What’s a fun thing to do with a radio-controlled car other than to race it? Well, one can make it into a spy camera. RC cars make good stealth vehicles. They can be used for surveillance or simply for fun.

Different models of mini-cameras can be installed in radio-controlled cars. Perhaps, this innovation will be seen in the race tracks in the future, where drivers will be able to get a first-hand view of the tracks as if they were inside their radio-controlled cars. But for now, radio-controlled cars with video capabilities can be used as toys.

There has been a toy that was released recently which caters to the inquisitive and adrenaline-packed attitudes of children who are into spy games. The “Spy Video Car” was released by the toy company Wild Planet at the San Francisco Toy Fair. It is currently priced at $50.

It has a digital camera that is incorporated into the body of the car. The camera itself rotates in wide angles which can be controlled via a remote control. The cool thing about this toy is that it features an eyewear where the video from the camera can be viewed. This adds up to the illusion that one is really into a spy game. The video is empowered with infrared technology so that one can use it even at night.

The sunglasses are impact resistant and can store up to twenty digital images. The images can then be transferred to an ordinary computer through a USB cable. However, the images generated from the video car are somewhat low in resolution, 640 by 480 pixels at the most.

One can definitely innovate and attach an ordinary mini-digital camera into his radio-controlled car if he would want to experiment on something new.  A wireless digital camera can be purchased from specialty stores and can be installed in most RC vehicles.

This would entail some kind of expertise in terms of setting up the cameras and the viewing mechanism. The video cameras can usually be directed into personal computers and one can have the option of recording or capturing the video. Getting a video of the race track can be a good way of learning the tracks and getting ahead of the competition.

A video mechanism on an RC vehicle is a great innovation and a whole lot of fun too.

By :  Chaichen

Ask a room full of people what hobby they have and you will get as many answers as there are people. Others will confess that they don’t have a hobby. They probably do; but just don’t label it as such. By definition, a hobby is an activity or interest pursued outside one’s regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.

Whether flying, stamp collecting, chat rooms, trains, softball,scrapbooking, golf, reading, painting, tap dancing, yard work, crafts, auto mechanics, music, hunting down garage sales, sewing, fishing, cooking, boating, furniture refinishing, javelin tossing or a plethora of other activities or interests the key element is balance. You must find balance between your family life and your extracurricular activities.

Too much of a good thing turns bad. Everyone should havean outlet and a special interest that they enjoy doing for themselves. Self indulgence, to a point, is quite healthy. Escaping from day to day grinds to take some time to devoteto your flying hobby or concentration is therapeutic. You’ve all heard, “if Mamma ain’t happy, no one’s happy.” It doesn’t matter if your role is father, mother, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, son, daughter, brother or sister, if you’re just going to work or school and have noreal outside activities, you’re probably not always the most friendly person to be around.

Conversely, if you bury yourself and it seems to others that all you care about or all you ever want to do is fly all day (or hang around the airport), you’re setting yourself up or prolonging discontent. People deal with depression in many ways. Some sleep all the time. Others want to do nothing but read,read, read. Still others will spend hours upon hours downstairs building a bigger, faster widget, just to avoid the real cause of their frustrations. Hobbies are supposed to be a healthy outlet, not a catalyst to ignore issues that need addressing.

Likewise, hobbies can get very expensive. Sure, flying, snow mobiles, motorcycles and ski equipment are obviously expensive. But sometimes those seemingly low cost activities can add up. You start out with trying to budget for the weekly flying lessons. Then you need (or want) the unnecessary (but fun) goodies that we all “need” to pursue our passion. “Let’s see, do we pay the mortgage this month, or get that (fill in the blank) that you just have to have?”

If your flying hobby is doing more harm than good, if it’s dipping into the family budget and time allocation, more than you can or should be spending, it’s time to reevaluate. Not stop the flying, mind you, just make sure it’s appropriate for you and your family and its lifestyle.

By: Yvonne Volante

It is one thing to know how to drive the radio-controlled car; it is another to maintain it so that it will be in good condition at all times. Here are a few tips for those who want to know more about taking care of the RC and its parts.

1. Most radio-controlled cars have bushings made either of plastic or bronze. These are designed to take on the negative effects of friction when driving on the racetrack. It is advisable to replace these with balls bearings instead since these have proven to be more durable that the latter.

People who do this don’t have to change them very often and will notice that the radio-controlled car is able to maintain its speed on or off the track.

2. In most car races, the two most important things in the machine are the engine and the tires. Those who compete should not rely on hard tires but get those made of rubber. This will allow the person to make those sharp turns and while maintaining control on the road.

The radio controlled car should be examined from time to time so that the individual will know when to replace the old tires with new ones.

3. Racers need good engines when competing. A majority of radio controlled cars come with mechanical speed controls that are either rotary or wiper typed. If the racer wants to get the best performance from the machine, it would be a good idea to change these to electronic speed controls. These are maintenance free and are much smaller making the vehicle lighter and smoother to drive.

4. Radio controlled cars also need something to absorb the impact of the track called fluid damped shocks. Since these bog down due to wear and tear, the user should replace these after a few runs so that there won’t be any damage to the vehicle.

5. Radio controlled machines run on batteries. It is advisable to get those that are rechargeable so that the owner does not have to buy new ones when these are no longer as effective as they used to be.

Preventive maintenance is the best way to make sure the radio controlled car is in good condition at all times. The owner can do this alone or with the help of a technician so that parts are functioning properly on and off the track.

By :  Chaichen, Sport And Recreation

When one thinks about stuffed animals and plush toys today one almost always thinks of the iconic teddy bear. However, the teddy bear is actually a fairly recent arrival. The first of them came in 1902 when a store owner in Brooklyn, New York saw a political cartoon called ‘Drawing the Line in Mississippi’. This cartoon showed then president Theodore Roosevelt, who was also known as ‘Teddy’, refusing to shoot a cornered bear during an actual hunting trip. Roosevelt stated that it would not be very sportsmanlike of him to do so.
The bear had appeared in a past series of cartoons as cute, cuddly and small. The store owner, Morris Michtom, used this image to inspire the creation of stuffed bears marketed as toys for children. The store was already equipped to produce the toys as his wife had been produced stuffed bears for some time so Morris was able to begin producing stuffed bears in the image of the President immediately.
Michtom sent President Roosevelt a sample bear, along with a request for permission to use the President’s nickname as part of the toy’s name. President Roosevelt agreed, and the toy bear began its journey into the public consciousness. These stuffed bears proved very popular from the beginning. Mr. Michtom posted a ‘Teddy’s Bear’ sign in his store window, and the name ‘Teddy Bear’ soon became synonymous with these stuffed animals.
Soon many other stores began selling the toy bear. Media and documents of the time reference these stuffed animals. Books, newspapers, and music of the time talk about teddy bears through out the United States and Europe. Teddy bears soon became popular collector’s items. Collector’s of toys, vintage dolls, and antique dolls often also have plush bears among their collection.
There are some toy bears that have quite a bit of value. An example of this is a toy bear made partly from gold, which was produced by the original maker in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the toy and it is selling for $84,000. The company that first marketed the teddy bear, which is the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., is Michtom’s company and is still in business today.
The hobby of toy bear collecting should not cost you thousands of dollars. There are many ways to find reasonably priced and sometimes great bargains for vintage bears at garage sales, flea markets, online auctions and special collector’s venues. In addition to its status as a collectible vintage bear, this toy that bears the name of a popular president, will make a warm and cuddly companion for a young child.

By: Daniel Wright

First things first, a radio-controlled car is a model car that is driven using a system that is run by radio control from a significant distance.  Using transmitters or joysticks to input any direction one wants the car to go; this is then communicated to the vehicle’s receiver found onboard the radio-controlled car.

Believe it or not, driving, building and modifying a radio-controlled car is the kind of hobby that is enjoyed by most people and car enthusiasts of varying ages.

 The value of proper maintenance 

So why should one appropriately care for and maintain their own radio-controlled cars?  A radio-controlled car that is maintained regularly helps ensure that it runs smoothly and with no trouble at all. 

However, there are also those types of radio-controlled cars that are a lot cheaper and are found in electronic and discount stores.  These are cars that are classified as “toy-grade.”  Usually, these types of cars are unserviceable. But people who are interested in the mechanics of radio controlled cars, the regular maintenance of these types of vehicles is part and parcel of such a hobby. 

Due to the radio-controlled cars construction, which is modular in nature, in the event that a part breaks or wears out, these could be individually replaced. 

 Upgrade your vehicle  

Fortunately, the replacement parts for those models that are hobby-grade allows these vehicles to be upgraded extensively.  Compare this to those toy-grade vehicles wherein it is quite impossible to find parts.  Plus, these toy-grade vehicles are disassembled in a more difficult manner.

Due to their difficult maintenance, Radio Shack was able to release XMODS as well as ZipZap cars.  These are toys that are classified within the mid-grade line and which can be modified, tuned, repaired - albeit to a degree quite less when compared to those professional vehicles classified as hobby-grade.

Recently, car models that are ready-to-run are available from major remote-controlled-car manufacturers.  This fact has made it possible for hobbyists to be attracted to such vehicles where they would have otherwise purchased a toy car that is pre-assembled. 

These types of vehicles do not need much final assembly.  The bodies of these remote-controlled-cars are shipped already trimmed, painted and requires no additional work from the vehicle’s owner before it is used.

All in all, remote-controlled-cars provide satisfaction to the owner as long as the vehicles are kept well maintained and in good - if not excellent - condition.

By :  Chaichen,  Science And Technology

While RC trains, RC cars, RC airplanes, and RC boats are all incredibly popular hobbyist pastimes, truly the most incredible of all RC options are RC helicopters. When it comes to the RC helicopter there is no surpassing the thrill of flying the device, and while other RC toys and hobbyist devices have there own benefits, the RC helicopter is truly a distinct and original pastime. Simply assembling an RC helicopter is a challenge, that once achieved, delivers to the RC helicopter hobbyist a serious and intense sense of accomplishment!

RC airplanes, electric boats, and RC cars, like the RC helicopters presently sold usually require assembly. There are some items which come fresh out of the box and are ready for use, but the hobbyist misses out on the fun to be had putting the item together him or her self. There is just something very special about sitting down and taking the time to assemble an RC toy that makes the entire pastime more enjoyable.

When comparing RC trains, RC cars, RC boats, and RC airplanes to the RC helicopter, the helicopter wins hands down! Take RC trains for example, which are great fun if you want to watch a train go around and around on a single track over an over again. For RC helicopter enthusiasts, this action can be somewhat monotonous, and the RC helicopter, once mastered, can be flown out in the open air! There is no routine flight when it comes to the RC helicopter. In terms of RC boats, which are ideal for people within close proximity to fairly large bodies of water, but what about the RC hobbyist hopefuls that has no water access nearby? Again, RC helicopters, not requiring water, can be operated out in an open field or a wide open space outdoors.

When RC helicopters are compared to RC cars and RC planes, many hobbyists prefer the unique challenges that RC helicopters deliver. Challenges are encountered in every phase, including the assembling phase as well as the flight testing phases. When such challenges are conquered, the sense of accomplishment that the RC helicopter operator gets is unparalleled.

There are in fact, RC helicopter modelling clubs that RC helicopter operators and hopefuls can join to learn everything there is to know about how to fly RC toys properly. Being part of a club gives the RC helicopter owner a chance to share his or her experiences with others as well as to learn the art of flying and control from qualified mentors. In addition to clubs, there are actually professional RC helicopter instructors that will help an RC helicopter user to learn how to make the helicopter hover, how to control the remote control sticks, how to get the helicopter to take off and land successfully without crashing, and how to master the basic steps of helicopter flying.

Later on down the road, as one progresses and advances in his or her flying practices, the helicopter operator will advance and improve his or her flying techniques. It is possible to become skilled enough to do special in flight tricks like figure eights, proper climbing and descending, semi stall turns, large circles, vertical top hats, nose in hovers, as well as nose-in take offs and landings. While every RC toy has its own set of tricks to master and the performance of tricks is certainly fun, it is clear that RC helicopters pose a significant challenge to its operators. This challenge is what makes the practice of RC helicopter operation so attractive and appealing to the avid RC hobbyist

By: William Williams
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by: Connie Fillmore

by: S. Roberts

Make a beautiful stained glass effect Christmas Lantern, a beautiful Christmas decoration for any room. Made from a paper lampshade which will fit and ceiling light. When the light is switched on you see the full effect of the stained glass effect.

To make the stained glass effect paper lantern you will need…

A ball shaped paper lamp shade/lantern in any size you wish. Felt tip pens, black paint.

You need to create a design for the lantern. Draw the design on a sheet of paper. You could draw the nativity scene, a Christmas tree, Santa Claus or maybe ‘Merry Christmas’. The design needs to be simple and bold.

Once you are happy with the design you can start work on the lantern itself. First you will need to erect the paper lantern. It should have assembly instructions with it. Unfold the lantern and insert a wire expander inside the lantern, this slots into place and keeps the lantern erect and taught.

Take a black felt tip pen or a marker and draw the design on to the paper lantern. Be careful when you are doing this because the lantern is made of paper and the wet ink makes the paper fragile. If your pen does accidentally ‘go through’ stick a small piece of paper on the hole to patch it up and leave it to dry.

Once your design is complete, paint the background of the lantern black. This is so that the lantern blocks out some of the light. Again you need to take care not to puncture the paper. Use two brushes to paint the lantern, a thin brush for small and detailed areas, and a thick brush for large areas.

Top Tip - Paint from the top of the lantern to half way down, and leave to dry. Then turn upside down and paint the other half. Use a dish to stand the lantern on, it stops it from moving and raises it up from the work surface.

For best results, give the lantern two coats of black paint. Once the paintwork is dry, you’re ready to apply the stained glass effect. With coloured felt tip pens, colour in the white areas of your design on the paper lantern. Again take care.

Now hang the lantern up from a ceiling light in your home. Every time the light is turned on your delightful design will glow like a stained glass window in a church on a sunny day. The lantern is a fun and unusual Christmas decoration.

Do not use a higher wattage bulb in the lantern than indicated with the lantern instructions and packaging.

by: Mantius Cazaubon

There are so many keyboards and digital pianos on the market today. How does one make a selection? Here are a few tips to help you choose one that meets your needs.
1. How much can you afford?

With such a wealth of keyboards available, a working person shouldn’t have a problem finding one that fits their budget. Low priced keyboards are all over. But this doesn’t mean that you should settle for anything. As the old adage goes, you usually get what you pay for. Usually the more money you invest, the greater the returns.

2. Do you need weighted action or synth action.

Weighted action means that the keyboard comes with heavy (weighted) keys and feels like an acoustic piano. You need some muscle to play such keyboards. If you’re a trained pianist or you want to develop your piano skills a weighted keyboard would be better suited.
Synth action would mean lighter keys. You can usually play faster and easier with a synth action keyboard. Are you gonna be playing synthy and techno stuff? Then synth action is what you need.

3. How many keys do you need?

You have a choice between 88, 76, 61, 49, 37, 25 keys, and even less. Your choice should be based on your needs and circumstances. For instance, players doing stuff that requires a small range, like samples, only need a few keys. 76 keys are usually best for quality synth action. But if you’re into stuff like sound development you can’t afford to work with anything short of 88 keys.

4. Do you need an onboard sequencer?

You need to avoid duplication. If you’re already sequencing on your computer you don’t want to pay for a keyboard that comes with a sequencer. You may never use it. An onboard sequencer is more important when you’re working without a computer.

5. Consider whether you need a workstation.

Workstations perform so many functions. These include everything from sequencing, to sampling, to effects, and mixing. Again you should avoid duplication. If you’re already doing all that on your computer, you probably don’t need to pay extra for a workstation. Don’t buy features that you already have. But a workstation is an incredible and necessary tool when a computer is not in the mix.

6. Importance of velocity and aftertouch features.

Ensure that your keyboard comes with velocity and aftertouch features. Velocity refers to how the sound responds to the amount of pressure applied to the keys (how quickly keys are pushed down). While aftertouch deals with the control data that is generated by pressing down the keys after they have reached and are resting on the keybed.

7. Will you be gigging or not.

If you’ll be carrying your keyboard from gig to gig, durability should be an important consideration. What material is used? A hard case should come in handy for protection. The weight of your keyboard is also part of the picture; unless you don’t mind the hassles of carrying a heavy keyboard or digital piano from one gig to another.

You should be able to find a keyboard easily online. You can order one that suits your needs today. Some of the best music keyboard and digital piano prices can be found on the Internet. You even get free shipping to your door.

by: Patricia Robertson

A friend recently asked me “What’s the point in playing a game that has no winner and doesn’t ever end?” Now, what brought about this conversation was that he had seen me playing on a text based game for several months. My friend had been mildly interested to the point of just asking what it was and then rolling his nose when I told him he had to actually think and read the whole time.

See, my friend is heavily into gaming - video gaming. He loves games, but he wants the graphics and his options laid out for him. Now, do no get me wrong, I like video games too. I grew up on video games and I still play games to this day, but I am drawn more to the freedom of a text based gamed. Until recently, video games were very structured and laid out. My first video game was the Atari System with a cassette of Pack-Man and I would sit and gobble up the little white dots and chase ghosts all day. I remember the first Mario Brothers game that was the classic side scrolling movement and there was no way to turn back. You just went level by level until you got to the end and then you started the game all over again. When Mario Brothers II hit the stands, you could move back and forth on the screen, but it was still a very structured game that made you move level by level. Mario Brothers III was the first game that I saw that you could actually go back and replay different levels instead of being forced forward all the time. Your choices in the game were very limited, there was only one method to do something or one path to take and that was it. There was no ‘creative’ solution to the early generation of video games. Even the latest generation of video games, even though they allow more exploration within ‘the level’ they are still very structured and you are only allowed to follow a predestined path. Even the most sophisticated games today still have to be laid out on a predestined path that has to be followed. He is content with his predestined paths and realistic graphics.

However, I need something different.

I found text based gaming in the mid 1990’s when my gaming circle had broken up after several members graduated from high school and left to go to college. I had taken a liking to role playing, since it something very creative and you had to think and look at all the clues that were laid out in front of you in order to find the solution. And of course, this meant that you had to try several different methods. After my circle had broken up, another friend told me to try online gaming. She said there were places on the internet were people could go to play. I was intrigued and went to a place she recommended, Dark Metal. I had primarily been playing White Wolf in the form of Vampires and Werewolves and Dark Metal was built around the White Wolf game. I spent nearly five years on Dark Metal, falling instantly in love with online gaming. Here was a community of players that all shared the same interest and could be accessed at anytime of day. The game was just like sitting around with friends, but you could visualize the text more, sit and think for a bit about what your character was going to do. Plus, you got to interact with people from all over the country and in some instances the world. I’ve met people all the way from Australia to in my home town. But I also got to see different perspectives on the same game. Two people with the same style character and style mission will approach it from different angles just based on the interpretation of the game. This is what makes text based games so much fun, working outside of the box.

Dark Metal started to fail, as is the natural course of the online game. Players drift in and drift out, the games surge and then die off. What starts out as a good idea is lost in the shuffle of real life. A friend lead me to another game, telling me it was different then the World of Darkness games that I had been playing. He said it still had dark themes at times, but overall it was a more upbeat game. He said it had a huge player base who was friend, staff that was interesting and a well laid and thought out plot that was a huge success.

I was introduced to Firan.

The basis of Firan is rather simple, a Greek/Roman based game but it is set on another planet so to speak. The history of the game is well written and complex, giving a host of possibilities. Plus, what I like is that the characters are pre-made, that you do not have to worry about getting into role-play (rp) groups. This was one thing I had struggled with on Dark Metal and other games, was that a character came onto the grid without any ties and you had to work hard to get them involved in things, to be found and adopted. With Firan, you could step into a family and assume a role, starting with a circle and they helped you learn the game. Yes, this is different then video games where you are not given the choice of a character to play or you are only given body styles or armor color to select from.

The game is packed with many things that give it its flare; religious, social, economic, nationalist and even sexual themes. There is the constant struggle between the pagans and the true believes the upper versus the lower class, clans versus clans, etc. The list goes on and on. Instead of a standard few races that were eligible on other games, here you had the choice between playing a noble priestess from a warlike clan to a common tailor from clan that represses its women. The possibilities are endless on a game like this, unlike the assumed role you would pick in a video game. Your imagination is the only limiting factor. I have personally played a whore that was an outcast of a noble family, a young princess that did her duty, a tailor that is opinionated and well past her prime but she still keeps the men noticing her, a grandmother that is bipolar in her moods, and a young girl from a clan that value their women less then horses. I could never get all this from a single video game.