Facts About XMODS RC Cars

Xmods Saleen S281E Transformers Barricade - Photo: Wikimedia

There are generally two types of RC cars: toy-grade and hobby grade. 

Toy-grade RC cars are made to be played with until they expire. This is because there are no parts available to repair them or do anything to extend their useful life. 

Hobby grade RC cars, on the other hand, can be repaired using kits brought in different hobby shops. It is commonly the case that people would experiment with the kits and create their own customized RC car. However, this can take a lot of effort to pull off. People who are virtual newbies in the world of RC cars may have to settle for kits with not-so-original features. This perception of customization, however, has been changed with the introduction of XMODS RC cars.

What are XMODS RC cars? Well, they are often advertised as giving the most authentic tuner experience to RC fans. This is because XMODS RC cars are fully customizable. The problem with other hobby RC car kits is the fact that the choices of parts are limited. This is because most RC car companies wish to monopolize customers. By making sure that no other parts fit with their RC cars, they can be sure to maintain a client base.

The problem with this technique is that it leaves enthusiasts with virtually no freedom to make a car that's unique. The limited choices in parts mean that duplication is not only possible, it's inevitable. 

There is also the question of quality. People know that different companies have different specialties. This is the reason why sticking with one company in terms of RC car parts is not really advisable for an enthusiast. In order to build the perfect RC car, an enthusiast should be able to combine different parts according to his or her preference. Sticking with parts that come from one company would mean sticking with only one quality. This means that you would end up with a car that may be good in terms of one factor, but bad in others.

One of the main advantages of XMODS RC cars is the fact that many companies are involved in making parts for it. This means that a person availing of a kit is faced with limitless possibilities of tuning and customization. Because of this, a person can create the RC car that's best according to him or her.

Another advantage with XMODS RC cars is their look. XMODS RC cars come in the form of the choicest cars available today. Now while this may be offered by other types of RC companies, XMODS RC cars are actually designed by the makers of the cars themselves. This means that you get exquisite craftsmanship every time you buy an XMODS RC car kit.

If you think that XMODS RC cars are all about the looks, you would be very mistaken. XMODS RC cars are made to race. After all, people do not engage in the RC car hobby just to tinker around, do they? When all the work is done, you get the opportunity to enjoy it by racing your XMODS RC car using a homemade track or you could choose to enter your car in tournaments sponsored by radioshack. Whatever your choice, you are sure to enjoy the enhanced RC experience brought to you by XMODS RC cars.

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The Boston Tea Party

"The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor" - Photo: Wikimedia

There are some events that took place during the historic time when America was declaring its independence from England that are so historic, so iconic that they have taken on the status of myth and legend as much as history.  And certainly, the Boston Tea Party fits that description.  This is such a standout event in American history that it is common to see school children reenact it during elementary school plays or skits.  And the participant's names including John Hancock, Paul Revere, and John Adams have similarly become classic heroic figures in American folklore and history.

But the events of December 16, 1776, were not fable or myth but real and important parts of the development of the American Revolution that was crucial to the early foundation of this country.  The situation of taxation that was being imposed by Brittan on goods that were coming into the colonies was one of serious stress on the colonists because they had no control over those taxes.  And that tax situation was made more extreme with the relationship between the British government and the East India Tea company who was receiving tax breaks for their goods that would place them at a competitive advantage in the Americas.  

These kinds of preferential treatment only aggravated the already tense relationship between the colonies and Britain and many in leadership over the American states saw the way England was handling the situation as conspiratorial to try to hurt the economy of the growing new country and to impose restrictive rule through taxation on the colonies and the colonists.  That is why that famous proclamation “No Taxation Without Representation” became one that is historic for the outrage against the English that took the colonies into a revolutionary war that eventually lead to the independence of the American colonies and the beginning of a new country.

Finally, on Thursday, December 16, 1776, decisive action needed to be taken.  And our forefathers were nothing if known for bold and decisive action in the fact of tyranny.  The East India Tea Company had docked the HMS Dartmouth in Boston harbor full of a fresh import of tea for the colonies.  It was time for the colonists to make a statement that this unethical and immoral use of taxes on tea was for all intents and purposes an act of war and they were going to treat it as such.

Badly disguised as Indians, the brave colonists boarded the HMS Dartmouth and her sister ships, the HMS Beaver and the HMS Eleanor and skillfully and efficiently dumped the entire delivery of tea into Boston harbor.  All totaled, over forty-five tons of tea went into the water that night.  It was a stunning blow.  But more than that it was a slap in the face of the British government and a gauntlet laid down that their attempts to rule the colonies b tyranny were not going to be tolerated any longer.

This event was pivotal in pushing the hostilities between England and the colonies past the “nuisance” stage and setting forces in motion for war.  But more than that, it was such a bold statement of defiance that many colonists were inspired to join the increasing chorus calling for war and independence.  

For loyal Britains, the idea of separating and forming their own country was hard to grasp.  But the leadership of the men who planned and executed the Boston Tea Party demonstrated a new independent spirit.  This was the kind of backbone, the sense of pride and independence that was to come to define the American spirit in years ahead.  But it took the courage and boldness of this little band of men to demonstrate that treading on by a foreign tyrant was not something we had to put up with.  

It made a statement to England and to the colonists at the same time that revolution was possible and they really could think of themselves as free people who would bow to no king.  From that time forward the independence of America was inevitable.  These visionary leaders showed us an America that gave power to its people, not to kings or governments and the result in how America works and our lives are lived in the direct outcome of bold protests such as the Boston Tea Party.

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Archery Arrows

Archery Bows - Photo: Pixabay

Archery has helped in shaping the human civilization.  Archers have fought many wars and have helped in shaping human civilization.   Since ages people have used bows and arrows to conquer their enemy and to tame wild animals. 

There are innumerable stories about great archers in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, India, Greece, and Persia. These archers are revered even today.     

Bows and arrows are the main constituents of archery. Studies have shown that the bows were developed in either early Mesolithic age or late Paleolithic age.  Pines were used for making arrows.  

Bows and arrows are an indispensable part of archery.  It helps an archer in properly aiming at the target and shooting the arrow. If the bows are not proper then the archer will face difficulties in mounting the arrow. If the arrows are not properly mounted then the archer won’t be able to properly shoot the target.

The archery bows commonly used are longbow, shortbow, flatbow, recurve bow, crossbow and compound bow. Longbow, as the name suggests, is very long; the length of the bow is equal to the height of the user and in some cases even exceeds the height of the user.

The limb of the Flatbow is wider and the cross-section is rectangular in shape. Shortbow is shorter in length; it is lightweight and has a short range. It was basically used for hunting purpose. 

In crossbow, the limbs are mounted in a horizontal manner and not in a vertical manner. The compound bow is designed in such as manner that the archer is at his ease while mounting the bow. 

In this activity, archery arrows play a very vital role.  Shaft, arrowheads, nock, and fletching constitute an arrow.  Aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, wood, and fiberglass are used for the construction of the shaft. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages.  For example, arrows made up of fiberglass can break soon.

While selecting any material as a shaft for archery arrows the weight of the material and their strength should be given importance.  The shaft should not be too flexible; it should be straight and easy to handle. At present arrows made of carbon, alloys are popular and are being widely used by the archers.  In fact, arrows used in popular sports events like Olympic are made of carbon alloys. 

The arrowhead of archery arrows needs to be made of some hard materials like metals.  The arrowheads heads play a pivotal role in shooting the target.  Fletching provides balance to the arrows; it is generally made of plastic or bird feathers. Fletching is at the rear end of the arrow and it helps in the projectile motion of the arrow. 

In order to properly shoot an arrow, the archer has to maintain a proper stance.  The posture of the body, the eye and the way the archer is holding the bow should be proper. 

Today archery has become a sporting activity; some even use it for recreational purposes. Proper knowledge of archery arrows will have those individuals who want to learn archery.

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Viewing Deep Sky Objects and Comets

Cygnus Wall - Photo: Wikipedia

Deep sky objects are usually located outside our solar system.  The listing includes star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and multiple stars.  There is also a list of 110 objects on Messier's list that you can try to locate.  The key to viewing all these heavenly bodies is to go outside on a really dark night and you must have a large telescope (one which an aperture that is greater than six inches).  Light pollution filters may also help improve your view.

What looks like one star in the sky actually becomes two or three when looking through your telescope.  There is a four-part star in Orion's Nebula.  There are also stars that brighten and dim as you watch them over time.  These are called Variable Stars.

Star clusters are thousands of stars grouped together.  They create a spectacular view when looking through a small telescope.  An example of this is the Pleiades.  This is a group of seven bright stars in the Taurus constellation that can be seen with the naked eye.  But once you view them through the telescope, you will find there are thousands of stars in the cluster.

Large gas and dust clouds in space are called Nebulae.  An emission nebula will produce light where a dark nebula will absorb the light.  They can be a challenge to find.

Galaxies have massive numbers of stars that are held together by gravity and are usually found in clusters.  They come in many shapes and sizes – spiral, barred, elliptical, and sometimes irregular shaped.  They appear as faint, fuzzy patches of dust.  

Comets are fascinating to watch as they travel across the sky.  They develop tails and can change brightness as they get closer to the sun.  Not all comets will look the same either.  They may brighten or darken depending on where in the sky you locate them.

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The Early History of British Airways

British Airways Boeing 747-400 leaving town - Photo: Wikimedia

In 1919, as Europe emerged from the First World War, travel moved into the forefront of people’s minds.  Buoyed up on the new technologies of the day, the forerunner of BA, Aircraft Transport and Travel (AT&T), launched the world's first daily international scheduled air service.  It offered a service from London to Paris and ushered in the modern age of air travel.

Within 5 years there were already a handful of start-up airlines offering their services in Britain. In March 1924, the four best known of these: Handley Page, Instone, AT&T, and British Air Marine Navigation merged into one larger company called Imperial Airways and offered flights around the British Empire.

As Imperial Airways grew in size, it became a forerunner of a modern airline, offering flights to countries all across the world including Canada and Australia, and competed effectively with the Airships that dominated the era.

In 1935, a rival arrived on the scene.  British Airways Ltd was formed from a number of small privately owned companies and quickly developed into a company of similar size.  By 1939, just before the Second World War broke out, the British Government nationalized the two airlines and created a new, government-owned agency known as the British Overseas Airways Corporation or BOAC for short.

The final stage in these early decades of BA came in 1949 when BOAC was separated into two separate entities: British European Airways, which carried out short-haul flights into Europe, and BOAC, which continued to serve the rest of the world.  These two siblings served the world at the beginning of the jet age in the 1950s and became iconic leaders of British innovation.

By the 1970s, fuel costs and industrial concerns over economy saw the government of the day decides that the two companies had become bloated and inefficient and by 1974, after a 4 year process, the two companies came together as one: British Airways, just in time for the birth of the supersonic age with the Concorde in 1976.

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Cigar Smoking 101

Cigar - Photo: Pixabay

What are the basics of cigar smoking?  How do you light a cigar?  How do you draw on the cigar properly?  Do you inhale?  What are the dos and don'ts of cigar smoking?  If you have ever pondered any of these questions, read on.  Here is a simple and accessible primer designed to help you gain familiarity with the sometimes confusing, always enigmatic world of cigar smoking.  

First Step:  Lighting Up 

First, all new cigar smokers should learn how to properly light a cigar.  Use a clipper designed for cigars to clip off the edge of the head (the section you put to your mouth). If possible light the foot of your cigar with a cedar match.  Avoid regular cigarette lighters.  They produce a nasty odor that can linger and ruin a good cigar.  If you must use a lighter, use butane lighter.  These will keep the odor to a minimum.  However, you should always strive to use a wooden match because lighters can easily taint the foot of your cigar.  How do you light up?  Simply strike a match and hold the edge of your cigar over the flame.  Avoid touching the cigar to the fire, simply hold the cigar over the flame and draw deeply until the cigar is lit. 

Second Step:  Burn it down to a nub?

Should you burn your cigar down to a nub?  Experts recommend you leave at least two inches to your cigar.  Even the finest cigars will tend to get bitter if you let it burn all the way down.  What about ashes?  Should you knock the ashes off of your cigar?  Rather than knocking the ashes off the edge, let the cigar rest in the ashtray when you're not smoking it.  The ashes will fall off naturally.  

Third Step:  Relax and Enjoy

A cigar should never be rushed.  By design, cigars should be savored, preferably after dinner and with a glass of good brandy.  Hold the cigar between your thumb and fingers—anything else might be considered bad taste.  Also, don't inhale deeply.  The smoke should not reach your lung.  This is very bad for your health, and it will not help you taste the cigar any better.  Of course, you should always be considerate of those around you.  If possible, smoke in the company of other cigar smokers. A good cigar can be enjoyed alone and even more so with friends.  

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Ancestry.com: The Best Website to Learn About Your Genealogy

Field laborers of Japanese ancestry - Photo: Wikimedia

Many people try and trace their ancestry for a lot of reasons. Some do it for medical reasons to find out about a mysterious disease that their family is suffering from, others do it for honoring their dead relatives, and there are people who find it as an interesting hobby and find it fun to do so. It is a fact that it's always interesting to know about facts about your family's past. You never know, maybe your great-great-great-great-great grandfather was a famous person back in the old days.

These are some of the reasons why you should learn about your genealogy. Maybe if you find out enough about your family, there might be an illegitimate child that gave birth to the great-great-great grandfather of the President of the United States which makes you and the president very distant relatives. It is always fun and also a bit surprising finding out about your past.

However, you have to consider that as time progresses, some pasts are forgotten in the mists of time. It is very important that you should consider that finding out about one's past is very difficult especially if you don’t know about your great-grandfather for some reasons. You also have to consider past historical events, such as war, the Great Depression, and migration. In the United States, you have to consider that this country is composed of different races. There are people living here who have different traces of ancestry. There are Germans, Africans, Russians, Latin, and others. Some people don’t even know that they had foreign ancestry and you also have to consider that some last names have been Americanized.

These are some of the reasons why it can be difficult to trace your genealogy or your ancestry. However, technology can make it easier for you to find out about your past. There are available websites today that specializes in genealogy. One of these websites that are considered to be reputable and can definitely help you find long-lost relatives is the Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com is a genealogy website that can help you find out about your family's past.

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There are professionals here that can help you gather documents, such as birth, immigration, death, marriage documents, medical records, and other vital documents about your family. You need to realize that these documents are very hard to find and will require you to pay a fee for the professionals working with Ancestry.com to find it for you. Today, there are more than four billion names in Ancestry.com database. If you know the complete name of your grandparents or great-great grandparents, you can start your search for your ancestors from here.

Ancestry.com offers the best services at a very reasonable cost. You have to consider that knowing about your family's past is priceless. Who knows, maybe you are the great-great-great-great-great-grandchild of a famous Native American or a famous European who migrated in the United States.

So, if you want to know about your genealogy the easy way, you should get the services of Ancestry.com. Here, you can start your very own family tree and show it to the members of your family and friends about your proud past.