All About GERMAN BEER

This is a beer stein from a gift shop in Meersburg.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Throughout Germany, beer is very popular with the culture. Germany contains well over 1,000 breweries, which is more than any other location in the world. All beer that is manufactured in Germany must follow the purity law, which lets manufacturers know what ingredients can and can’t be used. Basically, the only ingredients allowed to make beer in Germany are water, hops, and barley malt. 

Due to the strict purity requirements, you can easily notice German beers by their overall level of quality. They have a distinct taste, with little to no aftertaste. Some styles of German ale include Koelsch, Weizen, and Altbier. Some types of German lagers include Bock, Pilsener, Dunkel, Helles, and Maerzen. Keep in mind that the taste, aroma, and color can vary, although all can be identified as being true German beers.

The German beer Altbier is a very common dark ale, that is top fermented in the lower regions of Germany. The beer proposes a yellow color, with a taste that is rich in hops. Another ale, Rauchbier, is known to have a smoky flavor with a smoked color. These beers taste great and happen to be very popular throughout the regions of Germany.

German lagers are also very popular and happen to be popular in other areas of the world as well. Pilsener is one of the most popular and most familiar of all German beers, providing you with more hops and less malt. Pilsener can be found for sale all over the world and happens to be very popular throughout North America as well. Several bars serve it as well, as it happens to be one of the most popular dark lagers out there.

Throughout Germany, there are several different companies, produce over 4,000 different brands of beers. Some of the more well known and larger companies of north Germany are Beck, St. Pauli, Warsteiner, and Krombach. In the southern region of Germany, there are more breweries, although most of them are smaller, as they are locally owned and operated. Southern Germany also contains the Benedictine Abbey, which is one of the oldest breweries in the world. This brewery started producing beer in 1040 - very impressive indeed!

Germany is also home to Oktoberfest, which is held every year in Munich. Oktoberfest starts in late September and carries on for two weeks, ending in early October. During Oktoberfest, beer drinkers from all over the world will travel to Germany and celebrate German beers. Each and every year, over 5 million people attend the event, making it one of the biggest beer celebrations in the world.

During Oktoberfest, local breweries in Munich are the only breweries allowed to serve beer in the bigger tents. There are six breweries in total, producing a variety of different beers. By attending this yearly event, you can learn more about German beer, sample the different varieties, and enjoy the rich bold flavors that make German beer so very popular.

Due to the success, Oktoberfest gets each and every year, other cities around the world try and mimic this event. Even though they have success, their level of success isn’t near as much as the original Oktoberfest - Germany. German beers are very popular around the world, with Oktoberfest helping to prove that very claim. If you drink beer but have never experienced what beers from Germany have to offer, you really should give them a try. Once you do, you’ll quickly realize why German beers are so very popular - and why the taste simply can’t be duplicated with any other beer.

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Cell Phone Stun Guns

Taser Cell Phone - Photo: Wikimedia

The Pretender is a 950,000-volt cell phone looking stun gun. It looks just like a camera cell phone but offers discreet protection to the person carrying it.

You have an edge over your attacker because of its simple appearance. And also, the power punching stun gun has a small 12 LED flashlight for added safety.

With 950,000 volts, a cell phone stun gun is one of the highest voltage guns on the market. It is also the most realistic looking cell phone stun gun available, giving you an edge over your attacker if you need to defend yourself with it.

In fact, just test firing this powerful cell phone stun gun may be enough to ward off any would-be attackers. A bright electric current crackles across the top of the cell phone stun gun and it creates an intimidating electrical sound that would scare off anyone with any sort of sense. If the sights and sounds don’t scare them away, then the jolt of 950,000 volts definitely will.

In place are safety measures that prevent an accidental discharge. The safety switch must be in the on position which causes the LED warning light to come on and then the trigger button needs to be pressed before the stun gun cell phone will work.

This stun gun works on 3 CR2 lithium batteries. But remember when purchasing this, it does not work as a cell phone, only as a stun gun. And this particular one will set you back about seventy dollars.

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The American Cowboy

Cowboy - Photo: Wikimedia

Americans have a unique vision of themselves and their role in the world.  Unlike perhaps any other peoples in history, Americans see themselves as people of destiny and a people who were put here to do something phenomenal and something significant for history and for all peoples of the earth.  This unique self-concept, sometimes perceived as arrogance, is deeply grounded in a set of archetypes that Americans use to form their vision of themselves in the world.  And no other archetype is as powerful in the American psyche than that of the cowboy.

The actual American cowboy was indeed a unique individual.  While probably not as noble and ruggedly handsome as the images created of him in the movies, they were unique types of men who carved out a civilization from the rugged wilderness that was the American West in the years before the turn of the last century.

Some of the reasons that the image of the cowboy sometimes includes elements of the outlaw and the loner is that much of the legend of the cowboy came from stories of refugees from the broken southern army who took to the life of the cowboy rather than attempt to integrate into a society that included making peace with “the Yankee”.  And that type of individual certainly did account for many of the outlaws who went on to become the stuff of legend and stories even to this day.

The renegade and loner image combined with the rough life of an actual cowboy whose job it was to guide those huge herds of cattle along trails such as the historic Cumberland trail where they could be sold to become the steaks, leather and other goods that were sold in rustic American stores of the time.  This was a difficult life and the stories of the trail make up many history books for sure.  But far more of the stories of the trail are glorifications of that lifestyle that must have been difficult indeed.

But the image of the cowboy was also something that grew larger than what the actual lifestyle of those simple but rugged men must have lived in the American West.  It was an image that pulled together heroes as far-flung as the Australian Gaucho cowboy, the Japanese Samurai and a knight in King Arthur’s court.  It was an image of a man who demonstrated the rugged individualism that all Americans consider to be one of the central unifying traits that make America great. 

The cowboy image is one that even has its influence as high in the social strata of America that it influences the presidency.  It is said that there is a tradition for any president when he first is elected and comes to Washington to begin learning this big new job.  Tradition holds that each president has as part of their early duties to sit down and watch the movie High Noon.  They say that President Clinton watched it dozens of times in his early years.  If this is true, it accounts for how often a new president seems to grow and change in the office and becomes his own version of the great American hero that is depicted in that movie.  The American cowboy defends the virtue of the weak and helpless.  He is a staunch defender of families and those in society who are trying to carve out a home in a difficult world.  As such, the American cowboy fits with the “superhero” image that also appeals to the American system of justice and morality and values.

Even the star wars epic films were fundamentally grounded in the legend of the cowboy.  The cowboy concept grew up from a history of our country that included the settling of a big land and the settling of a wilderness that pit the god given will and intellect of man against God’s creation.  And it was the will of man that prevailed.  That is why American’s admire the cowboy because he represents their own struggles for greatness, for success and to be a heroic figure at least for their families, hometowns and churches.  And that desire so deeply rooted in the culture of American history will always be what makes America and Americans great.

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Introduction To Radio Controlled Helicopters

Helicopter - Photo: Pixabay

Nobody is truly complete unless they have a hobby they are passionate about. Having a hobby will give you something to spend your time on, and something to enjoy when you have free time. If you are trying to find what hobby you can stick with, you should think about experimenting with radio controlled hobbies. You can build models of almost any vehicle, from boats to cars to planes to helicopters. Many hobbyists will get their start with helicopters. Helicopters are very complicated, but using the right kits you can get started without a problem. Once you fly your helicopter, you will feel that the entire experience was very rewarding. Flying the helicopter is a blast.

The most important part of flying a model helicopter is to be proficient in controlling it. You should understand exactly how to fly the helicopter, otherwise, you run the risk of crashing it and ruining your entire investment, which is never good. Borrow a flight manual from someone who you know has a radio-controlled helicopter. Take that chance to read through it and find out about all of the different terms, and the many knobs and levers that are required to maneuver the craft through the air. After you have read through it, take someone’s helicopter out for a test flight to see if you have what it takes to control one of your own. If you crash it, be prepared to pay up!

After you have decided that you will be able to handle a helicopter and that you even want a helicopter, you can start looking for your own kit. You can buy radio controlled helicopters that come completely assembled and ready to fly right out of the box. However, there is not much fun in this, and they will probably only allow for a few hours of entertainment. The real fun comes when you buy a model that has to be constructed from hundreds of small plastic pieces. It may be frustrating while you are in the middle of the process, but at the end when you have a great looking helicopter that flies smoothly, you will be glad you spent the time.

Your helicopter building experience doesn’t have to be limited to the simple kits. There are many different options for extremely advanced helicopters that have different shapes and features. You can find these in specialty shops all over the internet, and even in some brick-and-mortar locations. You shouldn’t buy a helicopter just because it looks interesting. Do research before you commit to building a particular one so that you can find out what all it has to offer. You can find reviews and customer experiences all over the internet, on many different commerce sites. Find out about how well it flies, how easy it is to maneuver, the ease of assembly, and anything else that may matter.

So once you get everything built, what are you going to do with your radio controlled helicopter? It seems pretty boring to just take it out for a flight every weekend. If you’re really passionate about it, you should look for ways that you can interact with others who are equally interested. This can be in the form of clubs where you just go flying every month or two, or large conventions with hundreds of remote control enthusiasts crowded in, talking and exchanging ideas. Getting involved like this will give you a chance not only to have an outlet for your passion but also to find out more about it and become better at building and flying helicopters.

If the thought of flying a toy helicopter seems at all exciting to you, then look into getting a kit today. It is a great feeling to discover a new hobby that you are good at and enthusiastic about, so don’t hold yourself back if you think it could be a positive addition to your life.

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Galileo's Telescope

Galileo Galilei showing the Doge of Venice how to use the telescope - Photo: Wikimedia

Rumors of a Dutchman creating a device that would bring objects closer so you could see them more clearly reached Galileo in 1609.  He started using the device after he refined it to a 10-power telescope and made some amazing discoveries with it.  In 1610, he looked around Jupiter to find three satellites all in a straight line.  When he looked back, they were in all directions.  He surmised they were orbiting Jupiter and that, if this were true, then the Earth wasn't the center of the universe.  This theory went against what the church taught.  

The church believed Galileo to be quite wrong.  They said everything he could see in his new telescopic device went against everything the Bible said.  Galileo argued that even the interpreters of the Bible could have made a mistake in the interpretation.  He was accused of heresy, but proclaimed innocent and told not to teach any of the Copernican belief system.

Unbeknownst to the church, Galileo continued to study Jupiter and the movements of its moons.  He also started working on a paper about the ocean's tides.  He was brought before the court for trying to teach the Copernican system after being told not to.  He was placed under house arrest and until his death in 1642, he investigated even more areas of science.  

He made even more fascinating discoveries with his telescope.  He found there companion stars next to Saturn which was actually the edges of the rings that encircle the planet.  He found spots on the sun's surface and watched Venus go through its many phases from a planet down to a sliver of light.

He published his findings in a book called “The Starry Messenger” in 1610.  People were quite excited about some of the theories found in the book.  Imagine finding for the first time that the Earth was round, and not flat.  What would you think?

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The History of Supercross Motorcycle Racing

Motorcycle Racing - Photo: Pxhere

Motorcycle racing evolved almost as soon as motorcycles were available for sale.  However, that type of motorcycle racing is different from most of the races that take place today. In the past, motorcycle racing was like most other forms of racing. It often took place on flat tracks. Motorcycle racing first began on dirt tracks. After a time, those dirt tacks became asphalt tracks. When you think about it, in a way, motorcycle racing has somewhat returned to its roots.

Although motorcycle races have changed in the past, it is important to know that those old racing styles still exist today.  All across the country, the world for that matter, motorcycle racing takes place on all different racing surfaces. Flat track racing still exists today and it is still fairly popular; however, racers, as well as fans wanted something more. They wanted excitement; thus, supercross motorcycle racing was born.

Supercross motorcycle racing is off-road racing at its best.  Supercross drivers not only race off-road bikes, but they race on man-made tracks. These man-made tracks are, in a way, like obstacles courses. The courses are filled with turns, jumps, and small hills that make for some exciting racing.  Like most other forms of racing, including supercross racing, the goal is to finish in first place.  However, with supercross racing, that is easier said than done.  With a fairly large number of drivers on one rough course, it is sometimes even difficult to make it to the finish line.

When it comes to the history of supercross motorcycle racing, it is often difficult to pinpoint its exact date of birth.  Supercross racing is a variation of motocross racing. The only difference between the two is that motocross races tend to take place outdoors, while supercross racing events are mostly held indoors.  In the early seventies, motocross racing started taking the world and racing fans by storm. The only problem with motocross racing was that it was held outdoors, often in rural areas. This largely limited the number of fans who could enjoy a motocross event; therefore, the switch was made to indoors.  

The first supercross racing event was held in the Los Angeles Coliseum.  Although, at the time, it was not officially known as supercross racing.  A comparison was made by the racing promoter.  That comparison was between motocross and the Superbowl; for that reason, the supercross name was used.  Supercross and motocross still exist today.  While it is now easier to separate the two, it was difficult to do when supercross racing was first developed. That was why the name supercross was so popular and widely used.  

Supercross motorcycle racing is most well-known on a professional level. Since its development, racing teams and circuits have been developed. These racing teams are similar to the teams found in NASCAR, as well as the racing circuit.  Professional supercross racers tend to travel the country, racing in various indoor venues.  In addition to professional supercross motorcycle racing, amateur supercross racing is also popular, but mostly on a local level.  

Although most amateur or local supercross motorcycle racing events can be classified as motocross, due to being held outdoors, many have bared the supercross racing name.  While many local courses are held outdoors, there are also local indoor courses as well.  Like many other forms of local racing, these indoor supercross racing events tend to take place on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.  These constant race schedules are great for local fans, who never have to worry about missing a race or worry about having to travel to follow their favourite sport.

One of the reasons why supercross motorcycle racing has increased in popularity, aside from its action-packed events, is because most professional events are televised.  Even locally run, amateur supercross races have benefited from these lived televised events, even though they are not the ones being broadcasted on television.  As previously mentioned, supercross racing events take place all over the country; however, they are only available in limited areas.  For this reason, supercross fans have turned to local tracks to get their racing fixes.

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Free Wood Working Plans

Woodworking - Photo: Flickr

Can give an idea of how to design a particular woodworking product. They also give information about the material that has to be used in making a certain product.

A wide range of free woodworking plans is available on the internet. Indeed you will get valuable information from free woodworking plans that can be used for home renovation purposes. On some websites, amateur woodworkers share their experience, tips, and ideas that make up for great free woodworking plans. Some free woodworking plans that are commonly used are bookcase plans, bed plans, shed plans, workbench plans and entertainment center plans

Cherry Bookshelf plans: It consists of 13 pieces that are screwed and dadoed together. The shaping and joinery are done with the help of drill press and a table saw. The bookshelf has slats and pyramid top posts. Cherry wood is used as it is lighter. You can use other types of wood such as quarter-sawed white oak. For building this bookcase you require screws, screw hole plugs, slates, and shelves. The dimensions of these items will differ according to your requirements.

Break Down Chair Plans: This high backed chair and has no wedges or pegs. You can easily make 2 chairs out of 4’x8’ sheet of good quality plywood. It is very easy to make these chairs.

Antiqued Table plan: Clear pine is used to make this antiqued beauty.  Tools that are required to make this table are trim saw or handsaw, bits, and drill, spray bottles, wet rag, and belt or orbital sander. Materials that are required to make this table include legs, apron, fastening strips and table top. You also require screw and washer, shellac and carpenter’s glue and 8 hanger bolts. Depending on the size of table you want, you should select the dimensions.

Circular Kitchen Table Plan: Solid black walnut wood is used to make this kitchen table. The tabletop which has a radius of 2 feet is a perfect circle. The circular top is on a pedestal base which is constructed using laminated bridle joints. The warmth of this wood enhances as tung oil and polyurethane are used for protecting the finish. The contemporary design of this antique table is much more attractive than formal dining style. Jointer, jigsaw, hand router and some other tools are required to make this piece.

Mahogany bed plan: This ideal masterpiece is ideal for any bedroom décor. The bed is made from solid mahogany. The bed with its contemporary style has convenient rail hangers A series of slats are required for supporting the bed. A box spring is not required once you use these slats. Depending on the thickness and length of the mattresses the dimensions of the bed will vary. The dimensions should be such that it should be able to handle queen size mattresses. The bed is designed in such a way that you can disassemble it easily.

Jewelry Box plans: This elegant case has a simple design. If there are some beautiful small wooden boards in your house then you can make this box on your own. It won’t take you long to build this attractive box. This can indeed be a perfect last minute gift for a friend.