Rainbow Skill : Knowledge Portal

Make your own Gift for this Valentine’s Day

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:11:31 +0000

Nothing is more thoughtful than a handmade greeting that you spent the time to make. These valentines are a fun project for older kids and adults.

1. Block Stamped Valentine:
Make your own stamp so that you can easily make multiple valentines to send out to many people. Carving a design out of a piece of linoleum block, inking it and creating a print is an ancient form of printmaking called a linocut. Most craft and art stores sell sheets of linoleum and the tools needed for carving it. You will also need a rubber brayer and some block-printing ink. These tools are not too expensive and will last a long time. First, create a design. Draw a simple design on a piece of paper, keeping the dimensions of your card in mind. Make sure that any text you put into the design is in reverse, so that when you print it with the stamp it will be in the right direction. When you are satisfied with your design, turn the paper over and cover the back with a layer of graphite from your drawing pencil. Place the design on top of the linoleum tile, with your design facing up. Trace over the design by pressing firmly with a pencil. The graphite on the other side of the paper will transfer the design over to the block. Use your linoleum cutting tools to carve out the design. Use little shallow strokes to show texture and deeper cuts for solid marks. When your stamp is created you can ink it with the brayer and press it onto the card, leaving the image behind. This stamp can be used many times to create multiple valentines.

2. Doily Valentine:
Use doilies, a classic Valentine’s Day decoration, to create greetings for your loved ones. These paper doilies can be found at craft stores and are very inexpensive. Cut out shapes like hearts and flowers from the doily and then use a clear-drying glue to adhere them to a piece of folded card stock. Consider the color of the doily when choosing a color for the card stock. A contrasting shade will make the detail of the doily really stand out against the background. For instance, if you are using a white doily, choose a bright or dark shade to go behind it. A red doily would really pop out against a background of white or sky blue. Write a greeting on the inside of the card with a pretty gel pen for a clean and elegant look.

3. Stitched Hearts:
Nothing looks more homemade than a hand-stitched card. Create the backing for your card by cutting a piece of sturdy card stock to size. Then select a variety of patterned scrapbook paper from your local craft store. The patterns should generally go well together but still look different. Cut a variety of sizes of hearts from the scrapbook paper. Fold them in half vertically down the center, so that the patterned side of the paper is on the inside. If your paper is patterned on both sides, this doesn’t matter. Using some waxed twine and an embroidery needle, sew the hearts onto the card stock with a few stitches down the fold line. Knot the ends to secure them. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect, as it is supposed to look rustic and handmade.

Steps to follow for going to a Outback

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:05:07 +0000

The word outback itself is commonly associated with robustness and rugged flair. This is also why you will find yourself confronted with names like Suburu Keystone, Outback restaurants famous for their barbecues, steakhouse, locations, menu and discount coupons. But the true outback is really the one in Uluru, Australia. The likes of Ayers Rock resort is a common household name for the numerous establishments that surround the outback as lodging options for the numerous guests. If you are really intent in visiting the Outback, you might find it beneficial to follow these guidelines:

1. Plan your itinerary in advance and complete it with details:
This is the first step for you to enjoy the Outback life. You need to plan your activities carefully and you must make sure that you have all the details that you need so that you will not be lost or out of resources when you are actually there. It’s okay to wing it every once in a while, but you still need to have a solid plan of action to cling to, because you will primarily be embarking a journey on rough terrain.

2. Consider getting a guide:
If you do not really mind, a tour guide may be a good ally so that you will get the best deals in board and lodging. And at the same time, the tour guide will give you the do’s and dont’s when dealing with Outback culture and way of life. If you are quite confident of your pioneer travelling skills to the Outback, you may choose to skip this particular option. But in any case, just make sure that you have a run-to person somewhere out there in case you bump into unexpected problems.

3. Complete your travel gear:
You need to have your gear complete in this particular journey. You might need some stuff for the rough and tumble of Outback journeying, such as an emergency or first aid kit, some ropes, a thermos for potable water, hiking gear (if you have the guts to climb, you will get the glory of surviving Outback heights!) and many others.

4. Prepare yourself physically:
A so-so health condition is not enough for this kind of adventure. You need to make sure that you are in the pink of health before you make any plans whatsoever. It will be recommended to first consult a doctor and gain his or her approval about your pursuits. If you can, stock up on vitamins and other nutrients to keep your body in tiptop condition and not be disturbed along the way. The greatest killjoy in Outback visits are those things that you could have avoided if you had made more preparations.

Important information of Flower Beds

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:58:05 +0000

Plant a garden, and you’ve beautified your world and created recreational and educational opportunities for yourself and your family. If you don’t have several acres and a personal gardener to maintain a large garden, you may want to consider establishing flower beds instead. Let the kids help plan and plant each bed, and give them maintenance chores and a reward when their efforts bring blooms. You could also sign up to maintain one public flower bed in the parks to contribute to everyone’s enjoyment.

1. Function:
Flower beds help organize the garden into separate areas for different plants that may have different horticultural requirements. They allow us to keep our lawn on our city or suburban lots and enjoy gardening at the same time, and they allow us to individualize our gardens by having control over how our garden will look and exactly how much work we want to undertake.

2. Features:
Flower beds are areas of a property that have been specially designated for flowering plants. Each bed has a specific design that is outlined with a material that will contain the flowers and keep grass and weeds at bay. Each bed should be prepared, by cultivation and soil amendment, to provide a proper place for the plants that will grow there. Flower varieties are chosen to match the light, soil and water for each bed.

3. History:
The history of gardens begins with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Persian and Indian pleasure gardens that were maintained for no other purpose than to provide joy for the beholder. Flower beds were part of a formal landscape that included architectural details and water into which the owner could disappear after a long day at the kingdom. Not until the Middle Ages did common people begin planting flowers in a corner or patch of a cottage garden, most of which was devoted to raising vegetables. An apothecary’s rose, foxglove and cowslips might form a little flower bed set off from the rest. Rosemary might serve double duty for color. Flower beds also anchored wealthy gardens, massing certain flowers for effect. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as the middle class grew and more people owned property, both in the Old World and the New, the cottage garden gave way to a collection of flower beds and garden elements—a landscape. Today, only some are fortunate enough to have been able to visit the great gardens at Versailles or Kew, but anyone with a little time can plant a flower bed or two in order to be able to enjoy the beauty of nature.

4. Type:
Flower beds can be made for annuals or perennials. Their residents’ needs for sun or shade determine placement. Beds may be formal, geometrically arranged in a pattern or informal curved islands and borders in a yard. Design flower beds to complement your house or to be historic mirrors for an old house. You can even use containers to form flower beds. Whatever your taste and temperament, design your flower beds to please yourself and enhance your home. Although conventions do exist regarding placement and population of flower beds, today’s flower beds are designed for convenience and individual expression rather than as the result of academic rules.

5. Benefits:
Planting your own flower beds stretches your intellect as well as your body. The planning phase can last all winter and the execution and maintenance of a flower bed keeps your body going from spring to fall.

Steps to setup a your own Web Hosting

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:45:55 +0000

A web host is a type of Internet service provider. Instead of providing access to the Internet, a web host provides server storage space for websites online. Every website online is hosted on a server at a data facility. It is far too expensive for most people to own and maintain their own server, so most people opt to lease space on a server that is professionally maintained by another company. These businesses are known as web hosting companies, and they make up a multi-billion dollar industry that is relatively easy for most people to cash in on. If you are looking for a long-term business opportunity that has the ability to generate phenomenal profits, keep reading to learn how to run your own web hosting service.

1. Acquire your servers. The number of servers really depends on how many websites will be hosted on your servers, as well as how much storage space and bandwidth are allocated to each of those customers. For most small hosts, a single server with a 3.2 GHz Pentium processor is sufficient. If something with more computing power is needed, then using a dual processor, such as dual Opterons or dual Xeons, will expand the speed of your server. If your space begins to fill, you can always add additional servers to your rack as they are needed.

2. Rent rack space in a data center. You can technically use any data center in the world as a home for your servers, but many people prefer to use a center that is close to where they live. Rack space is rented so that you will have a place to keep your server, in an area where it has easy access to an internet connection. Websites, such as Data Center Atlas help locate data centers within your area. Your local telephone company will often have a data center in your vicinity with rack space that can be leased.

3. Provision bandwidth for your server. The bandwidth that you purchase is what connects your server to the Internet and allows people to visit the websites that are hosted on your server. This bandwidth will be divided among your customers, according to how much bandwidth you include in a monthly hosting package. The general idea is that you want to purchase bandwidth at a wholesale price, from either the local telephone company or from a company like Level 3, then sell that same bandwidth at a retail rate to your customers.

4. Choose between Unix and Windows for the operating system on your server. Unix is the overwhelming leader of the market because it is fast, easy to manage and it is free. Unix is also popular since most websites use PHP for the source code. However, if one of your clients likes to build their website with Active Server Pages (ASP), then using Windows is the only option. Most larger web hosts build the bulk of their business around Unix web hosting, but have a Windows server available for those who are willing to pay extra for it.

5. Choose a control panel system to operate on your web server. The control panel is what allows your clients to manage the web site that is hosted on your server. It also includes a web host manager application that allows you to monitor and manage the individual hosting accounts that your clients pay for. There are a number of options available for the control panel function of your web hosting business. The two most common are cPanel and Plesk. Links to each of these can be found in the Resources section.

6. Arrange for a complete data backup at regular intervals. You can never predict when disaster will strike, and you can’t rely on your customers to keep an up to date backup of their websites. Many of them will not have an adequate backup and will blame you if their data is lost. This makes it very important to routinely backup everything on the entire server, or server cluster. The most effective way is to use the services of a company, such as BQ Backup, who will make a backup copy of your files and store it at a remote facility. That way you can recover your data even if your entire data center is hit by a natural disaster.

7. Build a website to accompany your web hosting business. Having a website is an essential part of the business. It allows potential customers to review the different options you offer for hosting plans, and also allows them to sign up and create an account in real time. A good website will also offer some form of live customer support as a gateway for potential customers and new customers to get answers to their sales questions. A web hosting business can not expect to get customers without a website, so spend some time looking at competitors’ sites to get an idea of what aspects you would like to incorporate into your own design.

8. Integrate a billing system into your website. You will need to obtain an account with a credit card billing company, such as Authorize to handle your credit card orders. Integrating this service into your website will allow give your customers the ability to pay for their service online and to instantly have access to the account they created. You may also want to offer third party payment gateways as an additional option, such as accepting PayPal payments for those who already have an account at Pay Pal.

9. Form an advertising strategy for your web hosting business. You can have the greatest deal in the history of web hosting, but if people don’t know about your company they will never sign up. Getting the word out about your company is a critical component in the success of your business. Try sponsoring text ads in search engines for targeted search terms. Offering an affiliate referral program will also help spread word of mouth advertising. You may also wish to experiment with special promotions, such as a free month of hosting or a free domain any time someone prepays one year of hosting. Set a budget for your advertising and then explore what options fit within that budget.

Steps for arranging a Baby Crib

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:34:57 +0000

One of the main things that must be ready is the crib. Baby will need a safe and comfortable place to sleep. Assembling a standard baby crib is not that hard. Regardless of the type or brand of crib you have chosen this article will help you to get that crib put together in time for baby’s arrival.

1. Unpack the crib; it will come in several pieces in a box. Everything that you need to assemble your standard baby crib will come with the crib. No extra tools are required. Open the box up and separate the pieces. Note the two long, thin side boards, two end pieces, two side rails, a large wooden board and a mattress. Start with the two end pieces. These are like a head board and a foot board. Take one and have your helper hold it upright.

2. Take one of the long, thin side boards. It will have male hardware on it. Insert the male hardware of the side board into the female hardware of the first end piece. For a newborn, insert it at the highest level. Do the same for the other side. Use the other end piece and the other side board and attach them in the same way. Now you have a crib that has two ends, but no side rails or bottom.

3. Insert the large wooden board into the crib as if it were a mattress. Turn the fasteners so that they slide over the wood. This keeps the wooden board safely in place and is what the mattress will rest on.

4. Take the first side rail, holding it with one hand on each end and slide it onto the male hardware of the end pieces on each side. Push it down until it clicks and locks securely into place. Do the same for the other side rail. The rails are adjustable. To adjust them push the buttons in on the top sides of each rail and slide up or down to desired height. A crib rail can be put up when baby is sleeping and then put down for easier changing.

5. Add the mattress. The mattress will slip right into the crib. There is no hardware required. Once the mattress has been inserted the crib is fully assembled. Add the casters to make the crib mobile by inserting them into the bottom of each leg. All you’ll have left to do is to add a fresh sheet, and a darling baby bed set.

Shar Jackson back on VH1 show

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:09:55 +0000

VH1 show ‘Celebrity Fit Club’ brings back Shar Jackson and Kevin Federline and together the ex-lovers would be working on weight-loss program. In the season seven of Celebrity Fit Club, they are joined with Tanisha Thomas, Sebastian Bach and many more. The season premiere began on Monday. With quite a notable gap between season 6 and season 7, the reality television series following eight overweight celebrities’ weight-loss competition, is back on VH1 again. The first episode was aired on 9 p.m. Monday night and according to Jim Ackerman the program’s executive producer, the selection of celebrities is a big problem to invite to the show.

Resultantly, this show’s cast doesn’t have the real star power to offer as its signature trademark. However, Sharisse “Shar” Jackson the ‘Moesha’ show’s ‘Niecy Jackson’ fame is joined with her ex-lover and father of her two lovely kids 31-year-old Kevin Earl Federline that also used to be Britney Spears’ ex-husband. Accompanying them on the show are Kaycee Stroh, Sebastian Bach, Jay McCarroll, Bobby Brown, Tanisha Thomas and Nicole Eggert.

33-year-old Sharisse “Shar” Jackson and Kevin Earl Federline had two kids together whereas; Shar has two more kids off her ex-boyfriend also. Similarly, Kevin made headlines for his relationship and two-year long marriage with Britney Spears and later, for a bizarre legal battle over the issue of custody of their two sons namely Jayden James and Sean Preston Fedeerline. All the cast members are there with a purpose to be observed by a nutritionist, a physical trainer (Harvey Walden IV) and a psychologist while contesting for loosing extra weight they’ve put on over the past few months. With reference to his relation with Shar, Kevin says it has nothing to do with their appearance in the reality show; it was past and its over now.

The second season of For the Love of Ray J

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:28:53 +0000

The second season of the reality dating show For the Love of Ray J has ended and all of us know about the winner as Mz. Berry. The final episode aired on 1st February 2010 but now it was a chance for all 18 ladies to gather once more for the last time in the house. It was the time for reunion. Ray J has already won his lady love but this time Ray J and the eliminated girls came back to talk about the show.

On Monday 8th February 2010, the Reunion Show of “For the Love of Ray J 2” has been aired. The Reunion Show was full of gossips and that time Ray J and Jaguar seemed to have a very good rapport together. A report says Ray J was feeling regret on his decision and he felt that Jaguar should have been the winner. On the other hand she let him know that she was still available. It was clear that there was no love and affection among the girls and during the show many facts have come under spotlight. Mz. Berry was also there.

The top 5 Insulation used for a Home

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:23:36 +0000

Insulation can dramatically block the transfer of heat through this layer, as well as help control for sound. When insulating your home, it’s advisable to get the R-value recommended by the Department of Energy or that specified by your area’s local energy code, according to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. R-value is simply a measure of thermal resistance; the bigger the R-value, the more effective a home’s insulation will be. To select high-quality insulation that will wear well for years in your geographic area, ask the local gas or electric utility company for their advice on good insulation for your location. In the following pages, we’ll discuss some of the various forms of insulation they might recommend.

1: Mineral Wool:
On average, mineral wool is made of 75 percent post-industrial recycled content. It comes in both blanket and loose-fill forms. Additional chemicals to make it fire-resistant aren’t required, much like cotton insulation. Most often, mineral wool is a classification for two kinds of insulation: Rock wool is a man-made material that includes natural minerals, and slag wool is a man-made material that comes from scum called blast furnace slag that collects on molten metal.There are hundreds of mineral wool companies in the United States; however, the U.S. Department of Energy notes that there is a Canadian company that produces a superior product.

2: Cotton Insulation Made from Recycled Blue Jeans:
Your jeans can serve a far greater purpose than being something to wear to work on casual Fridays. Made from post-industrial recycled cotton fabrics (such as blue jeans), cotton insulation earns kudos not only for its environmental and health safety, but also for its ability to dampen sound better than some other kinds of insulation. Installers aren’t required to wear respiratory or safety equipment when dealing with cotton insulation, and no warning labels are required on the product. A nontoxic fire- and pest-repellant called Boron is used to treat it. Also, in colder climates, cotton insulation maintains its R-value. Cotton insulation comes in batts and can be installed in a similar way to that of fiberglass insulation.

3: Reflective Insulation:
Reflective insulation is fabricated from some type of metallic foil, such as aluminum, and backed with plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, cardboard or kraft paper. The product is engineered to stop radiant heat transfer between open spaces. It’s similar to radiant barriers but differs in that it includes a radiant barrier plus other insulation materials.Reflective insulation is usually found between roof rafters, wall studs or floor joists. Its performance and cost-effectiveness over time depend on how the insulation is installed, where it’s installed and how much existing insulation might be in a house. The materials reflective insulation is made of will conduct electricity, so hiring a professional to install it is advised.

4: Radiant Barriers:
A radiant barrier is a single reflective surface that faces an open space. Its purpose is to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss, and it’s usually installed in attics. Radiant barriers are always installed with the reflective surface facing on open air space.Here’s how this type of insulation works: Radiant heat moves in a straight line away from surfaces, heating anything solid that absorbs the energy. So when the sun heats your roof, this happens mostly because of radiant energy. A lot of this heat travels through the roof to the inside attic side, where it’s radiated onto anything cooler, like the attic floor. A radiant barrier minimizes radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to other attic surfaces. It can effectively block 90 to 97 percent of radiant heat striking its surface, which translates to lower energy costs.

5: Spray Polyurethane Foam:
Spray polyurethane foam is an insulating foam plastic that’s sprayed on as a liquid that expands many times over. Thanks to specialized equipment, application techniques can achieve dramatically different results. The same raw materials, for example, can be made fairly rigid and soft to the touch. They can also be made into roofing foam that’s resistant to foot traffic and water. Spray polyurethane foam doesn’t just provide an air barrier and method of moisture control — it also can offer high levels of R-value. Spray polyurethane foam can be used to insulate roofing, air barriers, walls, ceilings, attics and basements. It’s effective at low and high temperatures and can provide a more ideal environment for your home’s ventilation system so that it functions more efficiently.

Steps for losing your Fears

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:17:29 +0000

Fears can be healthy they can help people from doing dangerous and life threatening actions. When left unchecked, however, fears can also be debilitating and can keep you from fulfilling your potential. Just as children have boogeymen and other creatures of the night, adults can also have their own fears that can keep them wide awake at night – such as fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of relationships, and many others. Here’s how you can break down your fears and become a more effective person.

1. Analyze the fear:
The first step to breaking down your fears is by looking at the specific fears and assessing exactly what component of the situation or action haunts you. For example, you can trace your fear of relationships and commitment to the pain of being broken hearted and being left behind, or breaking someone’s heart because you find it difficult to commit to a relationship. Assess and analyze your fears carefully, so that you will be able to understand what approach you need to deal with the fear. In most cases, there is a logical explanation for the fears. If the fears are unmanageable, you should consult a psychiatrist that can provide treatment for your phobias.

2. Look for examples in other people:
Next, look at other people and check how they handle the types of situations that you fear. You can either casually ask them about the fear during regular conversations, or you can set aside some special time to talk with a close friend about your fears. These sharing sessions will help you to contextualize your fears in relation to how other people are dealing with the fear. You can use the examples, which other people set to help you manage your life in spite of your fears.

3. Focus on the present:
For more intimate types of fears such as fear of failure, you should learn to focus on the present. This will allow you to live without having to be controlled by fears. Most fears which normal adults have are fears that have something to do with the future. By living in the moment, you can prevent fears from the future from ruling your life.

4. Take small steps:
Next, take small steps to deal with the fear. If you have personal fears like fears of commitment, try dating casually again but with intentions of longer relationships than the usual one night. If you have fears such as of airplanes and flying, you can begin by visiting the local airport a few minutes each week. These small steps will help you build up your confidence before the actual time when you will confront your fears. The small steps should be consciously programmed into your schedule, especially since there is a tendency to not prioritize these as a way of subconsciously avoiding facing your fears.

5. Confrontation:
Finally, confront your fear. Whatever it is, face it head on once you have analyzed exactly why your fear is baseless, why the fear should be overcome, and after you have conditioned yourself through small steps.

6. Be sure that you have a friend or partner to help you through the confrontation, and who can give you the motivation and support needed to carry out the action plan. Through these steps, breaking down your fears and moving on with your life can be done.

Simple steps for using a Language Dictionary

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:11:52 +0000

If you want to learn a new language, a dictionary will be one of your best friends. You’d likely need two types of dictionaries: the first would be a dictionary of words, meaning the ordinary type of dictionary which give you the words and its definitions; and the second would be a phrases dictionary, which would have commonly-used phrases in that particular language. Here are some tips which can help you out:

1. Know how to choose a good dictionary. When choosing a language dictionary, make sure that it contains the following components: a pronunciation of the word, the dictionary definitions, and an example of how that word is used. The pronunciation is very important, especially if you’re totally not sure how the words are pronounced in that language – for example, you’re a Native English speaker who’s trying to learn French. Also preferable would be a phrases page where you could find commonly-used phrases in that language. When you are choosing a phrase dictionary, make sure that it also has the pronunciations, and that it is organized properly according to category – for example: phrases for business, for restaurants, for hotels, and so on. If possible, try to bring along a true native speaker of that language to help you determine if that dictionary has phrases that are actually used during normal conversations; some dictionaries tend to show phrases that are too formal and are not commonly used in ordinary conversations.

2. Use one dictionary in conjunction with one another. To get the most out of your dictionary, you should not use just one exclusively. Carry a pocket dictionary with the dictionary definitions, so you can learn new words during your commute; memorize phrases so you can use them in conversation during particular scenarios and situations; and buy a CD or listen to free online language videos to help you gain a better idea of the accents, intonations and pronunciations of the words. Better yet, make sure that you allot time to converse with another student of that language or a native speaker to ensure that you would could practice your speaking skills.

3. Don’t rely too much on your dictionary. Don’t rely overmuch on your dictionary. Remember, it rarely happens that a language will employ the same sentence word order as another language; each word would also have some intricacies and deeper layer of meaning than the definition given in the dictionary. In other words, don’t use the dictionary as a translate dictionary to be used for a word-for-word translation. Try to expose yourself to as many different resources as possible.

4. Use grammar books. Apart from the word dictionary and phrase dictionary, make sure that you always use a grammar textbook as a reference as well. That’s because dictionaries usually just give the word meanings and pronunciation, without giving explanations on grammatical structures of sentences. So to understand the basics of composing your own sentences, read up on grammar books as well.

5. These are just some of the guidelines that you could use when using a foreign language dictionary. So whether you’d purchase a Finnish dictionary, a French dictionary or any dictionary of any language in the world, remember that patience, persistence and practice are key.