Category Archives: Guest Post

How to Choose From the Various Types of Aluminum Carport Kits

There are different types of aluminum carports for sale these days so it may prove to be a challenge to find the right vehicle shelter that would meet your standards for the protection of your valuable items. The first thing to consider before you make your choice is to know what you need and the available space on your property. Once you have determined this, you can narrow down your choices. Keep in mind that there are almost an unlimited number of accessories that you can add to enhance the details and functions of a carport.

The availability of space plays an important role when deciding what type of aluminum carport to purchase. Your basic choice is to get either an attached or free standing shelter. Attached shelters are the ones which are installed on and adjacently to the house, while free standing shelters can pretty much be placed anywhere on a property as long as there is space and there are no applicable building restrictions or zoning laws. Because there are particular areas that experience bad weather, many local communities have set limitations on shelters for safety purposes, so check first.

When shopping for aluminum carport kits, keep in mind to consider the size of the vehicle you currently have, if you are planning to purchase another one, make sure that the shelter you will be purchasing can fit several vehicles. If you do add a additional car you will not have to alter the carport. This is an excellent idea especially if you have a generous amount of space on your property. Being prepared is always best.

Aluminum carport kits are usually have a wide verity of add-ons, allowing you to customize your shelter for your needs.

Make Fresh And Healthy Nut Butter With Your Blender

A speed blender is undoubtedly the most versatile kitchen appliance that you will ever buy. Heck if it was down to the two most versatile things that you could find in a kitchen, then the spoon and the blender would probably end up in a tie with the kind of things that you can do with them. Today’s blender can do everything (and more) that yesteryear’s food processor could do. With Blendtec’s ‘Will it blend?’ series of internet videos showed that many things were possible.

Blendtec’s series involved putting popular consumer electronics inside one of their most powerful high speed blender and then giving it a spin to see if it would ‘blend’! Most of the times with disastrous results; for the iPod or cellphone that was in the blender that is.

As far as making soup in a blender is concerned, let me assure you it is all very possible. I can say it with assurance as I’ve used my own Vita Mix 1300 TurboBlend 4500 to whip up a quick batch of soup on more than one occasion. Just take hot water, add your vegetables to it and then sprinkle in a dash of salt and pepper and blend–piping hot soup is ready for your consumption.

While the above was all a testament to the immense power that these blenders wield, the recipe for making peanut butter is quite a simple task. Simply toss in about two cups of roasted peanuts, add a little peanut oil (half a teaspoon should do), add some sugar to taste and give it a few whirs. If you like your peanut butter crunchy, then you can add a few peanuts in after that and use the pulse mode on your blender or a low power setting until you get the consistency you are seeking.

3D Scanners In Archaeology

3d scanners are relatively new technology. Only the advent of the laser and computers has allowed for the transfer of all details about an object into a computer, and possibly the manipulation of these items with computer aided drawing (CAD) software or similar software. 3d scanners have a huge variety of uses, but perhaps the best use is for reverse engineering and cultural purposes.

Such devices have been used by archaeologists since the invention of the technology. This application is excellent for the purpose of finding hidden details in an artifact or piece of artwork that are too small for the eye to detect it. Also, as the technology typically uses lasers or sound waves for the purposes of scanning the object, it is minimally invasive. For example, a scientist or historian may want to know more about the content of an oil painting and the chemical properties of the paint. He or she could take a small chip of paint out of the painting, but if the painting is historic enough, that likely would not be allowed. However, oil paint is very well known for accumulating in large bumps, with a lot of texture. A 3d scan of the painting could likely give enough information about the structure of the painting to figure out the contents of the paint.

There are a number of famous examples of the use of 3d scanners in archaeology. Perhaps the earliest is two different groups of researchers who were able to scan Michelangelo’s famous statue David in 1999. Both of these groups used scans at a resolution of .25 mm, which accumulated a huge amount of data, detailed enough to see the chisel marks. These data were able to tell the researchers a large amount about how the statue was made, what tools Michelangelo had to work with, and other important archaeological information. Today, most famous works of art have been subject to the same treatment. And best of all, it is completely noninvasive.

Coyote Hunting – Varmint Hunting at Its Finest

Coyote hunting season is one of many hunters’ favorite times of the year. Starting in October and lasting through the spring, many who live in the Midwest and Western states of the United States, as well as many countries in Europe, relish the challenge of pursuing these wild dogs. Many others however view coyotes as varmints and hunt them only to preserve their livelihoods and their cattle or sheep. Still other hunters prize the animals’ furry pelts. There are some states, such as South Dakota, that permit licensed varmint hunting year round, while other states have specific hunting seasons.  It is critical that the hunter be well versed in the regulations of the state where the hunt is taking place.

The prime coyote hunting months in most areas are the months of December, January, and February.  The heavy snowfall experienced in many of the coyote’s habitats is a boon to hunters, making the animals highly visible against the stark white background.  The dogs’ pelts are also in prime condition during the cold weather months. Add to this the fact that breeding season begins in January and extends until mid to late February and the winter is perfect varmint hunting time.  It also helps that the animals are a wee bit distracted when females are in heat and this helps the hunter chase this normally wary creature.

Finding the best area to place the stand is a challenge for hunters. If the hunter can locate the coyotes’ den areas then it is a no-brainer to locate the stand in close proximity. Since coyotes are opportunistic predators, they love to hang out around barns, pastures and any other areas where there are herds of livestock available for the sampling.  Securing the permission of a ranch owner or farmer to hunt on their land can be a real advantage when chasing coyotes.  All hunters who enjoy the sport know not to hunt on any privately held land without the owner’s permission. Not only can the trespasser be arrested, but he may also be subject to the sound of shotgun fire if found on someone else’s land.

Learning and using calls is key to coyote hunting success.  There are a couple of types of calls used in the sport.  The first is known as a locator, a call that mimics the howl of the dogs and determines if they are in the area. In addition to the howling sound, these calls can mimic the coyotes’ yelps and yips. The second call is one that imitates the sound of another animal in distress and leads the varmints to believe that an easy supper may be in the making. The sound of a wounded rabbit is one of the favorite coyote calls. These different calls are not easy to master, but a little bit of time spent studying a few good coyote hunting videos will really help the beginner.

The choice of preferred gun for the hunter is as varied as the hunters themselves.  The pursuit of wild dogs can involve both long range and close range shooting and for this reason, many hunters prefer a gun that is a combination of shotgun and rifle.  One weapon worth consideration is the Savage 24F.

Coyote hunting is done for many reasons. Whether for pelts, livestock protection, or simply sport, it is a favorite of many hunters as it has been for many, many years.

Diving and Snorkeling Sites of Your Dream

When you plan a vacation, you want to get the best of your legitimate leisure time, and you want to spend every minute of it. Usually people look at what sightseeing or accommodation this or that spa place offers, look at hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities on land, but you as a snorkeling enthusiast or diving aficionado you want to look deeper in the main meaning of this word, “deeper”. I always want to explore what is hidden underwater. I enjoy kelp forests and prolific reefs, with tons of invertebrate life sliding in pristine water.

Of course, every person has his own taste, and what is good for one person may be poison for another. There is a proverb in Russian, “What Russian person enjoys is death for a German person”. Even though this proverb goes into World War II times, it means that you cannot tell universal truth about what is best, especially when it relates to vacation or tastes.

Some people like active vacations, with adrenaline levels going all the way up in their blood, going as far as possible and as deep as possible to meet the most strange creatures underwater that can swallow or bite you, or sting you. But sometimes these animals are not as dangerous as they seem, like in Stingray City where they behave like domesticated pets. (See the Dangerous Animals series.)

Other divers prefer picturesque kelp forests and reefs full of rainbow-colored fish, and are happy to explore dive sites that are not far away from their home, like California’s Channel Islands. Still others enjoy ship wreck diving, with sunken ships from the days of yore, like a 19th century wooden-hull schooner that is nicely preserved in cold water.

What you should never forget about is your diving gear, including your diving knife (you need it in case of emergency) or underwater digital camera (to have the best memories of what you have seen or experienced).