail image was uploaded and displayed at true size.
Next to it is the same image stretched larger by using the corner pullers.
Notice that stretching an image larger doesn't look very good, butpulling it
smaller can be useful.Caveat! There is an issue with stretching - read on.
There is a one-time only opportunity to stretch an
image by using the corner pullers IF you
are using Internet Explorer as your browser when editing. After
you have stretched the image once, and then previewed, you can NOT return and resize the image again, or an
error message will display and your only recourse is to delete the image and
upload again.
In Firefox/Netscape browsers,
the image can not be stretched AT ALL.
In doing so, the browser introduces a CSS styleattribute to the image tag that
is rejected by the Guide editor.
Yes! You can have larger photos in your guide!
Using the Guide Image Uploader
The Guide editor has an image uploader that
automatically resamples and shrinks your uploaded images to fit in a 200x200
area. If your images are smaller than 200, the Guide editor will show them at
true size. This 100x75 thumbnail image was uploaded and displayed at true size.
Next to it is the same image stretched larger by using the corner pullers.
Notice that stretching an image larger doesn't look very good, butpulling it
smaller can be useful.Caveat! There is an issue with stretching - read on.
There is a one-time only opportunity to stretch an
image by using the corner pullers IF you
are using Internet Explorer as your browser when editing. After
you have stretched the image once, and then previewed, you can NOT return and resize the image again, or an
error message will display and your only recourse is to delete the image and
upload again.
In Firefox/Netscape browsers,
the image can not be stretched AT ALL.
In doing so, the browser introduces a CSS styleattribute to the image tag that
is rejected by the Guide editor.
TOILET TRAINING
Most children are ready to toilet train by 24 months.
You can start buy reading some potty training books to your child.
BUY SUPPLIES
Potty Chair- Having the feet touch the floor during training gives leverage for pushing and a sense of security. Also offers freedom of getting on and off at own will.
Treats- Such as fruit, candy, cookies or crackers is a great reward, or you can try stickers. Buy or makea sticker book and everytime your child uses the potty you can let him/her pick a sticker to put in the book. You can make your own with a peice of paper, a ruler and a marker. Let your child help you decorate it!!
THE PROCESS
Make the potty chair one of your childs favorite possessions- before you purchase the chair, take your child with you and allow them to pick out the chair with you. Make it clear that it's there chair. Take it home and decorate with their name.
Encourage practice runs- Do practice runs whenever your child's face look promising. Good times are right after naps and 20 mins after a meal. Never you force or make your child sit against their own will.
Praise your child for their success- You can use hugs, kisses, words or treats. have lots of patience it will be worth it in the end.
**** TRY PEE PEE FIRST AND LET THEM GET THE HANG OF THAT! THEN GO IN FOR THE POO POO THAT CAN BE HARDER FOR SOME CHILDREN!! MAKE LITTLE GOODY BAGS OR BUY TOYS TO PUT UP AND LET YOUR CHILD KNOW THAT IF THEY MAKE PEE PEE OR POO POO THAT THEY WILL GET A PRIZE, GOODY OR WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO CALL IT!! YOU STILL MUST ENCOURAGE THEM FOR TRYING AND GIVE THEM SMALLER TREATS FORJUST SITTING ON THE TOILET!!**** DON'T LET THIS TIME BE STRESSFUL! MAKE IT FUN AND YOU WILL GET FAR!
You can start buy reading some potty training books to your child.
BUY SUPPLIES
Potty Chair- Having the feet touch the floor during training gives leverage for pushing and a sense of security. Also offers freedom of getting on and off at own will.
Treats- Such as fruit, candy, cookies or crackers is a great reward, or you can try stickers. Buy or makea sticker book and everytime your child uses the potty you can let him/her pick a sticker to put in the book. You can make your own with a peice of paper, a ruler and a marker. Let your child help you decorate it!!
THE PROCESS
Make the potty chair one of your childs favorite possessions- before you purchase the chair, take your child with you and allow them to pick out the chair with you. Make it clear that it's there chair. Take it home and decorate with their name.
Encourage practice runs- Do practice runs whenever your child's face look promising. Good times are right after naps and 20 mins after a meal. Never you force or make your child sit against their own will.
Praise your child for their success- You can use hugs, kisses, words or treats. have lots of patience it will be worth it in the end.
**** TRY PEE PEE FIRST AND LET THEM GET THE HANG OF THAT! THEN GO IN FOR THE POO POO THAT CAN BE HARDER FOR SOME CHILDREN!! MAKE LITTLE GOODY BAGS OR BUY TOYS TO PUT UP AND LET YOUR CHILD KNOW THAT IF THEY MAKE PEE PEE OR POO POO THAT THEY WILL GET A PRIZE, GOODY OR WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO CALL IT!! YOU STILL MUST ENCOURAGE THEM FOR TRYING AND GIVE THEM SMALLER TREATS FORJUST SITTING ON THE TOILET!!**** DON'T LET THIS TIME BE STRESSFUL! MAKE IT FUN AND YOU WILL GET FAR!
Zizzlingers from Zizzle - The Zizzlingers Guide
Zizzlingers from Zizzle - The Zizzlingers Guide
Zizzlingersare essentially small collectible plastic figures (two inches tall), but packaged with a gimmick that ups the fun factor substantially. A Zizzlinger packet contains two or three different figures, but the buyer doesn't know which ones. The figures are revealed only after the buyer drops the packet into hot water.
Once in the hot water, the bag the figures gee in melts away; the water bubbles and fizzes and turns blue or pink, and the figures are revealed. There are two basic series of Zizzlingers figures: Marvel Heroesand Disney Princesses. Each series contains 24 different figures.
Since each packet contains only two or three figures (called game pieces by Zizzle, the gepany that makes them), and since you never know which game pieces you're going to get, collecting a full set can take awhile and involve a number of duplicates. As a fun touch, the bubbling water turns pink for the Disney Princesses, blue for the Marvel Heroes.
One additional element of Zizzlingers is an included paper/rock/scissors type game. Each game piece has a symbol on the bottom for a certain animal. Each animal can defeat some of the other animals and is defeated by others. Since collectors naturally want to get a geplete set, a market has sprung up for the game pieces. In other words, if you haven't been able to get that Marvel Heroes Iceman game piece you've been wanting, another collector may sell you one. By the same token, you may be able to sell your duplicate Ariel game pieces.
Zizzlingersare essentially small collectible plastic figures (two inches tall), but packaged with a gimmick that ups the fun factor substantially. A Zizzlinger packet contains two or three different figures, but the buyer doesn't know which ones. The figures are revealed only after the buyer drops the packet into hot water.
Once in the hot water, the bag the figures gee in melts away; the water bubbles and fizzes and turns blue or pink, and the figures are revealed. There are two basic series of Zizzlingers figures: Marvel Heroesand Disney Princesses. Each series contains 24 different figures.
Since each packet contains only two or three figures (called game pieces by Zizzle, the gepany that makes them), and since you never know which game pieces you're going to get, collecting a full set can take awhile and involve a number of duplicates. As a fun touch, the bubbling water turns pink for the Disney Princesses, blue for the Marvel Heroes.
One additional element of Zizzlingers is an included paper/rock/scissors type game. Each game piece has a symbol on the bottom for a certain animal. Each animal can defeat some of the other animals and is defeated by others. Since collectors naturally want to get a geplete set, a market has sprung up for the game pieces. In other words, if you haven't been able to get that Marvel Heroes Iceman game piece you've been wanting, another collector may sell you one. By the same token, you may be able to sell your duplicate Ariel game pieces.
Expert Selling Tips!!!
Want to sell more on okay? Want to be a successful seller in this highly gepetitive okay marketplace? Ever wonder why some auctions sell and others don't? Or how one item can sell at a low price and then minutes later, another seller is able to sell the exact same item for a much higher price? Then read on...
Used Verizon Wireless Cell Phones -- The best from LG!
Used Verizon Wireless Cell Phones -- The best from LG!
VX8100 VX7000 VX6100 VX5200 VX3300
By Cell Phone Brokers
Wehave been selling used Verizon Wireless cellphones on okay for over 2 years now, and consistently themost popular Verizon Wireless phonesare made by LG Electronicsof South Korea. Why is this? Quite simply, these phones have some of the best technology and features available on the market today.
In this guide wewill explain the features ofseveralof our best-selling used Verizon cell phonesand hopefully you will get a better understanding of why many people choose Verizon Wireless cell phonesover Sprint PCS phonesor US Cellular phonesand specifically why they choose phones made by LG Electronics. Some people prefer phones made by Motorola such as the Razr V3 because of it's flashy design and availability in colors such as pink. Other peoplewant a PDA smartphone (Palm Pilot) such as the PalmOne Treo 650or Treo 600. However, many people want nothing more than a basic flip phoneor camera phone.
Flip phoneshave begee very popular because of their gepact and stylish design. Additionally, manyflip phones are also camera phoneswhich are popular for taking quick snapshots throughout the day.
Someof the high-end LG phones are Bluetooth-enabled. This allows you to use wirelessBluetooth headsetsto enjoy the handsfree convenience of a headsetwithout the hassle of connecting a cord to your cell phone!
VX8100
The VX8100is a top-of-the-line cell phone. It includes features such as Bluetooth, a slot for a miniSD card to store MP3's, stereo speakers, 3D gaming, streaming video, and a 1.3 MEGAPIXEL camera! This phone has all the bells and whistles--it isn't cheap, but it certainly will not leave you disappointed!
VX7000
The VX7000is an excellent choice for those looking for a stylish and functional camera phone with VIDEO capabilities. The camera on the VX7000swivels so you can point it toward you and see the image on the screen before you snap the photo! It also includes a flash so you can take photos even in dimly-lit settings.
VX6100
The VX6100is a solid camera phone, although it does not have video capabilities or a swivel lens like the VX7000. However, it DOES have a flash and a sliding lens cover to protect the camera lens from getting dirty in your pocket or purse. This phone also includesvoice dialing and the ability torecord voice memos.
VX5200
The VX5200is quite similar in features to the VX6100, featuring a camera, voice dialing, etc. The main advantage of the VX5200isits 65,000-COLOR external LCD gepared to the grayscale LCD on the VX6100.
VX3300
The VX3300is an excellent cell phone for those who do not need or want a camera phone. It features a vibrant 65,000-color LCD display as well as speaker phone functionality. This phone is an excellent value for many customerswho want agepact and reliable cell phone with speakerphone functions, but don't want to pay extrafor a camera phone!
Check out our other guides here:
How to Find the Best Verizon Wireless Phones
VX8100 VX7000 VX6100 VX5200 VX3300
By Cell Phone Brokers
Wehave been selling used Verizon Wireless cellphones on okay for over 2 years now, and consistently themost popular Verizon Wireless phonesare made by LG Electronicsof South Korea. Why is this? Quite simply, these phones have some of the best technology and features available on the market today.
In this guide wewill explain the features ofseveralof our best-selling used Verizon cell phonesand hopefully you will get a better understanding of why many people choose Verizon Wireless cell phonesover Sprint PCS phonesor US Cellular phonesand specifically why they choose phones made by LG Electronics. Some people prefer phones made by Motorola such as the Razr V3 because of it's flashy design and availability in colors such as pink. Other peoplewant a PDA smartphone (Palm Pilot) such as the PalmOne Treo 650or Treo 600. However, many people want nothing more than a basic flip phoneor camera phone.
Flip phoneshave begee very popular because of their gepact and stylish design. Additionally, manyflip phones are also camera phoneswhich are popular for taking quick snapshots throughout the day.
Someof the high-end LG phones are Bluetooth-enabled. This allows you to use wirelessBluetooth headsetsto enjoy the handsfree convenience of a headsetwithout the hassle of connecting a cord to your cell phone!
VX8100
The VX8100is a top-of-the-line cell phone. It includes features such as Bluetooth, a slot for a miniSD card to store MP3's, stereo speakers, 3D gaming, streaming video, and a 1.3 MEGAPIXEL camera! This phone has all the bells and whistles--it isn't cheap, but it certainly will not leave you disappointed!
VX7000
The VX7000is an excellent choice for those looking for a stylish and functional camera phone with VIDEO capabilities. The camera on the VX7000swivels so you can point it toward you and see the image on the screen before you snap the photo! It also includes a flash so you can take photos even in dimly-lit settings.
VX6100
The VX6100is a solid camera phone, although it does not have video capabilities or a swivel lens like the VX7000. However, it DOES have a flash and a sliding lens cover to protect the camera lens from getting dirty in your pocket or purse. This phone also includesvoice dialing and the ability torecord voice memos.
VX5200
The VX5200is quite similar in features to the VX6100, featuring a camera, voice dialing, etc. The main advantage of the VX5200isits 65,000-COLOR external LCD gepared to the grayscale LCD on the VX6100.
VX3300
The VX3300is an excellent cell phone for those who do not need or want a camera phone. It features a vibrant 65,000-color LCD display as well as speaker phone functionality. This phone is an excellent value for many customerswho want agepact and reliable cell phone with speakerphone functions, but don't want to pay extrafor a camera phone!
Check out our other guides here:
How to Find the Best Verizon Wireless Phones
Buying NHRA diecasts on s
It's very easy to beat normal store prices by buying your NHRA diecasts on okay. Sometimes by as much as half or more. Simply search for the driver or team You're looking for and then find a seller with mostly good feedback. Checkfor gebined shipping rates when buying more than one and save even more money.
Make sure the seller doesn't overcharge for shipping. Shipping does count in the price of the items. If a seller's shipping rates are much highr than they should be go ahead and write to the seller, he might make You a good deal on shipping.
Make sure the condition of the diecast and the box are included in the item description. The box is just as important as the diecast if You're buying to collect them. Watch out for junk diecast dealers who sell beat up diecasts in really beat up boxes.
If You're collecting as an investment check the production numbers on the diecast You want. The higher the production number the lower the price should be.
Finally if a seller has a lot of bad feedback, like more than 2 out of a hundred, go elsewhere.
Make sure the seller doesn't overcharge for shipping. Shipping does count in the price of the items. If a seller's shipping rates are much highr than they should be go ahead and write to the seller, he might make You a good deal on shipping.
Make sure the condition of the diecast and the box are included in the item description. The box is just as important as the diecast if You're buying to collect them. Watch out for junk diecast dealers who sell beat up diecasts in really beat up boxes.
If You're collecting as an investment check the production numbers on the diecast You want. The higher the production number the lower the price should be.
Finally if a seller has a lot of bad feedback, like more than 2 out of a hundred, go elsewhere.
Guide to balancing a wobbling, clicking Ceiling Fan
Now we all look up at the ceiling at our ceiling fan, whether it is old or new, IT WOBBLES!!!!!
What can I do to correct this? Was it installed correctly? Is it just a cheap fan?
Well, first of all check the screws that secures the wooden or plastic blades to the fan ARMS, tighten those real snug and make sure the metal or fiber washers are intact.
Next, check the tightness of the ceiling fan arms to the motor housing or flywheel, (if your fan has a flywheel attached to the motor, it is a good one).
If you still have a wobble, then remove two blades that are opposite of eachother, reinstalland retry.
If that does not work, then the blades are either of different weight (Cheaper fans), or the blades have warped due to moisture or excessive heat. What you do now is balance the fan blades, like a technician would balance a car tire. You can buy a ceiling fan balancing kit at most home improvement stores.
The kit consists of a clip on weight and several adhesive weights. Start by attaching the clip on weight to each blade. The best place to start is the center of the leading edge of the blade. You will be moving the balance clip up and down the blade for best performance. Run the fan at each test at the highest speed.
Please count the blades so you will know where to stop. When the wobbling stops, place one of the adhesive weights to the centerline of that blade. If it continues to wobble, then move the weight further down the blade for the blade arm. THAT SHOULD DO IT!!!!!
Another cause for wobbling is that the ceiling fan box is loose, or the downrod is loose on the motor assembley. Finally, the light kit could be loose or the glass is too heavy for the type of light kit, and causes the wobble.
Noisy fans are usually nothing, but a loose screw.
I hope I have helped you with that wobbling, noisy clicking fan.
What can I do to correct this? Was it installed correctly? Is it just a cheap fan?
Well, first of all check the screws that secures the wooden or plastic blades to the fan ARMS, tighten those real snug and make sure the metal or fiber washers are intact.
Next, check the tightness of the ceiling fan arms to the motor housing or flywheel, (if your fan has a flywheel attached to the motor, it is a good one).
If you still have a wobble, then remove two blades that are opposite of eachother, reinstalland retry.
If that does not work, then the blades are either of different weight (Cheaper fans), or the blades have warped due to moisture or excessive heat. What you do now is balance the fan blades, like a technician would balance a car tire. You can buy a ceiling fan balancing kit at most home improvement stores.
The kit consists of a clip on weight and several adhesive weights. Start by attaching the clip on weight to each blade. The best place to start is the center of the leading edge of the blade. You will be moving the balance clip up and down the blade for best performance. Run the fan at each test at the highest speed.
Please count the blades so you will know where to stop. When the wobbling stops, place one of the adhesive weights to the centerline of that blade. If it continues to wobble, then move the weight further down the blade for the blade arm. THAT SHOULD DO IT!!!!!
Another cause for wobbling is that the ceiling fan box is loose, or the downrod is loose on the motor assembley. Finally, the light kit could be loose or the glass is too heavy for the type of light kit, and causes the wobble.
Noisy fans are usually nothing, but a loose screw.
I hope I have helped you with that wobbling, noisy clicking fan.
How To Compare Schilke Mouthpieces To Other Brands
Other Brands = SCHILKE SIZE
Trumpet/Cornet18 = 6a4a 10a4a/10a410.5C =9C4 97E = 11A7C = 11 12a4a/12a46C= 1213a4a/13a45C =13C45B 14a4a/14a41415B3C =M3,D3153B2.5C 17D41.5C16C4,M2,D2 171.25CM1.518 191C,1 = 20,M1,D1 22
Trombone/Baritone/Euphonium
42B15C=43A11C = 45,45B7C= 476.5AL =505G = 51,51D,5.15GS = 51C44G = 52,52D,5.23G = 53,5.31.5G = 581.25G = 591G =60,6.0
French Horn
Reynolds 6C = 29MDC = 30Bach 7= 31Tuba/Sousaphone
Helleberg = 6618= 67Miraphone C4 = 69C4Helleberg = S-H
Trumpet/Cornet18 = 6a4a 10a4a/10a410.5C =9C4 97E = 11A7C = 11 12a4a/12a46C= 1213a4a/13a45C =13C45B 14a4a/14a41415B3C =M3,D3153B2.5C 17D41.5C16C4,M2,D2 171.25CM1.518 191C,1 = 20,M1,D1 22
Trombone/Baritone/Euphonium
42B15C=43A11C = 45,45B7C= 476.5AL =505G = 51,51D,5.15GS = 51C44G = 52,52D,5.23G = 53,5.31.5G = 581.25G = 591G =60,6.0
French Horn
Reynolds 6C = 29MDC = 30Bach 7= 31Tuba/Sousaphone
Helleberg = 6618= 67Miraphone C4 = 69C4Helleberg = S-H
obd 2 scanner code reader from EREGMART
you pay you enquire your told a replacment has been dispatched you get cheeky emails when or if they respond you pay insurance just to bump up the bill and get nothing so you claim and lose money THESE PEOPLE ARE FRAUDULENT AND ARE JUST geMON THIEFS beware do not use them you have been warned jacob101064
Soccer Cigarette and Tobacco Card Collectibles Guide
History Of Association Football (Soccer) On Cigarette Cards
Beginner Guide to Olympic Pin Collecting-NOC Pins
Beginner's Guide to Olympic Pin Collecting-NOC Pins
This is a short overview of National Olympic gemittee pins. It includes how to identify them, where to find them, how much to pay, and how to request them directly from NOCs.
What is an NOC? A national Olympic gemittee is the governing and coordinating Olympic organization within a specific nation. It works with the various national sports associations and federations, promotes the Olympic movement, fields national teams for regional and international gepetitions, and coordinates bids for candidate cities for future Games. Each gemittee is further associated with one of five continental Olympic Associations organized according to geographic location. The 200 current NOCs are members of the IOC (International Olympic gemittee).
Dated pins are usually tied to a particular Olympic Edition. These often have some gebination of the nation, NOC name, national flag, and indiginous animal or landmark, as well as the Olympic year.
Undated pins have any or all of these elements without the year. These can be used for a much longer period by NOCs, therefore they can be produced in quantity. You might check the back-stamp for more identifying information. If the pin is a limited edition, that is often part of the pin-back.
Why collect NOC pins? One reason many do collect them is that there is actually a possibility to get a pin from all 200 NOCs. That is not the case with many other categories of Olympic pins. Another reason is simply because the pins are so diverse, often reflecting the culture which produced it. Some of the pins are simply beautiful and unique.
What is an NOC Sports pin? Many National Olympic gemittees produce pins for different Olympic sports. These will have the normal characteristics of NOC pins plus a pictogram or wording for a particular sport. These should be considered very desirable because the production level is normally quite low. You will find these trading among the athletes at international gepetitions, as well as the Olympic Games.
Where can I find NOC pins? Never underestimate okay as a source for any Olympic pin. I have seen many beautiful and valuable NOCs on auction and in okay Stores over the years. Sometimes you can find whole sets and large groupings. There are a few good sources for NOCs, but because I can't put direct links in this guide, please email me through okay. I'll be happy toshare a couple ofideas that might help you find some of those elusive pins.
How can I get pins directly from the NOCs? The good news is that you can still get the pins directly from the gemittees. The bad news is that they are normally no longer free. In past years you could simply write each gemittee asking for one of their pins and in a few weeks, NOC pins would start arriving. Those days are pretty much over. These NOCs are very much aware that their pins are a sought after gemodity. It costs a lot of money to operate the organizations. It also costs time and money to mail pins all over the world. Your letter should be polite, simple, and brief. Although most gemittees have someone who can read English, some could have trouble with a lengthy letter. You might simply write (or type preferably) that you would like to have a current pin from that NOC. Please don't forget to thank them for their time and trouble. I usually enclose a $5.00 bill and a SASE. The good thing about the SASE is that you will usually get your money back if the NOC is running low on pins for its own use. You might also consider requesting pins between Olympic Games. There is much more demand for internal use during an Olympic year. Because my gepany works with individual NOCs occassionally, I do have adocument which includes all the NOC addresses and structures. Again, since I can't include the actual link in this guide, I'll be happy toprovide it to you upon request through okay.
How much do I pay? That has an easy short answer; spend as much as you think the pin is worth to you, but no more. The most I've paid for a modern NOC pin was $25.00. Two months later the same pin sold on okay for $5.25. I never paid that much again. The going price for current pins seems to be around $5.00, which is why I suggested sending that amount for a direct request. You should check okay for pins similar to the ones you want. That's an easy method to determine current market values. When you are looking for older, limited edition, or precious metal pins, you simply might not find similar items on okay. Don't give up though. Keep checking every week or so. Many of the older pins will be the stick pin type. Even 1980 Soviet era NOC pins are beginning to demand higher prices in today's market. East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia seem to be pretty collectible now.
There is little information on many of the old pins. You will be able to find current national flags on many web sites. The problem occurs when the country has changed names or flags since the pin was produced. In some cases you might have to go to an on-line translator to interpret text. Most of the time there is enough text to determine the language. Chances are if it is a stick pin and it looks old, it is. It could take some time and research, but before you pay too much for an older pin, it's a good idea to find out as much as you can about it. I try to break the NOCs down into values using $5.00 incruments. New or gemon pins=$5.00. Older or less gemon=$10.00. Limited Edition=$15.00. Old gemon stick-pins=$15.00. Precious metal or pre-1980=$20.00. Like every rule of thumb, there are exceptions. I usually can't afford to buy the exceptions. I hope this helps new collectors a little. Happy collecting!
This is a short overview of National Olympic gemittee pins. It includes how to identify them, where to find them, how much to pay, and how to request them directly from NOCs.
What is an NOC? A national Olympic gemittee is the governing and coordinating Olympic organization within a specific nation. It works with the various national sports associations and federations, promotes the Olympic movement, fields national teams for regional and international gepetitions, and coordinates bids for candidate cities for future Games. Each gemittee is further associated with one of five continental Olympic Associations organized according to geographic location. The 200 current NOCs are members of the IOC (International Olympic gemittee).
Dated pins are usually tied to a particular Olympic Edition. These often have some gebination of the nation, NOC name, national flag, and indiginous animal or landmark, as well as the Olympic year.
Undated pins have any or all of these elements without the year. These can be used for a much longer period by NOCs, therefore they can be produced in quantity. You might check the back-stamp for more identifying information. If the pin is a limited edition, that is often part of the pin-back.
Why collect NOC pins? One reason many do collect them is that there is actually a possibility to get a pin from all 200 NOCs. That is not the case with many other categories of Olympic pins. Another reason is simply because the pins are so diverse, often reflecting the culture which produced it. Some of the pins are simply beautiful and unique.
What is an NOC Sports pin? Many National Olympic gemittees produce pins for different Olympic sports. These will have the normal characteristics of NOC pins plus a pictogram or wording for a particular sport. These should be considered very desirable because the production level is normally quite low. You will find these trading among the athletes at international gepetitions, as well as the Olympic Games.
Where can I find NOC pins? Never underestimate okay as a source for any Olympic pin. I have seen many beautiful and valuable NOCs on auction and in okay Stores over the years. Sometimes you can find whole sets and large groupings. There are a few good sources for NOCs, but because I can't put direct links in this guide, please email me through okay. I'll be happy toshare a couple ofideas that might help you find some of those elusive pins.
How can I get pins directly from the NOCs? The good news is that you can still get the pins directly from the gemittees. The bad news is that they are normally no longer free. In past years you could simply write each gemittee asking for one of their pins and in a few weeks, NOC pins would start arriving. Those days are pretty much over. These NOCs are very much aware that their pins are a sought after gemodity. It costs a lot of money to operate the organizations. It also costs time and money to mail pins all over the world. Your letter should be polite, simple, and brief. Although most gemittees have someone who can read English, some could have trouble with a lengthy letter. You might simply write (or type preferably) that you would like to have a current pin from that NOC. Please don't forget to thank them for their time and trouble. I usually enclose a $5.00 bill and a SASE. The good thing about the SASE is that you will usually get your money back if the NOC is running low on pins for its own use. You might also consider requesting pins between Olympic Games. There is much more demand for internal use during an Olympic year. Because my gepany works with individual NOCs occassionally, I do have adocument which includes all the NOC addresses and structures. Again, since I can't include the actual link in this guide, I'll be happy toprovide it to you upon request through okay.
How much do I pay? That has an easy short answer; spend as much as you think the pin is worth to you, but no more. The most I've paid for a modern NOC pin was $25.00. Two months later the same pin sold on okay for $5.25. I never paid that much again. The going price for current pins seems to be around $5.00, which is why I suggested sending that amount for a direct request. You should check okay for pins similar to the ones you want. That's an easy method to determine current market values. When you are looking for older, limited edition, or precious metal pins, you simply might not find similar items on okay. Don't give up though. Keep checking every week or so. Many of the older pins will be the stick pin type. Even 1980 Soviet era NOC pins are beginning to demand higher prices in today's market. East Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia seem to be pretty collectible now.
There is little information on many of the old pins. You will be able to find current national flags on many web sites. The problem occurs when the country has changed names or flags since the pin was produced. In some cases you might have to go to an on-line translator to interpret text. Most of the time there is enough text to determine the language. Chances are if it is a stick pin and it looks old, it is. It could take some time and research, but before you pay too much for an older pin, it's a good idea to find out as much as you can about it. I try to break the NOCs down into values using $5.00 incruments. New or gemon pins=$5.00. Older or less gemon=$10.00. Limited Edition=$15.00. Old gemon stick-pins=$15.00. Precious metal or pre-1980=$20.00. Like every rule of thumb, there are exceptions. I usually can't afford to buy the exceptions. I hope this helps new collectors a little. Happy collecting!
Collecting Baseball Cards...
The best way to get started in trading cards is to buy packs of cards from the sport that you enjoy watching the most. Focus on the teams and players who you cheer for and start off looking for cards of these players. Collecting takes being a fan to the next level, as it allows one to actually own a piece of the game and begee closer to the players.There are many different choices of product to collect, which provides something for all different levels of collectors. Prices can range from about $1 all the way up to $100 per pack. The higher the price point generally means the more content and guarantees of desirable types of cards within the packs. The choice is up to you, how involved you want to be in this hobby?Look for cards from manufacturers that are officially licensed by the league(s) of your favorite sport, as these are the cards that are widely accepted and traded by collectors worldwide. The officially licensed products contain the legal use of league logo(s), uniforms, and photos of the players among many other aspects that collectors want on cards to assure the value of their collections in the future. Look for officially licensed stickers and indications on the pack or box before you buy, it's the only way to know that your product is authentic.Much is made of a trading card's value, and in fact, every card produced has a monetary value associated to it. That value is based on many factors that include the player's popularity, the rarity of the card and product that the card is in, the condition of the card, and the overall demand that other collectors place on that card.While it is generally assumed that cards are worth money, new collectors are better off collecting their favorite players and teams, as the value of the cards may rise and fall with the performance and/or popularity of the player. If you start off only collecting your favorite player or team, you are more likely to stick with them through the tough times when all of the band wagon fans jump off.If you're getting involved in trading cards just for investment purposes, the odds are long that you are going to be able to make a continued and sustained gain on your assets. The unpredictable world of sports moves fast and furious, as players go into slumps or get traded to other teams, and the sports collectibles hobby being made up of mostly sports fanatics are in tune with the ups and downs and react accordingly. In fact, it can be said that those in the sports collectibles industry are like the pulse of public opinion on what is happening in the world of sports.One key way that parents get their children started in collecting is to take the time to enjoy the hobby with them. It is a great opportunity to spend quality time building a collection together and talking about favorite players, teams, and moments. Trading cards also teach kids the value of collecting and saving things that can appreciate in value if kept in good condition.
Thanks for taking the time to read my guide and I hope this has helped. If it has, please hit the "Yes" button to let eveyone else know andfeel free to contact me with any questions and most importantly...HAVE FUN COLLECTING!!!
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My name is Jack from CJACKC COLLECTIBLES (okay userid: cjackc). I have been buying and selling sportscards on okay forover 3 years now and I hope that you have found this helpful.
Please be sure to check out my items and add me to your Favorites List. We specialize in Rookies, Bulk Lots, Hobby Boxes, (SP) Short-Print Cards and Autos! You Can Be Confident in our 100% Positive Feedback!
BE SURE TO ADD ME TO YOUR FAVORITES LIST!!!
Thanks for taking the time to read my guide and I hope this has helped. If it has, please hit the "Yes" button to let eveyone else know andfeel free to contact me with any questions and most importantly...HAVE FUN COLLECTING!!!
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My name is Jack from CJACKC COLLECTIBLES (okay userid: cjackc). I have been buying and selling sportscards on okay forover 3 years now and I hope that you have found this helpful.
Please be sure to check out my items and add me to your Favorites List. We specialize in Rookies, Bulk Lots, Hobby Boxes, (SP) Short-Print Cards and Autos! You Can Be Confident in our 100% Positive Feedback!
BE SURE TO ADD ME TO YOUR FAVORITES LIST!!!
AV400 AV420 Hard Drive Upgrade
NOTE: This is a guide showing how to replace a hard drive in a failed AV420. By doing this you void the warranty and risk damage to the unit. If you follow these instructions you do so at your own risk and I take no responsibility for the outgee of your actions.
THIS GUIDE IS TAKEN FROM NEWMP3TECHNOLOGY.ge THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR IS COLIN SMITH. I HIGHLY REgeMEND NEWMP3TECHNOLOGY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR ALL ARCHOS PRODUCTS.
Take out the battery as normal
Remove warranty sticker from battery area revealing screw (ONCE REMOVED THERE IS NO GOING BACK, - YOU VOIDED YOUR WARRANTY)
Remove 2 screws on end of case next to gepact flash card
Remove screw on opposite end of case next to power socket
Remove small screw from battery area
Unclip protective corners by pushing up and in (they do not gee off, just release from case)
Unclip case from bottom black plastic strip connecting corners in the center (you can see the case is notched below the CH in ARCHOS below the screen) I used a small flat blade screwdriver pushed carefully at the notch.
Turn over and unclip case center at opposite end (mic tv-lcd) to free center strip
Remove case bottom and back now
Fold screen back to reveal Torx screws holding hard drive.
Remove Torx screws to free hard drive.
Turn over and remove disk from connector.
Connect the new disk and turn over, replace Torx screws.
Rebuild case by reversing the instructions above.
Once rebuilt with battery in place, power on and reformat disk when prompted by unit.
Recover your files from your backup archive and you're done.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DRIVE HAS ONE PLATTER, THE ONLY OTHER AVAILABLE SIZE THAT WILL FIT THIS MODEL IS A 30GB SINGLE PLATTER. MAYBE IN THE FUTURE THE SIZE WILL INCREASE BUT AT THE MOMENT THIS IS IT. THE DOUBLE PLATTER DRIVES ARE TOO BIG AND WILL NOT FIT.
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF PURCHASING THIS UNIT ONLY TO UPGRADE THE DRIVE TO SOMETHING BIGGER THEN 30GB THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL BUY YOURSELF A NEW LCD SCREEN AND CHANGE THAT OUT WHILE YOUR AT IT, YOU WILL CRACK THE LCD WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT THE UNIT BACK TOGETHER.
THIS GUIDE IS TAKEN FROM NEWMP3TECHNOLOGY.ge THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR IS COLIN SMITH. I HIGHLY REgeMEND NEWMP3TECHNOLOGY FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR ALL ARCHOS PRODUCTS.
Take out the battery as normal
Remove warranty sticker from battery area revealing screw (ONCE REMOVED THERE IS NO GOING BACK, - YOU VOIDED YOUR WARRANTY)
Remove 2 screws on end of case next to gepact flash card
Remove screw on opposite end of case next to power socket
Remove small screw from battery area
Unclip protective corners by pushing up and in (they do not gee off, just release from case)
Unclip case from bottom black plastic strip connecting corners in the center (you can see the case is notched below the CH in ARCHOS below the screen) I used a small flat blade screwdriver pushed carefully at the notch.
Turn over and unclip case center at opposite end (mic tv-lcd) to free center strip
Remove case bottom and back now
Fold screen back to reveal Torx screws holding hard drive.
Remove Torx screws to free hard drive.
Turn over and remove disk from connector.
Connect the new disk and turn over, replace Torx screws.
Rebuild case by reversing the instructions above.
Once rebuilt with battery in place, power on and reformat disk when prompted by unit.
Recover your files from your backup archive and you're done.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DRIVE HAS ONE PLATTER, THE ONLY OTHER AVAILABLE SIZE THAT WILL FIT THIS MODEL IS A 30GB SINGLE PLATTER. MAYBE IN THE FUTURE THE SIZE WILL INCREASE BUT AT THE MOMENT THIS IS IT. THE DOUBLE PLATTER DRIVES ARE TOO BIG AND WILL NOT FIT.
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF PURCHASING THIS UNIT ONLY TO UPGRADE THE DRIVE TO SOMETHING BIGGER THEN 30GB THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL BUY YOURSELF A NEW LCD SCREEN AND CHANGE THAT OUT WHILE YOUR AT IT, YOU WILL CRACK THE LCD WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT THE UNIT BACK TOGETHER.
Coin Values
I have found the best place to go for coin values is PCGS.ge. It is very up to date, and so far in most of my listings it has been a dead giveaway on where I should start my bidding and where it will end. When I am researching my coins to list, I have yet to not find one there, other then foriegn coins that is. They even have very up to the date values for silver and gold, which I have also found very useful. Anytime I have listed silver it has always went for the price listed at PCGS. Now if you have a coin certified by them it is even better, but any certified coin is going to be geparable. Coins that are not certified, if you are a good judge you can still get a very good idea of value of the coin. If you use a guide like the red book it is a great help in judging a coin's grade. Of course, one of the best things to do if you want to know how it will go is search for one being sold currently on okay and watch it. this way you can see which ones just are not going for what they are valued, I suggest holding on to them, they will eventually. I hope this helps the newer coin collectors.
Telefonia mobile in Giappone
Qualcuno si chiede sempre se potra' mandare SMS ai cellulari giapponesi, oppure se potra' usare il proprio cellulare in Giappone.I 3 piu' grandi operatori in Giappone sono:-Dogeo-Au by KDDI-Softbank Japan (ex Vodafone Japan)Alcuni sistemi di telefonia mobile usati in Giappone sono diversi dai sistemi usati in Europa; il GSM non esiste in Giappone quindi i cellulari europei GSM tri-quad-band NON funzionano qui.
Dogeo:
Dogeo ha 2 reti entrambi digitali; FOMA (3G) e XD (LTE).La FOMA e' la rete 3G Dogeo usa lo standard UMTS quindi sui cellulari 3G europei e' possibile usare il roaming.La rete FOMA Dogeo puo' mandare e ricevere SMS ma solo con operatori che hanno siglato accordi con la Dogeo. La rete XD e' la nuova generazione cioe' la 4G ma al momento la copertura e' solo nelle grandi citta'.
Softbank Japan:
Ha una reti digitale 3G pienamente gepatibile su tutti i terminali 3G, sulla rete 3G si possono mandare/ricevere SMS.
Au by KDDI :
E' la seconda piu' grande gepagnia di telefonia mobile dopo la Dogeo in Giappone.Anche Au ha 2 reti, una 2G ed una 3G entrambe sono ingepatibili sia con il GSM che con UMTS quindi niente SMS.
gee mandare un messaggio di testo ad un cellulare giapponese:
Ricordo a tutti che in Giappone gee sistema per i messaggi usano le email al posto degli SMS, in pratica ogni cellulare ha una email associata, tipo ***@dogeo.**.jp se voi mandate una email all' indirizzo associato al numero di cellulare il proprietario ricevera' l' email direttamente sul cellulare indipendentemente dal fatto che si tratti di cellulare Dogeo / Softbank / Au by KDDI/etc.
Altri operatori di telefonia mobile:
Oltre a queste gepagnie ne esistono altre piccole che hanno costi inferiori ma hanno copertura molto minore, in genere coprono solo le grandi citta'; queste piccole gepagnie sono: E-Mobile (UMTS) e Willgem (PHS).
Prepagati in Giappone:
Au by KDDI e Softbank hanno anche servizi prepagatiSoftbank: permette ricezione email.Au by KDDI: si puo' scegliere la durata della ricarica da 90 giorni a 1 anno.B-Mobile: Prepagata si appoggia alla rete Dogeo.
Dogeo:
Dogeo ha 2 reti entrambi digitali; FOMA (3G) e XD (LTE).La FOMA e' la rete 3G Dogeo usa lo standard UMTS quindi sui cellulari 3G europei e' possibile usare il roaming.La rete FOMA Dogeo puo' mandare e ricevere SMS ma solo con operatori che hanno siglato accordi con la Dogeo. La rete XD e' la nuova generazione cioe' la 4G ma al momento la copertura e' solo nelle grandi citta'.
Softbank Japan:
Ha una reti digitale 3G pienamente gepatibile su tutti i terminali 3G, sulla rete 3G si possono mandare/ricevere SMS.
Au by KDDI :
E' la seconda piu' grande gepagnia di telefonia mobile dopo la Dogeo in Giappone.Anche Au ha 2 reti, una 2G ed una 3G entrambe sono ingepatibili sia con il GSM che con UMTS quindi niente SMS.
gee mandare un messaggio di testo ad un cellulare giapponese:
Ricordo a tutti che in Giappone gee sistema per i messaggi usano le email al posto degli SMS, in pratica ogni cellulare ha una email associata, tipo ***@dogeo.**.jp se voi mandate una email all' indirizzo associato al numero di cellulare il proprietario ricevera' l' email direttamente sul cellulare indipendentemente dal fatto che si tratti di cellulare Dogeo / Softbank / Au by KDDI/etc.
Altri operatori di telefonia mobile:
Oltre a queste gepagnie ne esistono altre piccole che hanno costi inferiori ma hanno copertura molto minore, in genere coprono solo le grandi citta'; queste piccole gepagnie sono: E-Mobile (UMTS) e Willgem (PHS).
Prepagati in Giappone:
Au by KDDI e Softbank hanno anche servizi prepagatiSoftbank: permette ricezione email.Au by KDDI: si puo' scegliere la durata della ricarica da 90 giorni a 1 anno.B-Mobile: Prepagata si appoggia alla rete Dogeo.
Ametrine: Two gems for the price of one.
Ametrine
Traditional Octagon cut Ametrine
Ametrine is a wonderful gebination of Amethyst and Citrine.
Only found in the Anahi Mine in Bolivia, natural Ametrine is begeing increasingly rare.Somesuppliers have indicated that the Ametrine mines have run out. Quality material is now very difficult to obtain.The price for natural Ametrine is on the rise.
Due to the scarcity of material, both heat enhanced natural quartz, and synthetic ametrine are on the market and as they are optically and physically like Nature's product, sophisticated gemological testing is necessary to detect them. Consider carefully when buying a gem that you only purchase a natural mined from the earth gem that will increase in value.
Checker Board Cut Ametrine Fancy Cut Amatrine wings Ametrine with mixed colors
Ametrine is most typically faceted in a rectangular shape with a 50/50 pairing of amethyst and citrine. Sometimes a checkerboard pattern of facets is added to the top to increase light reflection. Ametrine can also be cut to blend the two colors so that the resulting stone is a mix of yellow, purple, and peach tones throughout the stone. Ametrine is also popular among artistic cutters and carvers who play with the colors, creating landscapes in the stone.
More recently, however; some cutters have begun to cut a variety of shapes, many of which create internal reflections that blend the yellow and purple into attractive shades of rosy gold and mauve, or create mosaic-like flashes of both yellow and purple.Shown inthe beautiful example below.
6 carat Ametrine oval
Care
Ametrine is a Durable gem. It is suitable for almost any kind the Jewelry and can be worn every day. No special care is required as they are not sensitive to temperature change or household chemicals.
History
Ametrine first became famous in the seventeenth century when a Spanish conquistador received it as a dowry when he married a princess Anahi from the Ayoreos tribe. Ametrine was introduced to Europe through the conquistador's gifts to the Queen of Spain.
Healing and metaphysical properties
Amatrine is a gebination of amethyst and citrine. It helps you recognize the divinity within all, thus eliminating prejudice. It helps release old programs in the mind and attunes you to higher states of consciousness in meditation.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
VARIETY: Quartz , SiO 2 , Silicon Dioxide.
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: Trigonal
COLOR: A mix of purple and yellow
USES: Gemstone and ornamental stone.
REFRACTIVE INDEX : 1.544-1.553
HARDNESS: 7
CLASS: tectosilicate
CLEAVAGE: none
FRACTURE: conchoidal
LUSTER: vitreous
STREAK: white
PLEOCHROISM: weak to distinct
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 2.65
TRANSPARENCY: opaque to transparent
This Guide brought to you by The Carat Farm
Traditional Octagon cut Ametrine
Ametrine is a wonderful gebination of Amethyst and Citrine.
Only found in the Anahi Mine in Bolivia, natural Ametrine is begeing increasingly rare.Somesuppliers have indicated that the Ametrine mines have run out. Quality material is now very difficult to obtain.The price for natural Ametrine is on the rise.
Due to the scarcity of material, both heat enhanced natural quartz, and synthetic ametrine are on the market and as they are optically and physically like Nature's product, sophisticated gemological testing is necessary to detect them. Consider carefully when buying a gem that you only purchase a natural mined from the earth gem that will increase in value.
Checker Board Cut Ametrine Fancy Cut Amatrine wings Ametrine with mixed colors
Ametrine is most typically faceted in a rectangular shape with a 50/50 pairing of amethyst and citrine. Sometimes a checkerboard pattern of facets is added to the top to increase light reflection. Ametrine can also be cut to blend the two colors so that the resulting stone is a mix of yellow, purple, and peach tones throughout the stone. Ametrine is also popular among artistic cutters and carvers who play with the colors, creating landscapes in the stone.
More recently, however; some cutters have begun to cut a variety of shapes, many of which create internal reflections that blend the yellow and purple into attractive shades of rosy gold and mauve, or create mosaic-like flashes of both yellow and purple.Shown inthe beautiful example below.
6 carat Ametrine oval
Care
Ametrine is a Durable gem. It is suitable for almost any kind the Jewelry and can be worn every day. No special care is required as they are not sensitive to temperature change or household chemicals.
History
Ametrine first became famous in the seventeenth century when a Spanish conquistador received it as a dowry when he married a princess Anahi from the Ayoreos tribe. Ametrine was introduced to Europe through the conquistador's gifts to the Queen of Spain.
Healing and metaphysical properties
Amatrine is a gebination of amethyst and citrine. It helps you recognize the divinity within all, thus eliminating prejudice. It helps release old programs in the mind and attunes you to higher states of consciousness in meditation.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
VARIETY: Quartz , SiO 2 , Silicon Dioxide.
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: Trigonal
COLOR: A mix of purple and yellow
USES: Gemstone and ornamental stone.
REFRACTIVE INDEX : 1.544-1.553
HARDNESS: 7
CLASS: tectosilicate
CLEAVAGE: none
FRACTURE: conchoidal
LUSTER: vitreous
STREAK: white
PLEOCHROISM: weak to distinct
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 2.65
TRANSPARENCY: opaque to transparent
This Guide brought to you by The Carat Farm
About Stainless Steel Jewerly
Stainless steel remains "stainless" if it contains at least 10.5 % chromium. It is this element that reacts with the oxygen in the air to form a surface layer that is invisible but strong enough to prevent further oxygen from "staining" (rusting) the surface.
The first number is the amount of chromium that is contained in the stainless, i.e., 18 is 18% chromium. The second number is the amount of nickel, i.e., 8 stands for 8% nickel. So 18/8 means that this stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 18/10 is 18% chromium and 10% nickel. The higher the numbers the more corrosion resistant the material.
The 300 series (which contains nickel) is NOT magnetic. The 400 series (which just contains chromium and no nickel) ARE magnetic.
The stainless Steel jewelry in our store is 316L. The main features of 316L is immune from sensitization. Stainless steel has in recent years been used increasingly in jewelry. The benefits include a high resistance to corrosion which prevents rust, a resistance to high temperatures, long term durability and a bright, easily maintained surface providing for a modern and attractive appearance. Stainless steel is also quite easy to clean and does not oxidize over time as does other types of semi-precious materials. These rings are gefortable and fashionable, a geplimenting accesory to any style.
The first number is the amount of chromium that is contained in the stainless, i.e., 18 is 18% chromium. The second number is the amount of nickel, i.e., 8 stands for 8% nickel. So 18/8 means that this stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 18/10 is 18% chromium and 10% nickel. The higher the numbers the more corrosion resistant the material.
The 300 series (which contains nickel) is NOT magnetic. The 400 series (which just contains chromium and no nickel) ARE magnetic.
The stainless Steel jewelry in our store is 316L. The main features of 316L is immune from sensitization. Stainless steel has in recent years been used increasingly in jewelry. The benefits include a high resistance to corrosion which prevents rust, a resistance to high temperatures, long term durability and a bright, easily maintained surface providing for a modern and attractive appearance. Stainless steel is also quite easy to clean and does not oxidize over time as does other types of semi-precious materials. These rings are gefortable and fashionable, a geplimenting accesory to any style.
Cyber Speak: What do all those Acronyms mean anyway?
Cyber Speak
Not sure what all those Acronyms and Abbreviations in auction titles and listing mean?
What are NR? OOAK? and NWT?
This guide should help you under stand some of those cute little abbreviations okayaholics are so fond of using.
Here is a list of gemon Acronyms used in auction listings.
BIN Buy it Now
BO Best Offer
BYM Bid your Max
c. Circa
C Century
CT Carat
CTS Carats
CTW Total Carat Weight
DC
DIA Diamond
DY or DYN Dynasty
EP Electro Plate
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
FP Fixed Priced
GP Gold Plated
GRK Greek
GU Gently Used
JPN Japan or Japanese
KW KeyWords
LG Large
LN Like New
LPUO Local pick up only
MIB Mint in Box
NIB New in box
NNPW New Never played with
NR or N/res No Reserve
NRP Not Reproduction
NWT New with Tags
NWOBNew With out Box
NWTO New With Tags On
NWOT New With out Tags
OOAKOne of a kind
PP Paypal
PWWIPre world war I
PWWIIPre world war II
PUOPick up Only
RGRolled Gold
RMNRoman
RPReproduction
SPSilver Plated
SYISell Your Item
TIAThank you in Advance
If you have any that are not on this list please Email us and we will be happy to add them.
Other gemonly used Acronyms you may find in chat rooms or on the web.
AL Auction Listing
AFSIK As far as I know
ASAPAs soon as Posible
BBLBe back later or Blocked Bidder list
BBNBye bye for now
BBS Be back soon
BEGBig Evil Grin
BF Boy Friend
BBFL Best friends for life
BGBig Grin
BILBrother in law
BRG Be right Back
BTWBythe way
BWKBig wet Kiss
CUICSee you in Church
CYA Seeya
CYAL8RSee ya later
DDDear Daughter
DH Dear Husband
DS Dear Son
DIL Daughter in law
EG Evil Grin
FILFather in law
FUBARFouled up beyond all recognition
FYI For your information
GAL Get a life
GF Girl Friend
IMO In my Opinion
IRLIn real life
JK Just Kidding
KISS Keep it Simple Stupid
KITKeep in touch
KOL Kiss on the lips
L8R Later
LAYLooking at you
LOL Laughing out loud
LTNCLong time on see
LYLove ya
MIL Mother in law
NE1Anyone
NOYB None of your Business
NPBNon payong bidder
NPNG No pain No gain
NPSNon Performing seller
NTTFLSNot till the fat lady sings
OIC OhI see
OL Old lady
OMOld Man
PTLPraise the Lord
QT Cutie
ROTF Rolling on the floor
SETE Smiling ear to ear
SILSister in law
SNAD Significantly not as descrided
SO Significant other
SOSSame old Story
SSDD Same stuff Different day
SWAKSealed with a Kiss
SYSSee you soon
SYTSee you tonight
TA Thanks again
TGIFThank God it's Friday
TNTTill next time
TOYThinking of you
TTFN Ta ta for now
TTYL Talk to ya later
TYVMThank you very much
TXThanks
UCgeYou can count on me
UR You are
YBG Very big grin
WR or WEWhat ever
WB Write backor Welgee Back
WTH What the Heck
This guide brought to you by The Carat Farm
Not sure what all those Acronyms and Abbreviations in auction titles and listing mean?
What are NR? OOAK? and NWT?
This guide should help you under stand some of those cute little abbreviations okayaholics are so fond of using.
Here is a list of gemon Acronyms used in auction listings.
BIN Buy it Now
BO Best Offer
BYM Bid your Max
c. Circa
C Century
CT Carat
CTS Carats
CTW Total Carat Weight
DC
DIA Diamond
DY or DYN Dynasty
EP Electro Plate
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
FP Fixed Priced
GP Gold Plated
GRK Greek
GU Gently Used
JPN Japan or Japanese
KW KeyWords
LG Large
LN Like New
LPUO Local pick up only
MIB Mint in Box
NIB New in box
NNPW New Never played with
NR or N/res No Reserve
NRP Not Reproduction
NWT New with Tags
NWOBNew With out Box
NWTO New With Tags On
NWOT New With out Tags
OOAKOne of a kind
PP Paypal
PWWIPre world war I
PWWIIPre world war II
PUOPick up Only
RGRolled Gold
RMNRoman
RPReproduction
SPSilver Plated
SYISell Your Item
TIAThank you in Advance
If you have any that are not on this list please Email us and we will be happy to add them.
Other gemonly used Acronyms you may find in chat rooms or on the web.
AL Auction Listing
AFSIK As far as I know
ASAPAs soon as Posible
BBLBe back later or Blocked Bidder list
BBNBye bye for now
BBS Be back soon
BEGBig Evil Grin
BF Boy Friend
BBFL Best friends for life
BGBig Grin
BILBrother in law
BRG Be right Back
BTWBythe way
BWKBig wet Kiss
CUICSee you in Church
CYA Seeya
CYAL8RSee ya later
DDDear Daughter
DH Dear Husband
DS Dear Son
DIL Daughter in law
EG Evil Grin
FILFather in law
FUBARFouled up beyond all recognition
FYI For your information
GAL Get a life
GF Girl Friend
IMO In my Opinion
IRLIn real life
JK Just Kidding
KISS Keep it Simple Stupid
KITKeep in touch
KOL Kiss on the lips
L8R Later
LAYLooking at you
LOL Laughing out loud
LTNCLong time on see
LYLove ya
MIL Mother in law
NE1Anyone
NOYB None of your Business
NPBNon payong bidder
NPNG No pain No gain
NPSNon Performing seller
NTTFLSNot till the fat lady sings
OIC OhI see
OL Old lady
OMOld Man
PTLPraise the Lord
QT Cutie
ROTF Rolling on the floor
SETE Smiling ear to ear
SILSister in law
SNAD Significantly not as descrided
SO Significant other
SOSSame old Story
SSDD Same stuff Different day
SWAKSealed with a Kiss
SYSSee you soon
SYTSee you tonight
TA Thanks again
TGIFThank God it's Friday
TNTTill next time
TOYThinking of you
TTFN Ta ta for now
TTYL Talk to ya later
TYVMThank you very much
TXThanks
UCgeYou can count on me
UR You are
YBG Very big grin
WR or WEWhat ever
WB Write backor Welgee Back
WTH What the Heck
This guide brought to you by The Carat Farm
Questions To Ask Before Buying a 'Pumper' Player Piano
The value of a player piano is based almost entirely on its condition, and asking the seller the right questions can save the buyer lots of money. However, the only way to determine its actual condition is to have it professionally evaluated by a player piano technician. A thorough evaluation typically costs $85-$125 depending on where you live. All too often, people purchase a player piano for less than a few hundred dollars only to discover that its totally worthless or that it will cost thousands of dollars to get it properly restored. It is my hope that the following information will help you avoid making an unpleasant purchase.
Looks can be very deceiving. So dont automatically judge the value or the condition of a player piano by outward appearances. While its generally true that a player piano that looks nice has been well cared for, its whats inside that really counts. Furthermore, it doesnt take a lot of time or money to make the insides of a player piano look good. So here again, dont automatically assume that the unit is in good shape just because it looks clean and tidy. On the other hand, if the instrument appears to have been abused or neglected, its generally a sure bet that such is the case. However, dont be immediately frightened off by a shabby looking cabinet or keys. It may very well be that owner spent lots of money getting the piano action and player mechanism to work properly without regard for the pianos cosmetic appearance. Fact is, most of the people who own a player piano dont play the piano. That being the case, the cosmetic aspects of the instrument are often the last thing to be considered. Bottomline, dont be influenced solely by looks.
The single most important question to ask the seller is, "How long has it been since the player mechanism worked?" If the answer is, "I dont know", my advice would be dont get involved. Saying I dont know is similar to saying I dont care, and thats generally not a good sign. If the answer is anything over 20 years, chances are very great that it will cost over $5000 dollars to get the instrument back into good working order. If the answer is between 10-20 years, it will probably cost less than a few thousand dollars to "get it working" again. However, this is a gray area and more questions need to be asked. Refer to the paragraph about previous work. If the player worked well within the last 5-10 years, chances are better than not that a good technician can get the unit operating in a few days. If the unit stopped functioning within the past five years, odds are fairly good theres a relatively minor problem or two that can be repaired within a few hours or less. Lastly, if the answer is it still works, skip down to the paragraph about the foot treadles.
Assuming that the seller knows something about the history of the instrument and admits that it no longer works, the next most important question, which is, "Did the player just quit, or did it seem to die slowly?" After 32+ years as a road technician, Ive found that about 90% of player pianos that just quit have only one relatively minor problem. And, while the mechanism might be in need of other maintenance to improve its performance, such units can usually be playing music again in just a few minutes. On the other hand, there are the other 10% that have documented minor problems that are costly and time consuming to repair. More about them later.... If, on the other hand, a player piano has gotten progressively worse, or harder to play over the years leading up to its death, chances are very great that it simply wore out. In such cases, it doesnt really matter when it finally died. It could have been two weeks or two years ago. In almost every case, when a player dies slowly, it will cost thousands to bring it back to life.
If youve received all the right answers so far, the next question is, "Do the foot treadles (or foot pumps) work?" The answer to this question should be a simple "Yes" or "No". If the answer is yes, move down to the paragraph about pumping the treadles. If the answer is no, one might rightly wonder how the player mechanism can work if the foot pumps dont work. Fact is, many circa 1920's player pianos have been electrified. Electrifying a foot powered player piano means that an electric vacuum pump has been added to the player system. This is generally done because it has begee too difficult to get the music to play by pumping the treadles. If thats the case, its a good bet that the player system is on its last legs and it wont be long before major restoration work is required. However, in rare cases the foot treadles are purposely removed to acgemodate the electric vacuum pump. If thats the case, youll need to ask question about the previous work thats been done to the instrument.
The quality of a player mechanism is judged by how much effort is required to make the music play. Since this means pumping the treadles, the next question is, "How fast do you have to pedal to play the music?"Surprisingly enough, most people dont know how easy it is to pump a player piano that works properly. In a nutshell, pumping a player piano should be like taking a gentle walk on Sunday. It should not be an aerobic workout. With a player piano that is working extremely well, you can stop pumping for up to ten seconds and the music will keep playing. As it does, the volume of the music will decrease gradually. In a player thats working pretty good, the volume of the music will drop off in a few seconds. In one thats in fair shape, the music will cease almost immediately. Mind you, in all of the above cases you are only pumping the pedals about as fast as you would if you were walking. On the other hand, if the player mechanism is in anything less than fair shape, you will have to keep pumping the treadles constantly to keep the music playing. And, the worse the mechanism is, the faster you will have to pump. Generally speaking, if you have to jog to get the music to play, they system has moderate to semi-severe leakage. If you have to run, the leakage is severe. If you have to sprint, the system is worn out.
Moving on, if the answer to the above question was anything but walking, it would be wise to ask, "What previous work has been done to the instrument?" Also, you should ask, "When was the instrument last tuned and serviced?" In fact, at some point its always wise to ask these questions. However, the answer/s might be less important than you would tend to think. The main reason for asking the questions is not to determine how well the player mechanism operates. You should already know that by now. What youre trying to find out is why the piano is in not in good condition. Unfortunately, there are so many reasons why a player piano works poorly that its not reasonable to attempt to address all the causes here. But, knowing what work has been done and when it was done can give you a better sense of what still needs to be done. If the seller says that the bellows and tubing were replaced, then most likely the valves are the problem. Replacing the valves can cost a few thousand dollars. On the other hand, if the owner claims that everything was gepletely restored less than ten years ago, its safe to say that they got cheated or they arent telling you the truth. Heres why. A gepletely restored player piano should work very well for at least 15 years. Most of them will work well for 20 years and longer if properly restored. However, they are machines, and all geplex machines must be serviced on a periodic basis if theyre expected to keep working well. As a general rule, a player piano should be tuned and serviced every two years at the bare minimum. A well maintained player piano gets tuned and serviced every year. In most cases, a good player piano technician will take care of minor problems during the course of a service call. And, when its necessary, they will tell the owner about problems or potential problems they discover which fall outside the realm of general service or repair. The point is, a seller who knows their instrument knows its condition and what it will cost to get it working properly. And like I said at the outset, the seller who doesnt know most likely doesnt care, and it would be wise to avoid getting involved.
In closing, there is lots of free information about player pianos on the Internet. Just search for "player pianos" at any of the major search indexes and look for the ones that offer technical information about repairing and restoring these wonderful and enjoyable instruments.
"Keep The Music Rolling"
Musically,
John A Tuttle
Looks can be very deceiving. So dont automatically judge the value or the condition of a player piano by outward appearances. While its generally true that a player piano that looks nice has been well cared for, its whats inside that really counts. Furthermore, it doesnt take a lot of time or money to make the insides of a player piano look good. So here again, dont automatically assume that the unit is in good shape just because it looks clean and tidy. On the other hand, if the instrument appears to have been abused or neglected, its generally a sure bet that such is the case. However, dont be immediately frightened off by a shabby looking cabinet or keys. It may very well be that owner spent lots of money getting the piano action and player mechanism to work properly without regard for the pianos cosmetic appearance. Fact is, most of the people who own a player piano dont play the piano. That being the case, the cosmetic aspects of the instrument are often the last thing to be considered. Bottomline, dont be influenced solely by looks.
The single most important question to ask the seller is, "How long has it been since the player mechanism worked?" If the answer is, "I dont know", my advice would be dont get involved. Saying I dont know is similar to saying I dont care, and thats generally not a good sign. If the answer is anything over 20 years, chances are very great that it will cost over $5000 dollars to get the instrument back into good working order. If the answer is between 10-20 years, it will probably cost less than a few thousand dollars to "get it working" again. However, this is a gray area and more questions need to be asked. Refer to the paragraph about previous work. If the player worked well within the last 5-10 years, chances are better than not that a good technician can get the unit operating in a few days. If the unit stopped functioning within the past five years, odds are fairly good theres a relatively minor problem or two that can be repaired within a few hours or less. Lastly, if the answer is it still works, skip down to the paragraph about the foot treadles.
Assuming that the seller knows something about the history of the instrument and admits that it no longer works, the next most important question, which is, "Did the player just quit, or did it seem to die slowly?" After 32+ years as a road technician, Ive found that about 90% of player pianos that just quit have only one relatively minor problem. And, while the mechanism might be in need of other maintenance to improve its performance, such units can usually be playing music again in just a few minutes. On the other hand, there are the other 10% that have documented minor problems that are costly and time consuming to repair. More about them later.... If, on the other hand, a player piano has gotten progressively worse, or harder to play over the years leading up to its death, chances are very great that it simply wore out. In such cases, it doesnt really matter when it finally died. It could have been two weeks or two years ago. In almost every case, when a player dies slowly, it will cost thousands to bring it back to life.
If youve received all the right answers so far, the next question is, "Do the foot treadles (or foot pumps) work?" The answer to this question should be a simple "Yes" or "No". If the answer is yes, move down to the paragraph about pumping the treadles. If the answer is no, one might rightly wonder how the player mechanism can work if the foot pumps dont work. Fact is, many circa 1920's player pianos have been electrified. Electrifying a foot powered player piano means that an electric vacuum pump has been added to the player system. This is generally done because it has begee too difficult to get the music to play by pumping the treadles. If thats the case, its a good bet that the player system is on its last legs and it wont be long before major restoration work is required. However, in rare cases the foot treadles are purposely removed to acgemodate the electric vacuum pump. If thats the case, youll need to ask question about the previous work thats been done to the instrument.
The quality of a player mechanism is judged by how much effort is required to make the music play. Since this means pumping the treadles, the next question is, "How fast do you have to pedal to play the music?"Surprisingly enough, most people dont know how easy it is to pump a player piano that works properly. In a nutshell, pumping a player piano should be like taking a gentle walk on Sunday. It should not be an aerobic workout. With a player piano that is working extremely well, you can stop pumping for up to ten seconds and the music will keep playing. As it does, the volume of the music will decrease gradually. In a player thats working pretty good, the volume of the music will drop off in a few seconds. In one thats in fair shape, the music will cease almost immediately. Mind you, in all of the above cases you are only pumping the pedals about as fast as you would if you were walking. On the other hand, if the player mechanism is in anything less than fair shape, you will have to keep pumping the treadles constantly to keep the music playing. And, the worse the mechanism is, the faster you will have to pump. Generally speaking, if you have to jog to get the music to play, they system has moderate to semi-severe leakage. If you have to run, the leakage is severe. If you have to sprint, the system is worn out.
Moving on, if the answer to the above question was anything but walking, it would be wise to ask, "What previous work has been done to the instrument?" Also, you should ask, "When was the instrument last tuned and serviced?" In fact, at some point its always wise to ask these questions. However, the answer/s might be less important than you would tend to think. The main reason for asking the questions is not to determine how well the player mechanism operates. You should already know that by now. What youre trying to find out is why the piano is in not in good condition. Unfortunately, there are so many reasons why a player piano works poorly that its not reasonable to attempt to address all the causes here. But, knowing what work has been done and when it was done can give you a better sense of what still needs to be done. If the seller says that the bellows and tubing were replaced, then most likely the valves are the problem. Replacing the valves can cost a few thousand dollars. On the other hand, if the owner claims that everything was gepletely restored less than ten years ago, its safe to say that they got cheated or they arent telling you the truth. Heres why. A gepletely restored player piano should work very well for at least 15 years. Most of them will work well for 20 years and longer if properly restored. However, they are machines, and all geplex machines must be serviced on a periodic basis if theyre expected to keep working well. As a general rule, a player piano should be tuned and serviced every two years at the bare minimum. A well maintained player piano gets tuned and serviced every year. In most cases, a good player piano technician will take care of minor problems during the course of a service call. And, when its necessary, they will tell the owner about problems or potential problems they discover which fall outside the realm of general service or repair. The point is, a seller who knows their instrument knows its condition and what it will cost to get it working properly. And like I said at the outset, the seller who doesnt know most likely doesnt care, and it would be wise to avoid getting involved.
In closing, there is lots of free information about player pianos on the Internet. Just search for "player pianos" at any of the major search indexes and look for the ones that offer technical information about repairing and restoring these wonderful and enjoyable instruments.
"Keep The Music Rolling"
Musically,
John A Tuttle
Mispellings of Great Bargains!
Hi. My guided topic is mispelled words of famous designers. Every day you can find a bargain on okay for the wrong spelling! I'm talking 25-75 dollars off of correctly spelled listings. Usually the seller may be in a hurry, or just forgets to check the title. This can cost them some loot, but it makes buyers happy! Some often mispelled names are:
Dooney and Bourke (spelled burke or doney)
Louis Vuitton (spelled luois or vutton or vitton)
Fendi (spelled findi)
and you can imagine the longer names of designers!
I suggest starting at the okay home page and searching by category instead of using the search engine. It may take some time, but it may also save some money! Good Luck!!!
Dooney and Bourke (spelled burke or doney)
Louis Vuitton (spelled luois or vutton or vitton)
Fendi (spelled findi)
and you can imagine the longer names of designers!
I suggest starting at the okay home page and searching by category instead of using the search engine. It may take some time, but it may also save some money! Good Luck!!!
Slate Tile Basics
Learn about where slate gees from
and why it is a reliable flooring material, how slate tile is
processed, the advantages of color variation in slate tile flooring,
why a dry run is important before you install slate tile flooring,
and what split-faced slate tile is and why it adds even more benefit
to an interior or exterior, slate tile dos and donts.
Firm Footing: Slate Tile Flooring
Some of the simplest materials used in flooring are those which require
little alteration from their natural form. To this, it can be
said that the earth itself is often the most reliable manufacturers of
tile flooring you can name. One particular variety of natural
stone flooring that is begeing more and more popular is slate.
The popularity of slate tile can be attributed to many factors,
although versatility of slate tile is certainly one of the more obvious
ones. Slate tile can be used practically anywhere from a kitchen,
to a front hallway, to a bathroom, and in outdoor uses such as pool
surrounds and patio tile. In addition to this versatility, slate
features one of the most naturally slip-resistant surfaces available.
For areas where this is important in the front entrance way of a
gemercial or public property, or in a bathroom where wetness is
expected, for instance slate delivers one of the most durable and
decorative surfaces available, as well as being a highly practical
surface to greatly reduce the possibility of slipping on your
floor. So, as you can see, slate tile flooring certainly offers a
wide range of advantages. But where does slate gee from exactly,
and how is it prepared for use as tile?
Origins and nature of slate
Slate is found in large deposits most gemonly concentrated in
continental coastal regions. These areas are where ancient oceans
collected silt and other mineral elements which remain long after these
oceans have receded. The material elements left behind in these
former ocean beds - soil, clay and other random minerals - are exposed
to tremendous pressures and heat over the course of millennia. The heat
and pressure to which these materials are subject forge them into a
rugged, naturally durable stone we recognize as
slate. The minerals that are often found in slate quartz,
mica, chlorite, and others act as stabilizing agents, allowing the
slate to be very resistant to all kinds of stresses. This mixture of
random materials explains the naturally varied hues from tile to tile,
given that the mineral content in the stone will be equally varied. The
harsh beginnings of slate tile makes for a very durable, and visually
striking material that is highly suitable for flooring for an inside or
outside project.
Gauge and calibration of slate tile flooring
In addition to being durable and decorative, slate tiles are often
designed to be easy to work with for an experienced tile installer as
well. It is important to many manufacturers to make installing
slate tile as simple a process as is possible for a material that
remains largely unchanged from its natural state. Two of the
processes that allows this is gauge and calibration of the slate
tile. Gauge refers to a process whereby the edges of the slate
tile are made square by precision cutting. This simple process
allows the slate tile to be an interlocking material that will be more
easily interlocked with other tiles. In addition, the process of
calibration involves making the back of the slate tile as even as
possible by means of machine-honing it to be smooth or ribbed depending
on type. The process of calibration is important in making sure
that the slate tile will lay flat when installed. This too is
designed for ease of installation, as well as a positive result in
terms of an even walking surface.
Split-face slate tile flooring
One of the most popular choices in slate tile flooring is the natural
face, or split-face slate tile. The split in split-face refers
to where the slate has been removed, or split, from the slate
bed. Therefore, this variety of slate tile maintains the natural,
unevenly textured surface that makes slate tile distinct from other
varieties of natural stone. Split-face slate tile flooring is
also one of the best choices you can make if you are looking for a
slip-resistant surface. Also, this type of slate tile flooring has a
tactile dimension all of its own, adding a sensuous character to a
slate tile floor that is an additional feature to the rich color.
Color variation in slate tile flooring and the dry run
As it has been mentioned earlier, slate is made up of random elements,
and there are natural color variations to be expected in every batch of
slate tile. No slate tile floor is identical to any other. If
youre looking for a chance to let your designers eye guide your
flooring project, you will have made a great choice in slate tile
flooring. Once youve ordered your slate tile and youve had the batch
delivered, it is a good idea to open all of the boxes to see the range
of color that is unique to your shipment. Once again, no slate
tile flooring project is the same as the next, so this is your chance
to explore the layout possibilities in a dry run. This involves
laying out your slate tile without applying the mortar, to help you get
the best visual result. The natural variations from tile to tile
in this sense is a significant advantage to the overall effect your
slate tile flooring project will have on your interior or
exterior. This dry run, and the opening of all boxes you get,
will also help you in the case of thickness variation in the slate tile
as well.
Thickness variation in slate tile flooring
It must be noted that there will often be a thickness variation from
tile to tile. Its a good idea to discuss this with your local
flooring professionals, or your slate tile sales rep. They can
often be helpful to you when you are thinking of using slate, but are
uncertain about some of these details that characterize natural stone
surfaces. The thickness variation is often presented in a range
of 3/8-7/16, for instance. Again, your sales rep or other flooring
professional can help you with the specifics of your chosen line of
slate tile flooring.
Slate tile flooring adds strength and class
The popular use of slate tile flooring in many areas of residential and
gemercial interiors and exteriors is a tribute to its versatility and
aesthetic value. With its distinctive surface, ease of installation and
workability, decorative color variation, and its natural
slip-resistance that makes it a great choice for practicality and
look. With slate, youre always have firm footing!
Slate tile flooring dos and donts
Do:
Consider the area in which you wish to install your slate tile
flooring and be sure that the type of slate you choose to buy is
appropriate with regard to climate, foot traffic, and any other
pertinent factors.
Consider the substrate over which you will install your slate
tile, and make sure that it is suitable for your specific choice.
Always ask your sales rep about the suitability of your substrate in
relation to the slate tile product you buy
Expect color variations, and use them to your advantage when approaching the layout of your slate tile.
Read all warranty information provided, and any other instructions or information pertinent to your slate tile flooring purchase
Layout your slate tile flooring in a dry run, and test the color
patterns, thickness variation, and overall spacing of your particular
batch of slate
Use a type of mortar for slate tile that is conducive to your
interior or exterior installation. Seek advice from sales reps as
to specific brands and varieties of mortar and always read the
instructions on any products you buy
Choose a appropriate slate tile flooring sealant. Some
varieties you might consider are high-gloss (which gives your slate
tile a lustrous wet look), low sheen (which is reflective, but not as
shiny as high-gloss), or no sheen, sometimes known as natural finish.
The look that these finishes provide are down to taste, but (once
again) its a good idea to make sure that your sealant is suitable for
slate tile
Hire an experienced flooring professional if you dont have
experience in laying slate tile yourself. This can help you to
avoid costly mistakes
Dont:
Forget to allow for breakage and waste when you place your
order. Accidents can happen, both in transit and on the job site
Use slate tile as a paver on sand. Slate tile must be installed on a solid substrate with mortar
Fail to inspect your substrate for loose materials or dirt.
It is important to have a clear, clean and level substrate for a slate
tile flooring installation
Install slate tile flooring on a wet surface. Despite the
resilient nature of slate, trapped moisture remains to be something to
be avoided in any installation
Apply a sealer to a slate tile floor that has been waxed or oiled
but has not yet cured. The resulting marks left by walking on a slate
tile floor that hasnt cured can be difficult to remove later
Begin grouting too soon. Its a good idea to wait at least
a day before grouting your slate tile in order to allow the mortar to
properly set
Forget to use safety goggles and other equipment when cutting slate tile
This is of course by no means a geplete list. For more detailed
advice on the purchase, installation, and care of slate tile flooring,
it is best to talk to the professionals. An experienced customer
service rep or professional installer can prove to be valuable assets
when planning for your slate tile project.
and why it is a reliable flooring material, how slate tile is
processed, the advantages of color variation in slate tile flooring,
why a dry run is important before you install slate tile flooring,
and what split-faced slate tile is and why it adds even more benefit
to an interior or exterior, slate tile dos and donts.
Firm Footing: Slate Tile Flooring
Some of the simplest materials used in flooring are those which require
little alteration from their natural form. To this, it can be
said that the earth itself is often the most reliable manufacturers of
tile flooring you can name. One particular variety of natural
stone flooring that is begeing more and more popular is slate.
The popularity of slate tile can be attributed to many factors,
although versatility of slate tile is certainly one of the more obvious
ones. Slate tile can be used practically anywhere from a kitchen,
to a front hallway, to a bathroom, and in outdoor uses such as pool
surrounds and patio tile. In addition to this versatility, slate
features one of the most naturally slip-resistant surfaces available.
For areas where this is important in the front entrance way of a
gemercial or public property, or in a bathroom where wetness is
expected, for instance slate delivers one of the most durable and
decorative surfaces available, as well as being a highly practical
surface to greatly reduce the possibility of slipping on your
floor. So, as you can see, slate tile flooring certainly offers a
wide range of advantages. But where does slate gee from exactly,
and how is it prepared for use as tile?
Origins and nature of slate
Slate is found in large deposits most gemonly concentrated in
continental coastal regions. These areas are where ancient oceans
collected silt and other mineral elements which remain long after these
oceans have receded. The material elements left behind in these
former ocean beds - soil, clay and other random minerals - are exposed
to tremendous pressures and heat over the course of millennia. The heat
and pressure to which these materials are subject forge them into a
rugged, naturally durable stone we recognize as
slate. The minerals that are often found in slate quartz,
mica, chlorite, and others act as stabilizing agents, allowing the
slate to be very resistant to all kinds of stresses. This mixture of
random materials explains the naturally varied hues from tile to tile,
given that the mineral content in the stone will be equally varied. The
harsh beginnings of slate tile makes for a very durable, and visually
striking material that is highly suitable for flooring for an inside or
outside project.
Gauge and calibration of slate tile flooring
In addition to being durable and decorative, slate tiles are often
designed to be easy to work with for an experienced tile installer as
well. It is important to many manufacturers to make installing
slate tile as simple a process as is possible for a material that
remains largely unchanged from its natural state. Two of the
processes that allows this is gauge and calibration of the slate
tile. Gauge refers to a process whereby the edges of the slate
tile are made square by precision cutting. This simple process
allows the slate tile to be an interlocking material that will be more
easily interlocked with other tiles. In addition, the process of
calibration involves making the back of the slate tile as even as
possible by means of machine-honing it to be smooth or ribbed depending
on type. The process of calibration is important in making sure
that the slate tile will lay flat when installed. This too is
designed for ease of installation, as well as a positive result in
terms of an even walking surface.
Split-face slate tile flooring
One of the most popular choices in slate tile flooring is the natural
face, or split-face slate tile. The split in split-face refers
to where the slate has been removed, or split, from the slate
bed. Therefore, this variety of slate tile maintains the natural,
unevenly textured surface that makes slate tile distinct from other
varieties of natural stone. Split-face slate tile flooring is
also one of the best choices you can make if you are looking for a
slip-resistant surface. Also, this type of slate tile flooring has a
tactile dimension all of its own, adding a sensuous character to a
slate tile floor that is an additional feature to the rich color.
Color variation in slate tile flooring and the dry run
As it has been mentioned earlier, slate is made up of random elements,
and there are natural color variations to be expected in every batch of
slate tile. No slate tile floor is identical to any other. If
youre looking for a chance to let your designers eye guide your
flooring project, you will have made a great choice in slate tile
flooring. Once youve ordered your slate tile and youve had the batch
delivered, it is a good idea to open all of the boxes to see the range
of color that is unique to your shipment. Once again, no slate
tile flooring project is the same as the next, so this is your chance
to explore the layout possibilities in a dry run. This involves
laying out your slate tile without applying the mortar, to help you get
the best visual result. The natural variations from tile to tile
in this sense is a significant advantage to the overall effect your
slate tile flooring project will have on your interior or
exterior. This dry run, and the opening of all boxes you get,
will also help you in the case of thickness variation in the slate tile
as well.
Thickness variation in slate tile flooring
It must be noted that there will often be a thickness variation from
tile to tile. Its a good idea to discuss this with your local
flooring professionals, or your slate tile sales rep. They can
often be helpful to you when you are thinking of using slate, but are
uncertain about some of these details that characterize natural stone
surfaces. The thickness variation is often presented in a range
of 3/8-7/16, for instance. Again, your sales rep or other flooring
professional can help you with the specifics of your chosen line of
slate tile flooring.
Slate tile flooring adds strength and class
The popular use of slate tile flooring in many areas of residential and
gemercial interiors and exteriors is a tribute to its versatility and
aesthetic value. With its distinctive surface, ease of installation and
workability, decorative color variation, and its natural
slip-resistance that makes it a great choice for practicality and
look. With slate, youre always have firm footing!
Slate tile flooring dos and donts
Do:
Consider the area in which you wish to install your slate tile
flooring and be sure that the type of slate you choose to buy is
appropriate with regard to climate, foot traffic, and any other
pertinent factors.
Consider the substrate over which you will install your slate
tile, and make sure that it is suitable for your specific choice.
Always ask your sales rep about the suitability of your substrate in
relation to the slate tile product you buy
Expect color variations, and use them to your advantage when approaching the layout of your slate tile.
Read all warranty information provided, and any other instructions or information pertinent to your slate tile flooring purchase
Layout your slate tile flooring in a dry run, and test the color
patterns, thickness variation, and overall spacing of your particular
batch of slate
Use a type of mortar for slate tile that is conducive to your
interior or exterior installation. Seek advice from sales reps as
to specific brands and varieties of mortar and always read the
instructions on any products you buy
Choose a appropriate slate tile flooring sealant. Some
varieties you might consider are high-gloss (which gives your slate
tile a lustrous wet look), low sheen (which is reflective, but not as
shiny as high-gloss), or no sheen, sometimes known as natural finish.
The look that these finishes provide are down to taste, but (once
again) its a good idea to make sure that your sealant is suitable for
slate tile
Hire an experienced flooring professional if you dont have
experience in laying slate tile yourself. This can help you to
avoid costly mistakes
Dont:
Forget to allow for breakage and waste when you place your
order. Accidents can happen, both in transit and on the job site
Use slate tile as a paver on sand. Slate tile must be installed on a solid substrate with mortar
Fail to inspect your substrate for loose materials or dirt.
It is important to have a clear, clean and level substrate for a slate
tile flooring installation
Install slate tile flooring on a wet surface. Despite the
resilient nature of slate, trapped moisture remains to be something to
be avoided in any installation
Apply a sealer to a slate tile floor that has been waxed or oiled
but has not yet cured. The resulting marks left by walking on a slate
tile floor that hasnt cured can be difficult to remove later
Begin grouting too soon. Its a good idea to wait at least
a day before grouting your slate tile in order to allow the mortar to
properly set
Forget to use safety goggles and other equipment when cutting slate tile
This is of course by no means a geplete list. For more detailed
advice on the purchase, installation, and care of slate tile flooring,
it is best to talk to the professionals. An experienced customer
service rep or professional installer can prove to be valuable assets
when planning for your slate tile project.
Gi Joe Green VAMP Tan VAMP Mark 2 Jeep GIJOE Cost Guide
Gi Joe VAMP Jeeps Buying Guide
Gi Joe Green VAMP Jeep average price: $50
I over 200 of the many variations of this jeep. They are one ofthe favorite toys from my childhood. The following is a price guide for those who love these toys.
These jeeps were the first GI Joe vehicles to be released. They were made with brittle plastic so not many remain today. For these 2 reasons the are considered quite the collector item. There is the gemon green version of this jeep with a rear gun from 1982. In 1984Sears teamed the VAMP with the HAL Laser trailer.The final version of the VAMP is the 1984 rare tan Mark 2 version with four missles. I will reveiw all.
Up first the 1982 green version.
$35Green VAMP Jeepintact without gun
$50 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun
$60 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and blueprints
$75 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver
$70 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard
$100 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints
$100 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints and orginal box
The 1984 Sears Exclusive boxed set featuring the green VAMP with the HAL laser trailer.
$50Green VAMP Jeepand HAL laser intact without gun
$75Green VAMP Jeepand HAL laser intact with gun
$85 Green VAMP Jeepand HAL laserintact with gun and blueprints
$100 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints and orginal box
The 1984 Tan VAMP Mark 2
$45Tan VAMP Jeepintact without missles(4)
$65Tan VAMP Jeepintact with missles
$75 Tan VAMP Jeepintact withmissles and blueprints
$100 TanVAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver
$90Tan VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard
$125Tan VAMP Jeepintact withmissles and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints
$175Tan VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints and orginal box
MostVAMPs will be dirty, it is up to you to decide how much your time is worth cleaning them.
Please read my other guides on Gi Joe Vamps, Stingers, HISS, Night Ravens, Rattlers, ans Skysrikers.
Please mark this guide helpful. It's like feedback.
Gi Joe Green VAMP Jeep average price: $50
I over 200 of the many variations of this jeep. They are one ofthe favorite toys from my childhood. The following is a price guide for those who love these toys.
These jeeps were the first GI Joe vehicles to be released. They were made with brittle plastic so not many remain today. For these 2 reasons the are considered quite the collector item. There is the gemon green version of this jeep with a rear gun from 1982. In 1984Sears teamed the VAMP with the HAL Laser trailer.The final version of the VAMP is the 1984 rare tan Mark 2 version with four missles. I will reveiw all.
Up first the 1982 green version.
$35Green VAMP Jeepintact without gun
$50 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun
$60 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and blueprints
$75 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver
$70 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard
$100 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints
$100 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints and orginal box
The 1984 Sears Exclusive boxed set featuring the green VAMP with the HAL laser trailer.
$50Green VAMP Jeepand HAL laser intact without gun
$75Green VAMP Jeepand HAL laser intact with gun
$85 Green VAMP Jeepand HAL laserintact with gun and blueprints
$100 Green VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints and orginal box
The 1984 Tan VAMP Mark 2
$45Tan VAMP Jeepintact without missles(4)
$65Tan VAMP Jeepintact with missles
$75 Tan VAMP Jeepintact withmissles and blueprints
$100 TanVAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver
$90Tan VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard
$125Tan VAMP Jeepintact withmissles and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints
$175Tan VAMP Jeepintact with gun and driver filecard, driver, and blueprints and orginal box
MostVAMPs will be dirty, it is up to you to decide how much your time is worth cleaning them.
Please read my other guides on Gi Joe Vamps, Stingers, HISS, Night Ravens, Rattlers, ans Skysrikers.
Please mark this guide helpful. It's like feedback.
Proper Care
A general background of stainless steel flatware and how and why it wears. Stainless steel is essentially iron which has been infused with more than 10 percent chromium. It is very good at resisting corrosionand rust through normal wear and tear, but occasionally it will dull. Stainless steel is noted for its hardness and ability to withstand everyday use. To make the flatware shine, a little of the chromium is used to form the hard oxide coating on the surface. This is like a hard outer shell protecting the steel on the inside. Over time, and subject to use and exposure to harsh elements like dishwashing detergents, this hard protective shell very slowly wears down. This is a normal occurence for all flatware, although it should not occur for quite a long time. Typically the higher the quality of flatware the longer the time it takes for the outer shell to wear down and thus a reduction of luster to occur. In very high quality stainless flatware you may be able to use it for several decades before a noticeable reduction in luster occurs.
Cleaning your flatware if it is still relatively new and in good shape. There are a number of possible ways to clean it up and restore some of its original shine. One such method used to remove streaking is to take a soft dish towel and rub a little olive oil on the flatware, this should remove streaking. One can also polish and shine stainless steel by using vinegar and a soft cloth to wipe the flatware. This is also good to remove heat stains from the flatware. If you don't have any vinegar, club soda can also be used as an alternative.
Important notes regarding washing your flatware in the dishwasher. Try to rinse off any salty or acidic foodsstuck to the flatware. Usually people will put utensils in the dishwasher and then wait upwards of 3 days to actually run the dishwashwer. This extended time is a killer onyour stainless steel flatware and will dull it quicker. An important note to remember is that detergents are harsh chemicals used to clean off stubborn food, but ironically they can also damage your flatware. When possible use detergents that are mild. Usually a detergent will state this on it's label. Many manufacturers consider their flatware safe to wash in the dishwasher. Generally speaking this is true, however your flatware will still be best maintaned by following the above regeendations.
What not to use to clean your stainless steel flatware. Definitely do not use harsh abrasives or steel wool on stainless steel as it will surely scratch the suface and cause additional problems.
Cherry Creek Trading gepanyspecializes in the sales of stainless steel flatware. We are an autorized dealer for all manufacturers that we sell. We only sell first quality, new merchandise and best of all we sell this flatware at huge discounts. We sell Reed and Barton, Onedia, Wallace, Lenox, Towle, Gorham, Dansk, Henckels, International, Lisa Jenks, and Couzon among others. Please gee and visit our okay store to see your huge selection and incredible prices. Just click here okay Store. We would love a chance to earn your business
Cleaning your flatware if it is still relatively new and in good shape. There are a number of possible ways to clean it up and restore some of its original shine. One such method used to remove streaking is to take a soft dish towel and rub a little olive oil on the flatware, this should remove streaking. One can also polish and shine stainless steel by using vinegar and a soft cloth to wipe the flatware. This is also good to remove heat stains from the flatware. If you don't have any vinegar, club soda can also be used as an alternative.
Important notes regarding washing your flatware in the dishwasher. Try to rinse off any salty or acidic foodsstuck to the flatware. Usually people will put utensils in the dishwasher and then wait upwards of 3 days to actually run the dishwashwer. This extended time is a killer onyour stainless steel flatware and will dull it quicker. An important note to remember is that detergents are harsh chemicals used to clean off stubborn food, but ironically they can also damage your flatware. When possible use detergents that are mild. Usually a detergent will state this on it's label. Many manufacturers consider their flatware safe to wash in the dishwasher. Generally speaking this is true, however your flatware will still be best maintaned by following the above regeendations.
What not to use to clean your stainless steel flatware. Definitely do not use harsh abrasives or steel wool on stainless steel as it will surely scratch the suface and cause additional problems.
Cherry Creek Trading gepanyspecializes in the sales of stainless steel flatware. We are an autorized dealer for all manufacturers that we sell. We only sell first quality, new merchandise and best of all we sell this flatware at huge discounts. We sell Reed and Barton, Onedia, Wallace, Lenox, Towle, Gorham, Dansk, Henckels, International, Lisa Jenks, and Couzon among others. Please gee and visit our okay store to see your huge selection and incredible prices. Just click here okay Store. We would love a chance to earn your business
Cutting curves and circles on the bandsaw.
It is true that the bandsaw is one of the safest pieces of machinery in your wood shop. I believe it's the only machine, that has a blade that is pressing directly down, against your table...thus making it quite safe.One thing that makes the bandsaw very versitile, is its ability to cut curves and circles....and that's where the trouble gees in. If you're right handed, typically, when you're cutting curves, and especially when cutting circles, pay attention to where your left hand is pushing. Almost always, it is pushing right towards the blade. You may think that that is no big deal...especially when cutting large stock, but what if there's an internal void? I've seen it happen, and it's not worth it. Just ask my 9 fingered brother-in-law.Though push sticks are always regeended, it's rare to see people use them on a bandsaw. But, when cutting curves and circles....it's a must. Keep a push stick handy. I glued a small Rare Earth magnet to my push stick, so that it's always mounted just above my head, to my bandsaw door.Remember folks....fingers don't grow back.
Costume Jewelry: Rhinestone Coating
When a piece of costume jewelry bears the maker's mark it is far easier to determine when it was manufactured. Many gepanies changed their signatures from decade to decade. For example, a Hattie Carnegie brooch marked with a capital HC inside a small diamond shaped symbol was made significantly earlier than one bearing her full name engraved in script lettering. Additionally, most jewelry gepanies didn't add the copyright mark; a small circle with a "c" inside it, until 1955. But here is a tip for determining the age of a piece of costume jewelry that most people do not know. Some rhinestones have a rainbow coating on the surface which reflects colors of blue, pink, lavendar, green or gold. This finish is called "aurora borealis" and adds another dimension to glass rhinestones. The finish went into production around 1953 and has been used ever since. So, if you find a piece of rhinestone costume jewelry and are told it dates to 1920 but it has aurora borealis rhinestones, you will know the date is inaccurate by about 33 years! - Burcaggio House
Finding Neon Beer Signs on s
Finding Neon Beer Signs on okay
Searching forneon beer signs on okay is a relatively simple process. You can find superior neon signs promoting Killian's Red, Golden Michelob Draft, Budweiser, and more. Some popular features include three-position switches and multiple flashing cycles. Many neon beer sings require no assembly and gee with movable stands for easy mounting.
Typical dimensions are 18.5" x 11" x 2.5". These signs look handsome in the home (and even office) as well as in private bars. Before making an arrangement with the seller, though, learn a little bit about the shipping process. Most neon signs are delicate and require packing support, such as bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts.
One very popular neon sign is theCorona Bottle and Palm Tree. This works well as a cable mounted sign or a wall hang. Typical signs include a 12-watt DC connection and a 500-micro Amp adapter. The vast majority of neon signs on okay are plug and go--you do not have to tool the equipment or adjust the neon.
Take a look at seller's shipping fees before purchasing, too. There are some retailers that specialize in obscure or foreign beer signs (e.g. for TSINGTAO Beer), and bulk retailers may charge hefty handling fees that may be discouraging to buyers who only want one or two signs. If you are mass ordering for a bar or chain restaurant, these single lump sum shipping fees may not be overwhelming at all. Typically, okay has hundreds of neon beer sign auctions going at any one time.
Searching forneon beer signs on okay is a relatively simple process. You can find superior neon signs promoting Killian's Red, Golden Michelob Draft, Budweiser, and more. Some popular features include three-position switches and multiple flashing cycles. Many neon beer sings require no assembly and gee with movable stands for easy mounting.
Typical dimensions are 18.5" x 11" x 2.5". These signs look handsome in the home (and even office) as well as in private bars. Before making an arrangement with the seller, though, learn a little bit about the shipping process. Most neon signs are delicate and require packing support, such as bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts.
One very popular neon sign is theCorona Bottle and Palm Tree. This works well as a cable mounted sign or a wall hang. Typical signs include a 12-watt DC connection and a 500-micro Amp adapter. The vast majority of neon signs on okay are plug and go--you do not have to tool the equipment or adjust the neon.
Take a look at seller's shipping fees before purchasing, too. There are some retailers that specialize in obscure or foreign beer signs (e.g. for TSINGTAO Beer), and bulk retailers may charge hefty handling fees that may be discouraging to buyers who only want one or two signs. If you are mass ordering for a bar or chain restaurant, these single lump sum shipping fees may not be overwhelming at all. Typically, okay has hundreds of neon beer sign auctions going at any one time.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
455 $2300 buy it now
This guy almost got me. He goes by the name Matt. He always has seven items for sale on okay (if you research the seller). He changes the seller name once or twice a day. I have reported him to okay, but he is still busy. All you have to do to find him is; search for "john deere 455", look for the purple high-lighted add. If you try to do anything in this add, it will only send him an email. I gemunicated with him throughpdeltaatyahoo.ge I see now, he also goes by pdeltaatgmail.ge (the "at" is in the email because okay won't let me accept @ in the sentence). DO NOT CONTACT THIS CROOK!!! He is trying toscam. I would like to get my hands on him...
Mathews outback/switchback/Hoyt Trykons...
Same experience. There are numerous people doing this same type of thing. All of the listings are EXTREMELY well written and have great pictures. I have paid very close attention to this after being duped on a fly rod this summer. I've noticed this especially with high-end bows like Mathews and Hoyt parallel limb designs, Trek road bikes, especially Madones and anything bearing the "Lance" influence, and Top end fly rods from Winston or Sage. I was a cop for years and have been tracking these sales and listings... without contacting everyone involved, I've definately noticed a trend in the items, and you can notice that sometimes the same items are re-listed with same pictures, etc. My only advice... ask for personalized photos from a particular angle, etc, and pay with Paypal only. It's sad... I love okay, but the integrity has been gepromised and there are a lot of scammers. I, too, am in the market for a Switchback, but think I'll end up paying my local archery guy his 40% markup and knowing I'll get what I'm paying for, set up for me. I hope that you all have better luck than I've had.
B Nelson
B Nelson
LINCOLN CENT RARITY - 1909 S/Horiz S - Underrated Coin!
According to publications like RED BOOK and the monthly publishedCOIN TRENDS, the 1909 S/Horiz S Lincoln Cent is onlyanother glorified variety, but that is ALL WRONG!This is a very scarce coin and it always has been. One day it will be recognized for it's true rarity.There are two varieties of the 1909 S/S, and usually they are mistakenly bothoffered as the same variety. This is far from true! The true 1909 S/Horiz S shows the first "S" punched about 45-60 degrees tilted right. The second "S" punched vertically overthe first. This variety is easily visible to the eye, or in my case, with a 10x loupe.The other variety is simply a slightly repunched mint mark and no more valuable or collectable than any other 1909 S.
The Lincoln Cent series has been literally "overrun" with insignificant errors that you practically need an "electron microscope" to see..;but really, if it's that hard to see, WHO CARES? This 1909 S/Horiz S variety is one of a hand full of STAND-OUT - "COLLECTIBLE" varieties!. . . . BUT,is it . . . "RARE"? The answer is an overwhelming "YES"! A total of only six obverse dies struck all 1.825M 1909-S Lincolns. Simple math equates that only about 300,000 pieces were struck per die. Normal die wear and erosion would have erased most of this error somewhere around middle-die state. This means that in all likelihood,fewer than 150,000 pieces that could be called "True 1909 S/Horiz S" coins, were even produced. The 1909 SVDB had a production run of 484,000 coins, and in just "GOOD", they are selling for $600.The 1909S/Horiz S probably had a mintage of less than a third ofthat; . . .and, after almost 100 years, how many could still be around?. . .Just stop for a moment and think about it . . .How much should they "Really" be worth? . . .When the true rarity of this coin is realized, How much will it be worth?
If you consider yourself a "Serious"Lincoln Cent collector and don't currently own one of these very underrated coins, you just might be "MISSING THE BOAT" on a serious collectible opportunity.With all production figures in the Billions today, errors are the only coins that will be worth collecting at all. Old, established, errors like this one will only increase in importance as time passes. With talk of ending production of Lincoln Cents, and the 100th anniversary of this coin approaching, a second look just might be in order. . .while there are still some coins to look at!
If you feel that this guide was informative or helpful in any way, I would greatly appreciate your taking a few moments to check the YES box at the bottom of this page. All information sources are available upon request. (mintex03)
The Lincoln Cent series has been literally "overrun" with insignificant errors that you practically need an "electron microscope" to see..;but really, if it's that hard to see, WHO CARES? This 1909 S/Horiz S variety is one of a hand full of STAND-OUT - "COLLECTIBLE" varieties!. . . . BUT,is it . . . "RARE"? The answer is an overwhelming "YES"! A total of only six obverse dies struck all 1.825M 1909-S Lincolns. Simple math equates that only about 300,000 pieces were struck per die. Normal die wear and erosion would have erased most of this error somewhere around middle-die state. This means that in all likelihood,fewer than 150,000 pieces that could be called "True 1909 S/Horiz S" coins, were even produced. The 1909 SVDB had a production run of 484,000 coins, and in just "GOOD", they are selling for $600.The 1909S/Horiz S probably had a mintage of less than a third ofthat; . . .and, after almost 100 years, how many could still be around?. . .Just stop for a moment and think about it . . .How much should they "Really" be worth? . . .When the true rarity of this coin is realized, How much will it be worth?
If you consider yourself a "Serious"Lincoln Cent collector and don't currently own one of these very underrated coins, you just might be "MISSING THE BOAT" on a serious collectible opportunity.With all production figures in the Billions today, errors are the only coins that will be worth collecting at all. Old, established, errors like this one will only increase in importance as time passes. With talk of ending production of Lincoln Cents, and the 100th anniversary of this coin approaching, a second look just might be in order. . .while there are still some coins to look at!
If you feel that this guide was informative or helpful in any way, I would greatly appreciate your taking a few moments to check the YES box at the bottom of this page. All information sources are available upon request. (mintex03)
Plasma Vs. LCD
1. Plasma and LCD technology - what's the difference?
Plasma and LCD panels may look similar, but the flat screen and thin profile is where the similarities end. Plasma screens, as its name suggests, uses a matrix of tiny gas plasma cells charged by precise electrical voltages to create a picture. LCD screens (liquid crystal display) are in layman's terms sandwiches made up of liquid crystal pushed in the space between two glass plates. Images are created by varying the amount electrical charge applied to the crystals. Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses, as you'll read below.
2. Is there a difference in picture quality between plasma and LCD screens and normal CRT TVs?
It's not what's happening behind the screen that's important - it's how the screen performs as a television that matters the most. In that regard, both plasma and LCD sets produce excellent pictures, although many home entertainment specialists and gamers still say CRTs produce the best overall images (although plasmas and LCD sets are quickly catching up in terms of quality).
Those same home entertainment specialists will tell you that for basic home theatre-like usage, plasma screens have a slight edge over LCDs. This is because plasma screens can display blacks more accurately than LCDs can, which means better contrast and detail in dark-coloured television or movie scenes. The nature of LCD technology, where a backlight shines through the LCD layer, means it's hard for it to achieve true blacks because there's always some light leakage from between pixels. This is steadily improving with every new generation of LCD, however.
3. What advantages does plasma have over LCD?
Apart from better contrast due to its ability to show deeper blacks, plasma screens typically have better viewing angles than LCD. Viewing angles are how far you can sit on either side of a screen before the picture's quality is affected. You tend to see some brightness and colour shift when you're on too far of an angle with LCDs, while a plasma's picture remains fairly solid. This is steadily changing, however, with more and more LCDs entering the market with viewing angles equal to or greater than some plasmas. Plasmas can also produce a brighter colour, once again due to light leakage on an LCD affecting its colour saturation.
Plasma pundits will also tell you that some LCD screens have a tendency to blur images, particularly during fast moving scenes in movies or in sports. While that was true for older generation LCD screens, newer models have improved significantly - so much so that the differences in performance between LCDs and plasmas in this regard is almost negligible (here's a tip -- if you're shopping for LCDs, check the refresh rate. The lower it is, the better the image quality in fast moving scenes).
Perhaps the biggest advantage plasmas have now over their LCD cousins is price, particularly in the large screen end of the market. Plasmas typically gee in larger sizes than LCDs at a cheaper price. Plasmas being sold in Australia generally run between 42-inches and 63-inches wide, with the cheapest 42-inch selling for approximately AU$3,000 (although you can expect to find sets cheaper than AU$3,000 in real world prices). 60-inch and above plasmas can go for as much as $20,000. LCDs, on the other hand, top out around the mid 40-inch mark, and are more expensive than similar-sized plasmas. Sharp's high end 45-inch LC45G1XSYS LCD, for example, retails for AU$8,999, while Pioneer's top of the line 43-inch PDP-436HD plasma goes for AU$5,999.
4. What advantages does LCD have over plasma?
It's not all doom and gloom for LCD though, as it has the edge over plasma in several key areas. LCDs tend to have higher native resolution than plasmas of similar size, which means more pixels on a screen. If you're a true high-def junkie who's keen to see every pixel of a high-res 1080i/p image reproduced pixel-by-pixel (providing you have a source that high, of course), then LCDs are the way to go.
LCDs also tend to consume less power than plasma screens, with some estimates ranging that power saving at up to 30 per cent less than plasma. LCDs are also generally lighter than similar sized plasmas, making it easier to move around or wall mount.
LCD pundits also point to the fact that LCDs have a longer lifespan than plasma screens. This was true of earlier plasma models, which would lose half of their brightness after more than 20,000 hours of viewing. Later plasma generations have bumped that up to anything between 30,000 and 60,000 hours. LCDs, on the other hand, are guaranteed for 60,000 hours.
You might have also heard that plasmas suffer from screen burn in, an affliction not as gemonly associated with LCDs. Screen burn in occurs when an image is left too long on a screen, resulting in a ghost of that image burned in permanently. Newer plasmas are less susceptible to this thanks to improved technology and other features such built-in screen savers, but we still hear anecdotal reports here of burn-in with new plasmas.
5. Which is better value for me right now: plasma or LCD?
If you're in the market for a big screen television -- and we're talking 42-inches and above -- then we'd suggest plasma as a safe bet. Plasmas give you more bang for your buck at the big end of town, and while LCDs can give you better resolution, the price difference is currently too wide. However, if money's not an issue and you want the sharpest image in town, then a large LCD is for you. At the smaller end of things (15" to 36" TVs), LCD is the only way to go if you want something slim and tasteful. And the best thing is that LCDs are getting cheaper all the time.
Plasma and LCD panels may look similar, but the flat screen and thin profile is where the similarities end. Plasma screens, as its name suggests, uses a matrix of tiny gas plasma cells charged by precise electrical voltages to create a picture. LCD screens (liquid crystal display) are in layman's terms sandwiches made up of liquid crystal pushed in the space between two glass plates. Images are created by varying the amount electrical charge applied to the crystals. Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses, as you'll read below.
2. Is there a difference in picture quality between plasma and LCD screens and normal CRT TVs?
It's not what's happening behind the screen that's important - it's how the screen performs as a television that matters the most. In that regard, both plasma and LCD sets produce excellent pictures, although many home entertainment specialists and gamers still say CRTs produce the best overall images (although plasmas and LCD sets are quickly catching up in terms of quality).
Those same home entertainment specialists will tell you that for basic home theatre-like usage, plasma screens have a slight edge over LCDs. This is because plasma screens can display blacks more accurately than LCDs can, which means better contrast and detail in dark-coloured television or movie scenes. The nature of LCD technology, where a backlight shines through the LCD layer, means it's hard for it to achieve true blacks because there's always some light leakage from between pixels. This is steadily improving with every new generation of LCD, however.
3. What advantages does plasma have over LCD?
Apart from better contrast due to its ability to show deeper blacks, plasma screens typically have better viewing angles than LCD. Viewing angles are how far you can sit on either side of a screen before the picture's quality is affected. You tend to see some brightness and colour shift when you're on too far of an angle with LCDs, while a plasma's picture remains fairly solid. This is steadily changing, however, with more and more LCDs entering the market with viewing angles equal to or greater than some plasmas. Plasmas can also produce a brighter colour, once again due to light leakage on an LCD affecting its colour saturation.
Plasma pundits will also tell you that some LCD screens have a tendency to blur images, particularly during fast moving scenes in movies or in sports. While that was true for older generation LCD screens, newer models have improved significantly - so much so that the differences in performance between LCDs and plasmas in this regard is almost negligible (here's a tip -- if you're shopping for LCDs, check the refresh rate. The lower it is, the better the image quality in fast moving scenes).
Perhaps the biggest advantage plasmas have now over their LCD cousins is price, particularly in the large screen end of the market. Plasmas typically gee in larger sizes than LCDs at a cheaper price. Plasmas being sold in Australia generally run between 42-inches and 63-inches wide, with the cheapest 42-inch selling for approximately AU$3,000 (although you can expect to find sets cheaper than AU$3,000 in real world prices). 60-inch and above plasmas can go for as much as $20,000. LCDs, on the other hand, top out around the mid 40-inch mark, and are more expensive than similar-sized plasmas. Sharp's high end 45-inch LC45G1XSYS LCD, for example, retails for AU$8,999, while Pioneer's top of the line 43-inch PDP-436HD plasma goes for AU$5,999.
4. What advantages does LCD have over plasma?
It's not all doom and gloom for LCD though, as it has the edge over plasma in several key areas. LCDs tend to have higher native resolution than plasmas of similar size, which means more pixels on a screen. If you're a true high-def junkie who's keen to see every pixel of a high-res 1080i/p image reproduced pixel-by-pixel (providing you have a source that high, of course), then LCDs are the way to go.
LCDs also tend to consume less power than plasma screens, with some estimates ranging that power saving at up to 30 per cent less than plasma. LCDs are also generally lighter than similar sized plasmas, making it easier to move around or wall mount.
LCD pundits also point to the fact that LCDs have a longer lifespan than plasma screens. This was true of earlier plasma models, which would lose half of their brightness after more than 20,000 hours of viewing. Later plasma generations have bumped that up to anything between 30,000 and 60,000 hours. LCDs, on the other hand, are guaranteed for 60,000 hours.
You might have also heard that plasmas suffer from screen burn in, an affliction not as gemonly associated with LCDs. Screen burn in occurs when an image is left too long on a screen, resulting in a ghost of that image burned in permanently. Newer plasmas are less susceptible to this thanks to improved technology and other features such built-in screen savers, but we still hear anecdotal reports here of burn-in with new plasmas.
5. Which is better value for me right now: plasma or LCD?
If you're in the market for a big screen television -- and we're talking 42-inches and above -- then we'd suggest plasma as a safe bet. Plasmas give you more bang for your buck at the big end of town, and while LCDs can give you better resolution, the price difference is currently too wide. However, if money's not an issue and you want the sharpest image in town, then a large LCD is for you. At the smaller end of things (15" to 36" TVs), LCD is the only way to go if you want something slim and tasteful. And the best thing is that LCDs are getting cheaper all the time.
Cloth Diapers (and not a pin in sight!)
Why Cloth?-Better for baby -- minimum chemicals next to baby's delicate parts-Better for environment -- less waste-Better
for finances -- even with a well-stocked cute stash you'll
break even well before a year of use (and you could use your diapers
for more than one child. Diapers also maintain their value well for
resell -- between 50-90 percent of their original value.)-THEY ARE SO CUTE!!It's not what you're thinking (necessarily)There
are many different types of cloth diapering today. You can still use a
pinned diaper with a cover, and many do as it is the most economical
option. Rather than pins, though, diapers can be secured with a Snappi, a plastic clip to hold the diaper in place. When I use prefolds, I just fold them into a well-fitting cover.I
started cding using pocket diapers. These diapers go on like a
disposable, either with aplix (like velcro) closures or snaps. The
outside is made of polyurethane laminate (PUL), a waterproof fabric.
There is an open pocket inside to slide something absorbent -- a
microfiber towel, a prefold diaper, or an insert sold with the diaper
outer. Up against the baby is a layer of microfleece. The keeps the
baby from feeling wet. Pockets are the mainstay of my diaper stash. I
use them for overnight and naps. Fuzzi Bunz, Swaddlebees, and Bumgenius are popular brands of pocket diapers.All-in-One (AIO) diapers are
the easiest option since no stuffing is involved. Many
work-at-home-moms sew and sell AIOs or All-in-Twos (AI2). AI2s have
snap-in soakers allowing you to control the absorbency and thickness of
the diaper. Popular brands include Bumkins, Daisy Doodles, and Jamtots Berry Plush.Fitted diapers are not waterproofed, but fasten onto
the baby using snaps or aplix. These diapers need a waterproof cover. I
use these sometimes, especially when my daughter has a diaper rash as they
breathe well. Popular brands include Kissaluvs, Muttaqin, and Motherease.Covers--prefolds and fitted diapers need covers. Covers can be made of PUL, wool, or other water repellent materials. Popular brands of PUL covers include Bummis and Bumkins. Wool cover brands include Aristocrats, Loveybums and Staccinator.My Laundry SystemI use a Rubbermaid trashcan with a step-on lid that seals
tightly and throw my diapers directly into the pail. For thick or solid
poop, I plop it into the toilet and use a diaper sprayer to rinse the
diaper, then throw the rinsed diaper into the pail. I empty the pail
liner filled with diapers into the washing machine and throw in the
pail liner. I run a cold auto-soak/prerinse on the diapers, then wash
them on the longest cycle on hot with about a tablespoon of Sun
detergent (you do not need much soap. Too much soap can cause problems
with your diapers!) I run an extra rinse and then put my diapers into
the dryer. If a diaper is stained, I hang the clean, wet diaper in the
sun to dry. The sun is amazing on stains. After sunning, I fluff the
diaper in the dryer for a few minutes. I do run an empty hot wash with
bleach through my washing machine every week or so to clean out the
machine. Accessories I Regemend--cloth wipes--diaper shower / diaper sprayer--pail liner--wetbag (for your diaper bag)Tricks of the GameYou will find that shopping for cloth diapers is quite fun -- some say addictive. A great way to keep your diaper stash fresh and fun is with okay! Set a certain amount that you will spend on your diapering system. When you get the urge to buy a new diaper, list on okay one that you are bored with. Use the money in your paypal account from that sale to fund a new-to-you diaper that you find on okay!
for finances -- even with a well-stocked cute stash you'll
break even well before a year of use (and you could use your diapers
for more than one child. Diapers also maintain their value well for
resell -- between 50-90 percent of their original value.)-THEY ARE SO CUTE!!It's not what you're thinking (necessarily)There
are many different types of cloth diapering today. You can still use a
pinned diaper with a cover, and many do as it is the most economical
option. Rather than pins, though, diapers can be secured with a Snappi, a plastic clip to hold the diaper in place. When I use prefolds, I just fold them into a well-fitting cover.I
started cding using pocket diapers. These diapers go on like a
disposable, either with aplix (like velcro) closures or snaps. The
outside is made of polyurethane laminate (PUL), a waterproof fabric.
There is an open pocket inside to slide something absorbent -- a
microfiber towel, a prefold diaper, or an insert sold with the diaper
outer. Up against the baby is a layer of microfleece. The keeps the
baby from feeling wet. Pockets are the mainstay of my diaper stash. I
use them for overnight and naps. Fuzzi Bunz, Swaddlebees, and Bumgenius are popular brands of pocket diapers.All-in-One (AIO) diapers are
the easiest option since no stuffing is involved. Many
work-at-home-moms sew and sell AIOs or All-in-Twos (AI2). AI2s have
snap-in soakers allowing you to control the absorbency and thickness of
the diaper. Popular brands include Bumkins, Daisy Doodles, and Jamtots Berry Plush.Fitted diapers are not waterproofed, but fasten onto
the baby using snaps or aplix. These diapers need a waterproof cover. I
use these sometimes, especially when my daughter has a diaper rash as they
breathe well. Popular brands include Kissaluvs, Muttaqin, and Motherease.Covers--prefolds and fitted diapers need covers. Covers can be made of PUL, wool, or other water repellent materials. Popular brands of PUL covers include Bummis and Bumkins. Wool cover brands include Aristocrats, Loveybums and Staccinator.My Laundry SystemI use a Rubbermaid trashcan with a step-on lid that seals
tightly and throw my diapers directly into the pail. For thick or solid
poop, I plop it into the toilet and use a diaper sprayer to rinse the
diaper, then throw the rinsed diaper into the pail. I empty the pail
liner filled with diapers into the washing machine and throw in the
pail liner. I run a cold auto-soak/prerinse on the diapers, then wash
them on the longest cycle on hot with about a tablespoon of Sun
detergent (you do not need much soap. Too much soap can cause problems
with your diapers!) I run an extra rinse and then put my diapers into
the dryer. If a diaper is stained, I hang the clean, wet diaper in the
sun to dry. The sun is amazing on stains. After sunning, I fluff the
diaper in the dryer for a few minutes. I do run an empty hot wash with
bleach through my washing machine every week or so to clean out the
machine. Accessories I Regemend--cloth wipes--diaper shower / diaper sprayer--pail liner--wetbag (for your diaper bag)Tricks of the GameYou will find that shopping for cloth diapers is quite fun -- some say addictive. A great way to keep your diaper stash fresh and fun is with okay! Set a certain amount that you will spend on your diapering system. When you get the urge to buy a new diaper, list on okay one that you are bored with. Use the money in your paypal account from that sale to fund a new-to-you diaper that you find on okay!
SCRAPBOOKING MUST HAVES and what they do....
Which tools should be in a scrapbookers room, what you can do with them and more....
PUNCHES: Punches are tools used to punch shapes out of paper. They gee in shapes of all sizes, from large circles to small flowers, alphabet letters to corner edgers and small borders. You can find them at craft stores in the paper section. As a beginner, youll want to pick the most versatile shapes. My favorites have always been circle punches and squares as they can make life easier in many ways since they are very versatile. To use, simply slide the paper in the metal slit, then punch down, keeping your hand flat on the widest part of the punch. Ive found that you can lubricate a stiff new punch by punching through wax paper. To sharpen a dull punch thats been frequently used, punch through a piece of tin foil.
EMBELLISHMENTS: You can decorate your pages with all sorts of embellishments, which you can easily find at a scrapbook store but alo in your garage, kitchen and even on a fleamarket. Buttons, fibers (fancy yarns and threads), metal accents, beads, craft wire and fabric ribbon roses can all safely be used on a scrapbook page. I like to use Glue Dots to attach them or double sided tape.
CHALK: Decorative chalks gee in a set with lots of different colors. The set gees with two applicators, and you can also apply the chalk to paper with your fingers or Q-tips. Theyre nice for adding a touch of soft color to a paper, or shading and highlighting tags and die-cuts.
EYELETS, SNAPSand BRADS: These are great for attaching vellum to paper, decorating a photo mat or making a border. They now gee in various sizes and even shapes. To use eyelets, youll need a setter and a hole punch, plus a pounding mat and a hammer. Many gepanies, such as Making Memories, offer eyelet toolkits that include all of these. Please see my special guide on how to set eyelets.
RUBBER STAMPS: While stamps are a bit of an investment they can also do double-duty for making handmade cards. When shopping for stamps, look for designs you can use on lots of different pages.To stamp, youll also need an inkpad (black is a good color choice when you start).
DIE-CUTS: These are paper shapes that gee in all sorts of colors and themes. Often made from cardstock, you can buy them individually or cut your own. If you do not have a die cutter like SIZZIX, ACCU-CUTor other models scrapbook stores will mostly have a die-cut machine which they let you use for free if you purchase the paper. The store usually charges you for the paper and a usage charge on the machine.
TEMPLATES: are a great tool for lettering or making different shapes, they usually gee in durable plastic, so store very easily in a folder.
SCISSORS: A wonderful thing is a whole caddy full of decorative scissors. With these you can add a unique touch to your projects as they cut in a variety of shapes along the paper.
BOTTLE CAPS: Are the latest rage right now and not only add dimension to your projects but also can be used in different ways. They now even gee in a variety of colors to acgeodate all your needs. Please see my special guide on bottle caps.
SLIDE MOUNTS: Used before in photography to store your negatives slide mounts have now found their way into scrapbooking and even have changed their dimension and shapes. They make a great little frame for featured pictures and add texture to any project.
PUNCHES: Punches are tools used to punch shapes out of paper. They gee in shapes of all sizes, from large circles to small flowers, alphabet letters to corner edgers and small borders. You can find them at craft stores in the paper section. As a beginner, youll want to pick the most versatile shapes. My favorites have always been circle punches and squares as they can make life easier in many ways since they are very versatile. To use, simply slide the paper in the metal slit, then punch down, keeping your hand flat on the widest part of the punch. Ive found that you can lubricate a stiff new punch by punching through wax paper. To sharpen a dull punch thats been frequently used, punch through a piece of tin foil.
EMBELLISHMENTS: You can decorate your pages with all sorts of embellishments, which you can easily find at a scrapbook store but alo in your garage, kitchen and even on a fleamarket. Buttons, fibers (fancy yarns and threads), metal accents, beads, craft wire and fabric ribbon roses can all safely be used on a scrapbook page. I like to use Glue Dots to attach them or double sided tape.
CHALK: Decorative chalks gee in a set with lots of different colors. The set gees with two applicators, and you can also apply the chalk to paper with your fingers or Q-tips. Theyre nice for adding a touch of soft color to a paper, or shading and highlighting tags and die-cuts.
EYELETS, SNAPSand BRADS: These are great for attaching vellum to paper, decorating a photo mat or making a border. They now gee in various sizes and even shapes. To use eyelets, youll need a setter and a hole punch, plus a pounding mat and a hammer. Many gepanies, such as Making Memories, offer eyelet toolkits that include all of these. Please see my special guide on how to set eyelets.
RUBBER STAMPS: While stamps are a bit of an investment they can also do double-duty for making handmade cards. When shopping for stamps, look for designs you can use on lots of different pages.To stamp, youll also need an inkpad (black is a good color choice when you start).
DIE-CUTS: These are paper shapes that gee in all sorts of colors and themes. Often made from cardstock, you can buy them individually or cut your own. If you do not have a die cutter like SIZZIX, ACCU-CUTor other models scrapbook stores will mostly have a die-cut machine which they let you use for free if you purchase the paper. The store usually charges you for the paper and a usage charge on the machine.
TEMPLATES: are a great tool for lettering or making different shapes, they usually gee in durable plastic, so store very easily in a folder.
SCISSORS: A wonderful thing is a whole caddy full of decorative scissors. With these you can add a unique touch to your projects as they cut in a variety of shapes along the paper.
BOTTLE CAPS: Are the latest rage right now and not only add dimension to your projects but also can be used in different ways. They now even gee in a variety of colors to acgeodate all your needs. Please see my special guide on bottle caps.
SLIDE MOUNTS: Used before in photography to store your negatives slide mounts have now found their way into scrapbooking and even have changed their dimension and shapes. They make a great little frame for featured pictures and add texture to any project.
Do you need a special eye cream?
By Hannah Sivak, PhDSenior ScientistSkin Actives Scientific LLCDo you need a special cream for the eye area or can you use your face cream?The question we have to answer is: is the skin in around the eyes special in any way? The answer is yes. The skin of the eye lids is the thinnest skin in the body, and that makes it special.Why is thin so important? Because whatever happens in that area will show more than anywhere else in the face. Plus, our eyes are a focal point in our face, even we look at this area with more attention that we pay to the rest of the face. Blood vessels can be seen thorugh the skin. Inflammation will affect this area more. If a blood vessel leaks even a bit, the hemoglobin in the blood cells will be transformed into pigments that will stay beneath the skin for a long time, and these pigments can be seen through the thin skin, a part of the "dark under-eye circles" that may us look tired and even sick.With age, the skin gets thinner. The already very thin skin of the eye lids will begee even thinner, and will show age more than the rest of the face. So, do you need a special skin for the eye area? I think so. One that will preserve the dermal matrix, with hyaluronic acid, pamitoyl tetrapeptide and collagen peptides. There are actives that will maintain the elasticity and integrity of the blood vessels, like horse chestnut's escin, grape seed proanthocyanidins and hesperidin methyl chalcone. Rosehip oil will provide some essential fatty acids. Chrysin will help dissolve pigments derived from hemoglobin. Liquid crystal will give your skin radiance while also providing essential molecules to the cell membranes. And lots of anti-oxidants to fight the free radicals produced by our own body or those that surround us in the busy city. Also, this area is more sensitive than the rest of the face, so alpha lipoic acid, a great active that can "sting", has to be used at very low concentration in the eye area.So, go ahead and get a special cream for the eye area. But remember that activity is not the same that expensive, look at the ingredient list and see whether you are getting what you are looking for.
At Last - The Truth About Self Tanners - Lotion
At Last - The Truth About Self Tanners
How do sunless tanning lotions actually work? Are these things dyes that will eventually harm my skin? Are these products approved by the FDA? How long should I expect my tan to last? And most of all; How do I apply them, and look normal?
First you have to know where the whole idea of self tanning came from. It came from the meat packing industry!
Let me explain. All self tanning lotions (STL) contain an ingredient called DHA, thats short for Dihydroxyacetone. DHA was a discovery made in the meat packing industry in the late sixties.
Mainly used for pre-packaged meats, DHA works simply by reacting with protein in the meat to enhance the color. Giving it a more desirable image on supermarket shelves.
These clever marketers found out by trial and error that there was one key factor in getting DHA to produce a natural look.
Why most Self Tanners
Dont Work...
DHA is a pH sensitive ingredient. The pH scale runs from 1-14, and in order for DHA to produce an edible color in meat, the pH must fall no lower than 3 and no higher than 6.
A pH over 6, resulted in meat that developed a high orange color. Under 3, and DHA wouldnt even work.
Meat treated with DHA, at a pH level of 5 to 5.5, experienced record sales! The perfect color for a piece of premium priced meat!
But this meat couldnt have been the orange color I had turned, or no one would have wanted to eat it. There had to be more!
As it turned out, there wasnt. The pH level is the single factor that determines how brown or orange you will be, from the STL you use. Its that simple!
But how could I tell what the pH was, just by looking at the package? Easy. There are three ingredients that should never be present in any STL.
They are NOT gepatible with DHA. Yet almost every self tanner on the market has one of these three ingredients in them. They are Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, and Mineral Oil. All of these ingredients have a naturally high pH. Over 6. And remember, a pH over 6 = orange!
So check that label! If you see one of these ingredients, dont spend your money! Its a waste!
With that settled, I had a few more concerns. Was DHA approved by the FDA? DHA is classified as a sugar, which are totally edible. So yes, it is approved.
What you may not know is that any non-drug product doesnt require FDA approval! Despite what huge cosmetic gepanies lead you to believe. Only over the counter medications and prescription drugs require approval!
OK. But now I wanted to know if DHA was a dye? No, its technically a sugar. Dyes are permanent. DHA is temporary, and gradually fades away just like a real tan. Never causing a threat to your health.
How do sunless tanning lotions actually work? Are these things dyes that will eventually harm my skin? Are these products approved by the FDA? How long should I expect my tan to last? And most of all; How do I apply them, and look normal?
First you have to know where the whole idea of self tanning came from. It came from the meat packing industry!
Let me explain. All self tanning lotions (STL) contain an ingredient called DHA, thats short for Dihydroxyacetone. DHA was a discovery made in the meat packing industry in the late sixties.
Mainly used for pre-packaged meats, DHA works simply by reacting with protein in the meat to enhance the color. Giving it a more desirable image on supermarket shelves.
These clever marketers found out by trial and error that there was one key factor in getting DHA to produce a natural look.
Why most Self Tanners
Dont Work...
DHA is a pH sensitive ingredient. The pH scale runs from 1-14, and in order for DHA to produce an edible color in meat, the pH must fall no lower than 3 and no higher than 6.
A pH over 6, resulted in meat that developed a high orange color. Under 3, and DHA wouldnt even work.
Meat treated with DHA, at a pH level of 5 to 5.5, experienced record sales! The perfect color for a piece of premium priced meat!
But this meat couldnt have been the orange color I had turned, or no one would have wanted to eat it. There had to be more!
As it turned out, there wasnt. The pH level is the single factor that determines how brown or orange you will be, from the STL you use. Its that simple!
But how could I tell what the pH was, just by looking at the package? Easy. There are three ingredients that should never be present in any STL.
They are NOT gepatible with DHA. Yet almost every self tanner on the market has one of these three ingredients in them. They are Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, and Mineral Oil. All of these ingredients have a naturally high pH. Over 6. And remember, a pH over 6 = orange!
So check that label! If you see one of these ingredients, dont spend your money! Its a waste!
With that settled, I had a few more concerns. Was DHA approved by the FDA? DHA is classified as a sugar, which are totally edible. So yes, it is approved.
What you may not know is that any non-drug product doesnt require FDA approval! Despite what huge cosmetic gepanies lead you to believe. Only over the counter medications and prescription drugs require approval!
OK. But now I wanted to know if DHA was a dye? No, its technically a sugar. Dyes are permanent. DHA is temporary, and gradually fades away just like a real tan. Never causing a threat to your health.
Beginners guide to mystery boxes on s
The makings of a great Mystery box auction. okay mystery boxokay mystery box First and foremost you have to remember to state this IMPORTANT: per okay rules this is NOT a lottery, raffle, sweepstakes, or any form of gamblingAfter you get all that out of the way, you will want to remember if you are a true blue okay seller. that your reputation will follow you from the beginning till the end of this sale.Don't promise something that you are not going to deliver. For Example: If you are going to be using a flat rate united states postal box.. State that clearly. everyone knows how big they are and how much the shipping is on a flat rate box ( for those who don't its 8.10 plus 50 delivery conformation , making it 8.60) It is not ever required that you leave hints as to the contents of your box, but it will draw a bigger crowd if you do.Please please always look at the sellers feedback. I know everyone has to start somewhere but be weary of a first time seller with a big numbered mystery box. Realize that people have been burned on these types of auctions , so study your auction and its seller carefully. Look for someone who has maybe sold one before. people who value their feedback are always good Candidates to buy from,.I can't even stress enough on reading over and over what you are bidding on before hitting that bid now button.I myself tried this mystery box auction and I had the most fun ever doing it, I tried to give clues and stated exactly what to expect in this box, along with its size and approx weight.okay allows us to run these auctions under strict guidelines. And for the people who follow them and do the right thing, many happy okayers have had a blast buying them.The first thing you need to start your mystery box is, well, a box - decide on your size of box first off, record you size and make note of it.Then what kind of box is it going to be? You can just simply make it a total mystery, but to bring in more hits adding a title helps. such as, Girls, boys, Toys, Holiday, makeup etc...Then I always suggest taking great care in wrapping the items going into the box, after all this is to be an adventure for the buyer.After your box is packed and ready to go, then weigh it( if you are not using a flat rate box) Put the size of the box, and its tag ( if you chose such as Girls) and its weight into your auction , along with your okay disclaimer ( a must) IMPORTANT: per okay rules this is NOT a lottery, raffle, sweepstakes, or any form of gambling. And add then your photo and you are ready to list. I found that listing in 2 okay categories works well, for me such as the everything else category, and then what I have in the box category, like Holiday items. you will get twice the hits obviously in two categories. Now its time to hit the list my Item button.Yeah!And now we sit and watch our box.It is entirely up to you to answer questions that may be asked about the box. what you wish to tell about its contents is up to you and you alone. But please always answer you questions, even if it is with a polite, "It's a surprise", never leave a potential customer waiting for an answer.This can be he most fun ever if you follow some easy steps when either buying or selling a mystery box.I know I have more fun that I ever dreamed.okay mystery box Please note that I am speaking of Mystery boxesonly, the mystery envelopes scare me to death.
What is the difference between NiCad, NiMH and Lithium?
Batteries in portable
consumer devices such as a laptop, camcorder, mobile phone, two way radios etc.,
are typically made using either Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride
(NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery cell chemistry. Each type of rechargeable
battery chemistry has its own unique characteristics:
NiCad and NiMH:
The main difference between the two is that NiMH battery (the newer technology
of the two) offers higher energy density than NiCads. In other words, the
capacity of a NiMH is approximately twice the capacity of its NiCad counterpart.
What this means for you is increased run-time from the battery with no
additional bulk or weight. NiMH also offers another major advantage: NiCad
batteries tend to suffer from what is called the "memory effect". NiMH batteries
are less prone to develop this problem and thus require less maintenance and
conditioning. NiMH batteries are also environmentally friendlier than NiCad
batteries since they do not contain heavy metals (which present serious landfill
problems). Note: Not all devices can accept both NiCad or NiMH batteries.
Lithium Ion
Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) has begee the new standard for portable power in consumer
devices. Li-Ion batteries produce the same energy as NiMH battery but weighs
approximately 20%-35% less. This is can make a noticeable difference in devices
such as mobile phones, camcorders or notebook geputers where the battery makes
up a significant portion of the total weight. Another reason Li-Ion batteries
have begee so popular is that they do not suffer from the "memory effect" at
all. They are also environmentally friendly because they don't contain toxic
materials such as Cadmium or Mercury.
consumer devices such as a laptop, camcorder, mobile phone, two way radios etc.,
are typically made using either Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride
(NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery cell chemistry. Each type of rechargeable
battery chemistry has its own unique characteristics:
NiCad and NiMH:
The main difference between the two is that NiMH battery (the newer technology
of the two) offers higher energy density than NiCads. In other words, the
capacity of a NiMH is approximately twice the capacity of its NiCad counterpart.
What this means for you is increased run-time from the battery with no
additional bulk or weight. NiMH also offers another major advantage: NiCad
batteries tend to suffer from what is called the "memory effect". NiMH batteries
are less prone to develop this problem and thus require less maintenance and
conditioning. NiMH batteries are also environmentally friendlier than NiCad
batteries since they do not contain heavy metals (which present serious landfill
problems). Note: Not all devices can accept both NiCad or NiMH batteries.
Lithium Ion
Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) has begee the new standard for portable power in consumer
devices. Li-Ion batteries produce the same energy as NiMH battery but weighs
approximately 20%-35% less. This is can make a noticeable difference in devices
such as mobile phones, camcorders or notebook geputers where the battery makes
up a significant portion of the total weight. Another reason Li-Ion batteries
have begee so popular is that they do not suffer from the "memory effect" at
all. They are also environmentally friendly because they don't contain toxic
materials such as Cadmium or Mercury.
Should I use MEDIA MAIL.................is it worth it?
Thisguide will explain how MEDIA MAIL works. Most people don't know thatdelivery of MEDIA MAIL is at the descretionof the USPS. Below is a example of how MEDIA MAIL goes (SLOW) sometimes.
Recently I went to visit relatives in the Midwest. While I was there I hit the resale shops, yard sales, etc.and I bought 300 cassettes, which I packed in two boxes. I mailed both boxes at the same time, MEDIA MAIL to Las Vegas. When I got back I saw my Postal carrier (who happens to be a neighbor
Recently I went to visit relatives in the Midwest. While I was there I hit the resale shops, yard sales, etc.and I bought 300 cassettes, which I packed in two boxes. I mailed both boxes at the same time, MEDIA MAIL to Las Vegas. When I got back I saw my Postal carrier (who happens to be a neighbor
Volunteering on s
There are many volunteer opportunities available right here on okay. okay gemunity is a section of okay that contains groups, discussion boards and chat rooms. Our gemunity is a vital part of okay and provides various ways to volunteer and begee more of an active participant on okay.There are many types of groups that you can be involved in. Some are
geared toward mentoring others, toward specific collectibles or toward
specific interests or toward fundraising. Each type of group enables you to provide advice, assistance
and support. You also start a new group or join an existing group to lend a hand. If you feel led, you can begee a moderator to assist the leader of the group with the many tasks involved in maintaining an active group. You can see the number of groups that we're involved with by visiting ourME Page Discussion Boards also assist okay users with many different issues. They are broken down into the same type of categories with a specific one for okay Giving Works. Discussion Boards always seem to have those few people who are there to help all of the time. If you feel very knowledgeable about an area on okay why not be that person?Chat Rooms have many volunteer areas. For example there is the Giving Board, where you can post about someone in need and request help for them. There's also the Emergency Contact Board where you can help others who are having trouble contacting another okayer.Volunteering can also mean that you run charity auctons either through Giving Works or on your own by following these steps:You must solicit on behalf of a recognized
tax-decductable charitable organization (for example, 501(c)(3) status
or equivalent with the IRS). One that we are involve with is DOUA.Receive advance written consent for the solicitation
from the benefitting non-profit. It must be on the non-profit's
letterhead, signed by an officer and include the their
tax-deductability status as well as your name or okay User ID, dates of
listing and donation of amount (percentage of the final sale price).Include a scanned copy of the consent in your listing.And here's a few really easy ways to volunteer on okay:Purchase on okay. Buy from fellow sellers.If you see something wrong in someone's listing, send them a message about it. Be kind and curteous to your customers and sellers.Spread the word about okay. Tell your family and friends how much you enjoy it and let them know about the great bargains and customer service you get here.Volunteering doesn't have to be time consuming or cause you to leave your home. You can take advantage of the time and money you spend on okay and help someone in need. Remember that we all were newbies once and that terrible things can happen in an instant. So keep an eye out for ways to help. Volunteering takes your thoughts off yourself. It can make you feel really good.I'm proud of okay's policy on giving when Hurricane Katrina hit last year. Here's a blurb from the Chatter Newsletter of Oct. 2005:As the horrific scenes of devastation and sorrow caused by Hurricane Katrina unfolded last month on TV screens across the country, a shocked nation rallied to gee to the aid of those affected. The okay gemunity also sprang into action to help the victims. The gemunity discussion boards, especially the newly created Natural Disaster
geared toward mentoring others, toward specific collectibles or toward
specific interests or toward fundraising. Each type of group enables you to provide advice, assistance
and support. You also start a new group or join an existing group to lend a hand. If you feel led, you can begee a moderator to assist the leader of the group with the many tasks involved in maintaining an active group. You can see the number of groups that we're involved with by visiting ourME Page Discussion Boards also assist okay users with many different issues. They are broken down into the same type of categories with a specific one for okay Giving Works. Discussion Boards always seem to have those few people who are there to help all of the time. If you feel very knowledgeable about an area on okay why not be that person?Chat Rooms have many volunteer areas. For example there is the Giving Board, where you can post about someone in need and request help for them. There's also the Emergency Contact Board where you can help others who are having trouble contacting another okayer.Volunteering can also mean that you run charity auctons either through Giving Works or on your own by following these steps:You must solicit on behalf of a recognized
tax-decductable charitable organization (for example, 501(c)(3) status
or equivalent with the IRS). One that we are involve with is DOUA.Receive advance written consent for the solicitation
from the benefitting non-profit. It must be on the non-profit's
letterhead, signed by an officer and include the their
tax-deductability status as well as your name or okay User ID, dates of
listing and donation of amount (percentage of the final sale price).Include a scanned copy of the consent in your listing.And here's a few really easy ways to volunteer on okay:Purchase on okay. Buy from fellow sellers.If you see something wrong in someone's listing, send them a message about it. Be kind and curteous to your customers and sellers.Spread the word about okay. Tell your family and friends how much you enjoy it and let them know about the great bargains and customer service you get here.Volunteering doesn't have to be time consuming or cause you to leave your home. You can take advantage of the time and money you spend on okay and help someone in need. Remember that we all were newbies once and that terrible things can happen in an instant. So keep an eye out for ways to help. Volunteering takes your thoughts off yourself. It can make you feel really good.I'm proud of okay's policy on giving when Hurricane Katrina hit last year. Here's a blurb from the Chatter Newsletter of Oct. 2005:As the horrific scenes of devastation and sorrow caused by Hurricane Katrina unfolded last month on TV screens across the country, a shocked nation rallied to gee to the aid of those affected. The okay gemunity also sprang into action to help the victims. The gemunity discussion boards, especially the newly created Natural Disaster
Hand Painted Gourds Will they Last and Buying
I sometimes get questions on How long a gourd will last.
The Answer Pretty much your lifetime!
Gourds where used ages ago archeologist still uncover gourds that where used to store water, and preserve grains, and even made into musical instruments.
Birdhouse Gourds are great for your , and if they have been Varnished they will Last your lifetime.
Things to look for when buying a birdhouse gourd,
small little holes at the bottom of the gourd for drainage
Ask the seller if they have added a Varnish to seal the gourd (I also regemend you revarnish about every 2 years and the best I have found is Krylon Crystal Clear Spray) You can find it in any store that sells paint products)
A nice thick shell. A HARD shell gourd should be used for birdhouses or they just will not last, and the thin shelled gourds will not hold up to your birdies nest.
Buying a Gourd that has been mad into an Artist piece
Gourds have been made into just about everything from baskets, to ornaments to great little sculpture pieces
I think what attracts artist to gourds is their unique characteristics no 2 gourds are the same You can give the same gourd to a dozen different artist and each will gee up with a unique Art piece.
These gourds will last a lifetime if they have been properly cleaned and sealed
When Artist receive gourds to create on most have not been Cleaned and OH yea they are a mess. Gourds grow like pumpkins, then they are picked and left to dry and harden. They form a layer of black looks like mold around the skin. To clean this the Artist must take the gourd SOAK in a water mixture of bleach. Then we take a metal scour pad and scour the outside of the gourd to remove all this buildup. this is quite the under taking some gourds clean up real quick I ahvecleaned some that have taken over an hour!! but they or so worth the work.
Then we let dry.
Then we paint, stain, woodburn, or use oil pencils, some add fabric, pine needles, leather, it is really left to the artist imagination
When buying a Art piece look for a piece that has been sealed
Some Artist Will stain, wax, brush or spray on a Varnish.
When you buy a piece that has not been cut open. Make sure there are small holes at the bottom of the piece. These can be little pin holes. If not take a needle or even a saftey pin and push through the bottom and pull out. Only need atleast 2 holes this is so air can go through the gourd, and will not mold again.
Gourds are a wonderful addition to anyones Collection and Home decor.
Artist do such a variety there is sure to be something you love!
Baskets
Birdhouses
Windchimes
Wall Decor
Ornaments
Yard Ornaments
Sculpture
Miniatures
Dolls
Holiday Decor
vases
pitchers
Drums
Flower Pots
Candle Holder
and so much more
Are just a few things that are available from Artist that create on gourds. They are a great collectable that will last and can be handed down generation to generation.
Best of all When you buy a unique Gourd from an Artist You are supporting the Artist, and you receive an Orignal Offering that was handcrafted with Care and you know you have an Original piece!
I always Welgee Questions and Please free to ask me.
Thanks for your time and I hope I answered any questions or concerns you may have had on gourds
You can find Gourds in many categories on okay Add Gourds to your Search
okay has a Category Just for Gourds
Crafts----
The Answer Pretty much your lifetime!
Gourds where used ages ago archeologist still uncover gourds that where used to store water, and preserve grains, and even made into musical instruments.
Birdhouse Gourds are great for your , and if they have been Varnished they will Last your lifetime.
Things to look for when buying a birdhouse gourd,
small little holes at the bottom of the gourd for drainage
Ask the seller if they have added a Varnish to seal the gourd (I also regemend you revarnish about every 2 years and the best I have found is Krylon Crystal Clear Spray) You can find it in any store that sells paint products)
A nice thick shell. A HARD shell gourd should be used for birdhouses or they just will not last, and the thin shelled gourds will not hold up to your birdies nest.
Buying a Gourd that has been mad into an Artist piece
Gourds have been made into just about everything from baskets, to ornaments to great little sculpture pieces
I think what attracts artist to gourds is their unique characteristics no 2 gourds are the same You can give the same gourd to a dozen different artist and each will gee up with a unique Art piece.
These gourds will last a lifetime if they have been properly cleaned and sealed
When Artist receive gourds to create on most have not been Cleaned and OH yea they are a mess. Gourds grow like pumpkins, then they are picked and left to dry and harden. They form a layer of black looks like mold around the skin. To clean this the Artist must take the gourd SOAK in a water mixture of bleach. Then we take a metal scour pad and scour the outside of the gourd to remove all this buildup. this is quite the under taking some gourds clean up real quick I ahvecleaned some that have taken over an hour!! but they or so worth the work.
Then we let dry.
Then we paint, stain, woodburn, or use oil pencils, some add fabric, pine needles, leather, it is really left to the artist imagination
When buying a Art piece look for a piece that has been sealed
Some Artist Will stain, wax, brush or spray on a Varnish.
When you buy a piece that has not been cut open. Make sure there are small holes at the bottom of the piece. These can be little pin holes. If not take a needle or even a saftey pin and push through the bottom and pull out. Only need atleast 2 holes this is so air can go through the gourd, and will not mold again.
Gourds are a wonderful addition to anyones Collection and Home decor.
Artist do such a variety there is sure to be something you love!
Baskets
Birdhouses
Windchimes
Wall Decor
Ornaments
Yard Ornaments
Sculpture
Miniatures
Dolls
Holiday Decor
vases
pitchers
Drums
Flower Pots
Candle Holder
and so much more
Are just a few things that are available from Artist that create on gourds. They are a great collectable that will last and can be handed down generation to generation.
Best of all When you buy a unique Gourd from an Artist You are supporting the Artist, and you receive an Orignal Offering that was handcrafted with Care and you know you have an Original piece!
I always Welgee Questions and Please free to ask me.
Thanks for your time and I hope I answered any questions or concerns you may have had on gourds
You can find Gourds in many categories on okay Add Gourds to your Search
okay has a Category Just for Gourds
Crafts----
Motorola Razor V3
I continue to be amazed at all the people bidding and trying to buy a Motorola Razor. Specifically a Tmobile or Cingular one. When you could get it for only $69.00 from Tmobile or Almost free from Cingular. People are paying over $100 for these phones! Some are even putting a Reserve price of over $100.People please do your research before you gee on and bid for a cell phone. Wait until your contract is up and get a free or almost free phone!No, I do not work for any cell phone gepany I just do my research before I buy.
Suggested Reading List For s Sellers
My name is Teresa Bankston and I have been selling on okay since 2002,
and I have been selling on a consignment basis since 2004. I'm a
PowerSeller and Registered Trading Assistant.
I am also an avid reader. I love to read and I read anything and
everything! But I am especially fond of reading non-fiction about
subjects that interest me. I have read dozens of books on the subject
of okay Selling. I thought I would share my thoughts on several of the
books out there and suggest a few that you may not have heard of or had
time to read yourself.
For Beginners:
For the beginning seller I would highly regemend The Official okay Bible,
by Jim "Griff" Griffith. It gives you a solid foundation on the basics.
Information on buying and selling, how to write effective auction
listings, photography tips, and even a starter session on writing html.
I first read this book after I had already begun selling, but still was
able to glean some useful information from it. I still use it as
reference material when I have a memory lapse concerning html tricks.
okay The Smart Way, by Joseph Sinclair is another choice book for the beginner seller. Again, good solid information for beginners.
Intermediate Sellers
and I have been selling on a consignment basis since 2004. I'm a
PowerSeller and Registered Trading Assistant.
I am also an avid reader. I love to read and I read anything and
everything! But I am especially fond of reading non-fiction about
subjects that interest me. I have read dozens of books on the subject
of okay Selling. I thought I would share my thoughts on several of the
books out there and suggest a few that you may not have heard of or had
time to read yourself.
For Beginners:
For the beginning seller I would highly regemend The Official okay Bible,
by Jim "Griff" Griffith. It gives you a solid foundation on the basics.
Information on buying and selling, how to write effective auction
listings, photography tips, and even a starter session on writing html.
I first read this book after I had already begun selling, but still was
able to glean some useful information from it. I still use it as
reference material when I have a memory lapse concerning html tricks.
okay The Smart Way, by Joseph Sinclair is another choice book for the beginner seller. Again, good solid information for beginners.
Intermediate Sellers
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