Articles by Victor Epand

1) Making Sure You Don't Buy Counterfeit Goods
Many people looking for a bargain when it comes to finding small, expensive gadgets such as MP3 players, mobile phones and digital cameras look to online auctions for a good price. The advantage of these auctions is that the same goods that are on sale in the shops for very high prices can be found at a very reduced price, and although this may be due to them being opened or even used, the product is... » read more

2) Cruise Holidays And Alcohol Restrictions - What You Need To Know
One of the confusing factors about alcohol and cruise holidays is that the ship will be moving from one country to another, and often the laws in each country will vary as far as age limits are concerned. Yet at sea, the ship's own rules apply. This can mean that during the course of your cruise, if you are lucky enough to be 21 years old or younger, you may find that on some days you are able to buy and... » read more

3) The Spiritual Order Of Life For Perfection
Within Vedic culture, sannyasa means the renounced order of life. It is seen as the most advanced level in terms of spirituality and is the last stage of the varnashram systems. It is traditionally taken by men after they renounce household life at the age of 50, or by young adults who wish to give their life to God by preaching His mission. Such a person is known as a sannyasi. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism,... » read more

4) The Period Of Chastity And Self-Purification
One common usage of the term 'Brahmacharya' in Vedic culture denotes the phase of the first 25 years of a male's childhood. Ancient Hindu culture divides the human lifespan into 100 years. Brahmacharya is the stage when a boy lives at the house of his guru and learns spiritual knowledge from him. They are also taught how to live through life. Later when the child becomes qualified, normally around the age... » read more

5) The Four Social Classes Of Society
According to the Bhagavad Gita, varnashrama dharma is not a man-made caste system, but refers to natural classifications that appear to various degrees in all human societies. Individuals have different working and personal qualities. There are also different phases in life, when it is more favorable to practice certain activities. This caste system teaches that individuals best realize their capabilities... » read more

6) What To Look For When Shopping For Facial Products
It is a misconception commonly held by many that women have a natural knowledge and understanding of skins types, facial treatments, and everything to do with personal cosmetics, whereas men on the other hand just about know where the soap is. In fact, this is not true, and there are just as many women who have very little idea of what they should be buying, what routines they should be carrying out and... » read more

7) Shopping For Baby Clothing - Advice For Parents
It generally is the case that parents actually have to buy precious few of the clothes needed for their newborn offspring, as doting family and friends will be only too eager to donate gifts. The problem is usually when the child has grown out of the initial stage and becomes an accepted part of the family. At this point three things happen. The baby grows at a rate of knots which seems impossible to keep... » read more

8) How To Haggle On Price When Out Shopping
Very few people like to haggle when they are out shopping, preferring instead to simply pay whatever the shop or retailer asks for. This is a shame, because a huge amount of money is being wasted unnecessarily. Dealers and traders calculate in to their prices a figure which they need to get, and a figure they'd like to earn as profit. They then add these together, and then add a percentage. This... » read more

9) Basic Advice On Getting Yourself A Better Deal
Although a terrific number of people are afraid to try, haggling can actually be great fun, and can be a pleasant and rewarding experience for both the buyer and the seller. Unless you're shopping at a huge mega store, most private retailers and traders are able to, and prepared to offer you a discount. But, there are right ways of going about this, and wrong ways. Here are a few pointers. The first... » read more

10) How To Shop For Clothes Effectively
We all have to go shopping for clothes from time to time. For some people this is a pleasure that they look forward to with relish, and for others it is little short of a nightmare. The shops are bursting with choice, and from every angle we are bombarded with posters and images of models wearing the outfits on sale with promises that simply by wearing clothes with a particular label on them our lives will... » read more

11) Top Tips For Stress Free Shopping
Shopping for clothes can be a stressful business. With so much choice, and our personal image at stake, it can become a challenge loaded with fear. What if we buy the wrong sort of outfit and we end up looking ridiculous? What if we buy something we think looks good but is so last season? It might be safer to look at the display models and see what the experts recommend and simply buy those outfits exactly... » read more

12) Shopping Advice For Men Buying Clothes For Her
Men shopping for women can be split fairly evenly into three groups. There are those who have no real idea what to get, what size she is, and buy anything that looks good and is on offer. Then there are those who know everything about her, including measurements, cup sizes and what styles she looks good in, and then there is the middle group who are aware of some things about her, but is absolutely... » read more

13) Getting A Good Deal When Shopping For Insurance
Insurance is one of those things we hate having to buy because it seems as though we're handing over quite a large sum of money, and hoping to get nothing in return! None of us want to imagine that our brand new, shiny and expensive items will come to harm, but the fact is that accidents and problems do occur, things get stolen, dropped, broken, crashed and the cost of replacing or repairing these... » read more

14) Shopping Around For Your New HDTV
HDTVs have become very popular very quickly, and with the switchover from analogue to digital by broadcasters very shortly, the need for a digital television is not one based purely on aesthetics. Certainly there us a great deal to be said as far as design is concerned for having a smart flat panel mounted on the wall in the living room, and it takes up a great deal less space as well. But there is more to... » read more

15) Shopping For Cookware - What To Look Out For
There are many factors which will influence the eventual outcome of a dish. The recipe itself, the quality of the ingredients and how well they were prepared and mixed, the oven and the type and effectiveness of it, along with heat distribution, and of course the chef. One of the most significant factors however is the cookware used, and this can often be overlooked. Spending money on cookware is an... » read more

16) Finding The Perfect Motorcycle Jewelry
When you are looking for motorcycle gear, you may be looking for jewelry as well. This is especially true for women motorcycle riders. Women want to look good while on their motorcycles but still want to be feminine. How do you do that? With the perfect jewelry, of course. What is considered motorcycle jewelry? There are many styles that can be considered motorcycle gear type jewelry. These... » read more

17) How To Choose Custom Motorcycle Jackets
You may have seen them, with their unusual jackets and unusual fabrics on their jackets. These rebels that design their own looks and their own jackets may ride through your city. They may have custom patches that you've never seen before attached to these jackets. Maybe that inspired you to try it yourself, but you should know what you're doing or have someone that does do for you. Creating that... » read more

18) The Bass of the Band The Tuba
The tuba is best known as a member of the brass family, though it is also known as a wind instrument and an aerophone. It is a rather new instrument as it only first appeared in the mid 1800s. It has the lowest pitch of all the brass instruments and like other brass instruments is played by blowing directly into the mouthpiece through closed lips. This creates the vibration needed to make the sound. What... » read more

19) The Little Heard Cousin of the Trumpet
The cornet is an instrument that is a member of the brass instrument family. Its appearance is close to that of the trumpet in its design. The tubing is wrapped in a clever way that will allow the musician to easily carry and play the instrument, and the tube's diameter increases in size until the end. It is a common mistake for people to believe that the cornet has originated from the medieval cornett,... » read more

20) The No Valve Trumpet To Awaken To
The bugle is a small brass instrument that is basically a natural horn, because it has no valves or keys. One might wonder how the pitch is altered without any keys or valves; the pitch can be altered by controlling the air that the musician is blowing into the horn through closed lips. Blowing through closed lips is what creates the vibrations that make the sound. Of course, even with the ability to alter... » read more

21) The Mythical Sounds of the Pan Flute
The pan flute is an instrument that consists of ten or more pipes, which differ in length, that are closed tube. The tubes are placed in a row, from the longest tube to the shortest. Each length will then produce a different note, depending on its length. It is most often viewed as an old folk instrument and it is what preceded the harmonica and the pipe organ. It is believed that the different lengths of... » read more

22) The Spiritual Song of the Oboe
The oboe is a member of the woodwind instrument family and is a double reed instrument. The oboe has a clear, mellow and warm tone that many people enjoy because of how it can be so calming. Like many brass instruments are, this woodwind instrument is a conical bore, which means that the diameter of the tube begins relatively small and becomes wider to the end of the instrument. This particular... » read more

23) The Irish Melodies on the Tin Whistle
The tin whistle is a type of flute that belongs to the woodwind instrument family, though it is often called a wind instrument or an aerophone. Its appearance is quite similar to that of the recorder, but there is little mistake that this is a different instrument altogether. Like the fife, this particular instrument is constructed with six holes bored into the tube that are covered by the musician's... » read more

24) The Shrill of the Musical Whistle
The whistle is quite possibly the most well-known type of whistle out there that most people are most familiar with. It is a member of the woodwind instrument family and is a type of whistle that only emits one sound when blown into. There are many different variations of this whistle that are used today. They are not only used by police, they are also used in sports, by trains and ships; any situation... » read more

25) The Silly and Sometimes Amusing Sound of the Slide Whistle
Most people are familiar with the slide whistle, but do not often view it as an instrument that is to be played for the same reasons that someone would pick up the saxophone or violin to play. It is a great little instrument that most will use as a sound effect, or to use in adding something into a piece of music they are playing. Also known as the swanee whistle or the piston flute, the slide whistle has... » read more

26) How To Buy Motorcycle Pants
When it you are looking for good at motorcycle pants, you may have a lot of choices. This can make it a very hard choice, but if you know what you're looking for you will be able to find the perfect motorcycle gear for you and you're riding needs. Finding it the perfect style Finding the right style can be hard if you don't know what you're looking for, but if you take the time to find the right... » read more

27) The Asian Elegance of the Willow Flute
The willow flute is simple in design, as is the case with most flutes. It differs from most others, however, in that it does not have any finger holes to manipulate the sound that it emits. It has a fipple mouthpiece, meaning that the air escapes from a small hole just below where the musician blows into the instrument. The willow flute is also known as a sallow flute and was created by the Scandinavians... » read more

28) The Revolutionary Sound of the Fife
The fife is a type of flute that is fairly similar to the piccolo. It is a transverse flute that emits a high pitched sound that is louder than the piccolo because of its design. It has a narrower bore that causes the higher pitch. This flute was most often used in marching bands and the military, possibly because of its loud and distinguishing sound. It was not often used in musical orchestras in the... » read more

29) The Importance Of The Biker Jacket
The biker jacket is by far the best part of the biker's wardrobe. You can see a good looking jacket a mile away. So why is it so important and how should you choose it? There are a few foolproof ways. Find your Style When you are looking for your perfect jacket, you need to find the style that fits who you are. This can be anything from the color of it to the way it looks on you. There are all... » read more

30) Motorcycle Helmets And Which One Is For You
Picture yourself rolling down the road on your motorcycle and everyone looking at you and your cool custom helmet. How should you find the one that's right for you? What is Your Ideal Helmet? Your helmet needs to fit your needs but also protect your head from any accidents that you may have. You may find that you have the perfect fitting helmet, but the color is not what you wanted. Many people... » read more

31) How To Get The Right Style For You
When you go into a motorcycle shop you may get overwhelmed with the amount of motorcycle gear that is in the store. How do you know what one is right for you? What is your motorcycle style? What's Your Colors? When you start looking for your motorcycle gear, one of the first things you may want to think about is what colors you like best. There are so many colors that you can pick from for any of... » read more

32) How To Choose A Motorcycle Gear Style
When you're cruising down the road you may not think about the motorcycle gear that are wearing, but you should. The style that you convey while you are on your motorcycle tells a lot about who you are. So how can you make the style impact of those around you and let them see who you are? Where should you look to find that perfect style? If you're new to motorcycle riding, you may have a harder... » read more

33) Custom Paint On Your Motorcycle Helmet
Your helmet should not just before protecting your head, it should be for making a statement about who you are as well. But why get custom paint on your helmet? Is it really necessary? Why should you custom paint your helmet? When you first start riding your motorcycle, you may think that a helmet from a store will do just fine. This is true if you just starting to ride, but one should become... » read more

34) How To Find The Perfect Store
Their many ways to find the perfect store for your motorcycle gear needs. A few simple ideas and foolproof planning will help you to understand or you should look for these, especially when you're on the road. Where to start Before you even make your trip, you should probably look on the Internet. There are many search engines that will help you find stores on your chosen path. Many motorcycle gear... » read more

35) Getting A Good Night's Sleep In A Hotel
Whether you are staying in a hotel on a business trip, or as part of your holiday, getting a good night's sleep can be very difficult, yet also very important. Having a poor night's sleep can make you irritable and tired during the day. If you're on a business trip it may very well be the case that you will need to attend several very important meetings, and these will require you to be at your peak of... » read more

36) At The Sharp End Of Shopping For Knives - Some Blunt Advice
If you are a keen cook and enjoy preparing your food then you will certainly have a set of knives which you use regularly, and you may well have your favourites. You might also watch in admiration as the chefs on television seem to slice away at ingredients as though it was some kind of magic trick, and it seems impossible to believe that we could ever manage to prepare our ingredients as quickly, or as... » read more

37) Advice On Choosing Shoes For Your Baby Or Toddler
Buying as good pair of shoes for your baby or toddler can be a difficult business, and also an expensive one. Trying to squeeze your fractious child's foot into yet another pair of shoes whilst listening attentively to the assistant explaining the virtues of this particular brand, style and shape can become a monumental task and one liable to cause you to lose your nerve very easily. When faced with the... » read more

38) Important Advice For When Buying Car Seats
Having a baby is a joyous experience, but comes at a hefty price. The equipment you need to protect them and transport them seems to be in complete disproportion compared to the size of the child in question. The expense of these products is also something that can be a shock to first time parents, and not only are the products you need often expensive, but they are both essential and have only brief life... » read more

39) Clothes Shopping Advice For Teens
There is a tendency for teens to shop together, and whilst this may be great fun, is unlikely to result in a successful trip, except from the point of view of the retailer who will have quite a lot of your money at the end of the day. Instead, either shop alone, or with just one trusted friend who can offer you advice. The risk otherwise is that a group of teens will tend to be hooked more easily by the... » read more

40) What To Look For When Buying A Camcorder
Home video cameras used to be something which only a very few people could afford, and then only the super fit could carry around with them for very long at a time, since the cameras themselves were bulky and heavy, and the batteries and other equipment were very nearly like carrying a case full of bricks around with you. Today it is an entirely different story, with camcorders being no bigger in some... » read more