Saturday, December 09, 2006

What is "Key", when Collecting Coins?

Key Coin: A coin that is among the toughest and Most Expensive to obtain within a series. In the Lincoln Cent series, for example, the 1909-S VDB would be considered the key, as would the 1914-D and often the 1922-Plain.

A coin somewhat lesser in stature but still among the tougher in a series to collect is called a semi-key; the 1909-S and 1931-S fulfill this role within the Lincoln Cent series for many collectors.

The Concept of “Key” may also apply to the Type or Purpose of the coin collection, rather than the individual coin. For example, if a collector is putting together a collection of Walking Liberty Half Dollars, without regard to the Condition of the coins, then the “keys” are the 1921, 1921-D, and 1916-S.

But, if the Collector is putting together the same set, in Gem BU Condition, the 1919-D and the 1921-S would be considered the “keys” and the 1916-S likely would not, because the 1916-S either not available at all, or is plentiful. Also Key Date may be a replaceable term.

Another example, using Lincoln Cents: The "key dates" for the Lincoln Pennies, from 1909 -1958 (wheat cents) are: 1909s, 1909s VDB, 1914 D, 1922, and the 1931 S.

The “semi-key” dates are: 1910 S, 1911 D, 1911 S, 1912 S, 1913 D, 1913 S, 1914 S, 1915, 1921 S, 1922 D, 1923 S, 1924 D, 1926 S, 1931 D, and 1933 D.

Certain Sellers use the term “Key Date” to generate interest in a coin, whose date may be “Key”, however, the Condition of the coin is usually less than desirable. Pay Attention!

Have fun collecting your Perfect Coins!

-- Robert L Taylor, JD
Copyright © 2006

Fabric Stores: The Nuts and Bolts

There was a time when going to the fabric store meant you were looking for material to make a dress. No longer is this true. Today, beautiful fabrics by the bolt are available to everyone who has designs on reupholstering their furniture. When you visit the fabric store it can be a bit overwhelming. Your mind will go from not being sure of what you want to recover your furniture with, to having so many options it seems like a daunting task to make a decision. Be prepared for the myriad of choices you will have.

The first thing that you need to do is make a list of the furniture that you would like to recover. Have an upholsterer visit your home and give you measurements for all of the pieces you would like to have recovered; they should happily do this in anticipation of the business it will bring them. Typically, you will be given a measurement in yards. This is the number you will want to take with you to the fabric store because, upon finding the perfect material, a store representative will ask how many yards you would like to have cut from the bolt.

Next, you will want to take some small things from home, that will give you an idea of the color for which you are looking. You might have a favorite accessory that would assist you in matching fabrics to your room. One helpful tip is to take color chips from the paint store with you. These can easily be taken in your tote bag and will be invaluable in selecting your fabric.

Make a game plan as to how you navigate the stores. Most fabric stores have a very deliberate way that they organize their bolts. A particular arrangement is the store’s method of enriching a customer’s experience for them. Upon arriving at the store ask about the store’s sample policy. Most fabric stores have a specific sample policy which they will ask that you adhere to because you are sampling their inventory and cut after cut slowly but surely costs the store money which raises the prices for you. So sample lightly! Here are three sample policies from around the Atlanta area.

1. Samples have been cut and are provided on a safety pin attached to the bolt.

2. You can obtain a pair of fabric scissors from the desk and cut your own samples. When doing this make sure the sample is smaller than a dollar bill.

3. A store representative will cut the sample for you.

Keep in mind that more expensive fabrics, such as silks, will require a store representative to assist you or have samples already available.

After learning about the stores sample policy, you must then determine how the store is organized. You may also want to ask someone from the desk about this when you are inquiring about sampling. Most likely you will find the fabrics have been organized in one of the following ways.

1. By Color: Solids and patterns of the same color will be grouped together.

2. By Pattern: Solids will be separated from stripes without regard to color, etc.

3. By Fabric Type: Silks will be separated from chenilles, etc.

Once you have determined the layout of the store, pull out your accessories and color chips and begin your search. There will be an overwhelming amount of fabric from which to choose. Do not let that intimidate you. Once you have chosen your color, material or pattern of choice, begin looking in the appropriate section. Decide what attracts you to particular fabrics. What is the most important thing in making your decision? Is your room in need of glamour, or do you need a sturdy, durable weave to withstand the children? In general, lighter weight fabrics will be less durable that weighty fabrics. When selecting a fabric, also pay attention to the weave. Is it dense? The denser a fabric is, the more durable it is. Thick and tightly woven fabrics are great for the years when you are raising a family, while silks add glamour and are far more delicate and difficult to clean.

Whatever your goal in selecting fabrics, you can be sure that you will find the perfect one at a local fabric store. Surprisingly, they are very reasonably priced and you can take your selection home with you the same day. You will love your reupholstered furniture all the more because you selected the material on your own. Have fun shopping for fabric. It will bring out the designer in you.

Using Data Loggers to Document Temperature

Data Loggers

A temperature or temperature/RH data logger with an LCD display like the ThermaViewer is vital for anyone who needs to monitor and document temperature. The ThermaViewer performs the following functions:

1. Meets accreditation and customer requirements: FDA, ISO 17025, JCAHO

2. 24/7 Alarming provides an early warning for out-of-spec temperature conditions which triggers an auto dialer and local alarm .

3. Bullet proof data storage (you never lose data!): Each data logger stores a complete copy of the records in its battery backed up RAM memory.

4. Immunity to power outages: Each data logger has two batteries to protect your data from power outages. A nine-volt DC battery and a smaller button cell battery.

5. Easy Installation: The ThermaViewer is easy enough for a 12 year old to install and use. It immediately begins to collect data when power is supplied. You can set the date and time and the display parameters in just a few seconds with the help of the Care and Use guide.

The most accurate and least expensive way to document temperature is with a data logger like the ThermaViewer. Data loggers come with or without an LCD display. A display is very useful because you can see the temperature history at any time without having to first download it into a computer. Data loggers without a display must be programmed by wiring them up to a computer.

Data loggers are programmed to sample and document temperature electronically. They collect data constantly and can be downloaded to a computer to generate a printed record to be reviewed or filed away.

The initial cost is not only less than a chart recorder. It last for years has no moving parts, requires no paper, pens or ongoing maintenance.

Traffic Mapping For Your Mobile Phone

In late July, Google announced that it will be offering live traffic information to mobile phones in more than thirty U.S. cities. Plans to provide the traffic feature to PCs are still in the works. The Google traffic feature will be released as an update to the free Google Maps for Mobile service, which has been available for 18 months for download on the Google web site. Google would not disclose how many subscribers it has, but it says the number is growing rapidly.

The feature expands Google's mapping technology into an area where Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo already have a presence, but in different ways. Yahoo and Microsoft offer real-time traffic information on their Web-based mapping services for PCs. Microsoft has chosen to move into the mobile “space” by licensing traffic-monitoring technology for mobile devices to a Kirkland-based startup, InRix Inc. Yahoo currently has no mobile traffic service. MapQuest, an AOL property, offers traffic reports over cell phones for $2.99 per month.

With typical bombast, Microsoft announced that when operable, the InRix mobile service will actually predict upcoming traffic problems – however currently the MSN mobile mapping technology provides no traffic information at all.

In the cities where it works, the Google feature will show traffic conditions on most major highways - indicating green for clear roadways, yellow for medium congestion and red for high congestion or stopped traffic. Google Maps will work on most Java-enabled phones offered by Cingular and Sprint and all color BlackBerry devices. The service does not currently work on phones from other major carriers such as Verizon or T-Mobile USA. Google Maps sends the data – obtained from an undisclosed source - every five minutes.

Although Google's free service doesn't identify traffic hazards or accidents, it will let drivers know if there is a clogged road. Google also shows the expected drive time for a route when phone users search for driving directions. It has introduced a feature that lets users save their favorite locations and frequently used driving directions for future use.

The three search engines are not alone, however. In February, Rand McNally Traffic began offering a downloadable mobile application that delivers news of real-time traffic flow, accidents, weather conditions and road closures to 94 cities. Rand McNally Traffic is available on Sprint, Nextel, AT&T Wireless and other services for $3.99 a month.

Media giant Clear Channel Communications' Total Traffic Network feeds content in 125 markets in the country to 15 services. One of them provides the information to subscribers with Sprint mobile phones for a $9.99 monthly subscription. That service is relatively new. In addition to weather conditions and traffic information, the service also provides data on gas station prices.

Cell phones are rapidly turning into GPS devices, with localized information as an added feature. It remains to be seen how many people will turn to their cell phone screens for traffic news, one eye on the road and another on the phone. In some states and several local jurisdictions, it is already illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving. Some of these jurisdictions allow hands free use, but that won’t help with a visual feature. It will be interesting to see if this new functionality is limited by governmental concern over safe driving habits.

Traffic Mapping For Your Mobile Phone

In late July, Google announced that it will be offering live traffic information to mobile phones in more than thirty U.S. cities. Plans to provide the traffic feature to PCs are still in the works. The Google traffic feature will be released as an update to the free Google Maps for Mobile service, which has been available for 18 months for download on the Google web site. Google would not disclose how many subscribers it has, but it says the number is growing rapidly.

The feature expands Google's mapping technology into an area where Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo already have a presence, but in different ways. Yahoo and Microsoft offer real-time traffic information on their Web-based mapping services for PCs. Microsoft has chosen to move into the mobile “space” by licensing traffic-monitoring technology for mobile devices to a Kirkland-based startup, InRix Inc. Yahoo currently has no mobile traffic service. MapQuest, an AOL property, offers traffic reports over cell phones for $2.99 per month.

With typical bombast, Microsoft announced that when operable, the InRix mobile service will actually predict upcoming traffic problems – however currently the MSN mobile mapping technology provides no traffic information at all.

In the cities where it works, the Google feature will show traffic conditions on most major highways - indicating green for clear roadways, yellow for medium congestion and red for high congestion or stopped traffic. Google Maps will work on most Java-enabled phones offered by Cingular and Sprint and all color BlackBerry devices. The service does not currently work on phones from other major carriers such as Verizon or T-Mobile USA. Google Maps sends the data – obtained from an undisclosed source - every five minutes.

Although Google's free service doesn't identify traffic hazards or accidents, it will let drivers know if there is a clogged road. Google also shows the expected drive time for a route when phone users search for driving directions. It has introduced a feature that lets users save their favorite locations and frequently used driving directions for future use.

The three search engines are not alone, however. In February, Rand McNally Traffic began offering a downloadable mobile application that delivers news of real-time traffic flow, accidents, weather conditions and road closures to 94 cities. Rand McNally Traffic is available on Sprint, Nextel, AT&T Wireless and other services for $3.99 a month.

Media giant Clear Channel Communications' Total Traffic Network feeds content in 125 markets in the country to 15 services. One of them provides the information to subscribers with Sprint mobile phones for a $9.99 monthly subscription. That service is relatively new. In addition to weather conditions and traffic information, the service also provides data on gas station prices.

Cell phones are rapidly turning into GPS devices, with localized information as an added feature. It remains to be seen how many people will turn to their cell phone screens for traffic news, one eye on the road and another on the phone. In some states and several local jurisdictions, it is already illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving. Some of these jurisdictions allow hands free use, but that won’t help with a visual feature. It will be interesting to see if this new functionality is limited by governmental concern over safe driving habits.

Buying a Projection Screen

Buying a projection screen is just like any other purchase you will make. You will have many options available to you, and then you will have to make a decision as to which one will best suit your needs. As you are shopping for a projection screen, there are a few details that you can keep in mind in order to make the experience more enjoyable.

First off, you will want to decide what type of screen you want. There are several different screen types to choose from, and by doing your research you will be able to determine which one best suits your needs.

After you know what you want, the next thing to do is shop around. Do not ever buy the first projection screen that you come across. If you do this, you may be wasting hundreds of dollars. When you shop around you will give yourself the best chance of finding the screen that will match both your budget and your needs.

Finally, make sure that all of your questions are answered before you make a final decision. In other words, you cannot make a buying decision if you do not know what you are getting. By not having your questions answered up front, you may be in for a few surprises and problems down the road.

Buying a projection screen can be done in a short amount of time if you follow the steps listed above. As long as you know what you are getting, and avoid making a snap decision, you will get the projection screen that you want.

Kubotan for Self Defense

My first experience with a Kubotan made me a true believer in their effectiveness.

It was an autumn day about 5 years ago when I was walking home from a local softball game. I was approached by a rather large man who asked me for a light for his cigarette, when I said “I don’t have one” he grabbed my arm and said “then how about your money”. I reached into my pocket but instead of money, I pulled out my Kubotan and jammed the end hard into his forearm.

As he pulled away screaming in pain, I wrapped my fist around the Kubotan and prepared to punch him in the face, but it never came to that because he backed away saying “I was only joking” to which I replied “if that’s your idea of a joke, don’t quit your day job”.

The Kubotan was originally introduced by Grandmaster Takayuki Kubota.

Its popularity began in the mid-1970s when Grandmaster Kubota brought the weapon to the attention of the LAPD and began teaching officers how to effectively use the Kubotan to subdue unruly suspects.

The Kubotan gradually expanded toward civilian self-defense application and is now one of the most popular and widely carried self-defense tools around.

The Kubotan is often seen as an oversized key ring ornament.

The end of the Kubotan is a very effective pressure point weapon that can attack any point a finger can, but with greater effectiveness.

If someone grabs you from behind, you can jam the end of the Kubotan into their hand or forearm causing instant pain to your attacker.

The principal targets for use in self-defense are boney parts, such as forearms, back of hand, shins, or even the rib cage, but no matter where a person gets hit, it’s likely to hurt quite a bit.

The Kubotan can also be used to stabilize your fist for punching.

Kubotans are highly accessible, extremely durable, effective self-defense weapons. The Kubotans are 5 inches long and made of aluminum. They come in various colors and have either pointed or flat tips.

Kubotans are considered non lethal and are legal in most states, but as with any self defense weapons, you should check the legality of Kubotans in your own area.

And as with any weapon, they are intended for self-defense purposes only. If you were to attack someone unprovoked with a Kubotan you would still be guilty of a felonious assault.