Sketching Tips

Sketching is a popular hobby which requires regular practice, so that one can become better at the art. If a professional like an artist, an architect or an animator, wants to get better at sketching, along with a lot of practice, observation and study of the particular subject are also required.

Tips on Sketching for Kids and Beginners

Given below are some tips on sketching for beginners. If you want to polish your skills, you can read sketching tips and tricks, for advanced sketching detailed later in the article. To get started with basic sketching for beginners, the equipment required are, a sketch pad, some 6B pencils, eraser and sharpener.

• Before starting a sketching session, always draw circles, ovals and horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines on a sheet of paper. This will help you gain control over your hand movements.
• Start by doodling stuff, like objects, gestures, nature, etc. The sketch doesn't have to be perfect. Just get your hand flowing on the paper, so that your confidence on your drawing skills rises.
• After your hand movements become steady, start sketching with easy subjects like nature, still life and cartoons. You can always refer to books on these subjects for drawing lessons.
• For the above subjects, first practice sketching the form, for example, if you want to draw a house, see that the proportions of the different parts of the house are correct.
• After you get the form right, start shading or texturing the drawing. There are various types of texturing styles like smudging, hatching, cross-hatching, etc. You can buy some illustrated books, to learn basic texturing.

Advanced Tips for Professionals

Many times, professionals or students of arts and crafts get stuck in the vicious circle of perfecting their own art work. For sketching, three things are very important. First is understanding the sketching rules that apply to a particular subject. Second is observation, and the third most important factor is regular practice.

Equipment: It is important that you have the right equipment depending on the subject you are drawing. For architects, it is very important to master perspective drawings. So, things like rulers, technical pens, mechanical pens, etc. should always be kept handy. If you are a fine arts student, it is important that you master sketching subjects like nature, still life and portraits. For art students, basic equipment and a live subject (to pose as a model) are very necessary. If you are studying animation, make sure you have basic sketching equipment and a digital camera to capture moving subjects for gesture drawings and expression drawings.

Books: There are many advanced books for learning the art of sketching particular subjects. 'Perspective Drawing' by Ernest Norling is a great book for improving your perspective drawing skills. 'The Animator's Survival Kit' by Richard Williams is very good book for studying animation drawing. If you are an art student and want to learn anatomy drawing, refer to books by Burne Hogarth.

Observation: Constant observation is an important key to improving your sketching skills. Wherever you are, keep observing. The place can be a bus stop, or an airport, but observation will only make you a better artist. If you are facing problems sketching a particular subject, observe that subject more patiently and precisely. It is difficult to observe a moving subject, so you can refer to photographs or sketches of the moving subject. If you want to learn how to sketch people, then pay observe them and pay attention to details. When observing a person at a public place, observe a person subtly and do not stare at the subject for long as it is considered rude.

Practice: Practice, practice and practice some more, to get better at sketching. Practice is the single most important factor that contributes to good sketching. If you have difficulty at drawing a particular subject or object, practice sketching the subject. Always, keep your sketching equipment handy so that you can sketch at any public place like a bus stop, train station, airport, etc. Do not feel shy to sketch in public, just ignore everybody and concentrate on drawing the subject.

Guidance: Guidance is also important when learning advanced sketching. Show your sketches to your teachers or seniors in your profession, twice or thrice in a week. They will guide you in ways that will help you in getting the proportions and the form of the subject right. Keep asking questions if face difficulty in sketching something. If you are an art student, form a group with your classmates for sketching and seek their help if you are struggling with a particular form of drawing.

These were the tips and tricks on sketching for the beginner and advanced level. So, use the above important tips and let the resulting sketches speak for themselves!

Lionfish Facts

The native habitat of lionfish spans the rocky crevices and reefs of the Indo-Pacific waters; however, these days, they can be found in the eastern coast of America, too. Although it is not clear how they have found their way there, it is speculated that some specimens which were released by certain aquariums have begun to propagate in these warm waters.

Lionfish are the species of fish belonging to genus Pterois - a genus of venomous fish native to the Indo-Pacific region in particular. There exist nine different species of lionfish; most popular ones being the red lionfish (Pterois volitans), spotfin lionfish (Pterois antennata), luna lionfish (Pterois lunulata), frillfin turkeyfish (Pterois mombasae) and the clearfin lionfish (Pterois radiata). Owing to their colorful appearance and exceptional adaptability, these species have become quite popular as aquarium fish across the globe.


Photo Credit: James Morris, Jr. NOAA/USGS
Adult lionfish use their distinct pectoral fins to attract the prey. As soon as the prey comes within their reach, they swallow it in a single motion. Though not quite unique, this method of hunting is highly successful in regions wherein the lionfish is a non-native species as the native population is not used to such traps.
Lionfish Trivia
Although the lionfish may be spectacular to look at, it is also lethal. Its fins have spines that are as sharp as needles, which they use to inject a potent venom into their predators. It uses its venom as a purely defensive mechanism, when it feels threatened. As far as catching its prey is concerned, it relies on lightning swift reflexes and camouflage.

The lionfish is maybe one of the most venomous fish in the world, but it is not considered a threat for humans. Humans come in contact with this species in course of fishing and diving. Even though its venom is not fatal for humans, it can trigger extreme pain, breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and other such systemic problems in humans.


Photo Credit: Mr. Mohammed Al Momany/NOAA
The clearfin lionfish or radiata lionfish (Pterois radiata) found in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean, is the only lionfish species which has spines without the characteristic markings.
With its spiny rays and vivid stripes, this fish is one of the most striking aquatic animals. When you look at them isolated from their natural habitat it may not strike you, but their colorful exterior is what helps them blend with the coral reefs where they are mostly found.

The lionfish hunt mostly during the day, and in the nighttime they hide in small underwater caves and under ledges. They feed mainly on crabs, shrimp and other small species of fish. It lies in wait for the meal to come by, and when they do, the fish just swallows them up whole.


Photo Credit: James Morris, Jr. NOAA/USGS
While adult lionfish are solitary creatures, juveniles are known to live together in groups. Over the course of time, they become highly territorial and don't even hesitate to take on the other members of their group to capture and/or defend their territory.
The largest species can grow up to 16 inches (42 cm) in length, and the smallest measures a mere 2 inches (6.2 cm). On an average, an adult lionfish attains a length of 13 inches (38 cm) and weighs somewhere around 1-2 lbs. Their lifespan in the wild can be around 15 years, on an average.

Although the lionfish is considered a delicacy in certain countries, in the aquarium trade it is very valuable, mainly due to its spectacular looks. There are various types available in aquarium stores such as the radial lionfish, the volitan lionfish, etc. Amongst these, the volitan is the most popular species.


Photo Credit: Karen Doody/U.S. Geological Survey
Organizations like the NOAA, USGS and REEF are working on invasive lionfish removal. In this picture, a red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is being captured for the purpose of biological research which will help the scientists decode the unusual ability of this species to adapt to the conditions wherein other non-native species fail miserably.
The population in its natural habitat is healthy, and is, in fact, growing. However, concern has been raised in the United States as some are of the opinion that the proliferation of this non-indigenous species of fish may cause environmental dangers as well as be hazardous to human beings.

The removal of this invasive lionfish species is not an easy task, and to encourage people to participate in it, environmental organizations hold lionfish removal contests. The contest for the 'most lionfish collected and turned in' organized by the Reef Environmental Education Forum (REEF) in Upper Keys is one example of this.

In spite of being one of the most venomous, the lionfish continues to be of great interest to researchers owing to its peculiar appearance and mannerisms.

Imitation Crab Salad Recipe

Imitation crab is made from surimi fish paste, by mincing the flesh of the fish and then rolling it. After the paste is cut into small pieces, they are cooked and packaged. In the United States it is also known as Krab and is a popular substitute for the real crab, as its meat texture is flavored to resemble crab meat. Imitation crab salad recipe is hassle free and easy to make and is enjoyed by the young and old alike.

Imitation Crab Seafood Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• pound imitation crab, cut in small pieces
• 2 packets Alfredo noodle mix
• pound fresh mushrooms
• Creole seasoning (to taste)
• Croutons
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• teaspoon paprika
• teaspoon nutmeg
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Cook the noodles according to the instructions on the package and keep aside. In a small pan, saute the mushrooms with a dash of olive oil. In a large bowl, mix the imitation crab pieces and mushrooms with the noodles. Now add the seasoning, garlic powder, nutmeg and salt to taste and mix well. Transfer the contents of the bowl to a well greased casserole dish and add the paprika and crushed croutons. Bake this dish in a preheated oven at 190 C for about 20 minutes.

Imitation Crab Salad with Italian Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 pound frozen imitation crab meat, chopped into small pieces
• 3 tablespoons Italian dressing
• 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
• 2 boiled eggs, chopped
• Seafood seasoning to taste
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 2 cups Kraft dinner, cooled and mixed with cheese
• 2 stalks celery, chopped in small pieces
• Sweet or dill pickles, chopped
• 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped finely
• Salt to taste

Preparation

In a large bowl, mix the imitation crab meat, onion, pepper, celery and the rest of the ingredients and combine well till it gets the thickness of a potato salad. Add the Italian dressing and mayonnaise and marinate it for about 2 hours. Serve this salad with fried fish or boiled craw fish.

Imitation Crab Salad with Cheese

Ingredients for Crabmeat Salad

• 1 pound imitation crab meat
• 1 small onion, grated
• 1 cup celery, finely chopped
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 12 slices Italian bread
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Ingredients for Sauce

• 1 quart milk
• Dash of Tabasco sauce
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard

Preparation

In a large bowl, mix the crab meat, celery, onion and cheese and combine well. In a separate bowl, prepare the sauce by combining the sauce ingredients. Now cut the edges of the bread slices and apply mayonnaise on both the sides. Prepare sandwiches of the slices by filling them with crab meat salad. Cut the sandwiches into half and place them in a well greased baking dish. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top to cover the sandwiches and pour the sauce on top. Put the second layer of sandwiches and top it with the remaining cheese and sauce. Bake this dish in a preheated oven at 175 C for about 45 minutes. In order to enhance the flavors in the sauce, you can marinate the sandwiches in the sauce overnight.

Imitation Crab Salad with Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 pound imitation crab meat, shredded
• cup American cheese, finely diced
• 1 medium-sized onion, chopped finely
• 7 ounce Creamette shells
• cup celery, finely chopped

Dressing

• cup milk
• 1 cup Miracle whip
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Cook the pasta as directed on the package. Rinse it in cold water and drain the entire water. Transfer the pasta to a medium-sized bowl and mix crab meat, celery, onion and cheese and toss with the dressing.

These were some ways to prepare imitation crab salad. You can enjoy these imitation crab salad recipes with your family on a picnic or while relaxing in the comfort of your home.

How to Install a Boat Carpet

Boat carpets, or marine carpets as they are commonly referred to, are absolutely essential regardless of the type, size and purpose of the boat. Each and every type of water vessel including family rowboats, speedboats, yachts, catamarans, kayaks, fishing trawlers, luxury liners, aircraft carriers, submarines, and even Titanic-sized ships require boat carpets to be installed on board. Typically, there are plenty of areas on a boat which require marine i.e. boat carpet installation:

• decks
• aisles
• flooring
• cabins
• stairways
• pool decks.

Now that you are aware of the different places which require carpeting, let us take a look at how to go about installing boat carpets.

Installation of a Boat Carpet

Before you begin with the carpeting process, you must make sure that you keep all the required tools and carpeting material at hand. Here is a detailed list of the material that you will require:

• basic utility hardware tools such as knives, blades, pliers, spanners, etc.
• marine carpet sheets
• vacuum cleaner
• synthetic adhesive
• good quality scrapers
• measuring tape
• sketch pen or marker

Installation Procedure:

1. First and foremost, strip your boat of all removable hardware and furniture. If you already have an earlier boat carpet which you wish to replace, make sure you remove it completely.
2. Remove all the debris, dried glue and other residue with the help of scrapers. Scrape the entire surface until it is completely leveled and smooth. Vacuum it thoroughly to remove all traces of dirt, dust and loose debris.
3. It is advisable to expose the carpet sheets to a few minutes of sunlight. This helps to smoothen the carpet and also dries it in the process.
4. Using a measuring tape, accurately measure the dimensions of the different sections that require carpeting. It is always recommended that you work on carpeting the sections one at a time, rather than all at once.
5. Using a sharp blade, cut a portion of the carpet sheet such that it is slightly bigger than the measured area of the section.
6. Using a trowel, apply a generous amount of adhesive on the backing surface. While fixing the sheet to the surface, make sure that you start from an edge and work your way inwards towards the opposite edge of the sheet.
7. Press all areas of the carpet sheet uniformly using a heavy weight and leave it to dry for some time so that it binds well. Once it is nice and dry, you should trim all the extra sheet portions using a sharp pair of scissors to ensure a proper fit.
8. Follow the same set of steps for all the other sections that need to be carpeted. Lastly, return all the removed pieces of furniture back to their original places and you're done!

When installing boat carpets, always ensure that the carpet sheets being used are of the right quality and are completely water-proof. Use only specially designed marine carpet adhesive or else the carpet may not bind properly.

Boat carpets provide all-round usage as they are not restricted to just boats and ships. You can install a boat carpet around the edges of your swimming pool, on your patio, or even around that cute water fountain on your lawn. At the same time, they also happen to be a good carpeting alternative in areas like your garage, work shed, etc. Well, there you go... that's one more thing that you've learned today, in addition to how to lay carpet in a boat.

Fun Things to Do in South Carolina with Family

South Carolina, the founding state of the Confederate States of America, is bordered by North Carolina to the north, Georgia to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. It enjoys tropical summers and mild winters. South Carolina has a famous shoreline with numerous beaches, making it the favored destination for family vacations. Given below are the places you can visit and the things you can do there to enjoy that perfect getaway.

Things to Do in South Carolina

Columbia
The capital of South Carolina, Columbia offers its tourists varied attractions. Take your kids to the famous Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden situated on the banks of Saluda river. Visit EdVenture Children's Museum which is an instant hit with kids, and fosters in them a renewed interest in learning. Want to spend time outdoors? Time to go to the Dreher Island State Recreation Area - the ideal site for camping, picnics, and hiking. The Congaree National Park is just south of Columbia, and is home to the largest-remaining old-growth hardwood forest in the world. Enjoy the stunning landscapes amidst towering pine and bald cypress trees. If you are a history lover, go to the South Carolina State Museum. The museum has an exhaustive collection of art and natural and cultural history. Take your family to the Clinton Sease Farm, located in Lexington, close to Columbia, and your kids will love you for it! The farm features a corn maze along with various activities like campfires, hayrides, and overnight camping.

Charleston
If you are in Charleston, visit the South Carolina Aquarium and marvel at the exotic fish and sharks. Children will take delight in the Turtle Tour provided by the aquarium. Take a walking tour of this charming city, or opt for one of the carriage tours. The city also offers dolphin cruises, something your family will truly enjoy. Get up close and personal with these genteel ocean animals. Take your family to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War started. Take a tour of this island fort and enjoy the beauty of Charleston harbor. To satisfy the nature lover in you, visit the Middleton Place. You can see America's oldest landscaped gardens here. Another interesting thing to do here is visit the Plantation Stableyards and get a first-hand experience of how life was in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Stableyards depict how skilled artisans like carpenters and weavers worked and lived in those days. To seek the true city feel, head to the White Point Gardens (locally known as Battery), which face the Cooper river. Stroll down the boulevards lined with oaks and palmettos and see the old war monuments. Do not forget to visit USS Yorktown, just east of Cooper River Bridge. War history, models of ships and aircraft and other memorabilia are on exhibit in this carrier, which is bound to be a sure-shot hit with kids.

Greenville
Sheltered at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this vibrant city extends its Southern charm to all who visit it. Take your kids to the Children's Garden for a unique horticultural experience. Learn new facts about Native American history at the Cherokee Indian Interpretive Center. You cannot visit Greenville and not see Campbell's Covered Bridge, the only covered bridge in South Carolina. Bring out the sports lover in you by paying a visit to the BI-LO center, the ultra-modern sports and entertainment arena. Whether it is music concerts, sport championships, corporate events, or children's shows, BI-LO is the place to be! A guided city tour in horse-drawn carriages is the perfect way to take in the downtown atmosphere. Visit Sassafras Mountain, the highest peak in the state, and view four states (South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia) at once from the summit. Falls Park on the Reedy - featuring the famous long-suspension Liberty Bridge providing clear views of the cascading falls below draws in a lot of visitors.

Lake Murray
A vacationer's paradise, Lake Murray offers a diverse range of activities including skiing, boating, fishing, swimming, to name a few. Enjoy family-friendly activities in the recreation areas - from sun-bathing to cookouts. Rent a boat, take a lake tour, and go fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and white perch. The Lake Murray region is home to purple martins, and if you are around on a summer evening, enjoy watching thousands of martins converging on to the island just before dusk.

Myrtle Beach
The most famous of all South Carolina beaches, Myrtle Beach has sandy white beaches along the vast Atlantic Ocean. It is a coastal resort town, with numerous amusement and water parks that are perfect for adults and children alike. The Myrtle Beach boardwalk is a famous wooden promenade with carnival-like attractions and live music. There are several restaurants to satisfy your taste buds and have you craving for more. Try the seafood buffets which draw in lots of hungry tourists. Or just laze around on the beach, enjoying the waves, collecting seashells, and building sand castles. Do not forget to visit Barefoot Landing situated along the Intracoastal Waterway, a massive and ultra-luxurious complex that houses several upscale restaurants, and shopping and entertainment centers.

Hunting Island
The Hunting Island is a tranquil state park, enjoyed by vacationers and nature lovers alike. It is covered with wide areas of marshes and tidal creeks, a maritime forest, and a lagoon. Head to the lagoon if you are interested in fishing and camping. Get your kids interested in wildlife by visiting areas that are nesting grounds for loggerhead turtles. Go to the Hunting Island Lighthouse, the star attraction of the area. It holds the distinction of being the only lighthouse in the state accessible to public. Climb to the top to get a classic view of the wetlands and the ocean beyond.

There is a new adventure waiting around every corner in South Carolina. Whether you are a native or a visitor, the state has endless opportunities for a family vacation. Enchanting beaches, museums galore, and exhilarating outdoor recreation facilities are sure to make your stay in South Carolina truly memorable.

Catfishing Rigs

There are many factors that come into play for setting up catfishing rigs, irrespective of the weather and temperature conditions and what time of the year it may be. By knowing how to set up effective rigs for catfishing, one can catch a bigger catfish with ease, and not face any problems while doing so as well. Catfish are found in many different sizes, and if you wish to catch a large one, you have to pay close attention to the catfish rigs.

You may not have an exact idea about the size of the catfish that you are going to catch, but you will obviously want to catch the biggest one possible. The catfishing gear that you use will play a large part in this matter, and you should always use gear that will help you catch the biggest size possible. The fishing rod, the line that you use, and the catfishing bait that you utilize will all determine the success rate of your rigs.

Catfish rigs are basically the way that you set up your fishing line with the bait and the amount of weight that you attach to the line. There are a few basic catfishing rigs that any seasoned fisher will tell you about, and there are also some original rigs that you can even make yourself. The way you set up this arrangement will play a major role in what size of catfish you are able to catch.

Deep Catfish Rigs
Deep rigs are tricky to make because you need to add the right amount of weight so as to avoid any snags on the line. Moreover, the place where you attach the weight is also very important. It has been found that the rigs become more effective for catfishing if an ounce or so of weight is attached to the end of the line.

Many people choose to attach this weight at the end of the hook and then attach that hook to the end of the line, but this causes a lot of snags on the line while catfishing. Instead, you should opt for attaching the weight at the end of the line, and then attaching the hook some 12-18 inches above the weight. The kind of bait that you are using is an important consideration, in order to decide what kind of hooks you should use.

If you are using shad or perch, then an 8/0 or 9/0 circle hook will suit you best, and also enable you to catch bigger catfish. On the other hand, using chicken liver, worms or homemade catfish bait will mean that you will inevitably end up catching smaller catfish, so you will need to use a 2/0 circle hook.

Shallow Catfish Rigs
The thing about catfishing techniques is that they must be learned and acquired over a period of time, and this is something that only comes with experience. The rigs mentioned here are useful for fishing in shallow waters, where you are absolutely sure that you will be catching comparatively smaller breeds of catfish.

In this case what you need to do is acquire some catfish bobbers and then place a bobber stop about 2-3 feet away from the hook directly above the bobber. Now you will need to add one or two split shots in between the bobber and the hook. The size and type of hook you use will again depend on the nature of the bait that you are using, similar to what is mentioned above.

You should talk to people who are experienced in catfishing and you should also visit many forums on the Internet to learn more about various catfishing tips and tricks. Apart from the rigs, the catfishing tackle is also something that you need to pay close attention to.

Dukan Diet Attack Phase

Dukan Diet; sounds like any other weight loss program to me. However, as I gave myself some time to research on this popular diet plan, I found out what this diet is all about. If you've ever read about this diet in a health magazine or searched for information online, then you might have a slight idea about it. For those who are unaware, the Diet was formulated by a French nutritionist Dr. Pierre Dukan about 10 years ago. This diet is so famous that even celebrities and fashion models such as Jennifer Lopez, Katherine Jenkins, Gisele Bndchen, and many more have shown interest in it. So what is so special about this diet? And what is this Dukan Diet Attack Phase all about? Let's find out.

Dr. Pierre Dukan has more than 30 years of experience in healthy weight loss and eating patterns. The weight loss diet consists of eating low-fat, low-carb, and high protein foods such as starchy vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish, seafood, eggs, fat-free dairy products, veal, and lean meats. The diet doesn't restrict you in eating on few types of foods, but in turn has a policy of "all you can eat" philosophy. Originally, the diet was constructed for obese people wanting to lose weight desperately. The diet comes with a challenge that people who are overweight can actually resist the temptations of eating unhealthy, fattening foods. The Diet doesn't just help in losing weight, but also boosts self-confidence and motivation. Which is why, the diet has been divided into 4 different Phases. These 'phases' of the Diet are:

1. Attack Phase
2. Cruise Attack
3. Consolidation Phase
4. Stabilization Phase

Since the article concentrates only on the Attack Phase, let's go ahead to understand what this phase actually consists of.

The Attack Phase - What is It?

The diet in this Phase is very easy to follow. The only rule of this phase is to stick to the diet and not get deviated. This phase lasts about 3 to 10 days and concentrates on losing weight in the earlier stages. The amount of weight loss depends completely on the amount of weight you wish to lose in the first place; depending on what your ideal weight loss goal is. The foods need to be cooked in a particular way, as in grill, barbecue, roasting, or non-stick pans. This means, you need to stay away from deep-frying and loading your food with unnecessary calories. The reason behind this is that you can't use any type of fats (butter and oil) to cook the food.

At the time you're losing fat, your body will play tricks on you. Apart from giving you those unwanted hunger pangs, you will feel tired for no apparent reasons and will also have heightened appetite. What happens here is, when your body starts to lose weight, it wants to gain it all back. However, these are the reasons why you need to concentrate more on your diet. When you cut down on fatty and oily foods and include only healthy items, you can be sure to lose a considerable amount of weight. As you scroll down, you will see the table which provides you with the foods allowed in the Attack Phase of the program. Take a look.

Fish
Bass Cod Flathead Mullet Halibut Herring Mackerel Monkfish Red Mullet Salmon Sardines Tuna Turbot Whiting

Meat
Beef Steak Bacon (reduced-fat) Calf's Liver Ham (pre-cooked) Kidney Rabbit Veal Escalope Veal Chop

Poultry
Chicken Chicken Liver Guinea Fowl Ostrich Pigeon Poussin Quail Turkey

Seafood
Clams Crab Crayfish Prawns Lobster Mussels Oysters Scallops Shrimp Squids Whelks

Vegetables
Artichokes Asparagus Beetroot Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Celery Cucumber Fennel Leek Mushrooms Onion Spinach Soya Beans Sweet Peppers Turnips

Dairy Products
Fromage frais Cottage Cheese* Greek Yogurt* Non-fat Quark Skim Milk

* - Non Fat

Recipes to Prepare for the Attack Phase

While preparing your meals, it is necessary that you follow a specific meal plan as it only allows the ingredients as mentioned in the table above. Take a look at some delicious recipes which can be made during this Phase.

Breakfast
Oat Bran Pancakes
Ingredients

• 1 tablespoons oat bran
• 1 tablespoons non-fat fromage frais
• 1 egg or egg white

Directions
In this recipe, we will make oat bran pancakes. If you have any cholesterol issues, use egg white instead of the entire egg. In a bowl, mix in all the ingredients and blend properly. Take a non-stick pan and pour the mixture in it. You can spread a couple of drops of olive oil on the pan and wipe if off with paper towel before pouring the batter. Let both sides turn brown and it is ready to eat. This recipe makes 1 pancake.

Herb Omelet
Ingredients

• 4 eggs (1 yolk, 3 egg whites)
• 2 tablespoons skim milk
• Couple drops of olive oil
• Mixed Italian herbs

Directions
In a bowl, whisk the eggs till they are beaten properly. In the same bowl, add the skim milk and herbs as well. Mix properly with the beater and set aside. Take a nonstick pan and olive oil and poor the batter in. When one side is cooked properly, flip the omelet and cook on the other side. Make sure the omelet is properly cooked before you serve.

Lunch
Chicken Breasts w/Cool Yogurt
Ingredients

• 2 or 4 chicken breasts
• 2 inches ginger root, grated
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 carton fat-free yogurt, small
• 1 tablespoon cornflour, dissolved in water
• pint chicken stock
• teaspoon nutmeg
• Olive oil, as needed

Directions
In this recipe, we will make delicious chicken that you can enjoy for lunch. Take a non-stick pan, add a couple of drops of olive oil and then wipe with paper towel. Add the chicken breasts and fry them till golden on both sides. Remove the chicken breasts and add chopped onion now. Cook till brown and then add cornflour paste. Stir everything properly and add ginger and nutmeg. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish, turn the oven at 365F and add the onion mixture over it. Bake for about 45 minutes till the chicken is completely cooked. Serve the chicken breasts with cool yogurt.

Asian Salad
Ingredients

• 1 beef steak
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sweetener
• 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
• Lettuce leaves, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes

Directions
In a bowl, mix soy sauce with sweetener and mixed herbs. Add the beef steak to the bowl and let the steak marinade properly for 30 minutes. Ready the salad (add any other ingredients in the salad, if you like). Take a nonstick pan and cook the beef steak for about 5 minutes on each side. Once cooked, remove the steak and place on a cutting board for a few minutes. Cut thin slices of the steak and include in the salad. In the end, all you have to do is sprinkle sesame seeds, if you like, and serve the salad.

Dinner
Smoked Salmon
Ingredients

• 4 slices smoked salmon
• 1 jar salmon roe, small
• 60 g quark cheese
• 300 g fromage frais
• Salt and black pepper, for taste

Directions
In this recipe, we will make delicious smoked salmon. In a bowl, beat fromage frais and quark cheese together. Add the salmon roe, salt, and black pepper. Spread this mixture on salmon slices and roll them up. Place a cocktail stick in between so that they don't open. And voila, they are ready to eat. You can also eat the salmon rolls with mini pancakes.

Dukan (Yummy) Pizza
Ingredients

• 4 cherry tomatoes, sliced
• 2 tablespoons oat bran
• 2 tablespoons fat-free yogurt
• 2 tablespoons red peppers, diced
• 2 button mushrooms, sliced
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon low-fat cheese
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 chicken breast pieces, pre-cooked
• Basil leaves

Directions
In a bowl, combine yogurt, oat bran, eggs, cornflour, baking powder, chicken pieces (half), and basil leaves in. Take a nonstick pan to cook the other half of chicken pieces till they turn crisp. In the same pan, add the mixture we just prepared and place a lid to cover the pan properly. When the base is done, add tomatoes, red bell peppers, and mushrooms in. On top goes the cheese.

You can either cook the pizza on the stove or on the grill. When the cheese begins to melt and the base becomes brown, remove the pan off the stove. Place the pizza on a cutting board to make slices. Serve hot.

Even though we have spoken, in majority, about the benefits of the diet, there are certain side effects you should be aware of. As you saw that the Attack Phase has so many food items to choose from, what you also need to remember is the adequate intake of water during mealtime. For this Phase, it is necessary that you consume around 1.5 liters per day. Avoid drinking coffee, tea, and diet drinks which have more than 1 calorie per glass. Plus, the inclusion of proper exercise is also recommended. Consult with your physician before you start the program.

Surf Fishing

Surf fishing is a recreational activity of catching fish whilst poising on the shore or by trudging in the surfing waves on sandy or rocky shores or fishing piers. It is the hurling of artificial baits from the surf beach, far into the ocean with waves crashing around. A surf beach is an arid place, with miles and miles of open water, foam-engulfed banks and crashing shorelines. No chart can keep up with the altering contours and water depths, resulting from millions of tons of sand being displaced from one area to another by tidal swells, rips and wave motion of the water.

Tackle and Gear
The tackle used by surf fishermen incorporates an extensive range of technicalized rods and reels, along with a comprehensive assortment of artificial lures, natural baits and terminal tackle. Tackle selection depends on the species targeted, required casting distance and water conditions.

Rods
Rod selection primarily depends on the distance and the weight of the lure or bait to be cast. Regardless of the length, the rod should have a stiff butt end, a mid-section of passable flexibility and a soft, flexible tip. Short rods stretch to about 6 to 8 feet in length and are used with modest baits or lures, incapable of casting great distances and are useful when fishing for small, bottom-dwelling fish. Medium-length rods run from 8 to 10 feet and are able to support moderate weight lines and baits. They can be cast close to the shore, yet are capable of casting fairly long distances to reach outer waters. Trout, bluefish and smaller drum are usually caught using medium-length rods. Long rods or heavy gear can run from 10 to 14 feet. The dominant intention is to cast heavy weight bait over long distances and to catch large fish.

Reels
Both spinning and conventional reels are effective but it is really a matter of choice and comfort. Spinning reels endure the best casting distance capabilities whereas the latter is preferred if the target fish are larger and stronger species.

Baits
Natural bait is more advantageous than artificial lures. The speculation of bait, which is usually sliced, depends on the target fish. The key is to know what the target fish finds appetizing and making it resolute enough to linger on to the hook when casting. Shrimp and live or dead bait fish are both compelling baits. Sea worms and sand crabs are also modish and competent.

Artificial Lures
Three kinds of lures are employed in surf fishing: spoons, plugs, and lead head jigs. Spoons, especially the blazing versions, work well for those depending on vision when hunting. Other species may be hesitant and prefer a dreary spoon. Most plugs used are of the subsurface, because of the long distance to be cast. Jig styles work well and are often lined with natural bait. Even though the usage of baits is more common than artificial lures, many species will take a lure. In fact, species like Spanish mackerel and bluefish may fancy a lure to bait.

Sturdy Baits
Invariably, even small picking fish like whiting or herring will not take long to strip the soaking soft baits such as pilchards. Moreover, they last only a few casts and soon become squashy and spongy to hold up through the process of casting. Usage of salted baits is one way to get rid of this problem, that is, layering the fish constantly with salt till the moisture is absorbed. Wrapping the bait a few times in thin, white cotton called ghost cotton is another option. This will hold it together and keep it tighter on the hook.

Pick Your Spot
Engaging in assessment and perusal of the beach where fishing is to be rendered from accrues to the possibility of procuring a good catch. Things under the water are different with gutters and sandbars altered by the rip, wave and tides affecting the dwelling of the fish. Usage of Polaroid glasses enhances the ability to identify these guts and holes by curtailing the light's reflection off the water and hence presenting a favorable catch.

Casting the Bait
Usually, distance is accrued as the key for a good catch wherein the further the line is cast the better the chances of catching fish. It may hold value pertaining to the species but can actually act as a counterfeit. Fish tend to amass around structures and drop-offs, sometimes being close to the shore as well. Before casting, the pendulum movement of the bait is used so as to reach farther distances. Surfing boats are also used to cast baits rather than casting from the shore. These boats are very small, making them easy to carry and provide fishermen with the required balance.

Dangers Faced
There are a lot of dangers faced by surf fishers, mostly faced by those who move on to the rocks. Since white water beaches are preferred for surf fishing due to the availability of fish along the shores, there is high possibility of hard and rough waves coming along, resulting in serious and grievous injuries. Sea conditions should be checked and accounted for before proceeding for fishing.

There are numerous factors pertaining to successfully fishing the beach. Though observation and visual identification of the structure plays an important role, comprehending and studying the banks, gutters, drains and rips is of utmost significance. Additional observations of swooping birds and identifying bait fish and the species of fish to be targeted gives an edge over 99% of other fishermen.

Farm Raised Salmon Dangers

These freshwater fish migrate to sea and return to the freshwater for breeding purposes. Due to the healthy diet of the wild salmons, they are known to have rich nutritional value and bring benefits to human health. It is a good source of vitamin D, B12, niacin, selenium, B6, magnesium and most importantly omega-3 fats. These fatty acids cure and save humans from falling prey to many medical health conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids present in the fish prevent inflammation and even blood clots. Though there are many salmon health benefits, they are being farm-bred in many countries, which is now causing a lot of harm to the people consuming it. This article focuses on the risks involved in consuming farmed raised salmon than wild salmons.

Dangers of Farm-bred Salmon Fish

Contamination Due to PCB Content
There is high content of PCBs involved in farm-bred salmons. These PCBs contains 209 chlorinated compounds and are present in the fish meal that are fed to salmon fish in the process of their farming. PCBs have resulted in harmful health effects and therefore the US has banned its production. The salmon fish tend to consume PCBs due to its presence in the environment. As the salmon fish ingest PCBs through the food they eat, this harmful chemical spreads into their body too. Consumption of PCB salmon fish results into accumulation of the chemical in human body and leads to poor health conditions. One of the many health problems humans fall prey to is cancer. A lot of people all over the world consume salmon fish and production will continue to meet the global demands. Therefore, to reduce the exposure to these harmful chemicals, use different cooking methods, such as boiling, grilling and baking. Another good alternative is to trim the fat from the salmon fish before you begin to cook.

Fat Content
Out of the farm-bred salmon dangers, high content of fat too is causing health issues in humans. As they are raised in a packed environment, they have less room to move around, unlike wild salmon fish. Also the fat content in farm-bred fish is influenced due to the fish meal fed to them. As per the record, farmed salmon fish contains 52% more fat than wild ones. Also, continuous feeding results into PCB accumulation, which eventually settles as fat. Therefore, though these salmon fish look healthier, they are harmful and are contaminated due to overfeeding and accumulation of PCB.

Artificial Color
Salmon fish naturally have a pink color coating. Farm-bred fish lack this color out of contamination and improper diet. Therefore, in order to make these artificially grown fish look healthy and pink, farmers use chemicals such as canthaxanthin and astaxanthin. This adds to the contamination and increases the risk of more severe medical conditions. The artificially induced salmon pink color makes the fish look healthy and attracts consumers to purchase such fish. Induction of too many chemicals ultimately brings down the nutritional value of salmon fish.

Cost of Salmon Fish
Wild salmon fish is likely to cost more than the ones that are artificially raised. The methods used in producing these fish has resulted into a great business for many farmers. These fish are bred on a large-scale and therefore, its supply is sufficient to meet the requirement of the people. Though these fish are produced on a large-scale, their quality is way too cheap compared to the actual nutritional value of wild salmon fish. Now due to certain measures by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), many stores now specify whether the fish are farmed raised or wild. This step has made created awareness about the ill effects of farmed raised salmon fish and got people concerned about the salmon fish they purchase.

As these fish are fed contaminated fish meal, the harmful chemicals present in the fish meal are eventually consumed by the humans. Also, artificial coloring includes usage of chemicals. This farming method has brought down the nutritional value of salmon fish. Salmons that are known to be good for human health now pose a great threat and have deteriorated the health of many people. To reduce these health risks, new cooking methods must be adapted.

Calories in Porridge

Porridge is not only a traditional food but it is a part of the culture and hospitality, in all corners of the world. A hot bowl of porridge is served as a food to nurse the sick back to health. It is served to athletes who undergo intensive training. Porridge continues to be a major part of the diet designed for babies and toddlers; as it is a healthy food. These facts made me curious and I decided to find out porridge nutrition facts.

Calories

The number of calories that are given in the table are just for your guidance. Calories in homemade porridge may vary according to the ingredients and procedure.

Porridge Type	Serving Size	Kcal
Quaker Oats Porridge, breakfast cereal	30g	110
Tesco Oats Porridge, breakfast cereal	50g	182
Asda Oats Porridge, breakfast cereal	50g	192
Whole Earth Organic Porridge, oats	100g	351
Crussh Summer Porridge	100g	150
Alpro Soya Light, no sugar, fortified with vitamins	100g	21
Milk, fluid, 2% fat, with vitamin A	240g	120
Whole Milk	240g	150

Note: 1 cup = approximately 240g.

Nutritional Value

Here are some important nutrition facts of oats porridge (40g).

• Proteins - 3.9g - 8%
• Dietary Fiber - 2.5g - 10%
• Total Carbohydrates - 21.7g - 7%
• Total Fat - 3g - 5%
• Saturated Fat - 0g - 0%
• Sodium - 0mg - 0%
• Calories from fat - 22 - 18%
• Calories from carbohydrates - 57.9%
• Calories from proteins - 10.4%

Health Benefits

• As porridge is a good source of proteins, it promotes muscle growth.
• Being rich in fiber, it helps improve the health of the digestive system.
• Wholesome porridge is a satiating healthy food which has less cholesterol. It does not lead to any heart diseases.
• It keeps you satiated for a longer period and helps lower your food intake. It is a low-calorie food which keeps you full over an extended period.
• It is included in weight gain diets as well as weight loss diets. Body requires more energy to digest proteins, thus proteins take away extra calories. Of course, you need to control your daily calorie intake in any case.
• By adding different grains, milk and honey to the porridge, you can enjoy the health benefits of these ingredients. For instance, oatmeal is helpful for cholesterol regulation, weight loss, controlled glucose and insulin levels. It prevents heart diseases and reduces the risk of cancers. It enhances athletic performance, stimulates the function of the nervous system, prevents celiac disease, and acts as an anti-depressant.

In modern cultures, you will be offered porridge on your breakfast menu. The ingredients like salt, sugar, milk, cream and oats make it tasty. Usually, it is served hot. Porridge is one of the wholesome dishes, as it is prepared by boiling oats or other grains or legumes in water, milk or sometimes both. Oat and semolina porridge are popular in most countries.

These days, ready-made versions of porridge are available in markets. Oat or oatmeal, corn, dried peas, dried corn, potato, barley, wheat, rice, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, sorghum, rye, bananas, snail porridge are enjoyed by people all over the world. Both kids and the elderly love porridge. It might be your favorite food, but you cannot ignore the calories in porridge. If you are leading a sedentary lifestyle, you should watch your daily calorie intake, to maintain your weight.

Now that you have got an idea about porridge calories and health benefits, I hope you would incorporate warm porridge in your breakfast. Start your day with a hot bowl of porridge, it can keep you energized throughout the day. I wish you a very healthy and active life!

Electric Eel Facts

The scientific name of the electric eel is Electrophorus electricus. Although they are called eels, they are not related to the eels, but they have an appearance similar to that of an eel. One of the facts about an electric eel is that they are related to carp and catfish. They are known for the powerful electric charges, it generates both for hunting as well as in self-defense. One of the interesting facts about the electric eel is that the electric charge is produced in a pair of organs, which are located in the abdomen of the eel. The organs are so big in size, that they occupy as much as 80% of the abdominal space and leave just about 20% space for the other vital organs.

Interesting Facts about an Electric Eel

The electric eels have serpentine appearance. They are found in fresh waters and get their name from the electric charge they generate. They are a type of fish and are carnivores. Without wasting any more time, we will turn towards the facts.

Habitat
They are commonly found in the South American region in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Electric eels can also be found in Guianas as well. They prefer to stay in fresh murky streams and ponds, but in calm waters. They prefer floodplains, swamps, creeks and coastal plans.

Description
Electric eel have a snake-like appearance. Their skin is thick like a snake and have a slimy skin. They are often known to grow as long as 8 feet in length. They weigh around 45 pounds. It is easy to spot the electric eel as they have a long, cylindrical bodies, but flattened heads. They normally have dark green or grayish top, but are yellowish underneath. The electric eels have poor sight and are basically nocturnal in nature.

Diet
Electric eels are actually carnivores. They feed mainly on fish, amphibians, small birds and even small mammals. The young electric eels are seen feeding on invertebrates like shrimp. The adults may be seen on crustaceans as well. They are known as predators, as most of the animals are not able to capture and eat them.

Electric Organs
What sets these animals apart from the other animals are their electric organs. They have three electric organs. These organs are made of electroplates, and are placed in rows. The three plates are connected with one another, due to which even a small electrical discharge increases manifold and the charge is summed up. When the charge sums up, it becomes strong enough to kill small animals. The electricity emitted from the organs is used as a radar to navigate and find prey. The electric charge is also used as a signal to communicate with one another. It is seen that a dominating male emits loudest, noisiest and frequent signals, while female electric eels emit short and lasting signals.

Air Breathers
Like the electric organs, there is another characteristic of the electric eels. They are air breathers. They have a complicated breathing mechanism, due to which they have to come to the water surface after regular intervals to breathe.

Reproduction
Electric eels are known to have an unusual breeding behavior. When it is the dry season, the male electric eels make a nest using their saliva. The females lay eggs in these nests. You will be astonished to know that in one laying as many as 17000 electric eels are hatched. It is normally seen that the first born electric eels eat the eggs from the batches of eggs, which were laid after them.

These were some of the interesting electric eel facts. Humans should keep a distance from electric eels, as they can give repeated shocks, which can cause respiratory and/or heart failure. At the same time, it is recommended that they not be kept as pets at home.

Crappie Fishing Techniques

Crappie fishing is a fitting adventure for beginners. This is because they are slightly easier to catch than bass or walleye which require considerable skill. They weight lesser and are more numerous than most other game fish. Even for their diminutive size compared to other game fish, they do put on quite a bit of struggle. They are found throughout the country in lakes and rivers. This makes them easily accessible to anglers and other amateur fishing enthusiasts.

Fishing is a form of hunting where the prey has considerable ease of movement than the hunter, for whom it's not a naturally conducive medium. That is why knowing the prey well, in fishing, is vitally important as only that knowledge can increase the probability of hooking some. 'Know thy prey and set thy trap well' should be your motto.

Know Thy Prey

Crappie fish are actually two species of fish, which are closely related and are the members of the sunfish family. They are known as white crappie (Pomoxis Nigromaculatus) and black crappie (Pomoxis Annularis ) fish. Black crappie is characterized by black spots on the sides while the white ones are characterized by their comparatively lighter tone of color and vertical bars instead of dots on the sides. Both the species can be distinguished by their gill rakers which are used to catch plankton, which is also one of their staple diets.

They are known by many different names including strawberry bass, papermouths, calico bass, speckled perch and simply 'specks'. Their meat tastes really good which makes them popular game fish, pursued by many.

Their diet is diverse and includes minnows, insects, crustaceans and many other fish comparable to their size. These fish are active throughout the year. However the best times to catch them are during spring and fall. They prefer to stay low during the day and start moving out at dusk and dawn for feeding.

These fish spawn during the period from April to June and they breed in waters with temperatures in the range of 58 to 68 degree Fahrenheit. Crappie fish tend to linger around weed beds, logs and boulders and submerged objects. Since these fish are active throughout the year, there are range of techniques, which vary according to season.

Crappie fish of both species are known to grow to a maximum size of 10 inches. Their weigh can range from about a half pound to a pound. These fish abound the lakes and ponds throughout the country, though they are native to eastern United States and parts of Canada.

Crappie Fishing Tips and Techniques

It is recommended that for catching crappie fish, a light line works well with the right bait. The choice of bait is quite clear from the kind of diet they prefer. A live bait can be anything out of worms, minnows or insects. However, live bait can be difficult to stock and another option is artificial bait which includes jigs and lures. Curly tail jigs and Rooster tail jigs are the most commonly used ones.

Remember to use artificial lures that resemble their natural choice of food in shape and form. Fishing in cool waters 5 feet to 18 feet deep near the shores can increase your chances of catching some. Target weed beds and other submerged object areas near the shore during the spawning season when the crappie prefer being in shallow waters. Here are some of the most popular techniques.

Spider Rigging (Angling)
The most popular technique is angling. All it needs is a hook attached by a line and a standard fishing rod. You can use live or artificial bait. Spider rigging involves usage of multiple fishing rods pointing in various directions radially outwards from the angler. It is named so because from far, the angler would resemble a spider with its tentacles spread in the water! Another trick used by the anglers to attract the crappies is throwing live bait in the waters and then putting in the line.

Ice Fishing
The best of winter techniques is ice fishing. Since these fish are active throughout the year, holes in frozen lake beds are open portals for ice fishing in Northern United States of America and Canada. With ice more than 6 inches thick, it is safe to tread on the surface and do some ice fishing. The technique involves cutting a hole in ice beds using a saw or auger and then dipping in fishing lines to catch the fish. This kind of fishing technique can be dangerous and needs to be undertaken carefully.

Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is one of the popular spring fishing techniques. Crappie fish are known to yield to this method. Dry flies are mostly used in when fishing on clear summer days. Fly fishing takes a lot of skill and is especially effective because movement of the fish after hooking can be felt more clearly.

Remember, when it comes to fishing, patience and tact is the key!

Freehand Drawing

Freehand drawing, is a form of drawing which is done only by means of eye and hand coordination. In simple terms, freehand drawing is done by a person without use of any tools like rulers, protractor, etc. or using tracing or other technique. Many people who enjoy drawing as a hobby use this technique of drawing, just carrying a sketchbook and pencils and sketching any subjects they like. If a person asks you, looking at a drawing 'did you do it freehand?', it means that did you do this drawing without the use of any tools or mechanical devices.

For freehand sketching one needs to have good observation skills, good sense of proportions, a smooth motion of hand that allows to draw neat lines, and to give the drawing more depth some shading skills. These skill take time, patience and practice, and advice from a teacher or an artist does well, to point a person learning freehand drawing in the right direction. Whether you are an absolute beginner or have some experience in drawing, here are some very useful sketching tips that will help to get started or get better at freehand...

Useful Tips

Adobe has a freehand drawing software, on which you can practice drawing freehand. But, including my advice and most artists and drawing teachers always recommend to practice the drawing skills first on paper and then on any software. So, before going digital, stick to basic drawing tools which are the pencil and paper. So, buy a sketchbook which has A4 sized papers, few 2-3 grades pencils of 6B and 8B and start drawing. Avoid using eraser as much as possible, if you are a total beginner then eraser is allowed for first 2-3 weeks, then you have to stop using the eraser, so that you get confidence in your drawing.

Loosen Up!
All right, first thing you need to do is loosen up your hand. Here, are some drawing secrets on how to. On a blank paper draw circles in one smooth motion, do not rest your palm on the paper. So hold the pencil with your fingers, and draw circles all over the paper. In a similar manner, draw horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines on the same sheet of paper. This will help to loosen up your drawing motions, and you will be more confident and lines will come out better, by practicing this technique. Do this on 2-3 papers everyday, as your drawing skills get better, you can continue doing this only on one paper everyday.

Soak Everything You See...
Now, the second important factor that helps draw better drawing subject is the observation. Continuously, go on observing everything closely, how an old man looks, how a young person looks, how a child looks, etc. Observe their clothing, their expression, gestures, etc. Observe animals too. Observe trains, buses, buildings, natural landscapes, trees, birds, cityscapes, etc.

Carry Your Sketchbook & Practice
So carry your sketchbook and pencil with you (don't forget a sharpener or cutter too). Watch people at train station and sketch them, if you are a total beginner then forget about your drawings looking neat, first just scribble the subjects, later on your drawings will improve. So, scribble birds, people, landscapes, buildings, etc. If your subjects are not stationary and it is difficult for you to observe moving subjects, then use your friend - the digital camera, carry a pocket camera with you and click picture of the subject. Once you are at home or at a quiet place, observe the subject and then draw it.

Concentrate on Proportions
Now, that you have been scribbling for long and your drawings look weird, concentrate on the proportions. To understand the proportions of human anatomy, refer to some books or online tutorials. The tutorials will tell you important guidelines on proportion, for example the distance between two eyes is of one eye. Or the height of a human is total 7 and half heads. If you are drawing structures/still life, then sit at a comfortable distance from the subject and hold your pencils in front of you and measure the objects height using your pencil and draw it on the paper.

Add Some More Depth to Your Drawings
Once you get better at your drawings, learn shading which is simply adding lights and shadows to your drawings. Observe where the source of light is, and where are the shadows of an object falling on. Then, sketch the shadows, highlights, and other tones on the subject to add more depth to it.

Seek Advice
If you get stuck on some subject and need advice or your drawing don't seem to improve, then instead of sulking, seek advice from artists or drawing professionals. However, avoid seeking advice from too many people too, because too much of advice coming from different people can confuse you. You can show your sketches to a friend who is good at sketching, or show it to a drawing teacher or put it on forums to get advice from other artists.

This were the sketching tips and tricks to help you start and get better at drawing freehand. So, remember the above tips, and most of all enjoy drawing whatever you are drawing!

Is there a Science to Fishing?

By Cindy Hunsinger

Many of us have been going fishing since we were very young. I know my Dad took me fishing before I could even walk. I assume it was the same with him as we came from a long line of fishers. But have you ever thought that there may just be a science to fishing? I know it sounds strange and maybe even a little weird. Being around fishermen all my life, believe me I think I have heard it all. The signs have to be right to catch the big one, others say no, its the right tackle or bait that lands the big one. While others truly believe it all depends on the weather.

So it got me to thinking, is there perhaps a real science to fishing? If I want to pull in a fish bigger than the giant redhorse my Daddy reeled in a few years back, does it really come down to understanding the fish or the environment? Now I dont want my Daddy to worry, I wont give away the location of his favorite fishing holes, well not for free anyway. (Sorry Dad, but it could be a lucrative venture for me.)

So with this science of fishing idea in my head, I have set out to find what, if anything, affects the big fish and coaxes them to bite.

Heres what I have found thus far. There are as many experts on fishing as there are fishing stories (and believe me, there are a lot of fishing stories). So Ill just "tackle" a few of the ideas Ive heard the most. The first being the fact that fish are affected by the barometric pressure and are even able to detect changes in pressure before they occur. Well, Im sorry, but according to research, its not the fluctuating barometric pressure that affects the fish as much as it is the actual change in the weather.

How about the color of the tackle or fly you use. Does it really matter? Is there one color that is better than another? Well again, there has been extensive research on this, and what it boils down to is that yes, in some situations, one color or color combination is better than another. The best color for the tackle or fly may change due to various factors, such as the level of the body of water or the time of day. So I found some helpful suggestions in picking the right tool for the job.

If you are fishing in deep waters, then blue is more visible to the fish. Choosing bait based on contrast rather than color may be a better choice when trying to get the fish to bite. Black just may be the most visible color under most conditions, so it seems you cant go wrong if you have some black tackle in your box of goodies. Chartreuse is also a good color to stick with as it seems to be tried and true. Other combination that have been proven are yellow-and-white and chartreuse-and-white.

This is just some of the research I have found thus far. Im not sure if these scientists have ever fished in a real fishing hole or not. But I think Ill go out and test their theories and just maybe I can beat Daddys record of reeling in the big one.

Gourami Fish Care

One of the most hardy fish for a beginners tank is Gourami. These are beautiful fish who have a colorful and active personality. These fish have the ability to tolerate a range of aquatic conditions, and will thrive even on a fish flake diet. They are freshwater fish who are compatible with saltwater tropical fish placed in the same tank. There are many species, each with a different look, pattern, color as well as behavior. They belong to the Labyrinths group of fish. These fish have a specialized organ called the labyrinth behind their gills that helps them breath in oxygen from air. The following paragraphs will help you learn all that is necessary for caring for Gourami fish.

Care

Caring for these fish basically requires an owner to keep in mind some of the basic needs of the fish. We shall have a quick look at some of the species to species care requirement later in the article. But before that we take a look at how to care for them

Tank Setup
As mentioned above, these are not a very demanding fish. They are semi-aggressive to aggressive in nature and therefore, can do well in community tank. Thus, make sure you choose a semi-aggressive species. The tank substrate should be fine or medium in size. Choose neutral colored substrates. The optimum temperature range of the water should be about 74 to 79 F. The water should be neutral or slightly acidic in nature. Also, soft water is preferable for housing a Gourami. Place some natural vegetation around the tank. Your Gourami will love Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria as well as Java Ferns planted in this personal water garden.

Tankmates
They can tend to be a bit aggressive against a few fish. Thus, make sure you get home tankmates that are similar sized like the Gouramis. They are usually peaceful, but they tend to lose their patience when around angelfish, bettas, even other fish of the same species. So, you can place them with rasboras, livebearers, tetras, barbs, loaches, plecos, danios, rainbowfish, and scavenger catfish, etc. Place the fish together and see their interaction. If your Gourami does not mind their presence, well and good. Otherwise, you will need to place these fish in separate tanks, or with the help of a glass partition in the tank.

Diet
When it comes to food, these fish are not choosers. They may eat up your tiny fish in the tank, when they turn on their psycho mode! Anyway, you can feed them fish flakes, live worms, frozen foods as well as brine shrimp. They love eating black worms and glass worms as well. If their breeding mode needs to be switched on, you can try feeding them a few lettuce leaves, cooked peas, and even spinach. Any leftovers should be removed immediately, or else you will end up with a murky water tank.

Breeding
They lay eggs in bubble nests. These bubble nests help them in spawning and raising their baby Gouramis. If you are interested in breeding these fish, you need to keep the water level as low as six inches. The light intensity should be lowered and the water temperature should be gradually increased to the mid 80's. This temperature increase should be carried out over several days. Once the bubble nest is formed, do not disturb the water. Make sure you provide plenty of hiding places for the female, as males tend to be very aggressive during the spawning period.

There are many Gourami species, of which I shall discuss care tips for a few. Blue Gouramis reach a size of about 5 inches in length. The females are slightly larger than males. These fish can tolerate a range of temperatures. They prefer soft water, and the pH should be slightly acidic during breeding period.

Dwarf Gourami fish require a pH of about 7. The pH should never go lower than 6, or rise above 8. The temperature range is about 70 - 82.5 F. Like all Gouramis they are omnivorous in nature and will eat flake food, frozen foods as well as live foods. The males are very brightly colored and females are a bit on the duller size. Thus, it is easier to make pairs and induce breeding.

Caring for Giant Gourami fish is slightly different from other Gouramis. This is because these fish reach a size of about 70 cm in length. They are omnivores who turn out to be voracious predators. They need to be fed mostly live fish. They need to be fed dried food as soon as you bring them home. Or else you will have to pay for huge bills for live fish. They require a 68 to 86 F temperature and a pH of about 6.5 to 8.0.

They are beautiful fish, who do not ask for special treatments. Just make sure you provide them with their basic needs and these fish will continue to swim happily in your tank.

Angler Fish

The angler fish species have a fleshy growth on their head, which is used by them to lure their prey. As the prey closes in on this fleshy growth assuming it to be food, they open their jaw in a reflex motion and devour it. It is this distinct method of predation which earns the angler fish species its name. There exist several facts about this species. each of which is more interesting than the other. Sadly though, not many people are aware of these facts...

Facts about Angler Fish

You get to see a great deal of diversity when it comes to angler fish species. While some of these species are pelagic in nature (i.e. they occur or frequent the open ocean) others are benthic (i.e. they occur at the bottom of the ocean.) Such diversity in this species is not really surprising as such, considering that they are known to have evolved around 130 million years ago. In course of these 130 million years, the species have undergone tremendous change and their amazing adaptations make it more than evident. Given below are more of such facts about the anglerfish species with special emphasis on some interesting attributes of their life.

Habitat: Right from continental shelf to deep sea, angler fish habitat spans the globe. All the oceans of the world are home to some or the other species of anglerfish, and the freezing waters of Antarctica are no exception. While the sea devils (aka deep sea anglerfish) are found in deep waters of the tropical regions and off-coast Antarctica, frogfishes are restricted to continental shelf in the tropical and subtropical regions. In fact, deep sea anglerfish inhabit the aphotic zones of the oceans, wherein even sunlight penetration is either minimal or totally absent.

Appearance: More than 200 species of angler fish inhabit the planet, most of which are found at depths wherein the conditions are pretty much inhospitable. In terms of appearance, the species are not just ferocious but very ugly as well. The diversity you get to see in this species is also reflected in their size, with some of these species measuring mere 20 cm and others measuring around a meter in length. Similarly, this deep ocean fish species can weigh anywhere between a few ounces to 110 lbs. As we mentioned earlier, the females in this species have luminous fleshly growth on their head from which they derive the name angler fish.

Interestingly though, the male species do not feature this luminous flesh which is a prominent characteristic of female anglerfish. This can be attributed to the fact that the males in this species practice permanent parasitism as opposed to active predation. The male anglerfish species latch onto the body of a female with their sharp teeth and derive nutrition from her. In course of time, their bodies fuse physically wherein the male loses his eyes and internal organs, and connects to the female's skin and bloodstream.

Adaptations: The foremost thing that you are likely to notice about the angler fish species is the fact that their mouth is disproportionately large as compared to their entire body. More importantly, their jaw is specially adapted to grab the prey which closes in on the luminous flesh on its head. The fact that their bodies are pliable works in their favor, as it allows them to devour prey which can be twice their size. Their large mouth also assists them in defying the odds when it comes to predation. The carnivorous fish species is known to feed on other species of fish like the dogfish, cod, haddock, etc.

Mating: While the males lose all their body parts in course of fusion with the female anglerfish, the pair of gonads - which facilitate the release of sperms, stay intact. When the hormones in the female's bloodstream indicate egg release, this pair of gonads release the sperm. Such sexual dimorphism ensures that the female has a mate readily available when she is ready to spawn. How the anglerfish spawn is also quite interesting, as their spawn consists of a thin sheet of transparent gelatinous material - wherein the eggs lay in a single layer, which can be 25-30 ft long and 2-3 ft wide.

Some of the angler fish species - like the American angler, black-bellied angler, goosefish, monkfish, are considered to be delicacies in regions where they are found. In fact, large-scale fishing of angler fish for human consumption has resulted in drastic decline in angelfish population, so much so that species like the American angler and the black-bellied angler have been added to the list of Seafood Red List compiled by Greenpeace International. According to environmentalists, the use of bottom trawls and gillnets - which is quite common practice - is a serious concern. Since the former tends to destroy seabed habitats while the latter is known to harm species dolphins and porpoises, and disturb the food chain.

Fishing Pole Set Up

On a bright sunny day, when the rain gods are resting, all you need is a fishing pole and off you go fishing. A tour with your family can be a great time to unwind and have unadulterated fun. But all your rosy plans for a nice time out, can go for a toss, if you do not know how to set the pole.

How to Set Up a Fishing Pole?

What fishing gear you need for the setup (of course apart from the rod) are reel, test line, small bead, hook, sinkers and bobber stop.

Start by attaching the chosen fishing reel to your rod. Then making use of the reel seat, place the reel in it and tighten it. But ensure that you do not tighten it too much. Then let the reel be spooled to your test line. In fact, you can even buy a reel, which has been already spooled with a test line. Next, thread the test line up in your fishing rods, through the holes in the rod. To ensure that you can attach rest of the equipment, keeping a lot of slack in your line once you thread it. Follow it up by slipping your bobber stop onto the test line. The most easily available and popular is the rubber stop. That looks like a grain of rice with a hole at each end which the test line is threaded through. This bobber stop is essential for keeping the bobber from sliding past the depth that you choose. Now, directly under the bobber stop, thread the small bead. This bead is crucial, that helps to keep the bobber stop from slipping down, in the situation of a fish being hooked and it pulls on the test line. Then slide your slip bobber up the test line. Next, through the eye of the hook thread the test line and then attach it to your test line. Follow it up by clipping 2 small split shot sinkers to the test line by using a pair of pliers. Then clip them around 10 inches above the hook and an inch or 2 apart from the 2 split shot sinkers. And last but not the least, put the bait of your preference on the hook and there you are, all set for freshwater fishing. You can use a bee moth, cricket, earthworm or a minnow. But hey, you can go for other baits as well, you need not use just these.

Then, if you want to go for trout fishing, you would need a spin cast pole. So here is how to do that.

Setting Up a Fishing Pole for Trout

For setting a spin cast pole you need spin casting rod and reel with line, number 4 bait-holder hooks, split shot sinker assortment, egg sinkers - 1/8 to half ounce, snap swivels - 6-lb to 12-lb. Test, live worms or minnows and lures - spinners, spoons or minnow lures.

• First thing you do is choose an ultralight spin casting ensemble with a rod length of 4 and a half feet for action on light line (2 to 6 lb test). Now ultralights cast lures or baits in the scale of 1/32 to 1/8 ounce.
• Purchase a light to medium weighing spin casting set up with a rod length of 5 to 6 feet for trout fishing in large to medium streams with lines weighing between 6 to 12 pound test. For durability look for an ensemble with a reel that has minimum 2 ball bearings.
• Have a night crawler rig for fishing a live worm. This results in good trout catches, under almost any condition.
• Push a worm onto the hook. Start at the collar of the worm and slide it up above the bait holder barbs. Let the bait settle at the bottom after you cast the bait upstream. Until you feel the trout nibbling or hitting the line, keep on twitching the bait for letting it drift downstream with the current.
• In slack water or pools, fish in a live worm or a minnow with a bobber rig. Then attach the number 4 hook and clip a bobber about 3 to 4 feet above it.
• For the bait, use a minnow or a worm hooked through its back. Cast to the various parts of the pool for attracting the trout to attack your bait.
• Thread a small egg sinker to your line. Follow it by pinching on a small split shot beneath the egg sinker, around 2 feet from the end of the line. Now tie on a number 4 bait-holder hook and put on a worm tail hooked minnow or a worm.
• Finally for fishing lures with a spin cast outfit, attach a snap swivel to the end of the line. With a uni knot, tie a 6 to 12 lb test snap swivel on your line.
• You can snap on a spoon, spinner or a minnow lure for the purpose of cast and retrieve fishing.The snap swivel prevents the line from twisting and permits you to change lures quickly.

Here was a brief description of how to go about setting a fishing pole. I hope I didn't confuse you and this was useful for enthusiasts! I sign off here!

How to Make a Cartoon Character

With your imagination you can come up with so many cartoon characters, however, basic drawing skills and knowledge of some sketching tips and tricks is also important. Animated films, series, commercials have different characters. Some of them are very simple looking and easy to draw like 'The Powerpuff Girls'. Some of the characters are difficult and complex to draw like the cartoon character of 'Spiderman'. There is a long procedure called 'character designing' which is done while making these characters. In this article I have explained how to make a cartoon character. So, let's get started.

Here are the steps that will help you to draw different cartoon characters. I have also included some sample pictures of a cartoon character, for better understanding.

Step 1: Imagining a Character
Close your eyes, and just imagine what you want your character to be or rather what is your character and whom do you already have in mind. What are its traits? What's his profession? What does he wear? What is his height, complexion? Is the character fat? Note down on a piece of paper, as many characteristics of the cartoon character as you can think of.

Step 2: Doodling Around
The second step is to get your ideas flowing on the paper, or on a computer in case you are using a tablet and pen. Keep doodling around with different proportions of the character, different hairstyles, expressions, etc. Keep adding details like props and expressions to the character but it would be a good idea to keep your drawings rough at this stage. You just need to get some ideas, so you can keep as many rough lines as you want. Once satisfied with a good doodle of your character, proceed to the next level.

Here is a simple cartoon character designing project I worked on, that will guide you on the project. I had a classmate name Batika, we used to call her Bati. She was tall, cool girl, with a great personality. So, I got inspired to design a character on her. My imaginary character was a Super Hero, fighting crime. Here is my first rough sketch of the character I did with sketch pen.


Step 3: Drawing a Front Character Profile
In this stage you need to be precise and draw a front profile sketch of the character standing properly, in one single neat line. So draw everything neatly without adding details like props to the abstracter. Just add some basic neutral or smiling expressions on the character's face.

Below is the character rotation chart I created after I finished doodling around.


Step 4: Adding Props
Now add details like props which should be added depending on the character. Like spectacles, guns, sash, crown, sword, watch, etc. according to the character. But before you add them to the character, make sure you practice drawing these props separately and then add the props to the drawing of the character.

Below are some props I designed for the character of Super Bati.


Step 5: Expressions & Gestures
Now that you know how your character exactly looks, start drawing different drawings of your character. Add different kinds of expressions like happy, sad, depressed, angry, annoyed, nausea, love, etc. Keep sketching different body postures like pointing hand, sitting, laughing with hand on stomach, etc.

Here are some face sketches of the different expressions.


Step 6: Final Execution
Now either you can scan your drawings onto your computer, and use software like Flash or Photoshop to color them. You can do some basic animations using simple animation software like Flash, create gifs or animations for your site, or make a short film out of your character. Or you can get them printed on your t-shirt or mugs, and create cool arts and crafts stuff. The choice is yours!

In case you wish to learn make a toon character of yourself, then follow the above guidelines. However if you aren't good at drawing then just scan your picture in the computer and use a filter like sketch in software like Photoshop to get a cartoon like picture of yourself. Another way of making a character on the computer, is look online for sites which convert your picture into a cartoon. These sites have options where you need to submit your photo, and the site processes it into a cartoon looking image. However, if you wish to learn serious or advanced character designing, then a lot of hard work and dedication is needed. For advanced character designing lessons, you can look for books online; some of the best ones are by Christopher Hart.

How to Draw a Nautical Star

Drawing a nautical star is not very difficult. Remember, in school days nautical star was one of the easiest drawing we ever made after flowers, mountains, and trees. Have you forgotten how to draw one? Don't worry, for this article will tell you how. Be it in paintings or tattoos, the nautical star has always been a popular design.

Instructions for Drawing a Nautical Star

A nautical star is nothing but a conventional star with five arms and each arm is divided into two symmetrical parts with a straight line. Given below are some simple steps that can help you draw one.

Step 1
First, draw a conventional star with five arms. Start from a point at the bottom left and draw a diagonal line upwards to the right then take that same line diagonally down to the right again, making a half triangle.

Step 2
From this point, stretch this line diagonally to the left crossing the first line and then from that point draw a straight line again crossing the first and second line and join it to the point you have started with.

Step 3
Now erase the lines in the middle and keep only the outer border of the star. You will get five half triangles now.

Step 4
Now draw a vertical line from the mid section of the top most half triangle down to the point joining the two half triangles below. This will divide the star into two equal parts.

Step 5
Now select a center point of the star and draw straight lines from there to the inner point at which two half triangles meet.

Step 6
Now divide each of the half triangles into two by a drawing a straight line from the center to the mid section of the half triangle. Now you will see that each of the star arms is divided into two parts.

Step 7
Now color the ten sections of the nautical star alternately using two different colors. And your nautical star is ready. You can refer to the nautical star color meaning before choosing the colors.

With these easy steps you know how to draw a nautical star on your own. You can share these steps with your friends and tell them as well about how to draw it.

Nautical Star Tattoos

Every tattoo bears some significance and every design represents something about the wearer. It represents stability and solidarity. According to experts, sailors were the first ones to adorn nautical stars as tattoos as only stars used to guide them during the night. In a way, stars were their guides and so it was for expressing gratitude and respect for the stars that sailors started wearing star tattoos. In recent years, the gay community too started sporting nautical tattoos as a symbol of solidarity. But today nautical star tattoo meaning has changed and many people wear it as a symbol of liberality or freedom. You can wear the nautical star solo or in a cluster. Both look equally beautiful.

Now you know that drawing a nautical star is not very difficult. You can use the design in tattoos too.

Inflatable Boats: Reviews of Inflatable Boats

Most inflatable boat reviews are about the durability and affordability of these boats and that is what these boats are about. These light weight boats give a unique experience to people who love to hang around water bodies. If you like fishing or just sun bathing right in the middle of a lake or river boats are one of your best options. These useful boats are made from flexible tubes containing pressurized gas and some of the larger ones will also have metal or plywood sheets. The stern of these boats is mostly rigid to allow a motor to be fixed on it for motorized travel as opposed to paddle power.

There are several inflatable boat manufacturers in the market today and each have different models competing against each other for high ratings. The competition is not only restricted between different manufacturers but also extends to models from the same company. In all of this, the customers are left confused about which boat suits them the best.

Zodiac Inflatable Boat

Cadet
There are sixteen different models in this category offering a plethora of styles to suit individual boating needs. The major difference between these models is the flooring and the size of the boat. These boats feature wood, air and slat floors and can vary in size ranging from seven feet to 11 feet.

Classic
The classic category offers bigger size boats that can range anywhere between eleven feet to thirteen feet. These boats offer a unique aquatic experience to the customer and are known for their durability. The flooring for these boats can vary from high pressure air floor to aluminum sectional floor. There are six different models that you could choose from.

Pro Open
One of the largest variants of inflatable boats the Pro Open boats are quite popular in areas with large water bodies. These boats can start at a size of thirteen feet and you event get one that is twenty feet. You can choose from five different models in this variant, these are also very popular as boat rentals.

Saturn Inflatable Boat

The Saturn boats are known for their durability and tough exterior making them very popular with the general population. These inflatable boats come in different sizes starting at just more than seven feet and reaching to fifteen feet.

Saturn SD365
People who have used this boat find that this boat is very light to row and handles very well in different water conditions. The price of the boats is also quite affordable and the material is also quiet resistant to tearing. It holds a maximum of five people and gives quite an enjoyable experience on the water.

Saturn SD 430
This is a fourteen feet boat that is known for its sturdiness and handling in varied water conditions. It is used by many emergency rescue departments across the country. It is made out of PVC fabric with polyester giving it great durability and resistance against cuts and tears. The bottom of the tubes have double layer of fabric giving it added protection from logs and rocks.

Saturn SD 470
This fifteen feet boat can hold up to 8 people and is made out of 1100 denier Korean PVC fabric with polyester support. In spite of the large size after deflating you can easily store it in the back of your minivan. The bottom of the tube is protected with a double layer of fabric to protect it from tearing on rocks and drift wood. It also has a marine grade plywood floor and also comes with a high volume hand pump.

Looking up on the inflatable boat reviews will give you a slight indication which boat to go for visiting a store near you and talking to the salesman is also a good way of getting some helpful information, before you decide if possible talk some boat owners they will offer great advice based on their personal experience.