15 Orchid Growing Tips for Experienced Growers March 30, 2007

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15 Orchid growing tips for experienced growers

Tip #1 Use chameleons and tree frogs as insect pest eaters. 

  Those are great additions for your greenhouse, they are ecologically friendly and the insects never get a chance to reproduce any more.  Just let them wonder freely in the orchid greenhouse.

ü      Don’t touch them too much though, they don’t like it.

ü      Mist the orchids from water, as chameleons and tree frogs cannot lap up water from a dish.

Tip #2 Always use two labels for the orchids

   Sometimes, the little helpers might move them around and you might get a little confused about the names of the orchids.  You can bury one label at the base of the planning pot when you repot the orchid or on the side of the pot, underneath the potting compost.

Tip #3 Keep your instruments away from children

   We all can get caught up in using all kinds of instruments when working with our orchids.  One thing you should consider though: if you have children, they might be attracted by the tools or solutions you work with and this can be a dangerous situation.  Therefore, always check if the tools are placed well in a place where the children have no access (all bleaching solutions, sharp cutting tools or anything that can be dangerous to them).  This way, you will be able to share your passion to your children and keep them safe at he same time.

Tip #4 Quarantine your new orchids

   When purchasing a new orchid, place it in a separate area from the other orchids, so you can check it thoroughly and observe it for few weeks. 

§         Make sure the place has enough light and a good level of humidity.

§         Treat the new orchid with preventative insecticide solution in order to make sure no insect pests are introduced in the orchid garden along with the new plant.

Tip #5 Buy some colored electrical tape

   This is a great way to label your orchids, according to their special needs.  For example you could use a blue electrical tape for marking the orchids that need extra watering, yellow for the ones that should be placed in a bright light and red for the orchids that were determined to have an incipient scale infestation.  Well, you will see how easy is to identify your orchids, especially if you have a large number of specimens. 

Tip #6 Stakes 

   There are a variety of stakes that you can buy for your orchids.  Here are 2 great ideas of what you can use as a stake, and they are reliable and have a natural look:

-          Thin branches taken from a tree are great for maintaining a natural aspect f the inflorescence of your orchid and you can cut it in the desired length.

-          You can purchase from the grocery store bamboo shish-kabob skewers.  They have a sharpened end, and the 10” length makes them ideal for large orchid that need support.

Tip #7 Easy inventory with colored plant clips

   Plant clips are essential for you to attach the orchids to the stake for keeping them upright and to display their blooming beautifully.   You can find plant clips in many funny shapes and colors, like butterflies or bees, but the fact is you can use them smartly for another thing too.  You can use the plant clip in order to indicate the color of the flower your orchid will grow. 

§         Attach the plant clips on the rim of the pot or on the stake.

§         Red plant clip means that your orchid will grow a red flower.

§         This is a good method for you to manage easier the monthly inventory, without mentioning that it looks great!

Tip #8 Use hanging baskets for your Dendrobium orchids

   Dendrobium orchids are a tall orchid species.  It is recommended to plant them in small pots, but they grow kid of heavy in time.  You could try to plant them in wooden orchid baskets; this will remove the possibility that the orchid might fall over and the staking problem as well. 

§         Find a nice place to hang it and voila, problem solved!

 Tip #9 Use your own colored code when it comes to spray bottles

   We know that sometimes working with all kind of spray bottles might be kind of confusing.  You have one with plain water, one for fungicide, one for insecticide, bleach and so on…

    Well here is a nice idea that will help you work great with your spray bottles, without fearing that you might spray the wrong thing on the orchids in a moment of distraction.  You can purchase from a garden centre spray bottles with different colors and you can use your own color code for distinguishing what the bottles contain: blue for water or red for insecticide. 

Tip #10 Use biodegradable insect killer

   This is a great formula for creating your own biodegradable insecticide, effective for any kind of garden, not only for orchid growers.  Ingredients:

§         Regular spray bottle;

§         Water;

§         ¼ cup of liquid dish soap;

§         Use 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap for a gallon of water.

   This formula will cover the breathing pores of the insects and kill it.

Tip #11  Use bamboo skewers for determining the watering level of the medium

   You can successfully use bamboo skewers from the grocery store to determine either the orchid needs watering or not.  If the skewer is longer than the depth of the potting medium, it’s great.

§         Insert the bamboo skewer in the medium.

§         When you consider that it is the time for watering the orchid, take out ht skewer from the medium.  If the bamboo skewer is dry, than it’s the right time to water your orchid.

§         If the skewer is wet, you should wait until it will be dry.

Tip #12 Growing Phragmipedium Hybrids

   Phrags don’t have a good reaction if they become dry and you will have to maintain the potting compost moist all the time.  You can do that if you will follow our advice:

§         Set the pot in a dish filled with water;

§         The watering should follow the normal schedule;

§         Remove the water from the dish and add fresh water once a week, in order to avoid salt buildup.

Tip #13 Water the orchids with room-temperature water

   This is a caution measure taken in order to avoid any shock to the orchids.  It is recommended to use room temperature water, especially if you grow your orchids outdoors or in greenhouses during the cold season. 

§         If the water is too cold, it might cause the appearance of brown spots on the leaves of your orchids.

§         Consider the fact that those spots cannot be removed.

§         All you have to do is prepare the water the night before watering if you intend to water the orchid in the morning.  Let the water sit.

Tip #14 Find out all you need to know about an orchid before actually purchasing one

   You must read and surf the Internet before you pay a lot of money on an orchid genera that might not even survive your conditions.  There are so many types of orchids that it would be better to check which one can adapt to your growing conditions before you buy it.  Make sure you know the difference between the types of orchids you want to buy and see which one could grow nicely in your greenhouse.

Tip #15 Use Diatomaceous Earth (DE) for prevention of pest infestation

   DE is first of all ecologically safe for the environment, and insects are unable to develop a resistance to it.  It destroys mainly slugs and snails, but is very effective with insects as well.  It is composed from broken silica cell walls of micro algae, and kills the insects by penetrating their hard exoskeleton and causing them a huge loss of internal fluids.                

5 Great Ideas for Promotional Trade Show Items Perfect for a Small Budget March 30, 2007

5 Great Ideas For Promotional Trade Show Items Perfect For A Small Budget 

   The most efficient secret to promote the image of a business is to know how to choose the best place in order to promote it.  Moreover, what can be better than participating on a trade show or on an exhibition?  It is the best way for your customers to be accustomed with the name of your business and your products or services and especially to meet the competition.  Using a trade show as a marketing tool for promoting your business is a usual thing for big companies and not only.  The results are always very satisfying and can be noticed in a short time, due to exposing your business and your products to a large volume of customers and visitors.   A part of your success in attending a trade show comes from the trade show items or giveaway gifts as we all name them.  The trade shows items represent a strong opportunity to promote your brand essence, your new products or existing products, and they can create powerful leads to your business increasing the sales, if they are well chosen though.    

   By offering trade show items, you create a direct contact for your customers with your products: they can try them for real, because seeing is believing.  You do not need a huge budget to get the right trade show items for your business.  Sometimes, expensive trade show items will not generate lasting impressions so, if you have a little creativity, you can obtain a great effect on your customers with some unique items connected with your business.   Remember that you can obtain the maximum effect from your trade show items even if they are the result of a tight budget, if you take in consideration that the customers like functional gifts, gifts that they can use on a daily basis, not something “gimmicky”, that they will probably trough it and forget about it. 

    Here are a few tips on what trade show items you can offer your customers in order to obtain the communication with your customers, send your business’ message and make them aware of the products/services that you can offer for improving their lives.     The first tip refers to printing a brochure filled with practical ideas strictly related to your business and your product.  It has a specific purpose and can create a connection between your customer’s needs and the products/services that your business can supply.   Discount coupons can offer price reductions to your customers for certain items and will eventually make them come to you and profit by this opportunity.  We all know the people like to bargain, so this is a great way to introduce a new product or to increase the sales for existing products.   Another great idea for some cheap but effective trade show items are premiums and free offers. This is about a chain of good deals as in a free offer of a hair shampoo for the purchase of a hair conditioner and a free conditioner for the purchase of a hair dye.

  People love those kinds of things and you can increase your sales.   If you want to present a new product I a trade show, you can choose to offer as a trade shoe item free samples of your products.  This way, you can persuade people to try out your new product, have an immediate feedback and all at a low cost per unit.  You can also offer CD’s with a multimedia presentation of your products or services.   Imprinted trade show items can be a low budget strategy if you will take in consideration some aspects: they must motivate the customers to learn more about your product or company and you should choose quality over quantity.

  Those items must be carefully offered after you have established which of the visitors can qualify for a trade show item.  Do not make the mistake of offering your giveaway gifts to anyone.  If you give the items to visitors, which attended demonstrations, contests or useful conversations you will increase the value of your trade show items and assure yourself that they had the impact that you planned from the beginning.    In conclusion, whether you choose to give your customers expensive trade show items or items on a budget, using them in a trade show can bring you the necessary support for the quality of your product as well as the leveling of your market position on a long-term success.        

Ethnographical study – Meeting the future: The elders and their relationship with the information technology March 21, 2007

Ethnographical StudyMeeting the Future: The Elders and Their Relationship with the Information Technology

Abstract 

   All the demographical studies made in the last years clearly indicate that the world is passing through a period of deep demographical shift, where the majority of the population is relatively young, but an important percentage, about 10%, is represented by people aged over 60.                                                

  An important organizational resource that can provide a competitive advantage in the field of information technology is knowledge.  The role that assistive technology plays in the life of the elders over 60 can be essential for them in order to improve their life and social communication level in the modern world.  We can observe the great incentive to give a helping hand to elders in order for them to be independent in their homes.    

   The motif is that the aggressive wave of the technology created a favorable background for the seniors to back off, feeling isolated or alienated.  Regarding this issue, there are numerous efforts in adapting the informational technology for all citizens, no matter their cultural or educational background, disabilities or requirements.  The assistive technology meant a huge help for the senior category of people, beginning a true technological battle with the disabilities that can occur at ages over 60, especially the age-related memory –loss.

  Our study presents how the elder population over 60 can benefit from the relationship with the concept of assistive technology, by combining the concepts of learning society with the information technology.  The study focuses on the reproduction and the research of elder’s everyday life, by underlining their needs, the social structures they are involved in and their contact with the modern technology. 

  The objective was to find out the needs of elder people over 60 years and in what manner they can be satisfied by the products of the information technology, with a focus on the product called Medicine Reminder.   

   Some of the products produced by the informational technology companies are actually re-imagined existing technologies: devices that help the blind men cross, walkers that come when they are called or pills boxes with an alarm.  As long as those products come in familiar packages, and are easy to use, they will be easily accepted by the elders. They help the senior persons live a quality life, independent and free of worries.

  For example, one simple device is a modified alarm clock, that helps seniors to remember eating or taking their medicine.  The auto-minder or the medicine reminder clock as they call it, does clearly more than sending an alarm on schedule, it shows the time when they must take the medication, thus helping the seniors maintain their health state. Some of the products from this information technology category are the Watchminder2 made by Time Now, Cadex medication reminder from Cadex or the Multi-alarm reminder box from HGG International Limited. 

   We designed the Medicine Reminder, which brings the assistive technology to elders in an easy to use and to maintain device.  What makes our product different from other devices with the same functionality is that it was created having in mind the fact that it would be used by elder people, while the other devices on the market are also very performing, but also have very complicated tasks.

KeywordsAssistive Technology, elders, user research, ethnographical study, Medicine Reminder, information technology, preventive health Problem statement

The ethnographic study focuses on the benefits of the Medicine Reminder device for the elders over 60, considering the health problems that can occur at that age, the memory loss and the development of the assistive technology.

The ethnographic research

   The ethnographic method was used as a research approach due to its deep analysis process that can reveal the theoretical perspectives upon the importance of the modern devices provided by the information technology in the life of the elders over 60. Our study involves the results of the research group studying the human dynamics of elder people in accordance with the new information technology and its influence in their daily activities.

  It was a one-day workshop that helped us to examine the current position of information technology to support the elders over 60 in preserving their health and well-being.   We allowed the elders to describe their opinion about the information technology and the medicine reminder device in particular.

  The study was realized through methods of the ethnography including the participant observation and the ethnographic interview.  An essential part of the study consists in interviews, because it was the best method to understand the elders’ daily lives and the position that the information technology occupies in their lives.

After the research was conducted, we analyzed the ethnographical process and we made a clear difference between the presentational data (the declarations of the elders) and the operational data (the actual context where the elders are placed regarding the study).

    The incredible progresses made in the field of technology and communications have lead to an informative society, and senior people were also affected by those changes.  We focused on the relationship that elder over 60 have with the assistive technology products, and in what manner those products contributed at improving their memory decline.

   The results indicate that elders over 60 are facing an increasing memory loss, in addition to the health problems that come with this age. As this decline in the physical and cognitive state of the elders occurs, many of their daily activities require a performing device that will help them to remember when to take their medicine or perform other activities.

   There are many products created by the assistive technology manufacturers, but we chose a medicine reminder as a promising opportunity field.  The elder persons need a device that will help maintain their health by indicating the time when the medication must be taken and the correct dosage through a simple display and alarm clock.  The device requires almost no maintenance and it’s easy to use, as the elders who participated at the study confirmed. 

  We wanted details about the daily activities of elders, and we used the ethnographical interview asking, for example, if they use any device produced by the assistive technology and if it has improved in a certain way their lives.  Two main themes emerged from the interviews: elders are very attached to the old technology and they consider that their health is the most important thing at this point of their lives. 

  The study is based on the participant observation  of elders over 60 that can be relevant regarding the impact of the information technology and will underline the reasons behind selecting such a subject for our study. The research was conducted in a household in the
UK.  There were 50 housewives and 62 retired men, all aged over 60 that participated at our study.  The majority of them had the average study background, meaning college, while a smaller percentage, about 10% had a master degree in their field of activity.  

  We will mention the results that we obtained in three of those cases who participated at the ethnographical study: S.V (62 years old, former Army officer), J.T. (60 years old, former teacher) and M.S. (65 years old, former construction worker).  Their professional background is relevant for decrypting the entire results of the study, regarding the problems that people over 60 encounter in their daily activities, their health problems and the level of independence in their lives.  The fact is that while living with their children, the seniors were helped daily in what concerns the medicines.  Their children were the ones that made sure that the medicines would be taken on time and in the right dosage, and by that they were assuring themselves that their parents will maintain their health.

   In time, children had married and choose to move in their own apartments leaving the seniors alone to deal with their problems.  The change was not a good one, because the seniors were facing more than loneliness, they had to face the situations created by the increased memory loss and diseases that occur at this age.

  The three seniors that we will focus on suffered from heart affections (S.V), diabetes (J.T) and osteoporosis (M.S).  All those affections required daily treatments with medicines in a certain dosage and if not taken on time, they can influence the state of the health in a major way.   The weak memory and the serious diseases the three seniors had lead to an important need to substitute the help previously provided by their children.  In order to maintain also the independence of the seniors, we considered that a simple device that will signal the time when the medicines must be taken and the right dosage would be the best answer to all their needs.

   They have also agreed that the assistive technology could be useful in their daily activities, but only if it would be easy to use and come in a familiar shape.  The radical products of the information technology are not that attractive for the elders because they have complicated systems and they find them hard to use.  The opportunity of having a Medicine Reminder was interesting for them, considering the following aspects:

§         its simple design;

§          the system that requires only the doctor and the pharmacist to operate in order to set the schedule of taking the medicine and the right dosage;

§         The alarm and the vibration option that are used to signal the time scheduled for the medicine.      

                                                                                                                                                           

CONCLUSION 

   The Ethnography study we have conducted has revealed that the conventional technologies like the telephone and the Television are used more frequently by the elders over 60 to manage their knowledge and lives.  The radical products offered by the Information Technology, such as medicine reminders or smart houses, for example, are not entirely exploited, but it is obvious what kind of benefits they can bring and their prospective potential.

  

   The results of the study are clearly in favor of this new form of helping the elders from our society through a device like the Medicine Reminder and there are many arguments that dispute its emergence.

   The Medicine Reminder is a solution to the elders’ memory loss and their need to take their medicines daily, at certain hours, in order to maintain their health and enjoy their lives without losing their independence.  Its tasks of reminding and warning the elders about the medication that supports their health make it a real health coach for the elders.    

   This new technology based on the artificial intelligence techniques is meant to help elder people by considering the changes brought by aging, especially the cognitive difficulties and decline.  In time, seniors will be unable to take care of themselves or their homes, and they will be confronted with the medical and social systems that can offer them the help they need, but the technology will give them the sense of control of their own lives. 

REFERENCES http://72.14.221.104/search?q=cache:k11_h5OXpKoJ:www.medicalmoment.org/_content/helpyourself/jul03/151201.asp+medicine+reminders&hl=ro&gl=ro&ct=clnk&cd=9  

http://72.14.221.104/search?q=cache:gfHgY9vArcsJ:www.medicalwatches.com/+medicine+reminders&hl=ro&gl=ro&ct=clnk&cd=11   http://72.14.221.104/search?q=cache:fZWqbTFQOusJ:apps.rgp.ufl.edu/otl/viewTechInfo.cfm%3Fcase%3D11272+medicine+reminders+for+elders&hl=ro&gl=ro&ct=clnk&cd=1  

powerpoint presentation for ethnographical study March 21, 2007

nija.ppt

Study case – The Cottage industry in the 21st century and the Internet March 21, 2007

The Cottage Industry in the 21^st Century and the Internet – Case Study 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

   The term “cottage industry” formerly referred to the process of manufacturing that took place in people’s homes, way before the industrial revolution.  In present, the manufacturing process of various goods is realized mainly in factories, thus eliminating the individuals working at home.  There are few cottage businesses still left.  The difference is that today’s cottage industry is a whole lot different than the traditional one.

   People who are still in the cottage industry use the modern technology such as the Internet, fax and phone, in order to expand their businesses and make their products known all over the world.  The role of the Internet in the development of the cottage businesses is essential. 

   The case study focuses on the impact of the Internet in the particular case of a cottage based company from
UK, Museum Reproductions.  We tried to underline the advantages that the Internet has brought to this company, after two years of existence on the market.  The objective was to find out the needs of a cottage based company and in what manner they can be satisfied by the opportunities provided by the Internet. 

KEYWORDS: The Internet, Cottage industry, Online Businesses, Global Presence, Expanded Customer Base, Online Marketing   

   Museum Reproductions is a cottage based company that focuses on the production and reproduction of coins and artifacts.  The company was founded in 1992, and it obtained profits by selling their products while attending fairs and metal detecting club meetings.  Their products consist in reproductions of ancient coins and artifacts.

   The case study focuses on the benefits brought by the Internet for this small cottage industry, considering their need to expand their customer base and increase their profits by selling their products worldwide. 

   The case study was realized by using the questionnaire approach and the interview, due to the large views provided and detailed information that can reveal the theoretical perspectives upon the importance of the Internet in promoting cottage based industries.  Those methods allowed us to study the dynamics of cottage based companies in accordance with them gaining popularity and success in the World Wide Web.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 

   After the research was conducted, we have analyzed the results of the questionnaires and the interviews in order to make a clear difference between the presentational data (the situation of the small cottage we focused on) and the operational data (which represents the worldwide evolution of the cottage based industries after using the Internet as a powerful marketing tool).

   The amazing progresses that took place in the area of technology and communications have lead to an informative society, and the small cottage industries were also affected.  The results of the research will refer to the relation between the Museum Reproductions Company and the Internet, and in what way the Internet has influenced its evolution.

     As we previously mentioned, Museum Reproductions was founded in 1992.  Two years later, the owner decided to start the company’s website.  In the beginning, the owner had to deal with the high rates charged by the banks when converting different currencies from international payments.  That changed when Pay Pal took over the market regarding the international transactions and the rates have decreased significantly.  The owner of Museum Reproductions has declared that the profits of the business were low before deciding to use the Internet as a marketing instrument, but all of that had a major turn when they first went online.

   As a result, the company has gained popularity among the collectors all over the world who wanted to secure their ancient coins from stealing by ordering coin reproductions.  The owner also begun to use EBay as a virtual market for his cottage products, and the effect was stunning. 

   In the beginning of the business, Museum Reproductions had a profit of £1,000 per year.  Three years later, after expanding on the online market, the profits went sky-high up to £10,000.  The customer base has increased and in the present, Museum Reproductions has orders from all around the world.  The today’s profits of the cottage industry are not even comparable to the ones from the early years when the owner’s customer base was build on the local area by attending history fairs and metal detectors club meetings. The company still attends fairs and club meetings, but the highest percentage of profits is achieved through the Internet sales.

CONCLUSION 

  The case study has revealed that the conventional marketing strategies such as attending fairs and local events are still used by the small cottage industries, as a part of them continuing the tradition and connect directly with the customers at a national level.

  The Internet has brought a radical change in their marketing strategy, but it definitely had a leading role in expanding the cottage industry all over the world.  It is clear that the Internet represents a major opportunity for small cottage companies that use it as a main marketing tool for promoting their products and increase the customer base, which inevitably leads to profits.

RECOMMENDATIONS 

  By going online, the cottage based companies will be able to manage to overcome the physical barriers and promote their brand globally and increase their sales as they never expected to before using the Internet.

IMPLEMENTATION 

  Setting up a website is an option available for any small cottage business and requires a small financial input and maintenance ranging between £200 (for a basic website) and £800 (for a website with search engine optimization services included). The results of the case study are obviously in favor of the new technologies represented by the Internet and its benefits for the cottage industry, and there are many arguments which dispute its necessity.

REFERENCES  www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1995/06/12/BU52732.DTLhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/5350616.stmwww.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-cottage-industry.htmwww.cottagewebs.co.uk/ 

Hot travelling tips for the Oxfordshire County March 21, 2007

Hot Traveling Tips for the

Oxfordshire
County 

   Oxfordshire is a wonderful county in the middle of
England, which attracts every year numerous tourists with its charming landscapes, the famous university centre and rich architecture as well.  The county consists mostly in rural areas, which are in fact a point of attraction itself, as many of the visitors choose to come here to enjoy the open spaces and the serenity of the green nature. 

 

   The most popular city in the county is
Oxford.  It is a great choice for the ones who want to interact with the city that gained a worldwide reputation for academic excellence and rich architectural designs.  The county has also numerous market towns, each and every one with its own specific flavor and tourist attractions. 

 

  We will make out first stop in this virtual tour of Oxfordshire at Banbury.  It is considered that the name of the city may be derived from “Banna”, a Saxon dignitary who is said to have built in the 500’s stockade in this region.  The name “Banesberie” was first mentioned in the “Domesday book”, and starting with the 13^th century it has begun its economical development, as a wool trade market.  

§               You can still visit the architecture of some of the buildings that have survived the great fire in 1628.

  

   Banbury town is a well-known town in England, mostly because of the nursery rhymes “Ride a Cock Horse to the Banbury Cross”, which  are considered by many as the words of Queen Elisabeth I of England, who came in the town to visit a big stone cross.  The original cross from the 16^th century doesn’t exist any more, but you can still visit the cross erected in 1859, with the occasion of the Prince Frederick of
Prussia wedding.

 

  Here are some tips on how you can spend some quality time in Banbury:

v     Taste Banbury Cakes, some special fruit and pastry cakes.

v     Accommodate in style at the White Lion coaching inn, built in the 19^th century.

v     Enjoy the beauty of the local architecture by visiting the

Edward
Vivers
Building (17^th century) or the Castle Quay Shopping Centre.

v     The Saint Mary’s Church from 1790 is a great tourist spot as well.

v     Near Banbury town you can go visit the

castle of
Lord Saye and Sele’s family since 1451. The 14^th century architecture will take your breath away.

 

   Another wool centre situated about 20miles from
Oxford is Burford.  The local history has left wonderful marks on the city architecture and you will easily notice that by observing the houses, the inns or the shops from the High Street, some of them from the 15^th century. 

 

   For the visitors interested in
England’s history, Burford town has preserved the marks of the incarcerated soldiers in 1649, at the end of the Civil War.  It was Cromwell’s victory upon 340 Levellers, and you can visit the carvings made by the prisoners and the bullet holes of the executions of three leaders.

v     The Burford’s town church combines in fine manner elements of the 15^th century architecture with the Norman elements from the tower and the west doorway.

v     A piece of the local history is well preserved at the

Tolsey
Museum.  Centuries ago, at the “Tolsey”, the rich wool merchants were meeting and collected tools.

v     The

Swinford
Museum in Burford town contains a large collection of domestic, craft and agricultural tools and it was set in a charming 17^th century cottage.

 

   Carterton town represents another interesting location in the

Oxfordshire
County. It is the newest town in the area, and its history takes us back in the 19^th century, when the settlement was founded by William Carter, the director of Homesteads Limited.  The Carteton town flourished during the World War 2, when it was the main housing for the personnel of RAF at Brize Norton and the USA Force bomber wings.  The most important transport base is still located at Brize Norton, near Carterton town, leading to a continuous expansion.

 

   Even if Carterton is a small town, you can spend some relaxing days here.

§         A great choice is to try one of Carterton’s restaurants, where you ca enjoy quality local dishes.

§         The local pubs and café’s are ideal for a nice evening and you can get in touch with the locals and listen to some good music.

 

 

   Well if you want to visit a special location in the

Oxfordshire
County, than Kidlington is definitely your choice. An interesting fact is that Kidlington is the largest village in
England, and until now it has resisted the attempts of being transformed into a town.  A short trip to Kidlington town can turn into a memorable experience, as here you can see some exquisite locations marked by the passes of centuries.

§         The church dates from the 13^th century, while the farm and the vicarage are from the 16^th century.

§           For the connoisseurs, the Georgian architectural style can be admired in many of the local houses. 

§         Take a nice walk around the

Kidlington
Park and enjoy the view.

 

   Visiting the Thame town will leave you with pleasant vacation memories as well.  The charm of this old market town will prepare you for learning more about the history of this area.  Historic characters such as John Hampden, Oliver Cromwell’s cousin or Lord Williams have given Thames town a place in the
England’s rich history.  Some of the visitor’s favorite spots are:

ü      The

Parish
Church from the 13^th century St Mary, which has a boat-shaped market area;

ü      The Bandstand, brought from the Wembley exhibition in 1921;

ü      Numerous inns (especially The Birdcage Inn, where prisoners were kept back in the 15^th century before their trials) and houses from the 15^th century;

ü      Lord William’s Grammar school dated 16^th century.

   If you are visiting
Oxford town, this would be the ideal getaway for some shopping.  Thame town is filled with shops, quality accommodations and great pubs and restaurants. 

 

   You can get more from visiting Thame town if you know when to come here.  There are a lot of local regular events that draw many tourists, such as the Farmer’s market, which is held every first Tuesday of the month.

§         In September you can attend the Thame’s town One Day Agricultural Show.

§         In October takes place the Thame Street Fair;

§         In the last week of June, don’t miss the Thame Festival and Carnival.

 

   While visiting the Thame town, don’t forget to enjoy the breathtaking views, by taking long walks on the public walkways or in the gardens of Waterperry.

ü      Visit the tea rooms of Waterperry, just to the north of
Thames town.

ü      Make sure you save a day for a picnic at the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve; you will have a great time!

  
Thames town will never give you a chance to be bored, especially when you have so many entertainment options for your vacation.  An evening at the Thame Players Theatre or the Thame Leisure Centre might be an excellent choice for the tourists who want to attend local cultural events.

 

   The most representative area of Oxfordshire and a typically English background are generously provided by the Cotswolds.  The symbols of the area are the gentle hillsides, or “wolds”, as the locals name them.  In medieval times, around 13^th and 15^th century, the Cotswolds were famous all over
Europe for their sheep that provided high quality wool.  The wool trade has brought in the area many inhabitants, who built wonderful houses and the well-known “wool-churches”. 

  

   The region includes many towns and villages, each attracting tourists yearly with their unique features.  There are larger towns such as
Bath or Stow-on-the-Wold, but you can also choose to stay in one of the charming villages like Castle Combe.  Here are the Cotswolds’ main tourist attractions:

v     Look for the stone remains of a roman spa in
Bath town, where you will find in the centre a natural hot spring.

v     Visit the

Rococo
Garden in Painswick, a wonderful reminder of the 18h century English Rococo garden designs.

v     Find the
Blenheim
Palace in
Woodstock, which is one of the most elegant private houses in the country.  Consider the fact that Winston Churchill was born here, so imagine the exquisite paintings, antique furniture and collection of tapestries…

 

  Whatever your choice is, you will be pleasantly surprised by the honey-colored limestone, used for the majority of the house structures from floors to roof tiles.

ü      Check the Drystone Walls, built in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, and which impress through the fact that no cement was used for the holding the walls together.

ü      The sheep on a hillside is the Cotswold image.

ü      Don’t forget to taste the delicious food of the locals (cheese, wine, cakes or meat), many of them are farmers, and the products are 100% natural.

 

      You can relax and admire here some of the finest arboreta and gardens from
England.  Many cottage gardens are available for the tourists as well as the manor house garden that is characteristic to the Cotswold’s area.  Two wonderful locations would be

Hidcote
Manor
Garden (near Chipping Camden) and Snowshill Manor, which are very appreciated by tourists from all over the world.

 

   Shopping in the Cotswolds can be a wonderful experience due to the variety of shops and products found in the area.  There are products for any tastes, from stylish Laura Ashley products to the air markets from Cirencester.  You can shop in the Cotswolds for great souvenirs and antiques that will help you bring home a part of this traditional English flavor. 

  

 

 

 

March 21, 2007

  COWMIX LLC – Company Profile 

Company InfoCOWMIX LLCPhone: +1-480-290-1274Fax: +1-480-290-1274URL: http://www.cowmix.com Type: For ProfitIndustry: On-line Sales	HR Contact InfoJeremiah TiemanCo-Founder of COWMIX LLCPhone: +1-480-290-1274Fax: +1-480-290-1274E-mail: jeremiah.tieman@cowmix.com  William CastroCo-founder of COWMIX LLCPhone: +1-480-290-1274Fax: +1-480-290-1274E-mail: william.castro@cowmix.com
Company Message    All around the world, people communicate though different languages, experience different ways of life and live in different places of the Earth.  Though there is one thing that everybody can relate to: the latest multimedia devices.   We can provide people all around the world high quality electronic products such as COWON players, and make sure our customers always benefit from high quality, transparency and innovation provided by COWMIX LLC by enjoying the hottest gadgets on the market today.
Who We Are    We are a brand new company formed in 2007 by two dynamic people: Jeremiah Tieman (JT) and William Castro (Bill).  §       Jeremiah Tieman, 30 years old, works as a UNIX Systems Administrator and is a true computer guru, having 16 years of experience in the field of the newest IT technologies available on the market, from music players to integrated PVR systems. §        Bill, 55 years old, works as an OBGYN Doctor and he is an expert in the latest technology and gadgets, such as MP3 Portable Players, Video and Audio Players.  He constantly informs himself on the hottest media gadgets releases by browsing the Internet and by attending yearly the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).    We have been planning this company since 2005, and we came to the conclusion that we can successfully combine JT’s skills in the IT domain, E-commerce and on-line sales with Bill’s extensive knowledge on the latest technologies and gadgets in order to develop a business based on quality, reliability and 100% satisfaction for our customers.
Our Goal    We are familiar with the COWON products as we are true fans of the brand, and we have seen the amazing quality of the COWON players, which can easily out perform in quality the leaders in MP3 players such as Apple IPOD.  We have founded COWMIX LLC in order to express our appreciation for the COWON products and hope we will have the chance to be a part of a brand that provides QUALITY above all and guarantee our customers an excellent customers service and complete satisfaction.   We would be proud to have the great opportunity to sell your products and establish a solid customer base under principles such as: QUALITY, RELIABILITY and 100% SATISFACTION.  We pride ourselves as being professionals and knowledgeable people in the field.  We intend to create an extensive background of operations in the on-line quality electronic sales and give our customers the possibility to enjoy high-quality gadgets.
Our Location: Phoenix, AZ
Company Links: http://www.cowmix.com

What makes teak outdoor furniture the best? March 21, 2007

What Makes Teak Outdoor Furniture the Best?  

   Teak wood was used for shipbuilding since the middle Ages, and it became popular in outdoor furniture manufacturing since the 19^th century.  While dismantling World War I warships, the people from the British Navy noticed that the teak decks were intact, due to its resistance to salt water and durability, and decided to use them for manufacturing benches for the public English parks and other parts to reconstruct other ships.

  Teak was intensively used since in the shipbuilding industry (for trims, decks and other ship applications), for the construction of houses, flooring, cabinetry, paneling or resistant outdoor furniture.  Indigenous to Asia countries, particularly from Thailand and
India, it is also grown on plantations developed around the natural growing environment of the wild teak trees.  In order to maintain the ecological balance, there were established severe policies regarding the number of teak trees that will be used for exports and the techniques of reforestation that can protect the environment and produce high quality teak wood.

   When it comes to outdoor furniture teak is the best possible choice.  It is a chore for the people who buy outdoor furniture to move it in the basement or cover it in order to prevent the weather to create any damages in the structure of the furniture made out of metal, plastic or other types of wood.  The persons who have teak outdoor furniture don’t have to face such problems, because the wood of teak furniture resists in left outside on any kind of weather.  The durability and the resistance of teak are given by the resinous oils which prevent the water to infiltrate in the wood structure and cause rotting, warping or shrinking.  The soil where the teak grows has a high concentration of minerals and oils, and Silica is one of them, the element that gives the teak wood a rubbery aspect and the waterproof quality. The same oils generate the density of the teak wood structure that creates a thermal stability and prevents it from warping.

   There are cases when people think they buy teak furniture but they buy other woods that obviously don’t have the same qualities of the genuine teak.  It is a common situation to mistake teak furniture with inferior wood furniture such as the Shorea wood or the Nyatoah.  Those types of wood belong to the Class 3 of woods, and they are easily affected by the water, insects or cracking, while the teak wood is a Class 1 wood and extremely durable and strong.

   The difference between the false teak furniture and the genuine one is that the manufacturers might try to fool you by applying teak oil on other types of wood furniture and claim that it’s teak furniture.  The oil might have an effect on a short period of time, adding some resistance and durability, but finally the furniture will begin to show its flaws.  The genuine teak outdoor furniture can be left outside for years and it will not be affected by the weather, nor crack or twist.

   The qualities of the teak furniture have made it the most exquisite outdoor furniture available.  This love and appreciation for the teak wood is nothing new, because the teak was used for centuries.  There are a large number of teak furniture products, including teak tables, teak patio furniture, teak benches or indoor teak furniture.   No matter what you will choose for your garden or patio, you can be sure that the teak furniture will last more than other types of outdoor furniture and will merge with the surrounding landscape in a wonderful manner.

The rustic look with pine wood floors March 21, 2007

The Rustic Look Brought by the Pine Wood Floors 

   If you decide to change dramatically the aspect of your home than a hardwood flooring might be the thing you need.  The choices are endless regarding the types and styles of hardwood flooring, but finding the right one for your house can give a magnificent look for decades and accentuate the beauty of your house.

  The pine wood flooring can give a distinctive look to your home.  The aspect you have to consider is that the pine wood is a soft one, so it dents easily.

§         Therefore, it is recommended to use the pine wood flooring for areas with low traffic.

§          The advantage is the price, which is more than affordable.

  The pine wood flooring can add personality to your rooms with few dents and dings.  The pine flooring boards are very popular today because of the variety of colors and stains.  By using pine wood flooring you will obtain a rugged, rustic aspect of your floor, and you can even choose to expose the nails and screws used to joint the pine boards.  The surface of the pine wood flooring is a smooth one, but the look will certainly take you with the thought at a cottage deep in the mountain woods.

§         The pine wood flooring can be better preserved by applying a protective coating on the flooring, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and you will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.

Beijing Hot Travelling Spots March 21, 2007

1. Beihai
   Park is filled with great locations and views, such as the decorative Nine-Dragon Wall, Five Dragon Pavilion, the lakes and beautiful temples.  The locals are interesting and if you know a little Mandarin you can talk and find out more about the local customs.

2. The Ming Tombs are in a number of 13, but only one has been excavated.  The buildings and the artefacts are unique, especially theSoul
   Tower.  The avenue with statues is really impressive, and don’t forget to check out the warning notices, they might be usefulJ.

3. The Great Wall is recommended to be visited using a tour company, because it is quite a long distance from
   Beijing.  Take your time when climbing the wall, because it can be a hard experience; also wear comfortable shoes and clothes.  The view is spectacular, and the facilities on the great wall entrance are good: toilets, souvenirs, coffeehouses.
4. The National Museum of China includes two other museums: The Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of the Chinese revolution.  You can get a good idea about all the things that made
   China famous along the history, such as its great history, old silks and paintings.
5. The
   Beijing
   Amusement Park is located near theDragon
   Pool
   Lake and it is filled with buildings in fantastic shapes.  The 62 metres giant wheel can be fun to experience and the view on the historic city is remarkable.  The roller coaster, the mirage aquarium and the variety of fun places can be a true adventure for children and not only.  There are also many restaurants and snack bars where you can rest after a challenging ride.

6. The
   Oriental
   Plaza houses many stores, residential apartments and offices, and it can be very interesting to explore once you travel through
   Beijing.  When the building of the complex started, the remains of a 20,000 years old Palaeolithic settlement were discovered and soon a museum will include in the basement of the complex some of those Stone Age remains.
7. The Forbidden City has as a main attraction theImperial
   Palace.  The name derives from the fact that this is the place where
   China’s emperors lived for about 500 years and it was forbidden to ordinary people, except the servants. There are additional fees if you want to visit the other exhibits included here, like the

   National
   Museum.  The entrance is marked by a big painting of Chairman Mao, and the Palace has 9,999 rooms and 9 nails in each door, both vertically and horizontally!!

8. The
   Tiananmen Square is impressive and you can visit here the mausoleum of Chairman Mao and the Monument to the People’s Heroes.  On rise and sunset, the soldiers come from the
   Forbidden City and rise or lower the flag.
9. The
   Temple of heaven is the perfect example of Ming architecture, with round temples and square bases.  The forested paths are ideal for long walks and the locals practicing Tai-Chi and music give you a sense of tranquillity.