How Are Minerals Formed?
January 23, 2008
HOW ARE MINERALS FORMED?
MINERALS are naturally occuring, inorganic solids, with a characteristic chemical composition, having a regular atomic structure throughout. Man-made industrial diamonds are not considered true minerals. Having said that, there are also some Organic Minerals, such as Amber. Purists are reluctant to call organic minerals minerals, but they satisfy at least three of the criteria for inorganic mineral makeup, and therefore the point is open to debate.
How Many Minerals are there? There are about 4000 listed minerals on this planet but only a relatively few have gained popularity due to their pleasing apperance, often bizarre shapes, exquisite spectrum of colours, and trading value. Minerals are generally composed of more than one element or compound. Those which are made up of only one element are called Native Elements e.g. gold, silver, mercury, copper. The Conquistadores fell in love with New World gold and “liberated” it by the ship-load to fill the coffers of Government and Church in Spain. Silver too, along with Topaz, Tourmaline, Agate, Ruby, Diamond and many other precious rocks and minerals, have been highly prized for as long as Man was first enchanted by their beauty, commercial value and status it imparted to the wearer.
Make Small Fortune In The Fishing Industry
January 22, 2008
Make Small Fortune In Fishing Industry…
….now there is a headline you don’t see very often. In fact, I have never seen it.
Unless you start out with a large fortune and slowly pitter it away while in pursuit of our friends who live beneath the waves, most people don’t enter the exciting world of the fishing industry to seek fame and fortune. There are rarely any recruiters from Salmon canneries knocking on your door as you bask in the glory of graduation from college, nor do you pick up a copy of Entrepeneur Magazine and find” fisherman” as a hot start-up franchise. Guys wearing lots of “bling” and chest waders rarely come sloshing into your business and hand you a business card and brochure claiming that: “for a $10,000 investment I can help you triple your income in thirty days…GUARANTEED!!”
In fact, I even googled “Make Money Fishing” and came away with 313 responses and the disheartening notion that if you choose fishing as a way of life–you are pretty much destined for a life of relaxed mediocrity. There of course are some exceptions, like tournament bass fisherman, or guys selling fishing adventures to Mars–but for the most part –if you have some startling epiphany that “I want to make my fortune in fishing”- you are barking up the wrong riffle.
Block Island ? Memorable Vacations Are Made of This
January 21, 2008
Block Island is a seaside jewel lying 12 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island. This is a place where nature clings to every pond, stone-walled trail, beach, and everything in between. It’s a paradise for cyclists, and a haven for those ready to leave the trappings and demands of the mainland behind.
Most people take the ferry from Port Judith which takes one hour and plants you in the hub of Block Island at Old Harbor. A Seasonal ferry service also runs from Newport RI and Montauk NY.
Coming to the Island is a shift in time, with its rugged undeveloped reserves? and open field farmlands? and narrow roads lined with stone walls and wild roses. Block Islands invites you to relax in dress and time. It’s a chance for you to rediscover nature again.
Here’s suggested destinations to help you enjoy Block Island to its fullest?
THE VIEW FROM MOHEGAN BLUFFS?
You don’t want to miss the view from Mohegan Bluffs. Take the Mohegan Trail from the village of Old Harbor out to the Bluffs.
Grandpas Pond
January 20, 2008
We can learn alot from kids.
Last Friday, which incidently was St. Jean Baptiste Day in Quebec, was also the day we decided to have Grandpa’s Pond day in Shady Cove, Oregon.
Everything went off just as planned. In Shady Cove, anyway.
A beautiful early summer day, this is the annual “take the kids fishing and make sure they catch fish day”, that we have to help build interest and enthusiasm towards fishing for our little ones.
The pond is not large, and really is a watering hole for the few head of cattle that roam the hillside on Grandpa Ray’s mini ranch. At some point, a previous owner or large water spout, deposited several Crappie, Smallmouth Bass, and who knows what else into the tiny pond.There, the fish have flourished, reproduced and turned the pond into a lovely little starting place for kids to learn to fish.Truth be told, the adults like to use it for a confidence builder also. The fish don’t get very big, and like an overcrowded meadow, it is nice to thin the herd.
Calculate Food Quantities for Camping and Outdoor Recreation
January 20, 2008
As the warmer weather approaches, we look forward to another season of camping and enjoying the fun, relaxation, and beauty that the outdoor environment has to offer. I am anxious to get out on weekends to some of my favorite campsites around Kentucky and Indiana. Of course I’ll have plenty of fishing gear to bring along in case some of my family or friends join in on the adventures that are sure to come with each outing. This is the most enjoyable thing for me when I see others having a great time hiking, fishing, throwing Frisbees?, or sitting around the campfire telling stories or singing campfire songs.There are several things I try to consider before I begin packing for a camping trip. First of course, is how long will I be gone? How much time do I have to get away from the "9 to 5", unwind and get refreshed by the fresh air, sunshine, and peaceful scenery that nature provides so abundantly? This summer, I’m going to try to get out more frequently on the weekends so I’ll talk a little about short outings that are not too distant from home. This will allow me more time for what I actually want to do, and that of course, is to camp. I don’t want to spend 5 hours going and 5 hours coming, using basically a whole day just for traveling. If I pick a place that’s within a 100 mile radius, I should be able to find several dozen places to visit and spend less than 4 hours of total travel time.Ok, that sound great, I can think of a dozen places within 100 miles right of the top of my head. Lake Monroe, where my youngest son and I visited last year, is only 1 hour and 45 minutes from my home. That was a great weekend camping trip and my daughter and her friends at IU came from Bloomington to join in the fun. Several of the girls had not fished much at all, and I had more fun than they did watching them scream and holler as we caught over 70 bluegill. It was a great thrill for them to actually catch, clean, and eat fresh fish. Most of the panfish were a little on the small side, but I had them keep them for several reasons. One of course, is the fish sometimes swallow the hook and it’s nearly impossible to throw them back when this happens. Another reason I sometimes keep small bluegill, is that it helps other aquatic life to have more abundant food sources. Anyway, after we cleaned them all, they were absolutely delicious dipped in a bowl of egg and milk, rolled in cracker crumbs and cornmeal, and fried to a golden brown. And of course we had several bags to take home, which seemed like it made the camping trip last longer than just the weekend.But let’s get back to some of the essentials of planning your weekend camping trip. After you’ve decided on how much time you have, you will need to consider how many nature lovers are going camping. That’s usually the easy part. So if you’ve got 5 people going, and you’re going to be gone for two nights and two days, you’ll want to figure how many meals that will be. I’d say it will be in the neighborhood of 2 dinners, 2 breakfast, and 2 lunches, not including snack times. So we’ll need enough food for 10 people (5 x 2) for essentially one day. That should calculate to an average of 8-10 ounces of meat per person, 8-10 ounces of vegetables and fruit per person, and 8-10 servings of bread or grains per two persons. You can also use the 8-10 rule for your drinks for a total of 8-10, (8-10 oz. drinks) including water, per person per day. This may seem like a lot of liquid, but when you consider 3 meals a day and an additional drink in between, you are already at 6 drinks a day. Remember, dehydration is a major cause of heat stroke. If you’re going hiking, swimming, or playing any type of running sport, this will easily bring the drink count up an additional 3 or more for a total of 9 drinks a day. Let’s make an easy formula to go by.—————————————————————————FOOD QUANTITY FORMULA5 people for 2 days = (5 x 2 = 10)10 x 8-10 ounces = (80-100 ounces meat) or 5-6¼ lbs.10 x 8-10 ounces = (80-100 ounces fruits and veggies) or 5-6¼ lbs.8-10 servings bread or grain per (2) persons8-10 (8-10 oz. drinks) per person (per day)NOTE: Hard cheeses such as American and Swiss include in meat weight.Soft cheeses such as cultures add to fruits and vegetables weight.Eggs may be separate.—————————————————————————So that’s a pretty good rule of thumb to go by for your "3 squares." If you like to snack, which goes great with camping, bring along your chips, marshmallows, or no bake cookies and you’ll never go hungry. Don’t forget the milk if your bring chocolate.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fishing Grubs, The React Lure for all Seasons
January 19, 2008
One of the most versatile of all lures, the grub mimics baitfish better than almost any other soft plastic bait, and they can be fished many different ways and all year round.
A grub’s fat short body and thin twisting tail displaces a tremendous amount of water as it moves along, the bass picks up the vibrations with its lateral lines and movement means food. Once the bass has found the bait its natural shape and color gives him no reason to suspect a trap.
In cold water, winter and early spring, the fish are more sluggish and a slower more deliberate presentation is necessary to fool them. Flipping, and Topwater Grubin’ and Shakin’ are excellent techniques to catch grub fish this time of year. In the southern most reaches of the west the bass will come into the shallows on warm days, even in winter. Grubs will entice even the most sluggish bass in these conditions.
FLIPPIN’
River Cruise in Bangkok ? Sightseeing on the Chao Phraya
January 18, 2008
A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the community life on the Chao Phraya River and the legacies on this river of kings, a picture of stark contrasts.
It needn’t have to be an elaborate affair; you can cut the frills and expenses. Plan the river cruise yourself for a more meaningful Bangkok sightseeing tour from the Chao Phraya River.
The Chao Phraya River is the longest river in Thailand stretching 370 km from Nakhon Sawan, more than 200 km north of Bangkok. The river continues past Bangkok to flow into the Gulf of Thailand in Samut Prakan to the south.
Chao Phraya is also the highest title in ancient Thai nobility, similar to the Duke in British nobility. The title is no longer in use.
Attractions, landmarks and views in a river cruise in Bangkok
Start the river cruise from the Sathorn Pier near the Taksin Bridge; five minutes walk from the Taksin Bridge skytrain station, the terminal station for trains from the city center.
Proceed northwards passing the scenic water front hotels like the old Oriental Bangkok where famous writers like Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham left their mark.
Where The Bassalo Roam
January 17, 2008
Have you ever thought why fishing timbers is so productive? Well, for one, most anglers don’t want to fish them because they’re afraid of losing a $5.00 lure. This makes it better for us that are willing to take the risk. Sure, you get those who will throw a spinnerbait on the top of the timber but the fish are in the timber. You need to throw crankbaits or pitch a tube or jig to catch the fish. Most of the fish never see a spinnerbait. Also everyone knows that the bass will use that cover to break free if they can, again losing a lure in some cases.
So, how do you know where to fish in a lake full of trees? Well, you don’t pay attention to the trees to start with and look for structure below the surface. Creek channels are a good place to start. They are the freeways for bass. Look for points, road beds and bends. In the spring look for spawning areas. So, the first step in fishing trees is to use your topo map and depth finder. Once you fish an area throughly, then use the map and depth finder to find other places like where you caught fish. You will want to pay attention to the season too, different patterns for different seasons. Find cover that hold a variety of cover not just one type.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Trekking Poles
January 16, 2008
How to get the most out of your trekking poles is one of the biggest concerns while considering buying a new pair or using your existing trekking poles. To get most out of your trekking poles, you need to consider two things: First, various "types of trekking poles" to suit your preference, style, ease of use and of course budget! Second, to know about various features of your trekking poles and how to use them effectively to get most out of them!
Before discussing the above mentioned points, let’s see what exactly these trekking poles are.
Trekking poles, hiking poles or hiking staff are much similar to ski poles. Trekking poles are nothing but balancing sticks used for balancing the weight distribution and shock over four limbs (2 legs and 2 hands), instead of two (2 legs). Those who are experienced hiker or trekker already know that while trekking our two legs are not enough to maintain good stability on the uncertain tracks and we need extra balancing support to offset the load on our feet and legs.
Spinnerbait Fishing Tactics for Spotted Bay Bass
January 15, 2008
Like most fishermen my age I originally learned about spinnerbait fishing for largemouth bass with my Dad. My class room was the back of an aluminum rental boat drifting the brush flats and rocky points of Irvine Lake in Orange County and Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara, CA. Both lakes were renowned southern California bass fisheries in the 1960’s and 70’s. Later I refined my techniques from the business end of a Nitro bass boat fishing team tournaments in the waters of the mid west for Smallmouth bass and Muskie.
In the last 30 years I have managed to refined my spinnerbait technique quite a bit. I now do most of my fishing from my kayak or a float tube but the target fish is still a bass albeit a distant saltwater cousin, the Spotted Bay Bass. The proving grounds are now Newport Harbor, the LA Breakwall and Mission Bay, San Diego. Most of the large harbors of Southern California’s coast are filled with hungry spotted bass or sand bass that are just waiting to try this tasty treat.
Keep your tackle choices simple
