Knowing the basics of AIKIDO

Martial Arts - Photo: Pixabay

Aikido is one of the oldest forms of martial arts. Founded by Morihei Ueshiba, aikido came about through the studies of many different kinds of traditional martial arts. In fact, is often perceived as a form of exercise or a dance because of some of its forms. It is also viewed by some quarters as some form of martial mesmerism. 

Aikido is even confused with Daito Ryu Aikijutsu, it is different in its essence. Still, its founder attributed his creation of aikido to the way, his master Sokaku Takeda, grandmaster of Daito Ryu, opened his eyes to the nature of Budo.

What is aikido?

Despite its many perceived forms, aikido is a Budo or martial arts. It is the refinement of the techniques that are being taught in traditional martial arts and is combined with a philosophy that calls on for the power of the spirit. In its essence, it is a blending of the body and the mind. 

Its philosophy is basically derived from the belief that deceptions and trickery or brute force will not make us defeat our opponents. Instead, a concentration that involves the spirit will be enough to strengthen us. 

Aikido is also used as a way to discover our true paths so that we can develop our individuality. It also teaches its practitioners to unify their body and their mind so that they will become in harmony with the “universe” and with nature. Their power and their strength will come from this balance and harmony.   

The word “universe” in aikido is not some obscure concept that one cannot achieve. It is actually quite concrete and is even within the grasp of the person. In aikido, “universe” can be achieved through actual experiences and everyday life. 

Aikido’s movements and techniques are circular. When a circle is created in aikido, the person is said to be protected from a collision from an opposing force. A firm center, however, is needed to create this circle. An example of a firm circle is a spinning top that turns at fast speed. Without a firm center, the speed of movement will only create an imbalance. The stillness of the spinning top while in speeding motion is what is called sumikiri in Aikido language. This is achieved only by what Aikido founder calls “total clarity of mind and body.” However, this is not so easily achieved. It takes a long time of study and practice in order to find this intense concentration and centeredness. 

Training is important in aikido as well as concentration because while it may be easy to create a centered being when inside a martial arts gym, the same cannot be said of situations and circumstances outside. It will not be easy to keep one’s composure when faced with extraordinary circumstances. This is actually one of the goals of Aikido training. It aims to teach its practitioners to maintain their composure and their centeredness even in panic situations such as danger and calamities.     

   

One method taught in aikido is to breathe with what is called the Seika tanden point. This is the part of the body that can be found two inches below the navel. Controlled breathing is one key to being one with the universe and to center oneself with nature. When a person learns to do this, he or she will feel the extraordinary calmness that they can use in the practice of aikido.

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DIY Burglar Alarm Kit: Keeping Your Home Safe and Sound

Burglar Alarm - Photo: Wikimedia

The home security systems that are considered very important in homes today are burglar alarms. What is exciting about it is that there are DIY (Do It Yourself) kits which provide easy installation for many homeowners. 

However, it is necessary for individuals who are going to use a burglar alarm system to know and understands its basics. Burglar alarms are sensors capable of detecting someone who enters your home. Then these sensors take actions such as making loud piercing noises, call the police, make valuables safe as much as possible, and do other safety measures. 

Generally, these burglar alarms are hard-wired in the walls of your home. This is done to keep it intact preventing it from being removed or disabled. In this manner, the alarm will be easily triggered when tampered. However, the mechanisms which activate or deactivate it vary widely. It could use a more common key and Personal Identification Number (PIN) or even hi-tech fingerprint systems. 

Many people prefer the DIY burglar alarm system kit as they can be less expensive. These systems can be wireless or wired as mentioned earlier. These are capable of setting off audible alarms whenever an intruder moves or breaks into the house.

These systems are available in two types. It can be either a closed or an open circuit. If the alarm has an open circuit design, the alarm works whenever its circuit is closed. Take for example when a window or door is opened, the circuit is completed setting off the alarm. If the alarm has a closed circuit design, the alarm works in opposite ways. When a window or door is opened, the circuit breaks setting off the alarm. 

These burglar alarm systems kits can include (a.) single premise alarm systems which provide specific features such as door alarms, heat or smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and others (b.) local alarm systems which creates sounds when intrusion takes place (c.)  Telephone dialer alarms which can dial a specified phone number when the alarm is triggered (d.) monitored security systems which are monitored constantly by an alarm company 

Keep in mind that there are existing home security systems rated as more advanced equipment. Some salesman could play on the fear of people for crimes in order to sell them their latest alarm system that is controlled by computers, complete with expert installations that are expensive, and monitoring center open 24-hours on a monthly-basis subscription. As a potential buyer, you should also weigh different options when purchasing DIY alarm systems kits. Sometimes it can be very luxurious yet unnecessary. 

Some people have thought of different ideas to cut down their expenses on purchasing burglar alarms. Their DIY burglar alarm system is made from an alarm box which resembles a real burglar alarm box installed outside their house. This could prevent all hassles and expenses of obtaining the real alarm system. Nevertheless, make sure it actually looks real since you cannot fake experienced burglars. It is a rule to make it a secret or else your efforts would be useless. 

Remember, it is not the features of the burglar alarm system that is making the difference. The secret of using this home security device is keeping the burglars away from your home. The burglar's tendency is to avoid alarm boxes outside your home since they will unlikely expose themselves to great troubles.  

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Burlington Northern Santa Fe

F320

Burlington Northern Santa Fe - Photo: Flickr

One of the most profitable railways in the world is Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF). They have been hauling goods for more than 150 years and have one of the best safety records in the train industry. They also offer some of the best prices on freight out there, making it very easy for them to obtain new contracts and to maintain those they already have in place.

The origin of BNSF is a long journey that involves acquiring many small railway companies over the years. One that took place more than 20 years ago was with Santa Fe, thus the changing of the company name. 

As a result of these buyouts, BNSF has been able to continually expand the number of miles of quality railroad tracks they have available. They have gone the extra mile on their own to place railway tracks where it is difficult but necessary even though it is expensive and there are plenty of challenges to completing such projects.

BNSF combines the very best equipment and technology with highly skilled employees. All of their train cars and engines are in top working condition to help reduce downtime and accidents. They also have skilled employees to investigate railway crossings and the tracks themselves. 

There is always plenty of ongoing training taking place for BNSF employees so they can keep up on the latest technology, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and continue to be motivated to strive for excellence in all that they do. BNSF has a very rigorous employment screening process. They check references and criminal backgrounds. They also contact previous employers to determine a person’s level of responsibility and reliability. 

As a condition of employment, each person must consent to a drug test and a physical exam. Should the drug test come back positive the person will not be hired? They also have a random drug testing policy that all employees must agree to during the term of their employment. If an employee files a workman’s compensation claim they are mandated to submit to a drug test as well.

The physical examination is required to ensure the individual is healthy enough to take on the responsibilities of working for a railway company. This includes a hearing and vision test as well. There is simply too much at risk if a person isn’t healthy enough to be engaging in the various types of employment offered by BNSF. 

If you are interested in finding out what positions they have available and the locations, go to their website. You will find plenty of quality information about the business as well as an application you can complete online. This is one of the best railway companies to work for because they are dedicated to excellence with their employees, their shipments, and the public. 

They take pride in offering a diverse group of employees as well. They appreciate the fact that each person can bring unique qualities to the workplace. They encourage suggestions from their employees to make the railway business safer, faster, and more profitable. Today more than 38,000 people are employed by BNSF. Most of them find the experience to be very pleasant. They enjoy being part of the BNSF team. 

BNSF continues to strive for excellence. They are dedicated to offering quality train services to those businesses that need goods to be moved. They are also dedicated to providing a safe way to do it. They work hard to prevent accidents among their employees, on their train tracks, and with people who happen to be crossing at various train intersections.

There is always plenty going on at BNSF to help make their trains operate faster to get the deliveries done in less time. They have won numerous awards for their excellent service, implementing the latest technology, and always putting safety above making a profit. They also give plenty of money back to communities in the way of charitable events that support various causes. 

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Historical Timeline for TELESCOPES

Hubble - Photo: Wikimedia

It seems all the technology for telescopes started back in 2560 BC.  Artisans in ancient Egypt polished rocks, glass, and semi-precious stones to make eyes for the sarcophagi.  What follows is some major points in the history of how telescopes came to be today.

• In 470 BC, Mozi, a Chinese philosopher, focused the sun's rays by using concave mirrors.
• In 4 BC, Seneca the Younger used water to magnify letters and words.
• In 23, Pliny the Elder discovered doctors using a crystal ball with the sun's rays beaming through it to cauterize wounds.
• In the ninth century, telescopes were possibly made from Visby lenses, a Middle Eastern glass.
• In 1520, Leonard Digges, an English mathematician, invented two telescopes – Reflecting and Refracting.
• In 1608, A Dutch lensmaker, Hans Lippershey, applied for a patent on a design for a telescope.
• In 1609, Galileo improved on Lippershey's design and renamed it “perspicillum” - An Italian word for a telescope.
• In 1616, Niccolo Zucchi invented a reflecting telescope.
• In 1663, James Gregory, a Scottish mathematician, produces a telescope with a parabolic primary mirror and an elliptical secondary mirror.
• In 1668, Isaac Newton designed a telescope using a parabolic primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror.
• In 1733, Chester Moore Hall created the achromatic lens.
• In 1880, Ernst Abbe invented the first orthoscopic eyepiece.
• In 1910, The Ritchey-Chretien telescope that is used in many of the large astronomical telescopes is invented by George Ritchey and Henri Chretien.
• In 1930, The Schmidt camera is created by Bernhard Schmidt.
• In 1937, Grote Reber developed a telescope for wavelengths ranging from radio to Xrays.
• In 1944, The Maksutov telescope is designed by Dmitri Maksutov.
• In 1962, The UK launched an orbiting solar telescope.
• In 1990, the Hubble Telescope was launched into space.
• In 2013, the James Webb Space Telescope will be launched and take the place of the Hubble.

And this all started with the polishing of a few stones.

More and newer information on Wikipedia

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1967-68 Shelby GT-500: When Shelby's 'Stangs Moved From Race Grid to Cruise Strip

Shelby GT 500 - Photo: Flickr

Let's face it, some like their performance cars raw, some like them with a healthy dose of seasonings and side dishes. And sometimes a machine's recipe evolves from one style to the other.

That was certainly the case with one of ex-racer Carroll Shelby's most famous cars. For 1965, he began production of hopped-up Mustangs at his shop in California. For those first couple years, his 'Stangs, called GT-350s, were barely-disguised competition tools. 

With a road-racing suspension setup, high-strung small-block V8, and lack of a backseat on which to haul buddies, those original GT-350s weren't a popular pick with the burger-joint crowd. And that was fine with Ford, at least at first -- Shelby's cooperation on the Mustang was initially sought to give competition credibility to Ford's pioneering pony car, which GT-350s did handily by winning sports-car races. 

But starting with the '67 model year, Ford began expecting Shelby's machines to speak to a more mainstream performance crowd -- the typical muscle-car buyer. 

Signaling this shift toward street appeal over race-track prowess were mandatory power steering and power brakes, along with a number of optional comfort and convenience features, including air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, and tinted glass.

And, perhaps most importantly, a backseat was now standard.

But despite the added weight of such amenities, Shelby's machines hadn't lost their bite. Although the base GT-350's V8 was now somewhat tamer, that model for '67 was joined by the new GT- 500, powered by a torquey 428-cid big-block V8 rated at 360 hp.

For '68, the GT-500 packed an even bigger wallop, with the midyear introduction of the GT-500KR "King of the Road," which had a 428 that was some 40 hp stouter yet. Also that year, the Shelby Mustang's fastback body style was joined by a convertible, to further appeal to the boulevard cruising set.

Development and production of Shelbys continued along similar lines into the next generation of Mustangs, ending in 1970.

Today, muscle-car fans are divided on which of the Shelby Mustangs are the greatest -- the almost race-ready early versions, or the punchier, plusher, more street-appropriate later ones. Regardless, any flavor of Shelby Mustang is counted among the great performance cars, a fact clearly reflected in the hefty prices these cars command nowadays.

Author: David Bellm

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ARCHERY Equipment

Archery - Photo: Pxhere

Archery is an ancient technique, with the main purpose, was used during battles but is still popular today.  There are many people who are fascinated by archery.  Today archery is mostly confined to the sporting arenas but there was a time when it played a very vital role on the battlefield. 

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

Archery equipment consists of bows and arrows.  Studies have shown that the bows were developed in either early Mesolithic age or late Paleolithic age.  Earlier pines were used for making arrows but later different materials started to be used for the construction of the arrows.  

The archery equipment should be properly constructed and the material used should be of fine quality.  If the bows are not proper then the archer will face difficulties in mounting the arrow. The arrows should be such that it is easily mountable on the bows. If the arrows are not properly mounted then the archer won’t be able to properly shoot the target.

The bows commonly used are the 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. 

Shaft, arrowheads, nock, and fletching constitute an archery arrow.  Aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, wood, and fiberglass are used for the construction of the shaft. If the material is too heavy or too brittle then it should be discarded. 

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. 

Archery equipment should be such that when an archer shoots an arrow the target should not be missed owing to air pressure. So it is important that the arrowhead and the fletching should be properly designed using a fine material.

The arrowhead and the fletching provide balance to the arrows.  The fletching 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. 

While shooting the arrow the archer needs to have proper physical balance.  The posture of the body, the eye and the way the archer is holding the bow should be proper.  Proper archery equipment is needed for better archery.  Never comprise with the quality of the equipment. 

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Derailed FAMILY HISTORY Search

Pennants of family history societies (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The importance of family is given emphasis wherever you go. This group of people is the one mainly responsible for giving you the form and being that you are right now. Family history search may be a laborious task but the rewards that can be reaped after the long and winding research endeavors are truly worth the pain and sacrifices. Along the way, it is inevitable that certain issues and events may derail you from your historical quest back to the roots of your ancestors. Let’s take a look and investigate further in order to get a better analysis. 

There are common misconceptions revolving around the field of genealogy. Don’t be fooled and lose your focus on what you are set to accomplish. The first on the list is that your family heraldry as symbolized by a crest can be easily purchased. Certain family items and commodities are widely available stores everywhere and throughout online shops. But to say that families have crest is untrue. Individuals are the ones that have the right and privilege to be given crests. In most cases, these coat of arms is merely granted. How can you do this? Well if you believe that you are qualified as a descendant of a male line who can be granted with a crest then you just have to prove it and the crest is yours.

If you’re from an American descent or root then this is an issue for you. It is said that the 1890 census was voluntarily burnt to the ground. This has been opposed by genealogists. It is said that after the fire that broke down the records were soaked in water and were left in a storage facility without efforts or plans of having it restored.

Another one of the rumors circling around the family history search area is that you can easily and readily find your whole family’s record online within the comforts of the internet’s technology. This is a dream come true for those researchers and historians who don’t give emphasis on hard work and self-reliance.

In fact, there are lots of records available online such as those coming from the census, the military, immigration, and other collection resources. But errors are also abundant throughout online facilities. In order for you to really get accurate results, you have to spend actual research time within the four corners of a local or large library.

Along the way, you may come across a data stating that you are part of a family related to some historically acclaimed personnel such as one of the presidents of even one who is a member of a royal clan. Legends are easily formed by mouth and eventually in written form. So before you jump into conclusion and you spread the word about your famous ancestry take time to prove the acuity level of such information. Remember even if you have the same surname with a proven celebrity that doesn’t mean you are actually related.

After the courthouse came down because of a fire all the records were gone. This is not entirely true as some of the records may have been salvaged or copies were done and sent to other offices and agencies.

Do not be easily derailed by certain misconceptions about genealogy. Family history search really entails hard work and common sense. You just have to learn to work your way and come on top of the entire information overload that may occur.

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