Vigeland Park Fountain 3m

The Fountain was fabricated from bronze and adorned with 60 individual bronze reliefs. Portraying children and skeletons in the arms of giant trees.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v41z90xVpK0&hl=en

Enormous avalanche eastern european burghal - bioshock style

This massive waterfall is a statue fountain over six stories high and fifty feet wide. Hundreds of gallons of water splash and crash through it every minute. its made completely of redish granite and bronze. The style is completely bioshock style, awesome but weird monument.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHLB4ioqrOg&hl=en

Grand Army Plaza

Grand Army Plaza 5th Ave. bet. 58 & 60th Street Located southeast of Central Park's main entrance, the Plaza takes its name from the Grand Army of the Potomac, the Union Army in the American Civil War. The bronze stature of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman that stands at the northern half of the plaza is considered among the most distinguished equestrian groupings in Western art. The Pulitzer Fountain with its graceful bronze figure of Pomona, the goddess of abundance, occupies the southern half of the plaza. グランド・アーミー・プラザ / Grand Army Plaza 5th Ave. bet. 58 & 60th Street 南東にあるセントラルパークへのメイン入り口に位置し、四季の花々が囲む広場の中央には南北戦争の英雄シャーマン将軍（General William Tecumseh Sherman）の銅像が立つ。この銅像は1900年のパリ博覧会でグランプリを獲得した世界で最も優れた騎馬銅像のひとつ。59th Streetを挟んで南にある果実の神(Pomona)が立つピュ-リッツァー記念噴水（Pulitzer Memorial Fountain）とともに人々の待ち合わせ場所としても人気がある。



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBGItGdlGCU&hl=en

Grave Hunting and the Art of the Cemetery

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to visit dozens of cemeteries in and around the Los Angeles area. One thing I have discovered is the vast collection of phenomenal artwork included within the grounds. From simple statuary to a full scale reproduction of the last supper in stained glass, there is so much more to see while grave hunting than just the graves of the famous.

My first experience was during a grave hunting adventure to Hollywood Forever cemetery when I stepped into the darkened mausoleum and came face to face with several 8 foot tall sculptures of the apostles lining the walls of the main corridor. While a startling find, I was mesmerized by the grandeur and exquisite detail of these works of art. These enormous carvings were more than a tribute to the faith. I found it to be like stepping into the halls of a great museum.

As I exited the darkness of the mausoleum building I turned to my left and came upon a large reflecting pool with and enormous memorial at the far end. This turned out to be the final resting place of the great Douglass Fairbanks and his son Douglas Fairbanks Jr. The memorial stood ten feet tall made completely of white marble, beautifully engraved with "Good night sweet princes, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest". As I stood before the herculean monument, I was quick to forget I was standing at a gravesite with the artistry created in stone.

As I looked over the grounds on a clear sunny day, I was drawn to a large lake with a small island in the center. Set on this plot of land was a magnificent structure of white marble shining in the sunlight. As a crossed the small bridge spanning the lake, this building towered over me with its Greek inspired columns and structure. The family crypt of the Clarke family is more than marble and stone. The attention to detail has created an everlasting artistic creation for generations to marvel in.

My next grave hunt brought me to the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale California. Here the founder, Dr. Eaton, makes the cemetery into a living museum with every part of the park created to include replicas of some of the most recognizable artwork in the world.

As I toured the graves, I came upon a life size replica of the statue of David by Michael Angelo by the side of the road. I pulled over to take a closer look and found this white marble statue perfect in every detail. As I entered the small garden to the right of the statue, there was a stunningly beautiful marble structure on the opposite side of the small inlet. As I approached, I counted 18 life size statues included in this original artwork in marble complete with a working fountain by artisan Ernesto Gazzeri.

Continuing my tour of the grounds, I parked in front of the Great Mausoleum, this building a work of art itself with towering corridors and stained glass in the traditional gothic architecture.

 As I entered the Memorial Terrace, I found replica's of The Pieta, and some of Michael Angelo's greatest works of art. But to my surprise was the magnificent reproduction of the Last Supper made completely of stained glass with a presentation of light and sound to dizzy the senses. This presentation of Michael Angelo's great work is not to be missed as the artist, Rosa Moretti used the original sketches from the great master to complete her tribute.
My next tour took me to Valhalla cemetery where I entered the memorial park and found an exquisite domed memorial to the pioneers of flight. This memorial, named Portal of the Folded Wings shrine, holds the final burial place for thirteen of the greats in aviation and a cenotaph to the great Amelia Earhart.

Another of the works of art is a scale model of the Space Shuttle Challenger with a bronze plaque dedicated to the lost crew. A haunting remembrance of that first day of February 2003, when the Challenger disintegrated upon take off. 

As I continue my trek across the cemeteries of the world, I continue to be amazed at the genuine artistry held within the walls and gardens of stone. Truly, some of the great landmarks of 21st century.

Jumbo Steel Flag Pole - A Pole That "Reaches Into Space"

A steel flag pole is a very popular choice for customers in need of a 100+ feet flagpole. Next to these "Jumbo" steel flag poles, other kinds of poles are readily available these days for customers wanting poles that range anywhere from 15 feet up to about 80 feet in height, including: aluminum and fiberglass flagpoles. Flagpole-size or height is obviously determined by customer choice, which in turn determines what flagpole type will need to be installed. Also, local weather conditions and size of the flag that will be flown is taken into account with regards to this determination.

Aluminum poles are the more common pole type used or selected for both residential and commercial purposes. Residential customers, meaning: homes and apartments really, and commercial customers, meaning: businesses and government buildings. Aluminum flagpoles are produced in factories in the United States using the most advanced technology available in the ever growing pole industry. Also, different finishes are available for these types of poles, such as the: (more common) satin finish, clear anodized finish and the bronze anodized finish. Other finishes are available on request and dependent on what the flag pole supplier can do for you as a customer.

A steel flag pole is an absolute favorite flagpole type with stadiums, cities, towns, contractors, car dealers, stores and other similar types of customers because these poles are patriotic statements that puts these customers on the map! The sleek and tapered look adds more refinement to these Jumbo steel flag poles, which height can range anywhere from 100 feet to 400 feet and even higher. Also, they are great in symbolizing strength and solvency and can often be seen miles and miles away!

Fiberglass flagpoles are the most cost effective way to obtain a white colored flagpole (although fiberglass flagpoles come in a range of different colors too) in comparison to aluminum flagpoles and steel flagpoles. The advantage of fiberglass over other flagpole materials is that they do not corrode or rust. Also, fiberglass is a non-conductive material, which translates into the fact that this flagpole type does not need any grounding, making installation less complex and, thus, more affordable.

Now, all steel poles are protected by a special coating, which is a durable "urethane finish." This particular finish provides a crystal clear coating of protection, which is ideal for this flagpole type. The result is that it will make a Jumbo steel flag pole still look brand new in ten+ years from now, without having to perform any maintenance or other form of upkeep...

Love Affair With Lip Gloss

Pot, tube, wand, stick-shiny, sticky, gooey, waxy-wet, metallic, vinyl, molten-medicating, healing, moistening, plumping-flavoured, scented, marbled, layered-duo, combo, clutch-size, kit.

Lip gloss comes in any guise, any size, any shape, any price; performs any function and plays havoc morphing on the colour-spectrum wheel like a Pantone ink, ranging from clear to near black, stopping off to soak up the deepest or palest hues of every colour range, adding gold or silver for added zing and sparkle, deepening or transforming the colour it overshadows below.

A chameleon in the make-up jungle, lip-gloss is whatever you want it to be, in whichever form, in every whazzzzup shade in the beauty kingdom. What other beauty product can be, and is, all things to all girls? What other make-up was our first love and will still be our last?

Is there anyone of us who will not have started our love affair with lip-gloss after our first experience of chapped lips? We used salves and sticks and roll-ons to heal and soothe the first blistering of winter. (Bonne Bell Lipsmackers, Chap-Stick and Blistex-you lived in our lockers!) But we quickly progressed on to romance, and that meant kissing. You'd have to have been on eternal life support to have missed knowing/having/using/coveting those cult status pots and tubes of 8 Hour Cream, Carmex and Rosebud Salve, for all those times when you over-skied, over-snogged or over did something to the point of burning and chafing!

Let's recall when we first started our experimentation; our training-bra staple of Make-Up 101-clear lip-gloss-worn singularly, or over lipstick once we developed our nerve and got past Vaseline. MAC Lip Glass in a tube is the make-up artist's gloss du choix. Just sticky and shiny enough for the bright lighting of photo shoots, it is as easily pocketed for re-application by the model on a go-see. A close cousin made by 8 Hour Cream's grand mere Elizabeth Arden, her Crystal Clear Lip Gloss also in a tube is smaller and less pricey. Both require licking our messy fingertips. Gal Pal Bobbi Brown Essentials Lip Gloss is offered up in a more opaque, whitish brush wand version with a slight hint of vanilla scent and a sticky medicine-feel. Stila supplies the gooiest goop of all, in teeny metal tubes to roll-up like toothpaste samples, with added shimmer; Posey is our fave. (L'Oreal econo-lookalikes Glass Shine here; try Crystal Sparkle). Origins make a chocolate-mint flavoured opaque white glimmer gloss with wand, Transforming Lip Glaze, that has the added charge of changing and paling-down the colour of lipstick worn underneath, plus acting as a breath freshener!

It was crystal clear to us we needed to explore further. Next we dabbled with lip-coloured pomades that retained our innocence and naiveté with the barest hint pink as a baby's bum skin surfacing like a fleshy promise. We could now 'skinny dip' with our lips, naked without getting caught out, unadorned! We all cherish recreating that fruit-stained, infanta-lipped, wet and natural look of 'girl next door', nervously biting our lower pout, mindlessly toying with our fresh-as-new-mown-hay hair, while we blushed and flirted. We had our reasons and seasons to go native on the lip-gloss-down days, weekends, boys who hated us 'made-up'. Benefit still owns the ground on the best bottle of rose-fragranced liquid tint to naturally flush our lips (and cheeks), Benetint, and its Benetint Lip Balm now adds the sheen we craved to be on top. Philosophy's pots of healing salves Kiss Me and Kiss Me Red in flesh or cherry have vitamins and nut oils and are almost gel-like and moist. Too Faced Bunny Balm in Peek-a-Boo Peach or Girly Grapefruit are two great natural flushes of colour. Even La Mer has come off its hoity pedestal to join its girlfriends here with a minty pomade La Mer The Lip Balm. And don't forget Kiehl's Pink Pearl Light Lip Gloss-never obtainable, and Nars Sweet Charity-both whose waxy pots of many other colours are elevated by many to Hall of Fame status.

Now that we're big girls, we dared to go further, we wanted to go all the way. We wanted bigger and fuller lips, sexier and poutier come-hither smiles. The Wonder-Bra of glosses, to puff and push our lips up and out a size or two, is the best ever gloss to effect a bee-sting without needles, DuWop's Lip Venom. With its teensiest, spiciest, tingliest clear gloss in a vial with sponge tip applicator, the cinnamon oil with ginger plumps and swells the lips for a full 10-15 minutes of after burn. After the glow wears off, we can still 'fake it' multiple times by re-applying, or switching to Venom Flash in Gold or Silver, or Venom Gloss like Lantana, a hothouse pink, or Love in a Mist a retiring lilac shimmer, in tubes with self-applicator tips. Although there are many other lip treatments that claim equal results of filling and pumping lips out, there are also glosses that do overtime like TheBalm's Lip Plumper that does the trick in under 3 minutes while adding kiddie flavour as in Bubble My Gum and Water My Melon; Dessert Beauty Plumping Lip Fragrance Glosses in Dreamy, Creamy, Juicy and Luscious-serve up flavours right out of a patisserie vitrine like vanilla/caramel, chocolate/coconut, strawberry and butter cream-rich enough to blow the calorie-count. Joey New York's Opti-Brite Lip Shine (try Rose) claims to make teeth whiter; slather it on after using its Super Duper Lip Kit for full-on sting.

And to cover every other fickle mood swing, good hair day/bad hair day we might have had, Lancôme firmly stayed the course with its Juicy Tube offerings, updating and changing its range as often as a 15 year old girl changes her mind. In generous though pocket-sized tubes with self-applicator tips, Juicies are carefree and kicky, with bags of clear colours and invigorating flavours to choose from-succulent berries Framboise, Cerise and Fraises, tangy, tart Citron, Beach Plum and Pamplemousse, floral Violette and off-the-diet list treats like Daiquiri and Dreamsicle. There are even smaller sized tubes in limited kits. Introduced in line with the season, some Juicies are discontinued but others soon take their place, keeping the range fresh and current, and evolving, nothing going stale in Juicies' closets! Two of the best clear Juicies were Sirop de Rose in whisper pink and Sirop d'Eau in watery blue, both reminiscent of French children's fountain sodas, sweet and pure.

For those silvery nights or über-shine days we were lured into the realms of seductive light-refracting transparency. We discovered the art of illusion and magic and glow. Guerlain added Lip Gloss to its Meteorites arsenal of illuminating, opalescent enhancers. One of the chubbiest tubes available, it nestles perfectly next to Meteorites cloisonné evening powder compact for a night at the opera. Estee Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Gloss in Orchid Paradise is a holographic wand gloss with petrol-sheen blues and violets overlaying its clear, figgy-signature base. Chanel Glossimers swirl metallic gold or silver in their magic wand with fleshy, meaty pinks, rouge reds and earthy bronzes glimmering beneath like magma oozing towards the surface. Try Twinkle, a rosy gold, for a multi-layered sheen plopped in the middle of the bottom lip. Coco's little stepsister Bourjois provides a copycat here with its Effet 3-D Brilliance a Levres-sample no. 70 at a fraction of the rue Cambon price. Another light-altering range to suit all skin types is by Revlon-Skinlights Glosslights gloss tubes-reflecting a discounted price, too; use all-purpose Rose Quartz and save the pennies for those Manolos.

When we needed confident in-your-face status and upfront glitter glamour dazzle, Dior shook our bootie teasing us with sheer wands of Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in Sip of Lemonade, Nibble of Nuts and Lick of Taffy; or Diorific Plastic Shine, perfect for clubbing and posing. Going on as slick as skin-tight PVC, its vinyl polymer gave us control and 'safe' pulling power. #357 was the dusky rose we loved under the strobes. We never got over our one-night stand with Versace's Wet Cream Lip Gloss either-we always wanted to go back for V2052, a fuchsia veil of pink, always out of stock. We licked our lips for Hard Candy's Super Shine Lip Glosses in Babydoll, Flirt, Pixie and Oxygen -brush wands with minute flecks of flashy glitter in a yummy gloss tasting of cake batter, and their new Lip Sorbets, cooling gels in fruit-flavoured tubes-Strawberry Squeeze, baby pink, Passion Play, peachy coral and Lime Kiss in clear. After we'd blown our rent-money on those shoes, we loaded up on dime store Maybelline Water Diamonds liquid wands in Rhinestone Pink and Pink Ruby and still looked a million bucks on a budget!

Speaking of economising, we had an on-off obsession purchasing lip-gloss combos and kits that gave us maxi-choice in mini-sizes at slashed prices to pop in our pochettes. Like cocktails at Happy Hour, we never met a 2 for 1 duo we had the heart to turn down; the best ones we remember are Jr.Duos by Delux, its Thumbelina double-wand in complimentary colours of lip gloss and cheek blush in Nibbly Nude and Twinkly Pink; Eyeko's Fat Balm in Minty for lips and cheeks, and Cargo who loved us and left us with 2-toned pots of thick glop to layer and deepen our smackers. Try Flin Flon, Over/Under or Cancun to juxtapose layers of think and thin colour, or just to add highlight. We rubbed the remainder on our fingertips to smooth those stray eyebrow hairs! Even though it was an unrequited love, we kept falling for the same come-on, buying mini-kits by Urban Decay with XXX Lip Shine in Uzi, Gimlet and Ozone, clear frosty minty sparklers; Rocket City Space Case in Pinks (we loved the name-Pocket Rocket!) and Trish McEvoy's uptown girl notebooks Celebrate and Natural Maxed Out Lip & Gloss kits-quelle choice! Pixi Perfect Pink Gloss Kit finally stole and won our hearts with 8 pink glosses in a pocket-sized compact and its own munchkin lip brush. Gloss a go-go!

And when we craved danger, or the dark side, or a love was too deep, too possessing, we shored up with our power gloss that spelled it out for all comers; a gash of red, a slash of blacky purple, even bronze. We were the vamp, the boss, the super-duper-über-babe, a cyber girl who meant business! Colours that warned and flashed beware, and once slicked up, looked like a tar pit or a crime scene. Cliniques' Glosswear Black Honey, once a pot now a wand was never out of our repertoire. YSL Lisse Gloss Lip Lacquer in Spice; Kevin Aucoin's Liquid Patent Lip in deep burgundy gloss, Infernelle; Urban Decay Lip Gunks in Bruise and Gash (you've seen CSI); Face Stockholm's black Wicked pot gloss; and the ultimate Goth shade, Helena Rubenstein's Black Spell lip gloss. Courtney Love, Grace Jones, Cruella-stand down!

So now, as we look back in our make-up bags and drawers, and the colours we have explored, we still linger longingly over that one empty pot or tube of gloss that is now lost to us, our cherished one, our trusty. We can't seem to throw it out. We've squeezed, scraped and rolled it. We've bought copies, but none held a candle. We know we'll find it again one day, and we search for it, everywhere we travel, everywhere we wander. Looking for a replacement, looking for our first love.

Vigeland Sculpture Park - Oslo, Norway

Vigeland Sculpture Park is a part of Frogner Park, located in Oslo, Norway. The park covers 80 acres and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland. Vigeland personally sculpted every figure out of clay and individual craftsmen were contracted to fabricate the pieces into what they are today. These works of art reside along an 850 meter-long axis divided into six sections: The Main Gate, The Bridge, The Children's Playground, The Fountain, The Monolith Plateau and the Wheel of Life. It is, overall, a very moving experience. I visited the park with my Norwegian friends and hosts Inger-Lise and Steinar the night of July 3, 2010.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8XupZttFZk&hl=en

Simple Steps In Planning Your Dream Garden

There is certainly a great satisfaction in making your own garden plan - This satisfaction comes from the achievement you have experienced by having a soothing and pleasurable garden being the result of your hard-earned and well taken job. Considering as well the effort you exerted in the preparation and the implementation of this unique design, giving you excitement thinking of enjoying the benefit of garden for the coming years. Creating a unique garden for you is a tough job however there are simple steps to lessen the burden as you go along with this project.

1. Ask yourself why you want a garden.
There are some things to consider in planning a unique garden for you. Throw question to yourself and answer them all by you. That helps you realize the kind of garden you want to have. Firstly, ask on how you use the garden. Secondly, aside from you who else will benefit the garden. Take note you don't use the garden alone, your family members will use it too, so ask your family on their ideal garden design.

2. Imagine yourself in your garden.
Aside from questioning yourself about the benefit you enjoy of your planned garden, sometimes use your imagination, it is good to have a little day dreaming enjoying yourself with the features that are in the garden. By doing so, you can have some ideas that will help create your garden one of its kind. Decide also what structure you like in the garden, formal or informal. Formal gardens are highly structured while informal gardens are more on natural looking with some beautifully created flowing curves.

3. What items are essential?
In you final plan always make a list of all the things you are going to use so you will not miss relevant things. You may want to have a retaining wall, a privacy fence, a pathway going to the garage, a spacious area parking space. Consider the children's ground and a place for your pets. All these should be put into consideration in you plan. Have a walk around your entire area and take note what else are needed. Make sure your final plan design should be something comes out from your imagination incorporated with the necessity in order to create a fulfilling plan.

4. Determine the Existing Important Information.
To be sure you are doing the right thing, knowing the starting point will help a lot. Know these following important things to consider before getting started the plan. Determine the lot area, the kind of climate in the surroundings, the type of soil, the availability of water supply and its source, and also consider the dominant view of entire place.

5. Estimate If The Budget Cost Is Within Your Means
After knowing all the things needed, now is the time to decide how much budget you willingly spend for the plan. Every single feature that will be created within your plan, like trees, plants, landscape materials and architectural elements such as arbors, fountains, ponds and benches, will come into reality depending on your total desired amount.

Keep in mind that there are two things to consider in your budget - the money and time. If you want the garden to be done quickly, then think that your expenses are also in a fast pace. Consider also the possible hours you will be spending in your dream garden, as much as maintenance is concerned, or a care taker will take charge while costing extra expenses.

As you realized and think over every angle in your final plan, you will make a fair judgement on the budget considering these two elements.

6. Identify The Highlights in Your Garden
Every garden must have a portion that is the main attraction around the place that enchant the visitors to make a pause and take a look at it. A water fall of fountain, a blossoming apple tree, are the ones perfect for that.

7. Make A Draft Design.
Collect all the information you have gathered, draw them together in a practical design that gives the wants and the necessary ones balance together. Remember that your objective is to make a place that is fulfilling and practical.

8. Select your plants and Hardscape.
Color and materials play great significance in the impression of your garden. How the garden design appears to be, reflect its character. Decide what colors should the garden will have. You may either have a colors with strong contrast, warm hues or cool tones. Mixing different colors in the garden will somehow give a tough sense of breathing space.

Plants, Hardscape materials, wood arbors, brick borders, gravel paths, bronze statuary, and wrought - iron benches, all these complimenting each other will surely give your garden a little heaven.

9. Create a scale diagram
Having done with the basic map of the whole area boundaries and your house, and determining the main attraction of you garden, and trail. Make a list also of the trees you desire to have, shrubs, plants and determine which certain areas they are good to plant in. Make a sketch plan for it including the placement for other features like arbors, trellises. It is very essential to have sufficient information to guide you make materialize the kind of garden you have made only over the paper. As long as your scale diagram is adequate to complete that.

10. Implement your plan.
Before you start the construction, make sure all the regulation on local building codes are all complied and approved, otherwise you will have problem as you go along with your construction. Some garden feature structure such as decks, patios and retaining walls require local government permit.

To ensure that all features you are going to have in the garden are all fit in its respective places, measure them based on their actual position.

If you think it is a bit difficult to have made your dream garden into reality, then don't think it so. You can have your dream garden done, just follow this systematic step by step process, and you will see that it is getting you there without giving you a headache. In the end, a well done garden is just like having one more room in your house in which you have done decorating successfully.

MONUMENTS of ROME: Piazza della Repubblica

This broad square was laid out in the late 1800s and includes the exuberant "Fontana delle Naiadi". This grand fountain has many voluptuous bronze ladies wrestling happily with marine mosters. The nudes were not there when the Pope unveiled the fountain in 1870. The nude figures were added in 1901 which caused a scandal since they were modeled after the ample figures of two musical comedy stars of the day. The square owes its shape to the curving colonnaded neoclassic buildings which trace the underlying form of the ancient baths. Of interest are the baroque style reliefs situated on the top corners of the buildings.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSzIiiw-_Vw&hl=en

How To Use Donor Recognition in a Capital Campaign

Capital campaigns using donor recognition are easy to conduct. In this type of capital campaign, a nonprofit group seeks a pledge of a certain contribution amount and in return, offers to provide a specific type of recognition.

Donations of a certain amount are rewarded with graduated levels of recognition. The actual donation could be a one-time gift, a periodic donation, a monthly automatic withdrawal, or an annual check.

Recognition products are available in a wide range of price points. They offer high-quality ways for your organization to thank donors for their support.

Inexpensive items can be given to donors for smaller contributions, while larger donations are usually provided some type of visual recognition at your organization's headquarters or in a prominent high-visibility location outdoors.

Recognition Plaques

For very personalized recognition, consider offering a cast bronze plaque that highlights individual contributions to a specific project.

You can also offer smaller individual photo plaques that provide more room for customization of the message.

Donor Bricks

Engraved or personalized bricks are an excellent way to provide or incent capital campaign contributions with inexpensive recognition. One attractive method is to use brick pavers with laser engraved messages in a special entryway or sidewalk.

Another way to display these donor bricks that strengthens the tie to your group is to design and construct an attractive landscaping display.

Many groups build a reflection garden or water fountain area and then incorporate these engraved bricks in the sidewalks, planters, and rest/reflection areas.

Ask yourself if your grounds could benefit from this type of additional landscaping and then build a fund raising campaign around it.

Remember that each personalized brick could bring a donation of as much as $150 while also strengthening the bond between the donor and your nonprofit organization.

Donor Walls

A similar display method involves creating a donor wall. Here, a contribution again earns the right to place a long-lasting commemorative message on a brick or decorative tile.

The difference is that the display is vertical and designed to be admired by passerby. Think of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington as a high-end example.

You can mix and match different styles of recognition throughout a large donor wall display. Several companies work with non-profit groups to design and implement their unique vision of a donor wall.

Fundraising for a High-Dollar Capital Campaign

For recognizing donors in a high-dollar capital campaign, nothing beats an attractive wall display in a high-traffic area such as a foyer or entryway.

Let's face it. People like to see their good deeds recognized. They also like to see themselves recognized where their friends and neighbors can see.

The higher the campaign amounts sought for your capital campaign, the more tasteful your recognition program should be.

One simple method features engraved brass plaques on a polished wood backdrop. Donors select the message they want displayed on their respective plaques.

Donor Recognition With Gift Trees

A somewhat fancier method of donor recognition involves using a gift tree. A gift tree is a three dimensional sculpture of a tree with burnished metal leaves. It is usually fixed upon a wooden backdrop for wall mounting.

Each leaf is engraved with the donor's message. The end result is high-quality artwork to be displayed in the organization's foyer or lobby.

Adelaide River War Cemetery - Northern Territory Australia.

Adelaide river war cemetery. Northern Territory Australia. The war heroes song on this video was created from Peter's experience in visiting the Adelaide River War Cemetery (114 kms south of Darwin) in the Northern Territory and seeing the graves of Australians who gave their lives in the service and defence of their country. Peter felt he should do something within his capabilities to honour the memory of such incredible sacrifice. A total of 434 war graves marked by bronze plaques are contained in the Adelaide River War Cemetery. The burials are made up of 14 airmen of the RAF, 12 unidentified men of the British Merchant Navy; one soldier of the Canadian Army; 18 sailors, 181 soldiers and 201 airmen of the Australian Forces and seven men of the Australian Merchant Navy. The Northern Territory Memorial to the Missing honours a further 292 servicemen and women lost to the north of Australia. The adjacent civil section contains the graves of the nine Post Office staff killed on 19 February 1942 during the bombing of Darwin, one of 63 separate occasions from that date. The 63 civilian casualties buried in the cemetery include those of 31 Indigenous Australians. The youngest buried in the cemetery was Robert H. Stobo, Deck Cadet, MV 'Neptuna', killed 19/2/1942. He was with the Merchant Navy and was killed in Darwin Harbour during a Japanese air raid. He was only 16 years old. Wing Commander AR Tindal is also buried in the cemetery. He was killed in action during a Japanese ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggjol-BJ1UY&hl=en

Utah's Grand America has USA's Best Public Restroom

Halfway through the public voting in the ninth annual "America's Best Public Restroom Contest," the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City holds the No. 1 spot. However, contest officials report the voting to be very close. Online voting ends Aug. 31 at www.bestrestroom.com. Located at 555 S. Main, the Grand America boasts Italian Carrera marble, bronze and crystal chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling commodes, inlaid African Anigre wood and hand-painted walls in its restrooms. This is the first time Salt Lake or Utah has had a finalist in the unusual national contest. The Grand America is a 24-story hotel with 775 guest rooms, including 295 suites, and is the flagship property of The Grand America Hotels & Resorts, owned by Earl Holding. The Fountain on Locust in St. Louis, with its hand-painted murals, ornate fixtures and designer mirrors, currently holds the No. 2 spot. Bryant Park in New York is third with Beaux Arts design, a full-time attendant, freshly cut flowers, scented oils and electronic seat covers in its restrooms. While the 10 finalists are all unique, they have one thing in common — all are exceptionally clean. directorzone.cyberlink.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5gUcSsZ0d0&hl=en

An Interesting Norway Holiday

Norway may not be the usual destination for most tourists who go to Europe but it does provide people with one of the best sights in the world. But unlike Italy and France, which mostly attracts tourists that are more into city tours and shopping trips, visitors in Norway are more of the nature-tripping kind and those who are not on a holiday to rest and walk but to engage in different sporting activities. Still, the country is not without a rich history. In fact, there are a lot of areas in the country that have been preserved until the present day. So those interested in history, whether in the past or in more recent times, will also enjoy in Norway.

Below are some of the areas and sights that tourists can visit in the country to get a taste of history.

1. Bryggen Wharf
One of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, the old wharf in Bergen dates back to the 14th century. What is great about this area is the fact that the buildings that overlook the wharf are still standing and are well-preserved. The area was once part of the Hanseatic League's trading empire, which lasted until the 16th century. The buildings were of course remodeled and rebuilt over the years but the main structure and design were preserved. The buildings are relics from the past, when wooden buildings were still the fad.

2 Lillehammer
The municipality of Lillehammer figured in history when the Birkebeiners traveled from the area to rena with Kind Haakon on skis. In the 17th century, the area had a lively market and is in fact one of the leading merchant towns. Now, the area is actually a very popular spot for skiing and is in fact the venue for the 1994 Winter Olympics.

3. Vigeland Sculpture Park
This is a must-see not only for those who are interested in history but also the art enthusiasts. The whole park, covering 80 acres, is filled with the masterpieces of Gustav Vigeland, who handcrafted the statues from clay. There are more than 200 bronze and granite sculptures in the park. One of the very popular statues in the area is the Sinnataggen or "Angry Boy", which can be found along the Bridge, which connects the Main Gate and the Fountain.

4. Trondheim
The third largest municipality in Norway, the Trondheim like the Bryggen Wharf also has preserved buildings that tourists can visit. The town was actually a former seat of the King and the capital of Norway until the early 13th Century. It used to be also the Catholic Seat. The last archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had to flee from the city when Protestantism was introduced in 1537. The famous Lewis Chessmen made of walrus ivory found in the Hebrides were believed to be carved in Trondheim.

Unfortunately, the city has experienced a lot of fires. One fire, what they call the Horneman Fire, led to complete reconstruction of the city. Trondheim is also home to the world's largest sundial, the Trondheim Torg, which is very popular with tourists on a Norway holiday.

FIRE: James Knowles Pouring Bronze

Exploring the Elements. James Knowles is hard at work with Fire in the foundry. The ability to transform molten bronze in a solid sculpture. The heat from the sand-molds is released as the artist begins to break the mounds. The ground smokes. This is one piece of 19 that will become the final sculpture. The sculpture will be installed in a fountain at 137 Park Street in New Canaan CT.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ebn3OtfZhw&hl=en

OMA: The Bronze Era

A fanmade video dedicated to the Bronze Era of the Harry Potter RPG www.oneminuteago.com No copyright infringement intended. Music: Death is the Road to Awe by Clint Mansell. Brought to you by Allisandre Rice.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ymIpQm7XI&hl=en

Eberle Winery

We often find that many wineries have interesting family stories, either with classic multinational companies, agriculture or wine itself. Eberle Winery falls into the last category. Gary Eberle started his career in his family business, the Estrella River Winery and has since worked to begin not only his own winery, but also the Paso Robles American Viticulture Area (AVA).

Eberle, which means small boar in German, began with the 1979 vintage. Interestingly, despite the German translation the small boar reference is in regard to the bronze statute which greets visitors in Florence, Italy. The legend says that anyone who rub's the boars nose and throws a coin into the fountain will not only have good luck, but is destined to visit Italy once again. To that end, many people follow the tradition at Eberle. A nice note, Eberle gives all money thrown into the fountain to a local children's charity.

Gary's life is one full of memorable events, such as playing football at Penn State (yes for Joe Paterno) and then attending Winemaker University (aka The University of California at Davis). His dream for a winery was not the large production operation run at Estrella, but a smaller production, world class quality, small production winery. While at UC Davis Eberle decided that although grapes were grown in Paso Robles, no one was employing truly world class winemaking techniques there so the wine was not fulfilling its true potential.

Beginning with his first vintage Eberle has shown that outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon can be produced from Paso Robles when given the same type of care that is standard practice in places like Napa, Bordeaux and Tuscany. It now produces approximately 25,000 cases per year in the small, intimate winery and tasting room. With an eye to keeping the buildings on the property as an extension of the vineyard and not an overbearing presence, when a significant expansion was needed Gary decided that an underground expansion was a better fit for his vision. To that end, 16,000 feet of underground caves were created, leaving enough space to age every bottle of wine crafted on the property.

If you want to experience the best of what can be produced on the California central coast, take an afternoon to visit the Eberle estate. You'll see one of the historic vineyards in California and taste some of the best that Paso Robles has to offer. An additional bonus if you're wine tasting on the central coast, Eberle crafts Cabernet Sauvignon which can be a welcomed break from the Rhone Varietal explosion at every other winery in the region.

Larnaca Cyprus - Something For Everyone

Larnaca in Cyprus could be described as the resort with everything. It's a major municipality, a town and a holiday resort all rolled into one. It's also home to the Islands main airport and and boast a great selection of shops too. Add to that a pretty marina along with Cyprus's main port and Larnaca certainly appears to have plenty to offer holiday makers and residents alike. That's before we get started with the historic buildings including a medieval fort and several other listed buildings. There are also several modern industrial estates on edges of the district and a thriving commercial center too. There's a modern promenade thronged with trendy sea front cafe bars, restaurants and the obligatory fast food chains for the youngsters.

The beach at Larnaca is one of the best in Cyprus and is actually man made though you wouldn't have guessed so. Most of the restaurants and cafes run opposite the beach making them the ideal place to relax whilst taking in the superb view. It's a nice stroll from Larnaca marina at one end to the ancient medieval fort at the other. Across the road from the marina is a small public gallery and a beautiful paved area built around an ornamental fountain. Some of the buildings in Larnaca are centuries old and many of them have been painstakingly restored to their former glory. A short walk to some of the quaint back streets behind the main promenade will reveal many more that are still awaiting renovation.

The history of Larnaca stretches back further than any other part of Cyprus and the town has been continually occupied since the bronze age. The town is built on the ancient site of Kition which was in fact once the capital of the whole of Cyprus. Legend has it that the original city of Kition was founded by the grandson of Noah and the biblical connections don't end there. The church of saint Lazarus in Larnaca square is actually named after the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead. The legends say that after his resurrection Lazarus traveled to Cyprus where he became the Islands first Bishop. The church is actually reputed to have been built over his tomb and visitors can go down into the tombs below the building. Like most of the churches in Cyprus Larnaca church is beautifully adorned with icons and intricate decor.

Ideally situated only a few kilometers from the airport the town has become a thriving vibrant community. In 1974 following the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of the North of Cyprus Larnaca offered to accept 40,000 refugees. These displaced persons tripled her population to a then 65,000 inhabitants. With great motorway links to all the coastal resorts and the capital Nicosia the town is perfectly located for those wishing to visit the Islands many places of interest. With the recent boom in holiday home purchases Larnaca has also become something of a property hotspot. The fringe coastal villages such as Oroklini make ideal settings in which to own an apartment or villa and the prices are still quite reasonable compared with other parts of Cyprus. In fact many locals are selling up and buying villas in such places due to their out of town exclusivity which in turn is creating some prime locations.

With so much going for Larnaca it is no surprise that it is earmarked by many to be the next Cyprus property boom area. With this in mind many speculators are investing in off plan purchases on these new developments. They plan to profit from the rising market by selling when the developments are completed. The speculation is being further fueled by the proposals of a larger modern marina for the berthing of luxury yachts and a possible golf development. Golf sun and property are part of any speculators mantra so this is bound to affect values. If the area didn't have more than enough to offer already these new proposals could turn it into an investors dream come true. So maybe if you are looking to invest in a place in the sun you should take a look at Larnaca Cyprus.

Easy Eco-Friendly Ways To Light Your Home

With so many options now available, going green in your home is not only easy these days, but also easier on your pocketbook. With green lighting options galore, there's no reason anymore to not take advantage of the latest green advancements.

Go Fluorescent

One of the easiest, cheapest, most efficient and cost saving ways to green up your home is to switch your lighting to a green friendly lighting option. #1 of these options is to replace your current incandescent light bulbs with new compact fluorescent light bulbs. By doing this in all lamps and lighting in every room of your home, you'll save a substantial amount of money every year on electricity cost alone. You'll also have to replace your lightbulbs much less often since compact fluorescent light bulbs last much longer than incandescent bulbs, thereby saving you some work and maybe even some pain along the way.

Consider LED's

The main strength in choosing LED lights instead of traditional incandescent light bulbs is that LED lights use much less power, therefore they last much longer. Due to their length of reliability, LED's don't need to be changed as often. In some cases, this factor in itself can be result in substantial cost savings. For example, on a highway barricade, you need some lights on top of barricades to let drivers see the barricade at night. In this case, using LED's for those lights would save alot of money, since workers would not need to go out and replace the bulb very often, if at all. In fact, in many cases the LED barricade light would last for as long as it is needed or even longer at the site and never need to be replaced. The cost savings in man hours and labor driving to the site and replacing the bulb is significant, especially if the application is in a remote or rural area.

Go Solar

For many lighting uses, solar is a great option. Nowadays, solar outdoor lights are commonplace, where driveway, pathway. patio, fountain or garden lights have solar panels on their tops which store solar energy during the day and then when it gets dark, the lights automatically turn on, using only the stored energy from the sun. Using these types of outdoor lights can save money and virtually eliminate the need for maintenance. There are even solar powered outdoor Christmas lights, great for use especially in southern climates where you still get plenty of winter sun.

Take Better Advantage Of Natural Light

In some rooms of your home, it's sometimes more efficient to simply open your drapes wider or choose drapes, curtains or blinds that let more light in. In addition, you can choose to install skylights in areas of your home that get alot of daytime traffic but get little light. Just installing one skylight in a staircase or a dark hall can save you money by causing you to turn on the lights in the day less often but also make your home safer.

These Plants Are For the Birds - Planting to Attract Birds in Winter

While we enjoy the subtle tones and simple beauty of our winter landscapes, the birds are scurrying around adding life and color to everything. I love to see them scratching in the soil for leftover seeds and playing in the bare branches.

Do you want to invite them into your garden this winter? Besides adding bird feeders and bird baths for an easy source of food and water through the year, try planting a few of these bird favorites.

Berberis darwinii is a gorgeous evergreen Barberry that blooms in midwinter. It has a beautiful fountain-like habit and grows to 6'+, and its shiny deep green leaves make a great show year-round.

In mid-winter, it bursts into bright golden bloom, with clusters of flowers dotting the plant. The spectacular bloom is followed by profuse deep blue berries which are a total hit with the birds.

Try planting the upright Darwin's Barberry with a softly-textured conifer such as Tsuga canadensis, the Canadian Hemlock, for a gentle contrast in foliage.

Abies koreana is another big favorite of the birds. In winter, it develops striking purple cones which contain seeds that the birds love to eat. All Firs attract birds, but the Korean Fir is especially good, because it will bear cones on very young plants, so you will be feeding the birds even in the early years.

I love the freshly-fallen-snow effect on Abies koreana 'Silberlocke', and the gentler silvery tones on the undersides of the regular Abies koreana. Try them with some purple-foliage plants nearby to help that silver stand out, and to bring out the purple color of the cones.

Viburnum plicatum tomentosum, the Doublefile Viburnum, creates a gorgeous haven for the birds. It has a tiered, horizontal pattern to the branches, which makes it fun for the birds to hop around and play in. Even though it goes dormant, this is one of the bird hotspots right now - there's rustling, playing, and chirping going on within the shrub.

It's not just for the birds, though, this is one of my favorite shrubs for year-round interest. When it leafs out in spring, the fresh green color is so cheering, and by mid-spring it is covered in pretty white lacecap blooms which hover above the branches. The berries in summer are popular with the birds, and then it provides a rich purple-red fall color.

If you'd like your Viburnum to berry, be sure that you have a different variety of Doublefile Viburnum nearby, even in a neighbor's garden, to pollinate it. Even without the berries, though, this is a wonderful habitat plant to enjoy in all the seasons.

Miscanthus sinensis, or Maiden Grass, is a real treat for goldfinches and other small birds. In fall, Maiden Grass sends up airy plumes of reddish-purple flowers above the foliage, and the birds have fun pecking about for every last seed in winter.

'Sarabande' grows to 5' tall and has shimmery green foliage. It looks gorgeous paired with deep green Rhodies - and they are great with the Yaku hybrids' bright white new growth, or the coppery new foliage on 'Bronze Wing'.

Or there is the elegant white-variegated 'Silberfeil', which looks stunning with deep purple foliage, or blue-flowered Hydrangeas.

Tuscany's Cortona is a New Found Treasure

Once a sleepy little Italian hilltop town, Cortona is enjoying a rebirth as a tourist mecca. The book "Under the Tuscan Sun" and its sequels, along with the hit film based on this book, people have discovered Tuscany's Cortona is a delight.

Conveniently located between Rome and Florence, this town of 30,000 people is located on a lovely hill. You can find whatever you want to do here, from museums to biking to restaurants.

Cortona has a long and interesting history, longer than many people realize: The Etruscans built the city's walls 2,600 years ago. You can still see Etruscan stone work at Porta Guelfa and at Porta Montanina. If the Etruscans fascinate you, you can see more at the Museo dell'Academia Etrusca, which has artifacts from the Etruscans and the Egyptians as well as many historic artworks, books and other items.

Don't just look at the city walls, interesting as they are. Go inside to the Piazza Garibaldi. From there you can see beautiful Lake Trasimeno. There is also a beautiful church and a park, at the center of which is a fountain decorated with two playful dolphins of bronze. Take a break, sit down and enjoy the view.

Once you've rested to Piazza Grande, with its 6th century town hall. On the first Saturday of each month, there is a market where you can find gifts, food and other wares to buy for yourself and others. If shopping is your thing, come to Cortona at the end of August for the National Market of Ancient Furniture at Cortona's Casali Palace.

Stuck for the time? Look for the Torre del Pulcinella, the town clock that uses cymbals rather than bells to announce the time.

Cortona is full of history, obviously. Nowhere is this more evident than at Cetona Belvedere. This ancient cemetery has caverns, grottoes and other ancient sites.

If exploring is your thing, go to Montepulciano on one of the largest mountain peaks in the area.

If you're fond of religious history, go to the Great Cloister of the Monastero di Monte Oliveta Maggiore (monastery of the Mount of Olives) to see the frescoes of St. Benedict. Signorelli painted these in the 15th century. Also be sure to see the church of Santa Maria Del Calcinaio, a unique octagonal church. Other religious treasures can be seen at the Museo Diocesano. It houses the Cortona Altarpiece with its six beautiful small paintings that frame the piece.

When visiting Cortona, rest assured that all the usual tourist amenities are available to make your trip easy.

Cortona is deservedly coming into its own. If you get a chance go and see it for yourself. It is a trip you will long remember for its beauty, its heritage and its people. Travelers booking a trip should call their travel agents for more information.

Newport, RI: Part 1;Washington Square's new Horse Trough Fountain

ORIGINS of the new bronze Horse Trough Fountain by Newmans, Ltd., of Newport: www.newmansltd.com, and info@newmansltd.com, based on Newport Historical Society images of Washington Square's 19th century horse trough, for the Washington Square Restoration Commission.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68nb5e1dVaY&hl=en

Hello from Vancouver (5): Gastown and My Final Explorations

After my extremely interesting walking tour of the Downtown East Side I decided to round out my exploration of the city with another bicycling trip. In my mind, bicycling is just the perfect way to discover a city, it gives you greater range than walking, you don't need to wait around for buses, and you get exercise at the same time -bonus!

I realized that I had not even seen Gastown yet, which gave me a perfect excuse for another round of exploring. I went to Spokes Bicycle Rentals again, talked to Phil who had been so helpful to me on Saturday in my exploration of Stanley Park and off I went for another few hours, to see just a bit more of Vancouver before I had to leave. I decided to ride back to the Downtown East Side since I wasn't able to take any photos during the walking tour. I rode along the waterfront trail past Canada Place and the Harbour Centre to the east side of town.

I closely retraced my steps from this morning's walking tour on the bicycle and took some pictures of some of the buildings along the way. One place that definitely stood out was the Sun Tower, a building created between 1911 and 1912 that used to be the headquarters of the Vancouver Sun. I rode through Chinatown again, which still had such an unusually orderly and organized feel to it.

Then I explored Gastown, one of Vancouver's most historic areas. Its founding father was a loquacious saloon owner: John "Gassy Jack" Deighton, who, in 1867, built a saloon near the corner of Carrall and Water Streets to profit from the local lumber mill workers and gold prospectors on their way to the Yukon. By the 1870s, Gastown was a multicultural community, complete with saloons, hotels and grocery stores, brought into town because Vancouver had been chosen as the Canadian Pacific Railroad terminus.

By 1886 it had 1,000 buildings and 3,000 residents. Then, in 1886, a blaze broke out and burned the town to the ground. Although destroying the town, this fire started the biggest building boom in West Coast history. After an economic decline in the early part of the 20th century, Gastown became a virtual backwater from the 1930s to 1950s until a group of local merchants and property owners put it back on the map in the 1960s by renovating the historic buildings and turning them into one of the city's top tourist attractions.

One of the biggest draws Gastown is the steam-powered clock, the world's first, created by Raymond Saunders who has a small shop nearby. Live steam, pumped from a plant that heats more than 100 downtown buildings, operates the mechanism of the clocks and blows the whistles. At each quarter hour the clock sounds the Westminster Chimes while the large whistle announces the hours. Gastown's Steam Clock is one of the favourite photography spots for tourists. Gastown also houses another major Vancouver attraction: an innovative educational and cultural experience called Storeyum: it's 100,000 square foot indoor venue showcases the colourful history of Canada's West Coast in live reenactments.

Of course I didn't have time to explore Gastown and all its stores and restaurants in detail since my plane would be leaving in a few hours and I still wanted to head back to Stanley Park one more time to catch another glimpse of this most gorgeous urban greenspace. So back I cycled past construction of the new convention centre and back on the waterfront into Stanley Park. Since this was my second time in the park I caught a few things I missed the first time around: I saw the Girl in a Wetsuit sculpture, created in 1972, which is a life-size bronze statue of a woman in a wetsuit, with flippers on her feet and her mask pushed up on her forehead, and sits on a large intertidal boulder just offshore of Stanley Park.

I didn't go all around the park but cut across it after a nice little icecream break at the Lumberman's Arch concession stand and I rode through the beautiful Rose Garden and Shakespeare Garden which form the backbone of the perennial flower beds and ornamental trees and shrubs. Stanley Park is really a sight to behold, and it offers so many recreational and relaxation opportunities. The park also holds a children's farmyard and miniature train.

My final stop in the park was the Lost Lagoon, a large pond, featuring a fountain at its centre, set against a gorgeous backdrop of forests, flowering shrubs, with the mountains towering in the background. The amount of visual beauty of this area is virtually overwhelming and I was starting to feel a little sad that I had to end my visit since I had to make it back to UBC on the other side of town to retrieve my luggage and head off to the airport.

I had originally planned to go biking until 5:30 pm, considering that my flight wouldn't leave until almost 9 pm, but then I realized it's Monday and rush hour would be setting in soon. So I took my bike back early, said my goodbyes to Phil, who's been so helpful all along, and he gave me a few more words of local advice as to which bus routes to take and off I went to catch a bus to Burrard Street. The intersection of Burrard and Georgia was totally nuts, since the city was repaving and police were directing traffic manually. I was glad I had taken my bike back early, at least I would make it back to the university in time for my departure to the airport. Finally the #44 bus came and I could relax. Actually I was surprised that it only took me 25 minutes to get back to the University which left me extra time to complete some travel reports over the Internet.

All in all, Victoria and Vancouver have been an awesome experience. I had absolutely perfect weather: 25 degrees with beaming sunshine and absolutely no humidity. I had a fabulous reunion in Victoria with my co-worker Clare, two and a half very interesting days at the Canada-US Servas Conference where I got to know some of the most generous and dedicated individuals I have ever had a chance to meet, and in the time in between I had an opportunity to explore Vancouver, a vibrant and exciting city full of contrasts, set in one of the most physically stunning locations anywhere on the planet.

It's been a very short trip, and all I can say - I'll be back...

Get Healthy - Think Negative

It is said that our health depends on our state of mind. If you are down or depressed, your health will suffer. We are told to think positive. Let me turn that on its head and tell you that negative will have a positive effect on your health. Huh!

Positive does not always mean good. Let me explain. Positive ions are in the air and produced by so many of the things that are around us every day. Things such as fluorescent lights, computer terminals, microwaves and so many other electronics that we feel compelled to surround ourselves with in today's society.

Positive ions have a negative effect on our health. Positive ions cause stress. It is not always the work that makes us stressed but the work environment.

To combat this stressful life that we are getting ourselves into we must reduce the positive and replace it with the negative. Negative ions actually reduce stress as well as remove those distressing allergens from the air.

Negative ions are produced naturally by plants and running water and are in abundance in the mountains far from the dirty cities. That is why you will always feel healthier when you are in the mountains or by a babbling stream.

To bring that environment into our own homes or work place we must reproduce the actions of the water. We do that by installing floor fountains. A floor standing fountain will not only reduce the positive ions in the air but will replace them with negative ions. A floor fountain resembles the mountain stream that we would like to be sitting next to.

Surround the floor standing fountain with plants and you will begin to have the makings of the forest. The negative ions from the water will make the plants grow bigger, stronger and more luscious. They in turn will help increase the negative ions.

When you install your floor fountain, do not get one that is so small for the location that it would not be effective nor get one that is so large that it is overbearing. There are many floor standing fountains on the market, such as the Gardenfall Waterfall fountain that you will easily find one to fit your needs.

Floor fountains are very inexpensive and come in so many sizes and shapes and made of so many materials such as stone, slate, copper, bronze, glass or resin and in so many colors that it is impossible not to get one that is perfect for you. If it is for your business, you can even have your company logo engraved on it. If you can trace your own family line far enough back, you may even want to add your family crest.

A floor fountain is the single most effective way to reduce the positive ions that are bombarding you every moment of the day. You will feel healthier, the allergies will decrease and you will breathe better. Healthier lungs will mean that you will sleep better. this will all have a positive effect on your life - or was that negative effect?

Let me re-emphasize, negative ions mean positive health. Negative ions are produced by flowing water. Fountains produce flowing water and therefore negative ions. Take a positive attitude and get a floor fountain to improve your health today.

Delta Kitchen Sink Faucets

Do you think you could get away with a simple kitchen sink faucet? These days a kitchen sink faucet is not just a necessity, but also a style statement. The amazing array of designs available in the market for kitchen faucets can make one's head spin. For example, the Delta kitchen sink faucets offer faucets that are casual, contemporary, stately and traditional. Therefore, your kitchen's designs will be perfectly matched by the stylish kitchen sink faucets. In addition, they are made to suit every one's needs. Many well trained sales consultants are at hand to help you understand the functionalities and versatility of them before you decide to buy one.

Whether your kitchen has the classic finishes of the Victorian look or the clean lines of a modern one, Delta kitchen sink faucets can fit into all kinds of décor. Apart from the faucet used in the kitchen sink, you could also buy a range of other products like pot filler faucet or a water filtration unit. The kitchen styles come in a variety of sizes and shapes. The various styles available make it imperative that you test each before purchasing one. You should select the one that you find easiest to use. In addition, you must consider the sink you are going to use as well.

Delta kitchen sink faucets also offer a number of finishes like biscuit, chrome, stainless, white, Venetian bronze and others. An important aspect is that the finishes of different manufacturers may vary slightly, and so it is better to buy all accessories of the kitchen sink from the same manufacturer. The other accessories could be soap dispensers, cutting boards and bottom grid racks.

Another point is that a kitchen faucet should be bought not just for its beauty, but also durability. A good one will be non-dripping for its lifetime. Also, consider the ease of use and safety of use of the particular one you select.

Delta kitchen sink faucets not only look great, they are also convenient and safe to use. Thus, if you are considering an upgrade of your kitchen, you must purchase one of the latest kitchen faucets available in the markets. The manufacturers are creating the most attractive designs to make them the most attractive part of a kitchen. Thus, with all their chic designs and great functionalities, kitchen faucets have become the most sought after accessories of the kitchen.

Arequipa Main Square

Bordered by various arched walkways and the Cathedral, the Main Square possesses a beautiful bronze fountain of three plates crowned by the figure of a sixteenth century soldier. Of this person, who is called Tuturutu, the story says he was in charge of warning of any new event. Around the square, you see three granite portals with brick and lime bases: Portal del Cabildo (Portal de la Municipalidad), Portal de las Delicias (Portal de San Agustín), and Portal del Regocijo (Portal de Flores).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy_1jBROQK4&hl=en

The Psychology of Dreams - The Unique Interpretation that can be Verified in Your Daily Life

There are thousands of dream interpreters in this world, but none of them can prove that you can absolutely trust their method of dream translation even before they start translating the messages.

Dream interpretation is somewhat like astrology. Some people believe that there is a meaning in these sciences, while others don't even consider them as sciences that should be respected and seriously examined by everyone. This happens mainly because the several dream interpretation methods that exist don't really translate the dream's meaning exactly as it is and because the materialist mentality of our civilization despises what it cannot understand or explain.

The translation from one language to the other is very difficult. Depending on the document you have to translate, things can be very difficult! Now imagine how much more difficult it is to translate images into words. In your dreams, you see images and sometimes you talk or hear voices. Your dreams are like a movie and you have to translate the message contained in this movie into words, so that your conscience may understand what the dream is revealing you. This is very difficult indeed!

I had to conduct very serious research before I could find the unique method of dream interpretation that was absolutely correct and understand exactly how the psychology of dreams works. Then I had to delay present my work to the public by 19 years because I discovered that there is too much craziness in the human psyche and I had to simplify a very complicated method of dream interpretation so that it could be understood and followed by everyone.

In the beginning of my studies (1988) I even remember visiting the National Library of Athens, Panepistimiou Street (we didn't have the Internet at that time), looking for information about the Etrurians or Etruscans who disappeared with the Roman Empire. Something told me that their language would reveal something very important to the world, something that could be related to the interpretation of dreams. Here is some information about their story:

"In 396 BC, with the fall of Veii, the Romans resolved to conquer a section of Etruria but the Italian situation did not give them peace.

The Etruscans forces fought to regain the territory of Veii, but the Roman federation has no political cohesion and therefore, it was not involved.

The Celts invaded and conquered all Cisalpine Gaul right up to Gallic Sena (or Senigallia in the Marches).

Until then, Rome had never come in contact with the Celts and was not acquainted with their formidable impact; however, Rome was not concerned because it is separated from the Celts by Etruria.

Etruria was not politically hostile towards the Celts, but they were conciliatory and diplomatic. Etruria knows that it could not directly compete with the Celtic tribes who had taken the dodecapoli of Cisalpine Gaul".

http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/posts/posts.html

Here is some information about their language:

"Unlike Greek and Latin, Etruscan, which is the third great ancient cultural language in Italy, does not survive in any great literary works. An Etruscan religious literature did exist, and evidence suggests that there was a body of historical literature and drama as well. For example, the name of a playwright, Volnius, of obscure date is known, who wrote "Tuscan tragedies." Although there is no evidence of notation, it is possible that Etruscan music was in written form.

The Etruscan language is universally accepted as an isolated case. It cannot be shown conclusively to be related to any other language, living or dead, except for a couple of sparsely attested extinct languages.

Based on the few inscriptions that were discovered, Raetic, which is recorded in the Alps, was clearly related to Etruscan.

Lemnian, recorded on the island of Lemnos, also appears to have been related to Etruscan. A third language, Camunic, sparsely recorded in NW Italy and written in the Etruscan alphabet, may possibly also have been related, but the evidence is too sparse to allow any firm conclusions.

At the time of imperial Rome, Etruscan ceased to be spoken although it continued to be studied by priests and scholars. The emperor Claudius (death, 54 CE) wrote a history of the Etruscans in 20 books, now lost, which was based on sources that were still preserved in his day. The language continued to be used in a religious context until late antiquity; the final record of such use relates to the invasion of Rome by Alaric, chief of the Visigoths, in 410 CE, when Etruscan priests were summoned to conjure lightning against the barbarians.

There is a corpus of over 10,000 known Etruscan inscriptions, with new ones being discovered each year. These are mainly short funerary or dedicatory inscriptions, found on funerary urns, in tombs or on objects dedicated in sanctuaries. Others are found on engraved bronze Etruscan mirrors, where they label mythological figures or give the name of the owner, and on coins, dice, and pottery. Finally, there are graffiti scratched on pottery; though their function is little understood, they seem to include owners' names as well as numbers, abbreviations, and non alphabetic signs".

http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/language.html#Intro

As you can see, Etruscan language has been ignored until today. The Etruscans were happy people and they could make predictions by interpreting the weather. I was immensely curious to learn how I could translate their language when I learned about their existence.

I started caring for the correct scientific method of dream interpretation and concluded that only Carl Jung's method could be used in any kind of dream while other methods could be applied only in a limited number of cases. At this point, I dreamt that someone told me that I would discover the mysterious language of the Etruscans and would be able to translate their documents.

The symbolic meaning of this dream revealed that I would discover how Etruscans made predictions by observing the weather changes, just as I would be able to predict the future by interpreting my own dreams and those of others. This was because I continued Carl Jung's research through dream interpretation into the unknown region of the psychic sphere and discovered what really causes craziness to the human being: the anti-conscience, which is violent, primitive and evil and is responsible for the a priori existence of craziness in the human mind.

I could interpret dreams better than Jung himself because I have been a writer since I was 7 and by interpreting my own poetry, I could understand the meaning of the dream symbols much better. In particular, the literary book I started to write after a terrible car accident was full of archetypes: universal dream symbols that appear in dreams, religious manifestations and art works of all the civilizations of the world. Interpreting the symbolism of the strange romance I wrote after the accident I suffered when I was 15, I could understand exactly how to translate the dream symbols into words.

Of course, if you are a poet, you have to be able to interpret poetry and in the old days, the scientific method of dream interpretation was like interpreting poetry. Since I knew very well how to interpret the literary meaning of poetry, it was not difficult for me to understand how to apply this knowledge to the scientific method of dream interpretation discovered by Jung, which was the only correct method. I have verified this in my own life after precisely following the guidance of the unconscious through my dreams, which has helped me completely understand the psychology of dreams.

Besides this, a literary writer is usually also a philosopher and a psychologist who is constantly trying to understand human nature.

I felt that I could trust the unconscious because I understood that the magic inspiration of my literary works came directly from there. It was a gift that I received-a great talent in literature that would help me not only to understand the beauty of art and keep my sensitivity alive forever but also help me understand how to exactly interpret dream symbols. Thus, I could discover the anti-conscience that constantly tries to cause craziness to the conscience and I discovered how everyone could prevent and cure any kind of mental illness.

This is the importance of my work: the discovery of the anti-conscience and the necessity of indispensable psychotherapy in the human being so that one may eliminate the anti-conscience by transforming it into a positive part of the conscience.

The psychology of dreams is based on craziness prevention and cure. Everything you see in your dreams is always trying to protect you from your anti-conscience that can only destroy your life through craziness and despair.

Your dreams are very important lessons from the wise and saintly unconscious mind, which has evolved much more than our conscience because it is much older. Its age cannot even be calculated. It is a perfect mind, without ego and evil, but which has saintly characteristics and constantly tries to save the human being from terror, which is the result of the craziness caused by the domination of the anti-conscience.

The anti-conscience is a wild and sneaky creature like a shark. It has to be tamed by the conscience and transformed into a part that will bring balance to the psyche. This part contains many qualities that can be very helpful for the human being when tamed and developed like the conscience.

Outdoor Ceiling Fans Review

Ceiling fans are very important and they are indispensable part of our life. They play a major role in summers and one cannot imagine any home without ceiling fans. There is wide variety of fans available in the market like hugger fans, outdoor fans etc. Outdoor ceiling fans are designed in completely different manner from other ceiling fans. These fans are exposed to lots of outside factors like dirt, dust and weather conditions like heat, wetness and coldness. Such fans are designed in such a manner so that they can withstand these conditions. So before introducing these outdoor fans in market they are tested to ensure that they can handle these conditions and meet the standards of being an outdoor fan. Since they will be exposed to sudden changes in temperature, moisture and other external elements therefore they are usually made of material like plastics or resign.

These fans add comfort to you when you are in outdoor area. So if you are going to purchase outdoor ceiling fan make sure that it is rated for wet or damped conditions. Outdoor ceiling fans come in a variety of style, shapes and design and have a variety of features. These outdoor ceiling fans are also available in reasonable price in market with good quality and airflow ratings.

There are many models available in market like one is Hunter Sea Air 52-Inch Weathered Brick which is a 52- inch ceiling fan with durable and weather resistant blade made of plastic materials. They have used a special whisper wind motor. Other model that is very popular is Sanibel with cloth blades. This model is very stylish and unique. Its blades are made of decorative cloths and its whisper wind motor is made of rust free material to withstand outdoor conditions. This model comes with special AVT hanging system and can be mounted in two positions. The third model is west house oasis which is also the one of best looking fan.

Its leaf shaped blades are made of resign and bronze is used to finish its base. To make it durable and rust proof it is coated with powder of metals and stainless steel. The fourth model is Tommy Bahama breeze fan model that comes with beautiful blades and the blades come separately so you design your fan according to your wish. It also contains a powerful motor and a three speed pull chain. Another very good model is Minka aire gyro model which comes in bronze color with function wall control and a transmitter. It contains twin blades and produces rapid cool air. Another one of the popular outdoor ceiling fans is Fanimation Old Havana FA-FPH210AC has copper fan motor with stylish fans and 0.75 amp motor. It is also very cost effective and save a lots of energy. So it is one of the favorite ceiling fans of most of people.

Thus there are lots of design and styles available in outdoor ceiling fans to suit your home.

Prehistoric Romance

To get Prehistoric Romance, grab the cavewoman in Touchmounds, take her through the fountain statue and score 5M points. This is a bronze trophy from homerjnick of the Oochmasters clan. If you thought homerjnick's other bronzes were hard, you haven't tried this one! Cavewoman, as sweet and articulate as she is, is an anchor! Getting her to the statue is like a Herculean chore, and The Hoff often spends his super ooch to that end, but not on this run. You can get some help from the stupidos driving the golf carts, but they more often push you the wrong way or block your path at the statue. But not on this run. Then, once you've kissed Cavewoman goodbye (The Hoff's line at 0:25 might be the best line that any PAIN character says! And he says it while he's got his hand on Neanderthal's butt.) you still have to get 5000000 points in Touchmounds. 5M?! Have you tried that on this level? Watch the points on this run, it absolutely looks impossible that The Hoff will ever get 5M before 4 minutes. At 1 minute he has 143000. He doesn't get 500000 until 1:56, and he needs 10 times that many points! He does well on the western stage, but still doesn't even get 1M until 2:21, when the cop car first hits him. But it also pushes him away from a propane tank, bummer. The Hoff did well in the Roman Colosseum, I'll give him that. He took out the gladiator chariot in style. But by the time he landed after ooching over and blowing up the crate of dynamite the timer was almost at 3 minutes ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaTqlMq3Nls&hl=en

Prototype - Glide Event 03: Fountain Of Youth *Platinum Medal*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3pjab00L_Y&hl=en

Sights and Interests of Copenhagen

With a population just over 500,000, Copenhagen is a city you don't want to miss if you're going to be touring Europe. The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen has a truly special charm that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. The world's oldest monarchy is in Denmark, and the Royal family just may be seen mingling with the people in downtown Copenhagen, as they are famous for hanging with the common folk. And downtown is where you'll find Amalienborg Palace, home to the monarchs.

A classic European feel is what you'll get in Copenhagen, with narrow cobbled streets and no shortage of fascinating old buildings from all points of history. If you want to get to the heart of it all, head for City Hall square, where you can admire Tivoli Gardens on one side, and Stroget (the straight) on the other, Europe's longest pedestrian street. City Hall square was originally constructed in 1900 in the Romantic style. It was subsequently renovated and revamped in 1996.Down Stroget a bit you'll find the exquisite bronze fountain created at Gammel Square in 1608. Another great place to stop is in Grabrodre Square in the heart of this very trendy shopping district.

Stay at the Stroget for late afternoon and evening street entertainment - there's quite a variety of performers. The Tivoli pleasure gardens will also provide a steady stream of entertainment. There are roller coasters and much more to keep you having fun. Don't limit yourself to the Tivoli Gardens, as there are many green parks in Copenhagen to enjoy and explore.

Another musn't-miss part of Copenhagen is the 17th-Century New Harbor (Nyhavn), a beautifully picturesque waterfront area known as the place that famous Danish fairy-tale author Hans Christian Anderson lived for years. There you will also find water tours of the city, along with a wonderful array of restaurants and lively nightlife. 

The best time to visit Copenhagen is in the summer, when the nights are long and the temperatures are quite pleasant.