http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/rules-and-traditions-of-a-japanese-garden.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/gardening/rules-and-traditions-of-a-japanese-garden.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
The tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony and the beliefs of tea masters have encouraged the creation of Japanese gardens of a completely different style. The tea masters have a trademark styles that evokes of a sense of rural simplicity as well as tranquility and consolidation.

One thing that is common throughout all Japanese gardens is the presence of water containing an island with a bridge to it, a stone lantern and a teahouse or sitting pavilion. The elements aren't necessarily real they can be of a symbolic nature. Gardens can also be designed for several viewing styles including from a boat, porch or veranda and for walking through and exploring.

A famous style of garden that most people may be familiar with is the karesansui or "dry landscape garden. This garden originates from the Zen temples of Japan, most recognizable for their lack of water and few plants. The feeling of water is achieved through the use of pebbles and raked gravel instead of water. Perhaps the most famous example of a karesansui garden is the Ryoan-ji temple in Kyoto.

Plants in Japanese gardens consist mostly of bamboos and evergreens such as Black Pine and the famous bright leaved deciduous Maples trees. In cooler climates ferns and mosses can be used as ground covers and thrive in the moist conditions.

Ideally a Japanese garden should provide the visitor with a wholesome environment that allows them to see beauty, relax and find inspiration. One of the greatest cultural practices to make itself into the western world the Japanese garden is truly a thing of beauty.

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For more info by Andrew on japanese gardens and garden design visit Modern Japanese Garden and Garden Design Idea.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/music/mp3-to-dvd-the-best-way-to-backup-your-music.html http://www.articletrader.com/entertainment/music/mp3-to-dvd-the-best-way-to-backup-your-music.html Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600
Well currently the method which I believe to be the best both in terms of price and practicality is using DVD storage. With DVD's being available for under one dollar and most modern personal computers being equip with a DVD burner your more than likely to have everything you need to begin archiving at your disposal.

An external hard drive is a viable idea although a little more expensive than DVD backup. Using an external hard drive for backup denies you the ability to play MP3's straight from your DVD player which these days often form the basis of a home stereo system. Note: not all DVD players have this capability, some only allow the playback from CD-R.

As the MP3 format we know and love will not be with us forever the low price of DVD backup will allow you to convert your backups across to whatever format digital music turns to in the future. DVD backup will also allow you to shift to an improved digital media storage platform when one comes along and you will only suffer a relatively small financial loss if this is the case.

To protect the lifespan of your DVD they should be stored in the protective plastic case they are sold in, if the DVD’s were purchased in a spindle it is best to buy some plastic storage cases. DVD’s should always be stored away from direct sunlight in a cool place with a low humidity. It is believed to be best to store the DVD in a vertical position as moisture caused by humidity can gather easier on a horizontal edge.

When trying to fit your MP3 collection onto DVD there is an excellent program called "SizeMe" which can break up your tracks squeezing the most songs onto each DVD as possible minimizing wasted space. My preferred burning software is "Nero" which is bundled with many DVD burners or the latest version can be purchased for $79.99, it is simple to use but offers enough features for the high end user.

Although most people put it off for as long as possible backing up you MP3 collection will save you potential heartache down the track and with the tools I have mentioned in this article will only take a short amount of time to create safe backups for when disaster strikes.

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Andrew Patterson is an avid listener to MP3 music. He writes music reviews in his spare time and plays drums in a local mod rock band.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>