Tips to Buy an Air Hockey Table

If you're thinking of buying an air hockey table to put in your hall, consider that hall the coolest room in the neighborhood. Buying an air hockey table is, however, a somewhat tricky thing. Learn more about the right type of air hockey tables.

One of the entertaining arcade games around, has to be air hockey. There's no better way to spend those tickets than trying to beat your friend or younger brother at a game, there is no other such definitive win. And if you're trying to buy one for yourself, you're awesome! Apart from the arcade style coin-operated Super Mario Bros., I think the air hockey table should be a must have for anybody and everybody. So, in order to help you out on your buying one, here's a few thing to keep in mind when you go out into the stores or search the Internet.

The Table

You need to decide what kind of table you want to buy, depending on a few 'restrictions', if you want to look at them that way. The first one being space. Doesn't matter if you've been saving up for months, if you can't make enough space for the large table and still have enough for two people to move around it, then you can't really have fun playing. Here are the three types of air hockey tables that you will find, along with some extra types that you might like.

Basic Table
These are the ones meant for a kid's bedroom or, basically, for kids. The tables are really small, have snap-on or bolt-on parts. They may or may not have fans for the air cushion. They are easy to assemble or dismantle so they can be stored away when not in use. You can get this if you have a real space problem.

Most of these tables are around 32 inches or 40 inches to 4 feet and may have no legs (the smaller ones), just put them on an elevated surface and start playing. Another problem with these tables can be the lack of quality. Basic tables are good when you start playing on them, but they get weathered a lot faster than most of the big, quality tables. They dent faster than mid-size air hockey tables and need to be replaced faster. But on the upside, they are very cheap, anything from $50 to $250.

Mid-Range Table
Most people tend to buy the standard mid-range air hockey table. What they may not know is, there are two things to consider here - one is the size and the second is the quality. If the table has a large size and is offered for a cheaper price, that means there is a compromise on quality for a bigger table size. They will not last long and the fans are weaker than those on a better priced table.

If the table is a bit smaller than an arcade table but is costlier than the type mentioned above, it means that the quality of the table is quite good and the fans should work fine for a long time. They are quite resilient to dents, but not indestructible. They will dent and warp in time and you will find it a pain to play on them, but only after a long time and thousands of fun games. These tables will cost anywhere from $500 to just around $1000.

Arcade Size Table
If you really want to break a leg playing air hockey, nothing less than an arcade table will do. They are big, strong and last a lifetime. An arcade table is generally at 7 feet or 7.5 feet long. They are quite tedious to install and once you do, you can't move it around. One problem here is the space. As you can figure, a 7 feet long table can be hard to fit in an average sized home, but the real problem is the surface of the floor of where you're going to keep the table. These table have perfect fans meant to give the least friction possible, which means your puck will feel the tilt if the table is not perfectly horizontal. The good news is that most tables come with adjustable legs to help the table become perfectly horizontal. The other thing is, a slight tilt won't be a real bother in a game, just that seeing the puck floating to one side when you're not really playing can be a bit annoying. I mean, you'll be bugged if you just spent a truck load to get a table with a puck that moves on its own.

As far as the quality of the table is concerned, buy it from a reliable brand and remain assured of it. They look so good they will easily be the biggest jewel in your crown. An arcade air hockey table will cost you $1000 upwards and with most of them generally under $1600. Some of them may cost you around $2500, $5000 or $7000 (Barron Games QUAD AIR Redemption Air Hockey Table is for $6,995.00).

Special Tables

These tables have an extra something to 'tweak' your playing experience a little.

Boomerang
Also known as a Boom-a-Rang air hockey table, it feels like playing pinball, only there are no buzzers or knobs in there, but another person on the other half. The advantage of getting a boomerang table is the size of it. It's like cutting an entire hockey table in half and joining them up on the sides. A very fun variant of regular air hockey.

Extreme
Think you're better than regular air hockey? Try out a more 'professional' version. It's actually nothing but a regular arcade table with attachments along its center to raise an opaque screen in the center of the table. This way, you don't see where the puck is coming from, till it's in your half of the table. The advantage with it is you can always take off the screen to enjoy regular air hockey.

8 Feet Air Hockey Table
Yes, the table is 8 feet long. I really haven't tried to play on a table this big, but I think the game should be a little slower with the puck taking ages to cross the table.

The Better Air Hockey Brands

Take your pick from the following brands that offer the best air hockey tables around. Note that some of them deal mostly in arcade tables.
Dynamo
Fat Cat
Shelti
Imperial
Playcraft
Barron
ICE
They are the most credible brands around.

Extra Tips

There are a few more things to keep in mind when you buy an air hockey table.
Make sure the fans are right. The air flow through the holes is more important than the playing surface itself. A good fan in an arcade air hockey table has an air displacement rate of 350 to 400 cubic feet per minute.
Make sure if the parts that bear the most hits (the inner edges of the table and the edges of the scoring slots) are not sealed but screwed in (that is,removable). That way, if they are dented or warped, you can get replacements and just screw them in. Also, make sure that you get replacements from where you bought the table.
Look for inner walls made of thick nylon or thick aluminum. They don't dent as much as other walls and give an extra bounce for a faster game.
Make sure you're going to get extra pucks and pushers with your table.
Take care of all the things and you'll have for yourself a table that you will enjoy for quite a long time. At the end of the day, it's all about having fun when you play, whether it's for the heck of playing or to win. So just make sure you bought the right table and game on.

How to Acclimate Saltwater Fish

Fish are thought to be the easiest pets to look after. Any aquarium owner can testify, that looking after fish is not as easy as it looks. Along with feeding and cleaning the tank, there are certain steps to be followed to add new fish to an existing aquarium. Scroll below to learn how to acclimate fish from a saltwater source to your aquarium.

Acclimate - to adapt or respond in a behavioral or physiological manner to changes in the adjoining environment.

Adjusting to a new environment is never easy, especially for a fish. Fish are very delicate organisms and are affected by the temperature of the water, the amount of salt (salinity) present in the water and the acidic or pH levels of the water, amongst other factors. To understand what a fish might go through with a change in water conditions, imagine living all your life in sunny California and suddenly being dumped in Alaska. You cannot just dump a fish from one source of water to another, the fish needs to adjust to the water in your aquarium, irrespective of whether it is a freshwater or saltwater fish. Two techniques on how to acclimate saltwater fish to an aquarium are listed below.

Initial Steps
House your new saltwater fish in a separate tank or quarantine aquarium. Do not add new fish to your populated and established aquarium for at least 2 weeks.
In a quarantine tank, you can observe the new fish for signs of disease or parasites and protect your old fish from such external harm.
The acclimation procedure should be followed carefully and slowly. Be patient. Read all the steps involved before performing any action.
Never pour the water that came with the fish, either shipping water or water from the saltwater source, directly into your quarantine aquarium. Even fish from a pet store must be acclimatized.
The fish may not move or will lie flat on its side for a while. Do not panic or try to touch it. It is not dead, it just needs time to adjust to its new living habitat. Once it is acclimatized to the aquarium's water, the fish will slowly revive itself.
Turn off the lights in the aquarium. Dim the lights in the room where the aquarium is kept. Do not open the fish's shipping bag or container in a well-lit room, as the sudden light can cause trauma to the fish.
Do not place airstones in the shipping bag. This will increase the pH levels in the bag very quickly and you could end up killing the fish.
Be careful with stinging or venomous fish or any fish species that are likely to release a poisonous gas or sting. Such fish get traumatized if shifted or disturbed and they may sting or attack other fish in the bag. Try to use smaller, separate containers for their acclimation and be cautious when handling them.
After the fish have been transferred to the quarantine tank, keep the aquarium's lights off for 4 hours. A fish adjusts easier to new surroundings in low light conditions.
How to Acclimate Saltwater Fish Using a Measuring Cup
Be very slow and steady with the following steps. Do not rush with the filling and pouring out of water. This method should take at least 1 hour to complete.
Catch the shipping bag with the fish in it by the fastening clip. Gently float the bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes. Try not to move the bag, just catch it such that it will float.
After 15 minutes, while still holding the bag in the tank, cut open its top just below the clip. Now fold the open edges of the bag backwards and then inwards to form a lip.
The bag should be folded such that an air pocket is formed in the lip. It should float on the surface of the tank's water.
Using a measuring cap, add ½ cup of water to the open bag. Catch the bag as you fill it, then release it to float.
After 4 minutes, fill the bag once again with ½ cup of tank water. Keep refilling the bag after 4 minute intervals, until the bag is full.
Then gently take the bag out of the tank and tip it over a sink. Pour out half of the bag's water. Lower the bag once again into the aquarium.
Perform steps 5-7 once again, i.e., fill the bag with ½ cup of aquarium water, after 4 minute intervals, until the bag is full. Then empty out half the water from the bag.
Now float the bag on the aquarium's surface and use a net to scoop out the fish from the bag, releasing them into the aquarium.
Immediately remove the shipping bag from the tank and throw it. Do not tip the bag directly into the aquarium to release the fish. The shipping bag's water must never enter the aquarium.
How to Acclimate Saltwater Fish - Drip Method
This is a specialized acclimation technique used for extremely sensitive fish. You will need a clean, large bucket, at least 3-5 gallons deep. You will also require clear airline tubing. It should be long enough to stretch between the tank and the bucket with ease.
Place the bucket close to the aquarium, such that the tubing will reach it. The bucket should be kept at a height lower than that of the aquarium.
Depending on the amount of water in the shipping bags and the number of fish, the bucket should be of sufficient depth for the fish to swim in comfortably. Gently pour the contents of the bag, both water and fish into the bucket. Do not add any additional water from a tap or the aquarium.
Prop the bucket, tilted at a 45 degree angle, so that the fish are completely submerged. You may need to wedge or fix it in a tilted position. The water in the bucket should be such that, even as you add the fish and water from the bag, the water level is high enough for the fish to swim in.
You must set up a siphon drip between the bucket and the tank, using the tubing. The water should be siphoned from your aquarium and allowed to drip into the bucket. You will need to monitor the entire process of water flow and regulate the water as needed.
The water from the aquarium must drip slowly but steadily. It should drip at a consistent rate, for example, 2-4 drips per second. You can tie knots in the tubing or use a control valve (non-metal) to adjust the flow of water.
The volume of water in the bucket will steadily increase. When it is nearly double, you should scoop out the water with a cup and throw it. Reduce the volume by half.
Begin the drip again and let the volume double in the bucket once more. You should let the water drip and then drain it by half for 1 hour. Using a net, scoop out your fish from the bucket and release them into the aquarium.
If you need to acclimatize different aquatic species, such as invertebrates (shrimp), keep in mind that their salinity levels and pH needs vary from that of freshwater fish. The drip method is more suited for such aquatic organisms and you will need separate buckets for each species. With corals, sponges and anemones, the measuring cup method should be followed. Acclimation is a tricky but necessary process for any aquarium owner, seeking to add new fish to a tank. Remember to be patient and precise.

How to Make Homemade Zombie Costumes

Oozing flesh and blood dripping, with a slack jaw, pale face and out-stretched arms, the zombie makes for a very convincing and scary costume idea, depending on the amount of make-up used. Instead of searching through stores for the perfect zombie costume, why not make one at home, customized to the zombie design you have in mind?

Some Halloween costumes are age-appropriate, like Little Bo Peep or Mickey Mouse. Some costume ideas are based on trends and fads. Blood-sucking pale immortals is 'THE' current hot costume idea, jewelry sporting pirates are a past trend. But one costume idea that remains a Halloween favorite, irrespective of the trends or a person's age, is the zombie or undead costume. Dressing up as a zombie may not be the most unusual Halloween costume idea, or the neatest, but if you want to disgust and scare people around you and crack a lot of brain jokes, then this is the costume for you. It is very easy and rather cheap to design and make your own zombie clothes for Halloween. You may have to spend money only to buy fake blood and zombie make-up.

Zombie Costume Ideas

The first step in making costumes is the design. You need to decide on your pre-zombie persona. Are you the undead sorority chick? Or a zombie doctor armed with virus-filled injections? Perhaps you were a mild-mannered carpenter or a truck driver. You could even dress-up as a high school student, zombie style, as an undead jock, cheerleader or nerd. Two popular zombie ideas are to go as an infected undead corporate worker or as a zombie housewife. Be as imaginative as possible, any profession or job will do, the more unique the better.

Zombies are known for traveling in groups or hordes. In fact, the large and immense zombie population is the scare factor in movies like Dawn of the Dead or the Resident Evil series. So try to dress-up as a group of zombies on the hunt for flesh. Dress-up as a zombie family, with undead Dad, Mom and kids, who got infected while camping. With friends, you'll can go in different costumes or dress-up as a group that got infected en masse, such as:
A dentist convention that was attacked by zombies, resulting in zombie dentists.
Cheerleading troupe
High-school class
Sports team
Construction workers
Hillbillies
Group of stockbrokers
A rock band
Barbershop quartet
Scout troop
How to Make Your Own Zombie Clothes

Costume Collection
Once you have come up with the costume's design, start collecting the materials. Based on what you have decided to wear as your base costume, collect clothes accordingly. Search closets, wardrobes and basements for old clothes that can be torn up. Or head to the nearest Goodwill store or thrift center and do some cheap clothes shopping.

To be as authentic as possible, you need to shop for or use the appropriate clothes. Say, you are dressing up as corporate zombie, get a nice suit or a smart shirt and skirt. Doctor zombies will need a shirt, tie, trousers and most importantly, a white lab coat. Nurses, police, deliveryman, for all such professions, get the right uniform. A word of caution, the clothes need to be ruined completely for the zombie effect.

Tearing and Ripping
It's shredding time! You need to make rips, tears, holes, scratches, basically your clothes should look like you have just crawled your way out of a zombie pit. The idea is not to destroy the clothes, but rather, to "zombify" them. Tattered, torn clothes are the key sign of a respectable zombie.

You need to render the tears artistically on the clothes. The best way to do so is to wear the clothes and then make the tears. You can do this yourself but for best results, get someone to help you. Use scissors to tear and cut the cloth up. To get a real jagged look, get pinking shears or special art jagged-edge scissors. Make tears in positions you are comfortable with. Avoid wardrobe malfunctions with rips and tears in inappropriate places.

Tears should be made in all the clothes worn, from the collar to the trousers. And they should match your zombie back-story. For example, the rips in your pant's legs were due to a clawing undead hand. Scruff marks on the pant's knees are from your frantic crawling attempts to get away. A torn sleeve and a huge tear on your shoulder, are when the monsters finally caught you. Tear off pockets and cut collars into jagged edges. If headgear is worn, make tears and rips in it as well. Belts can be cut in half messily and left hanging. Make bite marks on your tie with pinking shears.

The Color Effect
Once the clothes are torn to your satisfaction, they need a little color. Zombies ooze blood, plus at some point in tearing your clothes, they would have bitten you. So to look bitten and mauled at, your clothes need to be sprinkled liberally with blood splats, dots and splatter. Use fake blood or fabric paint to "bloody up" your costume. You can make your own fake blood or buy some from a store but make sure the color is a real blood-red and not pink! You can spray on blood in some places. Dip a paintbrush in fake blood and tap the stem or pull back on the bristles to splat blood onto the clothes. Try to line the tears and rips with blood, like a mild flesh wound. Dip your hands in the fake blood and make 1 or 2 hand-prints.

Zombies get dirty too, so rub some soil on your clothes for the dirt look. You can even roll around on the lawn for a while, to pick up grass stains. Rubbing ash onto your clothes, will also help. Tire marks on your clothes, make an awesome addition to your back-story (you were hit by a car full of zombies, who then climbed out and infected you!), so take the clothes off, lay them on the driveway and run your car over them once. You can even drag the clothes down your driveway, so they look worn-out.

Some off-the-wall ideas are:
Zombie superhero: Undead Batman or Spiderman to the rescue (or not!). Get a superhero costume and tear it up, then add blood and gory makeup.
Undead schoolgirl/boy: A very popular zombie costume. Use an old school uniform or rent a uniform costume.
Zombie chef: Chef's hat, apron, shirt and trousers, sprinkled with blood and torn in the right places. A giant bloody cleaver or a dish with fake bloody brains on it, make ideal props.
Zombie cop: Either patrolmen or biker cop uniform will do. Get a toy gun, holster and handcuffs and bloody them up for props.
Zombie Ninja: Get a ninja costume and tear it up right. Then add flesh wounds and use a fake sword or katana, dipped in fake blood.
Zombie surfer dude: Go shirtless with a lot of flesh wounds. Rip up shorts and get a surfboard as a prop. You can even make a foam fake surfboard and make jagged bite marks on it.
Undead surgeon: Get green surgeon scrubs, surgical mask and plastic gloves for this look.
Zombie FBI agent: Black suit, black tie, dark glasses, ripped and shredded. Weapons and bloodied badge are needed.
Zombie bride: An undead bride, her pristine white wedding gown, all blood-spattered and torn, a bouquet of bloodied flowers in her hand, with her veil hiding a hideously bitten face, indeed a very scary costume.
Zombie-hunter-turned-zombie: Shred a brown trench coat, fingerless gloves, cowboy hat, jeans and a T-shirt and smear bloody hand-prints on them. Use make-up to create a lot of flesh wounds.
Scout zombie: Get a boy or girl scout costume or uniform to turn into the best prepared zombies around.
Medieval zombie: Wear a knight's chain mail or armor costume and be very generous with fake blood and bloody make-up. Useful props include bloody axes, chains or maces.
Fairy-tale zombies: Instead of going as a traditional fairy-tale Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, go as the zombie version, with tattered dresses and flesh wounds! There's a whole universe of fairy-tale characters from Red Riding Hood to Aladdin, so 'zombify' whichever one you like.
Homemade zombie costumes are very easy to make as long as you have the right clothes and creativity. Along with clothes, you need to apply an appropriate amount of zombie make-up, face paint and hairdo. Remember to decorate yourself with flesh wounds and bite marks to look like a legit zombie. Props can be basic, like bloodied weapons or humorous like a corporate zombie with a mug of bloody coffee or a girl scout zombie selling "flesh" cookies. Zombie attitude is also important, stiff limbs and jerky walk, slack jaw and dull facial expressions and moaning and groaning sounds. Dress-up like the undead to be the center of attention at any Halloween get-together or party.

Creative Writing

If you are looking for a new hobby that you can do for little to no money, creative writing might be for you!
Creative writing is a great way to expend some creative energy, explore emotions, invent new worlds and characters, as well as brush up on your writing skills. Writing creatively is something you can do with very little time, or with extended periods of time, and you don't need much to get you started. It is a great hobby that anyone can do, alone or within a group. Who knows - you might even become a famous writer one day!

Choose a Genre
Creative writing can take on many forms. When you start to write creatively, you should choose a genre to focus on. These might include poetry, short stories, novels, creative non-fiction, memoirs, or a hybrid of two or more of them. It's a good idea to test out a few genres before you pick one, but focusing on one can help you hone your craft and improve over time. It's the same with any other activity; practice makes one perfect. You don't want to spread yourself too thin by trying too many things.

Reading
Any writer will tell you that the best way to improve your writing is to read. You should read both within your genre and outside it. This will not only give you ideas for different styles to test out, but also ideas for what to write about. All writing is part of a conversation, and you need to find what voice and topic you can add to it. In that way, it's okay to use snippets of other writing for inspiration, and it's okay to respond directly to another piece of writing. Professional writers do that all the time!

Supplies
You don't need much in the way of supplies to start writing. If you prefer to handwrite things, you may want to start with a notebook, journal, or a diary. It's a good idea to keep all of your writing in one notebook though, so you can refer to it. Your first draft of something might not work perfectly, but you may be able to take pieces of it to use in another piece of writing. That's what good writers do; they reuse what worked and keep what didn't, just in case. Don't ever throw anything away, and if you make significant changes to your draft, it's a good idea to save the original in case you want to go back to it. Another great idea is to start writing with a computer if you have one. This will allow you to track your changes and save your drafts without taking up too much space.

Classes and Writing Groups
If you feel you need a little more formal instruction, you can take a creative writing class or join a writing group. You can find writing classes in almost any town through many venues, but sometimes they cost money. If you want to start a writing group, all you need are a few people who want to work on their writing. You can meet or exchange emails, but having a group can help you meet deadlines and get feedback too. It's also free to start one.

Publishing Options
Writers generally like to have a venue for their writing. If you are writing creatively and just want to get your work out there, you can start a blog or a website with your writing. This can also help you get feedback from readers and can hold you accountable for writing regularly. If you want to pursue more professional venues, you can submit your work to magazines, professional websites, or publishers, when you feel you're ready.

What does your Zodiac Sign Say about your Hobbies?

Hobbies that people choose to pursue depend on their basic nature, temperament and interests. Your zodiac sign can also say a lot about your hobbies. This article talks about details relevant to your sun signs in order to get an idea of your hobbies.

You can tell a lot about someone simply by knowing a person's zodiac or astrological sign. This is because, astrology helps in understanding the basic nature of a person, to some extent. Now, the type of hobby one looks for depends on the nature of the person. For instance, as Aries individuals are energetic and adventurous, their hobbies will include activities with mobility and less concentration. So, do you wish to know what your Zodiac sign has to say about your hobbies? The following section of this article describes all the twelve signs of the zodiac and their hobbies.

Hobbies by Zodiac Signs

By knowing the zodiac sign of a person, you can guess what kind of hobby or leisure activity he/she will pursue. Many will realize that they share the same hobbies as they belong to the same sign. The zodiac sign dates mentioned alongside will help you determine your own zodiac sign, and know your hobby interests as well.

Aries (21st March - 19th April)
Characteristics: Aries individuals are enthusiastic, active, and energetic. They get bored with any stationary activities, and hence, will always look out for some action.
Their hobbies usually include sports, outdoor games, adventure sports, video games, listening to vibrant music, motorbike riding, or watching the latest programs (when they are at home).


Taurus (20th April - 20th May)
Characteristics: Taurus individuals themselves are quite artistic and have an excellent taste for all kinds of art. However due to their lazy temperament they pursue less number of leisure activities.
The following hobbies can be found in a Taurus individual's hobby list: painting, music, singing, sculpting, collecting antiques or jewelry, gardening, fishing, reading, etc. Taurus individuals are often lazy and seldom undertake sports as their hobbies.


Gemini (21st May - 20th June)
Characteristics: Gemini individuals love pursuits that stimulate their mind as well as physique. However, their fickle nature makes them shift their interests constantly.
A Gemini's list of hobbies range from table tennis, badminton, adventure sports, solving puzzles, surfing the Internet, to attending cultural events, writing, learning languages, etc.


Cancer (21st June - 22nd July)
Characteristics: Cancer individuals are generally home buddies and their hobbies are related to it. But, at the same time, it is not surprising to find a Cancer individual involved in charity events.
Hobbies like gardening, interior decoration, cooking, etc., are popular among individuals of this sign. Secondly, they also love traveling, visiting museums, reading, collecting antiques, collecting coins and postcards, etc.


Leo (23rd July - 22nd August)
Characteristics: Men and women born under the sun sign Leo have varied interests. Usually, they are very confident, smart and will look for the best of things.
Their list of hobbies include dancing, painting, reading, adventure sports, interior decoration, listening to music, etc. Leos also love socializing and meeting new people.


Virgo (23rd August - 22nd September)
Characteristics: Virgo is an Earth sign and the individuals born under this sign are detail-oriented and usually intelligent. However, they are more inclined to intellectual activities than physical ones.
Virgo is an Earth sign and will appreciate hobbies related to agriculture like gardening, making handicrafts, etc. At the same time, their hobbies will include things that stimulate their mind like reading, writing, learning languages, surfing the Internet, etc.


Libra (23rd September - 22nd October)
Characteristics: Libra is one sign in the zodiac with versatile interests. These individuals appreciate art, fine arts and creativity. At the same time, they are also very social and love traveling.
Their list of hobbies include painting, reading, music, attending operas and music shows, other fine arts, fine dining, traveling, meeting new people, etc.


Scorpio (23rd October - 21st November)
Characteristics: Scorpio individuals will usually look for hobbies which will help them grow in their business or other pursuits. They are generally shy and will avoid hobbies which involve large groups.
Scorpions are interested in hobbies connected to occult sciences like yoga, meditation, religion, philosophy and astrology. Reading about it or practicing it is a hobby of several Scorpion individuals. Secondly, they also love music, reading, collecting jewelry, perfumes, clothes, etc.


Sagittarius (22nd November - 21st December)
Characteristics: People born under the sun sign Sagittarius also have myriad interests and likings. They love nature and usually love outdoor activities.
Their long list of hobbies involve traveling, writing, reading, camping, adventure sports, philosophy, trying different things, visiting new places, etc.


Capricorn (22nd December - 19th January)
Characteristics: Capricorn individuals are introverts and prefer hobbies that can be carried out in the peace of their homes. They are also practical, and their hobbies also include creating useful things.
Reading, gardening, artistic projects, painting, eating out, etc., are some of the hobbies undertaken by Capricorn men and women. Making useful crafts is another hobby of these individuals.


Aquarius (20th January - 18th February)
Characteristics: Aquarius is another sign of the zodiac with varied interests and hobbies. Although they are known as techno freaks, they also love to spend their time doing other activities like reading.
Their hobbies mainly include playing computer games, solving puzzles, inventing new things, surfing the net, undertaking outdoor activities, socializing, adventure sports, etc.


Pisces (19th February - 20th March)
Characteristics: People born under the sun sign of Pisces are known to be the gentlest souls of the zodiac. True to their symbol, most of the Pisces individuals are found to enjoy water related sports and activities.
Their list of hobbies involve reading, writing, music, dancing, watching movies, fishing, water sports, cooking, collecting furniture or dishware, etc.


Although the list gives a fairly good idea on the temperament of an individual born under the specific sign and his/her hobbies, it should not be taken as the ultimate word. The presence of other planets and stars can affect the nature of the person to a great extent. One should remember that astrology only helps in understanding a person in the broader sense. Ciao!

How Cold Reading Works

Ever been to a fortune-teller who sized you up pretty accurately the very first time he met you? Well, the technique he used to make all those apparently correct guesses is known as cold reading. Read ahead to find out all about the art of cold reading and how it works.

Indeed! Predicting someone's future or making guesses about the personality and lifestyle of a complete stranger involves more observational skills than spiritual mumbo-jumbo or psychic talent. That's right, I just said it! Now, before my spiritually inclined, occult-loving readers give me the brickbats, let me lift the veil off the art of cold reading - the phenomenon wherein the cold reader uses his/her exceptionally sharp observation skills to evaluate the personality traits and characteristics of his/her subject. They, then, try to make connections between their assessments and the probable life situations that their subjects are likely to be in, based upon these readings. The final verdict or prediction is an assumption which is arrived at by summing up these observations and probabilities based upon such observations. When delivered with unwavering confidence, there is little that an average subject can do to question the accuracy of such a 'prediction' or 'sizing-up' act! The best thing about cold reading is that this is a skill which can easily be learned and perfected over time. Now, wouldn't you want to get to the details of how cold reading works? The following paragraphs will tell you all the 'tricks of the trade' which can be used to learn the 'trade' itself or for merely quenching one's curiosity about the subject.

Cold Reading Laid Bare

Before we get to the techniques, let's get to know cold reading from a closer perspective. Cold reading is a very popular technique used by psychics, fortune-tellers, illusionists, telepaths, etc., to convince their subject that they have him/her all sized up despite not knowing them personally. Remember Sherlock Holmes' inductive method of investigation based upon acute observation of fine details and drawing conclusions therefrom? Well, that is the best example of cold reading in its least flawed form! For instance, by just taking a look at the palms and fingers of a subject, Sherlock Homes could make exact guesses about the latter's health, financial condition, type (sometimes, even brand) of cigar smoked by him, grooming and social habits, hobbies, vices, etc., - all this without being previously acquainted with the subject!

Similar to hypnosis, for a cold reading to be successful, the subject must be cooperative and open to take in suggestions made by the reader. Now, this is where the cold reader's subtle persuasive skills come to play. The reader must, first, ascertain the likelihood of the subject to cooperate. This is done by taking broad and generalized assumptions and stating them to be applicable to the subject. For instance, the reader can test the waters by claiming that the subject hurt himself from a fall and also had accidents around water in his early childhood. As we all know, most people have had accidents around water (near-drowning, slipping on a wet surface, etc.) and have had injuries from falls (such as while climbing trees or tripping down a staircase) in their childhood and this makes such a statement pretty generalized.

There is every possibility that these same things could have happened to the subject as well. Now, if the subject feels that this information pertains to him at that moment readily agrees with the reader's statement, the reader can easily see that more such generalized scenarios and suggestions can be subtly slipped into the subject's psyche. If the reader is skillful enough and the subject is adequately receptive to subtle psychological suggestions, the former can even get the latter to agree with his claims of instances and incidents which may not have happened to the latter at all! In such a situation, the reader has gained so much control over the subject's psyche that the subject believes every reading of himself to be true, whether or not such is the case!

Cold Reading Techniques

Keen observation, generalized statements and skill of drawing conclusions based upon such observations are the three legs that hold up the tripod of cold reading. However, there are a few specific techniques that employ certain other psychosocial elements, along with the basic trio of cold reading, to make this phenomenon more credible. Let's check out what these 'other' specialized techniques are.

Barnum Statements
Also known as 'Forer effect', Barnum statements are generalized statements which are addressed to a specific person in such a way that they seem to pertain specifically to that person. For instance, it is not uncommon for a lot of people to have had problems with friends or relatives at some point of time or the other. However, when cold reading a subject, the reader would say this same thing in a more personal way such as:

I can sense that there has been some friction between you and someone very close to you in the past.

When you think logically, this statement couldn't be any more vague! However, a subject who is unconsciously cooperative and easily accepts subtle psychological suggestions is apt to fall for such gigs and take them personally. This is especially true for subjects who are emotionally distressed and deliberately seek out soothsayers and fortune-tellers to find reasons for, and solutions to, their troubles. When used cleverly and flavored with subtle personalization, a Barnum statement can make even a logically sound person believe that the reader has some psychic gift of intuitive perception. This often causes the subject to open up and divulge more information about himself which the cold reader can take advantage of to make base his assumptions upon. This makes the readings even more credible and such a reading is known as warm reading as there is some personal information about the subject involved, besides observations, which fortify the assumptions and take the predictions closer to accuracy.

The Rainbow Ruse
A rainbow ruse is nothing but a direct suggestion to a subject. Such a statement directly attaches certain characteristics and personality traits, usually contradictory in nature, to the subject. This is a very clever trick because when you tell a subject that he/she has 'a', 'b' and 'c' positive aspects but sometimes, he/she gets caught up in 'd', 'e' and 'f' negative personality traits as well, you can't be totally wrong! You see, a majority of the people who you meet in everyday life fall under the 'gray' category, no one has a completely 'black' or 'white' personality (those few, rare ones who do would never be found anywhere near soothsayers and crystal-gazers!). That being said, it is but natural for a person to be a mixture of both positive and negative personality traits. Take, for instance, the following statement:

You are not the type of person who deliberately picks up a fight; you are even quite forgiving of others' follies. However, when someone breaks your trust or does something unjust to you, you can hold a grudge forever.

Either or both ends of this statement may apply to the subject. However, even if the subject is such that he does, deliberately, pick up fights with people, he would like to believe himself as a forgiving, polite person. Hence, he would gladly accept and agree with the reader's suggestion.

Shotgunning
Are you familiar with how a shotgun works? It fires a batch of pellets in very close succession towards the target so that at least a few hit it. This is exactly how shotgunning works as far as cold reading is concerned and it usually works with a large audience. The cold reader throws a number of broad and generalized suggestions towards the audience in the hope that someone or the other would take at least a couple of suggestions and deem those to be applicable to them. This way, almost all suggestions would be applicable to this collective subject which is the audience. Take, for instance, the following statement:

I can sense a broken heart amidst you which still hasn't been able to move on. Also, I can sense a very close relation which has always been there, no matter what the situation... an older woman with whom you may not have agreed in the past, but who has wanted nothing but the best for you.

Now, when you are addressing a large audience, such vague, broad statements are quite likely to apply to more than a couple of people in there! Also, if you notice any kind of pattern in your audience such as age group, social strata, profession, etc., you can customize your shotgunning statements accordingly. For instance, when addressing an audience which mostly comprises middle-aged persons, you may say something like, "I can sense the loss of a father from some ailment in the abdominal region." Many of your middle-aged audience members are likely to have lost their fathers to kidney or liver problems or even diabetes, so they will, instantly, be able to relate to such a statement and become more open to your influence!

So, that was all about cold reading and how it works. As I mentioned before, it is a skill that can be acquired and perfected with practice and just about anyone, with decent observational talents, can learn the tricks of this 'trade'. Even if you do not intend to earn your livelihood from cold reading, you can always try its various techniques on close friends and acquaintances and freak them out! Trust me, it would be fun watching a procession of awestruck expressions on familiar faces!

How to Draw Something From your Imagination

Drawing and painting is not just a hobby, it is a scope for venting out your ideas, emotions and perceptions. Professional artists have a gift to pour out their imagination on paper. But there are a few others who have a desire to paint, but are clueless about where to start. Here is how you can turn your imagination into pictorial form.

Believe it or not, we all have a 'Picasso' hidden in our personalities. You might be a trained artist or a small child or a homemaker. But we all have our imagination mills running all the time, which seem to get expressed in imaginative art paintings, childish paintings or some doodles on top of a page. My article here will let you know the best ways to draw out whatever you imagine.

Giving Imagination a Creative Form

They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Similarly creativity lies in the mind of an artist. There are no two artists in this world who have interpreted a fact or fiction in the same way, because imagination changes from person to person. Here are some 'must read' ideas to help you convert your imagination into creativity.

Keep Sketchbooks Handy
Imagination is a strange game of life. As an artist, you can never tell when and where you might get struck with a bright idea. If you are looking out for drawing from your imagination, then it is essential to keep your pencils and sketching books handy. You might opt for placing them in two or three prominent location of your home. If you need to travel a lot, then don't forget to carry a sketching book with you as a constant companion. If you happen to get struck with new ideas and wish to put them in words before you draw them, then a simple notepad can perfectly suit the purpose.

Get Inspired
Your mind will not come with new imaginative drawing ideas unless you absorb some ideas first. Remember, imagination is like food for your minds. So why not see how other artists or some talented painters are doing their work? Try to visit art exhibitions of your favorite artists as well as some new budding artists. You never know when you might get to see some fresh ideas of other people.

Travel
If you happen to do repetitive jobs each day with the same routine schedule, then it is really not going to help you with your imagination. Travel as much as you can. I am not saying that you need to go on a world tour to get inspired. You can visit a new place or countryside close to your hometown once in a while and understand the natural beauty of that place. There is no better inspiration than nature for your drawings. If sketching while traveling in strange places is not possible, then click some photographs for your easy reference. These photographs can be a good reminder of what you saw during a trip when you start drawing.

Meet People
Meeting new people can set you imagination rolling. It not only sets you grasping new ideas but you also get a chance to look out for different facial expressions and looks. These new faces are often inspiring for your drawing. If possible, try to sketch some interesting faces that you see when you are out. At times, people are gracious enough to pose for a sketching session with you. Others might not approve of being sketched at all, so take permission before you start sketching.

Reading
Reading can be fun, especially if you can get connected to a story. There are certain authors who have such a unique style of writing fiction and non-fiction, that readers actually feel like they co-exist with the book characters. One such writer is J K Rowling who has been successful in creating an imaginary world of wizardry in readers' minds across the world. You might be in luck, if you happen to get hold of such a book. All you need to do is draw out your interpretations and perceptions of the characters and scenes from the book on paper. Alternately, you may opt for reading daily newspapers and draw out your perceptions of the story.

Watch Movies and Television
You might opt for watching movies and television to get some bright ideas. All you need to do is understand the gist of the whole story and start drawing a fantasy version of the whole tale. Other times, people turn on their imagination and sketch the first thought that strikes them whenever they watch some movies or news.

Easy Carp Fishing Tips

Have you ever tried carp fishing? If not, then you might as well have missed out on something that people all over the world enjoy! Just go through this article on easy carp fishing tips to learn how you too can have a great time fishing for this beautiful fish.

Carp is a common name given to a number of species of fish that vary widely in size and appearance. Most of the fishes belonging to this type are freshwater fishes, which means that they are found in lakes, rivers, ponds and other water bodies. A particular species of carp that we are all familiar with is the goldfish (Carassius auratus), an ornamental species found in aquariums. However, not all types of carps are that small and a big carp can weigh as much as 17 kg.

Did you know that the carp is not native to North America? This exotic species of fish, native to parts of Asia and Europe, was brought in from Europe during the late nineteenth century and released into several water bodies in North America to promote carp fishing as a sport. This endeavor was successful as today it has grown to be one of the most popular sports in the United States. Carp fishing is also popular in countries like Canada and Mexico and in other parts of Central America.

Carp Fishing Tips for Beginners
♦ Research well to locate the water bodies where you are most likely to find a good catch. Before you visit a lake, river or any other water body, try to find as much information about it as possible.

♦ Carp is a fish that is easily tempted by the bait and bites into it in no time but if it doesn't like what it bites into, chances are high that it would immediately spit it out. The trick to catch carp is to design the bait in such a way that once the fish bites into the bait, it is unable to free itself from it.

♦ A great way to improve your chances of a catch is to pre-bait the area prior to fishing. Pre-baiting is nothing but introducing a few particles of the bait that you intend to use for fishing, in the area you want to fish. For example, if you are fishing using creamed corn as bait, then you can throw a few pieces of the corn on the water surface for a few days before the day you wish to go fishing. This technique helps because the fish begin to recognize the particular area where you spread the bait as a feeding area and so on the day you are fishing, they are less likely to think twice before biting into the bait that you have attached to the rig.

♦ While fishing for carp, remember to use different types of baits such as corn, dough balls, worms, cheese, bread pieces or even homemade carp bait recipes can do the trick. You can even use bait flavors available in the market. A good idea is to dip the bait in orange juice because carps love the flavor. Also, using bright-colored baits can often help as it attracts the carp.

♦ An important factor to consider while fishing for a big fish such as carp is the size and strength of the rod. Use a rigid rod that is made of a strong and durable material and is capable of supporting a minimum weight of 50 pounds.

♦ Remember that carps are clever and so to outsmart them, you need to be clever too! Also, when it comes to rigs, using a hair rig is best recommended as it prevents the fish from spitting the bait, after it has been swallowed. Choose baits that are devoid of barbs to prevent the fish from spitting it out.

♦ An interesting fact about carps is that unlike most other species of fish that are caught by a bait that is submerged in water, carps are caught by baits that float on the surface of water. This is because in nature, carps feed near the surface of water. Also, to make the bait appear as natural as possible, it is recommended that you use baits of different sizes. This way you can attract more fish.

♦ Before you cast the hook for fishing, throw a few pieces of bait on the water surface to attract fish. Once the fish begin to show up and start feeding on the bait, it's time for you to cast the hook. However, remember not to cast the hook exactly at the spot where the fish are feeding as this might scare them. Instead, cast the hook a little distance away from the feeding area and then slowly bring it in place.

♦ To know the exact spot where you have immersed the fishing line, attach a float to it. A float is made from a light material and floats on the water surface.

♦ Once you have made a successful catch in a particular area, carefully make note of the exact spot so that you can come back for more fishing. This also applies if you have pre-baited an area.

♦ If you land up with a big carp and find it difficult to handle, just use a dark-colored cloth to cover its eyes.

♦ It is recommended that you wear gloves before removing the fish from the hook. Also, if you are fishing carp just for fun and do not intend to eat them, then release them carefully back into the water.

♦ If you are truly serious about carp fishing, then it is best that you arrange for a boat and use it to try your luck on territories that others haven't been to before instead of fishing only from the banks of the river.

This was all about some carp fishing tactics and tricks for beginners. Hope you find them useful in landing a good catch on your next fishing trip. Good luck and have fun!

How to Make Candles Out of Crayons

If you have old crayons lying around the house that your kids need no longer, then you'll be glad to know that you can put them to good use by making candles out of them. What's more, they are easy to make and look beautiful too!

Crayons are a part of every child's growing years. Not only do they add colors to your child's artistic expressions, but also are the very medium through which your little one is introduced to the vibrant world of colors, for the very first time. But what do you do when you have a heap of broken crayons that are of no use? The obvious answer would be to dispose them off and get a box of new ones. Now, will you be surprised if I tell you that you can recycle broken pieces of crayons to create beautiful works of art? If yes, then you are definitely in for a surprise! For, in this article, you shall learn how to make pretty candles out of old crayons, in a few simple steps.

Steps to Make Candles Out of Crayons

Before you begin with the procedure of making candles from crayons at home, there are a few things that you need to have with you. To know what these are, just have a look at the list given below. Note that candles made from crayons alone, may not burn properly. If you wish to counter this problem, just use candle wax along with the crayons. You can easily get all the things mentioned below, from a craft store. Once you have all the materials, just follow the given instructions and your candle will be ready in a jiffy!

Materials Required
Old crayons
Candle wax (optional)
Cooking pot
Plastic container
Plastic wax-melting bags
Kitchen thermometer
Essential oils (optional)
Molds of the desired shape(s)
Wicks
A pencil
Step 1: Sorting the Crayons
Firstly, you need to remove the paper wrappers from the crayons and sort them according to color. This is important because melting crayons of different colors together, will result in a dark-colored mass of molten wax, which will be of little help to you. On the other hand, if you melt the colors separately, you shall have molten wax in different colors that you may use for creating vibrant patterns on your candle. Also, if you wish to blend colors, then sort such colors together. For example, say you wish to add a touch of rosy pink to the candle you are about to make, but do not have pink crayons with you. In that case, you can melt red and white crayons together to create a pinkish tinge!

Step 2: Melting the Crayons
Once you are done with the sorting, the next step is to melt the crayons. For this, take the cooking pot and pour some water in it. Now, put crayons of different colors into different plastic wax-melting bags and place these bags gently into the pot containing water. If you wish to use candle wax, you can put a small amount of it in a plastic bag and place the bag, along with the other bags, in the pot. Now, place the cooking pot on a gas burner and allow the wax to melt. Check the temperature of the wax using a kitchen thermometer. The optimum temperature for melting of wax is 170°F. For scented candles, just add a few drops of essential oil into the molten crayon wax.

Step 3: Pouring the Wax into Molds
This is perhaps the most important step in making beautiful candles from wax. Depending on what you want your candles to look like, you can get molds in different shapes. You can even use milk or juice cartons or any glass container, as a mold for your candle. However, the skill lies in pouring the molten wax carefully into the molds so that the candle turns out to be symmetrical and beautiful. Also, inserting the candle wick through the candle, can be a little tricky! Here's a tip to make things easier for you, at least the task of inserting the wick: tie one end of the wick to a pencil and the other end, to a small object such as a plastic bead. Place the pencil horizontally over the top of the mold, such that the wick hangs at the center of the mold. Now, gradually pour the molten crayon wax into the mold. If you wish to make a layered candle with layers in multiple colors, then pour a layer of one color, allow it to cool and then form the next layer with another color. Proceed this way till you reach the top of the mold. Note that a small length of the wick should be visible above the level of molten wax in the mold. Now, allow your candle to cool till it solidifies.

Step 4: Removing the Candles
This is the last step in the process of candle making. When you find that your candle has solidified (when scratching the candle leaves marks on its surface), gently scrape its edges with a blunt knife till it pops out of the mold. If you have used milk or juice cartons for shaping your candle, then carefully tear apart the carton. Your candle is ready!

You can use your creativity to decorate the candles to give them a unique look. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and make some colorful candles, and gift them to your loved ones, ahead of the festive season.

Arts and Crafts Out of Recycled Materials

Arts and crafts need not involve creating items from scratch. Transformation or conversion from one form to another can be an artistic way of expression. Such as, turning household trash and waste into handy furniture or decorations. Given here are a few simple, arts and crafts techniques, that help you recycle and be creative at the same time.

Nature converts the most ordinary and downright weird objects into articles of beauty. Caterpillars become butterflies. A mighty oak appears from a tiny seed. Diamonds are formed from coal. Yet human beings tend to start with the best and brightest of ingredients, when it comes to expressing their inner artist. Why not take a leaf out of nature's book? Converting something of no use or something which should be discarded, is a great way to reduce waste and express your creativity. Recycling isn't confined to making deposits at a recycling waste center. One should learn to reutilize materials in a different manner from how they were intended to be used, to reduce waste. Turning a pile of newspapers into a figurine or using tin cans to make sculptures, follows the "reduce, reuse and recycle" motto. Plus salvaging household items for arts and crafts, is cheaper than buying expensive art supplies!

Recycled Craft Projects

All you need is one spark to start a fire. Creativity, whether your own, or encouraging it in others, works in the same manner. Once you have a basic idea, you'd be surprised at the amount of inspiring thoughts flooding your head. So to start your thinking process off, below are a few recycled craft ideas, that will help you recover your rubbish from the trash bin and turn it into art.

Floppy Disk Photo Cube
Floppy disks are one of the most discarded electronic items but they are also very useful in DIY (do-it-yourself) projects. This craft idea turns a stack of floppy disks into a small and convenient photo cube, so you can display an array of photos in a very creative manner.

You will need:
6, 3½ inch floppy disks
Glue gun
Double-sided tape
Photos
Instructions:
The idea is to construct a cube out of floppy disks. So lay one disk, index face down, on a flat surface.
Use a glue gun and attach one disk to each side and then one disk on top, to create a cube.
Cut out your photos, such that they fit in the index space of the disk.
Affix a photo to the index space of each disk, using double-sided tape.
Bottle Cap Magnets
Create your own custom fridge magnet using a small but oft-discarded object, the bottle cap. Bottle cap magnets make small but thoughtful gifts, such as a "Happy Birthday" or "Congratulations" magnet to display on the fridge. You can use a favorite photo or image as well. This is a very simple recycled kiddie craft idea but adult help and supervision is required for applying the glue.

You will need:
Transparent packing tape
Bottle cap
Glitter, sequins, beads, googly eyes etc. any small art & craft decorations
Background paper
Tacky or white craft glue
Clear sealant
½ inch-wide magnet
Hot glue to attach magnet
Instructions:
Cover the background paper on both sides, with packing tape.
Cut out a circle from the background paper, such that it will fit in the bottle cap's inside.
Fix the circle to the bottom of the cap, using the tacky glue.
Decorate the image with glitter, sequins, beads and fix them using tacky glue or clear glue.
Let the glue dry, then apply a coat of clear sealant to glaze over the surface. Now the image and its decorations are sealed within the cap. Let the sealant dry.
Fix the magnet to the bottle cap's back, using the hot glue.
Clothespins Wishing Well
This craft idea creates a very decorative and unique ornament for any table top or desk. The design is that of a wishing well, made around a baby jar.

You will need:
20 wooden clothespins
Baby food jar, cleaned and completely dry
Glue gun
Tacky glue or white craft glue
Rubber band
Paint or markers to color the well
Plastic or silk flowers to decorate
Instructions:
Remove the spring from each clothespin. You should have two halves of each pin.
Using the glue gun, fix one half of a clothespin, smooth side out, to the outer lip of the jar (where the lid normally fits).
The tip of the clothespin should be glued to the jar, it should extend upwards.
Likewise fix another clothespin half on the other side of the jar, directly across. These pins act as support beams for the well's roof.
Now cover the jar's outside with tacky glue. Fix the clothespins halves along the sides of the jar, smooth sides out.
Make sure the bottom of the jar and the clothespins are aligned, for an even base.
Tie the rubber band around the jar, so the pins will remain in place. Let the glue dry.
To create a roof for the well, glue 5 clothespin halves lined up side-by-side together. This makes one half of the sloping roof edge.
Glue another 5 halves to make the other edge of the roof. Once both edges are dry, attach the two pieces together, then fix the roof to the support beams.
You can decorate the well with paint or by gluing stick-on decorations to the pins. Place plastic or silk flowers in the jar.
It is amazing how useful most household items are, yet we throw them out easily without a second thought. Here are some more recycled crafts to make, using some oft-discarded materials:
Collect bottle caps and use your carpentry skills, to make a bottle cap tabletop.
Newspapers can be cut up and used to make paper mache sculptures.
When cut at the right angle, you can turn a cereal or detergent box into a magazine and document holder.
Use stiff cardboard to make bookmarks, placemats and invitations.
Old jars can be cleaned and decorated to form money boxes or potpourri jars.
Just like floppy disks, CDs and DVDs can be made into photo frames or decorated ornaments.
With an eyelet kit, you can turn an old shirt or dress into a cloth backpack.
From the above recycled craft ideas, it's easy to see that items and materials you throw away without a glance, can be reused to make useful tools or decorative and inspired art pieces. Whether it's a clock made from an old dinner plate or a decorative frame made out of wood shavings, there are a lot of simple ways to recycle small household items.

How to Improve Camera Phone Photography

So, you want to take some awesome photos using your camera phone? Well, for that, keeping in mind some basics of photography can help you exploit your camera phone's full potential.

Today, high-end phones come loaded with an awesome camera or sometimes, with two cameras. The cameras in these phones are so good that they can even substitute point and shoot cameras. Oh, yes sir! These camera phones come with a great resolution that deliver great picture quality. Also, being a part of high-end phones, they have so many features that allow you to take even better photos. But, I bet, half of you guys haven't even explored these features. Thinking of how to improve camera phone photography? Well, worry not my ignorant friends..! Listed below are some useful tips and some secret tips that will allow you to shoot brilliant photos using your camera phones.

Check the Camera's Features
Alright, the first thing you need to do is check what all the camera phone has to offer. This means, you need to go to the camera icon on your phone and check all the settings, modes, and other features it offers. Now, camera phones come with many features. However, the number of features in a camera phone depends on how good your phone is. If you have a basic phone, then it might have limited features, while high-end phones might offer better number of features. So, just check what are all the features in the camera phone. In case you don't understand the technical terms or settings, refer to the phone's user manual. Here are some features found in today's camera phones that are explained in brief.
The 'reduce noise' feature decreases grains in the picture, improves clarity, so keep this always on.
Various 'scene modes' help to quickly adjust settings with one click, change the scene modes according to the subject and time.
'Face detection' feature helps to detect the face while taking portraits, thus improving the focus on face, so keep this always on.
'Anti-shake or anti-blur' feature helps to reduce blur caused by shaking of camera. So keep this feature active.
There is a feature which allows you to choose the 'shutter sound', simply turn this off or at least let the sound be least disturbing.
There is a 'flash' in-built in many camera phones, use it at discretion, more about this is mentioned in the light section below.
'ISO', is an important feature which allows you to control the amount of light and clarity of images. Higher the ISO, more exposed the subject is and lesser is the clarity, and vice versa.
In case you have an 'aperture' feature, use it too. Aperture is basically the size of the opening of lens. So, larger the aperture, more the light, and vice versa.
'Shutter speed' is the amount of time the shutter in the camera is left open. So, higher the shutter speed, more is the amount of light entering and vice versa.
Another feature that phone cameras come with is - 'white balance'. It helps to bring out the colors properly in a shot.
Take Loads of Shots
Now, don't be shy! Go around playing with the various camera phone settings and modes. Take loads of pictures and notice the change in settings and modes reflected in your photos. Do the following exercises whenever you get time to get a hang of the technical settings:
You will notice that pictures shot on high-resolution have higher clarity, and vice versa.
You will notice that selecting modes like landscape bring in more green color in the landscape, similarly portrait mode helps to shoot softer pictures, also night mode quickly improves the amount of light in the picture. So, explore all the modes.
Also, explore the filters like sepia and black and white.
Another important feature you need to understand is white balance (WB). Choose an appropriate WB for different scenes. For instance: change the amount of WB when indoors, outdoors, during night, etc. A simple experiment is to place a plain white sheet on the table, and take various shots of it while adjusting the WB value.
If your phone has a feature that allows you to change aperture and shutter speed, then take pictures using different settings of these features. To check out the shutter speed, take a picture of tap water at various speeds. Experiment with small and large apertures by shooting a branch, to see how the focus and amount of light changes.
Also, explore ISO outdoors to see the clarity and lighting of pictures.
Turn off the shutter sound in case it irritates you, however, that sound can come handy when you are taking self-shots with a back-facing camera phone.
Check the Settings
So, once you have done the above exercises honestly (yes, I mean honestly!), you would have already got the hang of all the features and settings. So, before composing a subject, check the necessary settings required. For instance: if you are shooting a dog running, try the sport mode, and go for medium value of ISO. In case, you have to capture something quickly and don't have time to adjust any settings, then focus more on composing.

Check the Angle
Having the right angle can make a lot of difference. The subject of camera angles can be quite vast, so here are some pointers. Whenever you're shooting people, shoot at eye level. When you're trying to make something look big (like a building), shoot at a low angle. In case you want to shoot a document, shoot at the top angle, get really close in case you want to capture details on an object, e.g., texture of a tree bark.

Check the Light
This is a very important aspect of photography. So, don't ever underestimate the importance of lighting. Here are certain things to remember when trying to get a good shot. First, always see that the subject is well-lit. Certain camera phones might display a warning if the shot is not well-lit. In case, your phone has it, turn it on and use it to shoot well-lit pictures. Also, use a flash in case there isn't enough light. However, be warned because, using flash can increase the amount of shadows on the subject. Similarly to improve light, use the night mode, ISO, lower shutter speed and aperture. A very important thing to remember is to always get the light source behind you, this will give softer and well-lit pictures.

Compose the Picture Well
A well-composed frame can really help to take brilliant shots. Here are some pointers. Always, try to fill the frame. Try to focus on one subject rather than trying to capture many. In case you are trying to shoot a landscape, go for the wide zoom. However, if you have digital zoom only in your camera phone, then avoid taking landscapes. But, if you have a camera that allows to take high-resolution pictures, consider using the rule of thirds. To understand this rule, imagine two equally spaced horizontal and two equally spaced vertically lines. At the intersection of these lines, place your subject. This is because, the intersecting areas are where the eye first looks. Another important thing to remember while composing shots is to keep your fingers away from the lens.

Hold the Phone with a Steady Hand
This aspect is very important. Always, hold the camera phone with a steady hand. Here is one technique I use, compose the shot and before you are about to click the button, breathe in and then breathe out, then take a two-second pause and shoot. You might also want to balance yourself properly before taking a shot. To do this, simply stand at shoulder-length distance between your feet. Also, hold the phone properly so that it won't shake while you press the button. Use the automatic timer in case your phone has one, to avoid blur.

Use Photo-editing Software
Photo-editing software is good but don't make a habit of using it to always correct a bad photo. However, it can come quite handy in case of an important picture. To correct such pictures, use this software. Mostly, such software are used to correct lighting, reduce noise, crop, reduce blur and add filter effects.

Maintain the Lens
Keep your camera lens always clean. Use a lint-free soft cloth and wipe your camera lens regularly. Avoid using your fingertips to clean the lens, and in case you don't have a soft cloth, use your t-shirt to wipe the lens. This is important because, a clean lens helps to give clear and better pictures. To increase the life of your camera lens, put a transparent plastic guard on it.

Exploit Your Camera Phone Completely
Sometimes, you might wonder that the camera phone is not good enough and a better camera could have helped you take better pictures. However, this problem arises mostly when one is not capable of exploiting the complete potential of the camera phone. So, before you come to the conclusion that your camera phone is not good enough, exploit the camera phone completely. To do this, use the above tips and keep experimenting with all the settings and features, and I am sure you will be rewarded with great pictures. For instance: a portrait in black and white filter can give a timeless picture. Similarly, taking the camera phone really close to your pet dog's nose and shooting at a small aperture can give an unusual and interesting picture.

These were the important tips that will help you exploit your camera phone's potential and take some really great shots. After a month's practice of these tips, you will notice your camera phone photos have become better, which surely will make your friends ask, "did you take this pic?" Well, then with your smug smile when you reply "yes", do thank me mentally. Good luck and enjoy!!

Popsicle Stick Catapult Making Instructions

Making a popsicle stick catapult can be a fun project. The following Buzzle article tells you how to make one.

Popsicle sticks can be used to make various interesting projects. One of the best things that you can make using these sticks is a catapult. To make a popsicle stick catapult you will need:
Popsicle sticks (12)
Glue
Masking tape
Metal string
Rubber band
Plastic bottle cap
Pencil
Drill
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Catapult

Generally, making a catapult is easier than making any other woodcraft, and it is less time-consuming too. The catapult which you are going to make is very simple in terms of design. So, according to me, you will take around 20 minutes to complete this project. Here are the instructions that you should follow:

Base
The first thing that you should focus on is the base. A good base is essential to make a good catapult. Take 5 popsicle sticks and glue them together in such a way that their edges are flushed, let us call this set of popsicle sticks 'A'. Similarly, take 5 more popsicle sticks and glue them, let's call this set 'B'. Now, take a pencil, and mark the center of the surface of 'A', then mark the midpoint of the surface of 'B'. Now, drill holes through the centers of 'A' and 'B'. Once you have done that, take a popsicle stick and remove its rounded edges, then level all its edges, such that it gets a rectangular shape. Use this popsicle stick to attach 'A' to 'B', glue it such that one of the shorter edges of the popsicle stick is perpendicular to 'A', and the other shorter edge is perpendicular to 'B'.

Catapult Arm
Now, you should make the catapult arm. This part is relatively simpler. Take 2 popsicle sticks and glue them together, just as you glued the popsicle sticks to make 'A', let us call this set of popsicle sticks as 'C'. Now, mark a spot close to one of the rounded edges of 'C'. Carefully drill a hole at this spot.

Catapult Cup
You cannot use a catapult, if you do not have a catapult cup. You can make a cup using paper, but it may not be strong enough. To make it simple for you, here I have recommended the use of a plastic bottle cap as the catapult cup. If you use the bottle cap, you will not have to spend your time making the cup, and thus you can finish the project faster.

Attachment
The 3 major components of your catapult are ready. Your next task is to attach these parts. For simplicity, I have divided this section into 3 parts:

Cup to the Arm
To make the catapult functional, you will have to attach the cup to the catapult arm. Hold 'C' in such a way that its surface is facing you, and your thumb is pressed against the hole. Now, rotate 'C' so that the longer edge of the popsicle stick is facing you. Glue the cap to this edge, such that the cap lies opposite to your hand.

Arm to the Base
Take the metal string (the diameter of the metal string should be less than the diameter of the hole in 'A', 'B', and 'C') and put it through the hole in 'A'. Before you insert the string through the hole in 'B', pass it through the hole in 'C'. Now, pass the string through 'B', and fasten it to the base using a masking tape.

Rubber Band
To complete your project, you should attach the rubber band to the base and to the catapult arm. Fasten the rubber band to the arm, right below the cup, and then fasten it to the base near the rounded edges opposite to the cup. You can tie a knot or use a masking tape to fasten the rubber band.

Your popsicle stick catapult is now ready. Isn't this project fun? Apart from the catapult and the truss bridge, there are many wood craft ideas that you can implement. Making such projects is a nice way to spend your spare time.

Simple Ways to Improve your Hand Speed for Drumming

If you're a drummer, you'll agree that any drummer's dream would be to try to enter the WFD at least once to show their worth in terms of speed drumming. If only you knew how, right? Well here you go, a set of really simple exercises to get those beats per minute pumped.
The WFD, or World's Fastest Drummer, is an international drumming competition that pits you against the biggest drumming personalities in the world. This includes artists like Mike Mangini, the drummer for Dream Theater, one of the biggest bands of our time! Mike set the record in 2002 for the fastest bare hands style drumming, a staggering 1,138 Singles in 60 seconds! Now that I've got your attention, we continue along the path for getting your hands all limber and blazing fast. It includes a series of warm-ups, exercises and cooling down, which you will have to do regularly before you reach a professional level.

The Road to Speed Drumming

These might be the simple ways to improve your hand speed for drumming, but face it, there's no such thing as 'simple'. The exercises may look easy enough, but what always sets the best from the good, is perseverance and determination. The yellow brick road is yours to follow, just make sure you stay on it and see it to the end.

Warming Up
Drumming is a physically demanding part in the field of music, almost as good as a contact sport. And as with any contact sport, a warm-up session is essential to get your muscles stretched, the blood flowing and the hands fluid.
To get your arms stretched and ready to go, we will work from the shoulder to the hand. Raise your hands above your head to slowly rotate them in circles. Start clockwise and then rotate counterclockwise. After that, rotate them to make only a half circle instead. This should work out all the stress in the shoulders and loosen them up.
Next, keep your shoulders steady, cross your hands together and slowly inch your hands across your back, towards the spine. Keep your shoulders steady so you can feel the biceps stretching. Be careful not to overdo it and get cramps.
Roll your hands into fists and slowly rotate them, clockwise at first, then counterclockwise. Be very gentle with your hands and feel out each kink starting to stretch out.
Finally, shake your arms about, till you feel them all loose and wiggly.
The next part is about stick movements. It is advisable to get a practice pad for the warm-ups, so that you can do it without the drum kit and so you won't annoy the people around you.
First up, play quarter notes - RRRR | RRRR. Be very steady, don't get excited and start out fast. Keep it slow, simple and rhythmic. After about 20 or 30 seconds, start building up on the speed steadily. Keep increasing your speed until you're at your fastest. Stay at the top speed for about 5 to 10 seconds, then slow back down to the first speed.
The same goes for your left hand. Start off steady and slow, build up speed, go to your fastest and then slow back down.
Four reps on each hand should be enough.
For the second part of stick movements, we move to a simple paradiddle - RLRR | LRLL || RLRR | LRLL. Work on this and vary your tempo the same way you did on the previous exercise.
Speed Drumming Exercises
You may use dead weights on your sticks when you train for speed drumming. Start out without them and see if you need them. Also, you need to figure out how slowly your slower hand really is. Your first step to getting faster is to work on your slower hand and get to speed with your stronger hand. All through the exercise, you will pay extra attention to this problem.
Speed drumming is all about fluidity and expert technique, so it's important to get your basics right. Figure out the best way to hold the stick according to your comfort and make sure you don't change your grip while playing.
You will be using a metronome at all times to measure yourself. Do not practice without it.
You will be using the Gladstone technique all the while. It is better suited for getting a faster pace on drumming than the Moeller technique. You will play better and faster because of the Gladstone technique, since the Moeller technique employs a more rigorous pattern of hand movement.
Do not get too much rebound height. The more the rebound, the more you'll have to work to get your hands back to the next beat. Keep the rebound under 3 inches.
Start out with the three-note play - RRL | RRL | RRL | RRL || LLR | LLR | LLR | LLR. If you're right-handed, play the latter more to improve on your left hand strength, but only at the start. Once both hands are at the same speed and strength, you will be alternating both patterns. The former pattern is to be played more for the lefties to increase their right hand strength.
After that, comes RRRL | RRRL | RRRL | RRRL || LLLR | LLLR | LLLR | LLLR.
Concentrate on the technique all the time. Remember that the Gladstone technique is about the 'Down' and not the 'UP/DOWN'.
Warming Down
The catch to speed drumming is, the more relaxed your hand is, the faster your hand gets. Building up on hand strength will be to no avail if you don't learn to relax your hand muscles the proper way. That is why you have to warn down too, it is as important as warming up because it makes sure all that practice is worth the effort and doesn't go to waste.
Place your hands behind your head and rotate the elbows in a circular motion.
Hold one stick with both hands with the back of the hand facing the ground. Pull your elbows away from your body as you lift the stick up in both hands at the same time.
Breathing and your State of Mind
As a final note, a little information on how to breathe when you play the drums. More than just following the patterns, you need to grasp the way the rhythm flows from your chest to your feet and hands, making your movements a lot more rhythmic. Also, it sometimes happens that you might forget to breathe when you play a particularly hard roll. You'll just tire yourself out even more if you do that. This is not a problem that everyone faces, it mostly happens at the beginner's level. For your regular four-note pattern, just breathe in for four beats and then exhale for the next four beats. For a smaller beat patch, take steady deep breaths over two sections.

Your state of mind is always the first thing that comes out when you play the drums, especially at the later stages when most of the easier patterns fall into muscle memory. If you mess up in an attempt to play faster, you will get irritated. That's going to affect your next attempt and it's going to keep on building up. So every time you start drumming, make sure to take a single, deep breath to calm yourself down, then let it rip!

Keep at it every day and you'll start seeing the results in about a week or so. Always remember to keep a good balance between practice and playing the drums for fun. Make it a habit to play the drums after you are done with your practice, you'll know the difference in your playing and you won't stop having fun!

Cooking Classes If you are interested in cook

Whether you're an expert cook or just learning, taking a cooking class can be a lot of fun while teaching you some great techniques and recipes. Cooking classes take on many different forms and cater to many different audiences, and any class is a great experience for everyone. Whether you're flying solo or looking for a great idea for a night out with friends, a cooking class can be just the thing to fill your evening.

Types of Classes

Most places that offer cooking classes have many different kinds of classes. Usually, you will find several different menus with a variety of cuisines. One day might be a French cooking class while another day might be an Italian cooking class and so on.

Also, menus might be different within the cuisine, depending on the time of year and the specialties of the chef teaching the class. Facilities that offer cooking classes like to use fresh, local produce that might cause some variants in the foods prepared.

Furthermore, you might find technique classes rather than recipe classes. Technique classes focus on one specific technique that you might use in the kitchen like knife skills, pasta making, grilling, and many more. In these classes, the focus is not on making an entire meal as it is with a recipe class. Rather, you will be chopping or grilling or using whatever technique the chefs are teaching you until you perfect it.

Whether a recipe class or a technique class, you might sign up for an observation class or a hands-on class. Observation classes are ones during which you watch the food being prepared, often while taking notes so you can recreate the recipes or techniques in your own kitchen, but the chef does all the work. Hands-on classes are ones during which you are given some instruction, but you spend most of your time actually preparing the meal or performing the technique.

What to Expect

Whether you're taking a recipe class or a technique class, an observation class or a hands-on class, you can expect to eat a lot of food. When you pay your registration fee, that usually covers the cost to pay the chefs who are teaching the class as well as the cost of food. Therefore, you are usually able to at least try all the food that is prepared in the classes. Even in technique classes where an entire meal isn't prepared, there will usually be something prepared that you can eat. So come hungry! In hands-on classes, you will also be expected to give everything a try. Even if you are a terrible cook, the chefs aren't going to cook the food for you. If you wanted that experience, you could have just gone to a restaurant. However, don't worry. The chefs are there to make sure you don't ruin anything, so go ahead and give it a try. You never know what you might learn.

Locations

Many places offer cooking classes, but the best way to find one is to do a quick Internet search for locations. Some places that offer classes are restaurants looking to make some extra money during off hours or culinary schools that offer one-time classes for the general public. Others, like The Chopping Block in Chicago, IL, are stores dedicated solely to cooking classes; that's all they do there. Sometimes they also sell utensils that are used during the classes for a discounted price, but mostly they just teach people how to cook.

Costs

Because you're paying for a chef to teach you how to make the food as well as the food itself, cooking classes can be kind of expensive. Expect to pay anywhere between $65-$150 per person for a 2- or 3-hour class. However, consider how much you would have paid for a dinner for two at a nice restaurant. Considering how much fun you'll have, it's worth the price.

Learning the Art of Mentalism

Mentalism is a technique of decoding the inscrutable human mind to understand the unspoken. The fine line of distinction between mentalism and magic makes the former a difficult abstraction to learn. Let's take a look at facets of mentalism and a few famous mentalists to understand the subject with a little clarity.

Imagine the ease in problem solving if one had the skill of reading minds. It would only take a few minutes to determine a convict, a liar or a lovestruck soul amongst a horde of suspects. If one could read minds, conclusions would be based on empirical evidences instead of theories. But, it is the intricacy of mind reading that makes it a rare skill and a taxing subject to learn. Mind reading, also known as mentalism, refers to reading another person's mind with your own intuitive abilities. Mentalists or mind readers, undergo years of training to decode the human mind to perfection. They are in constant process of learning from their experiences and everyday observations. What may seem as a mentalist's ad-lib performance, is actually a result of his trained subconscious mind to perceive things hidden to the naked eye.

Mentalism is a blend of clairvoyance, precognition, intuition, observation, telepathy, telekinesis, mind control and hypnosis. It is truly an art as it is an application of your skill and your trained subconscious mind to comprehend cleverly concealed facts.

Mentalist Decoded

A mentalist has to bank on some convincing techniques to converse or interact with his audience, while playing mind tricks. Following are the ways in which a mentalist succeeds in his act of keeping his audience entertained and mesmerized.

Cold Reading
Cold reading is a technique used by mentalists to establish a rapport with the audience by arousing interest and projecting enigma. This refers to a method used by every mentalist to predict a person prior to any communication with him. Cold reading demands keen observation skills of a person's body language, clothing style, choice of colors worn or carried, hairstyle, religion, race, age, gender, facial expressions, mannerisms, manner of speech and language usage. As cold reading is done in a matter of minutes, it demands quick review of details and comprehension of mannerisms. All it takes is one correct guess about the person's mood to establish a comfort level determined by trust.

Shotgunning
Shotgunning is similar to cold reading. It refers to throwing a lot of generic information at the audience, which they can usually relate to. For instance, talking about someone's death in the family, loss of a pet, anxiety related to marriages and so forth are common topics that most people can associate with. Once the information hits the right nerve, the audience automatically connects with the mentalist at an emotional level.

Hot Reading
Hot reading is a technique used in combination with cold reading. Contrary to the former, hot reading involves careful research of the subject's background, conversations, home and basically collecting as much information as possible. This helps in understanding the subject's psychology and state of mind. A lot can be derived from the company the subject keeps than from what he may actually speak about.

Warm Reading
Warm reading is similar to hot reading. It refers to making generic assumptions that most of the audience can relate to. However, these assumptions are drawn out of prior research. For instance, talking about a piece of clothing worn by your subject may have a relation to death of a near one. It might be worn in memory of someone or as a good luck charm. Talking about these common human experiences helps the subjects to establish an emotional bond with the mentalist.

Signs and Signals
Picking up small insignificant signs and signals from your subject's mannerisms can tell you lot about him/her. For instance, disheveled hair, dark circles, puffy eyes, receding hairline, outrageously mismatched clothes and chipped nails can be signs of stress and overwork. Similar signs which are often missed by laymen, but picked up by keen observers are starting points of deciphering your subject.

Telepathy
Surely you must have experienced a moment wherein you and your friend have about the same thing, at the same time and have had the same opinion. This precisely is telepathy. So how does this happen? It happens when the deepest and truest feelings, energy and emotions of two people get focused on the same subject for the same time. To learn telepathy, one must have a positive mindset. To make a telepathic connect with someone, it is imperative that you make them feel the need to connect with you too. This can be done by focusing your energy on an activity you would want to do with them. Pay attention to your feelings to send out positive messages. A positive energy is most of the time responded with a positive response. Learning telepathy is a crucial part of learning mentalism, as it helps one understand the subject without saying much.

Observation
Observation is an activity done by most of us while sitting at café or while being pushed around in a crowded metro. To learn the art of mentalism, it is crucial that this skill is sharpened to make correct observations. A simple tip to be a good observer is to keep all your biases and prejudices away. This helps in seeing finer details about your subject.

Many believe that hypnosis, mind control, creating illusions and sleight of hand are required to be a mentalist. However, these techniques are used in magic tricks, which differ from mentalist's skills. A true mentalist is the one who acquires the real skill of reading minds and deciphering emotions to draw logical conclusions. Tony Corinda, a magician and a mentalist, decoded the complex structure of mentalism in his book - 'Thirteen Steps to Mentalism'. A magic dealer, inventor and a businessman himself, secrecy was one of his dearly guarded characteristics. His birthplace, date and facts about his early life still remain a mystery to the world. His close relationship with magic must have been the inspiration to delve deeper into the art of mentalism. Although, most of the chapters in the book amalgamate magic and mentalism, there is a fine line between the two. Celebrities such as Criss Angel, David Copperfield, David Blaine and Keith Barry create illusions with sleight of hand and trickery. However, a mentalist is someone who derives conclusions with his mind power, which is truly beyond science's comprehension.

Erik Jan Hanussen, a famous hypnotist, mentalist, occultist and an astrologer, was believed to have been a fine conduit of Hitler's actions. Despite Hanussen's Jewish origins, he was a staunch supporter of Nazi Germany. This precisely shows his influence over Führer. A report made by Office of Strategic Services states, "during the early 1920s, Hitler took regular lessons in speaking and in mass psychology from a man named Hanussen who was also a practicing astrologer and fortune-teller. He was an extremely clever individual who taught Hitler a great deal concerning the importance of staging meetings to obtain the greatest dramatic effect." Hanussen's biggest feat was predicting the Reichstag fire, an event which established his talent and the Nazi rule. As the prediction was realized in due course, it led to Hanussen's downfall on the allegation of manipulating Marinus van der Lubbe (the main accused behind the act) by hypnosis. Another famous example of a mentalist, Patrick Jane was a fictional character portrayed by Simon Baker, in 'The Mentalist'. The series is loosely based on functions of California Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The bureau hires Jane for solving crimes citing his psychic abilities to perceive beyond the obvious. It is Jane's perfect mind-reading acumen which significantly helps the bureau in solving cases in a fast-track way. Here, the protagonist uses no tricks, gimmicks or sleight. It is purely his paranormal abilities, which enable him to understand human mind in way that most of us do not.

These examples clearly state that learning the art of mentalism is not about mere trickery, but more about "honing your power of thinking without thinking", as Malcolm Gladwell says. Mentalism is truly a combination of intuitive and instinctive thinking. An undefined subject as such, has little scope of charting a curriculum for its ardent students. The art of mentalism is thus, about balancing your split-second judgments, learning about human behavior, gut feeling and matching all these with your instinctive thinking. The fickle nature of these factors makes this subject vast and indefinite. It is the abstract nature of findings with the precision of scrutinizing details, which makes mentalism an art like any other.