Family Heirlooms

Most any children are thrilled to receive a family heirloom whether it be passed from many generations or something that they remember getting as a gift as a child. It can also be something that they cherished when they were a young child.

The stories they tell have a special meaning in some way or another. It could be a gift from Aunt Julie or Uncle Bill or it may be something that the child has remembered in their parents or grandparents home while growing up. Who hasn’t wished they had that toy, book or special piece as they watch the antique road show on television.

If it is an item that is passed from generation to generation, take the time to get as much information on the piece as you can. Countless stories can be told of an heirloom piece that was handed down from a prior generation but no one can remember who it came from, the approximate date or the value. When this information is preserved with the heirloom piece, it makes the item so much more valuable.

Even if the piece is only 10 to 20 years old and you remember it from your childhood days, the item may still have a sentimental value. Passing to a future generation will eventually add decades to the piece. It may not be an antique piece now, but in 20 years it will be. An example of some beautiful pieces are Tiffany Lamps made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. If one of his lamps is sold at auction, it can easily bring thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.

If you think an heirloom piece is valuable and do not know its worth, do not hesitate to get a professional to assist you in appraising the piece. A museum or a library is an excellent place to start. Most all museums have a curator who may appraise pieces or be able to direct you to the right person who can appraise the piece. Many libraries have books available on antiques and heirlooms. Appraisals are important as knowing the value of an item, the age, the time period when it was used. It can also assist you in what you should have the piece insured for. The insurance company will need to know the value and most likely ask you for an appraisal.

Heirlooms are an important part of history. Without history, we would not be who we are today. We have evolved from the simple life to the technological age. With heirlooms, we know where we came from and how we became who we are today.

Tiffany lamp

When it comes to passing the IELTS Test, it’s not the writing or the listening portion that gives the most trouble to test takers…

…It’s the speaking portion!

Think about it this way: the speaking section of the IELTS exam is the only time when you’re actually sitting face-to-face with an examiner. You can see their reactions to how you’re speaking. You can tell if you’re doing well – and you can definitely see when your English-speaking efforts are going down in flames.

And did we mention just how intimidating it can be sitting across from a native English speaker who’s not only judging the way you speak – they’re actually scoring you as well?

It’s enough to make any IELTS exam taker want to throw up their hands and give up!

But like with all other sections of this notoriously difficult exam, IELTS practice can go a long way. Even if you don’t have a native English speaker to try your language skills out on, you can practically guarantee your exam success by using these innovative techniques…

…And they’re yours for absolutely free.

Are You Missing Out on These IELTS Preparation Tips?

Let’s face it – it can be difficult to study for a speaking section of a test, especially if you don’t have a native English speaker to help out. Besides, how can you tell if you’ve made a mistake that needs correcting, or are not properly pronouncing a word?

Consider this your personal cheat sheet to success, because the following tips don’t require a native English speaker. In fact, they don’t even require hours of IELTS preparation time – because these common-sense tips are easy to remember. They’ll be there for you when you need them the most…

…And when you finally receive your sky-high IELTS test score, you’ll know exactly how you got it!

• Like with the writing section of the IELTS exam, you need to be sure that you’re not using English slang of any kind. Even innocuous slang (such as overusing the word “like”, or saying “cool” in response to a question), will be looked down upon. So if you’re mulling over using certain words during the speaking section, remember this: it’s better to be safe than sorry!

• Be friendly and communicative. If you’re uncommunicative due to shyness or nerves, the examiner will think that you don’t have a strong enough grasp on the language.

• Avoid giving traditional “yes” and “no” answers to closed questions. These questions will start off with the phrases “Do you…”, “Have you…”, “Is it…”, etc.

• Give examples within your statements to help clarify your points or to better answer a question. This is a little-known fact that will really impress your examiner – and if you want to pass the IELTS test, you need to pull out all of the stops!

The mentality of “out with the old, in with the new” is not always the case when it comes to jewelry. Choosing your jewelry has always been a matter of preference and taste. Whether you like modern-looking jewelry or not, there is always a special place in people’s hearts about owning estate or vintage jewelry; it is a memorable piece of history and a sentimental value at your fingertips. These gorgeous pieces symbolize the development and growth of the craft of jewelry making and have shaped the current trends and jewelry we have today.

Why Buy Vintage Jewelry?

1. Value for Money

Everyone loves to save money. This is one of the most popular reasons people buy vintage or pre-owned jewelry; it gives good value for your money. This is especially true for contemporary pieces that are still in production today or pieces that we have an abundance of in the market. Estate jewelry have an advantageous price compared to buying the hefty price tag at retail. Since it is a pre-owned piece and have been previously worn or used, the price for it depreciates sometimes substantially. If you don’t mind a few scratches here and there to save money, then pre-owned jewelry is definitely for you. Plus, a lot of pre-owned pieces are actually still in pristine and excellent condition. Finding those pieces can really be a bargain!

2. Unique and One-Of-A-Kind

Jewelry has been in existence for centuries. Each era holds its own unique craftsmanship and signature design that caters to the taste and preference of a whole lot of people. With the absence of cutting-edge technology back in the day, each piece was intricately hand-made with old world techniques and hundreds of hours. No piece looks and is made exactly the same. Some of these techniques are no longer being used and have shaped the way jewelers have been making jewelry today. The uniqueness and rarity also add to the value of vintage pieces overtime.

Unlike purchasing new and modern pieces today, you can tailor your ring to the most specific criteria possible. From carat weight, color, clarity, design, table ratio, millimeter size of the shank, etc., a reputable jeweler can work with you and custom-make a ring designed by you to the letter. With estate pieces, what you see is often what you get. You will need a whole lot of time going from website to website or store to store to look for a piece that really appeals to you. This is actually the thrill of vintage jewelry shopping. Some people attribute finding and purchasing estate jewelry as mementos of the experience finding that specific piece.

3. Exceptional Quality

Vintage jewelry shows exceptional quality due to the fact that they withstood the test of time. Jewelry is an investment that almost everyone develop attachment to and take really good care of. That is why most vintage jewelry are still in very good and wearable condition. You’ll be surprised at how pristine and well taken care of some very old pieces we have in our collection. Due to their high-quality standards and reputation, a lot of jewelers like Roman Malakov sell estate and fine jewelry that are durable and will last you many more generations to come (with the proper love and care of course).

4. History at Your Fingertips

As I said earlier, people develop certain attachments to jewelry because they symbolize special relationships and memorable experiences in their lives. Each antique piece has it’s own place in history and essentially, you are being part of that story. That is just something new jewelry just doesn’t have. They become symbols of previous eras and the craft they had during those times. If not for the preservation and value of pre-owned jewelry, the distinct and creative design of each era would not have been appreciated by today and future generations.

Buying Vintage Jewelry

1. Buy From a Reputable Jeweler

With the technology nowadays, looking for a reputable jeweler is just an app or a click away. Check-out jewelers near your location; be sure to look at their reviews, policies, customer experiences (e.g. yelp, Google reviews), knowledge, etc. Unfortunately, there are stores out there that intentionally or unintentionally, mislead their customers to buying inauthentic antique pieces. That is why it is incredibly important to do your due diligence on the seller when buying jewelry in general. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Make sure that they answer your questions with honesty and transparency. If you are buying vintage jewelry online, make sure the seller has multiple pictures of the piece and have a well-written description of the piece. If not, ask for more pictures or information. Jewelers will most likely send more pictures that show the condition of the item and be transparent with their customers. Trust is one of the foundations of jewelry buying.

2. Evaluate The Condition of The Item

Most jewelers do not restore or polish vintage jewelry to preserve the authenticity and antique feel of the pieces. Being a pre-owned piece that has been worn for years, it should show signs of wear (e.g. scratches, dents, etc.). Little signs of wear is ideal; but make sure to check that there are no cracks on the metal or chips on the stones. If it looks brand new, ask if it has been restored. If you are buying online, make sure you see multiple views of the piece and research about the jeweler’s return policy.

Jewelry makers in the past often sign their piece and leave marks of their initials or a small symbol. Be sure to check-out for that as it is a good sign of authenticity. This is especially true for pre-owned branded pieces such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chopard, etc. These branded jewelry companies always mark and sign their piece. If you are buying branded pre-owned jewelry, ask if they have the original box and papers. If they have authenticity certificates, make sure the number on the certificates match the number stamped on the piece.

3. Research & Price Check

Looks can be deceiving. That is why even doing just a little bit of research goes a long way. Research about diamond prices, what styles appeal to you, how much it usually costs, etc. You will not only be more confident with vintage jewelry shopping, you will also take lesser time and find it much easier to shop store to store. The more information you have, the more likely you will get an authentic piece and negotiate for a reasonable price.

Since estate or vintage jewelry are one-of-a-kind, be wary when they sell antique pieces in bulk. If a seller advertises that they have more than 1 of the exact same piece, tread carefully. They might have made antique-looking pieces and are not authentic antiques. Be especially conscious of their word usage; an example of this is “antique style” or “antique look.” These usually signify newly-made jewelry that have vintage designs.

Also, vintage jewelry have much history and value in them to be sold cheap. If you see an antique piece selling at a mind-blowing price (e.g. a 1 carat antique diamond ring for $20-$100), think twice. As I said earlier, without the technology we have now, it usually takes hundreds of hours for previous generation jewelers to handcraft and produce a stunning and one-of-a-kind piece. It takes precision, knowledge, and experience in the craft to create a piece that would last generations. This much work does not simply go for a couple of dollars (unless the seller is clueless). This is where research comes in. Cross-checking and validating the information and description on a piece (e.g. diamond/gemstone price, price of similar pieces, gold weight, size of stones, etc.) to find out it’s intrinsic value is essentially important to know it’s authenticity. If the price greatly deviates or varies from other similar pieces, have 2nd thoughts about it.

To Conclude

You can find and purchase antique and vintage jewelry almost everywhere; whether it be online or in brick-and-mortar stores. Buying smart is always the most important thing when buying jewelry (vintage or not). But if you are looking to buy authentic antiques, differentiating the real from the fakes will make sure that you are getting the right price for the right item. Research is key.

Silver figurines or statues made fully of sterling silver would be very heavy, as well as very expensive, because of the huge amount of precious metal required to manufacture them.

Some pieces are made following a brilliant method of creating a large artistic piece, without the excessive cost it would naturally have if is was made as a normal statue or figurine and using exclusively silver to make the entire piece. This process is called electroforming.

Formerly only given industrial uses such as making metal pieces for machines, today this process has been transported to the artistic realm, giving us the opportunity to enjoy the possession of a beautiful and unique piece which is made of.999 silver (higher content of silver than Sterling) without having to pay prohibitive prices.

First, the artist conceives his piece and then crafts it using some material such as plasticine or clay, which is then made into a mold of resin or gypsum. This mold is taken and filled with a similar substance which, when dry, will render a model of the statue in a now solid material.

This preliminary statue is used to manufacture by a similar procedure, a silicon mold which is then injected with a fine resin specially used for this. Once the resin statue inside the silicon mold is dry and hard, it is taken out of the mold and talented artisans retouch it so that all the details are just right.

Once the piece is ready, it is submerged in an electrolysis tub where the piece will be first covered with a metallic copper layer and following that, left for 10 to 12 hours to become gradually coated with a layer of .999 quality silver. This layer is about six times as thick as normal silver plating and the piece will stay in the silver tub until the layer has achieved 15% of the piece’s weight in .999 silver.

Once that is achieved we have a silver statue. It gets taken out of the tub and chemically oxidized to acquire a black patina, then a thorough polishing process follows. Buffing is also required and done to a high luster.

To complete the process, the piece is then protected by completely covering it with a clear coat of special lacquer. This coat prevents tarnishing, which is inevitable with silver, so… no need to polish again any time soon, as this step ensures the piece’s finish will last!

You can now enjoy the beauty and prestige of fine silver statues without having to pay an arm and a leg for them, and a vast variety of them are manufactured this way. No matter what your preference is, there is most likely a statue that you will fall in love with.

Suppose you set out to create the perfect paradise, where would you begin? You might start with a tropical island – or better yet, seven hundred tropical islands; and surround them with pristine, silver sandy beaches lapped by crystalline turquoise surf. Now you’ve got the Bahamas. Spreading out over one hundred thousand square miles starting sixty miles east of Florida, Bahamas resorts are famous for having the clearest waters in the world. With its many hidden bays and small islets, the paradise of Bahamas found favor with Caribbean pirates who preyed on the gold, silver and other precious cargo brought from the New World. One sunken Spanish treasure ship yielded three million pounds in treasure to the divers who recovered it.

Moreover, each inhabited island in the Bahamas archipelago has its own rich customs and culture. New Providence Island is the center of the action, with the capital Nassau, Paradise Island, and Cable Beach all inclusive Bahamas resort areas. Here you can savor luxurious gourmet dining, enjoy world class entertainment; play craps, blackjack, baccarat, or slot machines in colorful casinos; and enjoy fun sports facilities (including a championship golf course). Nassau itself has a quaint English colonial atmosphere, with its pink Rawson Square government buildings, small restaurants and pubs dotting its picturesque side streets, and even horse-drawn carriage rides through the town. Near the wharf there is a new museum which highlights the Junkanoo (Bahamas Carnival, celebrated at New Years) tradition. The busy straw market features hundreds of sellers happy to bargain for souvenir treasures; and the international boutiques of Bay Street offer fashionable and elegant shopping.

Besides guided tours of the attractions of Nassau town, Bahamas resorts offer a vast selection of boat rentals and charters, from fully catered and crewed sailing trips to motorboats, small sailboats, and jet skis. You can snorkel, scuba dive, enjoy a barefoot picnic on a remote beach – even take a submarine ride! Bahamas all inclusive resorts are themselves paradise regained: everything you do, eat, or drink is covered in one upfront price so you don’t have to think about money, ever.

Besides the delights of Nassau town, you can kayak, water ski, rock climb, or swing on a flying trapeze. Bask on Bahamas powdery sands at Cable Beach, or take a relaxing dip in the pool and unwind in a bubbling Jacuzzi. You can savor exquisite gourmet meals with unlimited wine and drinks, great snacks and hors d’oeuvres, and premium umbrella drinks whenever the spirit moves you – no tipping allowed! When night falls the fun really begins with live entertainment and disco dancing – even karaoke contests. All inclusive Bahamas resorts are the ideal way to enjoy your piece of paradise under the sun!

In the early to mid 1960s, Milton Bradley came out with some interesting games all marketed under the label of American Heritage games. These were all war based games and at the time were very popular. Unfortunately, they drifted off into obscurity and are now some of the rarest games around if you can even find one. Collectors are getting a mint for some of these.

The series started in 1961 with the Civil War Edition. This game was a very scaled down Civil War battle game. Each side had only 22 pieces consisting of 10 Infantry, 10 Calvary and 2 Artillery pieces. In order to do combat with an enemy piece you had to line up your piece adjoining it in some way, either side to side or facing the piece. Also, in order to defeat the piece you had to have superior battle strength. Infantry and Artillery had the greatest strength of 2 and Calvary had a strength of only 1. You could combine your pieces in any way but in order to attack with Artillery you had to have a Calvary piece with it. To remove a piece you jumped over it, except Artillery pieces did not jump. The game was won by removing all the pieces of the other side. However, your opponent could surrender if he felt there was no way for him to win.

The next game in the series was the 1962 edition of Broadside. This was a game that was probably based off the old wars between Britain and Spain during the pirate days, though no actual description of a timeline is given. The object of the game is to position your frigates in such a way as to take shots at your opponents ships and knocking out one of its masts. There are also land based cannons that can attack enemy ships so getting too close to land can be very dangerous. The game itself isn’t very complicated and honestly not all that interesting either, but it does contain some really cool miniatures that you can play with and the board is very colorful. Not one of Milton Bradley’s better efforts.

In the year 1963 the American Heritage series continued with Dogfight. This was a World War I air battle game between the American and German air forces. The game is a very light version of WW I air combat and not for really serious gamers. Each side gets 6 planes divided into 2 squadrons of 3 planes each. You have to try to maneuver your planes around so that you can get a clear shot at an enemy plane without getting shot yourself. For each plane you shoot down you get a token. These tokens are used to get cards. The player with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.

The final game in the series was Hit The Beach. This game came out in 1965 and was a WW II edition of the marines landing at the Japanese beach. In this game both players are the Americans and the object is to be the first side to reach the Japanese HQ. The Japanese defense forces are obstacles to both players in this game. In this game each player has 6 pieces composed of 2 Marines, 2 Infantry, 1 naval landing support ship and 1 strategic air support aircraft. If when moving your pieces you land directly on an opponents piece, you send that piece back to the start. This is ultimately how you become the first one to reach the Japanese HQ. This was probably the most interesting and exciting of all the American Heritage games.

Louisville has a long and respected history in the baseball bat industry, but they’ve falling behind in the composite segment of the market. They’re 2009 entry into the high end composite category, the Triton, was met with a tepid reception. For 2010 they’ve changed ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to their line-up except for cosmetics. They didn’t even make an attempt to fool us into believing they made any changes. The verbiage for their 2010 bats is identical to the verbiage for their 2009 bats. They even changed the name of their second tier composite bat for the third year in a row without changing anything about the bat. This is extremely disappointing from what most consider the holy grail of baseball bat manufacturers. On a positive note they have adjusted their pricing policy to align the price (except for the EXO) to the material of the bat.

Here’s the breakdown of the Louisville line-up:

Louisville Composite Bats

• TPX Triton – A 3-piece bat made with 100% composite material with Louisville’s stiff handle and a balanced design. The 2010 Triton is the exact same bat as the 2009 model except for a putrid blue/yellow color change that makes it look cheap. This bat has by far the largest barrel I’ve seen on a baseball bat. As I’ve stated in the past, it would be in Louisville’s best interest to either call this a multi-piece bat or stick to a true 1-piece design. Instead they continue to market it as a three-piece bat bonded together as a one-piece bat. I’ve hit with the Triton and seen high school kids use it in games and it seems to be a quality bat, but it just hasn’t caught fire. You will rarely see it in a high school games and almost never in College. Even on a College teams using Louisville bats the players choose the Exogrid, Omaha or H2 (in that order) and not the Triton. The retail price remains at $399.99 for the Adult -3 model. If you like this bat you’ll save about $100 by picking up the 2009 model on the discount rack (and have a bat that looks good). I recommend the Easton Speed for experienced players who want a 100% composite bat.
• TPX Dynasty Composite – This 100% 7C composite, one-piece bat has the Louisville stiff handle and a balanced design. This bat is the same bat as the 2009 Omaha Comp and 2008 Catalyst. Louisville seems to be playing musical chairs with the name of this bat and decided the old Dynasty name would make sense for 2010. I believe this bat is an excellent second tier composite bat choice for two reasons. First, it has a great price at $259 for the Adult -3 model. Second, it has a proven track record being a Catalyst/Omaha Comp. An excellent choice for those looking for a lower priced composite bat.

Louisville Hybrid Bats:

• H2: The 2010 model is the exact same bat as in 2009 but with one major difference, they’ve adjusted the price to what a hybrid bat should be! Do you believe in miracles? It looks like the H2 did not sell well in 2009 and they were forced to price it correctly. It’s a two piece bat that bonds the pieces together to make the claim that it’s a one piece bat (we’ve already covered this). The 100% composite handle is Louisville’s stiffest which is saying something. The barrel is a 100% ST+20 alloy barrel and a balanced swing weight design. The Adult -3 model retails for $299 in 2010 $70 less than its retail price in 2009. You can also find the 2009 model for even less.
• Exogrid: The EXO continues to chug along! It’s been one of Louisville’s best selling bats and the 2010 model is identical to the 2008 and 2009 models. Clearly their going to milk this golden goose for as long as possible because it continues to retail for an amazing $369. In my opinion this bat is closer to a 100% alloy bat then a hybrid but with the carbon sleeve cut into the handle it’s in the hybrid category. I believe the price of this bat is way too high and I can’t recommend it when for an additional $30 I can get the 100% composite Triton. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good bat but I just can’t recommend pulling the trigger at $369. If you love this bat find the 2008 or 2009 model. It’s the same bat and will cost you a lot less money. As mentioned no change to the design it’s still a one piece, 100% alloy bat with some metal cut out of the handle and replaced with composite material. It comes with Louisville’s stiff handle and a balanced design. As mentioned earlier, most players on College teams who use Louisville bats swing the Exogrid.

Louisville Alloy Bats

• TPX Omaha: The Omaha also continues to chug along. It’ a one -piece, 100% alloy bat with the Louisville stiff handle and a balanced design.. The 2010 is the same bat as the 2009 model and is priced at a reasonable $199.99 for the Adult -3 model. It’s a great choice for those who are not looking to break the bank to purchase a baseball bat. Many players on College teams with Louisville contracts prefer to use the Omaha instead of the Triton or H2.
• Omaha XT Stiff: This bat has apparently been out since last year but I’ve not seen it anywhere except on the Louisville website. I don’t know if it’s a hybrid or an alloy all Louisville says is it has ST+20 alloy and extra stiff composite reinforced transition. Seem odd to call this bat the Omaha Stiff when all Louisville bats are known for their stiff handles and the H2 has the stiffest handle of all.

Louisville makes quality bats but they need to decide if they’re going to jump into the multi-piece bat market or not. If you’re coming out with a multi-piece design tell me it’s a multi-piece design and why that makes sense. Don’t tell me it’s bonded to be a one piece bat.

Take a look at the Baseball Bat Reviews Blog for reviews of all the 2010 baseball bats.

A natural beauty located at the centre of the Americas, Belize is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican and Guatemala borders. However, Belize gladly pours out her heart onto the crystal clear sea-fronts on the eastern side, where the Caribbean seas treasure is part of its pride.

Fact File

Belize is a total of 8867 square miles, offering a rich and diverse fertile land comprising of Pine Forests, Tropical Rain Forests, Savannah and Mangrove Forests, to Sandy Beaches, Rivers, Streams and Lagoons.

Offshore there are hundreds of white-sand islands called Cayes, and Reefs enchanting divers. All these treasures are engulfed and caressed by the crystal clear Caribbean waters. Belize’s fertile eco-systems are abounded by the rare and exotic species of birds, mammals and fish, and where all thrive under the protected status provided by the Belizean Government.

People and Life

Life is serene here as are the environs. With only a small population of about 300,000 people, Belize is the only English speaking democratic country in Central America. The Belizean economy is based on tourism and agriculture, with sugarcane, citrus, bananas and aqua-culture as the main products. Even the manufacturing industry is agro-based and fulfills the gaps.

Living expenses and services are comparatively cheaper than the other neighboring countries. You could comfortably live in Belize with spending less. US $1,500 to US $2,000 per month would easily see you through. Good Healthcare, Insurance and housekeeping services are available at reasonable costs.

Belizean Invite

Foreign ownership is encouraged by the government here, especially if it creates employment opportunities for Belizeans. Incentives are also offered for projects that are export oriented. These include income tax breaks and import duty exemptions.

Work permits are also provided to non-nationals under the guidelines of the Belize Labor Department. These last from 3 months to a year, and are renewable. Anyone having a permanent residency or who has been a legal resident for the last 5 years can apply for Belizean citizenship under the Belizean Nationality Act, 1981.

Tourism – A Wonderland

Travel and Tourism in Belize is being vigorously promoted and brings in Foreign Exchange for Belize. Wildlife and the seafront, along with the serene natural beauty of Belize has immensely contributed to the tourism industry of Belize.

The List

There is so much in Belize, that it is hard to list each and every spot. A few famous places can however be talked about –

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary – The world’s only Jaguar Preserve

A unique sanctuary initiated by the efforts of one person is in the south of Belize covering 150 square miles of tropical forest land. It was declared a Forest Preserve in 1984, and finally declared a Jaguar Preserve in the year 1986. This is house to not only the Jaguars but a variety of wildlife, including birds, animals, fauna and flora. Rare species of birds like the Macaw, Great Curassow, and Keel-billed Toucau are common sights.

Community Baboon Sanctuary

The Community Baboon Sanctuary is an innovative and grass-roots project to protect a habitat for the endangered Black Howler Monkeys. You can easily become a member here by adopting a monkey, and it is encouraged by the CBS authorities.

Ancient Maya Sites

The Ancient Mayan Ruins are found all over Belize. Said to be the place where the ancient Mayan civilization thrived, there are now over 600 such sites identified. This ancient civilization existed between the periods 300 BC to 900 AD. This culturally vibrant society was well known during their time for magnificent art, imposing architecture, and highly developed mathematical and astronomical systems.

The Seafront is unforgettable. Here are a few places that will never leave our minds.

Diving Spots

Almost 40 of them, untouched diving spots well manicured with coral reefs, 20 foot stalactites, mangroves, and sublime internal lagoons. Mother Nature here is at her best. You have Black Corals, Orange Sponges and many more to choose from. If you love diving, you couldn’t ask for more.

The Great Blue Hole

Just imagine the Great Blue Hole, 1000 feet wide and over 400 feet deep. Apart from the divers, many colorful varieties of fish regularly visit the Great Blue Hole. The Great Blue Hole is the largest ocean sink-hole in the world, large enough to be visible from outer space. This marine vault stores red algae, hydroids, and gorgonians covering most of the corals. This is also houses sharing brush, mermaid’s fan algae, Elkhorn, club finger, shallow water starlet corals, giant green anemones and various urchins.

Half Moon Caye

Nature opens in full glory at the southeast corner of the atoll. A densely populated bird sanctuary to the west and coconut palms to the east, home to 98 recorded species of birds including frigate, red footed booby birds, pelicans, ospreys, egrets, gulls, storks, terns and many more. And do not forget to visit the Lighthouse on Half Moon Caye.

The Wall

This is located to the south of the Half Moon Caye. Divers can experience a depth of 30 feet and visibility up to 100 feet. This natural aquarium at Half Moon Caye contains garden eels, conch, rays, flounder, star-eye hermit crab, tile fish, manta rays, groupers, yellowtail snappers, razorfish, toadfish, spotted eagle rays, turtles and black groupers.

Long Caye Ridge

A perfect dive spot for beginners; with minimal currents, a 40 feet depth and 80 feet visibility. Soft coral, vase and tube sponges, yellow pencil corals, coral niches for spotted crabs, lobsters, file fish and arrow blennies hold your sight. Check this out for underwater photography.

The Aquarium

To the northwest of Long Caye is the Aquarium, house to the abundance of flora and fauna enchanting the visitors with myriad colors and perfect visibility. The richness and variety of the marine life is perfectly demonstrated here leaving all visitors simply mesmerized.

Lighthouse Reef

A diving expedition to the Lighthouse Reef Atoll begins from its northern shores. It is tear-drop shaped and one of the few unspoiled and pristine atoll reefs in the world. The Sandbore Caye and The Northern Two Cayes greet you at the gateway. These cayes have an internal lagoon which act as a giant natural cooler. At the southern end of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, you will find Long Caye, which is known to be the closest island to the top dive sites and fishing grounds in all of Belize.

Belize Me

There is so much packed into this small country. Belize is only 68 miles wide, and 108 miles long. But then, the open and crystal clear seas have blessed this land, imparting the vastness the ocean beholds.

You just have to be here to Belize yourself.

Once, twice – and you’ll realize, that it’s never enough.

Be here, to find out.

When it comes to the tactic of performing X-Ray Attacks, we’re talking about the kind of power that Superman has, that helps him “see through” objects, in order to get sight of whatever happens to be lurking behind the foreground cover.

There are 3 Types of X-Ray Attacks:

Type 1: Another Term For Skewer Attack;

Type 2: Performing An Attack Through One Or More Friendly Pieces;

Type 3: Defending A Friendly Piece Through One Or More Enemy Pieces.

Let’s take a look at each one, in turn…

X-Ray #1: Another Term For Skewer Attack

We’ll just clear up what a Skewer Attack is, for those currently uninitiated…

A Skewer Attack is a Chess Tactic in its own right. It happens when the attacking side uses a Piece to threaten a more-valuable enemy Piece, which is sitting directly in front of a less-valuable Pawn or Piece (it could be either along a Rank, File, or a Diagonal path, behind).

The objective of the Skewer is to get the enemy Piece at the front to step aside, as the attacker’s real target is the less-valuable unit sitting in line, to the rear.

This is what the first type of X-Ray Attack also aims to achieve.

The Skewer (Type 1 X-Ray Attack) can be either an Absolute attack, or a Relative attack.

If it’s an Absolute Skewer X-Ray, the more-valuable enemy Piece at the front of the line happens to be your opponent’s King.

Now, providing you played the Skewer correctly, your opponent’s army will not be able to capture your attacking Piece, or block the Check with another Pawn or Piece. Because of this, your opponent MUST get the King to safety by moving it. This will, naturally, open up the path to the helpless Pawn or Piece sitting behind – it’s toast, you gain material.

If it’s a Relative Skewer X-Ray, the more-valuable enemy Piece at the front of the line will be another Piece, but NOT your opponent’s King. For instance, it could be a Rook, sitting directly in front of a less-valuable Bishop, Knight or Pawn.

One thing you need to be aware of, with Relative Skewers, is the more-valuable enemy Piece – the one in front – doesn’t have to move out of the way. If your opponent’s plans either can (or must) include that Piece be left in place, as a possible sacrifice.

In such a situation, before you capture the more-valuable Piece, it’s vital you take a moment to study the board, just to make certain you’re not falling into a trap, or being prepared for your opponent’s counter-attack.

X-Ray #2: Performing An Attack Through One Or More Friendly Pieces

This type of X-Ray can happen on the straights (Ranks and Files) when one player moves a Rook or Queen behind another friendly Pawn or Piece. Let’s say it’s the Rook that’s been moved behind one of its own Knights. To the other side of that Knight, but on the same File as the Rook, is an enemy Bishop.

By X-Ray, the Rook can see through the Knight, to threaten the enemy Bishop sitting just beyond.

The threat may cause the enemy to reinforce support for the Bishop, or to move the Bishop to a less-threatened square. If the enemy ignores the X-Ray threat then, should the friendly Knight move out of the way and the Bishop be unable to react, then it may well be captured.

However, if the enemy is vigilant, they may choose to either reinforce the Bishop, by sending a Piece or advancing a Pawn to protect it (if possible), or they’ll choose to move the Bishop to a less-threatened square.

Some players may used this Type 2 X-Ray to get their opponent to reinforce the support for their threatened Piece. By moving a Piece to help the threatened one, it can serve to weaken their position in another part of the board… This Type 2 X-Ray could serve to improve conditions for a proposed attack, once a particular region of the board has become sufficiently weakened.

Oh, by the way, on the Diagonals, the Queens and Bishops are the Pieces that can be used to threaten the enemy with a Type 2 X-Ray Attack.

X-Ray #3: Defending A Friendly Piece Through One Or More Enemy Pieces

You’d use this Type 3 X-Ray when one of your Pawns or Pieces is being directly threatened.

If you want to defend, by X-Ray, along one of the straights (Rank or File), you’d move either a Rook or Queen, so it’s directly in-line with the unit you’re defending and can see-through all the way to the attacking enemy unit.

If you want to defend along one of the diagonals, it’s the same principle, but you’d position either a Bishop or Queen along the line.

This Type 3 X-Ray is used to make your opponent “think twice” about attacking one of your troops.

Pawns are the most numerous piece in Chess, yet also the weakest in power. With the exception of their first turn, they can only move one space at a time and can only capture another piece which is diagonal to it. However, Pawns can be of great use to any Chess strategy, as they aren’t only useful in causing a diversion, but they can also be traded up for other, more valuable pieces if they should manage to make it the entire way across the board without being captured.

These pieces are unique in the fact that they are the only piece which cannot ever move backwards on the board. The Pawn can only ever move forward, sometimes diagonally if it is making a capture. Any piece directly in front of a pawn stops it from being able to move, whether it is a friendly piece or not. The only time a Pawn is able to move if there is a piece directly in front of it comes when the Pawn is able to diagonally capture an opponent’s piece. However, strategic placement of Pawns can greatly aid a player, as they can block an opponent from successfully moving, as if they would go to capture the Pawn, they might easily be taken by another piece. Pawns are most commonly useful as roadblocks, of sorts, allowing the player to shape the chessboard in a way that might be temporarily beneficial.

If the Pawn is successfully able to navigate its way to the complete opposite end of the board, it is then eligible for promotion. Having a Pawn be promoted can be one of the greatest benefits in a Chess game, as it allows that Pawn to become any other piece in the game, save for a King. With Pawn promotion, players are able to have multiple pieces on the board of any one rank, usually of a Queen. As the Queens are the most powerful pieces available in a Chess game, it is usually rare that any other piece is chosen. When it does happen, however, it is usually a Knight piece that is selected due to its unique movement pattern. Frequently, when a Pawn is able to be promoted, the endgame is in sight. Having two pieces available with the power of a Queen is not an easy thing to overcome for any player and often, the best that can be hoped for by the player who did not successfully promote a Pawn is a stalemate.

The Pawns have been a part of Chess since its original conception long ago and has surfaced in every version of Chess that has independently developed around the world. The piece is generally considered to be of the rank of the “common man” in the game, composing the infantry of the royalty which the King, Queen, and Royal Court all stand for. The pieces are generally considered to be expendable, as the entire game revolves around protecting the King from harm. The word Pawn itself is generally considered to mean either “someone who is easily manipulated,” or “someone who is sacrificed for a larger purpose,” making the Pawns generally be the lesser-loved pieces of the game. Yet, these pieces can still hold their own for it is not easy to win a game without the successful strategy of manipulating Pawns.