How to Make Your Own Bird Feeder

Bird feeding is a very rewarding pastime which a huge number of Americans are taking to. Homeowners like to enjoy the calm, comforting experience which the presence of birds provides. The best way to attract birds is with a bird feeder or many if your property is large enough. Unfortunately though, while you might strive to attract the smaller and more decorative bird species, this garden accessory also pulls in large, aggressive birds, and squirrels. Large birds and squirrels deter the smaller varieties of birds which most bird enthusiasts try to attract.

Squirrels thrive on the same sort of foods that birds like, and gather wherever it is easily available. The worst part about squirrels though, is that they are very destructive. They are able to chew through almost anything to get at food. In order to keep squirrels off, bird feeding accessories manufacturers are constantly after new and more failsafe methods to squirrel-proof their products. One simple way is to use bird food that is spiked with spices and pepper. While birds are unaffected by this addition, squirrels cannot stand spices and pepper which act as an effective deterrent. Pre-mixed bird food is available at many supermarkets and pet stores.

Many homeowners prefer to make feeders rather than buy something off-the-shelf. They come in a vast variety of designs with detailed instructions available on the internet on how to make your own bird feeder. One of the easiest to make is a recycled bottle bird feeder. This is actually a tube feeder which will cost you next to nothing to make. You will need an old plastic bottle - a two-liter soda bottle would be perfect - some string or an old coat hanger, and some chopsticks or wooden barbecue skewers. Make holes across the bottles about 1 ½"from the bottom through which you pass the chopstick or skewer, which acts as a perch. You could repeat the process about 6" above, and at right angles to the first, so you have an additional perch. Make small holes for feed ports above the perches through which the birds will be able to access their feed. These feed ports must be just large enough to let your seed pass through without allowing it to spill out. Fill the bottle with birdseed, tie the top with string or the opened coat hanger and suspend it from a nearby branch. Your very own recycled bottle bird feeder is now open for business.

Anti Aging Skin Care - Tips on Defying Skin Aging

As we get older, the skin ages too. This article looks at the ways in which we can defy skin aging and retain our youthful complexions for as long as possible.

Know the Common Signs of Skin Aging

Different people will show different signs of aging at different times in their lives.

For a person who is in his or her mid-late 20s, the skin is generally in good condition but some signs of skin aging may appear. Depending on the person's lifestyle, some of these signs could include dry or rough skin, blotchy skin, darkened and dull skin or an uneven skin tone

For a person in his or her late 20s or 30s, more signs of skin aging may appear. These could include loose skin, larger pores or even fine line and wrinkles.

For a person in his or her 40s, deeper expression lines, frown lines on the forehead, more obvious wrinkles and crow's feet may appear. The skin may appear more sallow and less firm.

For a person in his or her 50s and 60s, deep wrinkles and folds of skin may appear. The skin becomes more dry and rough. Age spots may also appear.

Understand the Cause of Skin Aging

Skin aging is 90% of the time due to sun damage and 10% due to genetic factors.

Intrinsic or biological aging is due to genetic factors. The intrinsic factors are the slow down of skin turnover, decreased collagen and sebum production.

Extrinsic or photo aging is also called sun-induced skin aging and therefore largely preventable. Sun damage is accumulated a little each time there is an exposure to the burning rays of the sun. The damage is not immediately noticeable. Often one is not aware of the amount of sun damage accumulated until much later, years later in fact.

Never Too Early to Start Protecting Your Skin

Your skin starts to age from the time you were born! As sun damage is primary cause of skin aging, it is never too early to start protecting your skin from the burning rays of the sun. So always apply sunscreen lotion on yourself and your kids when you are outdoors. Prevention is always better than cure!

If you love to sun tan or an outdoors person, a good, strong sun cream is a must.

Stub out that Cigarette

Not only is smoking detrimental for your health, it is also bad for your skin. It reduces blood flow to the skin and causes the skin to look dry and sallow. Smoking further encourages wrinkles to develop around the mouth as smokers puckers their mouth and "crow's feet" around the eye due to squinting to avoid the smoke.

Other Anti Aging Skin Care Tips

Other anti aging skin care tips include:

Having a healthy life style Drink in moderation Cut down on your caffeine in take Exercise to improve your blood circulation Reduce or manage the stress level in your life Have sufficient sleep each night Last but not least, maintain a good skin care routine Publishing guidelines:

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High Impact, Action, and Emotional Intensity

"The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred", is a fantastic story, masterfully told. It is a story of a horse, from his auspicious birth while in the care of his Turkish groom, to his peaceful death while in the care of the wealthy Englishman, Robert Byerley. It is most compelling, and contains a graphic intensity that the author Jeremy James, who has knowledge and experience with horses, weaves into his story.

Jeremy James has the ability to take you inside the landscape, and into the hearts of horses and of men. In fact, the way that this story is told, gives insight into an era that is long gone. Buildings, scenery, attire, relationships, protocol, and events are lavishly described. It gives insight to vastly different cultures in conflict, and yet the element of the human heart, and the heart of the horse are amplified throughout. The author has an uncanny ability to involve the reader, so that the passions, horrors, joys and sorrows, are deeply felt.

This is a story of trust, loyalty, and supreme athleticism, during a time of war and upheaval. There are heroic deeds performed as a matter of fact, and in retrospect, deeds with a seemingly supernatural aura... deeds which connected the events with their destiny. There are elements of beauty amongst the serious gore. Fear and friendship, supreme intellect, slavery, survival, suffering and opportunity are juxtaposed inexorably into the landscape spanning from the Ottoman Empire, to Ireland.

The stallion and his groom inspire awe and change, where ever they go. The relationships that they offer are of such a deep and profound nature, that, whether they are at home, or in a foreign land, at times it seems that they are from a different world altogether.

There are emotionally charged sequences of courage and sacrifice made in the name of love, not war. This story illustrates the power of deep relationships, the power of 'home', and the transformative power of understanding.

It is not a story for the faint-hearted. The senses are floridly described in scenes of death, stress and suffering. Partings are painful. Love is not a petty emotion. Devotion is not a fleeting fulfillment of convenience. It is a book of extremes. Extreme beauty and style...extreme dedication, extreme danger, and the fantastic power of a strong-willed and defiant stallion, and the tender moments he creates when the touch of a whisker brings about peace and comfort...

It is the story of how Robert Byerley came to be in possession of the Turkish horse known as the Byerley Turk. Well researched and well presented, it is a wonderful use of the novel in depicting a time in history. It successfully captivates the imagination, and allows the reader to understand the importance of the horse in World History.

"The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred"

Author: Jeremy James

Publisher: Stackpole Books

How to Get Promoted and Climb the Ladder of Success

There is a law of physic that says, "Water seeks its own level." That law confirms the fact that until a substance has completely filled the place that it is presently occupying, it cannot fill a larger vessel.

That is true in physic and its also true in life. Before attempting to fill or occupy a larger place in life, first we must completely fill the one that we are presently holding. It's a fundamental axiom but one that is almost universally ignored.

Ambitious people want to move ahead. They want to be promoted or occupy a larger and more important role. So they dream, hope and make plans and nothing happens. Nothing happens because they did not know or forgot that before they can fill a larger place, first, the one presently being occupied must be filled.

Contrary to popular beliefs, there is plenty of room at the top. It is the bottom wrung that is crowded and overfilled. Small and large corporations and institutions have to pay head hunters to fill top executive positions. Leaders are needed in every sphere of our economic world. There is a vacuum at that level that is begging to be filled.

The opportunities are there but the viable candidates are few. Why is that? It is due to the fact that a fundamental lesson has not been learned yet. That lesson is the fact that before aspiring to a larger place in life, the one that is being occupied must be completely be filled.

There is a saying that says that you can't keep a good man down. When someone exceed the level of competence necessary to fill a position, the one at the next level will automatically open up. It's a law of life. Water seeks it own level so does man.

What you do and how you do it cannot be separated from who you are. The power that be knows that. Outstanding performances leave clues. . Exceptional workers shine. They are noticed and promoted.

No matter what your occupation is, it provides you with the opportunity to express yourself. It's the best way to broadcast what you are all about and to tell the world what you are made of. So, if you want to climb the corporate ladder, first you must totally fill your present position and thus show that you have the potential to fill a larger role.

In today's competitive world, being good at what you do simply means that you can easily be replaced. Being excellent will not get you a promotion. You were already expected to be excellent. If you want to climb, if you want to be singled out to be promoted, you must be outstanding. That's were the money is.

If you read biographies you will find out that most of the top positions in the corporate world and in the entrepreneurial world are filled with people who started at the bottom of the ladder. They gave great performances, they were noticed and gravitated to their level - that is, to the top echelons.

Being good at what a person does is dime a dozen and will not get you anywhere. Being excellent is only what is expected and will attract no attention. But being outstanding is what opens doors. It's the way to success, it's the way to the top. So, if you are ambitious and want to succeed, go all out, play hard and totally fill the place that you are presently holding, be outstanding and soon, the world will by your oyster.

Computer Forensic Crime Investigation

Often computer fraud and misuse can be difficult to detect. Helping companies to identify computer and mobile phone abuse in the workplace is essential in combating the accessing of inappropriate websites, computer fraud and the loss of Intellectual Property. The industry of computer crime investigation as a result has continued to grow, and many clients are turning to investigations specialists to provide expert guidance in identifying whether any misuse has occurred.

These companies should follow all Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines on handling and preserving digital evidence and be ISO9001 and ISO27001 certified. ISO 17025 will also soon be a requirement. Alongside undertaking their own investigations many will also work with other organisations' in-house computer teams to assist with complex tasks that these companies may not have the resources or knowledge to undertake internally.

A mobile phone forensic investigation uses techniques consistent with ACPO standards to retrieve text and picture messages, call logs, photos, videos, internet history, address books and any other types of associated information that could be utilised in an examination.

Any forensic phone investigator should work from a properly certified mobile phone forensic lab, and the team of analysts should be specialists in the varying types of phone hardware and software. They should also be aware that each phone model is different, and requires a targeted, specific technique for forensic purposes.

All computer misuse investigations should be handled properly and comprehensively to eliminate the threat of legal challenges. This may, for example follow allegations of intellectual property theft or inappropriate use of company computers that could lead to contract terminations.

If the situation should arise, always contract a team that can give expert witness evidence in court or at a tribunal, and outline the processes and procedures involved in the investigation and any conclusions that were reached. The company should have a proven track record in delivering professional expert witness services in court - ensuring that any highly technical issues that form part of the examination are presented in an easily understood way.

In a computer crime investigation, communication is key. Clients should expect regular updates and, following completion of the examination, the analyst should present their clients with a jargon-free document detailing the extent of computer misuse, if any, that has been found.

Donate to American Charities to Help Those Around You

You are probably aware that there are people all over the world who live in poverty and don't have the basic necessities of life. However, did you know that this same situation occurs for millions of Americans each day? Nearly 1 in 50 American children face homelessness, and 42% of those are under the age of 8. You may wonder what you can do to help. Isn't it nice to know that there are American charities who are dedicated to helping other Americans who are struggling?

With the high foreclosure rate in the United States, more families are falling below the poverty line all the time. The children of these families are those who are suffering the most. Without adequate food, health care, and education, they are being put at quite a disadvantage. If you are willing to reach out, you can help the 1 in 7 homeless children who also have challenging health issues, or some of the more than a million homeless children who would not otherwise graduate from high school.

By donating to an American charity, you are helping those around you. Perhaps you feel that your small donation won't go very far. In fact, American charities that help other Americans know exactly how to stretch those dollars to do the most good. If you don't have a lot of cash to donate, it is great to know that some charitable organizations accept donations of electronics, appliances and even cars. If you have an old clunker that is just sitting on the driveway getting rusty, you should think about donating it.

Perhaps you think it has no value and you didn't even want to spend the money for the tow truck to haul it away. Well, by donating it to a charity that helps American children in need, you will not only help the children but help yourself as well. The charity will pay the cost of towing away that vehicle and provide you with a tax receipt for the value of the car. It can be accomplished in as little as 72 hours. The vehicles are repaired if possible and sold. The proceeds go to help American children. If the car is really too far gone to repair, it can be used for parts. Even if you don't have an old car to donate, every little bit can truly make a difference to a child in need. Think about helping other Americans beat the poverty cycle today.

Archimedes Screw, Ocean Waves and Fieldstone Energy

Humankind appears to be up against either a political rock or a Climate Crisis hard place or both. Yes, I speak of the Global Warming debate, which pits the flows of civilizations against a changing planet with plenty of Billionaires on both sides and in many nations participating in a tug of war and power struggle. But in all of this debate one cannot help but apply common sense to it all.

For instance why pollute the atmosphere? Whether you join in the Global Warming sound and fury or not, everyone has to breath the air. Now then it makes sense to consider alternative energies to reduce the amount of CO2 and atmospheric pollution. Well it just so happens that there are folks out their designing new systems to solve the problems of mankind and one of those companies is Fieldstone Energy.

Their unique plan is to collect the energy from ocean waves and use it to power up nations. Well we all know that ocean waves pack a wallop if they knock you over at the beach. So, why not capture that raw power? Historically we have had hydroelectric generators on rivers and even Leonardo da Vinci did some drawings in his day of ways to harvest energy and deliver water up hill.

Fieldstone Energy wishes to take this one step further in fact and create super efficient power generator stations on the shoreline and just off shore, around the World. Now that I have got your attention, let us discuss the reality of this concept. Is it doable?

Well, from a pure physics standpoint, it is more than doable and the amount of energy that can be generated is intensive indeed. [http://www.fieldstoneenergy.com/pdfs/WaveEnergy-Bigpower%20matrix.pdf] . The future of nearly unlimited renewable energy is close at hand and I hope this article will help propel thought in 2007.

Make Online Business Videos Work for You - Best Ever Tips to Maximise Your Conversions and Sales

Once your video is up on the web it is working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year advertising your business to prospective and returning customers. Coupled this with the rise of social media (Facebook now has over 500 million users worldwide) it can powerfully share and propagate your message. The opportunities are endless. In the following article I will share with you the best ever tips to get your online videos noticed and working for your business.

In addition, social media sites and video go hand in hand and most sites encourage video posting and sharing. The viral video opportunities are endless when you use the right strategies to create and post your videos online.

If you're new to using and making video, or have been thinking about getting your camera to work for you for the first time, here are some great tips and effective strategies to get you going.

How to optimize your videos - 6 quick tips that will make a difference.

The most important one is the title It should be obvious but it isn't always - how many times have you see videos with titles such as terw456.mov! It's important for two key reasons: one - the most obvious is to get the viewers attention instantly and the second is the keyword relevance to search engines - particularly Google who now owns YouTube and can quickly update its search databases.

Make sure the video has the best possible content Get in your customer's shoes - and walk a mile in them - what does she need to know - what are your key selling points and make sure they are accompanied by interesting images and music if appropriate. And don't forget with the fast uptake of broadband, HD is now possible and the finished results can look astonishing. However - and I've been guilty of this myself - don't make the videos too long - the perceived wisdom is that 2 minutes should be enough for most purposes.

Put the web address in your video You can now use text boxes in YouTube and some of the smartest operators put calls to actions and a web address to gain the viewers attention whilst they are watching the movie.But don't overdo it though - many viewers are put off by too much 'caption clutter'.

Make sure you get the brand in Whether you do this for the whole length of the video as an on screen icon or just at key points in the video is down to your choice but make sure it is in, and prominent and certainly at the end. Don't let the viewer forget who you are.

Provide a link to your site and make sure it's in the first line. You can have up to 5000 characters in your video description with YouTube and you should make sure the link is in the very first line and the key words are in your first few lines. Write fresh informative copy and don't copy from elsewhere from the web - Google penalizes plagiarism and will reduce the power of your video in search results.

Embed and Beyond the Tube We all know that really YouTube is the only 'horse in town' - but make sure you embed your videos outside of the YouTube channel particularly in your own website so viewers don't have to make a special journey to find them! This will also help to ensure customers and prospective customers spend valuable connect time on your own website therefore enriching their customer journey and bringing them into contact with you business.

To infinity and beyond - Buzz up your videos It's a crowded marketplace and everyone is competing for the same short attention span on the web - we quickly move on if we don't get what we want. So here are a few more great tips to get your business noticed, and your customers buying.

Results Are In: Nintendo Wii vs Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)

So which of these two games systems is better? It had been a much anticipated wait, but finally both of these consoles have arrived. The Sony PlayStation 3 was the first to arrive on November 17th, with the Nintendo Wii only two days later, on the 19th. Which one should you buy? Who had the most successful launch? Read on to discover the answers!

Units available at Launch -

Sony PlayStation 3:

After many notable delays and production problems, Sony was finally able to release its PlayStation 3 console in order to meet the Christmas rush; Well not quite. Sony was indeed able to release its system; however this shipment numbers were nowhere near what was expected. It was estimated that only 500,000 units arrived up to the end of the year. This made it very difficult for anyone hoping to get their hands on a PS3 for Christmas last year.

Nintendo Wii:

In view of the extremely popularity of the Wii, it has still been difficult to get your hands on one at the moment. However, Nintendo planned to ship over four million units worldwide by the end of 2006. This was easily able to dwarfs the efforts of Sony with it PlayStation 3 numbering at 500,000 units. A continues supply of Wii consoles are being shipped on a weekly basis to retailers in order to make it easier to get a Wii with each passing week.

This Topics Winner: Wii

Games to Play -

Sony PlayStation 3:

When it comes to the current crop of games for the PS3, it is generally thought that there are not really any special games worth getting at the moment. I have had the pleasure of playing the PS3 and most if its games. The most impressive games at presents seems to be Resistance: Fall of Man. There is no doubt that better games will be making their way onto the system, but there is no point in holding your breath for them. Games such as Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy 13 are not expected to arrive until late 2007 or early 2008

Nintendo Wii:

For the first time in its history, Nintendo released a Zelda game at the consoles launch. There is not doubt that this launch title is the best game available on the Wii. In fact, it is widely believed to be the best ever Zelda game. Another point to take into consideration is the variety of games that are available. Nintendo and its third-party developers have covered all the bases. No matter your preference, sports games or shooting games, there is plenty to choose from.

This Topics Winner: Wii

Graphics:

Sony PlayStation 3:

There is not really any doubt as to who is going to win this contest. Although, the first crop of games to arrive do not even come close to realizing the full potential of the PlayStation 3 in terms of graphics, the current games are still much prettier than those of the Wii.

Nintendo Wii:

As Nintendo has now taken a different approach for this generation console, it is less concerned about graphics. Although this certainly does not mean that the games look bad. You certainly will not get anyway near the same level of realism that you would get on the PS3 or Xbox 360. To get an ideal of its capabilities, the graphical power of the Wii is a little stronger than that of the original Xbox.

This Topics Winner: PlayStation 3

Retail Price:

Sony PlayStation 3:

There is two different version of the PlayStation 3. You have the choice of the $499.99 version or the $599.99 version. No, I did not make any typos with the prices. Although both systems are similar, the more expensive version comes with, among other things, a larger hard drive. It is expected that over 80% of the PlayStation 3 consoles delivered will be the $599.99 version. All this tends to make the $499.99 version fairly obsolete. Both versions have the ability to play Blu-Ray DVD discs. One remote and all necessary cable are included within the box.

Nintendo Wii:

The current retail price of the Nintendo Wii stands at $249.99. Included in the box are: the Wii games console, Wii Sports (a game featuring 5 different sports), the regular Wii-remote, as well as the nun-chuk attachment, and all necessary cables and adapters.

This Topics Winner: Wii

Overall Final Score: Nintendo Wii = 3 vs. Sony PlayStation 3 = 1

The Final Verdict:

At the present time the Wii is the obvious choice for all gamers right now. The cheap price, excellent launch games, and fantastic innovation make it the console of choice right now.