A history of the popular worry stones and what they are used for

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Dating back to the Ottoman era, crystal beads were used as prayer beads because the way light refracted from the stone. From that, worry stones have evolved. When you are worried, have you ever wanted to pick it up and throw it? Well, thats not exactly the idea, but worry stones can help you if you have ever felt extremely worried. In many different cultures, stones have been sacred for their ability to take away negativity. In all cultures, worry stones are smooth stones that can be rubbed between someones fingers to calm them and take away the worry. These stones are typically found in spiritual and Native American-inspired stores.

Craftsmanship

Long ago, Worry Stones were polished by nature itself. Rocks would be polished by the ocean or the river. Now, most stones are polished by a tumbler or a machine.

Native American Origin

Native Americans were one of the first cultures that were discovered to have worry stones. They kept their stones in sacred bundles because the stones were believed to have the ability to heal. Every generation passed down these stones to link each other to their ancestors.

Ancient Greece

In Greece, worry stones were first known as Palm Stones. These stones were smooth because they were polished by the sea.

Worry Beads

Just like worry stones, worry beads were used to say prayers when people rubbed them between their fingers. They were also used to help alleviate tension.

What are worry stones used for?

In different cultures, these stones are used to relieve stress. The method many use is by rubbing the smooth area of the stone with their index finger and thumb. Cultures may add to this ritual, but for many, it is the same.

Calming the mind

Worry stones are primarily used by people who want to clear and calm their mind. Mediation

Those that are mediating often hold and/or rub a worry stone to help them center their concentration.

Luck

Irish folklore believes that rubbing a worry stone that is crafted from Connemara marble will help bring luck and relieve worries. Other cultures believe that a worry stone made from ones birthstone can attract luck.

Curing Boredom

Many people use worry stones to help relieve boredom . Rubbing a worry stone can help distract someone during an extremely boring situation.

Worry stones have many properties to help you relieve your tension and stress. Pick one up today to relieve the stress that you may have in your life!

A Helpful Machine Embroidery How To Guide

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An embroidery machine is one of the best things to consider. It is something that can work to handle all sorts of different types of embroidery patterns automatically. It will help to use this machine embroidery how to in order to figure out what should be done in order to get this material to be handled with ease. Here are some things to see in this machine embroidery how to guide.

The first thing to do is to install the proper types of spools of thread into the machine. Machines can handle different thread types and different amounts of thread. It will help to consider what is going to be required for one's specific application when dealing with this process.

It will also help to see that the machine embroidery project will be one that is going to deal with the right colors. The best thing to do here is to check on the colors that will be used for one's pattern before getting them installed into the machine. Be sure to also get them installed into the right slots. This is so the machine will use the right threads at the right times. This is needed in that some patterns can work with signals that get certain colors to be handled at one time.

The design that one wants to use will have to be uploaded to a machine. This is provided that the design is something that is beyond what the machine can work with. In many cases a special type of card will have to be installed into the machine. This is a special type of card that can work with special patterns that have been created for the machine in particular.

There are also cases where a person can take an embroidery design file that one found online and use that on the machine. This is easy to handle. First a person will download a file that features a design pattern. After this is done the person will work to send the file onto a memory card or directly to the machine through some kind of connection. The connection process can vary by each machine.

An important part of any machine embroidery how to will involve following all processes that a control panel will offer. A good control panel should have a graphic display that will allow a person to take a look at a pattern on its hard drive or a pattern that has been uploaded onto the device. This display should be clear and easy to see to where it will be easy to figure out if a certain pattern is the exact one that a person is looking for.

This machine embroidery how to guide is a good guide for anyone to see. It can be used to help with getting someone to see how a machine embroidery process can be handled to one's benefit. It is a great type of program for anyone to get into when it comes to handling a machine like this for one's special type of embroidery needs.

A Guide to Switch from Truecrypt to Diskcryptor

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TrueCrypt was a highly popular open source disk encryption tool that could keep volumes of hard drive data safe and secure. It was a well-received file encryption utility till it got officially banned by its developers. Once, the original developers posted the official warning that this software is no more under maintenance, and thus might have some security loophole, users got suspicious about the encryption security powers of the tool. Developers also requested the users to move on to other file encryption utility as the tool wont receive any security updates. If you are also planning for a switch, then Diskcryptor is a good option. To learn more about Diskcryptor, read this article.

You might be aware that TrueCrypt got disowned all of sudden, and its anonymous authors didnt even reveal any concrete reasons for the move. But due to the high popularity of this hard drive encryption tool, third-party audits of this software are going on, and these audits have not found any major security loophole in this tool. However, from the security perspective, it is not good to use a software program that doesnt receive security updates. Also, it is risky, to keep your sensitive hard drive data off guard. As an alternative to TrueCrypt, you can use Symantec Drive Encryption, DiskCryptor, VeraCrypt, BoxCryptor, AxCrypt and many more. 

How to Decrypt the Archived data?

Before you encrypt your sensitive hard drive data using a new file encryption utility, you must decrypt the data encrypted by TrueCrypt. To decrypt the data, perform the following steps: 

Open TrueCrypt
Select the drive/partition/folder you want to decrypt, and right-click on it 
That will open the a right-click menu 
Click Permanently Decrypt.
That will bring up a message asking your confirmation on the requested operation of permanent decryption
Here, click Yes.'
Once again the message will pop up asking for your final call on permanent decryption.
If you are sure that you want to decrypt the data, then select Yes. 
Once, you give your confirmation for twice, the decryption process will get started.
Depending on the size of your encrypted data, the process will take some time. 
As soon as the process gets completed, close all the applications, programs, documents, etc. on your computer.
Then, reboot your computer.

With these steps, you have successfully decrypted the data. Now, the data is accessible to one and all. Now, you can get the data encrypted by another file encryption program, such as DiskCryptor. It is also an open source disk encryption tool, and thus, it's completely free.  It can encrypt the whole disk, partitions, single files and folders and external devices such as CD and thumb drives. Also, the software supports encryption through different encryption algorithms such as AES, Serpent, Twofish, and other combination of cascaded algorithms. 

How to Encrypt Data using DiskCryptor?

Download the software from its official website. 
Most importantly, before you start the encryption process, you need to create a bootable Windows disk (LiveCD) with DiskCryptor. You can easily get the steps if you search online. 
Creating this bootable Windows disk is essential because it gets useful in retrieving the encrypted data in case something goes wrong like if you forget the password or some booting problems.

Once you have successfully created the bootable Windows disk, open the DiskCryptor and perform the followings steps:

Then, select the system drive (the drive where Windows gets installed). Usually, its the Drive C:
Next, click Encrypt.
Now, continue following the screen prompts to configure various settings. 
Once you have set the configuration settings, you need to set a password. Your password should include upper and lower-case letters so that it becomes a complex and difficult-to-crack password.
Now, the encryption process will start. The process might take some extra time depending on the size of your data. 
You can continue using your computer while the encryption process is going on.
If you require shutting down your computer in between, then click on 'Pause.'
Then, when you reboot your computer, click on 'Encrypt' to resume the encryption process.
DiskCryptor will list your drive as 'mounted,' once encrypting process gets completed.

Conclusion

The hard drives of computers that host sensitive data, especially the computers in organizations and offices, should get encrypted with a hard drive encryption software. There are various such disk encryption software programs available. DiskCryptor is a good option. It is powerful, has easy user interface and reliable in terms encryption security. Modern operating systems got inbuilt drive encrypting tools as well. You can use the inbuilt programs also. Otherwise, you can go to open source tools like DiskCryptor, VeraCrypt, BoxCryptor, AxCrypt, etc.

A Guide on How to Use Airdrop on Mac and iOS Device

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Using AirDrop, you can wirelessly transfer files between two Mac systems. File transfer is possible even if the two Macs are not connected to the same wireless network. It is a feature that makes AirDrop an amazing tool. In this article, you will read more about this file sharing tool and understand how to use AirDrop on Mac.

Where to Find AirDrop?

To use this tool, first you need to open AirDrop on your Mac. You can open it from the Share menu and also from the Finder. Once you open the tool on your system, it will automatically look for nearby devices that are having an opened AirDrop window. You can use this tool not just to send files to other Mac device but also to iOS devices. But for that your computer must run on Yosemite Mac OS X and the receiving iOS device should have on iOS 7 or a later version. If your Mac doesnt have Yosemite but has OS X Lion or later versions, then your AirDrop can send files only to other Mac system that is within the 30 feet range.

To use this tool, it is essential that you should be able to see your recipients device icon on your AirDrop window. If you can see your recipients devices icon on your AirDrop window, then you will be able to send and receive files easily.  

How to use airdrop on Mac: Sending Files

Open Finder.
Then, select 'Go > AirDrop.
Once the AirDrop window opens, you will be able to see the nearby devices (within 30 feet) that can accept files sent from your Mac. 
Keep that window open, and then drag and drop the files onto the icon of the device to which you want to send the file.
Then, click Send.

Possible Problems in Using AirDrop on Mac

It might happen that in the AirDrop window you dont see the receiving device. In that case, you wont be able to transfer files. 

To troubleshoot this problem, you can try out the following tweaks:

Confirm that the AirDrops window is open on the recipients computer 
Make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both the devices
Make sure that both the devices are within the distance of 30 feet
Check and confirm that in both the senders and recipients devices the visibility option is set to Everyone or Contacts only. 

Using AirDrop on Mac: Receiving Files

Receiving the files is very useful if you are using AirDrop between Mac and iPad/iPhone, and both the devices are using the common iCloud account. As a result, the sent files will get automatically received on the recipients device.

But, if you are sending files to iOS devices connected to different iCloud accounts, then the recipient has to accept the incoming file.

The recipient will get a notification about an incoming file. 
The recipient first needs to accept the incoming file, and then only the file transfer takes place. 
After accepting the invitation, the recipient has to click Save. 
Then, the incoming file will get saved in the Downloads folder. 
In case of iOS device users, the file will get downloaded in respective folders. For example, photos get downloaded in the Pictures app. 

Conclusion 

With these steps, you have learned how to use AirDrop on Mac for sending and receiving files from other Apple devices. If you are using Mac OS X version below Yosemite, then you can share files only with Mac systems and not iOS devices. But if you are a Yosemite user, then you can send and receive files from Mac as well as iOS devices, but only iOS 7 and above versions.

A Day In The Life-Dong Ha, Vietnam Duplicate

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A Day In The Life

Dong Ha, Vietnam 1968

Brush your teeth, shave and prepare for the grueling day ahead, mentally and physically. Prepare 50 caliber machine guns, check ammo make sure M-40 was serviced and ready to go, have tools on board. Climb aboard the old Dinosaur with me, the twin boom M-40 Wrecker, who most had abandoned for the newer single boom version, the M-543. The old M-40 was a work horse that we revived from the dead. Lt. Casey located it and we went to work on it, we went over it from bumper to booms including a new paint job by yours truly.

We located a twin 50 gun ring that we confiscated from the Seabees, beefed up the cab bracket to withstand the additional weight, mounted it and we were ready to go. Our new machine was affectionately named Super Hog it would go anywhere and do anything. The twin 50s gave us twice the fire power of an ordinary gun truck only the Army with their Quad 50s had more fire power.

Stagingall trucks lined up in their positions for the Convoy, the M-40 was truck # 21, we were always toward the rear of the convoy in case there were break downs or in the event we were hit. We got to eat a lot of red dust! When we cleared the back gate we would lock and load preparing for the Route 9 Convoy to Cam Lo, Camp Carroll, The Rock Pile, LZ Stud (Vandergrift Combat base) and Khe Sanh.

The 5-ton trucks were loaded with supplies of all types, medical, ammunition, water, rations and troop replacements. Route 9 was the only road to and from these bases so they depended on us for their survival. Danger was all around, snipers were a big concern for those of us who rode the 50s, and then there were land mines, mortars and small arms fire.

Thanks to Lt. Casey we had an abundance of gun trucks; approximately one in every five trucks had a 50 cal. on it so we had more fire power than most Convoys. Battalion was always trying to take some of our gun trucks from us, but Lt. Casey always prevailed. In the event of a break down if we could not make repairs to the vehicle quickly we would hook it up and tow it to our destination, you did not want to hold the Convoy up for any length of time.

What we didnt know then, but realized much later is that we meant as much to Lt. Casey as he meant to us, he was the kind of leader that you trusted and didnt feel the need to question. We were like Peanut butter and Jelly, the perfect combination. The men of the Flying A never complained, they just did everything that was asked of them at the highest level, it was an Honor serving with this group of Marines lead by Lt. J.V. Casey.

When we returned from our Convoy the work would begin, getting the trucks and gear ready for the next days run. The NVA had a nasty habit of welcoming us back with incoming Artillery from the DMZ, nothing gets your attention quite like Artillery when you are the target, night time thunder and lightning still freaks me out.

After the Artillery stopped we would have to work late into the night getting the trucks ready for the next days Convoy, but we were always ready. You always breathed a sigh of relief and had the feeling that you had cheated it one more time and hoped tomorrow would bring the same.

Then it was time for a cold shower, get dressed, lace up your Jungle boots and hit the rack for a few hours sleep before it started all over again. No, that is not a misprint, I slept with one eye open, fully dressed with boots on, my M-16, helmet and flak jacket beside me. Fast forward to 2008, forty years later we had our first reunion in Amarillo, Texas.

The hair color and waist size had changed, but everything else was the same, it was like we took up where we left off in 1968. I am so proud of all the guys, they were good Marines and they turned out to be good people, we really enjoy each others company. I attribute that to that good old Marine Corps discipline and the example Lt. Casey set for us.

Semper Fi,

JR

A Career within the Science Industry

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A Brief Description About Industrial Fasteners

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A fastener is a very small component which is the most needed hardware during the connection of more than one object. Basically, the characters of the fastener are non-permanent which are used for fastening or unfastening without damaging the surroundings.

The standard measurement of a fastener:

The important specifications of a fastener are the head type, the diameter of the bolt, thread per pitch of the bolt and the length of the bolt. A fastener is measured by length, diameter and thread count. As small the fastener is, the thread is that much fine. The length of a fastener is measured by shank, excluding the head. Diameter is measured by the breadth of the screw generally from outside. Similarly, the thread count is measured by thread per inch (TPI).

Industrial fastener materials:

According to the industrial standard, the varieties of steel fasteners that are used in the work are stainless steel fastener, carbon steel fastener, and alloy steel fastener. The operating grades of stainless steel fasteners are 200, 300 and 400 series. Other basic materials of fastener construction are Titanium, aluminum and other alloy metals. In some special cases, plating or coating is applied to enhance the performance. Coating of paint adds extra corrosion resistance power to the fastener that provides durability to any construction. Usually, zinc, zinc chrome, cadmium, cadmium dichromate or hot dip galvanising code is used for coating.

While selecting a right fastener, you should know the purpose of the need and the specifics of the application. The list of other considerable factors includes:

Installation process
Accessibility
Materials to be joined
Corrosiveness factor exposed with air, water, temperature and environment
Weight restriction
Reusability

Types of fasteners head:

The shapes of the head of the fasteners are different and they are designed with distinct patterns. The available head patterns of fasteners are such as flat, oval, pan, truss, hex water, slotted hex washer, hex, socket cap, button, round and likewise.

Types of fasteners thread:

The basic varieties of thread are inch based unified coarse or fine and metric coarse or fine. There are certain differences between coarse and fine threads. The density of threads per inch is less in coarse threads than fine threads. They offer better shock resistivity and higher corrosion resistance than fine threads. On the other hand, fine threads are suitable for cross threading assembly. They are 10 % stronger than coarse.

Class or grade of the fastener strength:

The grade or class of a fastener refers to the mechanical strength of the fastener. The higher number in grade indicates the fastener is stronger and fastener. Thereby, the grade 8 fastener is hardest, grade 5 is medium and grade 2 is softer compared to others.

Grade 8 is suitable for heavy unit, industrial or manufacturing requirement. On the other hand, grade 5 is compatible with automobile manufacturing. Grade 2 is generally being used in fastening household units such as screws, machine nuts and likewise.

There are some easy markings that can help to identify the grade of the fastener. Grade 8 consists the minimum of 6 lines on head, while grade 5 has 3 lines on head and grade 2 has no lines.