Darts: Sharpening vs. Rounding
by Len Q
You’ve been practicing for a while now. You’ve gotten pretty good. Now you’ve come to a different dartboard and your darts won’t stick. What’s the use now?
Sharpening or rounding darts for sport or for competition is a good skill to develop, especially if you’re a player. The dart points aren’t actually meant to be sharp, even though they may be when you first buy them. Who woulda’ thought? Sharp dart points ruin a dartboard by nicking the wires, permanently damaging them. Interestingly, they will cause the darts to bounce quite regularly off the dartboard. Not a good thing at all. And the sharp points won’t stay sharp very long. The points will often bend or roll over upon impact.
Many times a burr will form on a sharp pointed dart after sticking. This very small, very thin wire coming off the tip will cause dartboard fibers to be wrenched free when you’re pulling them off the board. Burrs are the enemy of dartboards. To check for a burr, hold the dart with the tip up. Run a fingernail up the side of the point. If there is a burr, your fingernail will catch on it. Should this happen, a dart sharpener, or sandpaper, can easily be used to remove the burr. Remember that it is a fingernail and not a finger tip to use. A burr is a hell of a splinter to have to remove.
So if you don’t want it sharp, then what? Straight up, the point of a dart should be rounded. Rounded just like a ballpoint pen. Rounded tips do not damage a dartboard. They will slide past the wires instead of cutting them. There is no cleaving and, thus no burr will form. Interestingly, rounded-tip darts will stick to a dartboard much more than will sharp-tip darts. How about that? Don’t fight it. That’s just how it goes. And when you loosen the dart, dartboard fibers will not be pulled free. Even better.
Some dart players believe that a dart point should not be sharp or round. They truly think that darts need no maintenance whatever. Just play on! This is not good. Oh, no. An unmaintained dart tip will not stay round, it will become flat. Once your dart tip has become flattened, it’ll bounce right off the dartboard no matter where it lands. And because flat tips compress dartboard fibers upon impact, repeated use will ruin the dartboard, making it very difficult for darts to stick at all.
When the point of a dart begins to flatten, we only want to sharpen the tip enough to round it for use. There are hollow, cylindrical dart sharpening stones that may be used to sharpen the dart tip. These concave stones are fantastic sharpeners for dars. Small, flat rectangular sharpening stones for darts are also available. If all else is unavailable, use very coarse sandpaper. Simply wrap the sandpaper around the tip, pinch it firmly and rotate the tip until the dart becomes sharp.
Now that the tip is sharp, you’ll want to round it. Place the tip down on a sharpening stone or sand paper as though it were standing on end. Spin the dart slowly in place just until that tip has dulled a bit. Now tip the dart downward ever so slightly and spin it again just a handful of times. And now you’re done. If you don’t trust yourself to hold the dart still while spinning it, put the stone and dart—or your hand holding the dart—flush against a wall, or immobile solid structure, and then round the dart.
If your darts are dirty, clean them with water and a soft soap. Thoroughly dry them. Now they can be stored without worry of rust. But, if they do become rusty, sandpaper will easily do the trick. Lubricate the points with oil, wipe them as dry as possible and then store them. If cared for consistently, your darts, and not the flights, could last a lifetime.
Remember to keep your darts rounded. Definitely not sharp and surely not flat. It’ll only take a couple of minutes of your time to keep them in their best condition. It may improve your scoring and will surely lengthen the life of your dartboard. Good luck!
Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and protector of all that is natural. If you would like to learn about ▪ Knife Sharpening: How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them ▪ Tests for Sharpness, Sharpening Stones and more ▪ Sharpening Other Edges (i.e. Chain Saws, Lawn Mower Blades, Gardening Tools, Axes) Find it here at http://www.MakeKnivesSharp.com .
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Six Common Problems In Home Brewing And How To Fix Them
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Whilst it is true that home-brewing can be a very satisfactory and pleasurable pastime, producing good quality beer at economical prices, it is also true that problems can, and do, arise from time to time.
The purpose of this article therefore is to describe six of the most common problems that can occur, and how we can fix them.
A fairly common problem for the beginner especially is that of “Set mash.” This is where the mash actually starts to set, maybe get a crust, and generally develop the consistency of very thick porage oats. This is not good, we need to maintain a liquid consistency. Causes can be the over enthusiastic use of an electric grinder to crush the grist, or poor quality malted barley.
The remedy here is to initially dilute with water. If this fails i.e. it just breaks into lumps instead of reducing to a nice even consistency, the only recourse is to discard it and start again. If you feel the quality of the malted barley is not up to scratch then you can add up to 10% of a highly diastatic malt extract. This is an extract that contains a high proportion of the enzymes which convert starch into sugar, and also break down long proteins.
Another hiccup can be when fermentation fails to start. The usual causes of this are an environment that is too cold, the use of poor quality yeast, or the specific gravity is too high.
The fix here is to get the temperature to a minimum 60 degreees F. And if the specific gravity is too high, warm the brew, stir well, and add more yeast.
Slow fermentation is another nuisance, again the temperature could be too low, poor quality yeast or malted barley may have been used. There may be excessive nitrates in the water or the hop content could be too high (this shows by the lack of a nice yeasty head).
Depending on what you think the cause is, the usual course of action is to use fresh yeast at least every third brew, and make sure it is a quality yeast of the correct type (brewers yeast) Using a yeast starter can be a good idea to get the process off to a good start. If high nitrate levels are suspected, you should be using normal tap water, possibly run through a nitrate filter if you are in a known high nitrate area. And sometimes just a good stir will get things going, especially if you think you may have overdone the hops.
If your beer turns out to be flat and lifeless, you should look at such things as faulty bottle closures, make sure there is a good seal. The fermentation temperature could have been too low, you need a minimum temperature of 60 deg. F. Or you may have left it too long between end of fermentation and bottling. Just try shortening the interval next time.
A sour tasting beer can be caused by the same causes as those that cause flat beer (above), with the addition of maybe insufficient sterilising, make sure you are scrupulous in this regard, use campden tablets or similar. Also the fermentation process may have been compromised by the yeast being killed off by extremes of temperature. Make sure that your brew stays within the limits, i.e. no less than 60 deg.F and no more than 85 deg.F.
The final problem in this article is that of the beer being just too bitter. This can be due to the excessive use of hops, in which case just reduce the amount used. Or not enough air circulation during fermentation. A good practise to avoid this is to remove the cover daily and skim the debris off the top.
So there we are. Just a little knowledge and attention to detail can save us from many of the common problems that beset the home-brewer. Don’t let a few setbacks put you off, use them as a learning experience and you will be a better brewer for it.
Chris Haycock is an information publisher. One of whose many hobbies is home brewing. Preferring the taste and variety of his own product to those commercially available. For more information go to:http://www.secretsofhomebrewing.com
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Tips To Sell Your House
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Many experts are advising that it may be best to wait before you try to sell your home in the current market. There are certainly many reasons for this type of advice. The market in most areas remains common with inventory. Prices have not yet stabilized and as a result many markets are continuing to experience price declines. This is not expected to change at least for several months. In some cases it could be next year before markets begin to stabilize. Thus, the theory exists that it does not make sense to sell at the moment when markets could likely stabilize soon. In some situations; however, sellers may not be able to wait before they sell. If they are facing a foreclosure, medical situation or must relocate for work; there simply may not be any other alternative but to attempt to sell their home in the current market.
If you find yourself in this type of situation, then it is important to know what you can do to sell your home in the current environment despite the real estate crash. The first thing of which you should be aware when selling in this climate is that caution should be exercised with home improvements. Just a few years ago sellers could expect to recoup quite a bit of money for making home improvements when they sold their properties.
This is no longer the case. In fact, many experts are now pointing out that buyers are more interested in homes that are clean, neat and presentable than homes that are high-end. The most common mistake that many sellers make when selling their home in the current market is adding the cost of the remodeling to the sales price. Essentially, these sellers are asking the buyers to pay for the cost of the remodeling. While this might have worked in some markets a few years ago, it simply will not today.
Therefore, before you make any improvements to your home for the purpose of selling it, it is a good idea to seek professional advice. Ideally, this should be done a few months before you plan to put the home on the market. By seeking professional advice, you can learn where to spend your money to get the most bang for your buck. In most cases this will be paint and flooring; however, this can vary from market to market.
Another area that can be worth it to spend the money is obtaining a home inspection before the property goes on the market. In the past, home inspections were not performed until a contract was actually on the market and then it was paid for by the buyer. In today’s market; however, buyers have the luxury of being more selective. Obtaining a home inspection can set your home apart from the rest and provide peace of mind to buyers.
In addition, you should make sure you pay attention to the exterior of your home as well as your lawn. Siding and windows, in particular, are an important area on which to focus.
While in the past, kitchens were a major area on which to focus for home improvements because most sellers could expert to recoup most if not all of the cost, this has also changed in light of the existing market. Unless you cannot avoid it, replacing dishwasher, stoves and refrigerators is not advisable.
Heather Seitz is a national real estate investor, trainer and publisher and has worked with top advisors worldwide. To get current and accurate real estate investment tips and advice, visit http://www.RealEstateRant.net and find out how you can get $852.90 in FREE real estate investing information delivered to your front door.
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Agony of Workplace Disharmony
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I was tidying up the books beside our bed recently and saw a book my husband Tom was reading: “The Sociopath Next Door” by Martha Stoudt, Ph.D.
I remembered reading that book several years ago during a particularly traumatic time I was experiencing with my boss.
Sure enough, Tom was grappling with a boss who was singling him out for public ridicule.
Over my twenty three work history, I had three bosses who seemed to be insane. After dealing repeatedly with their psychotic behavior, screaming and yelling at me and others in front of patients, or pulling me into their office for some sort of half baked improvement plan strategy, I know now, in retrospect, that all three of these people were and maybe still are–sociopaths.
I have a theory. The brilliant books on Emotional and Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, have created a backlash in the workplace at large here in America.
These books explain the necessity for respect, camaraderie and a social/emotional IQ that people can develop, if they are so motivated.
When the books first came out, I thought they would transform the workplace with great change towards a new paradigm of workplace liberation.
I thought these books would single handedly help people to transform their perspective and help them to at least become more aware of who they are in this life time.
While buying Goleman’s latest book, “Social Intelligence,” copyright 2006, last week at Border’s, I asked the gentleman helping me to find the book, what he thought of my theory: that the Emotional Intelligence books have created a workplace environment that can only be described as backlash directly because of the ideas presented in the books.
The Border’s employee agreed with my assessment. We got into a spirited discussion about his experience as an educator.
He said that fifteen years ago, he was a public school administrator with freedom to implement programs that were good for the children, helping them to think, puzzle through solutions to problems, and fostering artistic expression.
As time went on, the “higher ups” put a stop to many of the programs that he personally helped to start.
He said that by the time he retired from the Public School system, and I’m sure “no child left behind” was a contributing factor, the schools were at best factories, at worst prisons, that suppressed creativity and innovation among the students.
My husband, Tom, works in Alternative Education, or Alt Ed. He tells me that the children are fed the same dry and unimaginative lessons plans year after year which they can’t comprehend, due to their learning disabilities.
Tom tells me that these lesson plans are an extreme example of lack of creativity which does nothing to foster self-esteem and social skills.
Tom’s sociopathic boss is neurotic about paper work and seems to think that this is the most important part of the education of these students.
She also has no concept of good nutrition. If a child behaves, this woman believes in rewarding them with candy and a soda.
Then she takes away their activity period after they go bonkers on the sugar.
Why do people like this have zero common sense?
Why do people like us have to endure their stupidity and insanity?
Besides the fact that difficult people can be the catalyst for spiritual growth!
Business, Health Care and Education are all dictated to by Corporate powers here in America. The lack of empathy that trickles down from the very top where the bottom line is always about money, is what teachers, nurses, law enforcement and business people must face on the front lines.
But what if every leader saw their employees as their customers? And these customers are to be served, loved and understood?
Studies show that bosses who listen and empathize with their employees have a harmonious work force where retention is achieved because people want to be there and actually want to show up!!
Bosses who create a resonance between themselves and their employees are successful leaders. A give and take is created whereby when difficult situations arise, the team comes together to solve the problem.
Studies show that when people like the boss, productivity rises and so does the time a person stays on the job.
Goleman says that “people don’t want to work for a toxic boss at any wage except to save enough “screw you” money to quit with security.
“Socially intelligent leadership starts with being fully present and getting in sync. Once a leader is engaged, then the full panoply of social intelligence can come into play, from sensing how people feel and why, to interacting smoothly enough to move people into a positive state.”
The dysfunctional bosses I once had and Tom now has resorts to yelling and screaming, throwing papers and eye rolling to show disdain and frustration.
These toxic emotions are contagious.
So are the positive emotions elicited from respect, civility and kindness.
Camaraderie and harmony in the workplace is what I have always strived for. When it falters, as it has for Tom, and at times for me, and obvious abuse is dolled out everyday to teachers, or nurses and whom ever else, then I say, file a grievance.
And send these people back to the Psychiatric Hospital where they belong.
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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover Your Calling and Destiny.” Click here to find out how to order the e-book:http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Check Out Kate’s Blog:http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com
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Future SEO Gurus: Don’t Hire the Best. Become the Best!
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SEO has been around for almost as long as search engines have. And for good reason. Everyone wants free advertising. But a lot has changed over the past thirteen years and with SEO gurus charging upwards of $1,000 per month, to small startups, just for maintenance you really can’t call it “free advertising” anymore.
Why is SEO so expensive? Because it’s worth it. Back in the day, you could get top ranking for just about any search term you wanted just by using tricks like keyword stuffing, invisible text and cloaking. Try any of that today and Google will kick you to the curb.
Another thing that makes optimizing your site tougher than ever is competition. In 1998 when I got into SEO, there were a couple hundred million pages indexed on Google. Now there are billions upon billions! In fact, I can’t remember the last time I ran a search for anything that had less than 300,000 results found. Beating out a few thousand pages by loading your page and META tags with keywords was easy a decade ago. Today you really need to know your stuff, or at least use a tool or service that can guide you.
Even with the killer SEO software products available today, it’s still not easy. The fact that finding the right tool will make the difference between dominating Google, Yahoo and MSN and just so so results puts pressure on you early in the game. And that’s difficult because not only can using the wrong product be a waste of money and time, it can also damage your site in a way that takes years to undue.
So, no matter how you optimize your work just remember this…you are not competing against the search engines or Websites. You’re competing against the search engine ranking of individual Web pages. Too many people focus on beating search engines or whole sites, but that’s not your competition. Search engines rank pages; not sites.
Here are three ways to optimize your own sites on a budget. All three are excellent methods but will vary greatly in time investment, cost and return on investment. For most entrepreneurs however, these are the best ways to put your optimization efforts on the fast track.
1.) Use an SEO How To Book (Average Cost $20 to $40)
If you have some time before you need to see results, his is a great and inexpensive way to go. Even if you use another method, I still recommend getting hold of a good SEO book for reference. Just be sure to check the copyright! I never buy anything that is more than a year old. Here are two of the best I’ve read in 2008 but there are many to choose from, just go to http://www.Amazon.com and search for “search engine optimization” in the Books category.
Search Engine Optimization: Your visual blueprint for effective Internet marketing (Visual Blueprint) by Kristopher B. Jones ($30 new or buy used on Amazon)
Search Engine Optimization For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) by Peter Kent ($30 new or buy used on Amazon)
If you have a Barnes and Noble bookstore around, they typically stock both titles.
2.) Use an SEO Software Package (Average Cost $150 to $600)
If you are just starting out you might want to invest a couple hundred dollars in a good Website analysis SEO tool and if you can swing it, get a linking tool too.
A Website analysis tool will check your pages from the inside out, compare exactly what you have to your top competitors and give you detailed instructions on how to beat the competition.
In 1998 I started using WebPosition Gold. It was great at doing ranking reports but their suggestions on how to optimize my pages never yielded very good results. And, of course, now that Google has banned them, I avoid using it.
One tool that has worked really well for me for both Website optimization suggestions and link building can be found at http://www.iBusinessPR0M0TER.com. They’ve been around a long time and are used by the big companies like eBay who rely on top ranking for their very existence.
At about $250 it’s on the low end of the cost scale and offers a “Top 10 raking or your money back” guarantee, so they have some incentive to get you results.
3.) Attend an SEO Seminar (Average Cost $400 to $1,500)
The cost is all over the place on this one; quality too. Your best bet here is to contact SEO specialists in your area and see if they hold seminars or if you could do a training consult.
I recommend staying local because their reputation will be important to them and it’s nice to build a relationship with someone close by for when you have questions or something changes in the optimization world (which is pretty often.)
The universal search on http://www.Google.com for finding local talent in your area is to run a search on “SEO training” followed by your city name or the largest local city.
One of these three options is likely to do the trick. Most SEO experts use all three as much as possible. Best of luck!
With 9 years experience under his belt, Scott Jason started BestSEOcopywriting.com in 2006. Two years later he has helped dozens of client as an SEO copywriter. His successes include top rankings on Google, Yahoo and MSN.
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