In 1939 the Union Oil Co. of California began publishing postcard views of Southwestern scenes which were given away as premiums in the company’s service stations. The Union Oil cards introduced new printing technology. Cards were printed in four-color half-tone process with a varnish overcoat called photochrome probably because of their link to Kodak’s newly introduced Kodachrome color reversal slide film. Kodachrome slides were the cornerstone for most of these new photochrome cards. This name soon was shortened by collectors to chrome. This new technology yielded a high-quality, detailed image with a shiny surface that was close to photographic quality and in realistic color. World War II slowed their spread but in the early 1950’s chrome cards took over the postcard market replacing both linens and black-and-white real-photo views.

Postcards to this day are still almost entirely chromes. The computer has changed the look of view cards in the last few years as designers working with digital image-editing software have turned blue skies into blazing sunsets with expanse of color not seen since the linen cards of the 1930s. In addition they added larger and larger type effects reflecting the public’s preoccupation with logos and brand names.

The most noticeable change in postcards since the beginning of the chrome era has been their size:

How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.

- “Standard.” For almost a century the standard size for a postcard was 5 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The first postal cards issued by the Post Office were roughly the same size as a standard mailing envelope in the middle of the 19th Century. Private manufacturers of postcards quickly began to experiment with the size of cards — small ones and fold-outs and double-wide panoramas for example. Throughout the golden age of postcards though from the pioneer era through white borders and real-photos and linens and chromes, the vast majority of postcards were this standard 5 1/2-by-3 1/2 size.

- “Continental.” In the last two or three decades it seems everything in America has been supersized, from french fries to toilet paper. Postcards are no exception. The “standard” size for postcards has increased from 5 1/2-by-3 12 to 4-by-6. Collectors call these larger cards “continentals,” because presumably the larger size first became common on the Continent.

- “Supercontinental.” The latest development in the never-ending battle to create something that will catch the public’s eye and pry open its wallet are postcards that are even larger than “continental” — 7 by 4.5 inches and up. These are too big to mail at the postcard rate (currently 23 cents): the Postal Service requires letter-rate postage, 37 cents. Probably few of them are actually mailed, anyway. These megacards seem to be marketed as souvenirs, mini-posters to be taken home and put on a mirror or a refrigerator for your own enjoyment or memories.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

The Symptoms

The symptoms of H1N1 infection is similar to that of seasonal flu. Among the symptoms include cough, sore throat, running or stuffy nose, chills and fatigue, to name just a few. Several people infected with the virus have complained of diarrhea and vomiting. The high risk groups prone to H1N1 is not yet known at the moment but it is likely that they are similar to those suffering from seasonal influenza.

People at greater risk of serious side effects from seasonal flu include people more than 65 years old, children below 5 years old, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical consitions as well as those who are taking immunosuppressive medications or with HIV infection.

Avoid Social Contact

If you are feeling sick, your condition may last for more than a week. You should remain at home and refrain from making social contact. As much as possible, you should not communicate with other people to avoid the spread of the virus.

At the moment, the CDC believes that H1N1 has similar properties on the aspect of transmission with seasonal flu virus. If you go out of the house to consult your doctor, wear a mask or use a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

According to recent studies, people suffering from seasonal flu are at risk to transmit the disease a day prior to development of symptoms for up to seven days after getting sick.

Children are more likely to be at risk for a longer period of time so it is best to consult a healthcare provider.

Emergency Warning Signs

If you suddenly become sick and experience any of the following warning signs, this is your cue to seek emergency medical assistance.

See how much you can learn about Swine Flu when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information.

In the case of children becoming ill due to H1N1infection, the following warning signs may require immediate medical attention:

* Fast or difficulty in breathing
* Bluish or gray colored skin
* Insufficient amount of liquids
* Severe or continuous vomiting
* Lack of sleep or interaction
* Irritability
* Recovery from flu-like symptoms but the symptoms come back with fever and worse coughing

Among adults, the following emergency warning signs demand immediate medical attention:

* Trouble with breathing or shortness of breath
* Abdominal pains or pressure in the chest
* The individual suddenly becomes dizzy
* The patient is confused
* Severe or continuous vomiting
* Recovery from flu-like symptoms but the symptoms come back with fever and worse coughing

Prevention Is The Best Treatment

You can do your part in preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus. Here are some tips on how you can take part in efforts for preventing the spread of infection.

* Be aware. Obtain information about H1N1 by visiting the website of the CDC.

* Use a tissue in covering your mouth and nose when sneezing. Afterwards, throw the tissue in the trash.

* With soap and water, wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. If possible, use alcohol-based sanitizers.

* Refrain from touching your nose or mouth as this could lead to easy transmission of germs.

By being aware of swine flu symptoms, the spread of the H1N1 virus would easily be prevented.

That’s the latest from the Swine Flu authorities. Once you’re familiar with these ideas, you’ll be ready to move to the next level.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

Italians have made their mark in the world. They are quite known and are leading in different fields like fashion, interior design, culinary arts and visual arts. Italians are very much proud of their origin and their heritage. And who would not be?

The World Heritage Sites or Unesco sites in Italy combined will be about 43 sites. The most number of Unesco declared sights in Europe can be found in Italy. Even some of the oldest universities in the world can be found in Italy like University of Padoya and University of Bologna.

The University of Salerno was established in the ninth century, during the medieval times. Other old universities would be University of Naples established by Frederick II, the University of Florence established in 1308 and then the universities of Pisa, Pavia, and Turin.

Living like an Italian is senseless without the knowledge of the Italian art and literature. Prominent writers like Dante Alighieri, Petrarch and Boccaccio are all Italian. Meanwhile, Italian artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

There are minor and small towns that offer a great glimpse of Italian art. Siena in Tuscany showcases their great artists from the thirteenth and fourteenth century like Duccio and Cimabue as well as Simone Martini. Genoa and Turin in the northern cities are somehow overlooked by many tourists. These places offer beautiful piazzars, magnificent churches and exquisite art galleries.

If you don’t have accurate details regarding Learn Italian, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.

Music had always served as a cultural marker for Italians. Italy had been renowned for their opera, traditional music from the diverse region, popular music both from local and international source, and modern experimental classical music.

There are different institutions and centers that support music as a profession in Italy. There are conservatories, opera houses, radio and television stations, recording studios, music festivals and important centers of musicological reseach.

Fashion icons and popular designers are considered to be the finest in the world. To name a few Italian designers ? Armani, Prada, Gucci, Versace and Valentino. Milan is one of the most important and prestigious centers of fashion in the world.

Aside from the things, history and heritage that Italians should be proud of, Italians also provides much importance to their families. A strong and united family is very important for Italians. Families represent the moral strength of society. That is why family meals are longer than average meals in other culture. At home, water and wine are served with lunch and dinner. Children from age of 12 may begin to drink a small amount of wine with meals.

Majority of Italians are Roman Catholics. Catholicism is the primary religion for more than 2000 years. Festivals are observed in celebration of their faith. Festivals are always connected to saints. Italians also observe practices during a particular significant event in Catholicism. One of these practices would be non-eating of meat on Fridays during Lent and also on Ash Wednesday. But fish and vegetable can be eaten during these times.

Italians are also well known for their friendly nature. They are generous, gentle, warm, sociable and welcoming.

How to learn and live like an Italian is not only by copying the way they speak and the way they act, but it is also important to make sure that the core values that they possess will be integrated in daily lives.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

What kind of outdoor furniture do you have? This is oftentimes the question asked that helps one determine how to decorate or adorn their garden, backyard or lawn.

If your home is situated in a wide expanse of real estate property or even those with just enough open space in their front or backyard, then wouldn’t it be nice to add a bit more spice to make it more presentable or attractive, especially one that would make you want to spend a little more time lounging in your yard.

It may cost you somewhere around a few hundred dollars to even thousand, however, the choice is yours.

It’s how you want to see it and how you would want be fulfilled with what you do, the possibilities are endless and you have a lot of options to choose from.

But first, it is important to know which kinds of outdoor furniture you can choose from to not only make your backyard, garden or lawn look good, but one that will also help you make your choices on a more practical side and help you save money in the long run.

First thing you need to know about outdoor furniture is that it is designed and built to be a bit more durable and extra-protected compared to indoor or house furniture.

One of the most popular outdoor furniture in the market called wicker furniture.

This is made up of either woven strips of a durable root-based vine called rattan or vinyl-coated plastic strands, since these materials are water and weather-proof.

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to Outdoor Furniture than you may have first thought.

It can be easily cleaned using soap and water, especially one using a pressure washer, but should only be used in a low setting, otherwise intense pressure could damage the material or scrape off any coating or varnish painted on to protect it from the elements.

Another type of outdoor furniture are those made of hard wood or water resistant wood. Designs usually range from carved wooden designs for individual chairs and usually a table as a center piece to basic bench and table designs for outdoor parties or gatherings.

These wooden outdoor furniture are usually painted with a heavy duty paint varnish to prevent water or moisture from seeping into the wooden fiber that may cause to damage it over time.

Material of choice are those made of teak or cedar wood, which can be left outdoors even during the winter, but can be a bit more expensive compared to others.

Other types of wood can also be used, however, would require a lot more time and effort to maintain and must be stored indoors to protect it from getting frozen which would cause it to be brittle or cause molds and mildew to seep in.

Another type of outdoor furniture are those made of metal, whether aluminum, stainless steel or wrought iron.

These are usually coupled with either molded plastic or wood-based accents and are a bit more easier to maintain and clean.

There are also outdoor furniture made of one hundred percent molded plastic, which would be the most affordable ones in the market.
There are a lot of designs and colors to choose from since it can easily be molded to form any shape or size desired and can costs less than any kind of outdoor furniture material sold in the market, and can be replaced easily due to its affordability.

So by now you know how to answer when someone asks you what kind of outdoor furniture do you have.

Sometimes it’s tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I’m positive you’ll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

There are several tips on how to learn Italian quickly, without sacrificing the comprehension and quality. Approximately 62 million people in 30 different countries are already speaking Italian. So there is no surprise if we would like to be part of that population.

Expose yourself to the culture and traditions of Italy. Exposure and immersion to a local culture and traditions is one of the best way to learn the language. If it is possible, travel to Italy and stay there for a while. Although, it is encouraged to learn basic Italian first, before venturing to Italy. If travelling is not an option, then there are many different ways we can immerse ourselves to the culture, like knowing Italian artists, food, and culture. Joining an Italian conversation groups also is a great option.

Listening to Italian music or Italian opera is also a great way of being exposed to the Italian culture. Opera recording often comes with the libretto, a text in both English and Italian in a booklet form. It would be great practice to listen and read the popular works of Puccini such as ?La Boheme?, ?Madame Butterfly?, or ?Tosca?.

Also watching Italian movie classics like ?La Dolce Vita?, ?Ladri di Biciclette? and ?Il Postino? will enhance vocabulary and comprehension. Reading novels, travel guides and books will provide the great information. Some students who have already learned the basics of Italian move on to reading authors like Boccaccio or Petrarch. They even read Umberto Eco’s ?Name of the Rose? in its original Italian manuscript.

Of course, taking a formal course at your local university or college will enhance your knowledge of the language. In enrolling, students get to practice speaking and writing Italian. It also enables the students to meet other people who are in the same page as you are.

If you don’t have accurate details regarding Learn Italian, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.

If physical classes would be too much and may affect your work schedule, then there are several online classes offered. This links would provide flexibility. It is important to choose sites that have audio links where students can hear the words and would be able to help with the pronunciation.

Practice, as they always say make things perfect. In learning any other languages, practice is always encouraged. When travelling to Italy, practice the language and speak Italian. Italians may smile over your mumbling or exchanging Italian words, but locals and natives express appreciation to those travellers who exert effort in learning the foreign language.

Speaking out loud in Italian is entirely different from reading silently in Italian. With silent reading, visual memory is enhance while with speaking or reading out loud, the speaker would have the chance to listen to the words if they are pronounced and enunciated properly.

Think Italian! To speak fluidly in Italian, then think in Italian. Translate not the words into Italian but the concept and ideas the person would like to convey. When studying or enrolled in Italian class, never use the vernacular language or English. Never fall back into the comfort zone. Regularly test your Italian conversational skills.

Learning an entire new thing or any language is of course difficult, some people may find tips on how to learn Italian do not work for them as it does for other people. But the important thing with learning any other language, is thinking and talking with that language.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

Relocation can be a tough job. But since you are already dead set on it despite the obvious cons, then the trip must be pretty important. If that is the case the only thing to do is to make sure that preparations for your relocation will be as smooth as possible.

Although it will still be stressful, planning it right will make it easier to manage. All you need to do is to create a timeline and make sure that you have every aspect of the move covered. Below are some of the things that you need to take care of when relocating to another town or country. Read on and you may find one or two items that you may want to add to your already overflowing checklists.

1. Where you will be staying
Before you pack your bags and organize your closet make sure first that you have a place to stay in the town you are moving into. Knowing that you already a place will not only give you security but it will also facilitate a whole lot of things. For instance, it will help you pack because you already know the size of the place and now have an idea how much you should pack and how much you should leave behind. You will also have a pretty good idea where you can deliver your stuff once they are packed.

This item is the most important in your checklist. So don’t screw this up. Make sure that you have given a deposit or a reservation fee for the house or apartment. If you can, sign the contract there and then to make sure that everything is cleared up. The last thing you need is to ship everything there only to find out that it was leased to another person.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Relocation story from informed sources.

2. Stuff
Packing your stuff does not only involve putting them in your luggage. It requires segregation, where you need to determine which items should go directly to the trash bin and which will be part of a garage sale, which you also need to add to your to-do list. That way, all the stuff that you have bought and collected over the years will not be wasted.

3. Hire a mover or a courier
Once you have packed your things, it is now time to determine whether you need to hire a mover to haul all your stuff or they can all fit a small car. And if you are moving to another country, you need to send the package via air. Remember that a mover or a courier is pretty expensive and as much as you can stick to the ordinary car and just pay for the gas. All this depends on the number of things that you need to move.

This is why most people advice not to bring that many stuff when moving. You can always buy new ones in the town where you will be moving. This is especially true if you are moving to another country. The cost of shipping the stuff will be more expensive than just buying new ones. So calculate.

4. Take care of your projects
If you are working, make sure that everything is in tip-top shape when you leave work. This will not only make you look like a professional, it will also make your boss love you more. (and therefore should you need to come back, you will be welcomes with open arms!) If you can, train a replacement or at the very least someone who can step in for you. That way, you left with a clean break and will be all ready for your relocation trip.

You can’t predict when knowing something extra about Relocation will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Relocation in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

Tinselling of postcards was a common practice and one frequently used by dealers to enhance the sales of slow-moving stock. The lines on the view selected for highlighting were drawn on with a steel pen dispensing a special tinselling glue. Tinsel, mica, diamond dust, small transparent beads or finely ground glitter was taken from a special jewelling outfit, shaken on the postcard and the residue blown away. In 1907 the Canadian Post Office Department briefly prohibited their transmission in the mail because of the damage they were causing to electric stamping machines in use at city post offices.

Vignette

Vignette is the name given to the style of finish in which the background of the image or a portion of it appears to fade away gradually into the paper.

Bookmark

The Rotary Photographic Co. of London, England established in 1901, was a huge publisher of real photo postcards. One of their unique novelty postcards was a 1 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ photo series of bookmark cards. Most seem to have been posted in the 1903-04 period. Pugh Manufacturing Co. and Rumsey & Co., both of Toronto, published in 1910-11 a similar novelty postcard, 1 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, with the name Book Post Card. The cards were printed in England, probably by Rotary Photographic. Rumsey & Co. published a number of Hamilton subjects. To date no Hamilton subjects by Pugh Manufacturing have been seen.

Deckle Edge

The deckle edge postcard was die-cut to give a wavy or uneven edge. Most of the examples seen are chrome postcards of relatively recent date.

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to Post Card than you may have first thought.

Embossed Printing

In embossed printing, the letters or illustrations in part or in whole are in prominence. Heavily embossed cards because of the indentation on the back caused problems. The problems this caused when addressing the card or writing the message required a separate backing.

Felt Pennant Applique

The pennant postcard was a stock card carried by a publisher which could be imprinted with a town or city name on request. In this case felt fabric has been cut in a pennant shape and printed with the city name then glued to the postcard. A number of felt pennant applique postcards were published by K.&T., an American firm. Later to come there was an even more elaborate design combining the felt pennant with a photo insert then embossing and airbrushing.

Foil Pennant Applique

One of the more elaborate mail novelties seen was produced by Valentine and Sons’ Publishing Co. about 1917. It has an applique pennant of ribbed blue foil printed with the city name over which a circular real photo view has been attached.

Gelatine Film

Some postcards were treated with a film of gelatin which is a varnish-like coating that produced a glossy surface. Unfortunately the coating was brittle and the surface had a tendency to crack. The cards also tended to curl and the gelatine coating peeled back at the corners.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

You can find that there are numerous freelance copywriting jobs out there. Within this article today, we’ll look at a couple of the different websites and how you can make sure to set yourself apart from all of the other freelancers out there.

Our first task is to identify the different marketplaces where you should have a subscription. The website that will be profiled first is www.elance.com. This particular marketplace has a very strong following as more than 100,000 potential customers come by the website each week. You are able to sign up to sell your services and the system allows you to upload your best work to sell yourself to potential clients. There is also a search agents in place so that you can have jobs that meet your criteria e-mailed to you on a daily basis. Cost for a subscription to this particular website can range from eight dollars per month up to one hundred twenty dollars per month.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on Copywriting now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

The second website which you should look to register for it is www.guru.com. This is actually the largest online freelance marketplace on the Internet to look for online jobs including freelance copywriting jobs. The capabilities of this website are similar to the ones that were posted in the paragraph above for that particular website. It has a service provider base of over 481,000 people. If you live in Europe, you can use both of these websites as well as a European challenge to these two, which is found at www.getafreelancer.com. There are many other websites that also offer a freelance online marketplace and one of these is www.directfreelance.com.

This should get you started in being able to find different websites and which you can bid on projects. When you are bidding on projects, companies that are looking at the bids will not be looking just at price but also at how their work will be done. To do this you will want to set yourself apart. The way that you can set yourself apart in creating a bid is to include copies of your best work but also make sure that you include testimonials along with a sales letter on why you will be the best party bidding on this particular project. By doing this, you will be tailoring your message to the particular party and you will be showing them examples of your past work along with happy clients. This will help improve your credibility and firmly anchor you as a potential candidate who can get the job done. Many copywriters do not have a website today so if you take the opportunity to create a website, you will find that you could have a competitive advantage in the freelance copywriting jobs market.

Hopefully this article on freelance copywriting jobs has helped you. It is important to know which websites you should use in finding work but it is also important to find ways to set yourself apart. By creating a website as well as creating an advertising package that shows off your best side, you are setting yourself up to stand apart from other freelancers. You are selling yourself when you create this package so keep that in mind.

Now that wasn’t hard at all, was it? And you’ve earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert’s word on Copywriting.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

If you want to get custody of your child, follow these tips to win the custody battle.

? Avoid exposing your children to unhealthy or harmful environments when they are with you. Do you have an affair with another person? Make sure that your children are not exposed to overt displays of affection. Most courts oppose to children being exposed to other relationships too early. And if you really want to win custody of your children, you should spend more time with them as a parent. If you spend more time with someone else rather than your children, you are likely to lose your case.

? Consider where your children want to live. Know their preference and do not coach them on this issue. It would be futile to pursue your custody case if the children prefer to live with the other parent, unless you think it is dangerous for the children to live with your former spouse.

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there’s more to Child Custody than you may have first thought.

? Be involved with your children’s lives. In doing so, you are more likely to get the judge’s favor. If you leave all the parenting duties to the other parent, then you will lose the custody of your children.

? Keep a calendar for everything. You should know the details about when your ex-spouse was unable to pick up or drop off your kids, when you had the kids, and the events you attended.

? Be flexible to allow room for adjustments. Manage your schedule so that you won’t have a hard time adjusting when your ex-spouse wants to switch weekdays or weekends to spend with your children. Now, if the court asks you why you deserve the custody of your children, you can confidently tell the judge that as a parent, you always make sure that your schedule works.

? Prove why the other parent should not have custody of your children. Keep track if your ex-spouse is involved with your children and is flexible and on time with the schedule. Inform the court if the other parent has a record of past mental health issues or addictions (e.g. drugs, alcohol, etc.) that can affect his or her ability to raise your children. You will also win custody if you can prove that your children are exposed to the other romantic relationship of your former spouse.

? Hire a competent lawyer who can help you win your custody battle. Be honest and open with your lawyer so that you can make the right strategies to get custody of your child.

If you follow these tips to win child custody case, you can rest assured that the court will decide in your favor.

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in Child Custody. When people start looking for more information about Child Custody, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

When looking for a moving company, ask for referrals before you look online or in the phone book. Once you get a few names, give them a call and then invite them over to give you an estimate.

While a representative is around, don’t be afraid to ask questions and pay attention to what they have to say. It will be good to ask how they wrap your items when they pack it. The best way to pack is by using blanket wrapping since this is the most effective way to prevent dents and scratches.

If during their assessment they notice that there are some items that will not fit in your truck, they should tell you straight out that this will be a problem but they have a solution which is to disassembled it and then put it back together once the move has been completed.

In cases where this cannot be done, the moving company should find another way to transport it like perhaps creating a custom made crate.

When you are looking for a moving company, be sure that they are licensed and insured so in the event that something is damaged during transit, they will be able to pay for it.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Relocation? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

There are a few concerns when you go out and look for a moving company. For one, some companies charge a very low fee but then bite you in the back because of hidden fees.

Another is whether or not the moving company is legitimate. Fortunately, you can lay your fears to rest by doing a background check by calling the Better Business Bureau and previous clients who have had business with them in the past.

Although there are some moving companies that can be there at your doorstep in short notice, it is better to plan ahead of time like a month or so in advance so you don’t forget anything. You can even pack slowly during this time especially your personal belongings and valuables so when the moving company arrives, they will deal with the rest like the furniture and the appliances.

A relocation company has to put a lot of care and attention to your needs otherwise they wouldn’t be able to stay in business. Once you compare all the offers, decide which one you want to hire because the other alternative which is very tiring will be for you to rent a truck and then haul the items from your old house to the new one.

For your protection, read what is written in the contract before you sign so you know that what they estimated is more or less what the total cost will be. Should the price skyrocket all of a sudden, report the company to the authorities so no one else will fall victim to them.

When you need help with your relocation, don’t take it upon yourself to do the work when there are professionals who do this for a living. You just have to find out that you can trust and then let them take care of the rest.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Relocation.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO