Archive for January, 2012
Author: The ultimate secret to a huge farm full of beautiful crops, cute animals, and thriving trees is to build a huge network of neighbors. First add your friends, and then ask them to be your neighbor. If you collect enough neighbors, your farm will be a big success.
Why are neighbors the secret to Farmville success?
Do you want lots of ribbons? Add neighbors to earn more ribbons. Collect Local Celebrity Ribbons as you add more neighbors, and earn Good Samaritan Ribbons for helping them on their farms. Plus, earn the Crop Whisperer ribbons when you fertilize their crops. The Shutterbug ribbons let you earn ribbons when you take pictures of your neighbors’ farms.
Here are more ribbons you can earn quickly when you have lots of neighbors: the Zoologist, which you earn when you collect animals; the Animal Shelter, which you earn when you adopt lost animals that your neighbors have helped; the Pretty Gardener, which you earn when you place flower bouquets on your farm; and Egg-celent, which you earn when you discover Mystery Eggs.
Do you want to expand your farm without spending precious Farmville Cash? With enough neighbors, expand your farm with coins instead of Farmville Cash. The first expansion to a 14×14 Homestead will cost you 20 in Farmville Cash, but only 10,000 coins if you have 8 neighbors.
Do you want stuff that is not available in the market? Add neighbors who can send you animals and trees that can only be sent as gifts. Neighbors can also send you some of the new collectables and Mystery Gifts.
Do you want to find plenty of Mystery Eggs? Add neighbors, and then feed their chickens every day. When your neighbors feed your chickens, they are more likely to find Mystery Eggs.
Do you want lots of animals, trees and anything you can get? Your neighbors can send you a gift every day. If you send them something, the neighbor may send you one back. Multiply the number of neighbors you have by the number of gifts you want. It adds up in a hurry when you have plenty of neighbors.
Do you want more coins without doing anything? Add neighbors who will share their success with you. If you click on their published accomplishment quick enough, the reward is coins.
Of course, neighbors are also the ultimate secret to Farmville fun because they bring the game alive. Neighbors tell you the latest news in the world of Farmville. Now that is priceless.
Discover more ways to build a farm you can be proud of. Check out the Ultimate Farmville Strategy Guide. Marry Kettler is the Ultimate Farmville Fan. Click here for her blog, the Ultimate Farmville Guide.
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Planning a wedding is fun, but it can also be very stressful. I know first-hand as I am in the process of planning myself, only five months left! Anyway, I’m trying to spend as little money as possible, so it’s time to get crafty. I’ve decided to have two flower girls in the wedding, both of which are my nieces. In any case, I have made their flower girl baskets. These are some great craft ideas if it’s what you’re looking for. They’re easy to make and it will have special meaning to you.
Materials needed are very few:
* Loose ribbon- any color you desire
* Tulled ribbon- any color you desire
* Any size basket
* Embellishment- I used daisy adhesives
* Aleen’s Fabric Glue
It’s simple and easy to make just follow these instructions:
1. Measure how much tulle you’ll need to go around the basket. Be sure you measure a little extra so it can overlap in the back.
2. Put glue on the back of the tulled ribbon.
3. Glue onto top part of basket pressing firmly. Wait to dry.
4. Once this is dry you can glue the embellished flower or whatever you choose, onto the top of the tulled ribbon. I did this only in the front, but you can go all around the basket if you wish.
5. Cut loose ribbon any length you desire and tie around handle of basket. Again, I did this in front and back, but you can do how you wish.
Remember, you can alter the baskets to match your wedding attire and colors. There are so many different choices when it comes to ribbon and tulle colors, so you don’t need to worry. There are also different options for basket sizes and shapes. I personally like the square the best, but they also have circles or rectangles.
If you want to get a little fancier with the baskets you can always add some silk or satin to line the inside of the basket. The length of the loose ribbon on the handle can be as short as you want or you can make it long enough to flow with your flower girl’s dress.
If you haven’t already seen the new version of Microsoft Office 2007, you may be in for a shock. Microsoft Office 2007 was completely redesigned with all tool bars being replaced by a horizontal ribbon. The ribbon interface was designed to be intuitive but somehow it confuses people because it looks quite different from previous versions of Microsoft Office. The ribbon is very useful once you get the hang of the logic behind it.
Some of the Major Changes in Office 2007
The Ribbon - This is new terminology for those of us who use Office on a regular basis. If you are used to the drop down menus in earlier versions of Office, they have been completely replaced with the ribbon. The ribbon is a GUI (graphical user interface) the displays the most commonly used icons from previous versions of Office.
The ribbon is divided into several user friendly tabs. These tabs are further divided into groups of similar functions.
The Office button – It is located in the upper left hand corner of your Office screen. The office button replaced the file from the drop down menus of the past. If this is your first time using Office 2007, it will be flashing to get your attention. If you see this, click on it and see the drop down menu options.
Quick Access Toolbar - This toolbar is located right above the Ribbon. This toolbar has some of the most commonly used shortcuts available. It is also customizable because you can select the shortcuts that are displayed.
These new changes are just different. Don’t let the new Office 2007 Interface stop you from being productive. Take a look at the new Excel spreadsheet templates that are available for you in Excel 2007!
The Current River in southern Missouri is one of the most beautiful and pristine in the country. Winding through some of the most beautiful hills and valleys the Ozarks have to offer, its pastoral attraction is obvious. The river flows entirely through Ozark National Scenic Riverways Park, which results in limited streamside development, and excellent public access. It is one of the most popular float and fish streams in the country.
And no wonder. The river’s cold, clear water is perfect habitat for rainbow and brown trout. Indeed, the river seems tailor-made for trout fishing. Settlers in the area soon realized this, and regular stocking began in the early 1900s. Although habitat seems perfect, trout have never been able to reproduce well. Lately, with new regulations, a fairly significant wild rainbow trout population has come into existence, although they still must be stocked to meet angler demand. Brown trout cannot reproduce at all in the river, although they are stocked heavily. The constant water temperatures from spring-water allow the fish to stay healthy and active throughout the year, even in the dog days of summer.
The river rises from several strong springs in Montauk State Park. Where the river leaves Montauk, and enters Ozark National Scenic Riverways, it comes under Blue Ribbon trout regulations for the next nine miles to the Cedar Grove Bridge. Regulations here allow the harvest of only one trout, and there is an 18″ minimum. Artificial lures and flies only are allowed. Nearly 10,000 Brown trout are stocked throughout Blue Ribbon area annually, and many rainbows migrate from other areas of the river. Trout number about 400 per mile.
The first mile of the Blue Ribbon trout water, from Montauk State Park to the Tan Vat access may be the river’s best water for wade fisherman. This water is too shallow to float, so acts as a sanctuary for wade fisherman. Many rainbows, and some large browns are found here. Thousands of rainbows move down from Montauk State Park into this area each year, and it usually proves relatively easy to catch a few fish.
Another popular river section us from Tan Vat to Baptist Camp Access. This is also mostly a wade fishing situation, although a few canoes may be encountered. There are almost equal numbers of rainbow and brown trout in this part of the river. This run is classic trout water, with some awesome riffles and deep pools. The fish tend to be a bit more selective here than further upstream. Small flies and delicate tippet are often required.
The Blue Ribbon area stretches for 6.5 miles below Baptist Camp. There is good wading access at Baptist Camp, Parker Hollow, and Cedar Grove Bridge, but float fishing is more popular. A good one day float is from Baptist Camp to Cedar Grove. Brown trout predominate, and they tend to grow quite large. There are also some rainbows, which tend to reside in the faster moving water. Browns are found in the deep pools as well as the riffles.
The White Ribbon area begins at Cedar Grove, and stretches downstream for 8 miles. The Missouri Department of Conservation stocks the White Ribbon area every few weeks from March through October. Statewide trout regulations are in effect, and there are no bait restrictions. Browns are not stocked this far downstream, but many migrate from upriver. As a result, many of the river’s largest browns have come from this area.
The White Ribbon area can be divided into two distinct sections. The first iss the 5 mile section from Cedar Grove to Welch Spring. The river here is relatively slow and shallow, and it can get warm in the summer. Temperatures occasionally rise into the mid-70s. Generally, trout are only stocked in the spring and fall. Some trout hold over from year to year, but most fish will be fresh from the hatchery.
The situation changes dramatically below the mouth of Welch Spring, 3 miles to Akers Ferry. Welch Spring is a major cold water source, and it keeps this part of the river from ever reaching the 70 degree mark. For this reason, fish are stocked through the summer. Many trout hold over, and some real trophies are found here. Below Akers Ferry, smallmouth bass begin to predominate, and the river becomes on of the country’s best smallmouth streams below Round Spring.
Fishing techniques on the Current are many and varied. It is a surprisingly good dry fly fishery. Tricos are the river’s “big name” hatch. Every morning from mid-June through mid-September, massive hatches of tiny tricos come off. These are seriously small bugs, ranging from #22-#30, and it takes some skill to fish them properly. Caddis also come off during the warm months, and #16-#20 Elk Hair Caddis will do well.
Nymphing may be an even more popular method. All the standard nymphs work well, including Prince, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, and Copper Johns. The best year-round bet, however, is a #16 Scud imitation. Scuds (tiny freshwater shrimp) are a top food source throughout the river, 365 days a year. They are best fished near weeds.
Many other techniques also take fish on the Current. Egg imitating flies have probably taken more fish than all other patterns combined. Orange, pink, peach, and white are all good. San Juan worms, and various streamers also work well. The river also works well for spin fisherman. 1/16-1/32 ounce spinners and spoons of just about any make or color will always take fish. Marabou jigs from 1/32-1/128 ounce work extremely well in white, brown, green, and olive.
No matter what technique you choose to use, the Current River is a great trout stream. With many miles of great trout water, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better stream in southern Missouri. With its beauty and excellent trout fishing, this is a stream that holds interests for all fishermen.
The Ozarks are a magical place and the Current is one of the main reasons why.
Davdison Manning is an avid outdoorsman spending over 100 days per year pursuing his passion for fishing, many of them in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. He details many of his favorite spots on his website Family-Outdoors. His other pursuits include many days spent in the field camping and hunting. Davidson loves to share his knowledge of the outdoors in the hope of helping others to find their own connection to the outdoors.
Microphone Types
Long the role of the professional sound engineer, choosing the appropriate microphone has now become, with the proliferation of the home studio, the task of the amateur and even the beginner. This choice should depend upon what you’re going to be using the mic for, but also on personal preferences. In this article we’ll be dealing with the two main categories of microphones: dynamic microphones and condenser microphones.
Dynamic Microphones
These mics generally have a more robust design due to the fact that they are more often used in live settings. They are also usually less expensive and resistant to moisture.
Dynamic microphones use a diaphragm which is attached to a coil of wire placed within the magnetic field of a permanent magnet. When there’s a variation in pressure on the diaphragm it will cause the coil to generate a varying electric current which then needs amplification. Because it’s necessary to attach the coil directly to the diaphragm, dynamic mics tend to have thicker diaphragms than condenser mics. Because of this, recordings are less precise as they’re less sensitive to high frequencies than condenser mics. Popular models include Shure SM57 and SM58.
Dynamic mics generally don’t need any electrical power to operate (as opposed to condenser mics). They are ideal for all-round high sound pressure levels (SPL).
Condenser or Capacitor Microphones
Also known as capacitor or electrostatic microphones, this type of mic picks up sound through a thin, flexible diaphragm that’s placed next to a metal plate ( as opposed to the rigid diaphragm/coil system used by dynamic mics).
Condenser mics can range from inexpensive Karaoke mics to ultra high level recording mics. Generally, they produce high-quality audio signals and are sensitive to distant sounds and high frequencies. Because of these reasons they are often used in studio recording situations.
Because condenser mics are more sophisticated and are more difficult to manufacture, high quality condenser mics are rather expensive. Condenser mics are ideal for recording voice, acoustic guitars, pianos, orchestral instruments, percussion, and sound effects. Some of the most famous models are the Neumann U47 or the AKG 414.
Phantom Power
Condenser mics require a power source, provided either from microphone inputs as phantom power or from a small battery. The most common type of phantom power is +48v DC. This phantom power is used to charge the diaphragm and plate. It also supplies a small amplifier which boosts the small current* generated by diaphram movements. Phantom power supplies are often built into mixing desks, microphone preamplifiers and similar equipment.
Ribbon Microphones
Ribbon mics are a type of dynamic microphone. They use a very thin metal ribbon that’s suspended between the poles of a powerful magnet. Sound waves cause this ribbon to move and create an induced current. Voltage output of older ribbon mics is much lower than dynamic mics so a transformer is used to increase voltage output and to increase output impedance. Modern ribbon mics avoid this problem by using improved magnets and more efficient transformers. Ribbon mics are usually bi-directional (see next page on pick-up patterns). Classic models include the RCA 44 and 77 as well as Royer mics.
Pick-up/Polar Patterns
A pick-up (or Polar) pattern, also referred to as the mic’s directionality, indicates to the area(s) from which a mic picks up sound. It shows how sensitive it is to sounds coming in from different angles about its central axis. It’s important that you choose the right pattern for what you’ll be using the mic for, or you might capture sounds from areas you don’t want or lose sound information you need.
Omni Pattern
This is the most basic type of mic pattern. It has a theoretical 360° pick up response, which means that it responds equally to sounds coming from all directions. Ideal for group vocals, sound effects, and room ambiances. Omni patterns are pressure sensitive and therefore less sensitive to wind noise than directional (velocity sensitive) mics. They also give less of an impression of proximity than directional mics so they’re
Cardioid Pattern
This heart-shaped pattern is the most common for unidirectional microphones. The name cardioid come from Greek for heart-shape. This cardioid shape means that its unidirectional and that most of the sound is picked up from the front. This pattern is used for most basic recording situations or whenever a sound has to be picked up from mainly one direction. Because the back of the element rejects sounds it receives, dynamic cardioid mics are often used for live situations. This property helps reduce unwanted spill from other instruments, and therefore reduces the risk of feedback.
Hyper-cardioid
This pattern is similar to cardioid but with greater directionality.It has a tighter area of front sensitivity and a tiny lobe of rear sensitivity.
Bi-Directional
These mics receive sound from both front and back but not from the sides. These mics are ideal for recording two harmony vocalists, duos, or face to face interviews with only one mic.
Other Considerations
Frequency response
This is a measure of the microphone’s sensitivity to different frequencies. It’s a characteristic of all mics that some frequencies are exaggerated and others attenuated. So the frequency response shows how a particular mic responds to particular frequencies.
A chart usually shows a mics’s frequency response. The x axis shows frequency in Hertz, the y axis shows response in decibels. A higher value means exaggeration and a lower value means attenuation. A completely flat chart (frequency response) would show that the mic is equally sensitive to all frequencies. But in reality a totally flat response is impossible and even the best mics have some degree of deviation. Also it should be noted that sometimes a mic is especially chosen for the specific frequency response that it has. For example, a mic with a frequency response adapted to the human voice would be a good choice for recording in an environment with low frequency background noise.
Self Noise
This measurement represents the lowest point of a mic’s dynamic range. This is important if you want to record very soft sounds. Basically, the lower the number is, the better.
Maximum SPL (Sound Pressure Level)
This is the maximum level a mic can accept. Here, the higher the number, the better. But one should note that mics with very high SPLs have higher self noise.
Sensitivity
Indicates how well the mic converts sound pressure into output voltage. The higher the number, the higher the sensitivity. A highly sensitive mics produces more output and will therefore need less amplification after. It should be noted, however, that a higher sensitivity rating does not necessarily make one mic better than another.
Sarit Bruno manages content and editorial line for Audiofanzine
AudioFanzine offers benchmark testing/reviews of products, software or instruments and articles of a tutorial nature, all of which are systematically illustrated by exclusive videos or audio extracts. Addressing a universal audience, both amateurs and professionals alike, http://en.audiofanzine.com addresses musicians as well as sound engineers, home-studio recording enthusiasts, and audio and lighting engineers.
When it comes to your wedding favors there is a wide choice available, but sometimes it is the simplest choices that work the best. So don’t spend hours agonizing over which favors are the best, follow our creative ideas and make your own pretty favor boxes to fill with chocolates.
1. Beautiful Butterflies: Use a simple cube style favor box and wrap with ribbon, present style. Top with a pretty fabric or feather butterfly to coordinate with your wedding colors.
2. Floral Double Act: Again use a cube style favor box and wrap with ribbon. Check out silk and paper flowers in your local craft store or online. Look for two flowers which you could layer one on top of the other, for instance, a flat daisy with a rose on the top. Make the bottom flower the width of the box and the top one the same width as the center of the bottom flower, so that they look in scale.
3. Plain and Simple: Choose a box which is symmetrical in design, such as a square, rectangle or round. Purchase a square punch (or one to match whatever shape your box is) in two sizes and card which matches the color of your favor boxes and one other coordinating color, for instance, cream and pink. Use the punches to cut two squares, one each from the two colors. The larger square should be cut from the coordinating color and a smaller square from the same color card as the box. Layer the two together – small on large and center on the top of your box. After sticking them in place glue a small flat backed gem or pearl in the center.
4. Classic Monograms: Design your wedding monogram on your computer or if your have nice handwriting or are artistic you could draw it freehand. Add your wedding date underneath and if there is room a small motif between the two. Cut these out to match the shape of your favor boxes, making them approximately 2mm smaller and stick onto the lid of your boxes. Use card which is the same color as your boxes and stick to just one color of ink.
5. Pretty as a Picture: Choose a medium width satin ribbon in a coordinating color and tie it around your favor box (square or rectangular work best) so it runs over the top. Bring the two ends together on the side and tie in a bow. Using some card in a coordinating color cut out a square and using a decorative punch cut a shape in the center. Take a small piece of craft wire and a bead, thread the bead on to the wire and affix behind the shape you have just cut out. You should have a pretty cut out shape with a bead in the center. Affix this to your box with some double sided padded tape making sure you attach it to the ribbon as well to hold it in place. Punches are available in a wide variety of shapes including hearts, flowers, butterflies and birds.
6. Glitz and Glam: This one is so easy, but looks a million dollars. Use a cube style box and wrap a piece of satin ribbon, firstly around one side of the bottom half of the box, gluing the ends inside. Then do the same for the lid of the box, matching the ribbon up with that on the bottom. Thread a crystal buckle on to the ribbon and position in the center of the lid, and then glue the ends of the ribbon inside.
Mae Andrea is a professional writer who collects wedding favors and wedding related articles. She is working with a wedding planning social networking company that caters to all the wedding needs of brides in almost every major center in America.