All About Hobbies

All Related Topics & Review To Hobby

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Climbing And Fear

Climbing is no different from any other activity to the extent that fear can be a huge barrier or, if used properly, a significant ledge upon which we can launch our favorite outdoor activity.

Fear can play a significant part in our everyday lives. Fear on the job, as a spouse or parent, or even driving can hold us back and prevent us from achieving our goals. Likewise, fear of climbing and everything it brings with it, can hold us back.

Just as preparation and training of your body is essential to be a safe and successful climber, so to must you prepare your mind. Strength and balance are good and useful, but even more important is an accurate understanding of the challenges and dangers. Only then will you be able to deal with them. Like life itself, if we know and understand our fears we are then able to overcome them and go on to greater heights and challenges.

How do you deal with the fear? While the sport does involve equipment and support from fellow climbers, it still is just one person at a time in contact with the rock. And, unless you can deal with and understand that, you are setting yourself up for great disappointment.

Understand that with rock climbing you must get into your subconscious fears that lie deep within us all. If you do that and work through the inner issues in your mind, you're set to enjoy this wonderful, inspiring sport.

Business experts have shown that fear of failure can be a great motivator to achieve heights that many never imagined possible. Understanding your fears, whether in rock climbing or business or relationships, can push you to greater and greater heights.

Now, go climb that rock!

By: Yvonne Volante

Flying As A Hobby

Ask a room full of people what hobby they have and you will get as many answers as there are people. Others will confess that they don’t have a hobby. They probably do; but just don’t label it as such. By definition, a hobby is an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

Whether flying, stamp collecting, chat rooms, trains, softball,scrapbooking, golf, reading, painting, tap dancing, yard work, crafts, auto mechanics, music, hunting down garage sales, sewing, fishing, cooking, boating, furniture refinishing, javelin tossing or a plethora of other activities or interests the key element is balance. You must find balance between your family life and your extracurricular activities.

Too much of a good thing turns bad. Everyone should havean outlet and a special interest that they enjoy doing for themselves. Self indulgence, to a point, is quite healthy. Escaping from day to day grinds to take some time to devoteto your flying hobby or concentration is therapeutic. You’ve all heard, "if Mamma ain’t happy, no one’s happy." It doesn’t matter if your role is father, mother, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, son, daughter, brother or sister, if you’re just going to work or school and have noreal outside activities, you’re probably not always the most friendly person to be around.

Conversely, if you bury yourself and it seems to others that all you care about or all you ever want to do is fly all day (or hang around the airport), you’re setting yourself up or prolonging discontent. People deal with depression in many ways. Some sleep all the time. Others want to do nothing but read,read, read. Still others will spend hours upon hours downstairs building a bigger, faster widget, just to avoid the real cause of their frustrations. Hobbies are supposed to be a healthy outlet, not a catalyst to ignore issues that need addressing.

Likewise, hobbies can get very expensive. Sure, flying, snow mobiles, motorcycles and ski equipment are obviously expensive. But sometimes those seemingly low cost activities can add up. You start out with trying to budget for the weekly flying lessons. Then you need (or want) the unnecessary (but fun) goodies that we all "need" to pursue our passion. "Let’s see, do we pay the mortgage this month, or get that (fill in the blank) that you just have to have?"

If your flying hobby is doing more harm than good, if it’s dipping into the family budget and time allocation, more than you can or should be spending, it’s time to reevaluate. Not stop the flying, mind you, just make sure it's appropriate for you and your family and its lifestyle.

By: Yvonne Volante

Monday, November 10, 2008

Teddy Bear - Do You Know Who It Was Named After?

When one thinks about stuffed animals and plush toys today one almost always thinks of the iconic teddy bear. However, the teddy bear is actually a fairly recent arrival. The first of them came in 1902 when a store owner in Brooklyn, New York saw a political cartoon called 'Drawing the Line in Mississippi'. This cartoon showed then president Theodore Roosevelt, who was also known as 'Teddy', refusing to shoot a cornered bear during an actual hunting trip. Roosevelt stated that it would not be very sportsmanlike of him to do so.
The bear had appeared in a past series of cartoons as cute, cuddly and small. The store owner, Morris Michtom, used this image to inspire the creation of stuffed bears marketed as toys for children. The store was already equipped to produce the toys as his wife had been produced stuffed bears for some time so Morris was able to begin producing stuffed bears in the image of the President immediately.
Michtom sent President Roosevelt a sample bear, along with a request for permission to use the President's nickname as part of the toy's name. President Roosevelt agreed, and the toy bear began its journey into the public consciousness. These stuffed bears proved very popular from the beginning. Mr. Michtom posted a 'Teddy's Bear' sign in his store window, and the name 'Teddy Bear' soon became synonymous with these stuffed animals.
Soon many other stores began selling the toy bear. Media and documents of the time reference these stuffed animals. Books, newspapers, and music of the time talk about teddy bears through out the United States and Europe. Teddy bears soon became popular collector's items. Collector's of toys, vintage dolls, and antique dolls often also have plush bears among their collection.
There are some toy bears that have quite a bit of value. An example of this is a toy bear made partly from gold, which was produced by the original maker in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the toy and it is selling for $84,000. The company that first marketed the teddy bear, which is the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., is Michtom's company and is still in business today.
The hobby of toy bear collecting should not cost you thousands of dollars. There are many ways to find reasonably priced and sometimes great bargains for vintage bears at garage sales, flea markets, online auctions and special collector's venues. In addition to its status as a collectible vintage bear, this toy that bears the name of a popular president, will make a warm and cuddly companion for a young child.

By: Daniel Wright

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Rc Planes Trains And Automobiles

While RC trains, RC cars, RC airplanes, and RC boats are all incredibly popular hobbyist pastimes, truly the most incredible of all RC options are RC helicopters. When it comes to the RC helicopter there is no surpassing the thrill of flying the device, and while other RC toys and hobbyist devices have there own benefits, the RC helicopter is truly a distinct and original pastime. Simply assembling an RC helicopter is a challenge, that once achieved, delivers to the RC helicopter hobbyist a serious and intense sense of accomplishment!

RC airplanes, electric boats, and RC cars, like the RC helicopters presently sold usually require assembly. There are some items which come fresh out of the box and are ready for use, but the hobbyist misses out on the fun to be had putting the item together him or her self. There is just something very special about sitting down and taking the time to assemble an RC toy that makes the entire pastime more enjoyable.

When comparing RC trains, RC cars, RC boats, and RC airplanes to the RC helicopter, the helicopter wins hands down! Take RC trains for example, which are great fun if you want to watch a train go around and around on a single track over an over again. For RC helicopter enthusiasts, this action can be somewhat monotonous, and the RC helicopter, once mastered, can be flown out in the open air! There is no routine flight when it comes to the RC helicopter. In terms of RC boats, which are ideal for people within close proximity to fairly large bodies of water, but what about the RC hobbyist hopefuls that has no water access nearby? Again, RC helicopters, not requiring water, can be operated out in an open field or a wide open space outdoors.

When RC helicopters are compared to RC cars and RC planes, many hobbyists prefer the unique challenges that RC helicopters deliver. Challenges are encountered in every phase, including the assembling phase as well as the flight testing phases. When such challenges are conquered, the sense of accomplishment that the RC helicopter operator gets is unparalleled.

There are in fact, RC helicopter modelling clubs that RC helicopter operators and hopefuls can join to learn everything there is to know about how to fly RC toys properly. Being part of a club gives the RC helicopter owner a chance to share his or her experiences with others as well as to learn the art of flying and control from qualified mentors. In addition to clubs, there are actually professional RC helicopter instructors that will help an RC helicopter user to learn how to make the helicopter hover, how to control the remote control sticks, how to get the helicopter to take off and land successfully without crashing, and how to master the basic steps of helicopter flying.

Later on down the road, as one progresses and advances in his or her flying practices, the helicopter operator will advance and improve his or her flying techniques. It is possible to become skilled enough to do special in flight tricks like figure eights, proper climbing and descending, semi stall turns, large circles, vertical top hats, nose in hovers, as well as nose-in take offs and landings. While every RC toy has its own set of tricks to master and the performance of tricks is certainly fun, it is clear that RC helicopters pose a significant challenge to its operators. This challenge is what makes the practice of RC helicopter operation so attractive and appealing to the avid RC hobbyist

By: William Williams
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Get information and compare pricing on all the latest RC toys at ElectricBoats.com

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Digital Photography Class - Cracking the Photography Code

by: Connie Fillmore

Don't roll up your eyes and groan at the mere mention of "class". Not all classes are as bad as those in your school and college were. In fact, a digital photography class promises bounties of fun and it is guaranteed that it will be one class of your lifetime, which you would not want to skip at any cost.

The soaring popularity of digital photography has seen digital photography schools springing up in almost every nook and cranny of your locality. So, which one to enroll to ensure your money's worth?

Any good digital photography school worth it's salt will offer intensive training and impart comprehensive knowledge in almost all the aspects of digital photography. And this also includes enlightening you on the internal mechanism of a digital camera. You can expect there will be no shortcuts either.

Your digital photography class will start out with an introductory session that will give you an overview of the camera setup and what digital photography is all about. You will be trained on the functions and settings of your camera so that after the completion of the course you will know your camera like the palm of your hand and will be better able to appreciate the scope of digital photography.

Being well versed in the parts and workings of a digital camera ensures that when you go to buy one for yourself, you can make the right choice.

Digital photography classes, as a principle, concentrate on teaching you the manual mode of photography. This is because the hallmark of a great photographer is definitely his skills in wielding control over how his photographs turn out. And wielding control entails that you do not let the camera decide when the flash should be used or being spot on with the focus and exposure settings without the intervention of the camera's in-built scene modes.

There are many digital photography classes that arrange field trips for its students. And you will surely agree that a hands-on experience in outdoor shooting is actually far more beneficial than a theory class. Besides, a few bouts of outdoor filming will also ensure that your lighting issues are sorted out. Thus, the nitty-gritty of lighting like using filters to tone down the tints of a photo taken in the harsh midday sun or the details of night photography are best appreciated when tried first hand.

A stint at a digital photography class will hone your photographic skills manifold times with in-depth training in composition and blending the rules of traditional photography with the digital photography mode. The fine points of filming in different settings and churning out optimum results should also be a part of the curriculum.

Digital photography classes are particular about details. Therefore, you will not be stopping at filming lessons only. You will be taken through the editing and processing of digital photographs too. You will be taught the ways and means of accessing the images stored in the camera's memory cards and the PC editing tweaks that will transform even the drabbest image into an enchanting piece of art. Besides, you will also be educated on how to compress the digital image files and have them uploaded on the Net.

There are hundred and one things that you can do with your digital images. Printing is definitely one of them. And you can be sure that your digital photography class instructor will teach you the fundamentals of getting digital prints.

A digital photography class is an excellent way of acquainting yourself with the 'ins' and 'outs' of digital photography. Attend one and flaunt your skills with the lens and the shutter.

Stained Glass Effect Christmas Paper Lantern

by: S. Roberts

Make a beautiful stained glass effect Christmas Lantern, a beautiful Christmas decoration for any room. Made from a paper lampshade which will fit and ceiling light. When the light is switched on you see the full effect of the stained glass effect.

To make the stained glass effect paper lantern you will need...

A ball shaped paper lamp shade/lantern in any size you wish. Felt tip pens, black paint.

You need to create a design for the lantern. Draw the design on a sheet of paper. You could draw the nativity scene, a Christmas tree, Santa Claus or maybe 'Merry Christmas'. The design needs to be simple and bold.

Once you are happy with the design you can start work on the lantern itself. First you will need to erect the paper lantern. It should have assembly instructions with it. Unfold the lantern and insert a wire expander inside the lantern, this slots into place and keeps the lantern erect and taught.

Take a black felt tip pen or a marker and draw the design on to the paper lantern. Be careful when you are doing this because the lantern is made of paper and the wet ink makes the paper fragile. If your pen does accidentally 'go through' stick a small piece of paper on the hole to patch it up and leave it to dry.

Once your design is complete, paint the background of the lantern black. This is so that the lantern blocks out some of the light. Again you need to take care not to puncture the paper. Use two brushes to paint the lantern, a thin brush for small and detailed areas, and a thick brush for large areas.

Top Tip - Paint from the top of the lantern to half way down, and leave to dry. Then turn upside down and paint the other half. Use a dish to stand the lantern on, it stops it from moving and raises it up from the work surface.

For best results, give the lantern two coats of black paint. Once the paintwork is dry, you're ready to apply the stained glass effect. With coloured felt tip pens, colour in the white areas of your design on the paper lantern. Again take care.

Now hang the lantern up from a ceiling light in your home. Every time the light is turned on your delightful design will glow like a stained glass window in a church on a sunny day. The lantern is a fun and unusual Christmas decoration.

Do not use a higher wattage bulb in the lantern than indicated with the lantern instructions and packaging.

Tips On Buying Keyboards and Digital Pianos

by: Mantius Cazaubon

There are so many keyboards and digital pianos on the market today. How does one make a selection? Here are a few tips to help you choose one that meets your needs.
1. How much can you afford?

With such a wealth of keyboards available, a working person shouldn't have a problem finding one that fits their budget. Low priced keyboards are all over. But this doesn't mean that you should settle for anything. As the old adage goes, you usually get what you pay for. Usually the more money you invest, the greater the returns.

2. Do you need weighted action or synth action.

Weighted action means that the keyboard comes with heavy (weighted) keys and feels like an acoustic piano. You need some muscle to play such keyboards. If you're a trained pianist or you want to develop your piano skills a weighted keyboard would be better suited.
Synth action would mean lighter keys. You can usually play faster and easier with a synth action keyboard. Are you gonna be playing synthy and techno stuff? Then synth action is what you need.

3. How many keys do you need?

You have a choice between 88, 76, 61, 49, 37, 25 keys, and even less. Your choice should be based on your needs and circumstances. For instance, players doing stuff that requires a small range, like samples, only need a few keys. 76 keys are usually best for quality synth action. But if you're into stuff like sound development you can't afford to work with anything short of 88 keys.

4. Do you need an onboard sequencer?

You need to avoid duplication. If you're already sequencing on your computer you don't want to pay for a keyboard that comes with a sequencer. You may never use it. An onboard sequencer is more important when you're working without a computer.

5. Consider whether you need a workstation.

Workstations perform so many functions. These include everything from sequencing, to sampling, to effects, and mixing. Again you should avoid duplication. If you're already doing all that on your computer, you probably don't need to pay extra for a workstation. Don't buy features that you already have. But a workstation is an incredible and necessary tool when a computer is not in the mix.

6. Importance of velocity and aftertouch features.

Ensure that your keyboard comes with velocity and aftertouch features. Velocity refers to how the sound responds to the amount of pressure applied to the keys (how quickly keys are pushed down). While aftertouch deals with the control data that is generated by pressing down the keys after they have reached and are resting on the keybed.

7. Will you be gigging or not.

If you'll be carrying your keyboard from gig to gig, durability should be an important consideration. What material is used? A hard case should come in handy for protection. The weight of your keyboard is also part of the picture; unless you don't mind the hassles of carrying a heavy keyboard or digital piano from one gig to another.

You should be able to find a keyboard easily online. You can order one that suits your needs today. Some of the best music keyboard and digital piano prices can be found on the Internet. You even get free shipping to your door.