Posts Tagged ‘Uncategorized’

How To Make A Fly Fishing Calendar

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Are you wondering what the best times to try to schedule a fly fishing trip are? Well, when we talk about a fly fishing calendar, we are not quite referring to a printed calendar that you can hang on your wall. We are talking about targeting and specifying the right times to fish and the right places at which to fish.

The main thing you need to look at when you are considering drawing up a fly fishing calendar is: when will the water be at the optimum temperature? That is, the temperature that is best for catching fish. The right time to go fishing will depend on the area that you are looking at for your fly fishing trip.

In some locations, like California, the fishing is very good all the year round. While in other locations, such as Washington, you will have to stay away from the water in the winter as the cold temperatures will stress the fish and they will not be as plenteous.

Generally speaking, the fly fishing calendar shows that the best fly fishing is in the spring and summer periods. Early fall will also find some locations seeing good fishing as well. Almanacs can be helpful to guide you towards the best fishing times and locations as can continuously updating Internet web sites that are run by keen local fishermen.

Many locations will give weekly, and sometimes even daily fishing intelligence on their websites. They can tell you where the fish are biting and where the best locations in the river are to cast your line. They generally keep these fields of their web sites up-to-date pretty frequently. So you can get quality reports just by looking at what other anglers have to say about their fishing experiences.

Usually, fish like warmer water, although, there are other species like salmon and steelhead that thrive in colder water. However, in general, warm water will attract more fish. Nevertheless, if the water is too warm, the fish will be sluggish and will swim to locations where the water is cooler.

The fly fishing calendar used most often by experienced anglers has been compiled over a long period of time. They expend a considerable amount of effort to estimate where and when the best fishing will take place. Then they share it with others. That is one of the best things about fly fishing - the comradeship and the sharing that can come about because of a mutual love for the sport of fly fishing.

You can create your own fly fishing calendar with a little time and effort. Just do your homework and keep plenty of notes. When you see a trend, you will know that it is time to go fishing! Then you should be sure to help your fellow anglers by passing on the information via a local club or the Internet, if you are talented at it, because others will be trying to figure out what you already know. You know that most fly fishermen would do the same for you, do you not?

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching Franklin planner pages. If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our website now at Promotional Desk Calendars

categories: calendars,time,astronomy,science,education,organising,environmental,recreation,hobbies,time,solar system,outdoors,other,uncategorized

Selecting An Ironing Board - What To Look For

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

An ironing board is, without doubt, a mundane item of household equipment to which the majority of people give very little thought. However, it is an essential item for any household and, if you choose the wrong one, then you might end up with badly pressed garments, take more time than you need to when ironing and even put unnecessary strain on your back.

Most people today use steam irons - or even steam generator irons, which are becoming ever more popular. In this case you definitely want to get an ironing board which has a mesh construction. This allows the steam to pass through the fabric of the garment being ironed, through the cover of the ironing board and through the top of the board itself. It helps to prevent the ironing board cover becoming soggy due to condensation after a few garments have been ironed.

The cover of the ironing board should present a smooth surface to facilitate ironing. It should be secure and not prone to slipping. An elasticated cover, possibly with one or two cross-ties at the centre, is generally a good design which won’t move about as you iron. A metalised cover will reflect some of the heat and this will help to smooth the underside of the garment whilst the top surface is being ironed.

The size and shape of the board that you select will depend, to a large extent, on the type of things that you usually iron. Whilst a smaller board may be easier to store and work around, it will normally mean that the garment being ironed needs to be repositioned more frequently. Ironing the shoulders of shirts and blouses will be easier if there is a marked taper on the “pointy” end of the board.

Scissor action legs are pretty much the norm. It should be possible to adjust the height to a level that suits you and doesn’t cause any back strain. If you like to iron from a seated position then legs which have a curve on them - so that you don’t bang your knees on them - are a good idea. The legs should provide good support. A broad T-piece, or legs that splay to a good width and have a connecting bar, are usually good options.

The support for the iron should be strong enough to support the iron’s weight. For a traditional steam iron a wire frame type of arrangement is generally sufficient. Due to their large base units, steam generator irons can be quite a bit heavier than normal steam irons. A slightly longer board which just uses a heat resistant plate on its surface may be better for this type of iron. Alternatively, the base unit could be placed on the floor - as long as the connecting hose between the base unit and the iron is long enough to allow this.

Ironing is a thankless task at best. Cut it down to size with a Tefal steam generator iron - you’ll be delighted at just how much time you can save.

Are Household Appliances Affected By A Hard Water Supply?

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

The majority of homes are fed with a domestic water supply which provides “hard water”. Hard water is simply a designation which is applied to water which has a relatively high level of dissolved minerals in it. The two most important minerals are calcium and magnesium. There is absolutely no health risk associated with hard water - but it can have an impact on both the efficiency and lifespan of domestic appliances.

As a consequence of hard water, mineral deposits can be laid down in water pipes and a range of household appliances. Household appliances which use hot or boiling water are especially at risk as heating the water frees the minerals it contains which then solidify as “scale”. Coffee makers, kettles, steam irons, dishwashers and washing machines are all prone to this effect - as are household central heating systems and boilers.

There are a number of different variables which influence how much scale is generated. The temperature of the water is one of the strongest influencing factors on this process. More scale is produced at higher temperatures. Running dishwashers and washing machines at a lower temperature setting will reduce the amount of scale produced and help to ensure that these appliances continue to operate efficiently and have an extended working life. Using soaps and detergents which have an anti-scaling agent included will also help.

Using a lower water temperature with appliances such as steam irons, kettles and coffee makers isn’t very practical. Some kettles come with filters built in these days, which can prevent or reduce the incursion of harmful minerals (as well as improving the taste of hot drinks). Some modern irons incorporate specially designed, removable scale traps which make it easy to wash away any scale under a running tap. Other alternatives include periodically cleaning your appliances with special anti-scale chemicals.

Whilst there is no danger to health as a result of hard water, some people may dislike the taste it results in for either hot drinks or boiled and steamed food. On the other hand, there are those who swear that hard water makes better tasting tea than soft water. It’s a matter of personal taste at the end of the day. If the flavour of your food and drinks isn’t satisfactory, you can always use a water filter. These range from very cheap (but effective) jug filters, to under sink or even whole house filters. These are cheaper than you may think and are really quite simple to install.

It may seem like an inconvenience, but it’s well worth the effort to counter the effects of a hard water supply. In addition to the improved operational efficiency of your domestic appliances, use of the correct detergents and the selection of a lower operating temperature, combined with scale removal from time to time, will save you money by extending the life of your appliances.

Cut out the drudgery of tedious ironing sessions with a Tefal steam generator iron - you’ll be amazed at how much time you can save.

What To Look For In A Steam Generator Iron

Friday, July 9th, 2010

The majority of people will consider ironing to be a dull and boring household chore. Listening to music or watching television whilst you iron can help to reduce the tedium (a little) - but it’s still a task that most people would prefer to avoid. Any way of reducing the amount of time spent ironing would be gratefully received in the large majority of households.

Of course, you could send your clothes to the dry cleaners - or even employ a maid. There are even professional ironers who will pick up your freshly washed clothes and return them crisply pressed should you wish. However, these are all rather expensive options.

Thankfully, there is a way to make use of modern technology to cut the amount of time that you spend ironing - simply by using a different type of iron. A steam generator iron looks quite similar to a conventional steam iron at first glance - but it has a different construction, which offers a number of benefits.

Unlike a conventional steam iron, a steam generator iron has no water in the iron itself. Instead it uses a base unit which acts as both a water reservoir and heater. This produces a good deal more steam than a standard iron - and the steam is at a higher pressure.

High pressure steam is fed into the iron from the base unit which penetrates deep into the garment being ironed.This makes it easier and faster to iron. As no water is contained in the iron it is considerably lighter than a standard iron which makes it easier to handle. Finished garments have a higher quality and the amount of time required to iron is cut in half (on average).

When deciding upon which steam generator iron to choose, be certain to pick one with a high steam pressure. Between 4.5 and 5.0 bar is ideal. Sometimes you will see the iron capacity stated in “grams of steam per minute” (gpm), in which case you would be well advised to pick one with a value between 70 and 120 gpm.

The size of the water reservoir is another important consideration. Make sure that you pick one with a suitably sized tank so that you don’t need to stop too often to top up the water level. A tank of at least 1.4 litres is desirable.

Other factors that should be taken into consideration include the material of the soleplate, the ease of use, the inclusion of some type of anti-scale system and the length of the connecting hose between the iron and the base unit.

It’s true that steam generator irons tend to cost a little bit more than conventional steam irons. However, bearing in mind the fact that they can halve the amount of time that you need to spend ironing - as well as giving you better finished garments - you may well think that they are excellent value for money.

Learn how you can cut your ironing time in half by using a Tefal steam generator iron - it’s a lot faster and the end result is better as well

How To Cut Your Ironing Time In Half With A Steam Generator Iron

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

On the face of it, steam generator irons and traditional steam irons appear to be pretty similar. However, steam generator irons have a different construction and a different mode of operation. They use a larger base unit as both water tank and boiler - unlike a traditional steam iron there is no water in the body of the iron itself. Steam generated in the base unit is supplied to the body of the iron via a hollow tube.

As a rule, steam generator irons cost a little bit more than conventional steam irons - but they offer the user a number of advantages. It’s worth taking a few moments to review the important points before you decide which iron is right for you. The main items to consider when making a comparison of different steam generator irons are the steam pressure, the water reservoir capacity, the soleplate, ease of cleaning and overall usability.

PRESSURE OF STEAM: The steam drives moisture and heat into the fabric of the garment being ironed. This makes it easier to remove wrinkles and creases as it causes the fabric to become more flexible. The higher the steam pressure is, the deeper it is driven into the fabric and the better the finished results are.

Steam generator irons usually have their output quoted in grams of steam per minute. The higher the number, the more steam is produced and the easier it is to iron. Typical values range from 70 to 140 grams per minute (g/min).

You will also see some irons with their steam pressure quoted in bar. Again, the higher this number is, the more steam that will be produced and the better the finished results will be.

WATER RESERVOIR SIZE: Steam generator irons normally have a generously sized water tank. This means that you will be able to do a fair bit of ironing before you need to top up the water. The exact duration will vary based upon the type of fabric being ironed - but you should get a couple of hours of ironing out of a 1.4 litre tank.

If you do a good deal of ironing then you may wish to consider getting one of the larger tanks available. If you have an ironing board which is relatively small, then you might want to make sure that the tube which connects the reservoir to the iron is long enough for you to work with the base unit positioned on the floor rather than on the ironing board itself.

It’s also worth considering how easy it is to fill the reservoir. Many of the better steam generator irons have removable reservoirs to make filling easier. It’s a lot better than messing around with jugs of water. Some also have the facility to top up the reservoir even when the iron is in use - which avoids you having to disconnect it and then wait for it to heat up again after filling.

THE SOLEPLATE: The soleplate of the iron should glide smoothly over the surface of a range of different fabrics - whilst still generating enough friction to remove any wrinkles and creases. It should be durable, tough, scratch resistant and easy to clean. Soleplates with ceramic coatings are widely used these days and are a good option.

EASE OF CLEANING: The majority of modern irons, whether steam generator irons or conventional steam irons, use ordinary tap water. Depending upon where you live, this will typically contain a variety of different minerals - including both calcium and magnesium. This can result in scale deposits as the water is heated and evaporates.

If your house is in a hard water area, then you will definitely want to go for an iron which has some type of anti-scale system. Some iron use a special detachable anti-scale cartridge - others use water to loosen the scale and then flush it out.

USABILITY: As already discussed, you may find it preferable for your iron to be positioned on the floor rather than on the board - which needs a long enough hose connection.

Most people will find a removable water tank to be a convenient feature.

Other features, which you may or may not find appealing, include automatically rewinding power cords, fast heat up systems, easy clean soleplates etc.

SUMMARY: Be sure to choose a high enough steam pressure for your requirements. Select a water reservoir which is large enough so that you don’t need to keep stopping in order to top it up. Ensure that the soleplate is of a suitable material and design. If you live in a hard water area, make sure that some anti-scaling system is incorporated.

Cut out the drudgery of long ironing sessions with a Tefal steam generator iron - you’ll be amazed at how much time you can free up.

Chinese Lunar Calendar

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Prior to their adoption of the Western solar calendar scheme, the Chinese almost wholly followed their own lunar calendar for determining the times of planting and harvesting and festival days. Although people in China today use the Western calendar for almost all business, governmental and practical matters of daily life, the old method still serves as the basis for determining many seasonal holidays. This coexistence of two calendar schemes has long been accepted by the people of China.

However, this does not only happen in China, it also happens in most other Eastern countries, like Thailand, and most Arabic countries.

A lunar month is determined by measuring the period of time needed for the moon to finish its full cycle of 29 and a half days, a standard that makes the lunar year a full eleven days shorter than its solar counterpart. This difference is made up every 19 years by the addition of seven lunar months.

The 12 lunar months are further divided into 24 solar divisions characterized by the four seasons and times of heat and cold, all of which bear a close relationship to the annual cycle of agricultural work.

The Chinese calendar - very much like the Hebrew calendar- is a combination of the solar and lunar calendars in that it strives to have its years concur with the tropical year and its months coincide with the synodic months. It is not surprising that a few similarities exist between the Chinese and the Hebrew calendar.

For instance, an ordinary year has 12 months, a leap year has 13 months. An ordinary year has 353, 354, or 355 days, a leap year has 383, 384, or 385 days. When determining what a Chinese year will be like, one needs to make a couple of astronomical calculations.

First of all, you have to work out the dates for the new moons. In these instances, a new Moon is the completely black Moon (that is to say, when the Moon is in conjunction with the Sun), not the first visible crescent, as is used by the Islamic and Hebrew calendars. The date of a new moon is then the first day of a new month.

The reason why the majority of countries which had their own calendars had to dump them in favour of the Western, Julian calendar that we use today, is business. First the British and then the Americans ran international business and they used the Gregorian calendar. Anyone who sought to work with them had to follow suit. This is why national policy often varies from local custom in Third World countries.

The government desires to deal on the International markets, but the ordinary family in the country can not. So, the government took up the Gregorian calendar but the people only pay lip service to it. I live in Thailand and people here do not even use the 24 hour day divided into two halves. Their day has four sections of six hours each and the first part starts at 6AM, not midnight. Therefore, they have four 4 o’clocks a day, for instance but no 7 o’clocks. They are also 543 years ahead of us, although this is more common, for instance in Muslim countries.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching Franklin planner pages. If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our website now at Promotional Desk Calendars