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Coloring Pages for Children

Try to imagine a universe without any color. It is an absolutely impossible task, isna t it How can anything that has mass and weight ever be seen as a mere outline Even if there arena t too many hues around, the basic shades of black and white just must exist, and these two are, after all, colors, arena t they Without their minimal existence, our entire world will go topsy-turvy, for otherwise, how will we be able to tell one object from another, or gauge the other aspects that characterize it, such as weight, texture, even the material from which it is formed, etc Unthinkable
Now, since we understand the immense need of color in our lives, and appreciate it to the fullest, it would be quite a necessary thing to teach our kids, too, wouldna t it They need to know what each color is called, and need to understand various related concepts such as shades of a color, primary and secondary colors of both, light and pigments, etc. Knowing about colors is, after all, not just a fun means of learning for the child, but a kind of education in itself.
In order to teach your kids how to differentiate between colors and understand the role and mechanism of light in their existence, you must choose a simple, yet fun-filled method, which can capture their attention and enthusiasm and extract interest from them. There is one really entertaining, infallible method a coloring pages for children.
Coloring pages are an extremely enjoyable activity for kids, especially since they are very highly perceptive to color at their tender age, and would love to experiment on the topic, going further than they have been taught. It is important to encourage this interest, for it will help them to become a lot more creative and inquisitive, and learn better.
Apart from this, coloring pages will help develop their physical and psychological attributes, such as finger dexterity, eye-hand coordination, concentration and determination to complete a given task. All these things are integral parts of the childa s development, and you will notice that children who have been using coloring pages from an early age not only tend to be more artistic and creative, but are also a lot sharper and discerning than others; they grasp ideas and concepts rapidly.
Coloring pages are, obviously, a wonderful and constructive activity to keep your kids busy with, and to give you a chance to be slightly at ease and relax for some time, rather than chasing them around the house in harried frenzy. They also provide you with a chance to bond well with your kid, and give them something to look forward to everyday. The can learn so much through various kinds of coloring pages a whether they are based on fact or fantasy, for both are a source to learn from; basic universal particulars from fact, and morals and values from fantasy. And learning is not the only thing, either. Kids who use coloring pages frequently are more efficient at applying learnt knowledge in real-life situations.
Apart from this, though, using coloring pages will nurture a sense of affection for colors in the childa s heart, and enable him or her to view the beauty and sheer variety of hues present around us, especially the natural world, with great amount of interest and adoration. Learning to appreciate the beauty of Nature is very important for everyone, in the present age.
The use of coloring pages is the first basic step towards the development of your child into an enlightened, sharp and very highly creative person, who has the ability to think independently and wander into directions unknown and unimaginable. They are the preliminary stage of the complete overall progress of the kid into a revolutionarily advanced and liberal individual.

About the Author

Nancy Walters is a freelancing writer, she is passionate about writing. One of the many topics hes fascinated about is "Children Activities". One of his many works includes writing for website http://www.free-coloringpages.net

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Making Bead Jewelry for Senior Citizens

With America's aging population a lot of towns have not one but many retirement and adult communities in them. Many of these retirement communities hold craft shows, yard sales and other events to promote social activities while generating a little extra money from the surrounding township.

If you are a bead jeweler or jewelry artisan of any sort then you should definitely check out some of these retirement communities to see if you can be a vendor at their next craft show. Not only is their table space often dirt cheap or even free, but you are given the chance to promote your jewelry to a large audience of people who may not otherwise venture out to see you at any other storefront or fair.

However, if you are going to make and sell jewelry for older women, especially senior citizens, then you may need to make some physical changes to your jewelry to make sure it suits them and their needs. Here are a few ways you can modify your bead jewelry to appeal more for your older clients:

Use Easy To Open Clasps: You'll quickly learn that arthritis and reduced hand dexterity makes opening and closing typical small clasps difficult for older people. Some senior citizens avoid wearing jewelry altogether because it is simply too difficult to put on and take off. You'll want to use easy to open larger clasps on your necklaces and bracelets. You may want to consider using magnetic clasps of some sort. These are not as secure as more traditional clasps but they can be opened and closed much more easily by older people.

Consider No Clasps: You may want to skip the entire clasp issue entirely by making over sized necklaces and bracelets that can easily slip over the head and wrist. You will want to bring your jewelry tools with you so that you can shorten pieces for customers right at your table if your bracelets are simply too large for thinner wrists.

Choose Textures Carefully: You may want to try to choose non-allergenic materials and stick with beads that are more rounded than chunky and sharp. A bracelet of sharp square Swarovski beads may look great, but if the rubbing of the bracelet against the wrist all day is going to cause a skin irritation then someone may not want to buy it.

Clip Earrings: Some older people move away from using pierced earrings for the same reason they shun small tight jewelry clasps: earrings are simply too small and difficult to wear and remove. Consider making to clip on earrings that are slightly larger than the norm but don't dangle too much. You may need to test out several clip on kits until you can find one that you think most older people will want to use.

Eyeglass Holders and Bookmarks: Sure, beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings will still sell, but consider making more non-traditional jewelry items such as jewelry chain bookmarks or beaded eyeglass holders. You'll be amazed at how popular they can be!

Selling jewelry to older people is usually a lot of fun and can be a very rewarding experience. You'll learn a lot about life just by talking and watching your older customers. If you really want to please them then you'll definitely want to take their needs into consideration and offer them something unique and made especially for them.

About the Author

Visit the Bead Jewelry Blog to get more bead jewelry ideas, news, trends, tutorials and bead jewelry business advice.

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Creative Ideas for Winning Sewing Projects

Sewing is an excellent hobby to start, because somebody who has the skill to sew can not only create small repairs on their clothing, but can also create a large number of useful things even with just a little practice. Whether you're attempting dress making or simply replacing a lost button, the same type of basic skills are utilized.

With just a small amount of free time, anybody can create and plan some excellent sewing projects that help to make your surroundings just a bit more beautiful or to make your life just a little more easier. If you are having some trouble brainstorming, here are some simple ideas that may assist in getting your creative juices flowing.

Sturdy Tote Bags

If you have ever watched a public television fund raiser, you might have noticed tote bags being offered as some sort of incentive to reach a specific level of donation from the viewers. A sturdy bag is an excellent item to own, regardless of whether an individual uses it to carry library books to your house or a carry vacation items to the beach. But why end up settling for just a bag that does not reflect your own sense of style?

A tote bag is a pretty simple sewing project that does not require a lot of money for the basic materials. Just a little amount of fabric that you have left over from other projects will work fine for a project like a tote bag, or if you wish to make one that's child's sized for your daughter or son, an old pair of jeans supplies plenty of strong fabric to work with. If you end up doing the sewing for the bag, you are in control of the style and color of your bag, and that's one advantage that no telephone incentive can give you.

Home Decorating

Given the number of television shows out there that are devoted to home decorating and home remodeling, making your surroundings more comfortable is a popular hobby. And when someone mentions home-improvement it often brings a pictures in your mind of Interior designers and contractors, you can do some excellent things by picking up a thread and needle instead of a hammer and nails.

Some of these types of sewing projects, for instance drapes, can be as basic as punching grommets in cloth and creating some decorative hems. You can make brightly colored pillows that will match whatever your decorating scheme might be, even if your local stores do not seem to have anything that will match. Better yet, taking on one of these types of sewing projects gives you a certain sense of pride that any do-it-yourselfer should have.

A Project for Fun

Sewing can assist you in doing things that are useful, and some sewing projects also end up making great gifts for younger family members. With simply a little knowledge and just a little practice, you can create stuffed toys for your kids.

What ends up making the sewing projects so wonderful is that they add a special personal touch to any gift you give to someone, a toy that's got a more traditional type of look to it while still being fun to play with. A well-crafted stuffed animal or doll can be the type of toy that a small child remembers for many years to come, how many people can actually remember one of their old stuff toys?

Just as with other types on projects listed above, the advantage to putting your sewing skills to good use for personal types of projects is the control you have over the way that the smaller things in your life look.

Whether you choose to learn how to complete one of these type of sewing project ideas or utilize this as a starting point for your own brainstorming, sewing is a great hobby that can bring added enjoyment to your life, even after your thread and needle has been put away.

About the Author

Listen to Corbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of fine apparel. If you would like to learn more go to Sewing and Trimming advice and at Kenmore Sewing Machine tips.

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Three Great Ways to Promote Your Bead Jewelry Business

Part of the amazing charm about bead jewelry is just how easy it can be for someone to sit down and learn the basic skills of jewelry making in a matter of a few hours. As any bead jeweler will tell you, creating jewelry is one of those skills that only takes a few minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master!

While it's fun to sit around with some friends at a bead shop and all work on jewelry together there is a grim reality: if you're all making jewelry to sell then there's going to be a little competition between you and your friends for customers. In fact, bead jewelry has become so popular in recent years among just about everyone that I've heard some bead jewelry artists actually say they were quitting because there were too many people making jewelry and it was simply too difficult to sell anymore.

And while making jewelry pieces is fun and even easy at times, actually selling the pieces and building a business with clients and customers can be rather difficult, especially if you've never been a salesperson or run a business before.

Here are three ways you can promote your bead jewelry business without coming on too pushy or spending a lot of money on advertising.

Referral Bonus: On all your business cards you simply write the line "Receive $10 credit on any of my jewelry for every customer you refer!" How does this work? Let's say I sold a beautiful glass bead necklace to my child's daycare teacher. A week later the teacher's sister contacts you and has you create a similar necklace for her. You go back to the daycare teacher and say that she now has a $10 credit to use at any time for any other piece of jewelry she wants to purchase from you. Once people get the idea this really catches on! People will be going out of their way to have their friends buy jewelry from you so that they get a credit.

Donate to a Charity Gift Auction: A lot of nonprofit groups, charities, schools and churches have gift auctions where they accept gifts from local vendors and then auction those gifts off to the higher bidder, keeping the money made at the auction. You can donate a collection of bead jewelry like a matching necklace, bracelet and earrings and prominently display your business card in front of your jewelry. For the whole evening people will be looking over gifts and seeing your jewelry and business card. If you can put a stack of business cards in front, do so. You might be surprised how many people contact you after the event and tell you that they didn't win the auction but would love to see what else you have.

Mix Web Sales with Table Sales: Don't try to sell all your bead jewelry at one venue or the other. The people who are really running success bead jewelry businesses are hustling and cross promoting themselves all the time. List your website on the business cards that you give out at craft shows (even if they don't buy anything!) and mention the craft shows you'll be attending on your website!

There you go, three low-pressure way to increase your customer base and get your bead jewelry in front of more people. These things might not generate lots of sales right away, but if you stick with it you'll be amazed at how your bead jewelry business keeps growing and multiplying!

About the Author

Visit the Bead Jewelry Blog to get more bead jewelry ideas, news, trends, tutorials and beading business advice.

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Five Interesting Facts About the Lottery

There is a lot of information out there about lotteries. Here are some interesting things you may not know about the lottery.

1. Lotteries Are Nothing New

Lotteries did not just begin in the last few decades. In fact, lotteries have been around since before the Great Wall of China was built. Ancient lotteries were, as far as historians can tell, similar to the modern game of keno. Unlike keno, however, they were used as lottery games were used today - to raise money in order to improve society, fund programs, build buildings, etc. It is even said by many that the Great Wall itself was built from proceeds provided by ancient lotteries.

2. There is no National Lottery in the US

Lotteries in the United States are run by each respective state. There is no national lottery. This is mostly because each state has its own gaming laws, and creating one lottery which complies with all of these various laws would be impossible. This is also why there are 8 states which do not have lotteries. While it is nearly impossible to unite all state lotteries, there are many lotteries whose gambling laws are the same or close to the same who are uniting to organize multi-state lotteries. These multi-state lotteries, like Powerball and Mega Millions, allow residents to win much bigger prizes than individual state lotteries can offer.

3. You Can't Influence the Lottery

Despite all of the strategies and systems which claim to help you win the lottery more often, there is no way to influence the lottery itself. Lotteries do, in fact, rely on the laws of chance. Strategies and systems can certainly help you to play the lottery more intelligently, and can definitely make playing the lottery more fun, but they cannot ensure winning. The only way to guarantee that you will win the jackpot, or even to guarantee that you will win at all. Is to buy a ticket for every possible combination of numbers.

4. Euromillions Involves the Most Countries

Euromillions, which was launched in February of 2004, is a multi-country lottery game. It is comparable to the multi-state lottery games like Powerball and Mega Millions. Just like these huge multi-state games, Euromillions has higher payouts than regular lottery games that rise rapidly. Euromillions also has a roll-over jackpot each time the jackpot is not won. There are 9 countries that participate in this one of a kind multi-country game: Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Because there are so many countries involved and so many players, the jackpots often reach up to 50 million pounds.

5. New Hampshire was the Nation's First Lottery

You might think that the Nation's first lottery began in the casino state of Nevada, or the always ahead of their time California - but you'd be wrong. The first lottery in the United states was in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire lottery began in 1964. On March 10, 1964, it was approved by 198 of the 211 voters, becoming the first modern US lottery. Since its inception in 1964, more than $930 millions has gone to aid education.

Buying Lottery Tickets

If you want to buy these or any other lottery tickets, simply log onto your official state website. These sites explain how to purchase tickets, and often times tickets can be purchased online so you can play most state lotteries from the comfort of your own home. You can also refer to official state websites for custom lottery news. Many sites offer lottery number generators to help make your lottery number picking easier for you. If you would like to purchase your tickets in person, you can also visit a local lottery terminal. No matter how you choose to purchase your tickets, or which tickets you choose to buy, you're bound to have some fun!

About the Author

Anthony Wayne works in the marketing department of online lottery site LuckyLotto in Pennsylvania. He is also editor of the Internet Bingo Blog a great source of internet bingo information.

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Is Knife Collecting A Smart Investment

Knives have forever been an important part of society; although they may be less relied upon today, they are still widely used in a variety of situations, including medicine. The symbolic nature of a knife is very appealing to many people, as the object represents survival and self-sufficiency. Therefore, knife collectors have been popping up at a steady rate. Like superior gun collections, eminent knife collections have a wide assortment of different types of knives, all of which should be high-quality and gleaming.

No two knives are alike (except identical pieces, of course), which is why it is important to collectors to have so many separate kinds. Every knife is unique, possessing differentiating features and characteristics that give it its own identity. Certain knives have special features, such as having other tools on them (Swiss Army knives are most notorious for this). In addition to features, the craftsmanship and materials used to make a knife contribute to its value.

Some knife collectors enjoy their hobby simply because they want to personally own a multitude of knives. Other collectors have a practical use in mind for each piece they buy. For example, a hiker or camper would want knives that can assist them in the wilderness. Collectors do not have to fall perfectly in to one category or the other. In fact, most have purposeful knives and others just for show.

When purchasing a knife, you must match the knife's abilities to your needs. You do not want to get something too big or too small, and the knife must have feature available to assist you in your activities. Few people hunt with knives anymore, but many hikers are faced with excessive foliage and bushes. In this case, a large knife would be needed to cut away as much matter as possible.

For the extravagant collector, exotic knives are an ideal fit. Knives made of precious metals, such as platinum, gold, or silver, are very expensive but the highest quality in the world. They are also exceptionally sharp, thus are useful in slicing anything that needs to be cut. Since the majority of collectors cannot afford pure gold knives, many are a combination of different metals. Mixed knives combine the exquisiteness of a precious metal with the cost effectiveness of a cheaper substitute.

Flea markets and other shops are great places to find huge selections of knives. Buying one in person also allows you to inspect the knife for quality, and see first hand whether it is right for you. Those most interested in saving money can turn to the Internet, which always has cheaper prices than brick and mortar businesses.

Although you cannot physically handle knives from the catalog, a plethora of information is available on the website. Before making a purchase decision, it is best to read reviews from other customers to see what they thought of a product. Having multiple opinions and testimonials makes your own choices a lot easier.

Like most assets, knives require upkeep to remain in top condition. Whenever you use a knife, wipe it down with a cloth to remove dirt and fingerprints. Keeping your knives dry is critical in preventing them from rusting. Invest in knife polish, and occasionally set aside some time to clean your knives so they will retain their glow indefinitely.

About the Author

If you are an avid knife collector or novice collector knife hunter look no further!

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How To Make Fabric Flowers

These are brief instructions on how to make fabric flowers but let me start by telling you how it all started.

Last December, my co-workers and I went to the mall to buy gifts for our significant others for Christmas. We all ended up buying fashionable pocketbooks from the same store. Personally, I wanted to make my wife's pocketbook stand out from the others in some way and not look like all the others. I pondered over this for a few days afterwards, then I had a marvelous idea. Some of my wife's favorite things are from the fabric store and the flower shop. Since I am an avid origami flowers buff making the usual paper origami flowers would be predictable, therefore that was the answer - Making fabric flowers.

My only worries were that I would not know where, or what materials I needed to make them, or even exactly how to make the flower since I had only been accustomed mainly to paper crafts, including paper flowers. To my relief, the needed materials were very easy to acquire at the local hobby shop.

The other thing I was worried about was the time it would take to make the fabric flower, since I didn't know how long it would take to make and Christmas was quickly approaching. Not to mention messing up this new and expensive pocket book and whether or not my flower, even if created correctly, would look okay on it! Again, to my relief it was very inexpensive to buy all the supplies and once everything was acquired it took very little time to make it.

There are only a few items that are needed to make this fabric flower for your significant other, or even your mom or daughter. You will need some fabric, a little piece of felt, some thread (preferably of the same color), some fabric glue (this is optional), and a template (this is the pattern of your design that you trace on the fabric) which you can easily draw the outline for yourself, have someone do for you or find on the internet and print out. The only tools needed are scissors, needle, button (this is used to hide the stitches), and a pin back.

1. first step is use your scissors to cut out the number of flowers needed (indicated on the template) in your fabrics. Use the dotted line to cut into each flower.

2. Next, take the two large pattern flowers and stack them neatly on each other. Fold in half, then lay the smaller flowers on top of the larger flowers, overlapping them.

3. Then, use your needle and thread to make stitches in the center to hold all the petals together. Now, tie the button over the stitches with the remaining thread from the previous step.

4. Finally, cut off a round piece of the felt and secure the pin back on to the felt and then sew the felt to the center of the back of the flower.

You can use a dab of fabric glue behind the felt for more security.

I have to tell you that I stupidly tried making my first flower on the pocket book and I did mess up the fabric flower and then had to buy another pocket book. Ouch! I guess I was anxious to get it done on time and my better sense eluded me. I learned my lesson and I recommend you practice a bit on some paper or cheap cloth first. However, I ended up getting it right and it came out great.

After the holiday was over, my wife began showing off her new pocketbook with the cute fabric flower on the front of it. All her friends were in awe because they didn't understand how I could have found the time and the patience to make the pocket book with the fabric flower and how different I had been from most in the originality of my gift. Unbeknownst to them, it took me about an hour to make it and a ten minute stop at the store to get the supplies. That was it!!!

I never thought that in a million years that this would be a hobby to recommend to others. I had grown fond of paper and origami crafts but never fabric in this sense. I admit that I was terribly mistaken.

Now I recommend this creative hobby to you or anyone that is asking for a fun and inexpensive way to express your creativity, not to mention impressing your wife and friends. Just don't go starting out experimenting on expensive pocket books like I did!

About the Author

In the next step you should not have to go to great lengths to learn How to Make Fabric Flowers or other kinds of flowers. No doubt you could also use visual help. Visit my friend Erich's free site with images, instructions, videos more plus this other #1 recommended resource How to Make Origami Flowers.

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The Art of Diecast Collecting

There are the Jay Lenos and Jerry Seinfelds of this world who own rare cars and motorcycles they house in climate controlled environments - motor museums for the rich and famous. But, most car collectors around the world opt for cars of more modest size and investment. The die cast collector crosses all social and economic boundaries - from people who buy affordable miniatures just for fun to collectors who engage in auctions where a model can fetch hundreds of dollars or more.

History on Small Wheels
Model cars first appeared in England and the U.S. in the early 1900s. Unlike the detailed die cast models of today, they featured painted shells and no interior adornment. They were also made of metal alloys that that didn't stand the test of time - they rusted and cracked, and few survive today. But, it wasn't long before manufacturers caught on to the idea that there was a market for model cars, trucks, airplanes and farm equipment. As popularity increased, so too did the quality of manufacturing and attention to detail.

Matchbox cars made in England by Lesney appeared in 1947 and started a new trend. The fledging company's first blockbuster was in 1953 when a million miniatures of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Coach were sold. But, the Matchbox concept was inspired much closer to home for Jack Odell (co-owner of Lesnsy) when he designed a toy that could be taken to school by his daughter. School rules dictated that only toys capable of fitting into a matchbox would be allowed in the classroom. Odell complied with the rule by making a miniature car with rolling wheels and sent his daughter off to school with a toy that became the first Matchbox car and the first page in a mass marketing success story.

Each tiny car fit neatly inside a box the size and design of the traditional matchbox. Every line of cars had 75 different vehicles and gave people - children and adults - a body of styles to collect, trade and save.

At the same time, other die cast cars hit the fast lane. In the 1950s Mettoy, producer of the popular Corgi brand, paid particular attention to interior detail and installed clear plastic in window frames. Miniatures with such detail went beyond simple toys to collectibles.

Precious to Popular
Then, in 1968, Hot Wheels got the rapt attention of America's boys. Hot Wheels was Mattel's plan to reach the market of boys in the same way that Barbie Dolls had captured the attention of girls. The idea was wildly successful and introduced the concept of collecting to young boys who might one day become adult collectors of more sophisticated die cast cars.

In the ensuing years, die cast manufacturers were increasingly focused on the collectors' market. Mainstream corporate customers saw the value of having their logo and brand on vehicles and Sears, Coca-Cola, Texaco and other companies ordered die cast models bearing their signatures.

Manufacturing Market Changes
For many years, these detailed models made with increasing accuracy and quality were produced in the U.S. and Great Britain. But, by the 1980s, the economic climate changed as a worldwide marketplace emerged. The cost of domestic manufacturing didn't match revenues and many companies declared bankruptcy or traded hands. Production moved in a great exodus to China and other Far Eastern centers where cheaper labor was available. Mattel was among the first to make the big shift and was rewarded with continued success. Mattel eventually bought Corgi and Matchbox.

Collectors Expect Quality Control
Many other die cast manufacturers joined the movement and, today, there are hundreds of companies offering die cast models of varying cost and quality to collectors all over the world. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that die cast quality went down along with domestic production. Since the market is so competitive and demand for quality among collectors is very high, producers in Hong Kong, Makau, Indonesia, Shanghai and elsewhere are under a bright spotlight.

World over there are die cast clubs that cater to collectors of specific models. There are online auctions in which rare models are purchased for record high prices and collector forums where fans exchange ideas and trade cars. Die cast models seem to capture the fascination of people from all walks of life and economic standing. Affordable, accessible and, at the same time, exclusive and rare, die cast cars appear to have built a significant niche in the world of collecting.

About the Author

Visit us to see our complete line of model cars and diecast cars including BMW Diecast Model Cars

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Make Friends With Your Digital Camera

When a brand new SLR (single lens reflex) model digital camera is put into your hands, whether it is a purchase or a gift, you are holding an exquisitely crafted instrument designed to deliver sharp, crisp, brilliantly colored photos.

If you spend the time to acquaint yourself with its technical aspects, a whole new world of photography can open up to you.

I admit that the typical manual for digital cameras can be intimidating. I have two manuals for a small digital camera that I bought two years ago. The camera can be used in automatic (point-and-shoot) or manual mode and the basic guide is 32 pages, the advanced guide is 144 pages.

Fortunately, camera manufacturers now have show and tell instructions in the form of DVDs and that should help. But sometimes technical terms discourage new owners from getting up close and personal with their new cameras.

With computer access it is really easy to search a free online encyclopedia to investigate many technical terms like, for instance, mega pixels (tiny, tiny dots of color). When you see that the more mega pixels a camera has, (like 10.1mp or 12.1mp), the sharper the image is going to be because there is more pixel information being recorded when you shoot.

This means that you will be able to have your photos blown up to, say, poster or mural size because there is a greater density of pixel information and the image will keep its clarity at large sizes. Photos taken with less mega pixel data appear grainy because there are fewer recorded dots of color information.

Perhaps you remember with fondness the user-friendly cameras preceding the latest addition to your collection of memory makers.

With the stalwart (if slightly boxy and heavy) 35mm film camera, inserting a roll of film was sometimes a little tricky, lining up the film edge holes on the sprockets, and being careful to shield the camera from too much light when inserting the film.

But then once that was done, your automatic film camera was good to go. Just point, shoot and no worries. Of course, you really had no idea if you actually got the photos of what you were shooting until the film was developed days or weeks later.

Stepping into the 21st century, that scenario has changed dramatically with the advent of the digital camera. You know what you have right away.

(I was amused recently while watching a TV show where an irate actor snatched a camera from a paparazzi photographer to destroy unwanted photos. A scene like this done ten years ago would have been super dramatic with the person pulling out yards of exposed film. Now it is merely a matter of snapping out a tiny memory card!)

Here are a few of the basic things to learn about your camera.
Controlling the amount of light perceived in a scene
Put very simply, the aperture (opening) of the camera lens is like the iris of the eye, enlarging to let in more light in low light situations and narrowing in brightly lit scenes like snow or water-reflecting scenes. In automatic mode, when there is too much or too little light coming through the aperture, the camera computer corrects for this.

You can manually control the amount of light by adjusting the f-stops on your camera lens. Basic f-stops range from f-1.2 to f-22. The lower number setting indicates a low light situation where the camera aperture is opened to its widest diameter to allow in more light. The high number setting shows an extremely brightly lit situation where the aperture needs to be closed down, letting in less light so that the image will not be over-exposed and washed out.

Setting the speed (ISO) at which the camera shutter opens and closes
You can control the speed (ISO) at which the photo will be taken. In film cameras, the only way to change speed was to change rolls of film, sometimes wasting much of a roll. With your digital camera, you simply switch by dialing the speed you desire.

This is important if you are, for instance, shooting sports photos where the shutter is open a tiny fraction of a second so you can capture action without blurring. Or, you may want the shutter open for long periods if you are shooting night scenes or fireworks

Selecting the focal distance
The part of your camera that is governing how far away from your subject you are shooting is the lens. If your new digital camera is an SLR (single lens reflex) model, you are a very fortunate person. The SLR model is very versatile because with the flip of a button, you can change lenses quickly and easily. You can instantly change from shooting panoramic shots to intimate portraits or switch to a macro mode of ECUs (extreme close-ups).

Even if you start out with a basic lens of 18-55mm, the time you spend learning about the effects of using different focal length lenses will reward you with the knowledge to take spectacular photos.

Your digital camera is capable of taking stunning and memorable photos if you take a little time to really get acquainted.

About the Author

Wikipedia.com is a free online encyclopedia

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Top 10 Lottery Myths

Many people who play the lottery believe things about the lottery that are simply untrue. There are also many people who choose to not play the lottery because they believe one or more of the myths concerning the lottery. Here is a list of the most common lottery myths and explanations about why they are not true.

Myth #1: Lotteries take advantage of those with less money.

Many studies, conducted by individual state lotteries, show that this myth is not true. In fact, these studies showed that lottery players cross-section the overall population in that jurisdiction. In 1997, the Washington Post published an article about a lottery poll conducted by Martinez Marketing of St. Louis. This poll found that those most likely to play the lottery come from middle income backgrounds. Those who are the wealthiest are less likely to play the lottery and the same is true for those who are the poorest. In 1996, the New Mexico Department of Health conducted a survey showing the prevalence of gambling increased as income increased.

Myth #2: The lottery is a Tax.

Playing the lottery is completely voluntary. Playing the lottery is a personal choice and is just like buying any other product. People are forced to pay taxes; no one is forced to play the lottery. In fact, he only consequence to not playing lottery is missing the fun and possibly a prize.

While some people argue that the lottery is an implicit tax, because it has higher administrative costs and is less efficient way of raising money, but its revenues go for education just like other tax money does. Just like taxes, playing the lottery depletes the player's discretionary income so that it cannot be used for other purchases. Unlike taxes, however, this is completely voluntary just like going to the movies or a concert. A tax is compulsory payment to support government. The lottery is simply a form of entertainment that happens to benefit your state and generally your state's education programs.

Myth #3: The odds of winning the lottery are worse than the odds of getting struck by lightning.

According to the NASPL, in 1996 alone 1,136 people won a million dollars or more and an additional 4,520 won $100,000 or more by playing North American lotteries. Only 91 people, on the other hand, were killed by lightning during that same year. Further, the lottery provides many ways of winning prizes besides winning the jackpot by matching some of the numbers. The chances of winning the lottery are much greater than the chances of getting struck by lightning.

Myth # 4: Since the odds of winning the lottery are pretty slim, few people benefit from lottery.

All across the nation (and the world), millions of people have won cash prizes playing lottery games. But there are many more millions of people who also are lottery winners. For example, lottery retailers earn commission on the sale of lottery products, and this income contributes to the economy for everyone in a jurisdiction. When a person wins the lottery and spends the money on goods and services in a jurisdiction, the local economy benefits. Furthermore, the lottery supports many programs including education and various environmental programs among many others. By giving back to these programs, the lottery supports all people who live in the state.

Myth #5: New tickets at retailers are luckier than tickets from a previous week.

The probability of purchasing a winning ticket is the same no matter when the ticket was produced. Unsold tickets from an earlier week have the same chance of containing winning numbers as newly delivered tickets. When your ticket was produced has no effect on the odds of it being a winner.

Myth #6: If you don't win a lottery prize, you've wasted your money.

Even if you don't win the lottery, you're still left with the fun of playing the lottery. The lottery is a game, and provides entertainment to the player even when s/he does not win. The lottery allows you to scratch your cards, break open your pull-tabs, or choose your numbers. It also provides you with the anticipation of finding out if your lottery numbers are right. Even if you don't win, you still have lots of fun playing the lottery. You also have the comfort of knowing that the money you spent was not a waste, since most of the money supports such programs as education in your state.

Myth #7: The lottery is responsible for the increase of compulsive gamblers in the US.

Providing a substance like alcohol does not create an alcoholic. Likewise, providing the lottery does not create a gambling addict. Compulsive gambling is an addictive behavior that involves biological and psychological factors. A National Survey on Gambling Behavior conducted for the National Gambling Impact Study Commission last year found there is no relationship between problem gambling rates and the presence or absence of a lottery. However, the lottery is not unaware of these problems. Most state lotteries provide warning to Play Responsibly, and many state lottery websites include links to gambling help sites.

Myth #8: Because state governments benefit from the lottery, they cannot be trusted.

States make their own tax policies and many other decisions concerning their citizens, so there is no reason to not trust them when regulating their own lotteries. In fact, lottery files are public records and open to scrutiny by the media and citizens. Lottery board meetings and legislative hearings also are open to the public. Thus, states are not hiding lottery information, and if you think they are, you can check it out for yourself. There is no reason not to trust the state's regulation of lottery programs.

Myth #9: There is no way to be sure that lottery drawings are fair.

The state lottery industry is more scrutinized than almost any industry that has ever existed. State lotteries have a high level of security and public drawings. Further, lottery draws are completely random, ensuring the fairness of the lottery. And, through strict security procedures, the ALC ensures that no one knows which lottery tickets are winners so there can be no cheating. The lottery is all about honesty and fairness.

Myth #10: Players can control lottery outcomes by using various lottery methods.

Because lottery results are completely random, no one can control the outcome. It is impossible to predict a number beyond its overall probability of appearing among the winning numbers. A random guess has just as much chance at winning as playing birthdays, anniversary dates, or any personal system. Even lottery methods like the wheeling system cannot predict which numbers will be drawn.

About the Author

Anthony Wayne works in the marketing department of online lottery site LuckyLotto in Pennsylvania. He is also editor of the Internet Bingo Blog a great source of internet bingo information.

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