Metal detectors for treasure hunting

A metal detector is a portable electronic device which penetrates the ground magnetically in order to find traces of metal. This metal could either be discarded pieces of aluminum or valuable coins, jewelry and other buried treasures. Part of the appeal of metal detecting is this unknown factor, keeping amateurs and professionals on a constant scan for new sources of metal and more promising locations. These devices can usually penetrate sand, soil, wood and other non-metallic substances, making most areas fair game for treasure hunters.

Some metal detectors can discriminate between various metals, allowing users to decide if a particular discovery would be worth digging up. A significant percentage of hits are indeed pieces of metallic trash or discarded building materials. Part of the appeal of this hobby, however, is discovering a lost class ring or a piece connected with local history. Some professional treasure hunters use very discriminating detectors set only for valuable metals, but hobbyists tend to explore even the less lucrative hits.

Metal detectors are electronic devices that are used to find traces of metal usually from the ground, a person, or cargo. This metal could be anything from discarded pieces of aluminum to buried treasures. These devices can penetrate sand, soil, wood and other non-metallic substances.

Most metal detectors, hand held, and the walk-through ones at the airport utilize a field-disturbance detector. That is a fancy name for a simple concept. When a conductor passes through a magnetic field, a portion of that magnetic field is disturbed, distorted and reduced. That reduction in the magnetic field is related to a small amount of current that is induced or created in the conductor.

You can do the same thing by jumping rope with a piece of wire instead of the rope. As the wire cuts through the earth's magnetic field, a small amount of electricity is generated at the end of the wires.

Electromagnetic induction is the creation of an electric field by a fluctuating magnetic field. The electric field may be produced, according to Faraday's law of induction in two ways: by the motion of a conductor cutting across the lines of magnetic flux of a magnetic field or by a change in the magnetic flux passing through a coil immersed in a non constant magnetic field.

Make money with embroidery

People are all ages are looking to make extra money. Whether you are planning to supplement your current income or looking to replace an income totally, consider using a hobby like embroidery to make some fast cash. Embroidered items are always popular with all types of shoppers, and you can easily begin an embroidery company with a low overhead for those short of start up funds.

When you decide to start a business based on selling embroidered products, you should first consider how you will make the items. Are you planning to purchase pre-made items like shirts, handbags, hats, blankets, or towels or do you plan to make the items yourself? If you plan to purchase items, do you have a source that will supply you with the correct amount you need in a variety of colors or styles? How do you plan to embroider the items? Do you plan to hand embroider the products or are you going to invest in an embroidery machine? If you plan on making many products for sale, consider using machine embroidery to save your fingers and your sanity.

Once you have identified what items you plan to make and sell, begin working on the business logistics of the plan. Where do you plan to sell your items? How are you going to advertise your goods and get the word out about your fabulous items? Many men and women who start embroidery businesses first start at craft shows. These shows are an excellent way to start your fledgling business, since the money needed to participate is generally low, and you are able to show your items to a great deal of people.

Look to the World Wide Web for selling your wares. Popular online auction sites like Ebay or Yahoo! Auctions are a great place to start, since you can create virtual storefronts while gaining access to the site’s customers. Owning your own internet business is very inexpensive and often a great choice for individuals who are just starting out or who do not have the resources to rent, buy, or run a traditional store of their own.

Finally, take the old fashioned route and sell your items in a traditional store. If you do not have the resources to open your own shop, ask local store owners about potentially using their space to sell your goods for a cut of the profits. Also, antique stores or shops that showcase goods from local crafters often allow individuals to rent a small space in their store instead of going out on their own.

How the hobby of collecting coins began

A Brief History of Coins and Coin Collecting

Very few things tell more about a country in fewer words than the coins it produces. Coins hold a wealth of information on their small faces, from the year of their birth to the language spoken at the time, from the metals a country holds valuable to the cultural influences and historical figures that its people hold valuable. Coins can also be strikingly beautiful in their own right, with the top designers of a nation striving to have their motif chosen for immortality on the face of a coin. With so much information and beauty contained in so small a package, it is no surprise that coin collecting has been a hobby nearly as long as the concept of coins themselves. An understanding of the long history of coin collecting, once known as “the hobby of kings,” will make this pastime even more enjoyable.

The Origin of Coins and Coin Collecting

The hobby of coin collecting began nearly as soon as the first coins were minted in Asia Minor, around 650 B. C. Before that time, gold and silver ingots were the most common form of legal tender. Because there was no standard, however, each trade necessitated a careful weighing and examination of the precious metals being offered, and it was easy for unscrupulous merchants to pass off a lesser quality of gold in trade. Coins, which were printed on standardized weights of precious metals and stamped with a government guarantee of value, was the answer to this unwieldy, easily sabotaged trading process. Within one hundred years, the concept of coins had been adopted by all of the major trading cities in the civilized world.

At the beginning, coin collecting had a very practical reason – there were no banks in which to store money. People hoarded coins as a way of safeguarding their wealth. Those coins that were especially beautiful were hoarded the longest, often being passed down within families.

Coin Collection in Renaissance Times

Modern coin collecting, where the coins are viewed as a work of art as well as a collection of valuable legal tender, is widely thought to have begun with Francesco Petrarca, or Petrarch, who is often called the father of the Renaissance. Although there is reason to believe that Roman emperors and citizens paid prices higher than face value for coins that were no longer in circulation, Petrarch was known to be an avid collector, and often spoke of his collection in his writing. During the Renaissance, popes and nobility began collecting coins for their artistic and historical value, and the name “the hobby of kings” was born. So popular was the pursuit and trade of ancient Greek and Roman coins in this time period, that a brisk business in high-quality counterfeits sprang into being. Today, these counterfeits even have a high value, due to their age, quality, and historical significance.

Coin Collecting in Modern Times

Coin collecting has been a favorite pastime of many people with a reverence for history, including U. S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The development of two large coin organizations in the mid-to-late 1800s, the American Numismatic Society (ANS) and the American Numismatic Association (ANA), helped spark American interest in building and maintaining a coin collection. Today, there has been an explosion in American interest in coin collecting, in large part due to the ease and availability of obtaining interesting coins. The U. S. Mint has successfully increased interest in starting a coin collection through the minting of specialty coins, such as the bicentennial half dollars released in 1976 and the current release of quarters commemorating each of the fifty states.

Orchid care - phaleanopsis orchids

--An introduction to Phalaenopsis orchids.

Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the easiest orchids to grow in the home. The name "phalaenopsis" comes from the Greek phalaina, meaning "moth" and opsis, meaning "like". For this reason this orchid goes by the nick name "Moth Orchid".

These orchids are very easy to grow and flower as long as care is given to recreate their natural growing environment as much as possible.

--Where should I buy my orchid?

Avoid buying cheap plants. Although you can find orchids for sale at many home centers for under $15, they are usually not in very good condition. They may have been forced to flower prematurely which weakens the plant. It’s also unlikely that they’ve been given proper care during their time in the store which can lead to root rot and other conditions.

Your best bet is to find a reputable grower in your area. Many local orchid societies have shows and exhibitions which are open to the public. This is a great opportunity to buy plants and find local dealers. Here is a list of orchid societies to get you started on your search: orchidmall. com/society. htm

If you choose to do your research online for your orchid, orchidmall. com is a good place to start gathering information.

--What potting medium is best for Phalaenopsis orchids? Orchid Bark? Sphagnum?

There is some debate on the subject of potting medium for phals orchids. Orchid bark is generally recommended as home growers may unintentionally over water, are less likely to rot the root system due to the better drainage of the bark mix.

Many commercial growers prefer sphagnum moss as it keeps the roots evenly moist and dries more uniformly. If you choose to go with the sphag you need to be careful to avoid over-watering.

--How often should I water my Phalaenopsis orchid?

When the potting mix is almost dry it's time to water your plant. You'll usually need to water your plant about once or twice a week. The watering schedule will change with the temperature. The warmer the temperature, the more often you’ll need to water.

--How often should I fertilize my orchid?

As the old saying goes, "Weakly - Weekly". Use a balanced fertilizer, diluted to 1/4 the manufacturer recommended strength, once a week for three weeks skipping the fourth week of each four week cycle. Skipping the fourth week allows you to flush any residual fertilizer from the plant during normal watering.

Always water your plant before fertilizing.

--What humidity level is needed?

Phals enjoy around 50% humidity. Often, keeping your plant in a bathroom provides sufficient humidity. If the humidity is too low you can use a humidity tray. Humidity trays can be found at your local garden center or you can make one at home by filling a shallow container with pebbles and water and placing your potted orchid on top of it.

--What is the ideal temperature for my Phaleanopsis Orchid?

The temperature should range from 70 to 80 degrees F during the day and go down to between 55 to 65 degrees at night.

In order to ensure healthy blooms, orchids require a temperature fluctuation of 10 - 15 degrees F between night and day.

--What lighting conditions are ideal for Phalaenopsis orchids?

Phalaenopsis orchids prefer eastern lighting. An alternative is shaded light from a south facing window. For proper flowering Phalaenopsis orchids require 1000 - 1500 foot candles of light. Here's a useful tip on measuring light levels with an SLR camera: orchidgeeks. com/forum/newbie-questions/292-measuring-light-levels-with-an-slr-camera. html? highlight=measuring

Proper lighting conditions are important to the success of your plant. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves and plants grown in dim light will develop floppy dark green leaves and will rarely flower.

--Should I cut the flower spike after blooming?

Phaleanopsis orchids will often re-bloom from the same flower spike. After the initial blooming you should cut the spike about halfway back, just above one of the nodes. You should see new blooms within 8-12 weeks.

Cut the spike off entirely by mid-summer to allow your plant to regain its strength for next year’s blooms.

Seal the cut with melted candle wax or a dusting of cinnamon powder (a natural fungicide) to prevent bacterial infection.

--How often should I re-pot my orchid?

Re-potting an orchid is like spring cleaning. It gives you an opportunity to replace decomposed potting medium, remove dead roots and remove residual fertilizer salts. To keep your plants healthy you should re-pot your orchid every 1-1/2 to 2 years.

Following these simple tips will give you happy, healthy Phalaenopsis orchids for many years to come.