Building Liner Ponds
October 31, 2006
Surprisingly enough, it is usually in mid-summer that many gardeners begin to think about installing a small pond or water garden. Ponds don’t need to be weeded or watered, and they can supply exuberant color in the form of water lilies and bog plants.
The sound of a splashing fountain or waterfall is more appealing than weeding a flower bed or mowing that section of lawn. Best of all, no matter how hot or wet it gets, the pond just keeps on blooming!
At this point you may start to think about the expense and labor of installing a concrete pond, and our 95 degree days are just about enough to stop this pond daydream in its tracks.
However, with the advent of newer pond liners and pre-formed pools, the misery associated with concrete mixing and finishing is a thing of the past. Heavy duty pool liners with 10 year guarantees are now common, and can sell for as little as $1.00 a square foot.
Preformed ponds in many different shapes and sizes are also an alternative method to create a quick pond at less cost than using concrete. Using these materials, the average gardener can install a decent size pond in less than one day, and have it stocked with plants, fish and fountain by the following morning.
A Guitar Lesson To Help You Test Your Note Knowledge
October 31, 2006
In this guitar lesson we look at a great way to test your note knowledge of the guitar fretboard. But before we look at that, why even bother learning the notes?
Knowing the notes on your guitar fretboard is an essential skill. Here are a FEW of the benefits that you’ll gain if you have fantastic guitarfretboard knowledge?
- You’ll learn how to apply music theory to the guitar much more quickly. In my opinion there’s no point learning music theory if you can’t PLAY it!
- Your creativity will increase. You’ll be able to think of new and unique ways of playing chords and scales. If you don’t know the notes on the guitar fretboard, you’ll be stuck playing the same chord and scale fingerings that everyone uses.
- You’ll become a better musician. Great musicians don’t just think in terms of chord shapes or scale fingerings. They think in terms of notes.
- You’ll save yourself hundreds (if not thousands!) of hours of frustration. By knowing the notes on the fretboard you’ll be able to understand, learn and memorize things faster.
Pretty powerful benefits right?
So?how do we know if our note knowledge is good enough?
Bring Out the Natural Writer in You
October 31, 2006
Think you can’t write a book that will sell? You aren’t a natural writer? In fact, you don’t really like to write?
Putting a book together can be daunting. But no, you don’t need to hire a ghostwriter. You don’t need to do research.
Your readers simply want answers to their challenges and questions. Do that and you will write an easy-to-read, well organized, and compelling book with 1/2 the normal edits.
Save time, frustration and still get your book out within a month or so when you use my “Fast-Forward Writing Techniques.”
Fast-Forward Writing Steps
1. Write down your working title.
This gives you momentum in the writing process and keeps you on track with focus so you don’t write two books in one. In your title, include your audience if possible and what main benefit they will receive too.
2. Write down your book’s thesis. (what is the number one question your book will answer?)
Know that each chapter and information in them must support this. In a book “Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast,” chapters like “The Essential 9 Hot-Selling Points for your Book” and “Yes, Your Book Has Significance” support its title.
So, You?ve Decided To Kill Your Pet!
October 31, 2006
The other day I was doing a research online for an article I was writing and I came across an article, which the author started by saying: "Euthanasia, is often the hardest thing to do, yet the greatest act of kindness" Then he went on explaining the "grueling" suffering and the guilt the pet owner goes through before making the decision, how it affects the whole family, especially the kids. But then he explains euthanasia in the most loving way I’ve ever seen someone describe a murder. I remember "simple and peaceful" were some of the words he used, he even gave recommendations on how to avoid stress during the ride to the vet’s clinic.
The GREATEST act of KINDNESS? To whom? That little bundle of love didn’t know what was happening, he just knew that he was the happiest guy when you got home from work, he assumed you loved him back because you took him to walks on the park and you pampered him with professional grooming every once in a while. Little he knew that:
Russian Nesting Dolls - The Beginning
October 30, 2006
According legend, first nested doll prototype appeared in Russia in the late 19th century (believed to be year 1890), it was figurine of bold headed old man, Buddhist sage by the name of Fukuruma, on the island of Honshu, Japan.
According Hakone Town Office, Japan, products such as “Shichifukujin” and “Irokawaridaruma” have been created from Junitamago. “Shichifukujin” was shipped to Russia at the end of the 19th century, becoming a folkcraft called Matryoshika, or a doll having children. It is thought that Russian missionaries from the Russian church which used to be in Tohnosawa visited Hakone for the summer and took “Junitamago” back to Russia as souvenirs. Let us explain what Shichifukujin mean.
According Japan sources -
Japan`s Shichifukujin–usually identified as Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei–are traditionally believed to bring good fortune and happiness to people. The seven have long been depicted in painting, sculpture, song, and dance and began to be worshiped as a group several hundred years ago. The practice of making a meguri, or pilgrimage, to shrines and temples of all the Shichifukujin during the New Year season became popular during the Edo period (1603-1868). Shichifukujin Meguri are still popular everywhere in Japan–including the Fukagawa and Kameido districts of Tokyo`s Koto-ku. But Russian nesting doll got another name and had a different meaning from the very beginning.
Know Your Editing Choices
October 30, 2006
Each author has special editing needs. To save yourself time and money, look at the choices below and decide which kind of editing suits your needs.
Line editing.
Use this final professional edit after you have already revised your work three times.
Your first revision excludes all redundancies, reducing your copy by one-third.
In your second line edit, rework all the words and sentences so they are your finest. Reduce passive verb constructions (aim for 2-4%) and create relatively short sentences. A standard sentence length is 15-17 words. Longer sentences with multiple phrases and clauses make the reader slow down to understand. As the author, you want your reader to flow along with ease. In your final line edit look at your headings, paragraphs and transitions to make sure your message carries power through placement and is easy to read. Place your most dramatic words and phrases at the end of the sentence, the end of the paragraph and at the end of the chapter. While charges vary, you can expect to pay $50 to $70 for this service from a professional.
Developmental editing.
Helping Your Pets Cope With The Stress Caused By Loud Noise
October 30, 2006
Which is the noisiest species of all? Nope, not the lions, or the elephants, or the geese? it’s us, humans. Our voices were not enough, we started making music and creating musical instruments to help us being louder.
This Holiday season will not only be noisy, this year we’re starting earlier because this year we have Election Day! Where I’m from, we go to the streets and make loud noises with our car horns after the results are official and we know our party won, maybe you’re so excited because you know your candidate is going to win, that you are already prepared with everything to celebrate your triumph the noisiest way, but have you thought about how that noise affects your pet?
Pets don’t understand what is happening, even if you dress them with a patriotic costume. They don’t know this are "happy" noises, they just perceive them as a sign of danger. They get nervous, afraid, and if they feel they’re exposed they will try as hard as they can to look for a hideout, sometimes this means they run away.
What can you do to minimize the effect of loud noises on your pet?
Avoiding Unsightly Algae
October 30, 2006
Excessive organic matter in the pond provides nutrients for algae, contributing to its growth. Algae can obscure the view of colorful fish, and more dangerously, it robs the water of valuable oxygen and releases harmful pollutants.
UV clarifiers also are effective tools that use ultraviolet light to destroy the reproductive ability of suspended algae. Dead, microscopic algae will clump together into particles large enough to be removed by filtration.
Increasing the amount of floating and oxygenating plants in your pond is another simple solution to keeping the water clean, and clear. Floating plants such as water lilies, water lettuce, lotus and water hyacinth provide shade, reducing sunlight in the pond, which helps control algae growth.
Submerged plants, also known as oxygenators, affect the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels of the pond by competing directly with algae for light and food. Oxygenators absorb nutrients from fish waste and minerals through their leaves, helping to starve algae, keeping the water clear. Some examples of oxygenators are Hornwart, Anacharis and Parrot’s Feather.
Writing Help
October 29, 2006
Whether you are working for a small business, large corporation, or are a student, there are numerous sources that you can turn to for help with writing. Businesses need to be able to effectively communicate with their customers, their employees and their potential customers. Effective verbal communication is equally important, but nonverbal communication in the form of copy writing, article writing, press release writing, and more requires a certain level of expertise and experience.
The typical small business wants to focus their efforts on their core business activities without spending too much time on projects that can easily be outsourced to consultants or freelance professionals. Many small businesses turn to freelancers to help them save time and money. For example, a certified public accountant opened his own accounting practice after working in another accounting firm for the last ten years. One of the ways he decided to search for new clients was to embark on an advertising and promotional campaign.
Although some of his previous clients followed him to his new practice, he wanted to increase the number of accounts he currently handled. These accounts included various individuals and small businesses from around the town.
Kids and Pets, Will it Work?
October 29, 2006
How can my child benefit from having a pet?
1.Social skills and self-esteem. Feelings and positive experiences with their pet can help children feel good about their own. Loving a pet can also help kids to love and trust other people.
2.Exercise. All pets need to exercise, and playing with their pet is a fun way to incorporate some physical activity to your kid’s lifestyle.
3.Responsibility and respect. To learn how to take care of their pet can help kids develop empathy, concern and responsibility towards other beings. On top of that, during the life cycle of the pet, parents have the opportunity to talk to their kids about birth, sickness and death.
4.Parent interaction. Kids and their parents can spend more time together playing and taking care of their pet.
How can my child help take care of the pet?
1.A small child can help out by feeding or providing fresh water to their pet (portions must be measured by you).
2.The child can help walking the pet, not alone of course, but just another time to spend together with your kid.
3.Children can help you in bathing and grooming the pet.
