Perhaps you have a men’s oxford shirt or two in your closet. However, do you really know the history behind those shirts? Not all shirts or weaves have a history, like men’s oxford shirts so it is nice to know a little of the history when available.

The cloth used for a men’s oxford shirt traces all the way back to Great Britain in the 19th century. The fabric has a pattern that is distinctive. It looks much like a basket weave. Still today, many dress shirts are made out of the oxford cloth that was developed so long ago.

During the 19th century, it was a Scottish fabric mill that started using cotton to make the oxford cloth. It is only one of the different shirt fabrics that has been named after a university that is famous. This one was named after Oxford University. The three other universities that have been used include Yale, Harvard, and Cambridge.

Both synthetic and cotton fabrics are used to make oxford cloth today. In fact, you’ll find more than a men’s oxford shirt made out of this fabric. Often it can be found in sports attire, women’s shirts, and even skirts.

Oxford fabric has some unique features. Two fine yarns are taken and woven against a yarn that is heavier to make this fabric. In many cases, the heavier yarn that is used is a different color than the finer yarns. It is the contrast in color that provides the unique pattern of oxford cloth.

You may find it interesting that men’s oxford shirts were actually worn by polo players for some time. It wasn’t until the polo shirts were introduced by Rene Lacoste in the 1930s that polo players stopped wearing shirts made from this oxford fabric.

Several different types of oxford cloth are available. You can find Royal oxford cloth and Pinpoint oxford cloth. Both of these options are lighter weight than the regular cloth and they also use yarns that are finer. Now that you know a bit of the history behind men’s oxford shirts, you’ll have something to think about when you don one of those shirts in your closet.

Although some will classify this form of martial arts as Japanese, many current experts on this self-defense style will strongly disagree with such a classification. They will argue that because founder Tsuyoshi Chitose clearly utilized the influence of Okinawan Tode, the Chito-ryu style itself is therefore better classified as Okinawan.

However you feel about it, the potential alone of the kata that are typically associated with this style is something that should be taken seriously. Increased strength and stability while in stance is one of the more considerable signature components to this style. However, as you’re going to discover, that is not the only defining mark to this martial arts form by any means.

Chito-ryu History And Background

Particularly from the point in which it was formally established in 1946, Chitose quickly managed to establish Chito-ryu as one of the most comprehensive, intensive forms of self-defense to be found anywhere in the world. The teachers who are most famously associated with this style are amongst the most proficient, knowledgeable experts on martial arts in recent history.

Part of any definition of Chito-ryu will have to consider the fact that Chitose set himself up in mainland-Japan in 1921, in order to focus his studies on medicine. This is likely one of the reasons as to why this art has such a distinctive element of physiology behind it. Chitose clearly used that background to make some of the adjustments to existing techniques that have come to define his influential style in the present.

Chito-ryu distinguishes itself in a variety of ways. One such way is the techniques that are designed to use the muscles at optimal efficiency. The kime technique has already mentioned, and there are the shibori and tai sabaki techniques, as well. These techniques contract muscles, intensify focus, create strength, and emphasize consistent movement.

The diversity of this particular art is perhaps best found in the various kata that are studied. What’s interesting about the kata found here is how some of them are almost completely dissimilar from the kata for which they are named. On the other hand, Chito-ryu also features kata that are extremely similar to the kata it shares its name with. For example, the Chinto kata in Chito-ryu is almost exactly the same as the Chinto kata found in Shorin-ryu.

The Bottom Line

Chito-ryu is a formidable form of martial arts. You can find organizations dedicated to its principles and techniques all across North America, Asia, and Australia.

If you haven’t heard of them, or haven’t actually seen any Willow Tree figurines, you might think miniature people with no faces sounds frankly just a little bit eerie. The figurines are in fact, beginning to be one of the more well-loved lines of gifts in the USA and their popularity is starting to spread worldwide. This article is written to explain why they have no faces, what the real point of them is and what people do with them once they’ve bought them. This should give you a clear idea of what the line is about, and maybe even inspire you when you are next buying a gift or an ornament for your home.

The artist Susan Lordi has gone on record as saying one of the sources of inspiration for her creations were dolls made for children by women from the Amish communities. Within these communities, religious observance means that the dolls are made without facial features and this gave the artist a winning idea for a range of figurines. With the face as blank canvas, the expression is left to body language instead with remarkable effect. Simply by the way a figure is sitting, or inclines their head, without needing any more information, the viewer can connect with the real purpose of the pieces. .

Whilst initially, a faceless figure maybe sounds spooky, nothing could be further from the truth. They are all about expressing many warm human sentiments of love and capturing aspects of loving relationships. There are figurines which embody mother and daughter relationships, father and daughter relationships, aspects of grandma and grandpa’s kindly wisdom and the zest for life of children. There are also angels and some nativity figures for Christmas, including Mary and Joseph, attendant animals and a backdrop piece to represent a stable, so they are suitable gifts for Christian and Catholic people. Whilst they will make a resonant gift or ornament for people in family situations and within Christian or Catholic homes, however, they also have a wider appeal especially for collectors.

Precisely due to their ‘blank canvas’ for the face, their appeal is fairly universal, and many people have begun collect them. The range of figures available changes every year, some become ‘retired’ as new ones are introduced. Since they do not narrowly define relationships, they can appeal to an enormous range of people. People probably find they add to their collection as they themselves move into new emotional territory and new relationships and are then drawn to particular new figurines.

The ability to move with the changes in peoples lives is probably one of the success factors of the range. Another may be their ‘fit’ with many occasions for giving a gift – housewarming, sympathy, birthdays, Christmas, weddings and as friendship tokens. Understanding despite their expressionless faces, they are full of emotion might help the next time you need a gift or a new ornament – you may well want to have a look at the line to see what all the fuss is about.

The bit-depth of a colour file tells you how finely a piece of equipment can recognize or reproduce colours. It is a measure of resolution. Modern film scanners work to 24-bit RGB depth, or better (8 bits x 3 channels gives 24 bits). This means, in theory, that each channel is divided up into 256 equally spaced steps, which is the minimum requirement for good-quality reproduction. The total number of colours, if all combinations could be realized, is in the region of 16.8 million.

Higher resolution

Increasingly, we are finding that 24-bit does not measure up to our expectations – tones are not smooth enough and there is insufficient data to allow for dramatic changes in tones or colours. This is why, when applying curves with very steep slopes, the image breaks up into separate blocks of colour. Better-quality scanners can work in 36-bit depth or more – even when images are down-sampled back to 24-bit, results are better than if the scanner had worked in 24-bit. Some scanners even provide 48-bit RGB files, but there are very few image-manipulation software packages that can use them. Even the professional application Photoshop is limited in its ability to manipulate 48-bit files. But results are worth the extra effort, as images exhibit far smoother tones and fewer problems when Levels or Curves tools are used.

File size

Once the image is ready for use, you may find that very few colours are needed to reproduce it. A picture of a lion among sun-dried grass stems on a dusty plain will have very few colours, for example. Because of this, you may be able to use a small palette of colours and greatly reduce file size.

Some software allows images to be stored as “index color”. This enables image colours to be mapped onto a limited palette of colours – the advantage being that the change from full 24-bit RGB to an index reduces the file size by two-thirds. Reducing the colour palette or bit-depth should be the last change to the image as the information you lose is irrecoverable.

“This is my first trip to Costa Rica and I was eaten alive.” How many times have I heard this statement? It is a possibility that there are more species of insects in Costa Rica than anywhere on the planet, but they are not much of a problem to those living here over time. You might see a “gringo” who has just arrived covered with bites, but you rarely see a Tico (Costa Rican) with bites. Even a Gringo who lives here over time seems far less bitten. Maybe it is the onions and garlic that is found in most dishes.

Anyway, “something bit me last night?” I will mention the most common biters that cause itching. These are the little black ants that are about 1/2 of a centimeter long, the large and especially the small mosquitoes and the purrujas or no-see-ums.

The little black ants are everywhere, on walls, plants, on the lot you may be looking at to buy. Warning! Never stand in the same spot on a lot or on a pathway. When you look down you may see a swarm of ants crawling all over your feet. Suddenly you panic, try to sweep them off and too late, it seems they all bite you simultaneously. Sometimes spraying with a water hose will get them off faster but do not not expect to be bitten by a few. Same with your hands: touch a plant and you can expect to find your hands are harboring a few ants. Now if they bite, try not to scratch or the itching will drive you crazy. Sometimes I have found that applying some of the red dirt near to where the ant bit you takes away the itch immediately. You may need to moisten the dirt to apply it. A veterinary cream called Panalog may also take away the itch. Otherwise, it will itch, you feel a need to scratch until it stops itching, and then the itching returns hours later. This scenario may happen for several days.

There are a number of other biting ants. One is very tiny, yellowish and appears almost transparent. I believe it is in the fire ant family. It feels like a pin point that keeps stinging/itching for an hour or so. This is the ant the Ticos most like to avoid. Another ant is the leaf cutter ant. Do not allow these to bite you. They will draw blood and hold on with a seriously strong death grip. This is a female to be wary of. All the males, having bred with the queen are dead. Finally, the army ants are said to bite. Best to no get in their way and leave them to the business of cleaning up dead insects and ant eggs. Costa Rica has many ant species; I am just highlighting the most common biters.

Next on my list are Purrujas, no-see-ums or sand fleas. These little guys are found along the beaches, the coastal highways or near the mangroves. They like to come out at dusk and can hang around all night until the heat of the days chases them back into hiding. Once you find you are in an area of no-see-ums you can get bitten unmercifully. Plan on itching for about three days. Sulfur powder sprinkled on your clothes or ankles helps to deter these no-see-ums from biting. Also, if you know you are going to a coastal hotel or restaurant, always wear long pants and long sleeves. Again, panalog may deter them or stop the itching once you are bitten.

Final on my list are mosquitoes: very small aggressive ones called Sancudos, normal mosquitoes and those that carry disease such as malaria and dengue. However, because Costa Rica has a fairly well-balanced eco-system not totally spoiled by chemicals, the bats, snakes, frogs, praying mantis, and birds do a remarkable job of containing the populations of mosquitoes. For example, a small bat can catch and eat 600 mosquitoes per hour. Yeh! Again, garlic may be the reason Ticos and those living here over time are rarely bitten.

Whether you are renting, house sitting, or just visiting there are several remedies that either help with the itching or in preventing bites in the first place. To prevent in the first place, keep your lights off as much as possible, sprinkle your clothes with sulfur or pyrethrum powder, or avoid restaurants or hotels near the beach. Find a Costa Rican rental away from the beach. Other solutions include applying Cedar oil, rubbing alcohol, rosemary oil, Mexican vanilla, citronella oil, Avon’s “Oh so sweet”, and or cactus juice lotion.

You’ve been bit and now you want to stop the itching. With your fingernail, gough a line through the bite and cross that line with another line crisscrossing the first one. If that is unsuccessful add more lines creating a latticework pattern. Solutions that might help include: rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, aloe vera gel, lemon juice, lavender oil, a baking soda paste, or sticky toothpaste.

In the art of stone carving there are 2 main topics which can exponentially impact your ability to create quality pieces. The first is found with identifying the right kind of stone masonry to help you in your sculpting endeavor. Understanding the difference between soft and hard mediums could exponentially help you in the project which you’re trying to create.

The second topic is found in relation to the kinds of tools you utilize in your artistic endeavor. Several people would think that the generic tools that are found in the local hardware store would qualify as the right tools for the art but these generic tools designed to smash and chip rock don’t have the right impact when trying to create art.

When you look for an instance, its best to look at the newest advancements in stone masonry detailing found with diamond drill bits. Every hardware store carries some version of these bits which are designed to cut with stone, drill holes in stone and essential remove stone from an intended area.

While these bits may be ideal for destruction and demolition they do not have the design or quality necessary to start to be utilised in the artistic endeavor. Diamond drill bits found in the stone masonry art are utilized to cut into stone and start to shape the image of a person’s artistic mind. They’re utilized to easily cut through waste by product, design shapes through bits and grind down rough edges to begin detailing with other tools.

Other tools, for instance is found with the stone chisel. Like with the diamond drill bits there is a need to utilize the stone chisel which is specifically designed to aid the artist in creating their various stone carving pieces. You could find a variety of chisels at your local hardware store but they’re not designed to aid the artist in creating shapes and images but instead utilised to break down stone and destroy structures.

When an artist utilizes the stone chisels which are designed to assist the artist, they start to create the best opportunity available for them to succeed in their artistic venture. Tools such as diamond drill bits and stone chisels are important tools for the stone carving artist and when they have the right tools they can easily accomplish any task they set forth to do, regardless of the stone masonry medium.

On the first day of the Royal Melbourne Summer Horse Show last year a group of friends and I sat ringside watching some of the classes. Rider after rider, or handler after handler, yanked, jerked and wrenched at their horse’s mouths with the bit making us endlessly cringe.

All of us, in the previous week, had read an article that had forever changed our view of the bit and its use with horses.

One of us is an elite theatrical show horse trainer; another is a breeder, two more are pony club instructors, one is a saddlery store owner. All of us, at one time or another, have been converted to so called “natural” horsemanship. That is to say, we have sought a different way, a non-aggressive way, of achieving a well mannered and calm horse.

We are sitting in the shade, watching an in-hand class of supremely turned out hacks. Two handlers have curbs on their horses and they repeatedly yank on their charges’ mouths.

The stories flow thick and fast between us.

The theatrical show horse trainer recounts how her equine dentist discussed anatomy with her once, explaining that most people – because they want to do the right thing – will buy a thicker, plainer bit, thinking the thinner kind sharper and more cruel. And this is fine.

For some horses.

But you get other horses, horses with smaller mouths, less room between top and bottom jaw, for whom a thick bit like that can be incredibly uncomfortable. Because it just doesn’t fit, it’s too big. And then the horse resists and opens its mouth and fights the rider’s control.

“So we go and tie its mouth closed!” my friend exclaims.

The saddlery store owner talks about a Pony Club parent who came in seeking a twisted wire W bit because their pony, after years of good behaviour, suddenly refused to go left. Another PC parent advised them to try this bit, the magical answer to all control.

“Thankfully,” says the saddlery owner, “we didn’t have one.”

She goes on to say that in a round about way her husband, an equine vet, got to go out and see that pony later on the same day. It had a very severe abscess in its left near hoof.

Privately I have always thought if you have to add more and more equipment to your horse to make it do what you want then it’s time to give the game up.

FEI rules require submission to the rider and the bit. But which bit? Does it have to be a curb or double bridle? Top trainers, Monty Roberts, Andrew McLean, Janice Usherwood, Parelli, and others, all have said that the double and curb bridles made mandatory by FEI rules are instruments of torture that should, that must, be outlawed.

I am about to show you why.

Some of you may be familiar with the Nevzarov’s, a Russian couple who practice and teach Haute Ecole Dressage bitless and bridleless. Alexander Nevzarov created the both horrifying and ultimately beautiful and liberating film & book The Horse Crucified And Risen, a documentary about the horse’s long association with man.

The Nevzarov’s commissioned a scientific study with the Forensics & Medical Examination Office, St Petersburg, Russia, to document the effects of double and curb bits on the horse’s mouth. Taking part in the experiment were Forensic scientists, Vets and journalists (who recorded the experiment on video). The results were published in Horses For Life Magazine (US).

For the purpose of the experiments a model horse head was created that included a tongue made from Ballistin, a substance that closely fits the structure and density of living tissue (though not the flexibility). The Ballistin tongue was used to record the “hit”, or pressure, placed upon the mouth by the bit.

While the experiment itself could not measure pain it was able to measure the amount of pressure placed on the tongue, jaw and other oral structures in the horse’s mouth.

To begin with it was discovered that an “ordinary rider” with “good” (light) hands exerts about 120-130kg of pressure per square centimetre. The pressure is felt directly by the Trigeminal Nerve, a branch of which (mandibular nerve) runs along the jawbone and – owing to the lack of muscle along the bar of the jaw – is reasonably unprotected and exposed. This means there is almost direct contact with this nerve by the bit.

An article by staff at the University Of Lincoln, UK, on headshaking reports that it is thought that the head shaking condition is thought to be caused by either pressure to this nerve or the nerve itself “misfiring”, causing spasms of pain. “There are many sources for potential nerve pain in the horse’s head but the vets think that branches of the trigeminal nerve which conducts sensation from the muzzle and face to the brain may be the main source, particularly the Infraorbital nerve which is a branch of the maxillary. For some reason, parts of this nerve may be damaged and ‘fire’ inappropriately causing painful sensations in a particular area, i.e. the nerves are telling the horse that it is being hurt in this area when in reality it is not.”

Lidia Nevzarov writes that this particular nerve is super-sensitive. She says, “According to descriptive adjectives pain like that in the area of the nerve is called ‘especially acute, burning, paralysing’.”

And that’s from a rider with good hands.

A sharp jerk, like those we witnessed at the Royal Show last week, can exert a pressure of 300kg per square centimetre.

Now you know why a horse’s first reaction is to throw his head up and back when being jerked in the mouth like that.

This jerking in the mouth syndrome is not uncommon. In fact I would say that most of us witness it regularly, even daily, at riding schools, Agistment parks, shows, pony clubs. But it is so common we don’t think about it.

The central lingual (lingualis) nerve of the tongue also feels this pressure – 100kg per square centimetre in ordinary (“not doing anything”) contact. A jerk increases pressure to this area to about 250-300kg per square centimetre. As with the Trigeminal Nerve this pressure causes intense discomfort and pain. In the experiment the Ballistin tongue was crushed by such pressure; a real tongue, comprised of living tissue, reshapes itself, though the pressure and pain is still felt and injury still occurs.

Lidia Nevzarov presents photos of two jawbones – one from a bitted horse and one from a horse that has never known a bit. The jaw of the unbitted horse is smooth and clean while the jaw of the bitted horse shows clear wear right on the bar where the bit rests; grooves and chips. So, our hands’ action on the horse’s mouth is strong enough to groove and chip bone.

Another branch of the Trigeminal Nerve (which runs along the jaw) exists in the groove under the chin – exactly where the curb chain rests. Again this area has no muscle to protect it, just skin, blood vessels and bone exist. Anatomically it is an ideal place to apply crippling pressure.

The researchers found that the curb chain applies an average of 300kg of pressure per square centimetre to this sensitive area. In fact, they found that exerting pressure on this area was able to break off the lower part of the model horse’s jaw.

A living horse’s jaw, of course, can withstand far greater pressure but we are not talking about breaking a horse’s jaw, but rather the amount of pain we subject horses to through the use of standard riding equipment.

Lidia Nevzarov goes on to say that the Hard Palate (palatum duram) also sustains damage and experiences two kinds of pressure – constant, caused by the bit resting in the mouth; and hits, caused by applied pressure to the reins in a jerking motion. The palate is composed of mucous membrane that varies in thickness between 2mm (the grooves of the palate) and 6mm (the ridges) and this mucous membrane is all that sits between the bit and the palate nerve, palatines major. Pressures of 180-200kg per square centimetre were recorded and Nevzarov talks about the hematomas (bruises) present under the mucous membrane of the hard palate (on a dissected horse used in the experiment) as being an indication of the force applied causing injury.

Dr Cook, FRCVS., PhD, who created the modern Bitless Bridle, points out that “A fundamental principle of correct saddle fit is that the saddle should never contact bone. This principle is forgotten when it comes to bits. A metal rod in the mouth makes direct contact with unprotected bone at the bars [and], not surprisingly, bits commonly cause painful bone spurs to develop on the bars.”

The Nevzarov study successfully proved the amount of pressure that is applied directly to the horse’s jaw and oral structures and the damage it can do.

As a “technology” – The practical application of science to commerce or industry – the bit was developed some 5000 years ago by bronze age horsemen. While the design has changed and evolved, the use of the bit has not.

As we continuously expand our knowledge and our ability for scientific research we perhaps also need to expand, or change, the way we think in line with the results we find and the knowledge we gather.

To say that we cannot ride without the bit, or control the horse without the bit, that the whole concept of dressage (for example) relies on the bit, is a belief firmly entrenched in mythology, “tradition” and a rigid unwillingness to explore new paths.

There are many examples of fine horsemanship – and horse men and women – who exhibit perfect control of their horses without the need for a bit. Stacey Westfall, rode a winning round in a high level reining competition, bareback and bridleless. Steve Jeffries, the Nevzarov’s, Cavalia, Zingaro Monty Roberts, Quantum Savvy – all perform without the use of bits and bridles, so we know it can be done.

http://www.horseyard.com.au/components/com

In many ways I see it as a shame that riders and regulatory bodies seem incapable of exploring horse control and submission without the use of such aids.

What a contest it would be where riders competed at the highest level bridleless. This would test a rider’s control of their horse, and the horse’s willingness to submit, like no other method. Further, as horse riders and competitors I believe we should challenge the peak ruling bodies – FEI, EFA, AQHA and all others – to instigate non -point rounds of competition for riders to compete bitless and demonstrate that control of the horse, at the highest level, is achievable without the use of a piece of metal in their mouth.

Don’t tell me it can’t be done. The only thing stopping you is the way you think.

The Video games market is currently expanding into many different segments thanks to the Nintendo Wii, no longer is gaming targeted towards the 13-40 Male consumer. There is the 60+ elderly market who love to get active by playing Wii bowling or the 30-50 range that are losing weight by using Nintendo Peripheral’s such as Wii fit. Both Sony and Microsoft must applaud Nintendo for expanding a previously narrow market.

With Nintendo monopolising these market segments Microsoft and Sony have been quick to react. Microsoft is introducing a camera that can track your body movements without the need to hold anything in your hand whilst Sony are going down a similar path to Nintendo by offering motion controllers. So what’s the deal with ‘Kinect’? Who is it targeted at? And how on earth will they provide competition to the extremely popular Nintendo Wii? This article will aim to answer these questions.

There is no doubt that Microsoft are after the casual market. This newly developed market has massive potential and is worth millions to Microsoft. Microsoft revealed the Kinect brand at E3 this year and for the first time ever it was broadcast in Times Square for everyone to see. Furthermore, they commissioned a show by the exquisite Cirque du Soleil to show of Kinect which was also broadcasted on MTV. These communication channels are not commonly used in the video game industry to show of new hardware. By broadcasting their E3 press conference live via time square it indicates that they want Kinect to entice the casual gamer into the Xbox experience.

However, is this right group to target? The marketing manager of Xbox recently said “I think we know that hardcore gamers will be the first to go out and buy it, as they are with any product”. This statement underlines their intentions to push Kinect onto the hardcore gamer but the thing is none of the software for Kinect will appeal to them. Casual games such as Kinect sports or Kinectimals will never a system seller for the hardcore gamer. In fact until Microsoft release a Kinect game that the hardcore can get excited about then the chances are they will hold of the purchase. Microsoft built its brand on offering a hardcore experience and it might be unwise to neglect them.

The pricing of Kinect has become a hot talking point in recent weeks. Although not confirmed it has been widely regarded that the price of Kinect will be around $150. Compared to the Nintendo Wii ($180) the value of Kinect could seem very poor. Why would the consumer who currently own a Nintendo Wii depart with a significant amount of money to purchase a peripheral that is essential a very similar product? Microsoft needs to create a value proposition that warrants the $150 price tag and controller free gaming could be the answer. The unique selling point of Kinect is the fact that they offer a way of interacting with a game without the need to hold anything in your hands, this is something Nintendo Wii and PlayStation move don’t offer. Microsoft must therefore highlight this advantage when advertising this piece of hardware.

In fact by looking at Microsoft’s marketing strategy you could see why they are charging $150. They have to penetrate the market and get the casual market to take notice of this new product. Microsoft have already spent a huge amount on marketing Kinect through the Cirque du Soleil show and by displaying Kinect in various Macy stores. Make no doubt about it they paid through the nose to do so. Marketing of Kinect is set to increase as they creep towards the release date and therefore costs will increase. Microsoft will aim to recuperate this cost and therefore will set the price as high as $150 however it is doubtful that they will make a profit on every unit sold as according to ‘Develop’ it is costing Microsoft $150 to manufacture the Kinect camera.

The casual market is here to stay and its going to grow and grow. Microsoft are entering a market in which they are determined to gain significant market share, they are in this for the long term. Kinect is just the beginning for Microsoft. It is expected to be bundled with the Xbox slim when it launches in order for Microsoft to get Kinect into homes across the world. Microsoft will initially want to focus on market share rather than profit so expect Kinect’s price to decrease and decrease quickly. Kinect or maybe an upgraded version will be bundled into the next generation of Xbox console because this will force the consumer to use it.

Consumers are more likely to see the value of Kinect and therefore use it if it becomes bundled in with the console rather than just on its own. Microsoft have a massive opportunity with Kinect and if sales are slow in the first year don’t expect Microsoft to drop Kinect. It is here to stay and if they do it right it could become a huge success just like the Nintendo Wii. Microsoft’s core customer is the hardcore gamer and they should not ignore them. Nintendo have currently realised their mistake of neglecting their hardcore consumer and rectified the issue by announcing numerous hardcore friendly titles. If Microsoft can maintain that balance then they could satisfy the hardcore whilst becoming a big player in the lucrative casual market.

I live in an area of the country where there are many elderly people. Many of these wonderful people still have old computers that are running old software. However, little by little they are beginning to upgrade their computers and Operating Systems to the latest and greatest 64-bit Windows 7 – but they want to keep using their beloved old software. Therein lies the problem!

The other day I set up a new Windows 7 machine for a client. He was extremely happy and then he said “OK, now let’s install my wife’s American Greetings CreataCard Gold 5 and my Hoyle Card Games”. He and his wife had used these same programs for years and they couldn’t live without them!

Well as you can probably imagine, these two programs would not install. Both of these older programs are16-bit and will not install on the 64-bit Windows 7 OS. If my client had purchased a computer running 32-bit Windows 7, he could have run his programs in Compatibility Mode but this function will not work in 64-bit Windows 7.

So, the guy was very disappointed but I stayed as “cool as a cucumber” because I knew that there were several, great, free virtual machine programs that will allow you to run these older 16-bit programs on Windows 7 64-bit.

These are the programs that I recommend (especially #2 & #3):

1) DOSBox (DOSBox is a DOS emulator and only runs 16 bit MS-DOS programs and not 16 bit Windows Applications).

2) VirtualBox (a “virtual machine” that allows an unmodified operating system with all of its installed software to run in a special environment, on top of your existing operating system).

3) VMware Player (a “virtual machine” that will run legacy Windows applications on top of your existing operating system without interfering with the original OS).

Have fun continuing to enjoy your older programs on your brand new Operating System!!

It is possible, that it was just the thirst and hunger caused by biking over the lunch hour, or maybe it was our recent trip to Italy. Regardless, we both thought that we had been transported from Provence to Tuscany. The hilly rolling terrain, endless vineyards, Cyprus trees, olive groves and small villages are all extremely reminiscent of Tuscany. With a deep history of Roman influence, it is no accident that the Luberon area in Provence resembles Tuscany. Roman presence in what is now modern-day Provence, began in 2 B.C.. The Roman rulers heavily influenced architecture and monumental construction projects (aqueducts, theatres, arenas) within the region. There is documentation of organized religious activity as early as the 3rd century, in Roman occupied Provencal towns. During the 14th century, (1309 – 77) seven French Popes led the Catholic church from Avignon. Perched villages and castles in Provence created for defensive purposes are similar to those found in Tuscany.

The Luberon is located in the Vaucluse department of Provence. The rolling hills of the Petit Luberon transition, into much steeper terrain near the legendary Mont Ventoux. Between the Luberon hills, are small farming villages, large agricultural centres, and ancient perched towns. All throughout the region are vineyards including the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In the Luberon, like the rest of Provence, there are markets every day of the week.

We started our bike journey in the beautiful village of Lourmarin, where there is a sizable Friday morning market. The Lourmarin market offers shoppers a wide variety of food, clothing and local products. However, the town is tiny, and the market is crowded, even in early May. The vendors include local vineyards, fruit and vegetables, flowers, seafood, cheese, breads, baked goods, clothing, pottery, fabrics etc.. This writer can only imagine what the crowds are like in peak season, at the time of their visit every cafe was teeming with market-goers eating lunch.

Vaucluse Tourisme has created some fabulous free information for all sorts of activities including, biking, hiking, water sports, fishing and other pursuits. The biking routes are clearly sign-posted, well described by degree of difficulty and even provide details on WC locations along the way. The complete Luberon route is a circuit of 236 Kilometres. We only completed a short round-trip section of the Grande Luberon; with brief stops in Cucuron (unique water feature in the main square), La Tour d’Aigue (remains of an 11th Century castle) and Ansouis. Despite the popularity of the region, it was easy to find small roads and expansive vistas. However, if there is any desire to eat in a restaurant at lunch-time, play it safe a make a reservation.

Our final stop of the day was in the tiny village of Ansouis, with its’ castle perched high on the hill and the village nestled next to it. This tiny village, the castle, and church are all heavily influenced by the Italian styles of the era. We were fortunate to arrive by chance, at Chateau d’Ansouis just in time for the guided tour (they offer two tours every afternoon except on Tuesdays). This 12th Century chateau was built on the foundations of a former defensive fort. This impressive structure had been occupied by generations of the Sabran family for centuries. However, it has now been sold to a private Provencal family, who are carefully restoring sections. The castle offers visitors some beautiful views from landscaped terraces.

Our short day trip served as a confirmation that we were right the similarities between this part of Provence and Tuscany are not a mistake. Centuries of Roman occupation, religious influences, similar climates and landscapes have created an area that is remarkably similar to the beautiful Italian region. However, according to my husband there is one particularly clear difference – there is no exceptional gelato in Provence.