deodato's Blog

Acid Free Storage Boxes for Photography
While there are pundits that think the advent of digital photography has made traditional methods obsolete, the fact is that prints taken from even the best digital sources require the use of archival storage boxes if they are to be preserved in non-digital form. Proper photo storage techniques are even more important when it comes to photographic images produced using traditional methods; light, humidity, temperature and low pH levels can all wreak havoc on traditional photographic prints. By using the right Acid Free Storage Boxes and paying attention to other factors that can damage your prints, you’ll be able to archive your images and preserve them almost indefinitely.

The Basics

A good photo storage box is made from acid-free materials, is water tight, secure and compact. Ideally, such archival storage boxes are also treated with special “buffering agents” that neutralize any acids that may be present in the environment of the photo storage area. Such acid-free storage boxes represent the most effective archival photo storage solution for prints that must be stored for extended periods of time.

In addition to the proper kind of photo prints storage box, you’ll want to place each print in individual clear bags in much the same way as collectors of vintage comic books store their issues – for much the same reason. It is another layer of protection, ensuring that your photographic prints remain dry and contaminant-free.

Protection From The Elements

Once you have securely stored your prints in clear bags and acid free storage boxes, you’ll need to protect them from light and temperature extremes.

The former issue may seem confusing at first, since light is what makes traditional photography possible in the first place. Once printed and mounted however, light can make short work of an image’s quality. This may not be an issue if photo storage boxes are sealed and placed in a dry, cool, dark space, however.

What is more of a threat is temperature. Heat causes materials to expand, while cold causes them to contract; needless to say, this can cause substantial damage to stored photographic prints, particularly if such prints have been mounted. Ideally, your photo storage location is temperature controlled, or remains at a constant temperature. If this is not practical, there are other steps you can take to safeguard your mounted images from temperature-related damage, including the use of photo corners and special mat boards that allow the image to “breathe” and expand without damage to the print itself.

Good Acid Free Storage Boxes are not expensive, but are nonetheless an important investment in the protection of your priceless photographic prints. In addition to clear bags and the right mounting materials (if applicable), use of proper archival storage boxes are vital in the preservation of photographs.

 Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/acid-free-storage-boxes-for-photography-397865.html

Author: Susan Slobac

How to Choose a Cigar?

For the young Cigar Entrepreneur, choosing the right smoke can be the most difficult of matters. One has to know what one is looking for, as well as looking at. There is such a wide variety of high-profile cigars on the market today, that one just about has to have some instruction prior to that first purchase.

First, we will cover the subject of flavor. The layman would assume that all cigars are made from the same tobacco, as well as have the same flavor. The truth is, there is a massive variety of tobacco flavors available, each particular flavor having its own level of intensity. Your own personal favorite could very well be one that everyone else despises. Everyone has a different pallet for a cigar. Regardless, the actual mix of tobacco, the time elapsed since the making of the cigar, the condition it is in (storage, humidor, etc) and what you have drank or ate before or during the smoking of the cigar all have a bearing on the actual taste.

As far as only being one flavor of tobacco initially grown, this also is a fallacy. Tobaccos will attain different flavors depending upon the soil in which that particular plant is grown. In addition, different parts of the actual tobacco plant are utilized to define a particular flavor. All of these factors are blended together by cigar gurus who know what will go well with what to produce an original and excellent cigar.

With all this in mind, we can assume that picking that right cigar is going to be difficult at best. It takes more than just a random pick or a glance. It takes knowledge.

First, always refer to a smoker. If you know someone within your circle that enjoys a good high-quality cigar, ask him or her about what they like. Tell them your favorite flavors of food and fruit. This will give them a good idea as to what will lay best on your pallet. If you don’t know a connoisseur of fine cigars, ask the individual that runs your cigar shop. He/She may not smoke, but you can be certain that they know what cigar smokers come back for over and over.

Once you have chosen a cigar for consideration begin your inspection. Before we go too deeply into this, however, let’s discuss the occasional white powdery substance that you may come across on a cigar. Do not let this turn you away, as this is what is called “Bloom.” Bloom is simply the result of ageing on a cigar and is in no way a bad thing. Actually, it may very well be considered a positive aspect. This enhances the flavor. Mold, on the other hand, should be avoided. If a cigar is kept at extreme levels of humidity, it will form a blue-green tint on the packaging. Avoid it at all costs.

Ask yourself if you would prefer a mild cigar, or a more full-flavored smoke. If you would lean more towards the full-flavor option, then choose a cigar with a larger ring. The ring is the actual diameter of the cigar. The larger the diameter, the more intense, and multiple blends you will experience.

Another way to get a feel for the taste of a cigar is the smell. Take a good whiff of it. If the smell is overwhelming, then it will likely be very strong. Take notice that we use the word “likely” in that reference. This is not always the case. Some smokes smell a level or two more intense than they actually taste.

Next, how long do you want to smoke a cigar? Common sense tells us that the longer the cigar, the longer the smoke-time. However, another way to tell is to gently squeeze the cigar ¾ of the way up. If it seems very tight, it will have a more difficult draw and take longer to smoke. If it is loose, the smoke will proceed at a faster rate.

Moving on, we have the construction of the cigar. Does it appear lumpy or feel loose at spots here and there? If so, you probably do not want it. You see, the creation of a good hand-rolled cigar is actually considered a work of art in some circles. The way a cigar looks is at least 40 % of the selling value. If it does not look good, it is far more difficult to move, commercially speaking.

In choosing the right cigar for you, the one and only true manner is to just shop around. Research reviews online. There are a number of very effective and consistently updated review sites, such as Cigar Inspector. These sites will give you individual reviews by people who have tried the cigar. Then, once you pick out one to try, do not go in with the attitude that if you don’t like this one, you will never try another. Expect to invest a little time in finding your perfect cigar. Even then, when you find that perfect Robusto or Maduro, keep shopping. Variety is truly the spice of life.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/how-to-choose-a-cigar-409094.html

Author: Denis K.

Getting the Right Golf Club Irons

Golf is a great way to get outside for a few hours a day and if you walk the course and carry your bag it is a great way to get some exercise as well. Before you can get out on the course you need to be sure you get the right equipment and one of the most important sets you will buy is your golf club irons.

There are many things to look for when buying golf club irons and it is always a good idea to buy your first set of golf club irons from a store that has a knowledgeable sales representative available. You may even want to consider buying your first set of golf club irons from a PGA certified professional at a pro shop at your local golf course. PGA stands for the Professional Golfer's Association and a certified PGA professional will know exactly how to fit you with your first set of golf club irons and then give you the things you need to know to buy your own golf club irons in the future.

There are two approaches to buying golf club irons. You can buy a complete set or you can buy each club one at a time. The advantage to buying the complete set is that you pay a lot less money for them. The disadvantage is that even though you may like the way a couple of the golf clubs feel the complete set may not be as comfortable for you and you may not get all the clubs you really want.

The advantage to buying clubs one at a time is you get only the clubs you need and you know that every individual club has the right feel for you. The disadvantage is that you will wind up paying a lot more for individual clubs than you would for a set. So figure out if your wallet is more important to you or if you need the best results and then set out to buy your golf club irons.

Knowing the Proper Stance

It is a good idea to take some lessons before buying your first real set of golf club irons. A teacher will show you the proper golf stance and then teach you where the golf club irons fit in that stance. If you don't understand this up front then you could end up purchasing clubs that do not fit into your game and you could find yourself not enjoying the game of golf very much. So take some lessons and make sure you pay attention to the way your teacher tells you to fit the golf club irons into your stance and you will get the maximum results.

After all of that the main thing about buying any golf club is comfort. Make sure the place you are buying your clubs from allows you to swing them to see if they are comfortable or not. Nothing is more important to a golf swing than comfortable clubs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/getting-the-right-golf-club-irons-434413.html

Author: Dominic Ferrara

Collect Old Barbie Dolls--a Hobby and Investment

Barbie will be fifty years old in 2009. I wish we all looked that good after half a century! Ah well she has had lots of plastic surgery over the years.

The first Barbie was made by Mattel in 1959 and since then millions have been sold all over the world. Her official birthday is March 9th 1959 when she was exhibited at the New York Toy Fair. She was dressed in a black and white zebra striped one piece swim suit,open toe high heeled shoes,hoop earrings and white sunglasses with blue lenses. She has blonde or brunette hair in a ponytail at the back. She has white irises and very arched eyebrows. The plastic had a tendency to fade and is usually white now. She has holes in her feet for mounting on a pedestal and copper tubing in the legs. She is marked JAPAN on the bottom of her right foot. On the back she is marked Barbie TM Pats. Pend. Copyright MCMVIII. Find one of these in good shape and you have a collectors dream which they will pay quite a bit of money for. The exact value depends very much on condition and completeness. Damage or missing parts will downgrade your doll severely. She is known as the #1 Ponytail Barbie.

The #2 Ponytail Barbie is identical to #1 with the exception that there are no holes in her feet and no copper tubing. The pedestal is made with extensions to hold her up. She is marked the same as #1.

The #3 Ponytail Barbie is identical to #2 except for blue irises and different eyebrows. This Barbie has either blue or brown eyeliner.

The #4 Ponytail Barbie is made from a type of plastic which does not fade and retains its original flesh color. She is made up with blue eyeliner.

The #5 Ponytail Barbie has a hollow plastic body rather than the solid body of earlier editions. The markings are similar but she is now marked R Pats. Pend. rather than TM Pats. Pend. A new hair color known as titian was introduced and dolls with this color hair are scarce and more valuable than the blonde or brunette. There was a problem with the plastic in some of these dolls which gives them a greasy appearance. If you find one with the original matte face it is more valuable than a "greasy" faced doll.

The #6 Ponytail Barbie has a different vinyl which does not become greasy with time. Her fingernails and lips are a pinkish red instead of the earlier bright red. She is dressed in a red swimsuit and red open toed shoes.

The #7 Barbie was made in several hair colors including ash blonde,lemon blonde,titian and brunette. Her nails and lips are orange red (coral). This changeover took place in the 1962-1963 period and the mark was changed to Midge TM copyright 1962/Barbie copyright 1958 by Mattel. The dolls with this new mark are referred to as the #7 Barbie usually,but some still call them #6. Dolls produced in 1962 before the changeover are scarce and more valuable than the new edition.

In valuing collectible Barbie dolls condition is the all important factor. A doll which is complete,not damaged and clean will fetch a premium price. If the doll is mint in the original packaging it is extremely desirable to collectors and will be priced accordingly. Dolls which have been restored or repainted are worth less than if left in the original faded condition.

Where can you buy old collectible Barbie dolls? Well just about anywhere if you know what to look for. Most people are totally unaware of what an old Barbie doll looks like or that it could be worth quite a bit of money. You can find them occasionally by searching garage sales,flea markets, and thrift or second hand stores. Take your magnifying glass along when you go treasure hunting so that you can read the markings on the dolls. Good luck.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/collect-old-barbie-dollsa-hobby-and-investment-453462.html

The Usage of Marine GPS

For some time now, there have been a number of satellites orbiting the earth at a distance of 12,000 miles. They are constantly on the move and orbit our planet every 24 hours. Why do we care? What do they have to do with our every day life? They are known as the GPS satellite network and they are becoming more and more a part of our daily lives. Originally created by the Unites States Department of Defense, this satellite network is still, to this day, overseen by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. In March of this year, 2008, the number of satellites were increased from 24 to 38. They have solar panels that are attached to their bodies which power them to travel at 7,000 mph and to help them to stay on course; they use small booster rockets which keep them on the correct orbit and they each orbit the earth in less than 24 hours.

If you are in the market for a GPS, there are three common types available and they are termed navigation, tracking and location. Navigation enables you to literally navigate anywhere, whether you are in the car or on the sea. We have President Ronald Reagan to thank for the GPS because he was responsible in 1983 for allowing the public to access this incredibly valuable satellite network.

It is based upon a simple premise. The GPS sends out a signal and this is intercepted by up to four or more satellites, which then return the signal, pinpointing your exact location. One of the most appreciated uses of the GPS is on the seas. Again, there are choices available, one of the most popular being specific to the waters traveled. Chartplotters and Bluechart g2 have maps of the ocean beds, mostly US based, but which include Alaska and Hawaii.

The GPS is particularly useful for the fisherman because of its ability to map the ocean floors which can change with each storm. The GPS unit will show the difference in depth which is helpful for keeping track of the movements of fish. The best fishermen are watching for the feeding grounds of the shoals of fish, which the waterproof GPS unit will enable you to do. By knowing the various depths of the ocean or lake, the fisherman is able to predict the movement of the fish, remembering that when the weather is cool the fish like to go deep. In the warmer weather, they stay closer to the surface.

One interesting and little known fact relates to the well known science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, author of such famous titles as 'Childhood's End' and The City and the Stars'. He is probably best known for his work with Stanley Kubrick on "2001, A Space Odyssey". He was born in Somerset, England, now lives in Sri Lanka and is generally considered to be the man who first came up with the idea of the communications satellite, which we now know as the GPS.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/the-usage-of-marine-gps-474682.html

Author: Tiraton Athiwat