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Maybe it has something to do with a childhood home we fondly remember. Many of us long for old homes built with solid construction, quality craftsmanship and beautiful details. We wax poetic and wistfully recall the hand carvings, plaster walls and eyebrow dormers of homes weve known. On the other hand, how do the old homes we admire compare with newly minted modelsand what should we consider before deciding which to buy?

Location. Typically, old homes sit on generous plots of land in or near town. The neighborhoods are established and usually more central to schools and shopping. Mature trees and plantings provide shade and beautify the property and neighborhood streets. New homes are generally found in new developments outside of town and homeowners who buy into an early can expect to contend with dust and construction sights and sounds as the remaining phases are being built. Landscaping may be skimpy or nonexistent, but a buyer has the opportunity to design the dcor from scratch.

Layout. New homes tend to have a more spacious functional layout with higher ceilings, bigger windows, family kitchens, walk-in closets, and family rooms. Some even have media rooms and come pre-wired for cable and computers. On the other hand, older homes were designed for a more formal lifestyle, which is reflected in the formal dining and living areas and many cozy rooms, including small bedrooms, closets and bathrooms.

Energy efficiency. Those eight-over-eight single pane wood windows add character to an old home, but even with storm windows, theyre not nearly as energy efficient as modern dual-glazed or thermal windows. While most old homes lacked insulation in outside walls and attics, homes built today insulate against high heating and cooling costs. Although the bigger windows, higher ceilings and larger rooms, common in new homes, can also cause high utility bills.

Maintenance. With older homes, upkeep could be more expensive because of older appliances, plumbing and electrical systemsnot to mention the roofmay need to be replaced. A turn of the century home may have outdated knob-and-tube wiring, and even a recently built home may have an inadequate fuse box-style panel that falls short of the energy demands of 21st century families. But new homes generally come with warranties that will cover the cost for most major problems.

Price. Older homes are usually less expensive per square foot. In addition the tax structure is more predictable because the neighborhood is already established with amenities that newer neighborhoods are still in the process of gaining, such as schools, police and fire services, and infrastructures (roads, sidewalks, etc.). However, with restoration costs a possibility for older homes, your dollars may very well be spent on the back-end rather than upfront.

If the charm and beauty of an old home wins your heart, hire an inspector to evaluate the home for lead paint, insect and water damage, lead and/or galvanized pipes, outdated wiring, foundation problems and energy efficiency, including windows as well as heating/cooling systems and insulation. After you get the all-clear, you have one last consideration: Does the home fit your lifestyle or would the conveniences of a newer model suit you better? Only you and your family have the answer.

The hippest new way to broadcast information on the internet, podcasting, crept into internet vocabulary in 2004. And the editors of the New Oxford American Dictionary have selected podcast as the word of the year for 2005.

Why is podcasting cool and so compelling? Unlike traditional broadcasting, podcasting allows you to select what you want to download to your iPod or other portable audio device and listen to later.

A podcast is the wide and growing world of a blog. And of course that means its just as cheap: free and easy for all. The major difference is that a podcast involves audio content feeds of live happenings while a blog records what happened in the past. So podcast yourself and youll catch up with the growth of technology.

Especially, no one controls over what you have podcast. No rules, no regulations. Adam Curry, known as an MTV VJ to some but to most as one of the fathers of podcasting, said, "You can hear all these shows that are completely free and open with no FCC restrictions and they don't have to sound the way radio traditionally has." He added, "Anyone who wants to sell anything or communicate through audio can use this technology." And since anyone can be a podcaster, the cost of publishing free speech plunges.

Podcasting is a cross between a radio show and a blog. The great thing is anyone can produce a podcast with little budget and basic knowledge of IT. Once you have produced your own podcast, and as long as you keep on podcasting, you can invite people to subscribe to receive updates regularly instead of having to revisit your site. This is done in a very similar way to using an RSS reader to syndicate blog.

Now, if you want to be a celebrity overnight, all you need is a little piece of software, sort of Music Morpher Gold, a microphone and a great concept and you're an instant podcaster. Not only will your voice be podcast, the many formats of podcasting will also let you publish your video or pictures. Thats the reason why you can use DVD Player-Morpher Gold to produce those stuffs.

Have a future in the entertainment industry. Host your own talk show, music radio, personal radio show, etc. Or just distribute your audio and video via the internet. Its all about convenience! Let everyone see your music as a proper podcast in place of "a common crap.

The perfect way to elate your spirits, the peculiar cowboys and cowgirls and their sturdy horses, their thrilling activities and the mind boggling musicthe world of Rodeos is charismatic and bewitching in its own way. Initially Rodeos were associated with Texas only but now its events have spread their wings throughout the globe.

A Short Brush with the Past

The history of Rodeos can be traced back to 1854 when San Antonio hosted the foremost Texas Agricultural Fair which turned out to be a massive success and thereby took place annually. Till 2003 the John and Henry Freeman Coliseum is known to have hosted the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

The Rodeos Distinct Proceedings

The Rodeos has always been welcoming and a wonderful experience not just for the kids but for the entire family. The innumerable Rodeo events fill every heart with excitement and pleasure. Some of the staggering Rodeo events are Bull Riding, Tie Down Roping, Barrel Racing, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bare Back Riding, the whacky Calf Scramble and the Mutton Bustin challenge etc. The crowd catching events like Xtreme Bulls requires the hardest hombres around (in men and bulls) and the top thirty bull riders to compete. Besides the live performances and dance lessons at the Billy Bud Dance Hall, the shows at the Community Stage, the Rock and Ride Roadhouse and the Ham on Rye Virtual Theatre have always invited lot of attention. The Stock shows are of great significance in Rodeo proceedings. In this the animals are studied, adjudicated and rewarded and even auctioned. The month of June provides you the opportunity to see the ranch cowboys at their best. The event is termed as the Cowboy Roundup USA in which the cowboys compete with each other sprinkling fun and enthusiasm throughout the place. The Worlds Greatest Horsemanship Competition is attended by multitude of people. It is the time when the cowboy and his horse parade their talents to score, win and of course enjoy.

The Chuck Wagon Cooking is another exciting event. The Ranch rodeos teams prepare the best of the food and also present it. What counts on the performance here is not just the delicious taste of the food but also how much your style is affiliated with the tradition and history. The ranch rodeos are basically team work that also competes at the events like-wild cow Milking, Calf Branding, Cattle Roping, Cattle Sorting and Saddle Bronc Riding etc.

The Mesqite Championship that runs from April to September is also another pull. The location is the Amarillo National Center and the Amarillo Tri State Fairgrounds. The proceedings take place in the large Resistol Arena that is wonderfully decorated and its design specifically caters to the comfort of the audiences. The cowboy hangs for his life in the bull riding and the saddle bronc competitions. The youth can experience the pleasure of the Calf Scramble which goes on contemporaneous with other events.

Especially meant for the kids amusement is the petting zoo where the children can have a close encounter with some of the gentler critters like a pony, rabbit, baby sheep and goat, calf etc. When it comes to food, the Sonny Bryans BBQ Pavilion offers a delectable cuisine and the coveted opportunity to dine with the cowboys.

There is much to shop here with exclusive discounts on certain traditional items and souvenirs. People also enjoy the purchasing from the vendors that come from within the US, Canada and Mexico.

However, this is just the tip of an iceberg, there us much more to the Rodeo exhilaration than one can ever imagine!