California Redwood Birding Trail

Archive for October, 2011

The first pair of shoes were invented entirely for protecting feet. The human body as a whole actually is delicate especially the part of feet. As a matter of fact, many people in old times could not wear shoes due to the high manufacturing costs, but various styles of shoes have been flooded into the markets since the mass production of footwear came into being. Long time ago, there was no obvious differences between male and female footwear. Later ladies shoe was added a high heel at the back of the shoe. It is interesting that during a long period, not only women but also men in many centuries wore high heels. For instance, kings wore high heels for raising their status.

The history of shoes is splendid. According to some records about Egyptian civilization, the footwear can date back to around 5,000 years ago. Some archaeologists believe that in Mesopotamia, between 1600 to 1200 BC, people living in the mountains and hills wore a kind of special soft shoes to protect their feet while walking on rocked ground. Like something used to cover the body, the foot covering then were made of wraparound leather, which is similar to moccasins.

By middle age, As Europe had gained in wealth and power, fancy shoes became the status symbols. With long and pointed shapes, shoes often tended to have very ridiculous proportions. And later the modern shoe, with a sewn-on sole, was devised eventually. At the beginning of the 17th century, more leather shoes had a sewn-on sole. Till around 1800,shoes were called “straights” because they were designed without any differentiation for the left or right foot.

Though changes are natural phenomenon in the world of fashion yet there are some constants that will always remain. It should not be forgotten that emo fashion has evolved from an anti-fashion, anti-consumerist subculture.

Let us explore the different items of emo fashion beginning with shirt. Emo T-shirt should be tight fitting and be at least 10 years old, if not older. A funny/ironic slogan is must be present on the shirt. Vintage t-shirts are probably the most recognizable “emo” fashion item around, especially on eBay that perfectly fits the purpose of an emo-T shirt.

“Ringer” shirt that was quite popular in the late 70s has made a big come back in the past couple of years. Jerseys are often seen as the lose cousin of “Ringer”. They are generally sports-related. Stripped Polo shirt is considered to be a universal clothing item, because it can be worn to an emo concert, to church, or even out on a date. Another most amazing selection for the emo guys will be IZOD striped polo. Western shirts with fancy embroidery is sure to rule the scene. Emo guys also prefer western shirt with crisscross design. During winter season there are several options to continue the fashion with emo warm garments. A jacket with a removable liner and the hooded sweatshirt, or “hoodie” is ideal.

Emo guys never go for shorts even in the hottest weather. They prefer pants of Ben Davis and Dickies made famous by the band Emo Summer. Head accessories are also an important part of emo fashion. You can find numerous classic trucker mesh cap with insane slogans, beer logos, or even plain old blank ones or you can also go for a nice warm beanie. Not to be missed out another important part of your accessory and that is your feet. The Converse Chuck Taylor shoes are classic alternate-wear that continued for many generations and genres. But due to some management problem the company went bankrupt. If you are sick of having the same shoes then hook up with a pair of 70s/80s athletic shoes like the Nike, Reebok, Saucony, New Balance and Adidas. You can find numerous knockoffs that are usually all man made, and there is no involvement of animal products.

A good collection of emo fashion is non-gender specific. Males and females can be found wearing any of the clothing. There are some fashion trends that are specifically emo girl or emo boy related but emo guys like to experiments with their self that is different from normal.

Not only do the ink from a pen and the type of paper provide clues to forensic document analysts about the origin of a questionable document, many different kinds of mechanical devices do also. Copiers, printers, and typewriters many times leave distinctive markings on the typed or copied document. These markings may show that a particular piece of paper has been altered. Such alterations can help forensic document examiners determine exactly which machine created the questioned document.

In this article, I will attempt to explain what forensic document analysts look for when they come across a printed document that is used in the commission of a crime.

If they are not using pen or pencil and paper, perpetrators often use typewriters to write letters of intimidation or ransom notes. The offenders frequently have the false sense of security that committing such an act makes the letter or note untraceable. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Whenever a typewriter is used to create a questionable document, the forensic document analyst tries to:

• Find out the make and model of the typewriter
• Compare the note with a suspect typewriter

Determining the make and model of a typewriter means that the forensic document analyst must have access to a list of typefaces used in different models of new and old typewriters. Many typewriter manufacturers use either pica or elite typefaces. However, the size, shape, and style of the letter are different, making the analyst’s job difficult. After careful examination of a typed document, the analyst may be able to find out the make and model of the typewriter that created it. Doing so may help shorten the list of exact machines that created the document. On the downside, today’s printers may use daisy-wheel, ink-jet, dot-matrix, or laser printing technologies. These printers vary slightly such that document analysts many times can not discern one from another.

To find out whether a particular typewriting machine created a questionable document, forensic document analysts search for unique characteristics that can involve misaligned or damaged letters, inconsistent spacing before or after certain letters, and inconsistencies in the pressure applied to the page by some letters. For instance, particular letters can have grooves or spurs that are imprinted on a piece of paper. These letters can also slant toward one side or print slightly higher or lower than the rest of the letters on the page. Such abnormalities can be compared to a sample page taken from a suspect typewriter and thus provide powerful individualizing qualities that are unique only to that typewriter.

To make comparisons between a questioned document and a particular typewriter, the forensic document analyst types up a comparison document taken from the suspect typewriter. While doing this, the analyst uses a ribbon that is similar in type and condition to the one used to create the original document. The reason for this is that a worn ribbon will show minor abnormalities in the typeface. On the other hand, a brand new ribbon containing fresh ink may hide them.

Typewriting machines that use ribbons can help the forensic document analyst match a particular typewriter to the document in question. If a typewriting machine uses a single-pass ribbon, forensic scientists can simply read the message from the ribbon itself provided that the ribbon is still in the machine. Even if the ribbon has been used for several passes, criminal investigators can still retrieve parts of the message from the ribbon.

Suppose a crook used the original typewriter to include an extra line or a paragraph to a document? How does the forensic document examiner determine that his occurred? If the typeface is identical in both the original text and the added-on text, it is difficult for the examiner to determine if an alteration occurred. However, when the paper is inserted back into a typewriter for the second time, the alignment many times is off. Taking advantage of this fact, the examiner puts a specially made glass plate with an etched grid pattern on top of the page. By doing so, he can easily view any inconsistencies in the alignment of the added lines and paragraphs.

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My last article, which received tremendous interest, was on the History of Audio Recording. I am grateful to all of you that read it and made it a great success. This article is no less important. We certainly can’t discuss the History of Audio Recording without also discussing the History of the Microphone. Neither can exist without the other. Together, let’s explore the birth and development of this incredible invention.

A microphone is, simply stated, a device that captures “waves” in the air created by the voice or any other noise transmitter and translates those waves into electrical signals. Another way to say it is to convert acoustic power into electrical power. After the sound waves are converted into electrical signals, to hear them again in an acoustic setting, they must be converted back to acoustic power through some kind of loudspeaker. It is amazing to think with all the technological advancements in the last 40 years, we still use this simple process on our stereo, computer or ipod.

Have you attended a concert lately? The relatively weak signal from a voice or musical instrument is created, changed into electrical energy by some sort of microphone, boosted through a series of power amplifiers and, finally, converted back to acoustic energy through loudspeakers. It is easy to sit, enjoy the music, and forget to be thankful for this amazing power that was created in our universe which we enjoy our entire day.

Let’s meet some of the visionary people who discovered and developed the universal principles that created a microphone.

Johann Phillip Reis (1834-1874)

This German physicist designed a “sound transmitter” that employed the use of a metallic strip that rested on a membrane with a metal point contact that would complete a circuit as the membrane vibrated. His basic belief that, as the membrane responded to the increase and decrease of acoustic energy and bounced the metal point up and down with more intensity and increased the amplitude of electrical current, was brilliant. Unfortunately, this early effort was not developed enough to produce speech that could be understood.

Elisha Gray (1835-1901)

This American inventor would one day become one of the founders of the Western Electric Company. Gray’s design was called a “liquid Transmitter”. The “liquid” was an “acidic” solution. This was an incredible innovation. A diaphragm was attached to a movable electrically conductive rod that was immersed in the acidic solution. A second rod was fixed. With a battery attached, a circuit could be completed between the two rods. Acoustic vibrations traveling through the diaphragm caused the distance between the two rods to vary. The result was that this variance produced corresponding changes in electrical resistance in the acidic cell, changing the levels of current. These variations could be translated to a week audible sound.

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)

Famous for his development of the telephone, he employed a similar device as Gray to produce the first transmission of intelligible speech over his primitive telephone. Most of us have heard of the famous words of Bell to his assistant, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.” The true inventor of the telephone, though, became a legal dispute between Bell and Gray. The courts remained neutral regarding their claims due to the overall poor quality of these early devices.

David Edward Hughes(1831-1900)

While Bell and Gray slugged it out in the courts, Hughes was diligently working to produce the first working microphone. Already a pioneer and patent holder in the telegraph industry by 1855, he designed a new kind of microphone by 1878. It was a completely different design that Bell and Gray. It incorporated the use of carbon granules loosely packed into an enclosed space. When the acoustical pressure varied as they traveled through the diaphragm, the electrical resistance that traveled through the carbon granules changed proportionally. The resulting sound was noisy and full of distortion but it was a significant step forward. Since early reports in the newspaper compared his device with a microscope, ” it acts for the ear much in the same way that the microscope serves the eye,” Hughes coined the current name “microphone” to his invention.

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

Edison took Hughes design and made it simple, cheap to manufacture, efficient and durable. He created a cavity filled with granules or carbonized anthracite coal packed between two electrodes, one of which was attached to a thin iron diaphragm. His refinements became the basis for all the telephone transmitters used in most of the telephones for the last century. Further, Bell Telephone and Bell laboratories are still incredible companies that continue to produce new communication technologies.

With the invention of the radio, new broadcasting microphones, like the Ribbon Microphone in 1942, were invented. The Ribbon Microphone originally employed the use of an aluminum ribbon that was placed between two poles of a magnet to generate voltages by electromagnetic induction. As the sound wave caused the ribbon to move, the induced current in the ribbon was proportional to the particle velocity in the sound wave. Ribbon microphones have historically been delicate and expensive. Today’s modern materials make present-day ribbon microphones durable enough for loud rock music and stage use.

An incredible step forward in microphone development occurred in 1964. Bell Laboratories researchers James West and Gerhard Sessler created the electroacoustic transducer, an Electret Microphone. The Electret Microphone was a type of Condenser Microphone that offered greater reliability, higher precision, lower cost, and a smaller size. It revolutionized the microphone industry with almost one billion manufactured each year. Further, during the 1970′s, dynamic and condenser microphones were developed, allowing for a lower sound level sensitivity and a clearer sound recording.

Currently, microphones are so much a part of our daily life that we take them for granted. After writing this article, I have decided to put them on my list of things to be grateful for. Since I am a pilot, my safety is partially dependent on my being able to communicate on my radio. Guess what I use to talk on my headset? You guessed it, a microphone!

As for the future, many new and incredible innovations are being explored.

1) Laser Velocity Transducers

2) Optical Microphones

3) Direct Digital Output

4) Force Feedback technologies that are used in conjunction with an Optical Microphone

You can click on the “quality_microphones” link below at my web site to see some of the latest microphones.

I hope that you have learned some important information about Microphones. As innovation continues at a rapid rate, the ones we use today may become a future exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution. Until then, they will continue to be an invention that taps into a universal principle that improves our lives.

The truth is, the universe is filled with probably billions of incredible things that we have just not discovered. As in the past, present and will be in the future, those that possess the faith and perseverance to tap into the universal mind are those that will discover and share the secrets of the universe with all of us.

Maybe you are that person!

See you next time!

Jonathan Morgan Jenkins

Check out my website opportunities!

http://www.vocaltrainingwarrior.com/quality_microphones
http://www.vocaltrainingwarrior.com/public_speakers_audio_equipment
http://www.vocaltrainingwarrior.com/about_me

Vocal Training Warrior: Vocal Training, Voice Lessons, Singers Voice Lessons, Speakers Vocal Training, Actors Vocal Training, Home Recording Studios, Quality Microphones, Podcasting, Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises, Clear Diction Exercises, Vocal Training Videos, Vocal Training E-books.

Golden Ribbon Gifts has made available a corporate gift basket and other corporate gifts to suit your business requirements.

Golden Ribbon Gifts is a major “online corporate gifts” supplier with hundreds of corporate gift ideas from the sizeable to petite. Therefore, whether you are rewarding outstanding team effort or individual excellence, Golden Ribbon Gifts has made available a corporate gift basket and other corporate gifts to suit your business requirements. And, should you need more than one, Golden Ribbon Gifts has a plethora of corporate gifts on hand and is able to cater these specifically to your needs.

Imagine offering a half-day fishing expedition or shopping tour to your high achieving staff, so that they feel appreciated for their efforts and work even harder for the next incentive. Or for the more humble, a simple yet elegant pen monogrammed with your company logo that will serve as a constant reminder of your appreciation. Whether large or small, Golden Ribbon Gifts has all of your corporate gifts and corporate gift ideas covered 365 days of the year.

Golden Ribbon Gifts is a major “online corporate gifts” supplier with hundreds of corporate gift ideas from the sizeable to petite. Therefore, whether you are rewarding outstanding team effort or individual excellence, Golden Ribbon Gifts has made available a corporate gift basket and other corporate gifts to suit your business requirements. And, should you need more than one, Golden Ribbon Gifts has a plethora of corporate gifts on hand and is able to cater these specifically to your needs.

Imagine offering a half-day fishing expedition or shopping tour to your high achieving staff, so that they feel appreciated for their efforts and work even harder for the next incentive. Or for the more humble, a simple yet elegant pen monogrammed with your company logo that will serve as a constant reminder of your appreciation. Whether large or small, Golden Ribbon Gifts has all of your corporate gifts and corporate gift ideas covered 365 days of the year.

Specializing in online corporate gifts, gourmet gift hampers, and lifestyle experiences, our comprehensive range of gifts and services cater for all tastes and occasions, whether they are for groups or individuals; business or personal.

There are some brides that do not like the idea of giving gifts to her guests. However, it is a nice gesture as a thank you for attending your very special day.

These wedding favors can be stylish, fun and practical. The practical ones are especially good. Here are 15 excellent suggestions for fun and creative wedding favors.

1. Divinity fudge is delicious inexpensive wedding favor. You can wrap it up in white tulle and tie with a white ribbon. Add a tag with a little message such as “Love is divine”. Keep in mind that divinity does not come out well in high humidity.

2. Standard candles are nice too for low-cost wedding favors. Wrap in tulle, tie with ribbon and stick a small flower in the ribbon.

3. Tree seedlings, like citrus or any other kind of tree, are something everybody will appreciate. People will always think of your wedding with this creative wedding favor idea. You should wrap the plastic pot to camouflage.

4. Flower seedlings or seed packets make a great wedding favors. You can wrap in any style that is suitable for your wedding. Tie with ribbon, paper ribbon or raffia.

5. Use wire and beads to make wine glass markers. You can get instructions at the craft store. One is enough for a wedding favor. Use a small box for package and tie with ribbon.

6. Sachets made from lavender. Make a small bag from lace and sew up three sides. Put the lavender in and sew up fourth side. Use a small silk flower for attachment. Potpourris in drawstring bags made of tulle or lace are beautiful and smell good too.

7. Almost all people love herbs. Purchase small ones and put plastic container right into a small terracotta pot. To camouflage the plastic planter you should put some moss around the top. Add in a nice tag with instructions for care and stick on to a ribbon tied around the pot.

8. A strawberry plant is one more creative wedding favor idea. It can be arranged in the same way as an herb. Anything of this nature that is in season is good choice.

9. Candies, like M&Ms, Kisses or Hugs, mints, a nice piece of chocolate, look excellent in a cupcake liner. You can get them in different sizes and colors.

10. Get M and M’s in your wedding colors, put them in plastic bags and tie a ribbon on them.

11. If you plan an outdoor wedding, think about buying umbrellas for a dollar a piece. You can wrap them in ribbons with your colors. This is for a smaller wedding party only, but can be a fantastic gift to help protect guests from bad weather or the sun.

12. Purchase plain chocolate bars in bulk or get the miniature version. Print out new labels that you personalize for yourself and wrap them around the bars.

13. Burn your own CD with your favorite songs. You can include the First Dance song, the cake-cutting song, etc. You should print CD covers with your picture on it. A good idea is to include your favorite songs on CD – not just the wedding ones!

14. If your wedding will happen on Christmas, give each guest a Christmas ornament. Take a plain ball type ornament and use a paint pen to personalize with your name and the wedding date.

15. Do you and your intended share a love of something special? Are you big Nascar fan or love to play golf? Gear your wedding favors around these characteristics.

To learn how to have the wedding that you have always dreamed of click here: wedding planning.