Friday, May 9, 2014

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Rock Collecting:
Rock collecting is a fascinating hobby for kids and adults alike. While rocks are common, cheap, and found everywhere, the variety is huge.  Collected rocks can be displayed in many ways, from rock gardens to neatly kept showcases, making rock collecting a versatile hobby.

When rock collecting, you will soon find out that rocks can be categorized as one of three types.  A sedimentary rock formed when sediments, such as sand or silt, were pressed together under their own weight or the weight of water, and eventually became solid.  An igneous rock is one that was formed by volcanic activity.  The third type of rock for rock collecting is the metamorphic rock, which is like a sedimentary rock which has been changed through intense heat and pressure.

Another type of rock collecting is collecting minerals, gems, and crystals.  Pure minerals are not technically the same thing as rocks, but they fit well in rock collections.  Minerals include things like pyrite, also known as fool's gold, and quartzite, which looks almost like a diamond.

For some people, rock collecting consists of saving a pretty rock from different places they visit and keeping it as a souvenir.  If these rocks are large, they can be used to outline the driveway or start a rock garden.  If they are small, they can line a windowsill.  Label them with a fine point marker if desired.  Include the date and location the rock was found.

The souvenir type of rock collecting does not require much scientific investigation, but identifying rocks and minerals does. The different types of rock can sometimes be differentiated easily.  For instance, sedimentary rocks often look like particles glued together.  Sandstone is a common example of this. They also sometimes have visible flat layers.  Metamorphic rocks, on the other hand, sometimes have layers, but those layers have been bent so that they are no longer laying flat across the rock.

When rock collecting, the igneous rocks make some of the most exciting finds.  Obsidian is an igneous rock that looks like a broken piece of black glass.  It is shiny and hard, and was used to make arrowheads in the past by the native Americans. Pumice is another interesting igneous rock which is porous, making it so light that it will float.  This stone is used for cleaning and rubbing calluses off people's feet.

Keep in mind when rock collecting that different regions of the world have different types of rocks.  In the American Midwest, for instance, there are many sedimentary stones, but metamorphic and igneous rocks are less common.  In the Appalacians, on the other hand, you can find metamorphic rocks such as gneiss and schist.  Wherever you live, though, you are sure to find rock collecting a hobby that's hard to resist!

Maryjane Angelo

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Building The Fastest Radio Controlled Car |Maryjane's Blog

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Many people think of remote controlled cars as toys for kids. However, there is a huge difference between remote control cars for kids and remote control cars for adults. The complexities of the cars have a very wide gap. Kids cars will run on just a few AA batteries. RC cars for adults feature full miniature engines. Lots of the popular motor kits run on fuel such as gasoline or nitro. Others run on large battery packs that are essentially beefed up versions of kids toys. These cars require just as much maintenance as a real car, since they have all of the same components (plus all of the radio transmitting gear!) to deal with.

When building a remote controlled car, you will have many different choices regarding the quality of the components that you use to make it. You can stick with some simple hobby store components, but those are not likely to make a car that will win any races. If you want to go all-out on a project, you can get top quality parts. You should be prepared to spend some money to get what it takes, but once you have it all together you will have a car that you can truly be proud of. If you want to assemble this type of amazing car, you will need to look for several things in particular when buying components. These will help you get the maximum performance for your money.

The fastest engine choice that you can find is a nitro engine. Nitromethane is an alternative to regular gasoline, and runs much better for RC cars. It is usually heavier, and therefore more cumbersome on the handling of the car. However, if you are going to be on a fairly straightforward and tame race course, it is a great choice and will provide a huge speed. The only down side is that nitro engines are known for wearing down faster, and breaking at a higher rate. If you use a nitro engine frequently, you can almost expect it to break after intense usage. It is a good idea to have an electric engine that you can swap it out with when the need arises.

The other parts of the car are equally important when you are aiming for absolute fastness. If you are you going all-out on a project, you should expect to spend quite a bit on components like wheels and axels. Usually you want to get wheels that are extremely firm and light. If you have the opportunity to go out to a hobby store and test out a few different components, you will be able to decide exactly what you want based on experiencing it first-hand. This is the best way to shop for anything, and the same goes for remote control cars. Since the parts are usually highly swappable, you can directly compare one with another by trying them in quick succession.

If you aren’t a very technically inclined person, the thought of picking all of these parts might not sound very fun. However, you might not have to go through this process. It is possible to buy kits that include all top of the line parts, and are quite easy to assemble. With these you won’t get the high level of customization that you would get out of building a regular home-made car. Being able to choose all of the parts separately is a great benefit, although 90% of the time you can replace individual parts if you decide that you want to go for something that is of a higher quality or a little bit faster than what you had before.

All of these things really add up. If you have one part of a car that doesn’t perform as well, the entire thing will be affected. Therefore you need to choose your parts carefully to have the best remote controlled car possible.

Maryjane Angelo    

Monday, May 5, 2014

The Process Of Building A Radio Controlled Plane


 Building A Radio Controlled Plane

People can spend hundreds and hundreds of hours on building a radio controlled plane. It is a hobby that is very pervasive throughout the world, and no matter where you can go you can find at least a few die-hard enthusiasts who will continue to devote their time to creating the best radio controlled plane possible. Some people get started on the project on a whim, without putting proper thought into the amount of effort that it will take to get finished. If you are thinking about making a radio controlled plane, you should know exactly what will be required of you. You may decide that it is too much work for too little payoff – or you may be passionate enough to stick with it and give it a try.



The first, and the longest, part of the process is to build the model. By itself, the model is no more than a bunch of wood, glue, and maybe a bit of metal in the shape of a plane. How much effort you spend on this will be dependent on what your goal is. Do you just want something that will get off the ground? If that’s the case, the style won’t matter too much to you. You can build a very basic box that will be able to lift off. However, most of the time hobbyists will create lifelike representations of existing airplanes. This involves creating an airframe out of a light material such as balsa wood, then covering up the sides with some kind of plastic. The dimensions are usually scale representations of whatever plane the model is based off of.

After the basic model is built, the builder will begin to bring the whole project together by installing the motor and radio components. They should always be easily removable, in case they need to be replaced. Get everything fit in to make sure you created the model correctly. Usually, you will buy all of the motors and radio transmitters in one set, and by following some quick instructions you can get it all pieced together. After you have installed it once to make sure, you should take it all out and finish the details of the model. Add decals, paint it, and do anything else that you have in mind. Once that is done with, put the motor equipment back in one last time.



Unless you have followed directions word for word down to every last detail, your plane probably won’t be ready to fly right away. At this point you can take it out to a field or a park and attempt a takeoff, but you shouldn’t hold your breath. You might have been lucky enough to get it right the first time, but you will probably need to make some tweaks. This is by far the most frustrating part of making a radio controlled plane. You will have to determine whether it is a problem with aerodynamics, or whether your radio equipment simply isn’t working. If you are stuck on this step, it’s a good idea to consult a radio controlled hobby expert to see if you can get a diagnosis.

The process definitely takes a lot of time and a lot of effort, but it is worth it in the end. When you can make a flawless takeoff and maneuver the plane through the air, you will be proud of the work that you have done. While you are toiling over building the model, getting everything to work right, and getting it to take off, just imagine that first moment when you are able to take off. Go out to the park one day, and see if you can catch another model plane enthusiast out flying his or her plane. Take a turn, and get a taste for what is coming in the future. If you keep reminding yourself of that, you will be able to remain inspired.



Thursday, May 1, 2014

Radio Controlled Devices


Children Are A Treasure


                    Radio Controlled Devices

Building, driving, and modifying radio-controlled car kits or other toys is a popular hobby among radio controlled enthusiasts. The radio controlled devices are a popular hobby, and are a key component in a sport that involves displaying the skill of the user in controlling the device efficiently.

Radio Controlled devices, or remote controlled devices as they are also called, are devices that are worked remotely from a distance. The first demonstration of the remote controlling activity was perhaps by Jagdish Chandra Bose when he ignited gun powder and struck a gong from a distance using electromagnetic radiation.

Tesla was the first to demonstrate a remotely controlled ship calling teleautomata, using transmitter and receiver showing how ships and mechanical gadgets can be controlled on a wireless principle in 1898. He also constructed a wireless tower which remained unfinished due to economic constraints. This showed the farsightedness of Tesla. He laid the foundations for the radio controlled devices that we have today. American inventor Armstrong remarked about Tesla: "The world will long have to wait for a mind equal to Tesla's, a mind of such creative possibilities and such wealth of imagination."

The remote controlled devices are commonly called RC devices - RC stands for Radio Controlled. In 1937 the first radio controlled airplane was flown by Dr. William Good and his twin brother Walter. Dr. William was a specialist in radios and Walter made aeromodels, and they combined them to create the RC plane. Radio control had also been employed in WWII. In the 1960s, the availability of transistors revolutionized the circuits and made them more compact and light.

Principle of the modern RC toys:
In the mid to late 60's, a British company named Mardave, based in Leicester, began to produce the first commercially viable RC Cars. Their first cars were Nitro or gas powered cars sold in the local area in the early 70's. All such devices require a transmitter with controls, a throttle trigger and the wheels for turning. The receiver is placed in the body of the toy.

The models can be electric models as well as fuel models. The electric models work with electrical speed control, and the fuel control systems utilize the radio control mechanisms to regulate the fuel input and the such.

The radio controlled models can be toy grade or hobby grade. The toy grade devices are available in retail shops, and are available at a far lesser price. They are ready made assembled models, and usually utilize electric power. Hobby grade models are available at a greater cost but are more durable and serviceable. They usually require assembly, and most often run on gasoline or nitro.

These radio controlled cars are also used in races, and the cars or toys used in the races should confirm to the specifications. The RC devices can be varied, and include cars, boats, airplanes, helicopters and robotics. The small robots, cars and toys are usually for indoor play. Robotics combined with remote control technology is frequently seen in the international robotics contests held annually in Japan and other countries. Robotics are another hobby, which are even more interesting when combined with radio controlled or remote controlled toys.

The uses for radio control are limitless, and cars only scratch the surface. In reality, there are hundreds of different ways that you can enjoy radio controlled hobbies.

Maryjane Angelo

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

(2) Facebook

If you have created a new craft or developed a new hobby and are comfortable enough in your skills or expertise, perhaps it is time to market your skills. While for most of us marketing ourselves is uncomfortable, there are many ways to make it enjoyable instead of nerve-wracking.

How to Market Your New Craft or Hobby |Maryjane's Blog


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If you have created a new craft or developed a new hobby and are comfortable enough in your skills or expertise, perhaps it is time to market your skills. While for most of us marketing ourselves is uncomfortable, there are many ways to make it enjoyable instead of nerve-wracking.

Marketing yourself does not mean that you have to hire a great big billboard with a picture of yourself smiling. Marketing can be something as simple as letting someone know that you can perform that skill or create that project.

Perhaps you are a party planner that specializes in centerpieces, or maybe you can play a musical instrument like nobody’s business. The whole reason you dived into your new craft or hobby is because of your love of it. So do not be ashamed of your talent; share it with others. There are many ways that you can market yourself so that you can share that talent with everyone around you.

Offer Classes

If you are a crafty soul and specialize as in the example above in making exquisite centerpieces, why not teach a class or two? You never know - one or more of your students may decide that making it themselves is not coming out quite the way that they had hoped. They may wish to hire you for your expertise instead.

Local Newspapers

Many newspapers are looking for freelance writers to donate an article or two, especially when it comes to the how-to market. If you have a craft that you love, then it will be easy to write about it, and you do not need any formal writing training. Let the love of your craft shine through.

Ask the newspaper in return if you can post your business card and website at the bottom of the article. In this way, you get some free advertising and the newspaper gets a really great article on how to create a craft.

Start a Blog

If you do not have a blog about your craft, then starting one should be easy and fun. If you have to, take a blogging workshop and get started. The sooner you start to blog about what it is that you love, the more exposure you will get. In this way, you will have fun making new friends, meeting new people and networking all at the same time. It will not feel like marketing at all.

There is another way of marketing yourself and that is to join an internet program that offers tools for your success,the one I
personally use and highly recommend is 12Second Commute that includes a program product builder, a blog and much more and it's free to join you should certainly check it out by clicking on the banner below.


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Fundraisers

Fundraisers are an excellent way to network while having fun and doing good at the same time. If you have a craft or a basket you would like to donate, leave your business card with your website on it and you will be surprised how doing something good will return to you twofold.

These are just a few simple ways to market your hobby or craft without you feeling like a used car salesman.

Maryjane Angelo

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Visualize Your Way to Crafty |Maryjane's Blog


Ted's Woodworking Plans



Visualize Your Way to Crafty
If you are a creative person, chances are that you will find every excuse in the book not to pursue that creativity. For some reason, it seems that creative individuals sometimes find it difficult to admit and embrace their creative side.

There are several reasons why creative individuals do this:

* They feel as though it is not as important as their real life job
* They feel inadequate
* Fear of failure stops many individuals from pursuing creative endeavors
* Negative self-talk may minimize their desire 
* Excuses for too little time may squash creativity

If any of these sounds like you, do not worry because you are not alone. If you ask any creative person, finding their way to crafty did not happen overnight. However, there are tips and out of the box ways to unleash that crafty part of yourself.

Creative Visualization

If you find yourself dreaming about creating unique and expressive crafts, whether it is through painting or writing or even creating crafts for gift-giving, but also find yourself stuck, creative visualization can help.


Crafts For Fun And Profit
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One of the best ways to open yourself up creatively is to visualize your dream. If you dream of painting, picture yourself at the easel, 
meeting with new clients, and selling your artwork to a magazine.

Spend several minutes each and every day visualizing your dream coming true. Make sure to incorporate good feelings of excitement, joy, and fulfillment.

Eat, Drink, and Breathe Your Hobby into Life

If you have uncovered a desire to create a craft or take up a hobby that has been hidden for a long time, be sure to know that you have the ability to bring it to life. By speaking of your newfound desire, taking action plans, and focusing every day on your new endeavor, you will find that it will materialize faster.

Do something every day, whether it is to buy a new paintbrush, spend 15 minutes writing, or trying out a new craft. Be intentional about bringing this to life in your every day.

Declare It and Share It

Declaring aloud and to everyone who is within earshot that you finally intend to take up painting, crafting, or writing is the best way to motivate yourself. Making a declaration will always leave you in the position of having to explain, or make excuses, as to why you have not done what you said you would.
Below are some of the crafts that I learned how to create.There are many books to help you get started in arts and crafts that is how I started.

                                        


Your credibility is at stake and no one likes to have his or her credibility at stake.

By visualizing it every night, taking action steps during the day, and by declaring it and sharing it, you bring your craft to life.


Maryjane Angelo