Log Cabins In Monongahela West Virginia

A pleasant place to spend a night

The Monongahela National Forest encompasses 910,155 acres in eastern West Virginia. It was established in 1915 and is part of the Allegheny Mountains. Spruce Knob marks the highest point in the state. The park contains 825 miles worth of trails, making it a wonderful place to hike. If you plan on visiting Monongahela, there are several cabins available to rent nearby.

Elk River Inn & Cabins‎

In addition to its cabins, Elk River features a gourmet restaurant where guests can dine on several health-conscious entrees. There is a also a pub located onsite. Four different cabins are available for rent. Amenities include fully-equipped kitchens, satellite television and washer/dryers. Some cabins also have hot tubs. The cabins are available to rent year-round, with rates varying depending on the season. Management enforces a two-night minimum stay. The cabins are pet-friendly.

Elk River Inn & Cabins‎

Hwy 219

Slatyfork, WV 26291

304-572-3771

elkriverinnandrestaurant.com‎

Top of the Ridge Cabin‎

Top of the Ridge is a giant cabin on its own private lot that features sweeping views of the surrounding area. The cabin has five bedrooms total and sleeps 12 guests. Three of the bedrooms have their own private bath. Amenities include pool table, hot tub, stone fireplace, wireless Internet and satellite television. It sits on six acres and guests are permitted to play paintball on the premises. Fly fishing, skiing, golf and swimming holes are all located nearby. The cabin is available for rent year round. Rates vary by season.

Top of the Ridge Cabin‎

25 Knob Dr

Slatyfork, WV 26291

800-948-9592

topoftheridgecabin.com‎

Germany Valley Overlook Cabins‎

These cabins feature panoramic views of Spruce Knob and the eastern slopes of the Allegheny Mountains. The three cabins are located far enough apart from each other that guests still feel a strong sense of privacy. The 170 acres of pastures that surrounds the cabins add to the sense that guests have really gotten away from it all. Each cabin features a large outdoor deck with Adirondack chairs to enjoy the views. The cabins also have fully-equipped kitchens, picnic tables and fire pits. They are available to rent year-round and several off-season specials are available through the website.

Germany Valley Overlook Cabins‎

Overlook Cabin LN

Seneca Rocks, WV 26884

800-481-5680

germanyvalleycabins.com‎

Tags: available rent, cabins available, cabins available rent, Allegheny Mountains, also have

Build An Underground Bunker Shelter

This bunker is designed to protect against radiation poisoning.

An underground bunker can keep your family safe in the event of tornadoes and other natural disasters. If you are worried about surviving a nuclear accident or attack, the bunker design below is specifically built to protect against radiation poisoning. Before you build, you'll need to know how much space and what necessities you'll need for the amount of time you expect to stay in your bunker.

Instructions

1. Excavate the pit for your underground bunker with a backhoe. You want the pit to be a minimum of 2 feet deeper than the height of your bunker, and 2 feet wider than the bunker's width. Excavate an area of your pit on one side that is deeper than where you plan on having your shelter. This will serve as the leach field for your sewer system.

2. Set your survey stakes into the bottom of the pit to mark the bunker's outside corners. Tie a string between each stake so you can see where the bunker's walls will be.

3. Excavate trenches along the outside edge of the bunker walls you have marked with the survey stakes and string. Make the trenches about 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep. Fill the trenches with 6 inches of gravel. This will serve as drainage for your bunker, keeping moisture from the surrounding earth from penetrating your shelter.

4. Hand-dig a shallow trench from your slab to the leach field and run a PVC pipe so that it extends horizontally from where you want to place your toilet on the slab, then follows a downward grade to the leach field. Backfill the leach field when you are done.

5. Set your 2-by-6-foot boards along your string line and stake them into place upright. That will make a box that is 6 inches deep. Place your wire mesh in the box and pour concrete over this until the box is full. Use a piece of wood to level the concrete and smooth it. That will be the floor of your bunker.

6. Snap lines on the dry concrete floor with your chalk line that show where the walls of your underground bunker will be. Mark the outside of the wall and not the center. Mark where the door will go and stand the door frame up, using the wood from the concrete slab to hold it in place.

7. Lay out the cinder blocks and see whether you need to cut any block to make it fit. Make sure you leave about 1/2 inch between the blocks to allow for the mortar. When you have your block layout, mix the mortar according to the instructions on the bag and begin to lay your courses (a course is one layer of block). Every four feet of height, stop laying block, cut a series of pieces of the No. 4 rebar, 6 feet in length. Drop the bar down into your wall every 8 inches. Fill the wall with concrete, keeping the rebar centered in the block. When the concrete has set, begin laying more courses of block using the rebar that is stocking out to "lock" the sections together. When you are on the last course, the one that will meet the roof, stop and do not fill it with concrete yet.

8. Cut joist pockets into the last course of block that will allow you to lay a 4-by-4-foot joist from wall to wall to support the roof. Place the joist pockets no more than 36 inches apart. You will only have to do that in two opposite walls, not all four; pick the two walls that have the least amount of distance between them. Build small wooden boxes out of your 2-by-6-foot wood and place them in the joist pockets you have made to keep the concrete from filling them.

9. Two courses down from the course you cut your joist pockets in, lay out where you want your vent pipes to pass through the wall, core drill the block and put a small section of PVC pipe through to prevent the space from being filled with concrete. Now, cut more rebar that will end about 2 inches below the top of your block, drop it in place and fill the last section with concrete. Let the concrete dry.

10. Pull the wood boxes and PVC pipe sections from the wall. Lay your joists in, from wall to wall, until all your joist pockets are full. Run support joists from the floor of your bunker up to the roof joists. Bolt the joists together using mending plates. Run a series of vertical joists directly up along your block wall; bolt the joists directly into the wall.

11. Run a section of PVC pipe through the vent holes and up beyond the surface level of the earth at least 8 inches. You will need to bend the pipe with a PVC bender. Install gooseneck hoods on the pipe end that will be above ground.

12. Lay your plywood sheets across the roof joists and nail into place. Then lay two layers of block. They don't need to be mortared; just butt them tightly together. Cover the roof with a thick layer of earth, making sure the earth fills the blocks.

13. Hang your steel door in the door frame

14. Place your ladder from the surface of the ground down to where the entrance of your bunker is. Backfill the hole with earth, leaving an area clear around the entrance.

Tags: your bunker, joist pockets, leach field, with concrete, from wall, your block

Buy A Used Handgun

Of course, you can always pay a competent gunsmith to check out a potential gun before purchase, but for most cases, following the simple steps below will save you the hassle and give you the confidence to make a decision on the spot. It might just save you some money too!

Instructions

1. Check for imperfections in the finish. Are there any places that are discolored, have a thin coat, or are already scratched?

2. Look for rust on areas where the finish may have worn away.

3. Examine the grips. Have the screws been installed with care? They may be over tightened, showing tool marks and cutting into the threads or they may be coming loose.

4. Check the feed lips on the magazines so see if they are bent or if the magazine has scratches from a bad fit with the frame. Try inserting each magazine that came with the gun to check the fit and function of the mag release. Make sure each magazine holds the slide back when it is empty.

5. Look at the muzzle to see if there are any chips or dings. This may indicate the gun has been dropped on this area.

6. Check the plunger tube to ensure it is securely staked on. This is weak point on 1911 that is prone to failure.

7. Don't be surprised if the barrel isn't entirely clean. Even if the gun is new, typically several rounds are fired through the weapon to ensure its function before its sale.

8. Check for hairline cracks in the slide and frame. Make sure to check near the ejection port, the rails of the frame, and the stirrup cut of the slide. Aluminum frames especially may prone to cracking over time.

9. Check the play between the slide and frame. Most guns have a little bit of play in this area, so don't expect a perfect fit unless it's a competition gun. But it shouldn't rattle or be excessive.

Tags: each magazine, Make sure, slide frame, this area

Chrono An Airsoft Gun

Chrono an Airsoft Gun

To chronograph, or chrono, an Airsoft gun involves measuring the feet per second that a plastic Airsoft BB travels through the air as it leaves the barrel of the gun. Commercially made chronographs feature a tube through which the plastic BB is fired. A display screen on the outside of the unit displays the speed in feet per second (fps). Many Airsoft ranges and shooting events require that guns be checked with a chronograph before using. Limits on the maximum feet per second are often used as a safety guideline to prevent injury.

Instructions

1. Mount the Airsoft chronograph to a tripod if possible, and position it on a sturdy table or work surface that will provide support and prevent movement during testing. Use a backstop behind the chronograph to stop and catch BBs as they are fired through the chrono tube.

2. Load the Airsoft gun with ammunition that will be used during shooting events, games or target practice. Test any ammunition that may be used, as different weights may produce different results. For example, BBs weighing 0.20 g may give different results from 0.25-g BBs.

3. Position the barrel in front of the chronograph tube. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine the exact distance that the muzzle, or end of the barrel, should be placed from the chrono.

4. Fire a BB straight through the chrono tube. Look at the view screen to determine the speed, and write down the fps number.

5. Repeat the process for at least five rounds of each BB weight being tested. Chronograph five rounds of a BB at a certain weight, and then proceed to the next weight of BB.

Tags: feet second, Airsoft chronograph, ammunition that, chrono tube, different results, five rounds

Build A Pvc Clam Digging Gun

Clam digging guns make it easier to dig clams.

A clam gun is not a "gun" at all, but rather a simple device used to dig for clams. The clam digging gun is a tube made out of PVC, or metal, with a hole in it to let air out, a cap on the end and handles. When the digger sees the telltale depression or hole left by a clam beneath the sand, he places the clam gun over it, pushes it down, covers the hole and pulls back up. The clam digging gun will suck up the sand and the clam with it. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Cut a 4-or 5-inch diameter PVC pipe to about 2 feet in length. Make it slightly longer if bending is difficult for you or slightly shorter for children. This will form your digging tube.

2. Cut a second piece of PVC pipe. Pick a thickness that is comfortable to hold and cut it to about 1 1/2 feet in length. This will form the handle for your clam gun.

3. Glue an end cap onto one end of the digging tube to form an air tight seal. Let it dry.

4. Place the second PVC pipe across the top of the end cap. Have a friend hold it in place.

5. Wrap duct tape around the place where the two pipes join, forming a thick, stable layer of tape. This will form the connection between the handle and the digging tube.

6. Drill a small hole in the side of the digging tube about 6 inches below the end cap. This is the air hole to create suction when you pull the digging gun out.

7. File the open end of the digging tube so that it tapers to a sharp edge, using a rasp or rotary tool. This step will allow it to dig more efficiently.

Tags: digging tube, This will, This will form, will form, about feet, about feet length, clams clam

Remove Paint From Human Hair

Remove Paint From Human Hair

Your recently completed project looks perfect, but your hair has paid the price. Those paint drips you carefully kept off of the floor and other surfaces seem to have landed in your hair. If you are wondering get paint out of your hair without damaging your delicate locks, never fear. A few tricks will have you looking as fresh and clean as your new paint job. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove water based paints from hair by simply isolating the paint and massaging a few drops of your regular shampoo into the area. Let the shampoo set for about 10 minutes, and comb out the paint with a fine toothed comb. If not all of the paint comes out on the first try, reapply. Once removed, shampoo and condition your hair as normal.

2. Get oil-based paints out of your hair with an olive oil soak. Oil-based paints are the most difficult to remove, and may take some patience; however, olive oil is a gentle and natural moisturizer that will actually condition your hair while removing paint.

3. Apply a generous amount of olive oil to the paint in your hair, and massage with your fingertips. Continue applying oil and massaging until you begin to feel the paint flaking away. When the paint begins to come away on it's own, use a fine-toothed comb to help it along, reapplying oil as necessary.

4. Soak larger clumps of paint by saturating the hair with olive oil and then tying a piece of plastic wrap around the drip. Allow the oil to set for an hour or two before removing the paint with a fine-toothed comb. Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner as usual.

Tags: your hair, hair with, comb paint, condition your, condition your hair, fine-toothed comb

Eurostar Tips

The Eurostar service can take passengers from London to Paris in around two hours.

The Eurostar train service whisks passengers from London, departing from the city's St. Pancras International station, to locations such as Paris and Brussels. According to many sources, such as the Been There website, the Eurostar makes for faster travel than catching a plane, with the journey from London to Paris, for example, taking around two hours. Consumers can save money and make their journeys as pleasurable as possible by bearing in mind a few pointers about Eurostar services.

Book Online

You can book your Eurostar journey over the phone or through the service's website. While booking by phone is a reasonable option, this medium doesn't allow you to browse the options and services available at length. By booking online, you can check which deals are available and study the seating choices too. You can even find out about the services available at your destination, such as car hire companies.

Luggage

You'll need to consider your luggage carefully when traveling by Eurostar. Check that you're able to secure any bags you have with you, and that nothing is going to drop out or become detached from your luggage in case you need to store your bags at the other end of the carriage from where you're sitting. You need to be able to carry your luggage without too much strain, so don't overpack. If you do need to being large items such as skiing gear, remember that you'll be slowed down while transporting this equipment, so leave for the station a bit earlier.

When To Travel

You can save money by traveling during off-peak times, which are generally after 7 p.m. and before 7 a.m., according to the Eurostar London to Paris Train website. You can also get a cheaper ticket by looking for the earliest train each day, or alternatively the latest train that's running. Some days of the week are more expensive. Avoid traveling on Fridays and Sundays, especially afternoons and evenings.

Book In Advance

Another trick to saving money on Eurostar is to book tickets as early as possible. The Eurostar London to Paris Train website indicates that booking tickets between 60 and 90 days before you'd like to travel is best to grab the cheapest tickets released for a given journey.

Tags: London Paris, from London, your luggage, around hours, Eurostar London, Eurostar London Paris

Make Snow Camo Fabric

Note the snowy shapes of your particular landscape to mimic its appearance effectively..

For snowy environments, proper camouflage is essential when hunting or playing war games. Woodland camouflage fails to be effective when fresh snow falls, altering the landscape. If you are a regular hunter in a cold climate, purchasing snow camo, retail or army wholesale, might be advisable. If, however, you need snow camo only casually or occasionally, creating it yourself can be a frugal alternative. Creating snow camo fabric gives additional options of covering tents or hunting blinds. Just remember your hand warmers.

Instructions

1. Remember to add fluorescent orange to your ensemble when hunting, for safety.

Determine whether your snow camo fabric will be for the purpose of stealth or hunting. Blending into the background will necessitate off-white and grey camo. For safety reasons, snow camo used for hunting may need to incorporate fluorescent orange.

Note the elements of your particular winter landscape to determine what kind of snow camo pattern will be most effective for your cloth. If the area is flat and treeless, solid off-white fabric will be sufficient. If the area is moderately or heavily wooded, pattern will be necessary.

Take photos of the area while snowy for reference, if desired. Also use photos of retail snow camo for inspiration.

2. Keep your camo consistent, whether all off-white or all patterned.

Cut the fabric to your desired size and shape. If it is a large piece, hang it from a clothes line to paint it.

Consult any photos of the area you wish to use for reference.

Spray large, blurred swathes with the lightest shade of grey first. Allow it to dry. If the landscape dictates, add darker grey shapes, mostly vertical.

Spray with some fluorescent orange spray paint in similar patterns if the fabric will be used in hunting environments.

3. Research textile design software online if you are interested in creating snow camo for others.

Alternatively, use textile design software to create a snow camo pattern. However, creating textiles in this manner will not be nearly as frugal as painting fabric freehand.

4. Remember to wear eye protection on bright days in the snow.

Fill white balloons with sand to weigh down large pieces of snow camo fabric to be used on hunting blinds or tree stands in windy conditions.

Tags: snow camo, snow camo, fabric will, fluorescent orange, used hunting, camo fabric, camo pattern

Legal Requirements For Bb Guns

Traditionally used as hunting weapons for small game such as fowl, squirrels and rabbits, the role of the BB (ball-bearing) gun has changed since the 1980s. It is now largely a recreational toy that people use for target practice. The new generation of BB weapons, called airsoft guns, has considerably lower muzzle velocity compared with the old Red Ryder or Marksman brands. Also, many models closely resemble real firearms. In Europe and Japan, airsoft guns are the primary tool in a game similar to our paintball competitions in the United States.

Federal Gun Control Act

While the federal government doesn't classify BB or airsoft guns as firearms, most cities in the U.S. do, by including in their ordinances any weapon that fires a projectile using a spring or compressed air. Because of this, discharging a BB gun in your urban or suburban backyard may violate local laws. State laws are generally more lenient concerning BB guns, but a few --- such as those in Michigan and California --- are stricter in regard to who may sell them. In general, it is usually legal to shoot BB guns outside any city as long as you don't violate other laws, such as harming people, personal property or animals (other than hunting), and then you must possess a hunting license.

Safety Tip

All BB guns sold in the U.S. must have an orange tip on the barrel about a quarter of an inch in length, identifying it as a toy and not an real firearm. Because of repeated accidental shootings by law enforcement officers who mistake airsoft guns for actual weapons, this law makes sense. In most areas, it is legal for the owner of airsoft guns to remove the orange indicator, though regulations vary widely and, for safety's sake, doing so is inadvisable.

Carrying BB Guns in Public

Because airsoft guns resemble real firearms so closely that even law enforcement professionals can't tell the difference from a distance, many cities have laws that ban carrying of BB guns in public. The commission of a crime --- such as robbery or kidnapping --- using an airsoft or other BB gun is a felony everywhere in the U.S. and is punishable under the same guidelines used for real weapons.

The Brady Act

You may not own, use or possess any kind of BB gun or actual firearm if you spent a year or more in prison, are a fugitive, are deemed mentally unstable in court or reside in a mental hospital. The same rules apply if you are a drug addict, suffer a dishonorable discharge from any branch of military, are an illegal immigrant, are the subject of a restraining order, have been convicted of a misdemeanor for domestic violence or have renounced your U.S. citizenship.

Tags: airsoft guns, real firearms, resemble real, resemble real firearms

Laws On Bb Guns In Rhode Island

Minors may own BB guns with written parental consent.

Over the years, many little boys have dreamed of owning their own BB guns. As of 2010, the federal government does not regulate the transfer, possession or use of non-powder (BB) guns. Some states, however, including Rhode Island, consider non-powder guns to be firearms. Rhode Island firearm laws differ slightly between handguns and rifles. A BB gun is classified a rifle. All laws that apply to rifle ownership also apply to BB guns.

Definition

A BB gun is a non-powder gun. This means a BB gun uses the pressure of forced air, CO2 pressure, or a spring mechanism to expel a spherical bullet made of metal or hard plastic. Pellet guns and air guns use the same types of force to propel ammunition, but are technically not BB guns. Popular uses for BB guns include target practice, home protection and bird hunting.

Purchase

Rhode Island requires a seven-day waiting period for BB gun purchases.

Rhode Island allows residents 18 years old and up to purchase BB guns. A "Purchase of a Shot Gun or Rifle Application Form" must be filled out and presented to the seller. The seller must conduct a background check on the purchaser. If the background check does not find disqualifying information, the seller may transfer the firearm after a seven-day waiting period. Minors may purchase a BB gun if they provide written parental consent.

Possession

Rhode Island does not require a license for adults over 18 years of age to own and operate a BB gun. Minors must complete a firearm safety course in order to own a BB gun. After completion, minors may only use their weapons on a certified shooting range or under the supervision of a qualified adult. Individuals convicted of a violent crime, illegal aliens, individuals deemed incompetent, fugitives and those who have been deemed a drug addict or drunkard may not own a rifle, shotgun or BB gun.

Additional Rules and Regulations

Owners of BB guns may not remove or attempt to destroy identification of the gun's manufacturer, model or make found on the firearm. Rifles may be transported by vehicle on public roads if the firearm is not loaded. No one under the influence of drugs or alcohol may carry or operate firearms. Stolen BB guns must be reported to local authorities within 24 hours of discovering the theft. Firearms are prohibited in public or private schools and on school grounds

Tags: Rhode Island, background check, non-powder guns, parental consent, seven-day waiting

Information About Indoor Paintball Arenas

Information About Indoor Paintball Arenas

Indoor paintball arenas provide an exciting alternative to playing on typical outdoor fields. Indoor paintball arenas offer year-round play with unique playing environments and other amenities such as air conditioning or showers that outdoor fields might not have.

Locations

Warehouses are popular as they are enclosed but have large open floor plans and austere interiors that can easily be hosed clean. Other indoor paintball arenas include agricultural centers (where indoor rodeos or livestock events are also held) or unused office or apartment buildings.

Surfaces

Most indoor paintball arenas use various materials on floors to help control paint splatter from becoming dangerously slippery. Coverings include sawdust, rubber mats, gravel, "kitty litter" and dirt.

Safety

Standard safety rules of paintball still apply: Keep your goggles on in play areas, use barrel covers in non-play areas, and never lift your goggles during play. Indoor field rules might restrict velocity to lower than outdoors because of the greater chance of very close-range shots.

Field Layouts

An indoor field may have simple walls and doors set up to mimic a building layout, may be in an actual building with hallways, stairways, and rooms, or could have a traditional paintball field layout. The biggest advantage is that the field is not subject to outside elements such as rain, sun or wind.

What Is Playing Indoor Like?

Often, lighting is darker or harsher than outside, so shadows are also more pronounced. Sounds echo and may seem louder, to the point that you may not be able to tell where the sounds are coming from. The overall experience is intense, sometimes scary, and exciting.

Tags: About Indoor, About Indoor Paintball, Indoor Paintball, indoor paintball, Information About, Information About Indoor, outdoor fields

Free Shooting War Games

Free Shooting War Games

Shooting games are available all across the Internet and can be a lot of fun. Free games may not be as sophisticated as purchased games, but the price can't be beat.

Hellvolution

"Hellvolution" is a free online flash game and may be of particular interest to users who previously played "13 Days in Hell." "Hellvolution" is a game where the player wakes up in a zombie world right in the middle of the action. The user's only chance for survival is the local weapons dealer, and players are cautioned to purchase and use ammunition wisely. Use your mouse to aim and fire upon the zombies and use a spacebar to reload. Keys 1 through 4 are used for changing weapons, and keys 5 through 7 are used for special skills options. The higher the user in levels, the more points earned. The graphics are decent and it takes a while to reload, so that's what drags the user down and the more the zombies attack the player, the harder it becomes to see through the blood splatters on the screen.

Seafight

"Seafight" is a free online pirate game. "Seafight" is interactive where the user sails across the ocean in search of what every good pirate wants-fortune and glory. Users compete against other players across the Internet. The game offers a pirate environment filled with sea battles, cannons, treasure chests and mercenaries. The game is free online and does not require an install. Users must register. Player reviews say that the game is full of graphics, but takes a while to load and that there is a slight lag time in loading. The pirate environment is fun to be a part of and is very interactive and creative for today's players. Players can expect online combat against other players as completed quests improve experience levels, improving the customization capabilities of equipment buying, upgrading ships, getting more weapons and hiring more crew.

Police Fury

The object of "Police Fury" is to destroy terrorists within the target zone. Falling into a shoot 'em up category, the game is free. As a member of the special squad, players get to play an officer who has set out to protect the city from disaster. The mouse controls the game and shooting. Players can choose a woman or a man character and only have one gun from which to choose at the beginning, but will unlock more guns as the game is successfully played. The graphics of the game are not too extreme, but for a free game, it's fun to play. A helicopter drops enemies down, a few at a time, in front of the player and the player must kill all of the enemies before they are killed first. Once all the enemies are killed from a helicopter drop, the player moves forward and another group of men are dropped in front of the player. Each time, more guys are dropped down and the game becomes harder. This game is not suitable for young children.

Tags: free online, across Internet, against other, against other players, Free Shooting

Inexpensive Teen Military Schools

Military schools can help teens develop discipline and structure.

Military schools are a great option to help your teen develop more discipline and structure in life. Though most are quite expensive, you can find schools to fit your criteria within your price range. Most schools charge a yearly tuition, but some offer summer programs as well.

All Boys

The least expensive military school for just boys is Camden Military Academy in Camden, South Carolina. As of 2011, yearly tuition averages $17,595, but a summer program is also offered at this facility. Financial aid is also available up to $3,000. Camden Military Academy offers aid for ADD/ADHD students as well as students with special needs. Class sizes are small, averaging about 12, so that students receive more individualized attention. Boys in grades seven through 12 are permitted to attend the academy.

Co-ed

Co-ed military schools are another option for your teen. Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia, is a low price option for your teen. As of 2011, average boarding tuition is $25,200, while day student tuition is $14,400 per year. Financial aid is granted for up to $6,500 to help students with costs. Average class size is 10 students per class, and ESL and AP classes are offered as part of the curriculum. Boys and girls in grades seven through 12 are accepted.

Large Age Range

The Howe School and Summer Camp in Howe, Indiana offers year-long boarding programs and day programs for students from fifth to 12th grade. This school is co-ed and focuses on a military and Episcopal curriculum. Average yearly tuition for boarders, as of 2011 is $26,800 while day students pay an average of $16,160 per year. Financial aid is available up to $5,000. AP and ESL classes are also offered on this campus.

Small Age Range

Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri offers the most competitive tuition rate for a school that only allows grades nine through 12. Average yearly tuition, as of 2011, is $27,490 for boarders and $5,500 for day students. Financial aid is available up to $6,000. This school is co-ed and offers AP and ESL courses, as well as a small class size of about 11 students per class. This school offers a variety of extracurricular sports and activities as well, including rock climbing, paintball and Honor Guard.

Tags: Military Academy, yearly tuition, This school, your teen, also offered

Camo Paint A Gun

Camo Paint a Gun

Painting camouflage on a gun requires patience and precision. It will give your gun a professional look that blends into your surroundings and help protect your gun from weather elements or scratches. The key is to avoid getting paint on certain mechanisms of the gun and to use the correct paint colors.

Instructions

1. Clean the gun. Use a soft clean rag that is moist with acetone. Wipe down the gun lightly to get rid of oils and dirt.

2. Secure masking tape around the parts of the gun that shouldn't be painted, such as the scope (if there is one), any sort of dial or power settings and the bolt. If you do not want camouflage on the grip, wrap masking tape around it as well.

3. In a well-ventilated area, lay out garbage bags taped together or a large canvas material. Lay the gun down in the painting area. Put on gloves, a mask and protective eyewear if desired.

4. Shake the spray paint cans well before each use. Paint a khaki base coat on the gun. Lay the gun down on one side and spray the khaki paint solidly onto the surface. Let dry for about a half-hour. Turn the gun over and repeat the process on the other side of the gun, making sure to reach the top and bottom parts of the gun. Let dry for another half-hour. Once dry, repeat with a second coat.

5. Take the sponge brush and tear small chunks out of the tip and sides to create a ragged effect. Cut the plastic bottle in half, and spray the olive or dark green color paint into the bowl part of the plastic bottle until it is about halfway full. Lay the gun on one side.

6. Take the torn up sponge brush and dip it into the bowl of green spray paint. Dab various blobs of the green paint all over the gun, creating various shapes and sizes. These should not be perfect shapes such as circles, but the blobs should have wavy edges and curves. Space them out about 1 1/2 to 3 inches apart. When done, you should still see a sufficient amount of khaki. Let dry for about a half-hour and then repeat on the other side.

7. Cut the top off the second plastic bottle, and spray the brown spray paint into its bowl. Tear chunks out of the second sponge brush just as you did with the first. This third coat of spray paint will be made up of the lightest touches and smallest shapes. Do this by lightly dipping the edge of the sponge brush into the paint and quickly running it along the side of the gun, creating random rows of brown lines in between the green blobs that are perpendicular to you. This is done to create more of an overshadow, rather than thick lines of paint. Let dry for 30 minutes, then repeat on opposite side.

8. Look over your camouflage paint job. You should be able to see khaki, green blobs and small brown lines that almost resemble tiger stripes.

9. Remove the masking tape from the gun parts when the paint is dry.

Tags: sponge brush, spray paint, into bowl, masking tape, plastic bottle, about half-hour

Fun Party Games For A Southern Cowgirl Birthday

You can round up some rip-roarin' ideas with a little creativity.

Cowgirls know have some serious down-home fun. Let's face it, anyone who yells "Yee-haw!" is bound to be the life of any party. If you've decided on a cowgirl theme for your birthday party, it's time to learn how real cowgirls kick their heels up with some fun games that will have all your guests hollering for more. Does this Spark an idea?

Nontraditional Activities

Paintballs are perfect ammunition for rootin'-tootin' cowgirls.

Party rental companies have creative western-themed games that you can rent for a small fee. These might include paintball games, which involve target shooting with small balls of paint that explode on contact. There are also games with farm animal themes, like a cow-milking contest: A wooden cut-out cow with a plastic udder filled with white tinted water is "milked" by two cow-folk. The player with the most "milk" in her bucket wins.

Traditional Games

You can find feed sacks for sack racing at any livestock supply store.

Traditional American picnic games never go out of style, and you can give them a western twist for your cowgirl party. Hold sack races with burlap feed sacks from livestock supply stores. Stage a tug-of-war with cowgirl teams pulling at a rope made of tied-together red bandannas. After a watermelon-eating contest, the ladies can practice their spitting skills by aiming watermelon seeds at a tin cup or bucket. The cowgirl with the best aim wins.

Be Imaginative

Relay teams can wear their own matching cowgirl hats.

Use your imagination to make up your own games. Design a cowgirl-themed obstacle course where relay teams riding stick ponies race blind-folded around hay bales. Watch television game shows for inspiration and adapt them to western themes, like trivia questions based on old western films, name that country tune, or charades featuring western stars and characters like John Wayne and Annie Oakley.

Tags: feed sacks, games that, livestock supply, them western, themes like

Choose A Bodyboard

Talk with someone at your local shop and follow these steps to score the perfect bodyboard.

Instructions

1. Borrow and try out a few bodyboards, if you can. Some shops rent them, although the models tend to be very low-end.

2. Find an attendant at a surf shop who body boards. Ask him or her to explain the differences in the bodyboards the shop carries.

3. Look closely at the bodyboard. Cheaper boards have a porous-looking surface. These tend to waterlog quickly and get heavy in the water. Find a board with a smooth, slick surface.

4. Look at the bottom of the board. Opt for a slick, hard, plastic bottom.

5. Check out the tail of the board. A beginner should look for a tail that curves inward and slopes downward. This is generally the most practical and functional. Ask the attendant about the different tails. The technology changes all the time.

6. Lay the board flat on the ground. It should sit flat, not rock back and forth or wobble. Boards that do this are usually warped from sitting in the sun or from improper shipping.

7. Place the rear of the board against your belly and grab the nose. Feel the board for flex. The more flex a board has, the higher performance the board will offer. However, more flexible boards also have a shorter life span.

8. Make sure the board you choose has no creases or cracks or gouges in the foam. Keep your receipt and ask about a return policy in case you find something wrong when you get home.

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Clean A Computer With A Compressed Air Can

Before you clean a computer with a compressed air can, you must know use the air and what you have to do to the computer before you start. The last thing that you want to do is damage any of the components inside the computer. It important to hold the can correctly and at the correct distance from the computer parts to prevent damage, but yet clean out all debris and dust. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Unplug the computer from the power source and any other hardware attached via USB ports and other ports. Remove the case covering the computer components with the screwdriver.

2. Hold the compressed air can four inches from the inside of the computer and blow the around the components and then the bottom of the computer. Blow the air into the power supply and blow the air into the fan from the backside of the computer. Blow the air into the CD drives and the floppy drive. Wipe the case with a water dampened anti-static rag or paper towels and replace the cover.

3. Blow out the connections on the back of the computer. Dampen a cotton swab with the rubbing alcohol and wipe the openings in the back of the computer. These include the phone plugs, USB ports and connections for the monitor and printers.

4. Use the compressed air to blow out the keyboard. Use the cotton swap dampened with rubbing alcohol to clean the keys.

Tags: back computer, computer Blow, computer Blow into, inside computer, rubbing alcohol, with rubbing

Remove A Tank From A Paintball Gun

The same air pressure that powers your paintball gun can turn the tank into a projectile.

Removing the tank from a paintball gun can be dangerous, even deadly, if it is not done carefully. Paintball guns work by expelling round, plastic, paint-filled pellets using powerful bursts of compressed carbon dioxide. Tanks holding the carbon dioxide must be removed from the paintball gun to be refilled or replaced. The valve sealing the tank must stay in place or the pressurized gas will leak and propel the tank at dangerously high speeds.

Instructions

1. Use nail polish to draw a straight line that crosses the seam where the nickle- or brass-plated valve and the CO2 tank meet. The line should be about 1" long with 1/2" on the valve and 1/2" on the tank. Allow the nail polish to dry according to the directions on the bottle.

2. Put on a pair of tight-fitting, sturdy goggles.

3. Twist the tank in a counterclockwise direction for three to four full rotations. If the tank does not come off after the fourth rotation or you notice that the nail polish line is separating, stop. The line separating between the tank and valve is indicative of a loose valve. The paintball gun likely is faulty and should be taken to a professional, or you should consult the manufacturer before taking any more action.

4. Point the paintball gun at the ground in a safe location and dry fire to release any residual air pressure in the assembly.

Tags: nail polish, carbon dioxide, from paintball, line separating, valve tank

Allinclusive Resorts In The Poconos

Resorts in the Poconos feature natural attractions such as Dingman Falls.

The Pocono Mountains are located in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, primarily in Pike and Monroe counties. This area is a popular destination for residents looking to escape the summer heat in cities like New York and Philadelphia. The many recreational opportunities in the Poconos include golfing, fishing, skiing, hunting, swimming and hiking. The Pocono Mountains features a host of resorts that make it possible to never leave the property to be entertained and enjoy the comforts of home.

Mount Airy Casino Poconos Resort

Mount Airy Casino Poconos Resort in an all-inclusive facility loaded with amenities. These include a casino with 72 gambling tables, slot machines, four roulette wheels, an 18-hole golf courses, five restaurants, live entertainment and luxury guest rooms and suites. Mount Airy has a full-service spa with massages, a fitness center, a salon and party bands at Gypsies Lounge and Nightclub. Four different bars are located in the building. Rooms are equipped with large bathrooms, room service, cable TV, movies, plush towels and linens, and high-speed Internet access. Upgraded suites also have living rooms, granite wet bars and porcelain tubs. Many of the performers are famous musicians.

Mount Airy Poconos Resort

44 Woodland Road

Mount Pocono, PA 18344

877-682-4791

mountairycasino.com

Cove Haven Resort

The Cove Haven Resort is part of a chain of three Pocono resorts and promotes itself as an intimate couples retreat. The resort features fine dining at its Colosseum Restaurant and has a bar facility called the Parrot Lookout Lounge that offers views of a mountain lake. The resort has a variety of suites with amen ties such as whirlpool baths for two, private indoor heated pools, a fireplaces, cable TV and living rooms with entertainment centers. The resort has a spa with massages and a Sports Palace that has indoor tennis courts, racquetball courts, a miniature golf course and a place to ice skate. It health club and spa includes an indoor swimming pool, two whirlpools and a billiards parlor. The property also has a marina with speedboats, paddle boats and water skiing. Additional restaurants and bars at the resort include the Spooner's Cafe and the Champagne Palace that features nightly live entertainment.

Cove Haven Resort

P.O. Box 547

Scotrun, PA 18355

877-822-3333

covepoconoresorts.com

Skytop Lodge

The Skytop Lodge was named one of the top 19 best winter resorts by "Parents Magazine." The resorts features a championship golf course, a luxury spa, and family-oriented activities and entertainment. The lodging ranges from standard rooms to waterfront suites that are equipped with their own balconies and wet bars. Deluxe cottages are also available. Fine dining is available in the Windsor Dining Room in the main lodge, while more casual dining can be found in the Lakeview Dining Room. Guests can also unwind in the resorts's Tap Room or the Tea Room, which has a light menu and milkshakes. Additional recreational opportunities include lawn bowling, a rock climbing wall, mountain biking, paintball, laser tag, archery, horseshoes, swimming, tennis and guided nature walks.

Skytop Lodge

One Skytop

Skytop, PA 18357

800-345-7759

skytop.com

Tags: Mount Airy, Cove Haven, Cove Haven Resort, Haven Resort, Poconos Resort, Skytop Lodge

Free Survival Islandtype Games

Surviving on an island calls for a number of skills.

There are a number of TV shows and movies focused on survival situations such as the main character crash-landing or washing up on an island with little more than his wits about him. This is a scenario that is also recreated on several types of Internet Flash game. Many of these Flash games are also available for free.

"Choose Your Own Adventure"-type

There are a few games like this, "Survival Island" and "Survival Mode - Island Edition," for example, which use a simplified interface, primarily in text and letting you choose one of several options at each point to continue the storyline. They are similar to books from the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series in that some options lead to other options and some lead to your character's demise. The survival setting works for this game because you have a lot of time to make a critical decision.

Platform Games

A platform game takes its name from the fact that players must jump from platform to platform in order to complete levels. One of these games with an island theme is "Dick Quick's Island Adventure," which sets your castaway on an island with several obstacles that will hinder his progress and survival. In many platform games, you have objects you have to collect to complete a larger goal, such as the radio and stick items in "Island Adventure."

Role-Playing Games

The role-playing game is another classic genre that focuses on a character's progression through experience points and statistics. For example, in "Castaway" you are a young man who has washed ashore on an island. You begin with low health points (HP) as well as stats like "strength" and "intellect," but can add to them after defeating monsters and earning experience points (EXP). After completing some survival quests in "Castaway" and defeating enough monsters, you "level up" and become a better fighter. You need to balance leveling up and completing quests to beat the game.

Point-and-Click Adventures

The point-and-click adventure is another great genre for island/survival games because it depends on you having your wits about you and working logically to collect and build objects you need for survival. In this type of game, such as "Skull Island," you may pick up a rock, a stick and a stone; items that may seem useless on their own but that you can combine to form a spear that will help you solve another puzzle and progress through the game.

Tags: Choose Your, Choose Your Adventure, experience points, Island Adventure, island with, that will

Set Up A Woodsball Field

Set Up a Woodsball Field

Woodsball is what most people imagine when they think of paintball: the military-style game that simulates infantry combat in fields and woodlots. What sets the woodball game apart from another paintball game, such as speedball, is the terrain. A good game area makes or breaks a woodball field. Nature provides the raw materials for a good woodsball field, but there are steps that can be taken to improve upon these. Follow these guidelines.

Instructions

1. Take a look at the size and shape of your proposed woodsball field. If it is at least not a few acres, don't bother. The shape is also important. If a small woodsball field is shaped like a narrow rectangle, it will shape the course of every game so that they are mostly the same. Generally speaking, the bigger the space, the more variety you have for woodball games.

2. Study the terrain. The best woodsball fields will offer a variety of terrain: woodlots and open fields, slopes and flat ground, and maybe even a creek. There is nothing you can do to create this kind of terrain--it is either there or it isn't--but you need to take a close look around and see what you have to work with for this project.

3. Eliminate undesired obstacles. If your woodlot is second growth forest, for example, it might be a tangle of thick underbrush. Rather than provide interesting cover for a woodsball game, this is simply an obstacle, and needs to be removed. If there are any old wire fences that criss-cross the property, remove these as well, especially if they run through a woodlot. They offer no cover, and might be difficult to see in the heat of a game, providing a constant source of nuisance and injury. Clearing brush and old fencing will require a mattock and shovel.

4. Decide where to build your own obstacles, such as walls, bunkers, ditches and forts. Be creative: even fallen trees can be piled into barricades. Paintball forts in particular offer a whole new range of possible games, but they need to be carefully sited. If your field is mostly open, with few trees and rocks, then you will need more man-made obstacles to provide game cover. This construction will require a hand saw, hammer, nails, scrap lumber, fence posts, post-hole digger, mattock and shovel.

Tags: game that, mattock shovel, will require

Marker Work

Marker Specifications

In general, markers are made of plastic and contain an alcohol-based ink. The alcohol-based ink allows the marker's work to dry quickly, and reduces the chance of the ink spreading where it isn't intended. Acid-free vintage markers can be useful for special occasions that require years of permanence. Such occasions may include marriages or graduation cards.

Size

The size of a marker says a lot about its intended use. Children tend to use medium tip markers for coloring in coloring books, doodling on paper or for creating visual art at school. Fine tip markers work for civilized practices, such as communicating ideas down on paper or signing checks. Wide tip markers are often referred to as highlighters. The latter is used by students and adults doing research. A highlighter is applied over written or typed text without covering the writing completely. It is intended to catch the eyes' attention, and to reference important information. The last group of markers is the large tip, or jumbo marker. This size is used for writing on surfaces other than paper, like a cardboard box.

Fiber Markers

Fiber markers are flexible markers. They work by adding more pressure to make a thick line on paper, or by using light pressure to make a thin line. The fiber tip marker runs ink without interruption and usually doesn't get clogged during use. It is a reliable writing or drawing marker.

Erasable Markers

Erasable markers are designed to stick to a surface without being absorbed by the writing surface. Such markers are used for slide projectors and marker boards in classrooms. Erasable markers can be removed from a marker board or projector slide with a cloth. This keeps the writing surface reusable.

Security Markers

Security markers are designed to be seen only by ultraviolet light. When marked stolen items are recovered, the owner of a stolen item can verify his claim to the item with an ultraviolet flashlight.

Tags: Erasable markers, markers designed, pressure make, writing surface

List Of Equipment To Pack For Scenario Paintball

Scenario paintball equipment looks like real military equipment.

Scenario paintball is like a live action role play, but folks have paintball guns modified to look like real guns instead of foam swords. These pretend weekend warriors are generally armed to the teeth and outfitted in gear that transforms your average civilian into a paintball mercenary. A few thousand dollars could be spent on this sport, but here is a list of more budget-friendly essentials.

Gun modifications

One of the most distinguishable aspects of scenario paintball is the kit that markers can be fit with. Scenariopaintball.net advocates the Tippman A5 mod by stating "the Tippmann A5 paintball marker is our favorite when it comes to scenario paintball and training." The Tippmann A5 mods are military-quality are designed to create a more realistic experience to enhance the tactical function of the generic Tippmann A5 frame.

Your Trusty Sidearm

Paintball guns, like any gun, occasionally jam. In the heat of battle with paintballs splattering all around, you may not have time to clean your primary weapon. If you want to stay in the fight, you need a reliable secondary weapon. The manufacturer of the Tiberius Tac 8 pistol describes the gun as the world's first .68 caliber paint pistol to be magazine fed. Its 12-gram CO2 cartridges fires three full magazines.

Paintball Barrels

Like a real gun, paintball guns can be made more accurate by attaching an extended barrel. For those long-range sniper shots, you'll want a longer barrel. OPSGEAR offers an M82A1 18-inch Fluted SNIPER Barrel and also offers a six-inch barrel for close-quarters combat. This shorter barrel will drastically reduce your gun's range and accuracy, but hopefully your enemy won't see your barrel poking around a corner long before you're ready to clear it.

Proper Attire

Finally, if you're going to play scenario paintball, you need to be dressed for success. Your budget is the only limiting factor on how decked-out you can be for your scenario game. One particularly useful garment for scenario paintball is a vest. OPSGEAR advertises their MOLLE vests as being "perfect for carrying all your military simulation paintball gear." These vests are completely modular and you design them for your exact equipment needs, allowing you to easily carry CO2 & air tanks, CO2 cartridges, and hundreds of rounds of paint. This can be important, as the last thing you want is to run out of ammo or CO2 when you're pinned down behind cover.

Tags: paintball guns, scenario paintball, Scenario paintball

Places To Have A Surprise Birthday Party

Find the perfect place to host a surprise party.

It is very flattering to have a surprise party thrown in your name. Knowing that your family and friends went out of their way to plan a party for you while making sure to keep it a secret can make you feel special and appreciated. If you want to throw a surprise party for someone you care about but can't or don't want to have it in your home, don't worry; there are plenty of fun places where you can host your party. Does this Spark an idea?

Party Room

Party rooms can be found in many public places, including restaurants, bars, clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement parks, go-kart tracks, skating rinks and paintball arenas. Some of these locations may require you to rent the party room; however, most are free as long as you have a minimum number of guests. After all, your guests will be spending money at whatever establishment you choose. Alternatively, if anyone you know lives in an apartment building or condominium with a party room facility, ask if you can host your surprise party there.

Night Club

A night club is a fun environment in which to host a surprise party. Ask one or two mutual friends to tell the guest of honor that they are taking her to a club, but don't let her know that all of her friends will be there. Reserve a private booth at the club and decorate it with balloons and streamers. Bring a cake with you and order bottle service to avoid long lines at the bar. Bottle service ensures that you have everything you need to mix your own drinks, including full bottles of liquor set right at your table.

Campground

A campground is a unique place to throw a surprise party. Let the guest of honor think that you and he are going for a relaxing camping weekend with just the two of you. When you pull up to the campsite, have your friends jump out of their tents and yell "Surprise!" Spend the evening sitting around the campfire drinking, listening to music and spending quality time together. For food, host a BBQ or place hot dogs on sticks and cook them over the fire. Keep plenty of snacks on hand and serve cupcakes in honor of the birthday boy.

Pool

If someone you know owns a pool, ask if you can host your party there. Otherwise, call around to public pools and see if you cant rent the space during the hours that it is closed to the public. As a last resort, host the party at a beach. A pool party, like a camping party, is a casual event. Thus, you don't need to do much to prepare. Provide platters of finger foods and desserts in lieu of a full meal and have coolers on hand filled with water, soda, beer and wine. Use disposable cups, plates and utensils to avoid broken glass in the pool area and bring a portable music player for ambiance. To add to the party feel, decorate the area with balloons and streamers, provide a birthday cake and plan several pool games that can include all of the guests, such as pool volleyball and Marco Polo.

Tags: surprise party, host your, balloons streamers, guest honor, have your, host surprise

Make Your Own Rugby Polo

Make Your Own Rugby Polo

Nothing gives you the look of a strapping young rugby lad like a striped-and-collared rugby polo. A custom-made or store-bought rugby polo can cost you a pretty penny. With a basic collared polo shirt and a couple of household tools, you can personalize your own polo without draining all the money out of your wallet, and still look ready to jump into the scrum of a real rugby union game.

Instructions

1. Place the ironing board inside your polo so only the front side of your polo is on top of the board.

2. Iron small logo patch onto the left chest of your polo shirt, an inch diagonally below the shirt collar. Turn the iron off and let the patch cool.

3. Keeping the ironing board inside your polo shirt, flip the polo over so the back of it is now on top of the ironing board.

4. Turn the iron back on and iron letters across the top of the back of the polo, and iron the number--or numbers--onto the middle back of the polo. Let the patches cool before wearing.

Tags: your polo, ironing board, polo shirt, back polo, board inside

Draw A Dye Logo

Draw a DYE Logo

DYE, a popular paintball company and the DYE logo, are recognized worldwide as representing paintball and paintball fans. If you're a fan of DYE products or just want to make your paintball enthusiasm known, you might want to learn draw the distinguishable DYE brand mark. The logo is simply a stylized "D" inside of a circle, but you can also add the block letters "DYE" below it.

Instructions

1. Draw a circle as the basis for the logo. The logo fits inside this circle, so draw the circle however large you want the logo to be.

2. Draw another circle inside the first circle, very close to the first, so that it forms a very thin ring.

3. Start at a point between 10 and 11 o'clock on the smaller circle, and draw a straight line to the right, but curve the line down slightly as you read the right side of the circle so that the line hits the inside circle at around 2 o'clock.

4. Curve the line and redirect it towards the bottom of the circle so that you draw a straight line down to the very bottom of the smaller circle.

5. Start at a point around 7 o'clock on the smaller circle and draw an arch that runs next to the initial line. The initial line should look like a large arch. This line should be a smaller arch inside the larger one. Allow the space between both arches to become narrower when you get to the initial starting point (about 10 o'clock on the circle).

6. Color in the areas of the smaller circle above and to the right of the larger arch. Also color in the area of the smaller circle below the smaller arch. Erase the line of the smaller cirlce where you haven't colored. What's left should be the stylized "D" of the logo with a white rim around it forming the circle.

Tags: smaller circle, circle draw, around clock, circle that, clock smaller

Make My Paintball Marker Shoot Straight

Paintball markers must be properly maintained.

Paintball is a challenging sport that involves firefights among friends using specially designed air guns, called markers, which shoot balls of paint. An entire industry caters to the legions of paintball enthusiasts, including marker manufacturers, specialty shops and paintball-specific instructional courses. Your time spent playing paintball, however, can become frustrating if your paintball marker is not shooting straight. So apply multiple techniques to ensure your marker won't miss the target.

Instructions

1. Squeegee your barrel. Place the squeegee into the barrel, plug end first. Rotate the squeegee by 90 degrees and then pull it out slowly. This should remove debris such as dirt or broken paintballs from your barrel. Next, insert the cloth end of the squeegee into the barrel. Push the squeegee down the barrel and then back out. The removal of debris will ensure your marker will shoot straighter.

2. Ensure your marker is firing at the correct air pressure as stated in your marker's owner's manual. Too much pressure, and the balls will break and be unstable, too little and the balls will immediately fall upon leaving the barrel. If your tank does not have a pressure gauge, you should take your marker to an airsmith. He will be able to quickly test the air pressure on your marker and make necessary adjustment.

3. Take apart your marker. Clean each component thoroughly with a clean cloth. Place a drop of oil on each component and lubricate it with paintball marker oil. Make sure the oil is specifically for paintball markers, as other oils can damage your marker's components. Use a clean cloth to rub the oil thoroughly into each component. Markers must be maintained to ensure continued accuracy. Consult your marker's manual for any marker-specific instructions for cleaning and oiling.

Tags: your marker, each component, balls will, clean cloth, ensure your marker, into barrel

How Does Skateboarding Rank In Popularity Compared To Other Sports

Introduction

When most people think of all-American sports, they typically think of baseball, basketball and football. Few people immediately thing of skateboarding, although that fact may change in the coming decades. The truth is that skateboarding is one of the fastest growing sports not only in America but worldwide. Since the invention of the sport in the 1960s, participants in the sport have been growing exponentially, already surpassing the popularity of several more traditional sports.

Skateboarding vs. Traditional Sports

Based on a 2004 sports participation study performed by SGMA International, there are approximately 11.6 million skateboarders in America. This figure is enough to make skateboarding the third most popular sport for American teenagers. Football currently ranks first, and basketball ranks second. The figures reported by the SGMA indicate that skateboarding is more popular than baseball, hockey, tennis and virtually every other traditional sport in the United States. For a sport that initially began as a diversion for California surfers during the cold seasons of the 1960s, that's a pretty impressive fact. In fact, up until quite recently, people were still debating whether or not skateboarding should officially be called a hobby or a sport. The introduction of annual skateboarding competitions such as the X-Games helped legitimize the sport as well as introduce it to a mass audience.

Skateboarding vs. Other Extreme Sports

In relation to other extreme sports, skateboarding ranks second in American participants (including children, teenagers and adults) only to inline skating (with a reported participation of 17.3 million individuals). Paintball ranks third with 9.6 million participants and artificial wall climbing ranks fourth with 7.6 million participants. Skateboarding's arctic cousin, snowboarding, ranks fifth with 7.1 million participants.

Skateboarding's Rise in Popularity

One of the reasons skateboarding has become so popular is that it has such a universal and open appeal. Armed with a skateboard, kids and adults can practice the sport virtually anywhere, including their driveways, empty parking lots or one of the 1,000-plus public skateparks in the United States. This is in contrast to traditional sports, which are restricted by the need for a playing field. Other typical restrictions, such as a season of play and need for additional team members, are also a nonissue for the sport of skateboarding.

The vast bag of tricks available to skateboarders is another reason it may have grown in popularity. Skateboard tricks range from very easy to incredibly complex. This allows skateboarders of all abilities to find continued success and challenges within the sport. A lack of strict rules and boundaries also allows individual skaters to express their unique creativity. This is opposed to team sports, where individuals often feel constrained by a team mentality and the pressures of winning.

Tags: million participants, with million, with million participants, million participants Skateboarding, participants Skateboarding, ranks second

Nashville Bachelorette Party Ideas

If you're planning a bachelorette party in the Nashville, Tennessee area, you have a variety of options available to you as you plan a party the bride and her friends will never forget. Let Music City, USA entertain you and your bachelorette party guests with options for dinner, drinks, and accommodations to suit any style and budget.

Hotels and Resorts

The Gaylord Opryland Hotel is a Nashville landmark. This hotel features an indoor atrium designed after some of Tennessee's memorable locales, five restaurants and numerous snack stands, and unique specialty gift stores on-site. You can even book a special package that includes tickets to the Grand Ole Opry or spa packages for your bachelorette party guests.

You'll feel like royalty if you stay at the Union Station Wyndham hotel. This historic hotel is located in Nashville but evokes images of a castle. Enjoy their in-house spa, or take a splash in their pool. Enjoy their on-site restaurant, Prime 108, and then relax with a cocktail in front of their cozy fireplace.

Landmark Bars

If you decide to go out for drinks, you can rent Nashville's F.A.D.Ds (Friends Against Drunk Drivers) party bus to transport you and your guests. This way, no one has to worry about being the designated driver, and everyone can enjoy the party to its fullest.

Music City offers plenty of opportunities for fun and dancing with the girls. Try the classic tourist attraction, Wildhorse Saloon, where you and your party guests will be able to dance the night away. Enjoy delicious menu items, free line dancing lessons, and demonstrations from professional dancers. The Wildhorse also has special bachelorette party packages, so call ahead for details.

Another classic Nashville landmark is Tootsie's Wild Orchid Lounge. Rent their famous front booth, frequented by stars of the country music world. Enjoy live music and cold drinks all night long.

Arts and Entertainment

You can start your evening with a show at TPAC (Tennessee Performing Arts Center). They host Broadway shows of all varieties as well as local performances, and you can even purchase group discount tickets.

For an artistic evening, take a tour at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. You can even book a reservation to host your event at the center, so you never have to leave.

The General Jackson Showboat offers country-style entertainment and dinner in one floating location. Cruise the Cumberland River in style as you enjoy dinner (sometimes buffet-style, other times they offer a specific menu), dancing, and entertaining shows for the evening.

Tags: party guests, bachelorette party, bachelorette party, bachelorette party guests, Enjoy their

Fort White Florida Hotels

Fort White, Florida is known for its beautiful clear springs.

Located in north central Florida, Fort White was once the location of a Second Seminole War fort built in the early 19th century, but the town is now largely known for its beautiful clear springs. Home to Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Fort White attracts visitors wishing to canoe or tube down the springs, swim in designated natural pools or hike and picnic along the water. While there are no hotels located in the small town of Fort White, there are several within a short drive convenient for visitors to the area.

Steamboat Dive Inn

Located within 20 minutes of all area springs and Fort White, Steamboat Dive Inn is an ideal choice for visitors looking for a hotel in the area. Steamboat Dive Inn offers an on-site dive shop for scuba divers and snorkelers in addition to boating and paintball equipment. Guestrooms at the Steamboat Dive Inn are very reasonably priced and feature free high-speed Internet, air conditioning and cable TV. Larger rooms with up to four double beds are also available.

Steamboat Dive Inn

US Highway 27 and 129

Branford, FL 32008

386-935-2283

steamboatdiveinn.com

Travelodge Lake City/High Springs

Just 15 miles from Fort White and Ichetucknee Springs State Park, the Travelodge Lake City/High Springs features budget prices and easy access to the Fort White area. Conveniently located adjacent to a 24-hour convenience store, this Fort White area hotel offers a free continental breakfast and televisions with HBO.

Travelodge Lake City/High Springs

13771 South US Highway 441

Lake City, FL 32025

386-752-7582

travelodge.com

Econo Lodge Lake City

Just a 15 minute drive to Ichetucknee Springs State Park, this Fort White, Florida area hotel is also conveniently situated near Gainesville, Tallahassee and Jacksonville. Featured amenities at the Econo Lodge Lake City include a free continental breakfast, free in-room high-speed Internet and refrigerators and microwaves in some of the newly renovated rooms. This hotel is also adjacent to several dining options and an outlet mall.

Econo Lodge Lake City

178 SW Florida Gateway Drive

Lake City, FL 32024

386-752-7891

econolodge.com

Super 8 Lake City

Located 13 miles away from Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White is the budget-friendly Super 8 Lake City. Putting guests right in the center of north-central Florida's beautiful clear springs, this Fort White area hotel offers visitors a free breakfast daily with waffles, free ice cream, free high-speed Internet, complimentary passes to an area gym, discounts for seniors and microwaves and mini-refrigerators in each room.

Super 8 Lake City

3954 S.W. State Road 47

Lake City, FL 32024

386-752-6450

super8.com

High Springs Country Inn

Within 14 miles of Fort White and convenient to the historic downtown district of High Springs, the High Springs Country Inn provides quality accommodations for visitors to the springs and tourists in search of antique and art shops. This Fort White, Florida area hotel features family-friendly rooms with wood furniture, kitchenettes with refrigerators and microwaves, free high-speed Internet and cable TV.

High Springs Country Inn

520 NW Santa Fe Boulevard

High Springs, FL 32643

386-454-1565

highspringscountryinn.com

Tags: Fort White, Lake City, High Springs, Steamboat Dive, area hotel, Fort White Florida

Increase Muzzle Velocity Of A 177 Pellet Rifle

Pellet rifle projectiles come in a variety of weights and configurations.

Increasing the muzzle velocity of a .177 pellet rifle increases the terminal energy, improving the rifle's ability to quickly and humanely kill an animal. The increased velocity will also reduce the ballistic arc, increasing the point blank range and thereby help improve accuracy. Caliber .177 conventional pellets range in weight from 7.5-to-9.6 grains. Lighter, PBA rifle performance pellets weigh 5.4 grains and can increase pellet velocity by 25 percent.

Instructions

1. Shoot a 10 round series using conventional .177 caliber pellets at the paper bulls-eye target. This shot group will be used for comparison to confirm that the pellet muzzle velocity has increased.

2. Replace the conventional .177 caliber pellets with PBA rifle performance pellets and shoot a 10 round series. An increase in pellet velocity will raise the shot group on the bull's-eye target.

3. Replace the bulls-eye target with a soaked stack of wet newspapers. Place the wet newspapers so that you can fire into the stack as you would any target.

4. Fire several conventional .177 caliber pellets into the wet newspapers, followed by several PBA rifle performance pellets. After firing the pellets, carefully peel back the wet newspapers and measure the depth of penetration. The faster pellets will penetrate deeper and help confirm an increase in muzzle velocity.

Tags: caliber pellets, conventional caliber, conventional caliber pellets, muzzle velocity, performance pellets, rifle performance, rifle performance pellets

Stab Proof Vest Work

To call any sort of stab vest "proof" is a misnomer. There are no vests that are completely impenetrable by knives. There are vests that are resistant to knife penetration, though, which is why this form of body armor is called a stab-resistant vest, or simply a stab vest. These vests are specifically designed to protect against blades and improvised stabbing weapons, as well as pointed weapons such as ice picks that have no edge.

Piercing

When a piercing object, like a nail or a hypodermic needle, goes through cloth, it doesn't damage the cloth as it goes through. Rather, the point slips between the threads and then pushes past, the same way a needle does when sewing. This is why the tighter a material's weave, the better it will protect the wearer against stabs.

Cutting

When a fabric is stabbed with a knife, the process works a little differently. The point of the knife slips through the weave of the fabric and the cutting edge follows. The cutting edge actually damages the fabric, slicing through it to create a rent in the fabric. Knives are easier to block than smaller items like ice picks, though.

Weave

A stab vest has to have a very tight weave to its fabric. If the weave is tight, then it prevents the point of the weapon from ever slipping through the fabric in the first place. This means that the stabber has to put a lot more force into breaking the fabric of the vest.

Material

Heavy nylon or Kevlar material is used to make a stab vest harder to damage. If the material is much more resilient and difficult to damage, in addition to being a very tight weave, then the force that's needed to penetrate the stab vest increases, and it becomes less likely the wearer will be hurt by a weapon.

Inserts

Some stab vests also include PVC or metal inserts in them. These inserts provide additional ballistic protection to make the vests viable against small caliber bullets as well as knives and other stabbing weapons. These vests are more expensive, but they also offer superior resistance.

Tags: stab vest, cutting edge, goes through, stabbing weapons, There vests, There vests that, These vests

Gun Sight Technology

A gun sight allows greater accuracy in aiming.

The gun sight has been around as long as guns themselves. In its simplest form, the gun sight is a small piece of iron at the end of the barrel, allowing the shooter to line up the sight with the target. Of course, doing this accurately is a difficult task for the human eye. The eye cannot focus on a distant object and a close object at the same time. Advancing gun sight technology aims to correct that problem.

Iron Sights

Iron sights are the oldest and most basic of gun sight technology. The sights use a series of markers along the barrel of the gun to let the shooter line up the gun and the target for aiming purposes. Unlike more advanced sights, iron sights do not use optics to aid in the aiming process. Iron sights usually comprise two components: a rear sight with a notch or hole to look through, and a forward sight, which is some sort of metal blade or post. The shooter must line both sights up with each other and the target.

Telescopic Scopes

Telescopic sights have existed in some form or another since the late 1800s. These sites attach to the top of a rifle or handgun and give the user magnification of the target. Modern sights can be adjusted for aim and focus, as well as allowing for adjustments based on elevation differences between the shooter and the target.

Laser Sights

Laser sights, used on both rifles and handguns, use laser technology to place a small red dot of light on the target. This red dot represents where the bullet will enter when the gun is fired. Some laser sights use infrared technology to make the dot invisible to the human eye, but visible with night vision goggles. In 2007, a company called LaserMax introduced green laser sights, which are brighter and more visible in bright light conditions.

MicroSight

MicroSight technology, developed by Idaho National Laboratory, uses zone plates to cut down on the problems the human eye has in focusing on two different targets. Attached to the gun, the zone plate uses diffraction to bring faraway objects and near objects into the same focus. It promises to be better than a traditional telescopic scope because it is lighter in weight and doesn't remove as much light from your vision.

SmartSight

An independent inventor in California named Matthew Hagerty has been developing a new gun sight technology called SmartSight for 10 years. The device combines a small camera mounted on the gun itself with a remote viewfinder which is worn over the shooter's eye. This allows the shooter tremendous flexibility when it comes to shooting the gun. It will allow hunters and soldiers to stay hidden while aiming their gun above their heads or to the side, while still giving them perfect visibility.

Tags: sight technology, shooter line, sight with

Fun Date Ideas In Tempe Az

There are lots of ways to enjoy Tempe with your sweetheart.

Tempe, Arizona is a vibrant town with a bustling artistic community. It is home to theaters, fine dining establishments and the Arizona State University campus and Sun Devil Stadium. If you are planning a special date with your sweetie, the problem isn't finding something fun to do in Tempe-- the problem is narrowing down your options.

Visit the Stadium

Sun Devil Stadium is part of the Arizona State University campus and is home to the ASU Sun Devils football team. The stadium also played host to Superbowl XXX in 1996. If your girlfriend is into sports, take her to an ASU football home game at the stadium. The two of you will be surrounded by food, excitement and fans of all ages clad in maroon and gold. If you're lucky, you may even see fireworks.

Get Active

If your boyfriend likes to golf, take him to the ASU Karsten or the Rolling Hills golf courses. Golf is a good way to get up close and personal to your date. Ask him to show you the proper way to hold a golf club. If you want to get your adrenaline going, visit Tempe Paintball and play a few rounds. Paintball is easy to learn and can be an exciting way to spend the day with your date.

See a Play or Visit the Museum

Tempe is home to a variety of theaters and museums. If you are looking for a quiet, thoughtful way to spend the day with your date, visit the Tempe History Museum. While many of the artifacts are directly related to the history of the town, some exhibits rotate and a trip to the museum is never the same twice. The ASU campus also home to museums dedicated to anthropology, art and musical instruments. If you would like to take your date to see something more modern, catch a live show at the Tempe Center for the Arts Theater.

Dinner and a Movie

Dinner and a movie may sound cliche, but Tempe has a number of choices for couples who want to keep date night simple and low-key. The Harkins Tempe Marketplace 16 is a multi-screen movie theater with stadium seating, surround sound and 3D projectors. The theater also shows IMAX films. There are dozens of places to eat right near the theater, like Ghengis Grill, Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, San Felipes Cantina and chain eateries like Red Robin and Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Visit Town Lake

Town Lake is a great place for you and your date to enjoy the great outdoors of Arizona. The area around the lake is replete with walking trails and bicycle paths. If the two of you would prefer to spend time on the water, you could rent a paddle boat, take a boat ride or go fishing. Bring a picnic basket and create a romantic outdoor lunch for two.

Check out the City Calendar

For the latest happenings in Tempe, .always check the city calendar located on the official government website. It is constantly updated with new events. One of the worst things you can do when you're dating somebody is to get stuck in the same date pattern and do the same things over and over again. Instead, check the calendar and circle events that catch your eye, like a one-day cooking class, a fencing workshop or a comic book seminar.

Tags: your date, with your, Arizona State, Arizona State University, Devil Stadium, spend with, spend with your