7. The Pastoral Symphony

The Pastoral Symphony segment suffers from being the most childish of all the sequences. The humor suffers from too much slapstick. It is not as innovative as in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice or Dance of the Hours. Furthermore, the animation is bland and not particularly memorable. Walt Disney had originally intended for the centaurs to be much more wild and beastlike, but concerns by the studio and censors ended these plans. As a result, the centaurs are merely pretty. There are some good moments, such as the storm scene, but this ends before it can become too threatening. The segment is cute, but not much else.

6. Nutcracker Suite

This second piece of Fantasia is extremely beautiful, but that is about all there is to say about it. Scenes such as leaves falling, ice fairies, and Russian flowers are beautiful to look at, but because there is no story, they are ultimately forgettable. This number is gorgeous to look at, but when one is done watching the film, it is hard to remember. This is still better, however, than being geometrically animated and forgettable, like the flamingo with a yo-yo in Fantasia 2000.

5. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

This opening piece is meant to represent what the audience imagines while hearing a piece. At first the viewer can plainly see the instruments. Then one can see images that could be perceived as instruments. Finally the instruments disappear completely.

This is one of the reasons I like Fantasia. This sequence does not have a story; rather it introduces the audience to the concept of Fantasia, for example, when the strings’ moving bows become an abstract. The sequence does not pander to children and put in a story, as Fantasia 2000 did with its “abstract” number, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Yet the earlier opening number has more educational interest because it introduces the orchestra.

This sequence has beautiful animation and I admire the ambition of it, but ultimately it lacks the emotional power of the final four on the list.

4. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

This is probably the most famous sequence from Fantasia, and justifiably so. Making Mickey Mouse a sorcerer in the first place is funny. Then we see how badly he botches his simple task of mopping the floor, and while we’re laughing, we also sympathize.

We’ve all probably messed up some simple job, but not spectacularly as he does. The juxtaposition of his fantasy of ruling the universe with the out of control flood inspires sympathetic pity and anxiety, but also laughter at the ridiculous grandiosity of his aspirations. When the brooms multiply so dramatically, it’s funny, but also terrifying because they are trying to drown poor Mickey. Likewise, the sorcerer’s return is frightening, reassuring, and funny all at once. Mickey has been caught, and everyone can identify with the fear that inspires. At the same time, he puts an end to the madness Mickey started. And the ease with which he does so, as well as the bop on the bottom he administers with the broom, is comical.

While it is entertaining, however, this sequence does not have the fast-paced humor of the next entry on this list or the beautiful animation of the final two entries. It is excellent, but the final three here are great.

3. Dance of the Hours

This is arguably the high point of humor in Fantasia. The dance between the hippo and the alligator is the ultimate anti-Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire. While that pair personified grace, the hippo smushes the alligator, who nevertheless retains his romantic drive and debonair aplomb. The humor comes from the fact that both seem to think that they are graceful. In fact all the animals seem to believe that they are great dancers.

Though this sequence is highly amusing, the final two on my list combine drama with masterful combinations of animation and music that tell memorable and moving stories.

2. Night on Bald Mountain and Ave Maria

Night on Bald Mountain is my favorite part of Fantasia. The animation, showcasing the dead returning to the devil captures the insane evil evoked by the music. Bela Lugosi modeled for the animation of the devil, and his smile can be seen as the devil revels in torturing the souls in his hands. There can be no mistaking who he is as soon as he emerges from the mountain.

Why is this sequence on the number 2 spot then? For one reason: Ave Maria comes after it. Ave Maria is nice, but it is blandly, even sentimentally, good. The choral introduction and accompaniment emphasize the goody-ness with syrupy, inappropriate slides, and the personal, pleading quality of the prayer in the piece is reduced when the choir soars over the high parts of the solo, implying that heavenly balm will smooth over actual, human troubles. This is replicated in the animation, which reduces people to faceless lights in the beginning, then soars to saccharine heavenly vistas by the end.

Night on Bald Mountain, as good as it is, has the major flaw of being followed by an unmemorable number. But I believe that the final entry on this list encapsulates everything good about Fantasia and has no flaws.

1. Rite of Spring

This sequence manages to contain all the aspects that make Fantasia good. It has powerful, abstract visuals, such as the opening lava storm. It also has the same terrifying, raw almost primitive might as Night on Bald Mountain. This time, however, it is not softened by a feel-good Ave Maria choir; rather the dinosaurs just die. It does not explain why to children, thus allowing them to draw their own conclusions. The films Dinosaur, and more recently Walking with Dinosaurs, could have taken a lesson from this sequence. One does not have to put in dialogue and frame things as good versus evil for children to be interested.

Walt Disney had to fight hard for his vision of the sequence. He was under pressure from the studio and his fellow animators to make it more child- friendly. He held firm, and the result is, in my opinion, the greatest Fantasia sequence.

What’s your favorite Fantasia sequence? Least favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

Using A Hot Dog Roller Grill To Cook Delicious And Different Foods Is A Snap – When You Know How

There are a wide variety of foods that can be cooked on a hot dog roller grill. The hot dog itself comes in unique twists to the plain variety. You can cook a cheesedog or chili cheesedog to mix things up a bit. We are going to explore delicious items to cook on a roller grill along with the traditional hot dog type items.

First off is the sausage category. You can make great tasting breakfast sausage on a roller grill. Take that up a notch to bratwurst. They turn out great and come in a ton of different types for taste buds of all kinds. Johnsonville is a top player when it comes to brats. You can find them in your local grocery store.

You have probably heard of the infamous “Bahama Mamma” made by Hot N Spicy. These cook up wonderfully on your grill. They are a German style smoked sausage and they are delicious.

Next category would be the stuffed bread stix made famous by the Lettieri Company. These are a round bread dough wrap that come in several styles. Mozarella, Philly Steak, Sausage & Egg and Pepperoni are the best sellers. Pull them from the freezer and in a short time you have a tasty entre that stands alone or can be used as a center of the plate item.

Tyson Foods has created their Crispitos Brand of tortillas that come in a wide variety of selections. One of the most flavorful is their Chicken Pot Pie Crispito…ummm delish! They also make Crispitos with fruit fillings and these are scrumptious as well.

Taquitos are pioneered by the Don Miguel company and were created mainly for the roller grill. Their selection of Taquitos will surely please the family around the clock. If you are looking for quality and great taste, this company delivers on both items.

These suggestions are meant to deliver alternative uses for your hot dog roller grill. If it is round and about the size of a hot dog, then you can most likely use you grill to cook it. Always follow the manufacturers cooking directions when using your hot dog roller grill. If it is not round you can also entertain the idea of making it round as long as it will stay together during cooking.

Experiment and have some fun cooking all different types of food on your hot dog roller grill. These devices are not just for hot dog cooking and you can also get some great ideas on the next trip to a conveinience store. Mozy on over to their hot food area and look for food items that you can replicate at home or wherever you use your hot dog roller grill.

Your next party could be a snap when it comes to food prep. Utilize some of the above suggestions and have a smorgasbord of different types of dogs, sausages, Taquitos and Crispitos. Your guests will love them and think that you spent hours in the kitchen preparing all this delicious food. That’s okay, we’ll keep your secret!

Dragon kung fu represents the perceived attributes of the ancient, and mythical Chinese dragon. The dragon dominates much of ancient Chinese culture. The concept and image of the dragon came from many animals, including pythons, alligators, and lizards. The ancient Chinese people saw the dragon as a water spirit that brought the rains, and delivered a productive crop season. The dragon symbolized a guardian for the gods, and a source of real wisdom. The Chinese dragon represented two archaic elements, Water and Earth. In ancient Chinese lore, the dragon possessed the power of strength and illusion. The Shaolin Buddhists considered the dragon an enlightened vision of truth, which could be felt, but never held.

History and Founding

Since transmitted orally for many generations, an exact origin is almost impossible to discover. However, the modern dragon styles trace back to a monk named Daai Yuk Sim Si. He was the abbot of the White Hair temple on Mount Luofu. The roots of Southern Dragon style derived from a variety of martial arts from the Hakka community of Southern China. Near the end of the 19th century, and during the early part of the 20th century, the southern dragon style carried over to Malaysia, and eventually Australia; where it was taught by master Li Ah Yu. Li Ah Yu founded the Long Choo Kung Fu Society, and created a base of operation in Penang, Malaysia.

Philosophy and Style

Dragon kung fu focuses on internal chi; though novice training resembles a harder, external style of fighting. While learning, a student will block hard, strike hard, and stomp into position each time; in an attempt to teach where to land after each maneuver. Over time, and with dedicated training, a student will become fluid, and move with dragon like softness, which will camouflage attacks, and make counter moves almost impossible. After mastering the physical side, a student will learn to incorporate a deep hissing noise that deepens his or her relationship with inner strength (chi). At this master level, blocking is done away with, and simple strikes or parries are used instead.

Dragon Forms

With each dragon form a student is taught to “ride the wind”, or follow his or her opponent’s lead. The forms rely on evasion, rather than aggressive attacks. This is accomplished by rotating the lower and upper torso, with almost no stance maneuvers. Similar to tiger kung fu, the dragon martial art uses fast clawing and punching attacks, stances that resemble snake kung fu, and guerrilla hit and run attacks resembling leopard style. Southern dragon also uses low sweep kicks to take down a weakened opponent.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a fun, difficult, and not so widely used martial art, the dragon might work well for you. Finding a school dedicated to the teaching of dragon kung fu may prove difficult; but with patience and determination, you can find one. Like many of the other animal styles, the dragon is a great option for those small in stature, or for women seeking a fun alternative to traditional self-defense courses. Dragon kung fu will bring out the mystic in any student, conjuring images of ancient Chinese men and women discussing intriguing tales of dragon’s fire, and other magical stories. Learning this art will take you closer to your soul and imagination, and will bring out the best in anyone that commits to learning the ancient ways of the mythical Chinese Dragon.

Standing United We Pack a Punch — Modern Samurai Society

The bodybuilder that’s most strongly linked to eccentric training is also someone that is known for idiosyncrasy: Arthur Jones. Jones caught the attention of followers thanks to his passion for alligators and his love of going on safaris in Africa. He was also a marketing master that helped make Nautilus and MedX a success. Of course, eccentricity isn’t something that people are just born with. No one described Jones as an eccentric until after he was one of the fitness industry’s most successful members.

People don’t describe a person as an eccentric unless they’ve managed to accomplish great things. Along the same lines, if you want to utilize eccentric training, you need to properly condition your body.

Because this is an advanced training technique, it may not be suitable for someone that’s just starting to delve into the world of fitness and Strength Training. Even though Jones increased awareness of eccentric training, he wasn’t its creator. As with the variable resistance cam that Jones installed on Nautilus machines, this was simply something that he popularized. If you read books on strength training from Europe, you’ll see detailed guidelines for eccentric training.

Here is how Eccentric Strength Training can benefit you

The term “eccentric strength” is used to describe the degree of force that’s created as muscles lengthen. When muscles shorten, it produces “concentric strength.” Why spend time on eccentric training? These are six of the many advantages it offers.

– It Boosts Strength: Eccentric training is able to generate a lot more tension than what would be created during concentric training. This tension helps to stimulate muscle fibers. This aids in the development of muscles. Eccentric training is ideal for athletes that want to become stronger.

– It’s An Effective Way to Increase Muscle Mass: People often assume that lifting weights is what helps the body to create muscle mass. However, the hypertrophic response is actually triggered when weights are lowered. Equipment like isokinetic machinery is lacking in eccentric stimuli, which means it’s less than ideal for muscle mass development. While isokinetic equipment is often used in North America, it’s far less popular in Europe. This equipment isn’t designed to help athletes build muscle mass. Instead, it’s best to focus on eccentric contractions during workouts.

– It Can Help Athletes Increase Power: The amount of fast force that an athlete can generate is limited by their neuromuscular system. However, researchers have found that eccentric training can be a way to maintain the power the body has or to increase what an athlete is capable of.

In countries that have produced some of the strongest weightlifters will do every second workout that only include eccentric contractions. The initial workout would be conventional. The second workout, which is focused on eccentric contractions, allows the athlete to perform above their maximum levels.

– It Can Be Tailored to Athlete’s: While eccentric training is often linked to bodybuilding, it can benefit many types of athletes. Eccentric strength plays a role in many different sports. To keep joints healthy, muscles need to decelerate after accelerating. By building eccentric strength, athletes can increase the amount of control they have over their own movements. It can help athletes to jump, pitch, and much more.

-It Can Reduce the Risk of Injury: As previously mentioned, a lack of eccentric strength can make it difficult for athletes to fully control their movements. This can greatly increase the risk of injury. Athletes need to strengthen the muscles in their lower body so that they can reduce the amount of stress placed on their joints. While eccentric strength training can help athletes to recover from injuries, it can also be a way to prevent them.

– It Can Help Athletes Get More from Exercise Sessions: Technique plays an essential role in exercise. This is especially true when it comes to exercises used for strength training, like the bench press and squat. Eccentric training can be a way for athletes to increase the amount of control they have as they exercise. This can be a way to improve technique. Improvements to technique are likely to lead to better results later on.

Things to consider

Eccentric training is an excellent way to build strength. With that said, it needs to be done properly for best results. For many exercises, it’s necessary to have help from a training partner. If the spotter is not paying attention, or if the spotter is lacking in training, eccentric training could be risky or even dangerous.

It’s also common for people to underestimate just how intense eccentric training can be. As it was mentioned previously, eccentric training designed for people that are already in great shape. People that haven’t gone through the proper training may not be able to handle these intense training sessions. Athletes should start by focusing on strength training. If they start eccentric training without building that base, their connective tissue could be damaged, leading to serious injury.

Eccentric workouts also have a long recover time. Experts typically recommend that eccentric training should be done no more than three times a week. Even that may be too much for many athletes. It can take more than a week for the body to recover from an eccentric training session.

That’s why it’s important to implement the right protocols if you want to take advantage of the benefits of eccentric training. These guidelines can help you to train safely and effectively.

The Different Levels of Eccentric Training

According to advice from professional personal trainers, the optimal loading for eccentric training is somewhere between 100 and 175% of your maximum. How can you determine the amount of weight you use during eccentric training? You should think about the tempo that you want to maintain during the workout. How much time do you plan on lowering before completing your set? It’s best to decide on a time and find a weight that will allow you to maintain that tempo. You should also keep in mind that if your muscles fail while you perform an eccentric exercise correctly, you can expect your muscles to shake involuntarily as you decelerate.

When you experience this kind of muscle fatigue, your focus needs to be on properly decelerating the weight. Decelerating at a rate that’s faster than the preset time you’ve decided on can cause issues. It’s best to stop the set if that happens. When deciding on a preset time, you should keep in mind that the lowering time will be longer if the exercise has a wider range of motion.

When eccentric training is slow, athletes aren’t able to build force as quickly. It’s a solid option for athletes that are focused on preparation. Eccentric training that is fast, which is also known as plyometrics, is best employed when an athlete is preparing for a competition.

Lowering heavy loads slowly is just one of the ways to combine different eccentric training techniques. Another option that is utilized by many athletes is to lift heavy loads at high speeds. This can be a way for bodybuilders to achieve the kind of musculature that can be seen on top bobsledders and rowers. An example of this would be to alternate between completing four to six sets of three to five reps using maximal weight and four to six sets of hurdle jumps. This type of routine is recommended because the heavy sets can help to body to achieve more during the sets involving jumps. It can also be a way to achieve hypertrophy thanks to the fiber damage that it causes. This is a goal for many athletes.

When athletes are focused on eccentric training, it’s likely that they’ll experience more damage to the fibrillar and the connective tissue. Athletes should take a proactive approach and make sure that their bodies have the nutrients they need to rebuild tissues. Supplements like glucosamine sulfate are an excellent option, as are antioxidants. Eccentric training can also increase the amount of cortisol that is produced by the body. A way to counteract that is to increase your intake of vitamin C. You may also want to discuss using aspirin with your doctor. Some research shows that it can help the body to store more phosphagens within muscle tissue. This could improve the body’s ability to handle cortisol.

Ideally, strength training should build up progressively so that the body has time to adjust and recover. If you’re looking to dive into eccentric training, you can use these protocols as a guideline. You may also want to work with a personal trainer that specializes in eccentric training. That way, you’ll have a training partner that can provide you with the level of support that you need.

Level 1:

This level is aimed at athletes that have been training for two years or less. Athletes do not need to use eccentric loads during training. Instead, athletes can focus on maintaining control as loads are lowered. Athletes should not move onto the next level of eccentric training until after they have at least two years of training under their belt.

Level 2:

This protocol requires athletes to utilize 70% of maximal load until reaching concentric muscle failure. From there, athletes should complete two to three repetitions using the same load. This should be repeated for two to three sets. Alternatively, athletes could complete a single forced rep. As the weights are descending, athletes should attempt to stop them for four seconds. This should be repeated three times.

Level 3:

Continue to use 70% of maximal load until reaching concentric muscle failure. After that, increase weight by 15% before completing two to three repetitions. This should be repeated for two to three sets.

Level 4:

Increase maximal load to 80% until reaching concentric muscle failure. Increase weight by 20% before completing two to three forced repetitions. This should be repeated for three to four sets. Alternatively, a training partner can push down on the weights to provide extra resistance during the eccentric component of these exercises. This should be done in place of adding additional weight. Once concentric muscle failure is achieved, the extra negative repetitions should use up the last of your your eccentric strength.

Level 5:

With a maximal load of 110 to 100%, complete four to six eccentric reps for four to six sets. Between sets, athletes should rest for around four to five minutes. The preset time for lowering the weights should be somewhere between 8 and 10 seconds.

Level 6:

With a maximal load of 125 to 140 percent, athletes should complete two to three reps that are fully eccentric. This should be done for five to six sets, with four to five minutes of rest in between sets. The preset time for lowering weights should be between four and six seconds.

For advanced athletes, it’s best to avoid any specific single exercise tempos during eccentric workouts. As an example, you shouldn’t try to spend twice as much time lowering a weight as you would spend raising it. This could work in the short-term, but it’s unlikely to yield results in the long run. You’ll see much better results if you focus on the training protocol listed above.

It’s important to remember that eccentric training has its name because it’s designed to push athletes to the limits of standard training. It’s a potent method of training that should only be utilized by serious athletes. Don’t feel like you need to rush into eccentric training. Focus on strength training first.

What makes it a reptile?

There are countless species and varieties of reptiles around the world. Even though there are many differences, reptiles do share a few common traits.

For starters, they use lungs to breathe. Lizards might breathe using the same muscles they use to run and crocodiles have a more flexible diaphragm, but overall, reptiles have lungs that are more advanced than amphibians, but not as refined as mammals. Reptiles also have scales made of keratin protein. Scales provide protection from predators, help retain water, and can play a role in courtship and territorial clashes. Reptiles are not the only animals to have scales, but it is a common characteristic among all reptiles.

Another characteristic is that they’re all four-legged vertebrates (or descended from four-limbed animals, like snakes). This is another shared trait with other types of animals, which indicates that reptiles are an evolutionary middle ground of sorts between amphibians and mammals. For the most part, female reptiles lay eggs but it’s not exclusive to all reptiles. There are some species that develop their young inside their bodies and give birth to live young, like the Viviparous Lizard and the Adder.

Reptiles are known for their cold-blooded metabolisms. If you’ve ever seen a reptile in an enclosure, you might have noticed lamps and other forms of heat. That’s because basking in heat increases their internal body temperature to give them the energy they need for daily activity.

What are the different types of reptiles?

Reptiles can be classified into four major groups:

Crocodilia

Which has 23 different species of Alligators, Caimans, Gharials, and Crocodiles.

As you may know, the Crocodilia are large, semiaquatic and predatory animals. They’re commonly found in the lowlands of the tropics and usually have long, flattened snouts and canonical, peg-like teeth. Certain species of crocodilian are traded as exotic pets when they’re young but are often abandoned as they grow larger and more dangerous.

Squamata

Which are lizards and snakes, and have almost 8,000 species.

These reptiles vary in size (from a dwarf gecko that’s less than an inch long to an anaconda which can reach over 17 feet). Their ability to move their quadrate bones is what helps them open their mouths wide enough to consume larger prey. If you’re thinking of getting reptiles for sale of this classification, be sure to research the specific type you want to get to make sure you have the necessary equipment to keep them healthy and happy.

Testudines

Which is made up of turtles and tortoises and have around 300 species.

These are considered primitive since they’re some of the most ancient reptiles among us. Their shells make them easily distinguishable from other reptiles and they’re also a popular choice as reptile pets.

Sphenodontia

Which is known as the sister group of the Squamata and has only 2 species of tuataras from New Zealand.

It’s also known as a Rhynchocephalia, which means beak head. They have a unique set of teeth which is presented as two rows in the upper jaw and a single row on the lower jaw. The single species of tuatara is the only living member of an order that flourished about 200 million years ago.

Which reptiles for sale are best as pets?

If you’re just starting out with a pet reptile, you can find some great reptiles for sale. Geckos can be a great pet for beginners because they don’t require much handling. Too much stress on the gecko can cause its tail to fall off though. A Bearded Dragon can also make for a great pet as they’re extremely easy-going reptiles with personality. They require a hot habitat and are fairly easy to maintain.

Whichever you choose, always make sure that you’re aware of its needs and temperament to understand whether or not it’s a good choice for you.

I have long been a fan of Longines watches. Longines are impeccably made and stylish timepieces. Longines watches are affordable Swiss watches for the average consumer, but being affordable doesn’t mean you have to forgo quality.

Longines have been making quality watches since 1832. In 1912 Longines made history in the world of sports by introducing the concept of an electric wire, which at the start and finish of a race, activated and stopped a timing mechanism. This innovation in timekeeping by Longines has ensured that Longines have been appointed official timekeepers at many of the world’s top sporting events. Longines sports watches reflect this sporting history. But Longines also make many elegant watches for both men and women; I think Longines watches for women are especially beautiful. The current collection of Longines watches reflect this.

The DolceVita collection by Longines is simple and elegant in design. The face is rectangular with simple hour markers. The DolceVita dial comes in black, white or pink mother of pearl. The case comes in stainless steel, although you can buy a gold case set with 32 Top Wesselton diamonds (0.32 carat) – this comes with matching gold bracelet. Stainless steel versions can also be bought with inlaid diamonds and come with either stainless steel bracelets or white or black lacquered leather strap. Some versions of the Longines DolceVita can be worn by men, but it is as an elegant ladies watch that the Longines DolceVita truly comes into its own.

Longines claim that the Evidenza is invocative of the 1920s. I feel there is some justification in this as the facia of the watch does seem to be old fashioned – but not out-of-date. The tonneau shape of the case goes back to a Longines model dating from 1911; the tonneau shape being an oval with flattened ends. The Longines Evidenza is suitable for both men and women. The casing is stainless steel although there is a ladies gold version set 44, 0.22 carat, diamonds. The Longines Evidenza comes with either a quartz or self-winding movement. My favourite Evidenza is the one that comes in a stainless steel case with dark brown alligator strap, enhanced by 12 blue painted Arabic numerals. This model also features a moon-phase display with a 31-day calendar at 6 o’clock as well as day of the week and month apertures at 12 o’clock – a very nice watch.

The Longines BelleArti is a truly elegant ladies watch. I am fortunate enough to have been able to buy my wife a Longines BelleArti watch for her birthday. The BelleArti range are simple and understated, evoking memories of the Art Deco movement of the 1920s. The dial comes in black, silver or mother-of-pearl. All dials feature 11 Arabic figures, a second subdial at 6 o’clock and “Cathedral” hands. Some models are available with inlaid diamonds – my wife’s watch is without. The casing of the Longines BelleArti is rectangular with a sight curvature of the sides, lending the whole watch a very feminie feel.

La Grande Classique de Longines styling calls much upon the earlier design traditions of Longines. The casing is a simple circle and comes in either stainless steel or gold – some models come with inlaid diamonds. As you might expect, for this classical style of watch, the faces come in black, white or mother of pearl. The Logines Grande Classique is definitely for thise of prefer the look of a more traditional watch.

The Longines LungoMare is for those who like a more modern looking watch. There is a ladies verion of this watch. The casing is round and comes only in stainless steel. The LungoMare is also water resitant to 100 meters. I really like the LungoMare. It’s pure understated style. It avoids stylistic gimmicks, such as big crowns, over-sized hands and cluttered facia. This watch rivals such makes as Breitling, Tag Heuer and Rolex but priced at a more realistic price for consumers.

Longines also make the the Lingbergh watch. It commemorates the first flight across the Atlantic by Charles Lindbergh. Personally I don’t like commemorative watches and I’m not a fan of the design of this watch either.

The Longines Master collection appeals to those who want the most functionality out of their watch. Most watches in this collection come with complications, self-winding mechanical movements beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, with a rated power reserve of 42 hours. Many also come with a chronograph function. I feel the Longines Master collection is for those who want the best from what Longines has to offer.

All longines watches come with sapphire glass and superb movements. And Longines offer a broad range of designs to choose from, unlike other swiss watch makers. I like Longines watches: Longines make owning a quality Swiss affordable for the average consumer.

In ancient time our civilization had not developed synthetic fabrics like we do it today. At that time leather was a precious material and used for clothes, bags, belts and like commodities. Among them leather backpacks were sturdier than other fabrics used. Till today it is consider as a heavy duty and tear resistance material. Leather is fashionable as well as versatile substance to create backpacks for an avid camper, hunters or lovers to hike.

Here are some pros and cons to owe leather backpacks in compare to other materials:

Disadvantages

Leather backpacks prove low quality when it is poorly constructed and it is untreated for withstand against the damages done by water. It gets shrink if it got wet. However, these all disadvantages may over come by strict quality controls and proper usage of the latest technology.

Advantages

The greatest advantage of using leather is its durability. Leather has been used for a variety of products mainly due to its durability.

Types of backpacks

It has been observed that market has both standard size of leather backpacks as well as custom sized one. Smaller size of backpacks are useful for lunch, keys, cell phones, wallet, checkbooks, etc. whilst larger leather backpacks can house these smaller items in a zippered or buttoned compartment built into the backpack itself.

Leather backpacks are designed for men and women keeping in mind the style preferences for each. They can be either soft or hard leather, containing smaller compartments for different uses. Leather is the preferred material of choice for many and some are as follows:

College leather backpacks

The common type and heavily used leather backpacks among the masses.

Children leather backpacks

Who doesn’t remember the times we’ve spent carrying one on our backs on our way to school? After college backpacks this kind of backpacks are most in use.

Camping Backpacks

Camping backpacks are probably the most common type of backpacks. There are a deluxe camping backpack with a weight balancing system and spring loaded suspension. It is used when you are at a long weekend away from home and want to carry all your camping gear on your back.

Hiking backpacks

Hiking is a fun activity for the new generation and need proper instruments. For instance your gear, food water, and all the essential things to keep live yourself when you are miles away from the civilization on a mountain trail. Therefore, you need especially made hiking leather backpacks.

Laptop leather backpacks

The leather laptop backpack allows you to have your laptop around whenever needed without straining your arms.

Motorcycle leather backpacks

Used during bike riding as it is not advisable to carry luggage on you back instead of place it on the back of the bike.

Dog backpacks

All dog lovers out there wanting the best for their trusted pets and friends, a dog backpack is just a useful way to carry stuff around

Some tips on packing a backpack

– Packing your heavy items at the top will pull you backwards – packing your heavy items near the base will drag you downwards. Therefore ensure that your heavy items are packed relatively in the middle to balance the weight.

– Pack spare of the moment items or items you will require often in easy-to-access side pockets. If it starts raining, you don’t want to have to unpack everything to get to your raincoat.

– Roll up your mattress and carry it outside of your pack. You can also use your mattress as a buffer between sharp cornered items and your back.

– Use your pots to protect delicate items such as cameras etc.

– Store any fuel upright and away from food incase there is a spillage.

If you are interested in Forex trading you have probably come across at least one Forex Autopilot review. Forex Autopilot has been heavily advertised and under review has been done by media companies as the Business Week, CBS News and NBC.

Reading the product review does not mean that you will start minting money overnight. You should also be aware of forex trading strategies, economic conditions and other factors. The review should only be taken as a valuable advice to help you in your choice of a forex trading robot.

Let’s review and take a look at this software and find out what makes Forex Autopilot so special and unique to the Forex trading world and among robots that are used for autopilot trading.

The Forex Autopilot is a system which allows you to trade with no prior knowledge of the currency market. This type of Forex system is developed for the Meta Trader 4 trading platform and is called an “EA” (Electronic Adviser). These robots will work 24x7x365, analyzing the markets and taking trade orders n your behalf.

The Forex Autopilot robot was created by Marcus Leary (a forex trader) along with Steven Strauss (a programmer). Today they are both happily earning money in the comfort of their homes. In a recent review the creators of the robot shared their secret that the software, aside from using Alligator, DeMarker and MA indicators, also utilizes the Fibonacci Formula that determines when the beneficial times would be to both enter and exit the market.

This product has excellent support level and the customer service representatives try to respond back to your queries as soon as possible, in my case it was less than 24 hours for email responses and the phones were immediately answered.

A couple of practical tips to end this review:

1. Upon purchasing you will be given immediate access to the member’s area of the site where you can download the FAPS software and a manual with step by step instructions on how to install and use Forex Autopilot for trading. Please read them carefully and make sure you understand them before you start trading and always start on a demo account. Also use the trial period to your full advantage and remember that you can ask for a refund if you are not satisfied.

2. Based on my experience from this year’s performance of the robot, it looks that the systems performs better with long (buy) rather than short (sell) trades. So use the MT4 option to allow the robot to only place Long trades.

3. Please remember that any trading, whether manual or automated carries some amount of risk and the purpose of this review is not to persuade your that you will always be a winner. However, based on my experience as well as reviews and testimonials from other users, you should expect to get some reasonable profits.

Please look around for other reviews of Forex Autopilot and also, if you have found this review helpful, please leave this review on forex forums and blogs. Hopefully it will help others make an informed decision about purchasing Forex Autopilot or not!

Jamaica above all else offers beautiful water features. From the beaches that surround the island to the waterfalls of Ocho Rios, a visit to Jamaica is like a trip to paradise.

* Alligator Pond – fishing area to view local living

* Falmouth – many resorts

* Kingston – the capital

* Blue Lagoon – beautiful water surrounded by tropical forest

* Negril Beach – popular beach for tourists

* Dunn’s River falls – gorgeous water falls in Ocho Rios

When To Visit

There is truly no bad time to visit Jamaica. Anytime you plan your trip to Jamaica you will be greeted with balmy weather in the 70s to 80s. The lush tropical forests obviously must get some rain, but most of that rain falls in the mountains further in the island which is not frequented by tourists. If it does rain in the part of the island where you plan your excursion in Jamaica, you can be sure that it will only last an hour or so and then disappear. Occasionally hurricanes do hit, but very seldom. If you are worried about hurricanes, then do not plan your trip between August and October. The winter months of the United States tend to be the busiest tourist months as vacationers try to flee the cold and snow. If you do not wish to take a trip to Jamaica during peak season, then plan your vacation for the summer months.

Hotels

When traveling to Jamaica all-inclusive resorts are the best hotel options. These resorts are highly recommended as you will have a variety of food to choose from and your excursions may even be included. These resorts can be found in Negril, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and other beach tourist areas. Sandals and Couples are the largest resort facilities in Jamaica and provide excellently appointed Jamaica hotel rooms. If you would like to stay in Kingston, you are more likely to stay in a Jamaican hotel. Hotels in Jamaica are particularly suited to American luxury travelers. Jamaicans really know how to please a tourist.

Restaurants

Jamaican restaurants offer delectable island fare. Jamaica is famous for its jerk chicken whose smell will make you salivate and taste will melt in your mouth. Be sure to order a rum drink at restaurants in Jamaica. The rum available on this island is among the best in the world. Also, save room for dessert and at least one day during your trip to Jamaica, opt for plantains. These banana like fruits are served fried and saturated with sugar. Don’t bring your diet to a Jamaican restaurant!

If you choose to stay at a resort, you will have a selection of Jamaica restaurants on the property. But don’t be scared to venture off the resort to explore other restaurants. You are unlikely to encounter much of the “native, local” fare as residents tend to live in the internal parts of Jamaica. But you will find Jamaican restaurants catering to the most discerning traveler.

Things to Do

Must do activities in Jamaica revolve around the water. You will find many things to do at the ocean. Of course sunbathing at the beach is a popular activity. Negril’s 7 mile beach is world-renowned and a wonderful area to take in the beauty of the Caribbean. You can also enjoy sunset cruises, go snorkeling, jet skiing, rent a kayak, and more. In Negril you can rent a personal boat and row across the water to your own private island and stake your claim on a beautiful stretch of Jamaican beach.

If you feel the need to take a break from the sun, head over to Dunn’s River Falls. Here you will walk a path leading to many waterfalls. The path is shaded by a jungle like environment full of beautiful native flora and fauna in a park like setting.

While a trip to Jamaica is not known for being educational, there is a museum you may want to hit if you decide to venture to the country’s capital, Kingston. When many people think of Jamaica, they think of reggae music and Bob Marley. If you want to learn a bit about this side of the island, take a trip to the Bob Marley museum in Kingston.

Interest in early 20th c. hand-colored photographs by “Harris” has been increasing in recent years, especially in Harris’s Florida scenes. Yet I’ll wager that most collectors don’t even know Harris’s first name, let alone anything about his background.

We had no information on Harris ourselves until several years ago when we mentioned Harris in a previous article and asked readers to supply us with any known information. As a result we received an article on Harris postcards, and an article that had been published on Harris by the St. Augustine Historical Society in 1991, both of which shed considerable light on the hand-colored photography career of William James Harris.

William James Harris (1868-1940) was born on October 12, 1868 in Herefordshire, England. His family emigrated to America in 1870, settling in the Wilkes Barre, PA area. Known in his youth as both “Will” and “Willie“, by age 20 he apprenticed under a local photographer. Within one year he was able to start his first photography business while living with his parents and operating his first studio within their house.

In 1890, the 22 year old Harris moved with his family to W. Pittston, PA where, although he continued operating a studio in his parents home, he also began his career as a traveling photographer. During the early 1890’s, he spent considerable time photographing coal miners and mining operations in eastern Pennsylvania’s coal regions. Soon thereafter he began utilizing the railroads to transport him, and his photography equipment, to the mountains, lakes, cities, and wherever else he decided to take his camera. Cabinet photographs sold by Harris around this time listed his address as West Pittston, PA; Tunkhannock, PA; Pittston, PA; Penn Yan, NY; Binghamton, NY; and Keuka, NY

In 1893 Harris traveled to the World’s Columbia Exposition in Chicago. While there his began the first of many subsequent promotional feats. One of the focal points of the 1893 Columbia Exposition was the first-ever introduction of George Ferris’s great “Ferris Wheel“. And it was Harris who was the first to photograph it. He envisioned that by climbing upon a roof approximately the same height as the Ferris Wheel’s center shaft, he would be able to produce a view whereby the curves of the wheel were not distorted vertically by perspective. This photograph was so impressive that Harris donated 2000 of them to the Ferris Wheel Company, each of which included his name and address, which helped to make an early name for the young photographer.

In 1895 he married Maude Dunn, a marriage that was short-lived because she died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1897.

Shortly after Maude’s death, Harris and some friends opened a tourist business in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, selling pictures of Buck Hill Falls, the Delaware Water Gap, and other local attractions to tourists and local residents. While operating from the “Harris Gallery” his services also included cabinet cards and tin-type photographs,. This portable studio once again served as an excellent promotional feat because it enabled him to both advertise his business, and process his photographic work, wherever he went.

Around 1901, Harris married a second time, making Marion E. Briant the second Mrs. Harris. Together they had two children, a daughter (Ruth) and a son (Carver). This marriage lasted until about 1920. After the divorce, Marion Harris returned to her Dover, NJ home with Ruth, leaving Carver with his father.

Soon thereafter, Harris married Ella Anderson, his third and final marriage.

Lake Hopatcong: It was in 1898 that Harris moved to a location that would play a vital role in his life…Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Located in northern New Jersey, it’s 9 miles of coastline and coves make it New Jersey’s largest lake and at the turn of the century, Lake Hopatcong had become a summer mecca for the rich and famous. Conveniently located to nearby New York city, Lake Hopatcong offered an easy summer getaway from the city heat and many summer “cottages“, which in many instances were more like mansions, began springing up around the lake. Harris quickly recognized the need for his photographic services here during the summer months.

Beautiful sunsets became the Harris trademark while working on Lake Hopatcong and he was farsighted enough to set himself up on a part of the lake that was recognized as having the best sunsets. And being the great promoter that he was, Harris began advertising his studio as offering the finest sunset photographs on the lake. Soon tourists began flocking to his studio for their personal and family photographs on Lake Hopatcong.

In another move of public relations genius, Harris created his own personal “Floating Studio” in the summer of 1899. Replacing his land-based portable studio, this floating studio was actually a houseboat specially outfitted as a photographic studio. Called the “Harris Photo Float“, this 16’x50′ floating studio was capable of traveling around the lake, and even had a special porch for his famous sunset photos. Although other photographers were also working around the lake, Harris’ floating studio and his gift for promotional effect gave him a competitive edge over the other photographers and he controlled a sizeable portion of the lake’s photography business. Unfortunately, in 1903 Harris’ floating studio sprang a knothole leak and sank, taking with it much of Harris’ photographic equipment.

But he quickly recovered from this disaster and went on to continue a nearly 40-year relationship with Lake Hopatcong. Harris continued his summer visits to the lake until as late as 1939, when he was in his 60’s and his photographic career began winding down.

St. Augustine, Florida: In 1898 Harris moved to St. Augustine, Florida where he opened the “Acme View Company“. Harris’s Florida photographic services included the sale of cameras and equipment, free photographic instructions to amateur photographers, the use of his darkroom, as well as professional photographic services to local residents or visiting tourists. He also lost no time in photographing the beautiful sights in St. Augustine and the surrounding Florida countryside.

Harris quickly fell in love with St. Augustine and to a larger extent, nearly all of Florida. Between 1898 and 1940 Harris began a photographic career that most of us would aspire to achieve today…summers along the shorelines of beautiful Lake Hopatcong, NJ… and winters in warm and sunny St. Augustine, FL.

St. Augustine offered a variety of photographic subjects that appealed to Florida’s growing tourist trade including the Fountain of Youth, the Oldest House in America, Ft. Marion, City Gates, and The Old Slave Market, among others.

In 1912 Harris began a long, and sometimes controversial, relationship with the St. Augustine Historical Society. Serving as its business manager and head curator, Harris was instrumental both in recruiting new members to the Historical Society as well as promoting both the history and heritage of St. Augustine. While on his watch, certain members began to dispute some of the Historical Society’s unsubstantiated claims…was the “Oldest House in America” actually as old as claimed?. Was the “Old Slave Market” truly a “Slave Market” or was it simply a “Public Produce Market“.. The “…well, they could have been…” responses by certain area business people met resistance from other historical purists, and some changes in St. Augustine’s historical claims resulted.

Regardless of the controversy, Harris’s association with the St. Augustine Historical Society lasted until his death in 1940 and all the while, Harris continued to promote his St. Augustine postcard and photography business.

Harris Postcards: It was in 1893 while visiting the Columbia Exposition that Harris saw a glimpse of the next coming trend…postcards. By 1898 Congress passed a law authorizing the manufacture and use of “Private Mailing Cards” and what started as a trickle soon exploded into a huge business. And Harris was in a perfect position to earn his share of the business. The telephone was not yet commonplace and postcards soon became a primary means of casual communication. In 1901 Harris was selling a grouping of 30 Lake Hopatcong views that were capable of being inserted into a letter, so converting them into postcards was a relatively simple task. Quickly converting much of his existing stock into postcards and adding new views each year, Harris soon had literally hundreds of Lake Hopatcong postcard views and became known around Lake Hopatcong as “Harris, the Postcard Man“. Anyone wishing to send a personal message about their special trip or vacation on Lake Hopatcong usually did it using a Harris postcard. In 1909 alone Harris claims to have sold over 200,000 Lake Hopatcong postcards and projected even more for 1910.

As his postcard business grew, he expanded into the souvenir and novelty field, selling paperweights, cups, fancy holders, and other assorted wooden and birch bark novelties, all with the name “Lake Hopatcong” on them. Although such a souvenir business was common in St. Augustine and other places, Harris was one of the first to start such a business at Lake Hopatcong.

As the postcard craze began to wind down around 1915, Harris had been watching from a distance the success of Wallace Nutting in Massachusetts and soon decided to enter the field of hand-colored photography himself. With his background, it was a natural.

Hand-Colored Photographs: Harris’s earliest attempt with hand-colored photographs came when he first hand-tinted his Lake Hopatcong postcards. After working in black & white for many years, starting around 1905 Harris assumed that the added color could lead to increased sales. But he also soon learned that the added expense of hand-coloring his postcards led to a higher unit price, and eventually to lower sales. Ultimately Harris went the route of so many other postcard photographers of having his postcards produced in color on large-run color printing presses.

As part of his New Jersey summer-Florida winter cycles, Harris began taken new photographs with the intention of hand-coloring them for re-sale. His best selling pictures soon came to be from the New York Adirondack Region (especially Ausable Chasm) and Florida (especially The Singing Tower), although his northeastern pictures came from throughout a four-state region and his Florida pictures came from throughout the entire Miami-St. Augustine stretch.

Before long, “Harris Pictures” began to replace “Harris the Postcard Man” as his primary source of income. According to his son Carver…”what money he had, he made from colored pictures“. And apparently he made enough money to buy houses in Florida and New Jersey, an imposing automobile, a house-car, and several launches and speedboats (which enabled him to get around Lake Hopatcong faster than ever).

Like Wallace Nutting pictures, Harris pictures were usually hand-colored photographs, tipped onto a linen-type matboard, and signed with the “Harris” name lower right, and title lower left, usually signed in pencil. Most Harris pictures were matted, although a fair number were “close-framed” and signed directly on the picture without any matting. And quite often you will still find an original “Harris” label either on the matboard back or on the backing paper.

Yet Harris pictures carry several subtle differences between Nutting and some of the major Nutting-Like photographers:

• Most Harris pictures were oblong views, with the length usually being more than twice the width (or vice versa).

• Harris only sold Exterior (outdoor) views. He never sold Colonial Interior scenes.

• You will only see the name “Harris” signed on the picture, never “W.J.‘ or any other variation of his first or middle names. There is also never any mention of Harris’s first or middle name on any of his picture labels.

• Although the “Harris” name is usually written parallel under the picture, occasionally you will see the “Harris” name written at a 45 degree angle.

• While more unusual, it is not uncommon for the Harris name to be lower left and the title to be lower right.

• Most Harris signatures are signed in pencil

And perhaps most different from Nutting, many Harris pictures are hand-colored “photogravures” rather than hand-colored photographs. Although his earliest scenes were produced on photographic paper, some of his later and best-selling views were reproduced in larger black & white quantities using the photogravure printing method, and then individually hand-colored. Whereas Nutting had nearly 100 colorists at his peak, Harris never had more than 5 people coloring his pictures at any given time.

One interesting story about Harris pictures relates to several of his pictures that feature a egret standing in the Florida water. Apparently for the sake of simplicity, Harris carried a “stuffed” egret as part of his photographic equipment, presumably because it was easier to shoot a still bird for effect rather than a live, uncontrollable bird. He was also known to carry a stuffed alligator for effect as well.

Not surprisingly, Harris was usually his own best salesman and his photographic expeditions also became sales trips as well. Whenever he went into the countryside to shoot new pictures, he usually stopped at various art and gift shops along the way to obtain new wholesale and retail orders for his picture business. It was estimated that more than 70 shops on both coasts of Florida alone carried Harris’s hand-colored pictures. Many hotels used Harris pictures on their walls to promote the beauties of early 20th c. Florida, and it is estimated that Harris would typically need more than 25,000 pictures per season just to satisfy the demand of his Florida sales outlets.

And as the Florida season would end Harris would pack car, head back north, and start the cycle all over again at New Jersey’s Lake Hopatcong.

The Final Years: William James Harris died on August 2, 1940 after suffering through a long illness and was buried in his adopted city of St. Augustine. Although not as well known as Wallace Nutting or some of Nutting’s other contemporaries, Harris did achieve a considerable level of fame. He enjoyed a reasonable financial success in his chosen photographic field, he enjoyed the travel and work between the northeast in the summer months and Florida in the winter months, he had a diverse family life, he developed a strong bond with his adopted city of St. Augustine, FL, and his photographic works certainly helped to popularize Florida more than any other photographer of his time.

And now more than ever, collectors of hand-colored photography are actively seeking the beautiful hand-colored pictures of William James Harris.