Recreation – Page 22

A Look at Marble Chess Sets

Marble is considered to be one of the great building materials in existence. For many centuries it has been used in the construction of buildings ranging from monuments, to temples, to palaces. Marble is sturdy as well as beautiful and can be carved into nearly any shape. The artist’s imagination provides the only limitation when using marble as a medium for a chess set.

Marble chess sets are also among the most beautiful. They are expertly crafted because the pieces are carved individually and often with extremely fine detail. Marble chess sets can come in a variety of colors but the most common combination is black and white. Black and tan, green and white, and red and white are just three of the unique color combinations also available. The marble itself looks stunning with its rich color, fine grain, and beautiful natural swirls. Marble chess sets often look like miniature monuments.

Many people purchase marble chess sets as decoration. They buy the set in colors that compliment the rest of the room and leave the set displayed on a table or pedestal. This is a good option for people looking for a unique way to show their appreciation for chess while adding character and class to a room.

However, marble chess sets are not just for decoration. The pieces are sturdy and heavy enough that they will not break except under extreme conditions. Marble chess sets are weighted to insure that the pieces are well balanced and will not fall over. The marble chessboards are also heavy enough so they can be used outside.

Marble chess sets are beautiful as well as functional. They look like miniature sculptures and are designed for play as well as for their appearance. A fine marble chess set is perfect for both decoration and regular use.

A Look at Ivory Chess Sets

Ivory chess sets have a long and distinguished history, going back nearly to the advent of the game itself. Ivory has been used for many centuries in the construction of chess sets. Some of the earliest chess pieces still in existence are made of ivory.

The British Museum displays a few ivory chess pieces from the 7th and

8th centuries found in modern day Uzbekistan. These ancient chess pieces are in a different form than modern day chess pieces because they come from a time when chess was primarily an Islamic game. The pieces had a much different appearance because they reflected a different society. In the 19th century, Nathaniel Cook and John Jaques created the first set of Staunton chess pieces out of ivory. The Staunton style of chess pieces became the standard that is still in use today.

Ivory is not nearly as common today as it was hundreds of years ago when historical ivory chess sets were made. Now, ivory chess sets are usually only for collectors. Vintage ivory chess sets can sell for many thousands of dollars, while new ivory chess sets rarely sell for under $900. New Ivory chess sets are extremely rare because ivory is much harder to come by. Though ivory was once commonly used in the construction of many objects, it is now rarely used due to animal rights issues and the advent of plastic.

One main reason why ivory is rare now is because many people object to animals such as elephants and mammoths being killed in order to cultivate the ivory from their teeth and tusks. Imitation ivory is a good modern alternative because it is much less expensive and does not use any animal parts.

A Look at Bahamas Vacation Resorts

Bahamas vacation resorts are great places to look into if you are interested in finding many activities all in one spot. In addition to providing its guests with a place to sleep, resorts often feature such amenities as golf courses, tennis courts, restaurants, clubs, water activities, boat and other rentals, shopping, and more. In a resort, a traveler can find all of the resources for great activities day and night that they might go looking for in a city.

Consider the Sandals resort. Designed for couples only, it offers eight restaurants and even a candlelit dinner for two.

The Sandals offers a variety of water sports. Guests can try windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, and scuba diving from boats that leave their resort directly.. For those vacationers who prefer to stay on land, the resort features world-class golf courses, fitness centers, exercise classes, tennis courts, beach volleyball, basketball courts, and table tennis.

After a day out on the water, or out on the beach or the golf course, the resort likes to pamper its guests. Select suites offer the services of a personal butler to assist guests in unpacking and packing their clothes, drawing a scented bath with rose petals, and more. After dark, the night life is just getting started. Guests can enjoy nine bars and entertainment that includes live performances by acrobatic dancers and fire-eaters.

An enormous variety of activities such as these can be found at most resorts, including Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, the Abaco Beach Resort, and the Tiamo Resort. Of course, many resorts also sport casinos for those guests who would like to try their luck. Bahamas vacation resorts are the perfect place for travelers who want to experience everything the Bahamas has to offer, from one convenient and luxurious location.

A Guide to Discount RV Rentals

RVs are a unique way to travel with no hotels or crowded airports. It’s just you, America’s highways, and anything you want to see. Owning an RV, however, can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. A cheaper alternative is to rent an RV. This is even a cost-effective way to sample different RVs before purchasing one of your own.

But renting an RV can still be expensive. Many companies charge a flat day rate on top of fees for additional miles. Plus there’s insurance, supplies, and a security deposit that is often not refunded in full, if at all.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the cost of renting an RV. One of the simplest ways is to rent an RV during the off-season. The weather may not be as warm, but you will probably save hundreds of dollars. Rental agencies offer discounts up to 70-percent during the off-season. Plus, you will travel without a swarm of other tourists.

Many Web sites also provide discount RV rental coupons. Search around to find a deal.

The most popularly rented RV is the class-C motor home. It can sleep six to nine people and has a modern kitchen. If you can go for a smaller motor home, maybe even one that’s a little more rustic, you will be sure to save money. Don’t go for the TV and DVD player. Also, comparison-price with rental agencies outside major cities. You may get a cheaper price.

One simple way to get a discount RV rental is to buy your time in bulk. You get a cheaper rate when you travel for more days. Many RV rental agencies also charge less the sooner you book your RV. So plan ahead!

If you plan on renting an RV frequently or stopping at lots of campgrounds, it may be cost-effective to join a discount camping club like the Happy Camper RV Club that gives up to a 50-percent discount at many camping sites.

A Guide to Underwater Cameras

There are two types of underwater camera systems: an “amphibious” camera, which is a self-contained waterproof system, and an SLR land camera with waterproof housing. Amphibious systems are small, compact, and easy to travel with, while SLRs offer more advanced features, such as auto-focus, advanced exposure control, and through-the-lens viewing.

The “amphibious” cameras are probably best for those of you who want a simple, easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera. Amphibious systems usually have a built-in lens and they will take pictures on land as well as underwater. They also have an automatic film load and advance and are generally compact, lightweight, and rugged.

If you are a more serious photographer and want the advantages of a single-lens reflex camera you will probably be happier with a land camera in waterproof underwater housing.

As a new underwater photographer you need to know the difference between taking pictures on land and underwater. The difference is what you are shooting through to take the picture. Air is transparent, whereas water is not. Light does not travel in a straight path underwater like it does in air. Water is denser and it includes particles of sand, plankton, and other debris which scatter, reflect, and absorb light.

You should know that all your underwater equipment needs and requires special care. Salt, sun, dirt and improper storage can damage a camera. Even though all your new stuff is made from rugged materials built for underwater use, it still needs to be rinsed in fresh water after every use. Saltwater should never be allowed to dry on the joints of the controls and metal fittings. Salt is your system’s number one enemy. Do not rinse with a hose. The high pressure may actually force salt crystals and sand into crevices. Use only soft lens tissues or photographic lens cloths on the lenses.

The most important thing you need to know about your underwater camera care is how to clean and lubricate the O-ring after every use. The O-Ring creates a watertight seal to protect your equipment from water, and so it is very important. The seal must be flawless— with no scratches, cuts, sand, hair – nothing on its surface. If it is not, the underwater photo equipment will be ruined. Water must be kept out! When in doubt about the sealing capability of an O-ring, always throw it out and replace with a new one.

Both your camera and your flash will need a watertight housing. You can use a flash fill-in to brighten underwater subjects at close range. Even with large flash units, though, light does not extend beyond 12 feet. The maximum effective distance of most flashes is four to five feet. Subjects farther away will not appear very colorful. Don’t forget you need to wait for your flash to recycle.

Assess conditions underwater before you dive and set aperture and shutter speed before entering the water.

The best time to take pictures without using a flashgun is between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is overhead. To capture sunrays with the subject in silhouette, face the sun. Close-up shots of fish are best taken at night–the fish are sleepy and not as active

Shallow water near steep rocky shorelines, coral reefs and atolls, and areas near tidal streams are great places to photograph sea-life.

A Guide to Triathlon Wet Suits

Triathlon wet suits are designed with state-of-the-art materials to help athletes get in and out of the water quickly, efficiently and of course, to keep the wearer warm. Triathlon wet suits are much more than the normal wet suit employed by divers simply to slow heat loss underwater and keep warm. Designed specifically for athletic competition, their first priority is to keep a competitive swimmer on top of the water, reducing drag and stalling muscle fatigue, enabling the swimmer to race faster and for longer periods of time.

Furthermore, the rubber used on the outside of the wet suit is of the slickest and most slippery materials possible to emulate the scales of a fish as closely as possible. The manufacturing technology employed in creating these wet suits has been a bone of contention between athletes and committee members because they reduce the difference between weaker swimmers and stronger swimmers, not only in speed, but also in all-around efficiency.

Because the triathlon wet suit enables a competitor to spend less energy on the first leg of the competition, he or she is able to reserve energy for the other two legs of the process. This can be a huge edge over the rest of the field, assuming of course, that you are not all wearing the same suits.

To begin with, the rubber used in most of these wet suits, regardless of the brand name featured, comes from one supplier – the world-famous, Japanese rubber manufacturer, Yamamoto. There is an important difference in the thickness of the rubber used in each and every different brand name of wet suit produced. Some manufacturers opt for the 2mm thickness, going towards producing a suit that weighs less and subsequently feels lighter to the user and is more flexible.

Other manufacturers go with the thicker rubber, up to 5mm thick, following the rule of thumb that shows that the thicker the rubber used, the more buoyant the suit will be and ultimately, even though it weighs more, will save the user more energy. In the end, it’s the swimmer himself who must decide which option best suits his style.

A Guide to Surfing Wet Suits

Surfing wetsuits are a breed unto themselves. To begin with, there are cool, surfer-dude designations used to describe the different styles of surfing wet suits.

The first is the spring suit which has short legs and short arms and is used to keep the upper body warm and has a thickness of materials of about 2mm. Short Johns are like spring suits but without the sleeves and are also usually 2mm thick. Long Johns have full-length legs and are mostly about 2mm thick. Full Suits are self-explanatory, the most commonly used — especially in colder waters — whose thickness is determined by the temperature of the water the surfer usually finds himself in.

Another difference in surfing wet suits is that many have two layers of material and the area under the arms is thinner than the rest allowing for easier arm movements critical to performing well while surfing. Furthermore, it is common for surfers to add an additional spandex suit underneath their wetsuits if they venture into cooler waters.

Surfing wet suits need to be more flexible in the upper torso and shoulder areas than diving wet suits to make the balancing and control contortions of the surfer easier. Especially sensitive are the knee areas as the surfer is constantly shifting his weight to maintain his balance.

Unless the knee areas move easily and don’t stretch during this movement they will inhibit the surfer and cause the suit to crack with wear at the knees over time. Because of the extreme physicality involved with the sport of surfing, the entire suit has to be manufactured with ease of movement and durability at its core.

Unlike other wetsuits, surfing wet suits don’t really care about thermal heat loss as much as diving suits. And because of the movement capability in the suit, gender specific manufacture is mandatory.

A Guide to Push Scooters

Scooters were first known as a child’s stand-up vehicle that dates back to before 1920. Although scooters were manufactured, the majority of older children fashioned their own out of miscellaneous used parts. Remember the Little Rascal movies with scooters made out of produce crates? Basically, push scooters are similar to skateboards with handle bars. It’s a great way to get around quickly with little effort for children or adults.

Push scooters, sometimes called kick scooters are operated by standing on the foot board and pushing off with one foot, while the operator holds on to a small handlebar. Since the push scooter is not operated by a motor, there is little chance for the user to get hurt from going at a high speed, however the same precautions taken and protective gear that is worn by roller skaters and skate boarders, should apply to the operator of the push scooter.

Modern push scooters are manufactured from lightweight metal and feature smoothly operating wheels. Competition among scooter manufacturers has led to unique design features such as a handle bar that folds flat. Competitive pricing allows for many models to be found for as little as $10. Modern push scooters like the pre-depression era scooters are primarily for recreational use or transportation over short distances in good weather conditions.

Scooters can easily be found in the retail market; however not all retailers may carry all styles. Major discount or department stores may only carry a couple of models that they believe will be the most popular among their shoppers. Any style or brand of scooter can be purchased online for retail pricing. The current market demand for scooters makes it hard to find them at wholesale prices for a single purchase, but there are many opportunities for an individual to become a scooter dealer.

A Guide To Online Casino Gambling

Casino games have been enjoyed by people across the globe. You could find enthusiasts huddled aboard steam ships and in sophisticated clubs. In the new millennium the gambling champions are inclined towards playing their favorite games online. Online casinos are cashing on the thrill experienced by people when they play with a virtual player.

Some research is advised, to choose the casino and the type of software it uses before you jump in the online gambling arena. Playtech, RTG and Odds On are the few popular casinos preferred for their player-friendly nature and speedy customer service. Casino services have a good bonus structure and an excellent loyalty program. The web continuously offers new gaming sites, but for new entrants it is always better to start out with established brands. Once you are comfortable and know your way around these sites you can slowly start experimenting and trying new online casinos.

Online casinos like Microgaming Casinos offer a vast range of games for the players. They are unique in their ability to create the pulsating realistic atmosphere of a real casino. Close on the heels is the Playtech software, which is famous for its graphic designs, excellent new games and huge bonuses. Cryptologic casino has a large fan following due to its ability to create innovative games which are difficult to find at any other online gaming site.

Themed casinos are a rage with people looking for some variety, and they are known for their ability to make their customers feel special. RTG, or real time casinos, give bonuses to both new and loyal players. The games are easy to download and it was one of the first to offer multi hands playing. With so many options to choose from you can take your pick and join the thousands of gaming enthusiasts online.

A Guide to Motor Scooters

Scooters were first known as a child’s push vehicle that dates back to before 1920. Advancements in technology led to the development of small engines, which, when added to the traditional scooter provided for a practical and affordable means of transportation. Motor scooters have been a favorite in European countries for decades. The low-power vehicle wasn’t too attractive to the power-hungry American market until recently. Sleek styling of the modern scooter, combined with the product being seen in a variety of films has opened the door to the American urban market.

Modern motor scooters feature either a small gasoline engine or an electric motor, depending upon the vehicle’s design. Modern scooters feature electric and gas motorized models. Competition among scooter manufacturers and continuing sales has led to unique design features, such as miniature low-powered motorcycles. Motorized scooters, whether the rider is to sit or stand, are considered low-power motor vehicles by many municipalities and are subject to state and local regulations. Some scooters meet Department of Transportation regulations for operation on streets and roadways while others are prohibited from being on the streets. Any time a motorized vehicle is introduced into traffic areas, appropriate cautionary measures must be taken and proper safety gear must be worn.

Scooters can be easily found in the retail market, however not all retailers may carry all styles. Major discount or department stores may only carry a couple of models that they believe will be the most popular among their shoppers. A scooter store could specialize in a variety of recreational scooters, while another store will specialize in the mobility scooters. Retailers also offer scooter accessories to enhance the experience as well as replacement parts and service. Any style of scooter can be purchased online for retail pricing. The current market demand for scooters makes it hard to find them at wholesale prices for a single purchase, but there are many opportunities for an individual to become a scooter dealer.