Love Letters For Loved Ones

We like to write letters and the same time to love to receive them also. We get many letters in our mail everyday. We sort these out mechanically as we retrieve them from our mailboxes. These mails are categorized as business letters, professional letters, personal letters, employment letters, billing or collection letters and many more kinds of letters.

But the kind of letters we always look forward to is the personal ones. All of us receive this kind of letter, be it on special occasions or on just on ordinary days. Personal letters can be simple thank you note, invitations to a party or reunion, messages of apology, appreciation letters, notes of condolences to a family, and the most common is the love letter.

Love letters are precious. It never fails to make a heart beat faster as we read it word for word. People would never get tired reading and rereading love letters, until they have taken to heart every single word. What makes love letters exceptional is that unlike others, it sends an emotional high to the readers.

For single males, love letters are sure fire ways of courting their crushes. It is also an effective means of communicating with their girlfriends. But love letters need not always be romantic expressions. It can also be written for family members or favorite grandmother. It is a way of admiring the persons these single males love or owe their lives to.

Married males write love letters to their wives and children. It is their way of telling them how much they appreciate the concern and support being shown. It also a good way of telling them how important they are, that they work hard to make them happy. Married males may also send love notes to their parents or siblings. It may likewise be notes of appreciation, that they became good husbands because of them.

Single females use love letters to communicate their feelings more easily to guys they like. This sometimes rids these girls of the awkwardness of telling their feelings face to face to the guy. They use letters to be more direct with what they want to say.

It is also an effective way to communicate with their boyfriends. It becomes more romantic sometimes to write letters instead of telling it in person. Love letters perpetualize the emotions. It can be read over and over again.
Single females also write love letters to their parents and siblings, or even friends. They let them know how much they are appreciated, and extend their gratitude for taking care of them, and being there for them when they need it.

Married women will communicate with their husbands through letters also sometimes. They let their men know how much they love them, how much they appreciate the way their men take care of the family. Married women also write to their sons and daughters, letting them know how much joy it brought them when they were born.

Love letters can be written for several reasons. The very common reason is to simply express love. Saying "I love you" is made more beautiful through written words. It can also be made more romantic by striking up a good rhyme that one would love to read repeatedly. There are many people who affect our lives dearly, and we want to tell them how much we love them. They may be our parents, siblings, friends, mentor or significant others.

Telling someone how much we miss them is also an expression of love. People send out such love letters to their lovers or friends living from miles away, and who they have not seen for a long time already. It is an indication that though not physically together, they are remembered and held dearly in their hearts.

A romantic love note brightens the day of the sender's sweetheart. It can just be any topic under the sun, liking writing the favorite chorus of a song, telling what happened in their week, or what went on in their jobs.

Not all love letters are joyous and happy to read. Some love letters are sad, like saying goodbye or breaking up with a significant other. The loving feeling emanates throughout the message, but the reason behind writing it is heartbreaking.

Sweet love notes are collection of love notes. Most are just short everyday messages written in small papers like post-it notes. It is just meant for romantic purposes that normally brighten up a day when the receiver finds it upon waking up. These love notes can be posted on the bathroom mirror such that it will be easily noticed when the receiver wakes up. Or it may be posted on the receiver's favorite cup of coffee.

Friendly letters are exchanges of stories between two buddies. These letters are expressions of friendly love. As the two exchange their personal stories, it manifests how much they mean to each other that they will be the first to hear the significant events that happen to them. An example would be relating the excitement of getting accepted in a job.

Love letters can also be by way of apology. It is normal that misunderstandings will occur sometimes in any relationship. Letters of apology express how much the other person mean to us, that we would want to make amends any way we can.

The most important thing about love letters is that it should express the true feelings of a sender. It should state how much the sender feels for his receiver. It may be asking the receiver to answer the courtship that he has done, join him for a meal or a movie or anything else. The ones who receive a love letter do not necessarily mean that he/she should answer the letter. This letter is given voluntarily so answers of these letters should also be voluntarily written.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

How to Belly Dance

General information:

Many believe that belly dancing is an oldest form of dances taking origin from India to the Middle-East countries. It is a type of dance usually performed, when a woman is being prepared for her marriage. It is usually danced barefooted. Belly dance can be called as a Western term being used for a traditional Arab dance form. In Arabic language, it is known as "raqs sharqi," (oriental dance), or "raqs baladi," meaning dance of country. In Greece, it is called as "tsiftetelli." Raqs baladi is performed by both men and women of any age group for fun and celebration. Raqs sharqi, popular in America is also performed by both men and women.

Costumes:

The costumes used in belly dancing are quite colorful. In early days, the use of jewelry especially the belt of coins was thought to be a symbol of wealth. Other accessories used include the swords, snakes, and huge flaming candles. In Arabic, the costume used for this dance is called as "bedlah," meaning suit, which was adopted by Egyptian dancers in 1930s, later spreading to the rest of the countries.

The bedlah costume consists of a fitted top, (with a fringe of beads/coins), a fitted hip belt, (also with a fringe of beads/coins), and a skirt (straight or circular). In the western world, "veil" is used which is a 3.5-4 yard fabric, prominating the arm movements throughout the dance. In Egypt, the dancers normally use full beaded dresses, designed according to the type of dancing. This type of costume is especially meant for folk dancing and is popular among the European and American countries. Generally, the costume in belly dancing varies with the dance style. The cabaret costume in belly dance usually consists of a hip belt, bra, skirt, with one or more veils. Other jewelry accessories like neck bands, arm coverings, face veils and shoes are considered as optional for the dancers.

Popularity:

It is believed that the belly dancing in America got popularity in about 1893, when for the first time, famous dancer little Egypt performed his dance in Chicago World's Fair. Since 19th century, the belly dancing got much popularity across the U.S and thus whole world. Many belly dance shows are organized all across the world.

History:

The exact origin of belly dance history is debatable.The history of Belly dancing is very old. The accurate information about belly dancing is not available, but there is a mixture of speculations about its history. Belly dancing is a mixture of various cultures including Lebanon, Egypt, Arabic Gulf, Turkey and North Africa. Morroco is thought to have several oral references for its origin, but lacking the fact of true origin of the dance. Some suggest Roma to be its origin, who are thought to spred the dance while traveling, picking up the dance and spreading it around.

Wherever is the origin, this dance has a long and old history in the Middle-East countries. The Middle-East countries have two popular belly dance styles as the "city dance," (including stage, cabaret), and the "country dance," (the regional folk dances), while the western countries use an umbrella form of belly dance, famous for the hip movements. The rhythm used in belly dancing, also varies from one area to the other.

Technique:

Most of the basic steps and movements in belly dance are circular in motion, usually confined to one part of the body. Like, the movements made by hips would be a "hip circle," and the use of rib-cage will be called as a" chest circle."

Raqs Sharqi: In raqs sharqi, the main focus lies on the hip and pelvic area. Raqs sharqi or "oriental dance, is one of the oldest dance forms in the world. The most important body part used in this style is the "hips." Although this dance is thought to be a female's dance, but men also do perform this dance.

Egyptian style Raqs Sharki: In Egyptian style, although the basic steps remain the same, there is incorporation of ballet into raqs sharqi. In Egypt, there are three main forms of the dance being popular, Baladi, Sha'abi, Sharqi.

Turkish style: Turkish belly dance often called as"tsiftetelli," is more a form of wedding folk music, not actually connected to oriental dancing. Turkish dancers are famous to be more energetic, using finger cymbals known as "zils."

Western: Belly dance in Western world gained popularity in 1893, when "Little Egypt," performed her dance at the World's Fair. The classical Raqs sharqi is still popular in the western world; many dancers have created other forms known as "American Tribal dance."

United States: The popularity of belly dance in the United States dates back to 1950-1960, when the Americans became familiarized with belly dancing. Initially, the dance was performed by the Turkish and Greek dancers, but later on Americans also started learning it. Their interest in belly dancing gave rise to many styles, one of which is the "American -Tribal belly dance."

Male belly dancing: The role of men in belly dancing is debatable. The trend of male performers in this dance started in 60s-70s, by performers in the United-States.

Styles: There are two main categories of belly dancing being practiced today;

· Western belly dance.
· Eastern belly dance.

Western belly dance styles: Following are the few Western belly dance styles practiced:

1. Classic American: This is the original American belly style also called as "cabaret" or" night club" dance. It differs from the Eastern belly style in that; it has more freedom of movements, with more use of veils, props and zills. It has evolved new steps and concepts, thus giving rise to a Modern American belly style with more advanced moves.

2. Tribal: Tribal belly dance, which started in about 1960s, is a dance style performed by a group of dancers. In this style, the veil work is not used to an extent as in American style; however there is more use of finger cymbals and swords.

3. Gypsy: This style of belly dance is the interpretation of the folk dance of the "Gypsy," originating from Spain, Turkey and Egypt. The dance is famous for its energy and passion, based on folk steps.

4. Spiritual: This dance style is believed to have a connection with the goddess of ancient times. In this style of belly dance, props are commonly used.

5. Fusion: Fusion belly dance consists of both the belly dance movements and the steps derived from outside.

6. Fitness: This style of belly dance is thought to be popular since 1970s. It is not an artistic dance, but usually done for exercise purposes. It has a wide variety of moves including, aerobic techniques, sit-ups etc.

Eastern belly dance styles:

1. Egyptian (raqs sharqi): Egyptian or "oriental dance," uses belly dance moves which are more artistic and describe emotional interpretation of the music into dance style. These dancers rarely use veil or floor work.

2. Turkish (Oriyantal Dansi): Turkish style of belly dancing is thought to be bolder with use of finger cymbals. Floor work is also quite common in this style, with use of props as well.

3. Lebanese: It is one of the ancient forms of belly dance, which is thought to be a mixture of both the Turkish and Egyptian belly dance. It is generally considered to be more energetic, but softer at the same time. In this style, use of props and finger cymbals is common.

4. East-Indian: It is believed, that the Romani people started originating the belly dance moves in India long ago. Bollywood belly dancing is a fusion of core belly dance moves, with classical Indian dance. As it contains majority of the non-belly moves, so it is not an authentic belly dance.

Core moves in belly dancing:

Belly dance steps and moves: It is said that there are 12 basic belly dance steps and moves. By practicing these 12 basic steps, one can become master of belly dancing.

a. Basic Hip moves: There are 3 basic hip movements usually performed by the belly dancers. For performing these three hip movements, a good posture is required by the dancers. Stand on your feet with slightly apart from each other, and distribute your weight between two feet. Slightly bend your knees. Shoulders are in a relaxed position, with the rib cage slightly moved up. Hold your arms in a comfortable position.

1. Hip Twist: In standing position, isolate and twist the right hip forward, and the left hip will swift back.
2. Up and Down hips: Standing in the same posture, right hip bone is moved upward and then down and vice versa. The leg muscles help to pull the knees up and down, so the knees should be kept relaxed.
3. Hip Thrust: Standing in the basic position, thrust the right hip to the side and slightly up. The feet are kept flat.

b. Rolling Hip moves:

There are three basic hip rolling moves.

1. Hip figure 8's:

There are 2 basic figure 8 hip moves.

Back to forward version: A large figure 8 is painted on the floor and the dancer stands in the middle of it, with one circle of 8 on one side of the dancer and the other circle of 8 on the other side. First isolate your hips, and twist the right hip back, slide it to the side and thus twist it forward. Now, the left hip is moved in the same manner, as upon completion of one side of hip, the other hip is automatically positioned for the same movement.

Forward to back version: For a forward to back, the direction of figure 8 is reversed. Isolating the hips and twisting the right hip forward, sliding it to a side and then twisting it back.

Down-Up version: Push your right hip down, slide it to a side, lift up and then pull it back to its starting position.

Up-Down version: Reverse the direction of the hip move as in down-up version to make it up-down one.

Hip circles: In this type of belly dance, hips are used to draw from small-medium sized circles. Isolate the hips, sliding them to the right side; push them back and to left side; pushing them forward and to the right side to complete a circle.

Vertical hip circles: A vertical belly dance is also called as "bicycle hips." Isolating the hips, lift the right hip up, roll forward, push down, push back and then up to the starting point, tracing a circle which is vertical to the floor. All the circular hip movements in belly dance can either be done in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Are you ready to learn?

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

River Fishing Tips - How to Fish Rivers

When someone says "river fishing", what do you think of? Do you tend to think of fishing in a river for salmon or steelhead? Or do you think of fishing in a muddy river for fish like catfish? Or maybe you think of fishing in a crystal clear river for trout or smallmouth bass? We all have our favorite version of "river fishing", and in this article I'm going to provide you with some effective river fishing tips that are best employed while wading and fishing in small rivers.

I learned how to fish rivers effectively more than 20 years ago by my best friends' father, who was a legendary fisherman from central Pennsylvania. This man was a great river fisherman the river fishing tips outlined in this article come directly from things he taught me. If you want to know how to fish rivers effectively, this article is for you.

These tips are effective for almost any fish that swims in the flowing waters of small rivers and streams such as smallmouth bass, trout, whitefish, and even walleye. The tips can also be easily modified for larger fish such as steelhead and salmon.

The first thing to keep in mind when wading and fishing in rivers is that in most cases the water that you're fishing is very clear. This means that the heavier your fishing line is the more visible it is to the fish you're trying to catch. When wading and fishing in rivers you always want to use fishing line that's as light as possible. In other words match your line to the fish you expect to catch. For example, when fishing for trout or smallmouth bass in rivers, I always use four pound test monofilament. The less visible your fishing line is to the fish, the more bites you will receive; it's as simple as that.

When fishing in river, especially while wading, it's important to remember that the bottom is your friend. Whether you are fishing bait or throwing small spinners, spoons, or lures bouncing your offering along the bottom it very effective when river fishing. If you want to know how to fish rivers, remember that the bottom is your friend. And remember that getting snagged is also quite common when fishing in rivers. As my mentor used to say, "If your not getting snagged, you're not fishing in the right place".

Another important river fishing tip is to be as organized as possible. You want to have your fishing gear and bait where it's easily accessible. This means that a fishing vest is a "must have" item. A fishing vest is the most effective way to organize your gear for river fishing while wading. If you like to fish with bait, another great product for fishing while wading is a bait bag. Of all of the river fishing tips in this article this might be the best. Makes using live bait (such as worms) a ton easier. The point is that when wading and fishing in rivers you want to be able to concentrate on the task at hand and being organized helps you accomplish this task.

The tips contained in this article will make you a much more successful river angler if they are put into practice. This is the key to being successful with any type of fishing. Practice. The bottom line is that the more time you can spend on the water practicing your craft, the more successful you will be.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Heart Healthy

"Open your heart to me, my own," whispers Grandmother Growth so softly you aren't certain you hear her. "Open the wisdom way of compassion here in your heart and draw me inside. Let Grandmother Growth be inside you, helping you encompass the whole, in the beat of your own heart, my heart, Crone's heart."

Step 0: Do Nothing

Thinking of taking hormone replacement to keep your heart healthy? Think again. Data released in April of the year 2000, from the federal government's Women's Health Initiative, showed "a small increase in the number of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots in the lungs of women on hormone replacement compared with women on placebo." The Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS), completed in 1998, found the same connection. For a healthy heart, don't take hormones.

"Recently released data from the federal government's Women's Health Initiative suggests that during the first two years of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy there is a slightly greater risk of heart attack, stroke and blood clots."

Heart disease is America's top killer (claiming a life every 34 seconds). Women aged 30-50 have far less risk of heart disease than a man their age. But postmenopausal women die from heart disease at rates as high as men's. (Women account for 51 percent of all cardiovascular deaths; men, 49 percent.) Is it lack of estrogen?

No. Estrogen does lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol, but cholesterol is only weakly linked to heart disease, especially in women. (Most heart attacks happen to people with normal cholesterol levels.)

Estrogen raises blood pressure (one of the top three reasons for heart attacks in women), increases triglycerides, promotes clotting (a leading factor in heart attacks and strokes), and raises levels of C-reactive protein (a marker for inflammation associated with heart disease). Take progestins/progesterone too and you increase your risk of heart disease even more. Hormone replacement really isn't heart healthy.

Aren't there studies linking estrogen usage to lowered risk of heart disease? Only retrospective ones, which cannot establish a cause-and-effect link. And the women in those studies ate well, exercised regularly, and were unlikely to smoke - behaviors that are critical to heart health. The simple truth is more than 90 percent of all heart disease is preventable with lifestyle choices.

The three top risk factors for heart disease in women are too much belly fat, smoking, and untreated hypertension. High cholesterol is one of the top three risk factors for men, but not for women. (This is because, after menopause, we make heart healthy hormones from our cholesterol.)

Step 1: Collect Information

The Nurses Health Study - which followed 86,000 women for 14 years - shows what happens to those wise old Crones who follow heart healthy behaviors:

* Those who ate more fish than meat, plus plenty of whole grains, beans, leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables reduced their risk of heart disease by one-third compared to those who ate a "normal" American diet. Eating one serving a day of whole-grain foods reduced heart attacks by 34 percent in another study of 34,000 postmenopausal women.
* Those who ate at least 5 ounces of nuts a week were only half as likely to have a heart attack as those who ate none.
* Women who walked a total of three hours per week or who exercised vigorously for at least 90 minutes a week had one third fewer heart attacks than women who got no exercise. Those who walked five or more hours a week cut their risk in half.

Step 2: Engage the Energy

* Rose flower essence and rose quartz essence are both recommended for engaging the energy of the heart.
* Do you attack your heart? Do you close your heart to protect it? Love yourself. Give yourself plenty of nice strokes so you won't have a bad stroke. Try Stephen Levine's meditation "Opening the Heart" in Who Dies?
* People in Hawaii, New Mexico, and Arizona have the healthiest hearts in the United States. Imagine you live there.
* Smile! Depression increases your risk of both heart attack and stroke. In fact, severe depression is more strongly linked to stroke risk than high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking cigarettes, being overweight, and nine other known risk factors. When you smile, your brain makes hormones that make you, and your heart, feel good. So, smile.

Step 3: Nourish & Tonify

* Touch and be touched. In numerous scientific studies, people who were touched lovingly every day had significantly fewer heart problems than those who weren't.
* Nuts to heart attacks. The fats in nuts have been linked to a reduced risk of heart attacks. Volunteers on high-fat diets (35-40 percent of calories nuts and olive oil) lowered their LDL cholesterol by 13 percent. Greek women do the same, and have one of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world.
* Essential fatty acids, especially omega-3s, are ever so essential to a healthy heart. Look for them in fish (salmon, sardines, trout, herring are highest), seeds, whole grains, beans, and nuts. They are especially abundant in wild seeds such as plantain, lamb's quarter, and amaranth. And in freshly ground flax seeds. Women who consume the EFA alpha-linolenic acid daily have the lowest risk of a fatal heart attack.
* Keep your heart healthy with regular use of seaweeds. Seaweeds have clinically proven cardiotonic effects: they stabilize blood pressure; regulate levels of triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterols; prolong the life of the heart muscle; and encourage a steady heartbeat.
* Women who regularly eat foods rich in carotenes cut their risk of stroke by 40 percent. Women who eat broccoli at least once a week have roughly half the risk of heart disease as women who eat none.
* Eliminating or limiting carbohydrates, especially refined flours and sugars, has halved the cholesterol of several friends whose totals were above 400. "What emerges is a clear association of heart disease with... consumption of devitalized, processed, fabricated food items, including sugar and fructose, soft drinks, fortified white flour, milk and egg powders, caffeine, imitation broth products, synthetic vitamins, vegetable oils, and hydrogenated fats." - Sally Fallon
* Garlic, Knoblauch, Ail (Allium sativum) is a great friend to old hearts. Several cloves a day of fresh, raw garlic can lower blood pressure, reduce phospholipids and cholesterol, strengthen heart action, increase immune response, reduce platelet clumping and clotting (thus reducing strokes), and stabilize blood sugar levels. Don't like raw garlic? Use powdered! A four-year study found women who ingested 900 mg (1/4 teaspoonful) of garlic powder daily had 18 percent less arterial plaque than those taking a placebo.
* Hawthorn berry tincture is the standard herbal heart tonic, and for good reason. It is broadly effective, virtually without overdose, and easy to make from fresh or dried berries. An elegant shrub or small tree, hawthorn is frequently cultivated in the suburbs. Injectable forms of Crataegus were used by MDs up until the 1950s to treat vascular heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation of the heart muscle, and arteriosclerosis. The action of hawthorn is slow but complete. It strengthens the heart, establishes a regular heartbeat, relieves water build-up around the heart, and resolves stress throughout the cardiovascular system. Dose is 25-40 drops of the berry tincture, up to 4 times a day. Expect results no sooner than 6-8 weeks.
* Motherwort, that dear friend of menopausal women, is a favorite heart tonic. A dose of 10-20 drops of the tincture of the flowering tops, taken up to three times a day, helps lower blood pressure, strengthen heart action, ease palpitations and irregular heartbeats, and make room in the heart for compassion.
* Keep your heart healthy by eating chocolate. Sound too good to be true? Despite its reputation, chocolate is loaded with heart healthy phytochemicals. Cocoa's tretramers curb oxidation of the blood vessel walls, short-circuiting the build up of atherosclerotic plaque; they also help keep the vessels relaxed, keeping blood pressure down. Chocolate's flavonoids are more powerful than vitamin C in limiting oxidation of LDL; they protect all lipids in the blood from free-radical damage. Procyanidins are flavonoids that work like mild aspirins, keeping the blood thin and free-flowing. Polyphenols are heart-healthy substances found abundantly in red wine, green tea, and chocolate. Daily use may prevent stroke by delaying blood clotting time. (75 ounces/20 grams of dark chocolate = one-half cup tea = one glass red wine.) Chocolate also prevents blood platelet fragmentation (which occurs when platelets get sticky), and boosts HDL (good) cholesterol. No wonder it often comes in heart-shaped boxes!
* Lemon balm is so strengthening to the heart, it is said those who drink it daily will live forever. Brew fresh or dried leaves in a cup of water for 5-10 minutes. Or steep fresh leaves in a glass of white wine for 1-2 hours and drink with dinner. Or enjoy 1-2 tablespoons/15-30 ml of the vinegar.
* You don't have to sweat, but you do have to move to keep your heart healthy. However you can do it, do it; no excuses.
* Dandelion root tincture lowers blood pressure and keeps your heart and cardiovascular system healthy and happy. Use 10-15 drops with meals.
* If you eat meat, be sure to eat whole grains and beans. Homocysteine is concentrated in the blood of those who eat a lot of animal protein and don't get enough B vitamins to process it completely.

HEART HEALTHY LIFE STYLE HINTS

* Eat whole grains, nuts, and beans daily.
* Eat lots of fruits and vegetables every day.
* Eat fatty fish at least once a week.
* Eat dark chocolate regularly.
* Eat a high monounsaturated-fat diet.
* Stop smoking.
* Exercise daily.
* Maintain a healthy weight; don't diet.

STOP SMOKING - HEART HEALTHY HINTS

Tobacco is highly addictive and you can beat it. Get an extra edge on quitting by nourishing yourself with a handful of freshly toasted sunflower seeds and a cup of nettle or oatstraw infusion daily for 4-6 weeks before you stop smoking. Sunflower seeds reduce cravings for nicotine by filling nicotine receptor sites. Nettles and oatstraw strengthen nerves and cushion the impact of withdrawal. Nourish yourself the Wise Woman Way when you want tobacco:

* Take an oatstraw bath.
* Eat a wild salad (even if its only one dandelion leaf).
* Bring home a flower.
* Let someone cook dinner for you.
* Go to a yoga class or a martial arts class.
* Buy something for yourself instead of cigarettes.
* Miss your smoke break? Take a break for pleasure!
* A weight gain of 15 pounds/7 kilos is normal for quitters.
* Nicotine withdrawal causes constipation.
* Read, get, buy The No-Nag, No-Guilt, Do-It-Your-Own-Way Guide to Quitting Smoking by Tom Ferguson, MD, Ballantine, 1987.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Learn How To Do Magic Tricks - Tips For Parents And Kids

In my magic courses and magic shows, I'm often asked how parents can foster their child's interest in magic.

Below are a few important steps to help to your kids learn how to do magic tricks and explore the Art of Magic.

1.Encourage your children to learn how to do magic tricks through the local library.

You don't need to buy the latest magic set or stacks of DVDs on sleight of hand to learn how to do magic. Libraries have a ton of resources on magic, magic history, juggling, and magic specifically for kids. It doesn't hurt that all this knowledge is FREE! A good beginner's book in magic will provide the initial foundation for your child to learn several magic tricks and help assess their interest in learning more about the Art of Magic.

2. Remind them to practice both the "moves" and the "story" when learning the magic trick. Magicians refer to their "story" as patter. Patter is the words used in the presentation of the magic trick. Kids (and adults) new to magic often focus purely on the "moves" rather than the presentation. Reminding the performer to focus on the story as well as the moves will only help your son or daughter become more proficient in their performance. Plus their magic trick will be more entertaining!

3. Visit your local magic shop

The library has a lot of resources, but a magic shop is often the defacto hot spot for any budding performer. Reputable magic shops are staffed with experienced prestidigitators that can help your child learn how to do magic. Watch out for any magic dealer who will sell an expensive magic prop without considering the skill of the performer. When purchasing magic, my recommendation is to invest in books before DVDs. Books have a lot of material that can be referred to time and time again. DVDs are good too however, the latest trend in magic is to release one trick per DVD. You want to ensure you get the most magic for your investment. The DVD will also show how the effect will be presented as well as the "secret". Both books and DVDs are useful learning tools. I prefer these to the standard tricks you find in the glass booths...but those are fun too! Magic shops will sometime host magic nights where local magicians get together and have a "jam session" demonstrating their latest magical pursuit.

4. Join a local magic assembly, ring, or group.

If you search http://www.magicsam.com or http://www.magician.org, you can find a local Assembly or Ring comprised of local magicians in your metropolitan area. Magic meetings are a fun place to network with other hobbyists, professionals, and newbies interested in the Art of Magic. Most magic organizations are welcoming of new members and are willing to share the secrets of their trade. However, the student must be willing to learn and practice rather than expect all the secrets to be revealed.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Feeling Alone?

Alone? Have you ever felt alone?

It's a lousy feeling for sure. It's a feeling that affects the very core of our existence. It's a bazaar feeling to say the least. Have you ever been in the middle of a crowded room and felt alone? Or how about at a family gathering surrounded by friends and family and yet, you still feel alone. I'm blown away at how this feeling can drive the rest of our emotions. Feeling alone, often leads to irrational thoughts and desperate behavior. Whether we want to admit it or not, we HATE to feel alone. At least I do!

You see, I believe that we are CREATED to be in relationships. Our mind, body and soul crave relationships. Which is why the feeling of being alone is so alarming. Now, don't get me wrong, everyone needs some "my time" to recharge or breathe every once in a while, that's not what I 'm talking about. It's when that "my time" is involuntarily extended that it becomes a dangerous feeling. When was the last time you felt alone? Last week? Yesterday? Today? Right now? Candidly, I've felt alone far too often over the past year or so. Unfortunately, those alone feelings led to irrational thoughts and behavior a few times. I don't plan on going into detail, but what I would like to share is how God ministered to me in my most desperate times, and then maybe share an idea that I found really helped me fight the alone feelings.

So I'm driving home from work late one night. I get a call from the babysitter that one of my children was having a hard time and requested that I make it home fast! In response I had my car up to 70mph in a 40 zone. Yup, you guessed it, there "just happened" to be a police officer coming the opposite direction! Bam, I was caught. He flipped a u-turn and popped his lights. I reluctantly pulled over and went through the routine. What I need to tell you was this pull over event just happened to follow three extremely excruciating and emotionally painful days. The police officer walks up to the window and says "what's the hurry?" I shared my situation with him, didn't seem to faze him. I handed over my license, registration and insurance card. He began walking away when I hollered out the window, "officer, any chance for some grace tonight?" He just kept on walking. I then spent the next few minutes feeling extremely alone.

I said "You know God this is just perfect, how much more can you dump on me? I'm beginning to feel like you have completely abandoned me, I feel alone". I then remembered one of my favorite Old Testament characters, Gideon. If you don't know about Gideon, let me know and I will gladly share his story with you. So I say, "God, if you are still involved in my life, and haven't abandoned me, show me by allowing me find grace in the eyes of this officer". Bold, yes, desperate, absolutely. Well the officer walks up to my window and says, "I'm going to let you off with a warning this time, slow down and get home safely". You could imagine my reaction.

Well, put yourself in my shoes, short of getting out of the car and doing the happy dance, what would you have done? Well, I just sat there in utter amazement and began to ball like a baby. God revealed Himself to me! He answered a specific prayer. He's not done with me, I'm not alone! He knows my pains and sorrows. He knows what I'm enduring and has not abandoned me. No, it didn't take the pain away, but it sure did lessen the sting. My mind was opened up to how God had been working in my life the past few days. Even in the midst of all the pain and turmoil, He was orchestrating blessings. My focus was centered on my feelings of being alone that I didn't see His hand reaching out towards me. I wasn't and am not alone. Creator God knows that I have been pulled over in Issaquah, WA. He HEARD me! He HEARD ME!!

He hears you! He knows your feelings! He knows your pain! He knows and catches your tears! Really, He does! We are instructed in I Peter to cast all our cares/anxiety/pain on Him, for HE cares for YOU! It's one of the most freeing passages in all of Scripture.

Yes, it's OK to ask God if He is still involved in our lives, several men/women in Scripture have had similar experiences or conversations with God revolving around this topic. The point is, we are not alone, you are not alone. God is constantly at work around and through our circumstances, no matter how painful. The feeling of "being alone" is a ploy of Satan to drive us even deeper into the pit of despair. Don't let Satan win!

My Friend, I was once told by a good friend that you can gauge your potential by the size of trials. God uses all circumstances for His purpose whether we are a part of the outcome or not. My take on it right now is, I've come a long way this past 2 years, I'm not going to give up and let Satan win now! If so, all my victories would be for not. Satan knows where I'm weak, he knows that I don't like feeling alone. He knows that we are designed for relationships. If he can get us to throw in the towel then he wins. My encouragement to all of us this week, is to ask God to reveal Himself to us in ways that we could never have imagined, then open our eyes to see Him at work.

PS...Oh, and to help combat the feeling of being alone, we ought to find a church that demonstrates authenticity! It's in these churches you will find friends to hold you up when you feel alone! It has sure helped me!

PSS...another funny but practical tool is, don't listen to country music when you feel alone, it only worsens the feeling!

Scott is the father of the 3 greatest kids in the world. Everything he does he does for their benefit. He has spent the past 14 years serving others. He is a veteran public speaker who loves to communicate truth and life principles.

Scott also maintains a encouragement group on Facebook called "Yelling At God - Lamenting before the Divine". Where he sends out weekly stories of encouragement and provides avenues of help for the hurting.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

How the Chinese Moon Festival is Celebrated in China

Trekking the Outdoors on Chinese Moon Festival

Nowadays, there are plenty of Chinese Moon Festival events that families can attend. Still, the idea is for families to go out to admire the beauty of the moon. Children are given lanterns to light the path. Lanterns are usually shaped like animals, but the modern lanterns now come in other shapes like airplanes, rockets and cars.

* Family is encouraged to send prayers of thanks for all blessings. They are also encouraged to put forth their wishes for the lady on the moon. It is said that when the moon is at its fullest, the Lady of the Moon grants wishes.
* Mooncake is shared. One mooncake is not eaten whole in one sitting. Rather, it is sliced into quarters and shared with family.
* Lovers also take this occasion to share mooncake and wine.
* For lovers and family who are far apart, they can gaze at the moon and remember the loved one who is also gazing up at the moon. They feel some bonding doing something together, despite the distance.


Telling Legends about the Moon

While gazing at the moon, legends about the moon are retold for the young people. Here are some of the more popular legends.

* The Archer and the Lady of the Moon. In the olden days, it was said that 10 suns arose and dried up the earth. Hou Yi the archer shot down 9 of the suns and saved the earth. The Jade Emperor was pleased and awarded him with the Elixir of Life. Hou Yi's wife, Chang'E, takes the elixir. She floats up to the moon. Hou Yi chases her through the heavens, but does not succeed in getting her back. The gods allow them to meet there once a month, when the moon is full.
* The Jade Rabbit accompanies Chang'E on the moon. The rabbit is commonly shown using a pestle and mortar, continually concocting the Elixir of Life.
* Wu Gang the Woodcutter. Wu Gang selfishly sought out immortality. This angered the gods that they sentenced Wu Gang to cut the Tree of Immortality on the moon. Unfortunately, every time Wu Gang succeeds in cutting down the tree, the magical tree grows right back.
* Moon Minister of Marriage. It is said that the old Minister matches future couples by connecting baby girls and baby boys with an enchanted red thread.


Bringing Out the Chinese Moon Poetry

Part of the Chinese Moon Festival's popularity can be attributed to the beautiful moon poetry written by ancient poets. The festival is the perfect time to bring out the poetry to be appreciated by the family.

A famous poem about the moon written in the ancient times is "Missing Home in the Silent Night" One translation goes: "The moonlight is shining through the window It makes me wonder if it is the frost on the ground, Looking up to see the moon ... Looking down I miss so much about my hometown. As the family, good food, moonlight, legend and poetry combine for this magical night, it is no wonder that the Chinese Moon Festival will always remain a favorite holiday among the Chinese.

Ray Ritchey is the owner of the site ChildBook which for over 10 years has been helping Children in the United States learn more about Chinese Culture and Language. They do this by selling Chinese Children's books, Music, and Video's in both Chinese and English. ChildBook was started in 1998 due to the frustration of the owners in finding good Chinese Language Learning material to bring their daughter up bilingually. Please free to visit our site for moon festival, DVDs, Poems to help your child learn Chinese Language easy and fun way.

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Looking For a New Helmet

If you are an experienced rider or even possibly a new rider, you will need to buy a new helmet at some point in time. Shopping for a new helmet, the selection of helmets for you to choose from can be overwhelming. There are some important details you will want to look for before choosing a helmet.

The first detail would be the D.O.T. certification. The U.S. Department of Transportation sticker on the back of the helmet is a way for you to be assured that the helmet has passed the D.O.T. standards. The standards require the helmet absorb a significant amount of the impact's energy, the ability to prevent penetration, and to have a fastening system that will withstand a large amount of force.

The second detail would be the helmet's ability to stay on your head. Trying on a helmet for fit and comfort is important, but you will also want the helmet to stay on your head in the event of a crash. You can find out whether a helmet has the ability to stay on with a simple test. Fasten the chinstrap snugly; you should feel some push on your chin. Then you want to grab the back of the helmet and lift it rolling it forward. If it hurts and the helmet still comes off, keep shopping for another helmet.

Another detail is comfort. Comfort of a helmet can make a difference in enjoying a long ride on your motorcycle or a miserable one. Some people might tell you that there is no such thing as a comfortable helmet, but after having them try 40 selections of helmets they found one that was comfortable. They are now a believer. There is a comfortable helmet for everyone. You may have to try several different dealers and try on every helmet in each store, but you will find one.

Fit is another important detail. Fit will also have something to do with the helmet being able to stay on your head. A helmet that fits, as it should, will probably be a little tight. as you pull it on. This would be because of the foam lining, which is the main component to sealing out the wind noise inside the helmet. If the helmet pulls on easily, it will probably be noisy and won't fit, as it should. The interior lining of the helmet will settle and compress a certain amount, to mold to your head, so a little tight is better than too loose.

Another important detail you need to remember when choosing a helmet is the area of coverage the helmet will give you. You can say the more coverage the better. Recent studies have shown that motorcyclists with facial injuries are more likely to have brain injuries, in fact about 3.5 times more likely. Those motorcyclists with facial fractures are 6.5 more times likely to have brain injuries. The full-face helmet provides more protection than the full coverage open-faced helmet or the half helmet.

The face shield has certification information molded into it. As you are trying on the helmet, make note of any areas of distortion. If any are found, especially in the area of your line of vision you will want to find another helmet. Distortions in face shields are fairly rare, but they still do exist. So double-check your face shield.

If you are looking for helmets with special features, you can find bluetooth modular helmets on the market.

The Nolan N102 N-Com is just one of several bluetooth modular helmets available on the market. The retail price for this is $740. However every new N102 works with Nolan's N-Com connection kits. If you are not ready to pay that amount of money for a bluetooth modular helmet, you can buy just the base helmet for $350 and add the Bluetooth when you are ready. A bluetooth modular helmet like this is more popular with the older generation. The entire front flips up to expose your face. It also comes with hook ups for bluetooth, intercom, and a 3.5-mm jack for your iPod. Quick-release chinstrap is extremely convenient. The flip-front can easily accommodate bifocals. It includes volume control, and a paint job that hides scratches.

A bluetooth modular helmet can be noisy. The microphone requires constant moving when putting the bluetooth modular helmet on or taking it off. It is one of the largest headpieces on the road.

The Vemar Jiano Bluetooth Modular Helmet comes fully equipped and there is no assembly required. It is compatible with your cell phone, GPS, and other electronics. It can be connected to your MP3, but is not meant to be a high-quality sound system for music. It comes equipped with stereo speakers. The Jiano Bluetooth Modular Helmet will operate for up to 10 hours on a charge. By using two together you will be able to communicate with a wireless connection with your passenger. The bluetooth is easy to operate, even while wearing gloves.This bluetooth modular helmet comes in a variety of sizes from XXS to XXL. This bluetooth modular helmet was engineered in Italy to the motorcyclist specific EC standard. It comes with a five year warranty from the date it was manufactured, which is equal to its useable life of this bluetooth modular helmet. It is D.O.T. certified. The Jiano Bluetotth Modular helmet features a mid oval shell shape, which offers a generous fit from the front to the back of the helmet, and fits more snugly from ear to ear. This helmet has a very comfortable fit for riders who like long rides. The internal liner fits the rider without any kind of pressure points. The exterior is made from an ultra light thermoplastic material. The exterior shell is aerodynamically shaped for ease of cutting through wind with less buffeting and wind noise. This helps in reducing the amount of stress on the rider's neck muscles after a long ride. The face cover of the Jiano Bluetooth Modular helmet has a lock mechanism, which exceeds expectations for safety and convenience. The face cover lock utilizes metal pins and hooks, making it extremely resistant to opening in the event of a crash. The actuation button is easy to use with gloved hands. An extra anti-fog, non-scratch 2.2 mm thick outer quick release dark tinted shield is included with each helmet. These are just some of the special features the Vemar Jiano Bluetooth Modular Helmet offers. To see more about this helmet find a dealer near you and check it out.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Sharing Road Safety

kills of the driver. This is a crucial area, which requires imperative measures to bring down the gruesome accidents caused due to negligent driving.

Knowledge of the driver depends on the quality of road safety program imparted to him or her. Though road safety education starts at school level, these days’ schools are more worried about results instead of imparting skills to the children for living safely and happily. Contemporary schools must lay more emphasis on teaching children about the road regulations and different modes of transport.

Attitude of a person depends on his upbringing at home and society in general. Most people think of civic value of following traffic rules as someone else's job and their children grow up with the same traits which are reflected in their attitude on roads. Thus, one must inculcate proper civic values to their children and make them respect the rights of other road users to ensure their road safety. Such upbringing will definitely reduce phenomenon like drunken driving and road rage which, however, is very common on Indian roads.

Driving skills of the user is another vital factor, novice driving often leads to rashness which in a major contributor to total number of road accidents. Thus, driving training should be made mandatory for everyone, before allotting driving license in India. Proper enforcement of traffic rules could also play a vital role in combating the accident rate. In order to do so, traffic police needs sufficient human resources and equipments like speed cameras, breathalyzers etc.

Thus, changing the traffic situation in India is not a one man’s job. It is only when everyone will realize the importance of being disciplined at road that we will be able to see a significant change in road traffic safety in India. In other words, only an honest and sincere collaborative effort can ensure safety of precious lives on Indian roads, which seems to be in great danger as of now.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Mango Delight - Popular Among Children

Mango is a seasonal fruit. The himalayas are the origin of the Mangoes. It usually grows in summer reason. cultivated in many tropical regions and distributed widely in the world. one of the most delicious and nutritious foods. Mango is one of the most popularly exploited fruit for food, juice, milk shake, flavor, and color. everybody loves to eat mangoes and if is served with the cream its flavor enhanced. Mangoes are low in calories, saturated fats, cholesterol and it contain vitamin A, C, and E, magnesium.

Ingredients
1 Pack of Cream,
1/2 tin of condensed milk,
3 Mango pulps,
1 Pack of Mango jelly.

Method
Beat the cream and then add condensed milk and mango pulps in a bowl and mix them thoroughly. Take another pan make a mango jelly and leave it unless it become cool. Then pour the blended mixture into a bowl, then add jelly cubes and mango cubes in the mixture. then decorate it with jelly and nuts. put it in the refrigerator to make it cool.

Mango Shake

Mango shake is a favorite shake among everyone its very nutritious and healthy. It is very good for growing children. and very easy to made.

Requirement

2 Mangoes,
1/2 cup cream,
ice cubes,
sugar as required,
mango essence,
1/2 liter milk..

Cut the mango into cubes. put mango cubes, milk, cream, sugar, 2 drops of mango essence and ice cubes in the blender and blend it for 5 to 7 minutes. Pour the shakes into the glass and put the mashed mangoes in it.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

Summer Camp

Can't decide between being a counselor at summer camp and going abroad? You can do both by finding a job as a summer camp counselor overseas. Many programs offer opportunities for U.S. workers to go abroad and for international workers to work at American summer camps. The latter is especially popular as many camps in the U.S. cannot find enough American workers.

Why Work in a Summer Camp Abroad? Working in a summer camp abroad gives you a chance to meet people from all over the world, experience a new culture, and perhaps learn a new language. Programs often allow for a month of travel after the camp season ends.

Some programs partner with U.S. universities to offer college credit to counselors from the U.S.

What Countries Offer Summer Camps? While summer camps are not as popular in much of the world as they are in the U.S., they are becoming increasingly popular in Canada. Summer camps for children are also popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. Other countries also offer summer camp programs, although they are not as popular.

Wilderness trips are very popular in many countries, including Australia, Costa Rica, France, Spain, Brazil, Greece, and many others. These programs often hire trip leaders from the U.S., and may serve either traveling American children and teens or international participants.

What to Expect at Your Overseas Summer Camp Job - Many summer camps abroad, particularly in Russia and Eastern Europe, resemble traditional American summer camps. They are often in rural settings and emphasize activities like horseback riding, hiking, and canoeing. Some programs may also have a (usually American) cultural component or offer English classes. These programs often hire U.S. citizens as both counselors and English instructors.

Countries like Canada offer a similar range of summer camp programs to the U.S., including both traditional summer camps and more specialized camps for drama, sports, and other activities.

How to Find an Overseas Summer Camp Job - Overseas summer camp jobs can be tricky to find, especially since not all have their own websites like most U.S. summer camps. It is often easiest to go through an organization that helps U.S. citizens find summer camp jobs abroad. These programs help match you with a camp and facilitate your paperwork.

Overseas summer job sites offer some listings, or you can try an Internet search for "overseas camp counselor jobs." If you are in college, your study abroad office or career center may offer directories of overseas summer job programs that include camp jobs.

Landing Your Overseas Summer Camp Job - First Aid, CPR, Wilderness First Responder, and SCUBA certification are all useful credentials that can help your application be more competitive. Some camps look for sailing experience or language skills, and previous outdoor and teen leadership experience is always helpful.

A patient, outgoing personality is crucial. More than most jobs, landing a job as a camp counselor depends on your ability to be friendly and cheerful, even while working long hours and handling large groups of children.

If you can demonstrate previous experience working with children, particularly in an outdoor setting, it will help your application. Experience leading tours or otherwise working with the public is also helpful.

Interesting seasonal jobs are a speciality of Lisa Jenkins, who many consider to be the guru of adventurous summer jobs. Her material appears regularly on JobMonkey, a completely free website with a job board and thousands of pages of information about seasonal work opportunities, including: summer camp jobs, dude ranch jobs, Alaska fishing jobs, and many 'offbeat' careers worldwide.

Article Source:EzineArticles.com

History of the Camera

Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able to project images onto paper or glass but the study of capturing, processing and printing the images took many more years. Up until the 17th century, scientists believed that light was composed basically of the 'white' that is perceived by the human eye. It took the research done by famous physicist Isaac Newton to discover that light is actually composed of a spectrum of colors. While he made a big contribution to the study of optics (that is at the core of camera advances) with this discovery, Newton did not actually have anything to do with camera development per se.

The early camera that first became a phenomenon was a little more than a pinhole camera and can be traced back to 1558. It was called the Camera Obscura. The Camera Obscura was seen as a drawing tool for a clearer and realistic portrayal of objects. It was in the early 19th century that an invention named the Camera Lucida was introduced by Cambridge scientist William Hyde Wollaston that consisted of an optical device that could help an artist view a distant scene or person or object on a paper surface that he or she was using to draw. In other words the artist gets to view a superimposed image of a subject on paper and this image could be effectively used to attempt to draw, trace or paint it. Both the Camera Obscura and the Camera Lucida provided an image that was temporary, which could not be lastingly captured on to paper for later reference.

Studies however continued well into the 1800's on how to actually capture the image onto material. It was during this time, around 1822 that French researcher Joseph Nicephore Niepce, created the first photograph by using paper that was coated with a chemical. The image would not stay permanently on the paper and would disappear after a short while. Even so, despite the short-lived nature of the image, the concept of photography was born with this experiment and paved the way for further study and development in this field.

Capturing images to retain them longer and permanently became the next big quest for researchers. Another Frenchman Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre partnered with Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1829, to develop the process of creating permanent photographs. Joseph Niépce died in 1833 but Daguerre continued with the work and succeeded in 1837 after many long years of experimentation. The process of capturing photographic images that would not fade away, introduced by Daguerre came to be known as the 'daguerreotype'.

The word 'photography' was coined by scientist Sir John F.W. Herschel in 1839 and it is actually is derived from two Greek words 'photos' meaning light and 'graphein' meaning draw.

A slightly more advanced version of the daguerreotype called the Calotype process that makes multiple copies possible using the negative and positive method became available very soon after. In fact, it was during the 1840's that the use of photographic images in advertisements first started and cameras made their mark on the power of visual communication. It was not much later, in the 1850's that photographers first started experimenting with underwater photography of seascapes.

Up until 1850, the process of capturing images was cumbersome requiring upto half an hour of light exposure. The discovery made in 1851 by Frederick Scott Archer was a blessing since the new method termed the Collodion process called for just 2-3 seconds of light exposure to capture an image.

Prior to 1871, photographers went through a development process where they had to coat the plate with wet chemical each and every time and process the image immediately. With the invention the gelatin dry plate silver bromide process by Richard Leach Maddox, negatives did not have to be developed immediately. This was an important discovery since up until then the captured image had to be processed instantly.

Kodak created in 1888 by George Eastman has been a modern day pioneer of sorts in cameras and photography for the masses. George Eastman and the scientists who worked with him at Kodak developed the photographic film in 1889 and made it available in rolls for the mass use of consumers. An important milestone in our entertainment and communication history was the development of transparent roll film by Eastman. This development led to another key invention - the motion picture camera by Thomas Edison's in 1891.

-->Modern Times

During the 20th century the pace of technology development in cameras and photography continued at an accelerated pace much like many other key technology developments. While several key inventions like car, telephone and the gramophone record happened in the later half of the 19th century, it is the last 100 years that saw major developmental work in many areas of communications technology and as well as in other fields - TV, aircrafts, PCs, digital technology, digital cameras, mobile phones, fax machines and the internet, to name a few.

In the case of the camera, the developments simplified the whole process of photography, making it accessible to one and all at affordable prices and the camera industry denizens of our times made it into a mass phenomenon. The first mass use camera became available at the turn of the 20th century and can be traced back to the year 1900. There are hundreds of models of cameras available today both for the amateur as well as the professional and the camera is an important part of any family's repertoire of must have gadgets.

-->20th century chronology in the history of the camera:

1913: 35 mm still-camera created

1927: The flash bulb introduced by General Electric Co. (The concept of camera flash existed much before but was based on the use of a flash light powder that was invented by German researchers)

1935- 1941: Kodak starts marketing Kodachrome film and subsequently launches Kodacolor negative film. Canon released the Hansa Canon in 1936, the first 35mm focal-plane shutter camera.

1948: The concept of the Polaroid camera is introduced in the market. American scientist Edwin Land developed the process for instant photography. Later Polaroid Corporation developed the 'instant color' film around 1963.

1957: Frenchman Jaques Yves Cousteau invented the first waterproof 35mm camera for underwater photography named the Calypso Phot. The actual camera was developed by the Belgian airplane technical designer Jean de Wouters based on the blueprint and suggestions given to him by Cousteau.

1972: The electronic camera that does not require film was created and patented by Texas Instruments. This is however not the same as a digital camera though you don't require film in digital cameras as well. The launch of the digital camera is still many years away.

1975: Kodak's experiments with digital imaging kicked off around the mid seventies but it will take another 20 years before a digital camera for the home consumer market is launched.

1978 - 1980: Asian players like Konica and Sony begin to make their mark. The 'point and shoot' automatic focus camera is launched by Konica while Sony starts talking about the camcorder and demonstrates a prototype.

1981: Sony launches a commercially available electronic still camera. Similar to the 1972 invention by Texas Instruments, the Sony electronic camera came with a mini disc on which images were recorded and stored. The recorded images could be later printed or viewed on a monitor using a reader device.

1985: Digital processing technology makes its entry. Digital imaging and processing is introduced by Pixar.

1986: The camera industry becomes even more consumer focused and taps the fun and travel connotations behind camera usage, with the launch of the concept of the disposable single use cameras. Fuji is credited with the development of this concept.

Also in 1986 - 1987, Kodak started taking giant strides in digital development. Digital means, the photographic image is divided into tiny units of dots or squares known as pixels. Pixels are the programmable units of an image that can be processed by computers. Each image could be made up of millions of pixels. The use of pixels in digital technology allows storing large volumes of pixels to deliver high definition print quality.

1990: Kodak introduces Photo CD's. It is a system of storing photographic images on CD and then viewing them on a computer. With this development the user-friendly approach of the camera industry began to take concrete shape.

1991: Kodak introduces a digital camera targeted at professionals and journalists. Kodak is credited with the invention of a pixel based camera technology known to us as the digital camera. Digital cameras don't use film similar to their predecessor electronic cameras but the storage method is entirely different and the final photograph is of much higher resolution. In a digital camera photos are recorded and stored in digital form. This digital data can be transferred to a computer and processed for printing. Kodak and Canon are well known digital camera manufacturers and there are also several other key brands as well.

1994: The Apple QuickTake camera, a home use digital camera is launched. This is followed by the launch of a clutch of home use digital cameras by Casio, Kodak and others in quick succession during 1995 -'96.

-->The digital era:

The development of digital camera technology is considered to be linked to the development of TV and Video technology. The principles of transmission and recording of audio-visual images using digital electrical impulses finds use in camera imaging as well.

Through the 1990's the developments continued in camera technology, the focus now shifting to the field of digital imaging which is where the future lies. Use-friendly features like software that can download digital images directly from camera onto home computers for storing and sharing on the internet is the new norm in the market place.

The camera, the computer, the software industry and the worldwide web are today irrevocably interlinked to empower the user in experiencing the benefits of camera usage to full potential. The innovation that sparked many an invention in the camera industry found its way into the digital world as well and continued among digital camera manufacturers. During 2001, the Kodak and Microsoft partnership ensured that digital camera manufacturers could use the power of Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) standard through Windows. The digital photo experience is a key visual driver in the Internet era. Many of Kodak digital camera models with EasyShare capabilities are compatible with Windows XP. The Kodak EasyShare software enables users to transfer digital camera pictures directly from camera to their computers and then print the pictures or even email them.

Manufacturers in a related industry like the printing industry have adapted their products to be in sync with the images created by digital cameras. Cell phone manufacturers have tied up with digital camera manufacturers to develop new age camera phones in recent years. These camera phones can capture images and share the images through the cell phone.

Among the 21st century digital developments are the advanced product offerings from digital cameras manufacturers and these are sure to occupy an important place in the ensuing history of camera development. For instance, the Kodak Professional DCS Pro SLR/c is a high-end digital camera and the Kodak website calls the DCS Pro SLR models the most feature-rich digital cameras on the market. It has an image sensor that can handle 13.89 million pixels and this makes it the highest resolution digital camera available. High resolution determines the sharpness or level of detail in photographic images. This is just a glimpse of the capabilities that digital technology places in a user's hands. Digital camera sales figures for 2003 show that the two key players Kodak and Canon have recorded impressive growth.

-->What does the future holds for camera users?

The features offered by digital cameras can be quite mind-boggling for the average user and pretty exciting for most pros. Four key ongoing camera developments that are likely to further improve the process of photography:

1. Greater resolution from even the simplest, low cost camera models

2. Usage in any type of lighting conditions,

3. Compatibility across a range of software, hardware and image types

4. Rich colors and tone

While the higher-end digital evolution continues, the prices of the simple camera have crashed to such an extent that even children and teens are proud owners of uncomplicated cameras. The camera and photography interest starts young and this creates a truly large audience base for the camera industry.

And throughout history, it is evident that the endeavor of researchers and developers has been to make the camera available to a wide section of society. Without camera technology and photography, the other key developments of cinema and TV would have been delayed and what a boring place the world would have been without TV and films!!

Article Source:EzineArticles.com