P698 Glock 26 Style Spring Pistol Review and Some Addendum Thoughts

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Wow! This P698 Glock 26 Style Spring Pistol is really a nice little piece and has a lot going for it, especially in this price range of spring airsoft guns. First, the overall appearance is pleasing, if not entirely accurate with regard to the surface texture variations between the slide and molded grip-frame which would be typical of the real Glock. There are very noticeable molding lines on the trigger, slide, frame and magazine base, but in this price range this is to be expected.

Also, the gun is pictured with an orange colored muzzle end slide face, but as supplied comes with a full length black slide and orange barrel extending approx 1/4 to 5/32 inches beyond the slide, which I at least find more attractive. The picture also indicates ‘COMBAT DELTA’ and 9×19 indented into the left slide face, but mine arrived ‘smooth’.

So….how does it feel and shoot. In a word – good. It’s no wonder Glock’s are so popular. It just naturally fits, at least in my hands. The grip contouring and thumb indentation, even including the ‘pinkie rest’ on the magazine extension, the back strap shape and radius, trigger and trigger guard notch are all ergonomically correct for an intuitive ‘grip’, site picture & target acquisition. What I find remarkable is how the front site blade visually indexes so accurately within the ramped Novak style rear site blade (and on such an inexpensive pistol), allowing a very precise site picture which minimizes the effect of the short site radius.

I’m sure this makes perfect sense to those of you who appreciate such things. The magazine holds 9 BBs, and is fed by manually retracting a spring loaded ‘follower’, thus allowing the insertion of BBs into the ‘ammo well’. The follower incorporates a detente notch allowing the user to lock the follower spring in the base position while loading – a nice touch – though perhaps not really necessary. Just remember to release the follower to ensure proper feeding prior to reinsertion of the loaded mag. Depressing the magazine release when the pistol is vertical will immediately drop the mag – there’s no binding – yet the mag catch clicks and holds securely. Being that it is a spring airsoft gun, the slide must be manually retracted to compress the spring and cock the pistol for every discharge (shot). By the way, I’m certain this is ho hum stuff to most of you, but for those new to Airsoft, it’s not bad info., especially since this is such a great ‘starter gun.’

Anyway, the spring feels really firm, perhaps because this is such a small pistol, and I found it necessary to grip the slide pretty much along it’s length between the four fingers and thumb of my left hand. I suppose one ‘can’ cock this pistol by gripping just the cocking serrations on the rear of the slide, but I don’t recommend this method, as doing so requires a grip tight enough to dimensionally compress the slide. After a few times though, it becomes second nature. The first shot was a real surprise. This thing shoots hard for a low cost springer, and I highly advise proper eye protection, especially if there’s any chance of a ricochet. I didn’t ‘bench’ this thing for accuracy, but it would be interesting to see how it groups and at what distances.

Trigger action was also a nice surprise, with no take-up like most real Single action/double action Euro wonder nines. Apply pressure and the trigger moves rearward about 1/8 – 3/16 of an inch and releases crisply (on my example). Trigger pull is tactile but not too stiff. By the way, I didn’t subject the pistol to any torture tests or put a gazillion rounds through it, but then again, it still impresses me at this price. The gun comes in a molded Styrofoam box with a printed cardboard cover and a sample pack of.12 gm. BBs, all of which were quickly dispensed through my example, without a hitch. So….there it is. I really like the P698, to the degree it’s kind of hard to put it down. I just wonder if any real Glocks might be sold as a result of someones discovery of this fun little thing?

Addendum thoughts: First of all, why such a lengthy review of an inexpensive spring pistol? First, there isn’t always a distinct and technically measurable correlation between the cost of an item and the enjoyment one experiences in connection with it’s use. In other words, it doesn’t always take a lot of money to have a lot of fun. In some cases, there’s an an inverse expenditure/benefit correlation (more money, less fun). Besides, Airsoft customers seem to be very passionate regarding their opinions of everything Airsoft, and no wonder.

Airsoft is now worldwide. So whether an individual is considering a low cost or expensive item, a review is a review. When buying a car, the astute customer consults both professional and consumer reviews to find out as much as possible in order to make an informed decision. Imagine looking for an econobox just to discover little or no evaluational information is available because you’re not shopping for a Ferrari.

History of ZZ Top

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Like the state of Texas, where they come from, ZZ Top combines rural primitivism and urban image in a way that has led to a perfect synthesis between provincial rock’n’roll and high technology.

When, in the late 1980s, Forbes magazine published the list of celebrities in the entertainment world with the highest profits worldwide, only one rock group, U2, ranked above ZZ Top among those who had amassed greater fortunes. However, they have managed to stay curiously away from the rock’n’roll high society circus, and remain immune to the “rock messiah” syndrome that generally haunts other artists of their stature. In almost thirty years they have traveled the whole planet with their tours, although they have never been away for a long time from their base in southern North America, and the description someone made of them when they started, “that little old band from Texas”, even today they fit like a glove.

Billy Gibbons, who was a graphic arts student, began playing the guitar in The Moving Sidewalks, a psychedelic “garage” band from the 1960s whose debut single, “99th Floor,” ranked highest on the charts. Texas lists for five weeks in 1967. Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, meanwhile, graduated from The American Blues, a Dallas band best known for the fact that its members wore their hair dyed blue than anything else. The three met in 1970 and the pact they then sealed has withstood the test of time with an overwhelming solidity. Except for the brief contribution of a guitar accompaniment on the part of a stranger on one of his first albums, the three men have self-supplied up to the last note and the last rhythm of those that have been included in their albums, even if they have had even that to learn to play the saxophone or to execute a section of three metals, as is the case in some songs of their album Degüello. They have never enriched their live performances with extra musicians, nor have they recorded or played with other bands.

Their manager and producer since the first day has been Bill Ham, a non-conformist Texan with a management style very similar to Led Zeppelin’s first manager, Peter Grant. Ham categorically separated ZZ Top from television throughout the 1970s, preferring the band’s live performances to other procedures that guaranteed easier success. Although such principles had to be hard by force, the truth is that the foundations of the band were already unbreakable towards 1976, when it took place the tour Taking Texas to the People, an ambitious production that had them a lot of time on the road along with all their outdoor life equipment and a large fauna (an ox, a buffalo weighing 2,000 pounds, half a dozen vultures, two rattlesnakes six feet each, a pig and a wolf). Their aversion to TV was softened in the eighties, when they became peculiar stars of MTV thanks to a trilogy of videos directed by Tim Newman for the tracks “Gimme All Your Lovin”, “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs”, all of them included in his successful 1983 album, Eliminator.

Presenting themselves since the eighties as the “rock mausoleums”, ZZ Top is the only group that has seriously faced the commitment to age in a market, the rock’n’roll, which always trades with the currency of youth. To such capacity of permanence has contributed, without a doubt, the image that Gibbons and Hill conceived for the group when their members barely reached the thirty years of age, an image in which the most outstanding note are long beards that were not fashionable since the times of the Old Testament. This strategy freed them of concerns from then on, since, unless they dramatically increase in weight, they will not look older in twenty years than they appear now.

Given the enormous amount of works published by this band throughout its history, only those that have been most relevant are mentioned. The first is a LP of 1973 entitled Tres hombres, which made number three of its production at that time. Some people think that this has been the best album of his career. The tracks that open the album, “Waitin ‘for the Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” are two of the great opening salvoes of all time, along with “Route 66,” from the Rolling Stones’ first album, and “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin II. In fact, the two inseparable songs continued being an essential component in the set of the subjects that touched in direct on the occasion of the tour of 1991, Recycler.Another interesting cut is “La Grange”, a lascivious tale set in a brothel that was a minor success in the United States, as well as “Precious and Grace” and the surrealist “Master of Sparks”, whose unconventional lyrics are adorned with a somewhat questionable Texan folklore. Although Tres Hombres reached number eight in the American charts, it was never recorded in the British, and is one of the most ignored great albums in the history of rock.

Another of the great works of ZZ Top is Degüello, published in 1979. It is a new collection of apparently casual brilliance, which illuminates, among other things, the consummate control of the textures of Gibbons guitar. It oscillates between the perfect Fender sound of “A Fool for Your Stockings” and the Marshall sound of “Cheap Sunglasses”. Half a decade before Michael Jackson and LL Cool J entered the scene, the ZZ Top demonstrated a perfect familiarity with the street language in “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide.” The band’s fascination with car racing is also revealed through another of those surreal fantasy lyrics, “Manic Mechanic,” sung by Gibbons as if he were speaking through a broken megaphone. Dazzling versions of “I Thank You”, by Isaac Hayes, and “Dust My Broom”, by Elmore James, culminate a spectacularly rich composition.

When someone asked Gibbons what a guitarist could do to improve his technique, his response was to go out and buy an album called The Sound of the Drags (a recording that picked up the peculiar sound of car racing), and I absorbed all the warm feeling it emitted. The success of Eliminator, album released in 1983, is based precisely on having managed to capture that “warm feeling”; So much so, that the LP has become part of the legendary history of rock’n’roll, along with the car, the girls, the videos and the ten million copies that were sold of it. The trick they discovered was simple, but surprisingly effective. They trumpeted the guitar sound, made the choirs more dynamic and banished any kind of rhythmic overcrowding. Contrary to what is common in a heavy rock album, “Gimme All Your Lovin,” “Got Me Under Pressure,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Dirty Dog,” and “If I Could Only Flag Her Down “are held exclusively on a basic battery pulse.

In addition to Afterburner (1985), which was number two in the United Kingdom, two compilation albums of the band must also be mentioned: The Best of ZZ Top (1977) and Greatest Hits (1992), compilations that only share two themes, ” Tush”and” La Grange “, which gives a good account of the group’s creativity. The Best of ZZ Top collects an acceptable selection of the band’s work until 1977, paying special attention to Tres Hombres (which contributes four songs out of a total of ten). Greatest Hits, which was catapulted to singles charts for its version of the song “Viva Las Vegas”, shows the most modern and commercial face of ZZ Top.However, there are several notable omissions (“TV Dinners”, “Velcro Fly”, “Stages”) and other rather questionable inclusions (“Gun Love”, “Give It Up”) that make this, according to some, a summary of little confidence.

Different Fashions – Alternative Fashion Styles

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Clothing was always, ever since man started wrapping himself in various animal fur, a statement of a certain kind. Fashion, as a style popularized and excepted by many in modern day, just deepened that statement’s importance. Choosing one style or another gave people in all cultures a way of expressing themselves, and as there was always a fashion followed by majority of society, there was another, somewhere in the back of it, denying and rejecting it.

Alternative fashion styles are tightly close to music genres of what is also labeled as “alternative”, such as rock and roll, punk, gothic, hardcore, and all varieties that rose up from those. Many social and cultural issues are brought up by associating a subculture with a type of music and a way of clothing, such as denying status quo of classes, governmental policies, distribution of power, and identity policy which majority popularized. Identity, in fact, is the most important aspect of alternative fashion and as an embodiment of it, it produced a variety of styles, to show the same variety of opinion, discontent, or rejecting the traditional values which are always transformed in shape but steady in structure in the mainstream fashion.

Reimagining one’s own identity is a process that is followed by changes in personal appearance and usually approaching values of a subculture which offers to individual a better view of society. Those values are mirrored in music, clothes and accessories. Influenced by vintage and retro fashion, dress styles, forms of visual and performance art, personal attitudes towards concepts such as individuality, consumerism, social constructs on behavior, and considerations of availability and utilitarianism, rock and roll and punk had a very strong ground to stand on when social criticizm through clothing became unseparable part of the genres.

Since the 50s and 70s which were the turning point years, rock and roll and punk styles got multiplied by many, and brought us gothic, cyber gothic (and other varieties of gothic fashion which is still one of the strongest alternative movements in creation of new gender roles and identities and social boundaries), industrial (strongly influenced by military uniforms), Beatniks, Metal, Heavy Metal, Glam Metal (and many subgenres of metal music which has their own set of clothing styles), Hippie, Riot grrrl, Lolita, Mod, Ero kawaii (and many, many, many Japanese influenced styles with a strong influence on Western fashion, alternative and mainstream, such as Elegant Gothic Aristocrat), and many more. Individuality is an important part of alternative fashion, but there are always patterns (otherwise we would not call it a fashion), and even punk fashion, as an extreme form of rejecting social system through hairstyle, piercings, ripped clothes etc has a certain structure which can except anyone who wants to join it.

As styles change, and we are going further in time from the origins of musical genres which brought us new fashion(s), it is apparent that they are still here, regardless of gender, class, age or culture, transforming and giving people a stronger voice to say “We are different, and we want more”.

Different Types of Stores at the Mall

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There are many different types of shops you can find at the local mall. Most large shopping centers have a department store sometimes known as an anchor. A department store as the name would suggest has several departments such as a shoes, cosmetics, men’s clothing, women’s clothing, etc. In addition, there are many specialty stores throughout the mall, for example, one may feature cosmetics, another may sell only shoes or another may have products for your favorite pet. There are other businesses as well, such as the food court which is an area with an assortment of eateries and restaurants. Some of them sell fast food and some are sit down restaurants. Usually, the shoppers have many choices to choose such as burgers, pizza, ice cream, or fancy frozen drinks. Another type store that is often found at malls is called kiosks. Kiosks are usually just a wheeled cart that can be moved from place to place, sometimes they are even folding carts that can be taken down at night. The kiosks are small business owners who want to keep the rent costs down but still be able to sell their products and make a profit. One vendor may sell only calendars; another stall may sell only candy or handcrafted jewelry.

One benefit of renting a stall is that you are in the middle of everything. When your business is a store people actually have to venture inside to look at what you have to offer. With a kiosk, it is entirely different. They are in the aisles of the mall where customers wander. As they walk around they look at what you are offering as opposed to stores. Also the employees can talk to customers as they walk buy and try to persuade them to buy what they are selling. Some people find this technique annoying but it is known to be effective.

The benefits of a store, however, are great. There is more room for inventory and people have more options. These small portable booths usually only carry one type of product and either customers want it or they do not. Stores are just the opposite. They are selling so much that if someone does not like one thing chances are good that they will find something else. When it comes to saying if one is far better than the other it is hard to tell. They both have their own sets of pros and cons and it is hard to tell which is greater or less.

Food courts are successful because people that shop generally stop for food. If they do not have to leave the mall for food then why would they? There are so many different places to choose from that chances are people will like at least one of them. These are some reasons why the food court is successful. The stores are not as big as a shop, yet not as small as a kiosk, though it is perfect size for this type of business. There is seating in front of the stores so that is not needed in each individual restaurant. There is something for everyone at a local shopping center whether it is a department store, toy shop, eateries or kiosks.

How to Put an Army Promotion Packet Together

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Your unit will announce when they’re considering promotion board packets. They’ll send correspondence to their subordinate units. This correspondence will outline what they expect the packet to look like. In many cases, they’ll ask for the “Promotion Packet Composition, Elections and Preferences” on the folder’s left. They’ll ask for Tab’s A through E on the folder’s right.

What you’ll need:

Before you start, make sure that you have the following: Two-hole-punch; a manila folder, two sheets, tabbed, with metal clasps centered at the top on each side; cut-out single manila folder sheets to separate the different tabs; tab labels; and your promotion packet parts.

Your unit should have the manila folder with clasps centered on the top. All you need is one that opens up, two sheets only. You could purchase the plastic tabs at a store that sells office supplies. These usually come with instructions on how to produce the labels on Microsoft Word. You’ll have to access a website to download the template.

Make copies of your packet items, both hardcopy and digital.

Make sure that you make copies of your packet, both hard copy and electronic. Scan every item in your promotion packet. Save these in a folder on your computer, then save that folder to multiple computers, multiple saving devices, and personal storage accounts on the Internet.

Here’s how it’s supposed to work.

Before moving on, here’s a breakdown of the “Promotion Packet Composition, Elections and Preferences” tab system.

Your Army promotion packet will have the items from Section B of the “Promotion Packet Composition, Elections and Preferences” form. You’ll see three columns titled; Initials, Tab, and Description/Instructions. The first two blank spaces under the “Tab” column are for items that will be at the top of the right side of your packet. They don’t have their own tab label.

When the reviewer opens your packet, he or she will see the “Promotion Packet Composition, Elections and Preferences” form on the left side. They’ll see your promotion point computation worksheet (SGT/SSG promotion) on the right. This is the DA Form 3355. If you’re writing a letter to the President of the Board, this’ll be under your promotion points computation sheet.

Under your promotion points worksheet, the reviewer will see a bunch of “tabs” to the side. These tabs are named after the tab number, or letter, that you’ll find under the tab column. Each tab will be labeled as follows: A, B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-7, C, D, and E.

When the reviewer holds the tab-label holding “B” and lifts the attached single manila folder sheet that it’s attached to, he’ll see your DA Forms 2A and 2-1. When he lifts the B-1 tab, and attached folder, he’ll see your PT card. This concept applies throughout the Army promotion packet. Use the “Promotion Packet Composition, Elections and Preferences” sheet as a guide.

How to put the packet together:

Place the “Promotion Packet Composition, Elections and Preferences” on the left side. Apply the two-hole punch, then put it on the clasps on the left.

Have several single sheets of manila folder sides ready. Start at “E,” this is your “Tab E.” As of this writing, it includes military awards, decorations, and letters/certificates of commendation appreciation or achievement.

Align the two-hole punch to the metal tabs, then adjust the metal measuring device. You don’t want your copies to fold when you close your promotion folder. After placing copies of your awards documentation, take the first manila folder sheet. Use the same two-hole-punch principles that you did before. Place that manila sheet over your awards documentation.

Turn to the items that go into section “D,” your “Tab D.” As of this writing, this tab contains your military reports, like DA Form 1059, and other evidence of military education. Make sure you include the DA 1059 from your latest NCOES course. Include all of your DA Form 1059s in this section. Apply the two-hole punch using the same principles that you applied when working with section E (Tab E). When you get all the documents in, apply the two-hole punch on the single manila folder sheet. Put that on top of your section “D” items.

Repeat this process for the remainder of the packet. Each tab gets its own section. When you’re done, the tabs, on the right, will be in the order they show up under the “tab” column.

Attach the tab-labels, to the single manila folder sheets, after you put the packet together.

You could either type, or hand print, the tab-labels. Since you want your work to stand out, you want to type those labels. Read the directions for the size of the tabs that you purchase. They’ll provide you with instructions on how you could download a ready made tab sheet. Type the above tab labels into the blocks, then save. Print these tab labels out. Cut them out and slide them into their respective tabs… one by one.

Once you get done, do a final look through. Go through every item in every section of the promotion packet. Make sure that you signed everything that you’re supposed to sign. Once you’re complete, submit it to your first line leader. Make sure you’re available to make corrections.

Some helpful tips.

1. Take your professional counseling sessions, formal and informal, seriously. Promotions are earned. Even if you’re in the primary zone for promotion, your leadership doesn’t have to recommend you. If you’re not ready for promotion, they’ll provide you with a counseling statement explaining why.

2. Strive to perform at the capacity expected at the next higher rank. Never stop learning your MOS. Always build on the MOS knowledge that you already have.

3. Start building your promotion packet early, before you’re eligible for promotion. Update it as soon as you gain more promotion points. Sometimes, promotion boards are announced at times where you wouldn’t have enough time to put a promotion packet together.

4. Max out on your APFT and your weapon qualification scores. Do additional PT in addition to morning PT. Civilian gun ranges offer opportunities to improve your marksmanship between Army range visits.

5. Army correspondence courses are the easiest points to get. If you’re not doing Army correspondence courses, you’re denying yourself easy promotion points.

6. Obtain a copy of the “Course Promotion Point Eligibility” document. This document lists courses that qualify for promotion points. Try to get registered for the courses that offer promotion points.

7. Take on-line college courses if your training schedule allows you enough time.

5 Great Amos Lee Songs

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Amos Lee Is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist whose musical style encompasses folk, rock and soul. He has released four albums on Blue Note Records. Lee’s “folksy, bluesy sound” had been compared to Bill Withers, John Prine and Norah Jones. A New York Times music critic described him as having a “honeyed singing voice – light amber, mildly sweet, a touch of grain” which he features “squarely, without much fuss or undue strain” in his “1970s folk rock and rustic soul” musical song craft.

I really like his style as a musician and every time I hear him I hear his sound changing slightly and his songwriting also is constantly evolving. As a singer songwriter, every time I hear his music it gets better and better. Lee is an artist that gets me inspired to push myself as a songwriter and keep pushing hard to make great music. His songwriting is awesome and he’s really evolving and I can’t wait to hear more. I’ve compiled a list of 5 great Amos Lee songs and what they mean or the best I can decipher. Sometimes interpretation can be different then what the songwriter meant, but that happens all the time.

1. Street Corner Preacher – Last Days at the Lodge Album

A great story telling song about a man trying to overcome his past issues and sins and make it in the world today (at least that’s what I think this song is about). It’s funny, but the song can be something totally different. The best version I heard of this song is from the “Live from Bonnaroo 2011” video. Lee is accompanied by a slew of artists and backup singers. The song never sounded better.

“He got a new mercy, a new grace

Street corner preacher with the angry face

He got two years off for good behavior

Back in the neighborhood workin’ for the savior”

2. In the Arms of a Woman – Amos Lee (self-titled) Album

An amazing love song. That’s it. That’s all I have to say. When you hear this song it makes you feel romantic and loved and just all around good feelings. When I read the lyrics, sometimes it makes me think that it’s not a romantic song at all because he has this one line that says “Although now most of my days are spent alone”. Does he mean he’s no longer with her or is he always away from home because of being on tour? Not sure, but the song is an instant classic.

“I am at ease

In the arms of a woman

Although now most of my days are spent alone

A thousand miles from the place I was born

When she wakes me

She takes me back home”

3. Colors – Amos Lee (self-titled) Album

This duet with Norah Jones shows his range as a vocalist when he hits those falsetto notes. A song about how the world is different when his love is not around. Things don’t seem to be the same and time just drags on.

“When you’re gone

All the colors fade

When you’re gone

No the years they parade

When you’re gone

Colors seem to fade”

4. Windows Rolled Down – Mission Bell Album

An upbeat song that makes you want to get in the car and just drive till you run out of gas. This is a great song for a road trip or on a beautiful drive.

“Windows are rolled down

Moon is hanging low

Windows are rolled down

Think it’s time for me to go hey-ay-ay-a…-ay”

5. Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight – Amos Lee (self-titled) Album

This is one of those songs that I talked about that is so open to interpretation. I think this song has to do with him dealing with his growing fame and learning to cope with the fame and still be humble about life. “Keep It Loose” means don’t get too stuffy about being famous and getting money and have fun with the process and “Keep It Tight” means to also not get TOO loose and still learn that you have to keep a discipline in your life and still work hard to keep the music career going. Also, keep it loose and tight not only in music, but also in life and love (referencing the 2nd verse).

“and sometimes we forget what we got

who we are,

and who we are not

I think we got a chance to make it right

keep it loose

keep it tight

keep it tight”

As a side note with these songs, I had to pick 5 GREAT songs. These are not the top 5 Amos Lee songs. I believe he has so many great songs that could all be top songs. I didn’t want to force myself to choose, so I copped out and said 5 great songs. I’m looking forward to more Amos Lee music because it gives me inspiration as a songwriter and also he seems like a really cool dude.

Men’s Fashion – Three Popular Outfits For Casual Occasions

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If you like being fashionable and like to buy accessories that make you stand out then you have a lot of options available with you. These days there are many men fashion accessories like ties, cuff links, shoes, scarves etc., which can be worn with your casual outfits and can make you look casual and trendy at the same time.

When it comes to attending casual occasions, it is advisable to opt for casual shirts that may look apt for the occasions. These can be worn over your jeans or trousers and can be teamed with men’s necktie to give you the perfect casual look. Polo shirts are also popular as casual wear and are worn for clubbing and for playing golf and other sports as well. So if you need casual wear then you can opt for polo shirts, button down shirts, jeans and trousers.

For casual evenings and picnics, khaki pants with loafers also work well and can give you the desired look. You have the option to team your casual wear with accessories like men’s ties or men’s necktie, designer silk scarves and other popular men fashion accessories.

If you are wearing a shirt for a casual occasion then you can team it with good men’s ties with stylish prints. Men’s necktie with bold prints can look great for such events and outings and can boost your fashion quotient. If you are fond of wearing men fashion accessories like scarves then you can team it up with your sweaters and jackets and wear them stylishly.

The silk scarves look great for casual occasions and are a good way to define your metro sexuality. You can wear them in different styles so that they look apt. You can either wear it in the classic way wherein you drape it around your neck and flip one end on one side or you can also opt for the Parisian knot which is a stylish way to wear your scarf. Thus wearing your designer scarf in stylish way can compliment your casual outfit and make you look fashionable as well.

Apart from men’s tie and scarves, you can also add other accessories like socks, stylish cuff links, and glass wear, watches which can complete your attire and make you look stylish. Other than buying good men fashion accessory for yourself, you can also gift them to your other male friends who would be happy to add them to their wardrobe.

Online Shopping Lingo: Abbreviations and Acronyms

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Visiting coupon, refunding or bargain sites may, at first, seem

like visiting a foreign country. You see phrases such as:

GDA! BBW B&M BOGO on soaps, HTH

And you think WHAT? Huh? What are they talking about? What

language is THAT?

(Translation: Good Deal Alert! Bath & Body Works

brick-and-mortar store has buy-one-get-one on soaps, hope this

helps!)

I mean, it’s enough to make you want to TYHO!

(Tear Your Hair Out – I made that one up.)

Before you click away in frustration, let me reassure you that

it IS possible to speak like a native – you just need a guide to

the terminology, acronyms, abbreviations, definitions and common

word usage found on rebate and premium product lists, coupon and

online code lists, and refunding and trading forums.

Each site you visit may have its own particular phrases, but

generally speaking the most common terms are found in the list

below.

TTFN…

B&M = Brick & Mortar

B1G1F = Buy One Get One Free

BOGO = (the same as B1G1), Buy One, Get One (usually free)

C/O = Cash Off or Cents Off

CPN = Coupon

CRT = Cash Register Tape

CSR = Customer Service Reps

CVS = A pharmacy/drug store like Rite-Aid

DB = Dear/Darling/Darn Brother

DCRT = Dated Cash Register Receipt

DD* = Dear/Darling/Darn Daughter

DG = Dear/Darling/Darn Girlfriend

DH = Dear/Darling/Darn Husband

DND = Do Not Double

DS* = Dear/Darling/Darn Son

DUPES = Duplicates

DW = Dear/Darling/Darn Wife

EB = Extra Bucks (CVS)

ECB = Extra Care Bucks (CVS)

ESR = Easy Saver Rebate (Walgreens monthly rebate)

FAB = From another Board

GC = Gift Certificate

GDA = Good deal alert

GWP = Gift With Purchase

H/F = Handling Fee

HT/HGT = Hang tag

ISO = In Search Of

LMK = Let Me Know

LOL = Laughing Out Loud and/or Lots of Luck

LPG = Lower Price Guarantee

LSASE = Long self addressed stamped envelope

MIB = Mint in Box

MIL = Mother-in-Law

MMV = Mileage May Vary

MS = Mystery Shopper

NAZ = Name Address Zip code

NED = No expiration date

NIB = New in box

NOCC = No Credit Card

NWOT = New WithOut Tags

NWT = New With Tags

OBO = Or Best Offer

PLMK = Please let me know

POB = Post Office Box

POP = Proof of Purchase

PP = Purchase Price

PPHF = PayPal Handling fee

PREM (Premium) = An item received from a refund offer.

PSTG = Postage

Qualifier (Q)= Proof of Purchase.

RAOK = Random Act of Kindness

RP = Rewards Programs

SAHM = Stay At Home Mom

SASE = Self Addressed Stamped Envelope

SMP = Specially Marked Packages

TMF = Try Me Free

TOS = Terms of Service

TTFN = Ta ta for now

TY/ty = Thank you

UNL = Unlimited

UPC = Universal Product Code

W/L or WL= Wish list

WAHM = Work at home mom

Winetags = coupons found around the neck of a wine bottle

YMMV = Your Merchandise (or Mileage) May Vary

* (Add an S for step _ so DSD is Dear/Darling/Darn Step-Daughter)

Illegal Weapons

On: By: admin

The right to carry and bear weapons is important to maintaining personal protection, but certain weapons have been deemed more dangerous than good. Since the acceptance of the National Firearms Act of 1934, the Federal and various state governments have been regulating the commerce of firearms and the types of weapons that citizens may possess, carry, or control. Each state has individual restrictions that serve to protect the public against weapons that have been deemed dangerous.

The government has deemed that certain types of weaponry have simply been associated with unlawfulness and are not necessary for recreational use, or personal protection. Because of this status and in the name of lawful behavior, certain weapons have been deemed illegal. The following list indicates some of the weapons and destructive devices that are not legal for possession by ordinary citizens:

  1. Short barreled rifles
  2. Short barreled shotguns
  3. Machine guns
  4. Mortars
  5. Destructive devices
  6. Molotov cocktails
  7. Cane guns
  8. H & R Handguns

These weapons, among others, are illegal unless they meet the standards for “antique” firearms, which includes any firearm made before 1918 in many states. This qualifications protects antique trades that are important sources of revenue and investment for many people.

The definition of short barreled fire arms generally includes any shotgun or rifle which has a barrel length of 18″ or less. These firearms are typically modified for the purposes of concealment and for this reason have been deemed unsafe for public possession. Concealment is one of the most common characteristics among weapons that have been deemed illegal for civilian possession and use.

Tambourines: A Long Musical History

On: By: admin

A member of the percussion family, tambourines historically have been made by mounting a single drum head (often of thin animal hide) onto a ring that has pairs of metal jingles laced around the drum sides. It should be noted, however, that not all tambourines use a drum head of leather or animal hide. In some instances, there are jingles strung across the center of the tambourine frame instead. The instrument was then used by either striking the drum head, shaking the jingles, or banging the instrument against a part of the body to get both a drum tone and jingles simultaneous.

Historically the tambourine has been identified in many forms of music including Persian, classical, gospel and pop music. The tambourine can be traced back to most ancient civilizations including India, China, Rome, Egypt and Greece where it was usually used during periods of celebration. Frame drums such as the tambourine as some of the most ancient percussion instruments identified. They originated in the ancient Middle East and ultimately reached medieval Europe. In fact, the tambourine began appearing in operas, ballets, and compositions more and more often throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Used as an accompaniment to other musical instruments, or dancers, the tambourine has developed a huge following for use in spiritual or ritual activities even now.

Different countries have small differences in the construction of the instrument, but the basics remain generally the same. For example, the tambourine is related closely to the Riq used in countries including Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and other Arab countries. In Russia, the Ukraine, Slovia, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, it is referred to as a Buben. In the Balkans, Persia and Central Asian countries, the instrument is referred to as a Dajre. In South Indian societies the instrument is referred to as a Kanjira. All are equally accepted as an acoustic percussion instrument which has the primary use of maintaining rhythm and timbre within the musical piece during which it is being played.