Archive for July 17th, 2010

A wind chime seems to be a required adornment of many a cabins in the woods. In the city one imagines that these objects are hung by the door and simply used to announce visitors or customers, but in the countryside, where the nearest neighbor can be a mile away and you could hear him coming from about the same distance, why the prevalence of such merry noise-makers?

If you are ever lucky enough to experience it, you may even stumble upon some hermit’s cozy hut of a cabin with a large collection of wind chimes displayed along his porch or main window. And then it’s no wonder whether the decorations keep him – or her – company instead of simply announcing it.

Wind chimes focus the voice of the wind. These objects are instruments by which the wind finds its voice. They speak for the wind. They are the wind speaking to us in a language we comprehend, the language of music, of sounds and also the silent pauses between them.

This other-worldly association with wind chimes goes back to their very origins as devices to ward off evil spirits, as if human inventions stand in opposition to the natural and supernatural. In Asia they’re associated with good luck, and Japanese glass wind bells and chimes have a long and highly developed tradition.

In our own modern age, clever people have now taken to harnessing the power of the sun instead of the wind to produce the soft melodious tones so beloved of mankind. Windless wind chimes – yes, that is their name – provide continual protection against evil spirits even when winds are calm!

Country cottages and their wind chimes. Who would have ever thought that such seemingly basic objects of wood, metal, glass, or stone could have such a legacy?

A good camping tent will make the difference between fun and misery. Camping is a favorite outdoor activity, and though some folks make no use of any tent or overnight shelter at all, under most circumstances it is going to be a much more enjoyable experience when not assailed by the elements. Thus a camping tent is going to be one of the most essential pieces of equipment on hand, and when in the market some basic elements should be considered.

First and foremost, figure out whether free-standing designs or traditional ones are most appropriate. Much thought and care needs to be taken at this initial step, as for solitary trips no one will be around to help pitch and strike a tent. Fabric material is one more important factor when shopping for a suitable camping tent. Most items offered on the market these days will be made of cotton canvas, nylon, felt, or polyester.

Cotton absorbs water but is, ironically, then rendered waterproof when its fibers swell and create a seal against further drenching, in effect. Cotton is also often treated to further enhance its water-resistant qualities. Then you have synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester, which are significantly lighter in weight and tend to whisk away water, made all the more water-resistant and even waterproof via the application of special coatings. Regrettably, these will also deteriorate over time under sunlight.

When considering the water resistance of a camping tent, look to its hydrostatic head rating. Tent fabrics are rated in millimeters, and numbers of 1000mm or less are deemed shower resistant while extreme conditions such as monsoons may call for ranges in between 3000 to over 5000mm, especially where groundsheets are concerned. There are a handful of other factors when it comes to tent fabrics, but this discussion covers a couple of the most essential and should serve to stimulate further research on your own.

Women’s Wigs are used by several for medical, religious, or cosmetic factors. Well, of course, in a sense, it’s all for purposes of cosmetics, for reasons having to do with beauty and a woman’s sense of her own appearance. But by “cosmetic reasons” it can be meant that some wear Women’s Wigs simply for a various appear without the fuss and bother of a whole new hairstyle that one is stuck with for months at a time. Indeed, for such people, a wig is probably a great thing, allowing them to change their appearance whenever they wish. Obviously, lots of wigs are employed by actresses for roles that demand a radically different appear than their own. Others use wigs for job interviews or social occasions. Some women experience hair loss, particularly as they age, and want the comfort they’re used to getting from a full head of hair.

But the two main reasons for Women’s Wigs are medical and religious. Those undergoing cancer treatment for instance chemotherapy discover wigs a welcome part of their recovery efforts. Chemotherapies typically cause a loss of hair being a side effect, and several find it embarrassing to be bald. Therefore, 100% human hair wigs are quite handy in alleviating this stress. Those who use Women’s Wigs for religious causes are most likely Jewish Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox women, the vast majority of whom follow their rabbis’ teachings on the matter of head covering like a sign of modesty in dress. This is an interesting case, as well as the rest of this article will examine it in some depth.

Women’s Wigs came into use by Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox female Jewry worldwide on account of the theory held by numerous of their religious teachers that a married woman’s beauty ought to be reserved for her husband alone, and practically nothing is so exquisitely linked to femininity than a woman’s hair. It can be also felt that just being a man’s head should usually be covered like a sign of respect to God, so too ought a woman’s.

But do not wigs violate the spirit if not the letter with the law? After all, they may cover the head as well as the hair, but they give the look that absolutely nothing is covered at all! And indeed, numerous rabbis reason just so, and locate wigs insufficient head covering and recommend scarves, snoods, or other headgear.

Then there is the matter of religious purity. A tradition of Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox Jewry has been that absolutely nothing associated with idol worship may be employed, and controversies erupted over whether specific hair from India shorn during pagan ceremonies was clean.