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13
Jan 10

An Interesting Life – My Career In Stock Photography

Author: John M. Lund
Source: articlesbase.com

A more interesting life leads to better photographyIt occurred to me today while adding meta data to my stock photos that one thing you can do to increase your success as a stock photographer is to lead a more interesting life! How do you lead a more interesting life and make it apply to your photography? Well, I would say the answer to that is DO SOMETHING! Do anything. Action always takes you somewhere…and even if you later find out it took you in a direction that wasn’t quite the one you wanted, that in itself could help point you in the direction that you do want to go in. I would contend that going in the wrong direction, and finding out what the right direction, is, beats the heck out of doing nothing and getting nowhere.The stock image that I just uploaded to my site is of a man falling through the sky. If I hadn’t decided to go to Bonaire I wouldn’t have shot that background image through the window of the aircraft. If I hadn’t gone to Buenos Aires I might never have rented a gymnasium, hired a gymnast, and created a shot of him dismounting from the parallel bars wearing a suit (and then been able to Photshop the composite together)! The more interesting my life has become the more interesting both my photography and my archives of interesting raw materials have become.Making your life more interesting is an investment…and as far as investments go it is hard to imagine either a safer investment or one that has a better return. Like anything else, to get the most return you will have to have some follow-through. For example, a few years back I decided to do a stock photo shoot in Buenos Aires with two of my good friends. We decided to shoot in Buenos Aires because we wanted to, because we wanted to have an adventure, because we wanted our lives to become more interesting. It wasn’t cheap. Actually, at the time, it was the most money by far of any photo shoot I had ever done. And the pay-off has been huge!That first time of undertaking a produced stock shoot outside the borders of my own country opened up a whole new world for me. I have now done “produced” stock shoots (as opposed to just grabbing whatever shots opportunistically came up) in Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Thailand and India. My life is more interesting, I am making money off of all of those shoots, and I have a wealth of raw materials for my compositing that I otherwise never would have had. I have friends I can turn to in each of those locations. In Argentina I even feel like I have a whole second family! Not only can leading a more interesting life lead to better photography, stock photography can lead to a more interesting life! Under the guise of shooting stock I travel, I rent animals such as lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys, I meet a ton of new people (models, assistants, producers, photographers and everyday people we end up interacting with), and I am forced out of my shell and my daily humdrum existence. I wake up every morning and am thankful for my life as a stock shooter!

Stock photos and funny pictures: Hispanic man in yellow rain gear jumping in puddle

Stock Photos and Images: man in yellow rain gear standing in puddle

Funny Pictures and Stock Photos: Hispanic man in yellow rain gear

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22
Nov 09

So, You Are Going On Vacation – Now You Can Help Burglars Take One, Too!

Author: Mr. Merokee
Source: isnare.com

An empty house is an appealing target for a burglar. Use this checklist of guidelines to help protect your home while you are away.

1. Have good quality locks on all doors and windows and USE THEM!

2. Solicit a neighbor to keep an eye on the house while you are away. It is a sound idea to leave behind your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in the event of an emergency.

3. Never leave your house key concealed outside your home.

4. Discontinue all deliveries, or make plans for a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspapers and packages.

5. Arrange for someone to mow your lawn, rake leaves and keep up the yard to give the home a lived-in look.

6. Plug in timers to turn on lights, a radio or television on and off at fitting times. This helps to camouflage the fact that you are away.

7. Don’t make known your absence on answering machine messages.

8. Leave your blinds, shades and curtains in a customary position. Don’t close them unless that is what you do when you are home.

9. Close and lock garage doors and windows. Ask a neighbor to sporadically park in your driveway. If you leave your car at home, park it as you customarily would. Vehicles parked outside should be moved occasionally to look as if they are being used.

10. Advise your local police you plan to be away. Patrol officers may have the occasion to periodically check your home.

11. Engrave your valuables. This simple step will allow any stolen property to be recognized and returned to you if recovered by the police.

Vacation Travel Safety

1. If you are driving, make sure your vehicle is properly serviced and is in suitable condition for the journey.

2. Try to have detailed directions and routes to your vacation destination.

3. If you become lost, call the area police for directions or assistance.

4. Always keep your motor vehicle doors and windows locked.

5. When at stoplights and other traffic snarls, allow enough space in front of your vehicle so that you have an escape alternative in case of an emergency.

6. Let someone know the route you intend to travel and your itinerary. This will aid authorities in locating you if there is a necessity to do so.

7. Plan your trip meticulously and allow for things such as weather, fatigue, facilities for lodging, food and fuel. Be sure you have adequate finances, cash, traveler’s checks or credit cards.

8. Inquire of the hotel or motel staff about their security procedures so you know what to anticipate.

9. Make use of the hotel safe to put in safekeeping your valuables during your stay.

Do you remember the days gone by when you never had to lock your car doors parked in your own driveway or did not have to ask neighbors to keep an eye on your property when you are on vacation because they would do so automatically without being asked? I am sorry; those days are long since gone and only a memory!

Take the steps necessary to have a well-needed vacation without it becoming a vacation nightmare by finding your property stolen or damaged.

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15
Nov 09

Amt American Express Travel Gives Jamaica A Top Destination Rating

Author: Virginia Morgan
Source: isnare.com

AMT American Express Travel says Jamaica has always been a very popular destination for romantic travel including honeymoons and getaways for couples of all ages looking for a place to sight see and relax. In recent years, Jamaica has been growing in popularity with families and young people looking for a vacation spot that offers a little bit of everything for all to enjoy.

Few people planning their vacation realize Jamaica is one of the largest islands in the Caribbean says AMT American Express Travel. It stretches 145 miles from east to west with a range of mountains running almost entirely the length of the island and rising to over 7,400 ft. in the east, at their highest point.

But why has Jamaica remained such a popular destination and why does it continue to attract tourists in increasing numbers? Jamaica has morphed into a tourist-motivated destination, offering many excellent hotels, inns and guests houses. There are several airports, highways and ports from which travelers can gain full access to all of Jamaica’s points of interest. Jamaica offers several all-inclusive resorts, such as Sandals and Couples chains. The most popular destinations in Jamaica, where Sandals and Couples have resorts, are Port Antonio and Ocio Rios in the east and Montego Bay and Negril in the west. These resorts manage to capture the natural beauty and wonder of the island while at the same time being some of the most luxurious accommodations on the island.

The independent hotels are equally spectacular, from old colonial classics, modern hideaways and grand villas. The local residents with their vibrant culture add even more flavor to the already rich experience that is Jamaica. The more the vacationing sector develops, the more Jamaica is becoming an economy built on tourism. And that means that the Jamaican people want tourists to come and enjoy themselves. Jamaica is also the largest English-speaking country in the Caribbean.

AMT American Express Travel states that the island’s laid-back pace of life adds to the feeling of relaxation, which is key for most vacationers. Jamaica is also designated as the most beautiful island in the Caribbean, offering eye candy for all those who visit. The island’s beaches full of secluded coves that many vacationers find very interesting to explore.

The vegetation is a mixture of luxuriant tropical forest and lush coffee plantations, offering visitors a chance to see the production of one of the most universally consumed beverages in the world. Jamaica is lush with every aspect of a tropical paradise, including the weather. Jamaica has over 300 days of sunshine throughout the year, even during the wet seasons. Daytime temperatures are fairly constant year-round and lower in mountain areas. Heat and humidity can be felt during all times of the year and the warmest months are from July to October, especially on the coast. The region is prone to hurricanes from July to October. Although a direct hit on Jamaica is rare, if you are unfortunate enough to be there when a hurricane passes within a few hundred miles, there can be a lot of rain.

Jamaica vacations are moderately priced. You can find price extremes in both directions when it comes to travel and accommodations, although most airfare will run pretty high.

AMT American Express Travel says prices are usually higher in tourist areas like Negril and Ocho Rios. Shops in “tourist traps” usually have higher prices than native shops and you’ll usually see the same items at both locations. There are accommodations and restaurants that are cheap, but you’ll get what you pay for. The luxury resorts are a very good value because the rates are reasonable for the high-end accommodations you receive.

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10
Nov 09

Feng Shui Interprets the Eight Basic Directions

Author: Kartar Diamond
Source: download

In traditional feng shui, we learn that each of the eight basic directions is associated with parts of the body, a family member, an element and more symbolism than we can explore in a single article.
When a direction within your home or work place has something deficient or distinguishing about it, you can consider who and what might be affected and often there is a correlation.
For example, the direction of North is associated with the kidneys, blood, circulation and ears. North is the water element and also symbolic of the middle son in a family unit. If someone had a missing north quadrant to their home’s floor plan, we can see that one or more of the occupants might have kidney problems or another health issue connected with North.
Northeast is associated with the bones and muscles, particularly the hands and fingers. In the family structure, Northeast represents the youngest son in the family. I once had a client with an enlarged or extended northeast quadrant to their home. It was interesting to note that the youngest son in the family was pretty much controlling the family. He was even dictating to his mother during our consultation, which feng shui remedies he thought she should follow through on and which she should ignore.
East is associated with the feet, throat, and nervous system. East is also symbolic of the eldest son in the family structure. Some of the first people to be introduced to feng shui in America have been real estate agents. Many noted that a Chinese family might shy away from buying a house with a missing east quadrant or a missing east section of a parcel of land. They feared that they would not conceive any sons in a house or lot that was missing it’s east quadrant.
Southeast is associated with the eldest daughter in the family unit and the body parts include the low back, legs, hips and thighs. I was once called to advise on a Jackie Chan movie in the making and the story line included a man who wanted to do some feng shui remedy to his house that would bring back his estranged daughter. I told them to do something to adorn or enlarge the SE section of the house and if they could convey that in a movie setting, more power to them!
The direction of South is representative of the eyes and heart as well as the middle daughter in the family structure. Just as another example of how the inside and outside work together, if you had a neighbor to the south of your home that was doing a prolonged and large construction project, that precarious energy would travel towards your house and possible affect your own eyes and heart.
The Southwest direction is related to the mother in the family. If it is a larger section of the floor plan, then we can say that the woman in the house is very strong. If it is a missing quadrant, then perhaps the mother is very weak or non-existant. The southwest is also linked to the abdominal area, so a missing southwest quadrant could indicate that the occupant might have digestive or reproductive problems.
The west quadrant represents the teeth, mouth, jaw or chest and the family member is the youngest daughter. One of my clients revealed that she had a cracked foundation under the west quadrant of her house and she did have dental problems that began when she moved in.
Finally, the Northwest quadrant is attached to the Father figure or some male in charge like the president of a company. The body areas are the head and lung region. If a house is missing a northwest quadrant, then the power and authority of the man in charge is undermined or non-existant.
This is just one layer of many layers to look at in the fascinating relationship between the house and its occupants.
Kartar Diamond is a feng shui expert based in Southern California with clients world wide. Many people love to read about feng shui, but a proper analysis takes a lot of training and experience. Kartar routinely meets with several hundred new clients per year and has evaluated thousands of properties.
For more information, contact kartar at http://www.FengShuiSolutions.net.

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2
Nov 09

Safety Tips For Single Moms Traveling With Kids

Author: Carol Boles
Source: articleage.com

Everytime you turn on the news you hear about a violent crime. No wonder so many single mothers are hesitant to travel alone with their children. They fear for their safety.
I’m a single mom. Yet I love to take long road trips across the United States with my son. And having traveled so often over the past few years, I’ve developed a few safety tips that my son and I always follow. If you’re a single mom, these tips should work for you and your family, too.
Here they are:
JOIN AN AUTO CLUB
Prior to leaving on your trip, join an auto club. Get on line and type in “Auto Clubs” at a good search engine, like www.google.com, to find one.
Auto Club memberships offer tow service, gas delivery, jump starts, and assistance with mechanical problems, plus other services a single mom on the road might need. Also, many auto clubs have discount agreements with hotels and will send you free maps and vacation brochures.
HAVE YOUR CAR SERVICED
Before you pull out of the driveway and onto the highway, make sure your car is in good working order. Take your car to a reputable auto service station. Have your oil and air filter changed. You will get better gas mileage. While you’re there, have them check your windshield wiper fluid and the freon level in your air conditioner. Check the air pressure in your tires. Make sure your tires are in good shape and the treads aren’t worn.
Make sure all your car door locks work. Also, because you don’t want to advertise that you’re traveling alone with your children, think about having your windows tinted for privacy, if they aren’t already. Window tinting for an average size SUV will cost about $200.00 dollars.
DON’T TRAVEL WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH
Instead of bringing large amounts of cash with you, always pay for gas, hotel rooms, and souvenirs with a credit card and get a receipt. Keep your receipts and check them against your monthly statement. It’s good to take at least two credit cards, in case one credit card company doesn’t approve a purchase, Many times, for your protection, your credit card company will deny a purchase if you try to use the card outside of the area where you usually make purchases.
Carry cash for small purchases. Buy travelers’ checks for backup cash. However, be prepared to pay a fee for cashing them at a bank.
PACK YOUR CAR FOR SAFETY
Make sure to take your cell phone and its charger. Call family members periodically. Let them know your itinerary, where you are each day, and which hotels you are staying in. Collect all your state maps, your US almanac and vacation brochures and store them in a canvas bag for easy access. Even if your car has ON-Star capability, have maps for a backup.
Purchase a small portable air bubble and jump pack. An air bubble holds about 120lbs. of air. If you have a flat and are unable to get help, hopefully your tire will hold air long enough to limp into the next town. The jump pack will come in handy should your car battery die. Just remember to charge it before you leave home. If you’re traveling during the winter months, it’s good to pack a flashlight, candles, blankets and a first aid kit.
PACK YOUR CAR FOR COMFORT
Inevitably you will end up eating in your car. Pack baby wipes and trash bags to keep your car clean. Pack snacks and water and plastic bins for souvenirs. A clean, organized car is much more pleasant for traveling. It’s also safer since you won’t be rummaging around trying to find something while your driving.
PACK YOUR CAR FOR FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT
Take along CDs, books on tape, crayons, coloring books, and activity books to keep the kids entertained so you can give your full attention to driving.
MAKE YOUR HOTEL STAY SAFE
Stay at hotels where your door does not lead directly to the outside. Most hotels now require a room key to access the hotel from exterior doors.
Every evening, check the weather conditions along your driving route. Join a hotel points program. They will give you phone numbers and the location of their hotels at your next destination. Many give discounts on room rates and you can earn points towards a free stay.
DRIVE SAFELY
Don’t take back roads. Always stay on main highways. Go to gas stations that are busy. Watch your surroundings as you drive along and be aware of cars behind you. If someone stops you, make sure they are authorized to do so. Of course, never leave your car and get in a stranger’s car, for any reason.
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE
Before you leave on your trip, teach or review with your children how to be safe around strangers. DANGER STRANGER! Never let your small children go into a rest stop restroom alone. Always escort them.
BE PREPARED
Buy a can of mace to keep in your car, and don’t be afraid to use it if you must. Anyone’s car can break down in the middle of nowhere. Be prepared if you find yourself in a seemingly dangerous location.
You may think of other safety tips for yourself and your children. The point is, make safety a part of planning a road trip with your kids, then get out there and see the country! There’s no reason to hesitate.
Carol Boles has a master’s degree in Special Reading and an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has over ten years experience teaching K-12 reading in public schools. She now manages her own business and is a member of The Lieurance Group, a freelance writers cooperative. Find out more about her writing services at http://www.lieurancegroup.blogspot.com or email her at Cwrites-56@hotmail.com.

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1
Nov 09

Travel Safety Tips For Your Baby

Author: Kelly LaRose
Source: isnare.com

Following Britney’s recent faux pas with her new baby, whom she was carrying on her lap while driving a car, travel safety for your babies has again become an issue again. Hundreds of babies are hurt or even killed in car accidents every single day due to parental negligence. On most occasions these unfortunate events could have easily been avoided if only the baby’s parents had used safety car seats. The baby safety car seats are specially designed to protect your child from car accidents etc., your baby’s head and neck and other muscles tend to be soft and hurt easily in case of a sudden jerk or fall. The baby safety car seat makes sure that such sudden jerks and falls do not affect your child in any way.

Following is a list of the common types of baby car seats available in the market:

(1) Baby Car seats – These face the end of the car and can support about 20lb of weight.

(2) Convertible (Infant/toddler) car seats- can function as both a rear facing seat as well as a forward facing seat and are meant for babies between 30-35 lb. For better safety purposes keep your baby facing the rear as long as possible (most kids can’t seem to bear facing the rear for too long due to the motion sickness it induces.

(3) Belt Positioning booster seats – for slightly older kids, say around 2 ? – 3 years, go for the Belt-positioning booster seats. These can take up to 40 pounds of weight and use the standard in-car shoulder belt to keep your kid safe.

As a parent not only do you need to take safety precautions in order to protect your child from accidents, but also know how to use the safety precautions correctly. Thus buying a baby car seat isn’t enough you must also learn to install it properly. Most parents thread the belts of the seat through the wrong slots or forget to use a locking clip or to buckle up the child without realizing what grave consequences these tiny mistakes might have. If you have fixed the car seat accurately it will not budge more than an inch on either side, so check to see if the seat is moving once you have installed it.

Tips for traveling with your baby:

Here are a few simple rules you must follow while traveling with your baby;

? Make sure you follow the directions given in the manual that comes with the car seat while putting your baby in the crib.

? Make sure your baby’s weight is not more than that permitted by the seat company.

? Remember to carefully fasten all the loops and buckles so that your baby is tightly secured.

? Make sure to carry a lot of water, a well-equipped first aid kit and your mobile phone. All these will come handy in case of an emergency.

? In case your baby seat starts getting worn out, replace it immediately. Using a car seat that is excessively worn out will not serve its purpose.

When purchasing a car seat for your baby make sure you buy one that fits into your car perfectly. Price really doesn’t matter; even the cheapest car seat will have passed the crash test. Also keep in mind your child’s height and weight, purchase the car seat according to these.

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1
Nov 09

American Adventure Travel: Great White Sharks – Big Fish – Big Teeth -Big Surprises

Author: Anonymous
Source: free-articles

San Diego, CA April 21, 2004 — ???Fourteen feet and almost one ton of raw predatory power was behind the shark that severed our boats anchor cable??

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22
Oct 09

New Kittywalk Catalog Now Available through Direct Marketer Midnight Pass

Author: Anonymous
Source: free-articles

MARSHFIELD, MA July 21, 2004 — The flagship exclusive pet accessory line Kittywalk and Puppywalk, developed by inventor Lise King of New York, is now available through a convenient Kittywalk Catalog, compliments of MidnightPass.com, a Marshfield, MA based direct marketer and online retailer.

Pet lovers can now receive a complimentary Kittywalk Catalog by contacting Midnight Pass by phone (877) 844-GIFT or by requesting a catalog online at www.midnightpass.com.

“There are over 73 million cats and 69 million dogs in the U.S. and the Kittywalk line of products is a big hit with pet owners. It is one of our most popular items,??

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21
Oct 09

Backgammon – A Complex Mind Game

Author: Maitreyee Chowdhury
Source: ezinearticles.com

Summary: A complex mind-game, what makes backgammon most appalling is its deadly combination of players’ lucks and brains that goes on to decide their destinies. In the simplest of definition, two sets of 15 checkers travel in opposite direction across the board to complete the journey first and defeat its opponent, at the same time being aware of the blot points!

How to Play Backgammon?

Ask any veteran, and he will tell you that playing Backgammon is one of the most mind-boggling gaming experiences. Claimed to be one of the oldest indoor games in the world, Backgammon demands both luck and skill from its players. Originating approximately 5,000 years ago, perhaps in some part of where presently Iran is situated, Backgammon is a board game played with the rolling of dice. The board consists of 24 narrow triangular structures called points, arranged in four quadrants, each consisting of six points.

Two players, each starting with one quadrant as his or her home board, throw dice to start the game. The player who gets the maximum score starts moving his checkers along the points. If both the players end up with the same score or pip, then both of them keep on rolling dice until the numbers differ. The primary goal in the game of Backgammon is to bring all your checkers back to your home board in order to get them out of the board. The one who can bear off all the checkers first is the winner.

You must remember that you have to roll both the dice, and place your Backgammon checkers based on the combined dice score. You can mentally number the points on the board from 1 through 24, starting with the point on the upper right-hand corner, farthest away from you. One has to make the move in an anti-clockwise direction.

Once you have proceeded a bit with your checkers you will face blocked places along the points. This is because of the fact that you cannot place your checker at any point already occupied by your opponent’s checker. This implies that your movement is restricted to vacant places on the Backgammon board, or those points occupied by your own checkers.

Another interesting feature of playing Backgammon is the doubling concept. If the same number comes up once you roll the dice, you can move the checkers twice as many times. Your checkers cannot move backwards, which means that checkers of the two colours (generally black and white) will always be seen moving in opposite direction. You have to be aware about blot points. It happens when your opponent’s checker might threaten one of your checkers. Differently coloured checkers may not occupy the same point. A blot is separated by landing on it with one of the opponent pieces, which is also named a hit. The blot is taken off the Backgammon board and moved to the bar.

Once all your fifteen checkers travel across the Backgammon board and come back to your home board, it is your turn to get them out of the board, a process named as bearing off. Not that you have some extra ordinary moves for this purpose, but there might be a situation when there is no checker on the point indicated by the roll score. So, what do you think? Playing Backgammon is cool? Sure it is! So here’s wishing you a wonderful gaming experience ahead, keep playing, keep enjoying!

http://www.researchbody.org

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17
Oct 09

Spending the Holidays With Family

Author: Boris Itungen
Source: ezinearticles.com

Summer is the perfect time of year to take a family vacation. Each year, millions of families take cruises, long journeys by road, stay in resorts, or camp in national parks. Regardless of how you spend your family vacation, the point is that all of you together. To have the best family vacation, you should plan ahead as a family determines what kinds of activities you wish to participate, give each other some time alone, and make sure there are options when it comes to how time is wear out. By following these simple guidelines, you should be able to have a relaxing, enjoyable time during their holidays. Advance planning can mean a few months or weeks depending on where you want to go. Because summer is the best time to go on holiday like this, many people will make the booking and staying in places where you want to stay. Booking in advance saves you the trouble of choosing another place to go. Contact the site directly or contact your travel agent for you to make arrangements. Once your trip has been booked, take time off from work and say no to your family make plans for the vacation time. If you wish to spend their summer vacation away from the masses, you can always choose a desert or a vacation trip to a place that most people do not visit during the summer. Contact your travel agent for ideas. They will know which places are not as popular during the summer months. You may want to visit Canada, rent a cabin in the woods, or spending time in a small New England island instead of heading to Florida. There are many overseas you can also visit. Choosing your summer holiday destination with care is important because it may be the only time the family is together. Most family vacations last at least a week, which should be enough time for his family to participate in activities together. Many families travel with other family members and meetings. These can be fun if all family members get a long. When planning a big family holiday, make sure that everyone agrees on where to go. Give your family their space, especially if you have teenage children, is important when on vacation. Let the children go on their own if they are over age is normal, provided they return within a given time. You should set a curfew or plan an itinerary so that children know what to expect during the holidays. By giving them their space, they will want to spend more time with you. Family holidays should be enjoyable, not stressful. Do not add to the tension by creating rules that are too strict that nobody will be able to enjoy them.

The scriptwriter Boris Itungen is very excited about issues similar to Soho Hotel in Barcelona. You can discover his work on Barcelona hotels at http://www.barcelona-information.com.