Canes And WALKING STICKS - An All-Essential Guide.

Walking stick made with bamboo cane

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Formerly canes and walking sticks were seen to be a sign of wisdom and dignity. In fact, old people used canes and walking sticks more regularly as compared to the young, and in precedent times, older people were more respected for their wisdom and age. Today’s culture gripped with youthfulness, canes and walking sticks mostly are seen to indicate senility or feebleness, though, the right cane or walking stick can add an air of dignity to one's declining years.

In my opinion, of all the best varieties of canes and walking sticks are the ornamental ones that are carved out of beautiful wood with some weight and heft. With intricate designs engraved on them, these tools of mobility are captivating to the eye and tell something of the tale of the life lived by the bearer of them. Though a number of people fancy plain, unadorned, functional canes, and walking sticks, I personally think it is a mistake. Despite the fact people will notice a cane whether or not it is fancy or ornamental, on the other hand, a functional one seems only to indicate frailty. Whereas a strong, ornate, captivating one indicates a sense of style and art which people will always remember.

For sure, the best canes and walking sticks depend on who is using them. Many a time a walking stick is often used by hikers in the woods to aid them to traverse arduous tracts of ground with ease, where otherwise they might slip. Lots of people, in these circumstances, rather prefer light, high-tech poles instead of the more classic wooden tree branch designs, and this is reasonable as the bearer has to walk several miles holding this walking stick. Though it would look silly in the city, it can be a practical part of being well prepared in the woods for a day hike or a more difficult multiple week journeys. Obviously, they make a valuable tool as well, as an emergency tent pull, or a way to poke at and tend the fire. Unlike at home, the hiker does not really have room for a large number of unnecessary tools like he could keep with him, so a multi-purpose stick sort of tool can come in useful much more often than you would think.

Though not many people would use one of these in the city, nevertheless if you are a cross-country backpacker, it might make some sense. Sure, it will help you pass the miles, or be handy as often as if you were in the woods, and can even be used in self-defense in an emergency. After all, who knows where you could end up, clearly anything that will make you more prepared in an emergency can't be a bad idea.

---

---

The Ultimate Adventure with Caribbean Sailing Vacations

Photo: Pixabay

The Caribbean is indeed one of the beautiful places on Earth. With its mesmerizing aura and sights to behold, more and more people are planning to go on Caribbean sailing vacations. But, just like any vacation destination, Caribbean sailing vacations can be a hassle and much more, a tiring experience if you don’t prepare for it.

Planning your sailing vacation

There are so many ways to prepare for a sailing vacation in the Caribbean. One is gathering as much information that you can get so you won't be a loss during the trip.

To gather information, you can ask those people who have experienced it for first-hand comments and opinions. Probably, these people who have gone to the sailing trip are the most authorized to talk about it because they have experienced it themselves. You can ask them about their personal impression on certain places as well as tips in order to make the trip more enjoyable and worthwhile. If you are getting information from these people, make sure that you ask those that you know personally. Since observations can be subjective, you might be getting wrong information and impression.

Another means of planning for Caribbean sailing vacations is by reading about the place that you are planning to visit. Today, there are so many travel magazines that feature almost all places in the world. If you are buying one, make sure that it includes all the places you would want to go so you can save on some money. In the articles inside the magazine, everything about the place will be featured and you will have an idea what to expect.

If you want faster and updated information, surf the Internet and browse various travel websites. Here, you can visit multiple sites all at the same time. You can even ask online inquiries and get travel updates on the date you wish to sail. If you are lucky enough, you can even get discounts from various travel agencies once you book early.

Another means of planning your sailing vacation is to "schedule" what you need to do during the trip. "Scheduling" means that you have to specify which are the activities that you want to do in a specific time, date, and place. You have to set your priorities so you can maximize your trip and your money.

Things to consider in planning your Caribbean sailing vacations include the food, your accommodation, and the schedule of boat transfers if there are any.

The places to visit should also be of major consideration. The places to visit would depend on your interest and your curiosity. If you don’t have any specific place or places in mind, conduct a simple research through the Internet.

Before you leave

Although you have planned your Caribbean sailing vacation well, there would always be glitches just before you leave. This major glitch involves the things that you need in the duration of the vacation. To ensure that nothing will be left behind and you will be bringing the things that you need, make sure that you list down all the things that you will be needing before you pack.

The most important things that you should consider when going on a Caribbean sailing vacation include storage spaces such as duffel bags, pieces of clothing, tools or devices for relaxation, important documents, medication or first aid kit that contains aids for in simple ailments, money for emergency and shopping purposes, toiletries, and protectors from the sun's rays such as sunglasses, hats, and lotions with UV protection.

---

---

The Six Scottish Malt Regions

Scotch Malt - Photo: Wikipedia

Scotland can be divided into six different malt making segments or regions; Islay, Campbeltown, Speyside, Islands Lowlands, and highlands. Each of these regions produces a different malt as the characteristics are different so too are the methods of distilling. Climate variations, raw materials, and production methods all play a roll in the differing of these malts.

Islay

This is a small island off the western coast of Scotland and is the site of many wonderful malt distilleries. They have many variations of malts however the most notable carry a tangy smoky peaty taste. The current number of running distilleries is at eight although at one time there was said to be twenty-three, with the newest edition opened in 2005. (and 2018?)

Lowlands

This mountainless and flat region is apparent by its name and is also in the most southern region of Scotland. This brew is contained less of the smoke, peat, and salt than most other malts coming from Scotland and it carries with it a mildly fiery yet smooth taste.

Speyside

This is undoubtedly the center of the whiskey universe in Scotland.  The Spey River runs directly through the area hence the name. A good majority of top distilleries use water from the river in their processes. Although some of the characteristics vary in Speyside it is still a part of the Highland geographically speaking. Someone interested in trying a traditional Scottish malt for the first time would do well with this malt, as it is rich and relatively mild in taste.

Highlands

The largest malt-producing region in Scotland is by far the Highlands. This brew is smoky and very rich. In comparison to malts from the lowlands, many of the different distilleries produce a different taste from their malts. This is caused by the varying microclimate differences.  The use of many different raw materials and the inclusion of some changed production routines also contribute to these distinctions in taste

Campbeltown

At one time Campbeltown was Scotland’s prime distillery site. Twenty-one distilleries were active in and around 1886 however only three are currently in business. This region is still considered a separate malt state for the value of historians.

Islands

Arran, Orkney, Mull, Jura, and Skye make up the body of islands that sometimes get confused with Islay. This is, in fact, an entirely separate region. Those who have some experience drinking malts generally enjoy the malts from this region.

---

---

Music studio in a garage

Music is your hobby and you want to practice with your band. The only available place that you can think of is your garage but you also have neighbors that must not be disturbed while you are practicing. The only solution to use your garage as a music studio is to soundproof it or build a small studio in one corner of the garage. For this, you need to use two existing garage walls and build another two new walls on an angle to improve the acoustics of the studio. 

After measuring the angle you will have to anchor sole plates to the garage floor and frame the first new wall. After finishing the framing for the second wall and adding a door to this one you have to insulate the garage walls to help deaden the sounds. Next, you will hang drywall on the new walls and patch the seams. The final layer of sound-deadening material will be applied to the walls and to the ceiling. This layer is made of some secondhand carpeting. After applying these carpets you can cover them with some strip boards pinned onto the wall with nails.

---

---

The Definition of a Yacht

Photo: Maxpixel

There may have been a time when you did not know what the term "yachting" meant.  In fact, the very definition of what makes a yacht different from other boats often escapes many people.  For the yacht owner, there is probably no more frustrating experience than to be discussing this part of your life at a social gathering only to have someone respond "I know what you mean, I love my fishing boat."  The two could not be more different and the better people understand that the fewer strange looks you will get when you tell your associates that one of your passions is "yachting".

Two things that are most often true of yachts is that they are mostly large boats and that they are primarily used for recreation.  But despite some predefined notions of how yacht owners approach their passions, there is a lot of variety to how yachts are used recreationally.  For one thing, yachting is split between those who enjoy yachting for the luxury of cruising the high seas in maximum comfort and those who love yachts for racing.  Both approaches to yachting have strong populations and lots of support industry to feed the growing enthusiasm for yachting amongst the yachting population.  

Even within the luxury yachting set, there are distinctions in types of yachts and in how people go about enjoying this very diverse hobby.  One big difference is between motorized yachting and sailing.  There is a beauty to sailing that is undeniable.  But sailing also is also more demanding and it has a lot of equipment and specialized skills that are called to carry it off.  But it is an addictive side of yachting that you can grow into.  Many who love sailing yachts will start out sailing with a crew who are skilled at handling the rigs and then allow those talented sailors to teach the skill to the yacht owner.

Another distinction of yachts is the level of involvement you might bring to actually operating the boat on open waters.  A full crew yacht is one in which everything is done for you.  This is the ultimate of luxury because not only do you have no concerns for the actual act of taking the yacht from here to there on the waters, you are pampered with every need and desire by a crew dedicated to your comfort and happiness.  But if you want to get closer to the experience of running the boat yourself, you can go with a skipper only who can manage much of the details of the yachting but leave the "crew work" to you.  And then for the ultimate in taking on the seaman to elements you can take out a "bareboat" yacht which means you do all the work.

You can see there is a lot of variety in the experience you can have on a yacht and still call it a yachting excursion.  But in all of these cases, the yacht is devoted to one thing, to giving you fun and pleasure and excitement. Whether it’s the thrill of a yacht race or you alone in your yacht exploring the coast of Africa and having the adventure of a lifetime, you are fulfilling a dream.  And to most of us, that is what it means to own a yacht or even to charter one and feel like you own it.  You are giving yourself the chance to realize a dream and have that singular experience of fun, happiness or relaxation on a luxurious yacht in a luxurious setting.  What could be better than that?

---

---

Antique Coins Collecting for Fun & Profit

Photo: Pxhere

You only have to look at how busy the coins section is on eBay to know that coin collecting is an incredibly popular activity. It's one of the most popular hobbies around and one of the most profitable too.

Finding coins to collect is easy but finding ones that are actually valuable to collect is the challenge faced by most collectors. As a rule of thumb, the older the coins is the more collectible it becomes as often they are rarer than more modern coins.

The best place to find Antique coins includes auction houses, coin shows, coin fairs, and malls. But if you are more serious you should visit historical sites where antique coins are more likely to be found. You should bear in mind that the value of Antique coins depends on where it from as well as the age and historical background of its origin. Therefore buying at the historical location gives you a very good advantage over other collectors.

There are a few other pointers you might want to consider when buying an antique coin.

Firstly make sure the coin you wish to purchase is original. This goes without saying but there are many replicas and even counterfeit coins flooding the market, so close inspection to validate their authenticity is a must.

When you start off your coin collecting hobby, start slowly if you are on a low budget. Then as your portfolio of coins increases in value, you could re-sell some of it at a profit and buy more valuable ones. If you find a coin that you think is a valuable addition to your collection make sure that you find an appraiser that can determine the value so that you do not get ripped off. So don't try to value it yourself unless you are quite experienced, and seek the help of professionals when the circumstances dictate like when the coin is quite expensive.

You need to specialize when you start collecting Antique coins so choose one particular era or country to focus on. This will make it easier for you to become an expert. You must also take good care of the coins to ensure you preserve their appearance and thus their value. And be careful not to clean Antique coins to excess otherwise you might actually depreciate their value.

Coin collecting can really be a source of great fun and taking it up as a hobby is probably one of the best decision you can make. As long as you remain patient it will be a long-term hobby bringing you plenty of satisfaction for years to come as well as a very profitable investment.

---

---

2006 Ford Mustang: Retro Cruiser

2006 Ford Mustang GT - Photo: Flickr

When Ford decided to redesign the Mustang, they opted to incorporate a retro look, much like what was done previously with the Thunderbird. Fortunately, Ford didn’t look at the ghastly Mustang II series from the 1970s for a template, instead, the US automaker drew upon the second generation Mustangs of the late 1960s for their inspiration. Let’s just say that the redesigned Mustang has been nothing short of a sell out hit.

Introduced as a 2005 model, the retro Mustang for 2006 offers only one change: the introduction of a Pony package which is meant to give the car a GT look and feel. Borrowing from the fastback design of the late 1960s, the 2005 model was such a hit that Ford could not keep up with production.

Buyers have a choice between a 4.0L V6 and a 4.6L V8 engine to power the car. With 2+2 seating, 107-inch wheelbase, and a curb weight of just under 3500 pounds, the car cruises down the highway with 210 and 300 horses respectively. Each engine is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission and a 5-speed automatic transmission is optional for both. 4 wheel disc brakes and optional traction control [standard with the V8] help keep the Mustang under control. Cloth bucket seats are standard with leather seats optional. All models come with a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power locks and windows, power side mirrors, and air conditioning.

Ford gives buyers a choice between 5 coupe and 5 convertible models with base MSRP starting at $19,810 for the coupe and $24,635 for the convertible. First-year sales of the Mustang were so good that the car sold out by early Spring. In fact, the Mustang dethroned the Chrysler 300 as the hottest car on the market with more than 15,000 Mustangs sold per month. All of this production is from just one factory.

Production for 2006 is certain to be tight and with little incentives available – they certainly aren’t needed – the Mustang is likely to continue to have a long waiting list of customers desiring the sporty coupe. Considering that sales across the Ford division are flat, this is good news for an automaker desperately needing a hot seller.

Author: Matthew C. Keegan

---

---