Profiting From Pleasure - Art Collecting Tips: A Six-Part Series on Successful Art Collecting: Part 1 - Why Buy Art?
July 4, 2008
Profiting From Pleasure - Art Collecting Tips: A Six-Part Series on Successful Art Collecting: Part 1 - Why Buy Art?
by: Carol Chua
WHY BUY ART? To answer this question, ask yourself what your reasons are for thinking of acquiring a piece of art. An artwork can cost a considerable sum, but if it meets your needs, it’s worth every penny.
Anyone can buy art, and for almost any reason. Many people buy an artwork simply because they like it, even if the artwork may be by an unknown artist. Art, as long as you enjoy it, is never a waste of money. As John Keats puts it in Book 1 of Endymion :
“A thing of beauty if a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases”
Art Is For Enjoyment
Art is meant to be displayed, unlike shares or bonds. Don’t ever feel pressured to buy something you won’t appreciate looking at day after day, no matter what other people may say. Don’t buy something that doesn’t appeal to you just because it is trendy, because the artist is famous, or because you have been advised that the artwork will make a good investment. If you don’t like the artwork at all, don’t buy it!
Birdwatching; A Free And Fascinating Pastime For All
July 3, 2008
Birdwatching; A Free And Fascinating Pastime For All
by: Jackie Gee
What is it that lures grown men (and women) into the undergrowth to get cold, wet and muddy just to gaze at our feathered friends? Many people are discovering birdwatching and finding it to be an immensely rewarding pastime. In this article Jackie Gee explores why birding is such a pleasurable activity for more and more people.
My first experience of deliberate birdwatching took place in Richmond Great Park. The time; 1966, the occasion; one of the first dates with my (now) husband. There I was, all dressed up and ready to knock him out with my drop dead gorgeousness (memory plays strange tricks as you get older!) and there he was, luring me into the undergrowth of the park, hissing to me to keep my head down. No, it wasn’t this bird’s feathers he was after observing, but a green woodpecker that he had spotted. It must have been love on my part because, although I don’t remember seeing the flash of emerald, I do remember getting my trendy high boots covered in mud.
Coin Collecting: Tips for Getting Started
June 30, 2008
Coin Collecting: Tips for Getting Started
by: Michael Johnson
So you can’t wait to start collecting coins. Welcome to a fantastic hobby that will last your lifetime. Something you can pass on to your children and grandchildren.
Don’t Panic. It is a very simple hobby to begin. And will be a lifelong adventure as you grow your coin collection over the years. The thrill of a great find is absolutely terrific.
First off; go and visit the library. Pick up some of the standard reference books on coins. Some examples are:
A Guide Book of United States Coins 2006: The Official Red Book by R. S. Yeoman, Kenneth Bressett
The New York Times Guide to Coin Collecting : Do’s, Don’ts, Facts, Myths, and a Wealth of History by Scott Travers (Foreword), Ed Reiter
The Official Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Coins 2005, 43rd Edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Coins) by Thomas E. Jr Hudgeons
Read them thoroughly along with as many other coin collecting books you can find. You will find a wealth of knowledge and ideas. There is no need to guess with so much information available.
New Thoughts
June 28, 2008
New Thoughts
by: Steve Gillman
New thoughts can come from taking a new perspective on things. One way to do that is to challenge the assumptions that exist. For example, is love really a feeling of desire or attachment? This is a common assumption, but what if we challenge this?
New Thoughts on Love
Desire and attachment can be strong feelings, and they are often called love in certain contexts. However, attachment can be for bad reasons too, right? Desire too can come from less than noble places. What is an alternative definition of love?
How about a recognition of value? Seeing the inherent value in a person, like the beauty you see in a painting or hear in a melody. You do not need to be attached or even desirous of beauty to enjoy it. You just have to recognize it. The enjoyment that you take in another’s existence then could be a definition of love. At least the emotion.
Love is more than an emotion though. How much love does a mother have for her children if she feels fond towards them, but doesn’t feed them? Love in this context has to include action, doesn’t it?
New Concepts
June 27, 2008
New Concepts
by: Steve Gillman
We all love to dream up new concepts, don’t we? Here are a few from my imagination. They are not patented or trademarked, so take them and call them your own if you want.
A human kite: Years ago I used to design and build kites while living alone in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I always thought hang gliders are like kites. Since there isn’t much altitude in Michigan, I wondered if you could use them in high wind, instead of from high hills. If tied to the ground by a strong line, you would rise up into the air in a hang glider, just like a kite. When done, just detach the line and glide back down.
Magnetic paintings: Made from a flat “canvas” of magnetic material, and an assortment of many colors of iron dust or small shavings. Just apply the metal dust carefully to create any picture you can imagine. Something like a Buddhist sand mandala, it could be very intricate and beautiful, but slightly more permanent. It could even be hung from the wall.
Bird Watching Life Lists - Keeping A Record
June 25, 2008
Bird Watching Life Lists - Keeping A Record
by: Rick Chapo
If you’re a birder, you want to keep a list of sightings when you bird watch. Your life lists should be kept in a bird watching journal.
Life List
A life list is a record of the species of birds you’ve sighted over time. Typically, the list is kept in a journal. Each entry notes the bird species, the date, location and any notes you want to add. Depending on your particular bird watching exploits, you can keep one global list or separate lists as you see fit.
For many bird watchers, one life list simply isn’t enough. So, how can you break down your lists? Here are a few ideas:
1. House Lists - A list of birds sighted around your home.
2. Yearly Lists - A list for each year you bird watch.
3. State Lists - A list for sighting by particular state.
4. Trip Lists - Journals for particular bird watching vacations or tours.
5. Wish Lists - A list of birds you haven’t seen, but hope to. You simply cross them off as sightings occur.
Beat the Weeds and Save Time in the Garden
June 23, 2008
Beat the Weeds and Save Time in the Garden
by: Fran Barnwell
So often new gardeners are put off the idea of gardening by thinking about the time it might take, and the hard work involved. The popular idea of a low-maintenance garden is one of covering the space with decking and gravel, planted with a few grasses and pots of evergreens.
However, I have discovered an ideal way to help thwart one of the most time-consuming chores in the garden - that of weeding.
This came about almost by accident, as I have a cat who thinks that any uncovered ground is a glorious litter tray! I quickly had to find a way to cover up as much of the soil as possible, but soon realised that ground cover plants gave me the even greater benefit of vastly reducing the number of weeds.
Of course, there are many gardeners who enjoy the time spent weeding, and I admire them tremendously - there are great physical and mental benefits to spending time outdoors among your plants.
What Is One Flower Benefit That You Know Of?
June 21, 2008
What Is One Flower Benefit That You Know Of?
by: Liztiany Zakaria
The biggest flower benefit of all is flowers make you happy.
Research has proven this. Flowers actually make you happy. When you are down, look at a
flower arrangement and you will be in a happy mood.
Put a flower arrangement in your office, you can reduce your stress. When you are tensed
at the office, you can calm yourself down with flowers. When things are not how you want
them to be, ease your mind by putting flowers on your office desk. It might help.
When you get scolded by your boss, increase your tolerance level with flower arrangements. Flower
arrangements have that a big impact on you.
Spend happy family time at home when you decorate your home with beautiful flower arrangements. When you are happy, your husband is happy, your children are happy and your guests are happy, too.
Nothing beats the power of the flower.
When you are happy, studies have shown that your lifespan can be extended. That means, you have more
time to enjoy your life, more time to achieve greater things.
Chess - Weakening Your Castled Position
June 19, 2008
Chess - Weakening Your Castled Position
by: James Wilson
It stands to reason that leaving the King in the center often means exposing the King to a dangerous, very possibly fatal, attack. This leads us to the conclusion that castling is the best way to safeguard the King.
The castled position, then, is the King’s safeguard. But, though the King is better protected when castled than when in the center, that does not mean that castling alone assures you complete immunity from attack. If your opponent has an overwhelmingly superior development, he can concentrate more forces for attack than you can supply for defense. Sometimes brilliant sacrifices are made to smash down a defender’s barriers.
But we are now concerned mainly with Pawn weaknesses in the castled position. In the case of castling on the King-side, three Pawns are involved: the King Rook Pawn, the King Knight Pawn, and the King Bishop Pawn. As long as all three Pawns are still on their original squares, the castled position remains strong and difficult to take by storm.
The Neighborhood Mint
June 17, 2008
The Neighborhood Mint
by: Johnny Kicklighter
After a recent trip to Dahlonega, Georgia, I’m became obsessed with
wanting to know more about the U.S. Mint that had been there and its
history. To say that “The Neighborhood Mint: Dahlonega in the Age of
Jackson” by Sylvia Head, Elizabeth W. Etheridge, gave me all the
information I ever wanted to know would be an understatement. Their
200-page book is packed with facts, figures, stories, and bits of
history that sometimes were overwhelming. At times you get the feeling
the authors are “beating a dead horse”, but I was never left with
mysteries or unanswered questions.
Being a student of US coins, I was fascinated as to the role politics
played in the coinage of our money, establishment of mints, and whom
the mints employed. The authors drill down deep into the personalities
and motives of the individual players. Additionally, I was fascinated
to learn that Dahlonega was the site of the first American gold rush,
not California. The Dahlonega mint never did produce the coinage
anticipated by its developers for numerous reasons, which is also
