Binoculars

According to experts, “binoculars are the world’s most used optical instrument other than eyeglasses.”  Those who wear glasses out of necessity know the complicated difficulty in selecting a pair.  Binoculars have a similar multitude of specifications and numbering systems.  Here are some tips and tricks for picking out a binocular.

Most binoculars are labeled with two or at most three numbers if they have a zoom feature.  The first of these numbers explains the magnification the instrument is capable of.  A simple way to remember is the first number means the object you are viewing is X times larger than life.  If the first number on two different binoculars is the same, it means they magnify the same amount.  When there are three numbers, the first two indicate the range of magnification.  For example, an instrument that has the number 2-5×6 will magnify between two and five times life size.  However, the downside to magnification, especially in higher numbers, is the image clarity and stability decreases as the magnification increases.  Typically, any set of binoculars with a magnification higher than 10x will need a tripod to be useful.

The second number listed is the “diameter or width of each front lens, measured in millimeters.”  While magnification for two pairs of binoculars may be the same, the quality is markedly different depending on the diameter.  Larger width equals a clearer, sharper view.  On the other hand, larger also means heavier, so if you are looking for a field or hiking binocular, a smaller, lighter model may be better for you.  When conversing with a salesman or binocular enthusiast, they will probably mention the “field of view” for any given model.  This term simply refers to “the amount of territory you see when you look through the binocular.”  As magnification goes up, the field of view goes down, so if a large area is what you are hoping to see, a lower magnification will work better for you.  Another term you might hear mentioned is the “twilight factor.”  Far from being a book or movie series starring sexy vampires, the twilight factor is a mathematical formula that can estimate how much detail you can see in poor light such as twilight.  “Twilight factor is the square root of magnification [multiplied by] objective.  A 10×40 will have a twilight factor of 20 [since that is the] square root of 10×40.”

For more information about binoculars and other tactical gear, please visit www.specialforces.com

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The ostrich in the Bible versus the Quran (1)

The ostrich is mentioned 10 times in the Bible.

The ostrich’s behavior is mentioned in the Bible in the dialogue between God and Job.

In this dialogue the Lord God, the Almighty Creator describes the ostrich as:

She is joyfully proud of its small wings,

She is unmindful of the safety of its nest,

She treats her offspring harshly,

She is lacks in wisdom, she is stupid.

The ostrich’s labor is not in vain

And yet she can put a horse to shame with its speed.

In addition, God described to Job how he created the ostrich with no good sense.

On the other hand, scientists say that the ostrich has good sense; with their acute eyesight and hearing, they can sense predators such as lions from far away.

The question is:  Would the Almighty Creator who creates the ostrich say that? Do these Biblical verses reflect a primitive, incorrect knowledge about the ostrich?

That is why the Quran says: Woe, to those who write the Scripture with their hands then say: This is from God

Nevertheless, the ostrich is not mentioned therein in the Quran. Yet, the Quran says that the birds in general live in societies like human beings.

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?? The ostrich in the Bible (1)

Is the Bible mistaken about the ostrich?

The Bible says that the Lord God, the Almighty Creator, said unto Job that the ostrich is a stupid bird that lays its eggs on the ground, leaves them to be hatched by the heat of the sand, and then she treats her young harshly after they have hatched.

In contrast, scientists describe the ostrich as a very caring parent. Laying eggs on the ground, rather than being a sign of neglect, is just something some birds normally do; and while the female may leave the nest, the male incubates the nest in her absence.

In the meantime, when the young hatch, they are given attentive care by their mother.

Therefore, the verses are in error from the scientific point of view.

Moreover, the ostrich’s labor is not in vain.

It goes without saying that the Almighty Creator who creates the ostrich and knows very well everything about it would say that about the ostrich.

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Job 39:13-18

New International Version

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork.

14 She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand,

15 unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them.

16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain,

17 for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.

18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider.

American Standard Version

13 The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the pinions and plumage of love?

14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, and warmeth them in the dust,

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.

16 She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, she is without fear;

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider.

King James Version

13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her’s: her labour is in vain without fear;

17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

Young’s Literal Translation

13The wing of the rattling ones exulteth, Whether the pinion of the ostrich or hawk.

14For she leaveth on the earth her eggs, and on the dust she doth warm them,

15And she forgetteth that a foot may press it, And a beast of the field tread it down.

16Her young ones it hath hardened without her, in vain [is] her labour without fear.

17For God hath caused her to forget wisdom; And He hath not given a portion to her in understanding:

18At the time on high she lifteth herself up, she laugheth at the horse and at his rider.

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The ostrich in the Quran (1)

The ostrich is not mentioned therein in the Quran; yet the birds in general are mentioned 12 times in the Quran.

In respect to the ostrich in the Quran, the following points will be discussed:

1) Allah is the Creator of all things

2) Allah has created every creeping creature from water

3) Animals and Birds are but societies like human beings.

4) Allah created and proportioned His creature, making it of well-proportioned parts, without irregularities, and guided his creatures to what He had determined.

5) Woe, to those who write the Scripture with their hands then say: This is from God

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1) Allah is the Creator of all things

Verse 39:62

QARIB: Allah is the creator of all things, and of all things he is the guardian.

SHAKIR: Allah is the creator of every thing and he has charge over every thing

PICKTHAL: Allah is creator of all things, and he is guardian over all things.

YUSUFALI: Allah is the creator of all things, and he is the guardian and disposer of all affairs.

The meanings of the verse 39:62

Allah is the Creator of all things and He is Guardian over all things, disposing of them as He will. He is the disposer of all affairs.

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2) Allah has created every creeping creature from water

Verse 24:45

QARIB: Allah created everything that walks from water. Some creep upon their bellies, others walk on two feet, and others walk on four. Allah creates whatever he will. Allah is powerful over everything.

SHAKIR: and Allah has created from water every living creature: so of them is that which walks upon its belly and of them is that which walks upon two feet and of them is that which walks upon four; Allah creates what he pleases; surely Allah has power over all things

PICKTHAL: Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what he will. Lo! Allah is able to do all things.

YUSUFALI: and Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what he wills for verily Allah has power over all things.

The meanings of the verse 24:45

And Allah has created every creeping creature from water. Among them are some that creep upon their bellies and among them are some that walk on two feet, and among them are some that walk on four.

Allah creates whatever He will.

Truly Allah has power over all things.

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3) Animals and Birds are but societies like human beings.

Verse 6:38

QARIB: there is no crawling creature on the earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but they are nations like you. We have neglected nothing in the book. They shall all be gathered before their lord.

SHAKIR: and there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are) genera like yourselves; we have not neglected anything in the book, then to their lord shall they be gathered

PICKTHAL: there is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the book (of our decrees). Then unto their lord they will be gathered.

YUSUFALI: there is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their lord in the end.

The meanings of the verse 6:38

There is not an animal in the earth, or a flying creature flying on two wings between the earth and sky, but they are societies like unto you.  They resemble you in eating, copulation, understanding one another, just as you understand one another: this is a sign for you.

We have neglected nothing in the Quran. Allah has mentioned everything in the Quran.

Then unto their Lord, all the created beings will be gathered on the Day of Judgment.

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4) Allah created and proportioned His creature, making it of well-proportioned parts, without irregularities, and guided his creatures to what He had determined.

Verses 87: 1-3

QARIB: exalt the name of your lord, the highest, who has created and shaped, who has ordained and guided,

SHAKIR: glorify the name of your lord, the most high, who creates, then makes complete, and who makes (things) according to a measure, then guides (them to their goal),

PICKTHAL: praise the name of thy lord the most high, who createth, then disposeth; who measureth, then guideth;

YUSUFALI: glorify the name of thy guardian-lord most high, who hath created, and further, given order and proportion; who hath ordained laws. And granted guidance;

The meanings of the verses 87: 1-3

Glorify the Name of your Lord, that is, exalt your Lord above what does not befit Him He is the Most High.

Who created and proportioned His creature, making it of well-proportioned parts, without irregularities,

And Who determined, what He wants, and ordained and guided his creatures to what He had determined.

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5) Woe, to those who write the Scripture with their hands then say: This is from God

Verse 2:79

QARIB: woe to those who write the book with their own hands and then say: ‘this is from Allah, ‘ in order to gain a small price for it. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for their earnings.

SHAKIR: woe, then, to those who write the book with their hands and then say: this is from Allah, so that they may take for it a small price; therefore woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn

PICKTHAL: therefore woe be unto those who write the scripture with their hands and then say, “This is from Allah,” that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written and woe unto them for that they earn thereby.

YUSUFALI: then woe to those who write the book with their own hands, and then say: “this is from Allah,” to traffic with it for miserable price! - Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.

The meanings of the verse 2:79

So woe, a severe chastisement, to those who write the Scripture with their hands, that is, fabricating it themselves, then say, ‘This is from God’ to gain a small price in the life of this world.

Therefore woe and severe punishment are waiting for them for what their hands have written, of fabrications, and woe to them for their earnings, by way of corruption.

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Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:

Are the Scholars truthful when they claim that the Quran quoted from the Bible?

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
 Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
 Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt,
 President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors,
 Member of the Egyptian union of Writers,
 Published some 60 Medical Articles,
 Supervisors for 79 PhD theses,
 Supervisors for 111 Master Degree theses,
 Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine,
 Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt)

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bird-watching-articles/in-bible-versus-quran-the-ostrich-leaves-on-the-earth-her-eggs-1490019.html

A simple thank you is polite and appreciated but a thank you letter is a little more personal and thoughtful. Writing a thank you letter requires a little more effort and reflection. The sender must think about why they are thankful and what the person did to make their day a little more enjoyable.

Learn and teach your children the art of writing letters and the impact they create. Have them write a friend, teacher, doctor, policeman or other person in the community a thank you letter. The letter is to express sincere gratitude for their service.

Often younger children are very willing to write to their doctor or dentist to thank them for an enjoyable experience. However, as we age, the time required to write the letter is outweighed by other activities. If a child feels the impact of the letter they may be more willing to write a letter.

There are numerous resources online but here are a few tips.

Be direct and consice about the purpose of your letter.  Tell them what you are thankful for and why.

Be expressive and creative.  Tell this person how you are feeling and why they are important to you.

Tell them some personal information about what is going on in your life.  Share with them a part of your world.

Keep it simple. Don’t include words or phrases that are redundant or unnecessary.  Proof the letter so that it flows and makes sense.

Lastly, make it personal. Everyone wants to know that they are appreciated.  If they are a family member, tell them that you are thinking of them even though they will know it because they just received a letter from you.

My family is my inspiration. Santa Letter Letter From Santa Santa Letters

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bird-watching-articles/tips-on-thank-you-letters-in-the-age-of-technology-1429189.html

You are looking for a squirrel proof feeder, one that really works. You have tried all the models available at your local stores, but the squirrels are having a field day stealing all your birdseed.  Is there really a squirrel proof feeder that stops these critters?

There are many different species of squirrels in the world, the most common in the Northern Hemisphere are the gray, red, fox, kaibab, douglas and pine squirrels. Each has it’s own traits and abilities.  Some are great jumpers that can leap 10 feet vertically.  Some have superior teeth that grow over 6” each year and need to chew on hard surfaces to keep them manageable and sharp.  Developing a simple birdseed feeder that only feeds wild birds and not unwanted guests is the daunting task of manufacturers from all over the world.

With these facts in mind, it is not possible to expect a squirrel proof feeder to be 100% effective. At some point, some how, somewhere, someday, a squirrel is going to thwart a specially designed feeder and receive a birdseed reward.   Once backyard birders come to understand this, feeding birds becomes the stress- free hobby it was meant to be.

A squirrel proof feeder should be designed so those critters are not able to dominate the time spent trying to obtain birdseeds. Decades of experience have taught us that any recommended squirrel proof feeder will be 95% effective, not 100%.   

But how do you decide which squirrel proof feeder design is right for you? You first need to know what species of squirrels live in your habitat.   If large squirrels plague you, then you may choose the caged-style squirrel proof feeders.   These are designed so that only small birds can enter, not the larger squirrels.  However, you will eliminate large birds as well.  

If large and small squirrels are located in your area, you may choose the weight-activated squirrel proof feeders. Be sure that the models you choose have the ability to adjust the weight mechanism in a wide range of weights, not just a few.  This gives you the ability to really control all the squirrels in your region, not just the heavy ones.

You can also choose the latest squirrel proof feeders that have hit the marketplace in the last few years, the “stinging” or “zapping” models. These employ a non-lethal shock to train any mammals to stay away.   Birds’ physiological makeup prevents them from receiving a shock.  These feeders provide an instant response to an unwanted behavior, whereas all other squirrel proof feeders require time and effort to be effective in the long term.

In a nutshell, you can provide a stress-free environment for your backyard birds without feeding the entire critter population. You first must know what animals you wish to repel and then match the squirrel proof feeder to your needs.  At http://www.wildbirddepot.com, we have matched the right products to our customers for over two decades.  We provide simple solutions to complex problems and save you money the first time.

Steve White is the owner of Wild Bird Depot, New Hampshire’s largest variety of wild bird products for over 16 years and <a rel=”nofollow” title=”www.wildbirddepot.com” target=”_blank” href=”http://www.wildbirddepot.com”>www.wildbirddepot.com. He was on the Board of Directors for the National Bird Feeding Society. He is a guest lecturer for national conventions in St. Louis and Atlanta. Wild Bird Depot has donated over $5,000 to the local nature centers for rehabilitation. He has also donated and participated in helping local schools set up wild bird habitats for learning and research. Steve is now offering his backyard bird feeding expertise to assist others in creating wild bird sanctuaries in their backyards, one feeder at a time.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bird-watching-articles/squirrel-proof-feeders-true-facts-not-fiction-1425099.html

For a lot of us, a day with a heavy workload (whether personal or in terms of career) is so accepted it’s almost considered normal. If you find yourself hitting the floor with a long list of things you need to do in the morning, by the time half of the day has gone by your energy may have well been depleted already. While daunting or multiple tasks cannot be avoided, you can nevertheless try to do some things to help you combat afternoon fatigue. Here are just five helpful suggestions to boost your energy:

Drink plenty of water. You’ve probably heard this countless times already, but the importance of drinking plenty of water cannot be underestimated. If your body doesn’t have enough fluids, you will become dehydrated – which will leave you feeling tired. So aside from improving your health, it will also keep your energy constantly replenished. Sodas and sugary drinks don’t count; it should really be water or, at the least, water-packed fruits like orange and celery.

Eat more protein. During breakfast, try to do away with food rich in carbohydrates. Instead, opt for something that’s high in protein. This is because carbohydrates tend to sap your energy, while protein gives you a much-needed boost. You can choose to jumpstart your day with a plateful of bacon, cheese and eggs rather than your usual bagels or donuts.

Take catnaps. You don’t necessarily have to sleep for an hour in the afternoon. But taking 10 to 20 minutes of rest should be enough to get you through the rest of the day. This would be especially helpful if you didn’t have enough sleep the night before.

Listen to music. Add a bit more life to your work routine by listening to music. The reason is that music tends to help our body produce more energy, making us feel less tired and more animated. You can take your pick whatever music you can relate with, as long as it can stimulate you – whether it’s dance hits from the 80s, or renowned opera classics.

Exercise more. Physical inactivity makes your body slow down, so start your day with exercise. You can go jogging outdoors or hump on the treadmill, do a few lapses at the pool or play badminton with your neighbor. It doesn’t matter, as long as your get moving. If you’re in the office, use part of your lunch break to engage yourself in exercise, even if it’s something as simple as walking outdoors.

James Richardsen is a health enthusiast actively involved in the adrenal fatigue community. After suffering from adrenal fatigue for several years he was lucky enough to stumble across some techniques that helped him to beat adrenal fatigue. He has since helped many others overcome adrenal fatigue symptoms and get their life and energy back.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bird-watching-articles/5-tips-to-beat-the-afternoon-slump-1411218.html