Friday, October 26, 2007

Rose perfumes

Rose perfumes are prepared from attar of roses or rose oil, which is a combination of volatile essential oils, obtained by steam-distilling the trampled petals of roses. The method originated in Persia then spread through Arabia and India, but nowadays about 70% to 80% of production is in the Rose Valley near Kazan in Bulgaria, with some production in Qamsar in Iran and Germany. The Kaaba in Mecca is yearly washed by the Iranian rose water from Qamsar. In Bulgaria, Iran and Germany, damask roses are used. In the French rose oil industry Rosa centifolia is used. The oil, pale yellow or yellow-grey in color, is sometimes called 'Rose Absolute' oil to differentiate it from watery versions. The weight of oil extracted is about one three-thousandth to one six-thousandth of the weight of the flowers; for example, about 2,000 flowers are necessary to produce one gram of oil.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Trams

Electric-powered trams were first successfully experienced in service in Richmond, Virginia, in 1888, in the Richmond Union Passenger Railway built by Frank J. Sprague. There were earlier saleable installations of electric streetcars, including one in Berlin, as early as 1881 by Werner von Siemens and the company that still bears his name, and also one in Saint Petersburg, Russia, made-up and tested by Fyodor Pirotsky in 1880. Another was by John Joseph Wright, brother of the celebrated mining entrepreneur Whitaker Wright, in Toronto in 1883.
The earlier installations, however, proved difficult and/or variable. Siemens' line, for example, provided power through a live rail and a return rail, like a model train setup, limiting the voltage that could be used, and providing unwanted stimulation to people and animals crossing the tracks. Siemens later planned his own method of current collection, this time from an overhead wire, called the bow collector. Once this had been developed his cars became equal to, if not superior than, any of Sprague's cars. The first electric interurban line connecting St. Catherine’s and Thorold, Ontario was operated in 1887, and was measured quite successful at the time. While this line proved quite versatile as one of the earliest fully functional electric streetcar installations, it still required horse-drawn carry while hiking the Niagara Escarpment and for two months of the winter when hydroelectricity was not available. This line continuous service in its original form well into the 1950s.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Hobbies

A hobby-horse was a wood or wickerwork toy made to be ride just like the actual hobby. From this game the appearance to ride one's hobby-horse, meaning to follow a favourite pastime, and in turn, hobby in the modern sense of recreation.Hobbies are practised for interest and satisfaction, rather than financial reward. Examples include collecting, creative and artistic pursuits, building, tinkering, sports and adult education. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring significant skill, knowledge, and experience.
However, personal realization is the aim.What are hobbies for some people are professions for others, a game tester may enjoy cooking as a hobby, while a qualified cheif might enjoy playing computer games. Generally speaking, the person who does something for fun, not remuneration, is called an recreational as distinct from a professional.An important determinant of what is considered a hobby, as individual from a profession is probably.