The American Black Bear

The American black bear, Ursus Americanus, is the most common bear species native to North America. These bears live throughout the continent with a range that stretches from Alaska all the way south into Mexico. They can also be found from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This range includes 41 of the 50 United States, all of the Canadian provinces except Prince Edward Island, and some of Mexico.

The majority of bears found in the Southern United States remain in the protected mountains and woodlands of parks and nature preserves. Occasionally, bears will wander outside of a park's boundaries. In some cases, bears have set up new territories on the margins of urban environments. This has occurred more frequently as the bear's population increases.

Prior to European colonization, there were probably as many as 2 million black bears in North America. Unfortunately, the population declined to a low of 200,000 bears as a result of habitat destruction and unrestricted hunting. Current estimates place the population around 800,000. The black bear is a close relative of the Asiatic black bear. It is suspected that the bears may share a common European ancestor.

The American black bear is typically 5 to 6 feet long from nose to tail with a height of 2.5 to 3 feet at the shoulder. When the bear stands up, the bear can stand up to 7 feet tall. Male bears are typically one-third larger than female bears. Females typically weigh between 90 and 400 pounds while males weigh between 250 and 600 pounds. Adult black bears have been known to reach 660 pounds while exceptionally large males have been recorded at weights up to 800 pounds, a length of almost 8 feet. Cubs typically weigh between 7 ounces and a pound at birth.

Adult bears have small eyes, rounded ears, a long snout, a large body, and a short tail. Like all bears, black bears have an excellent sense of smell. While they typically have shaggy black hair (hence the name black bear), their fur can vary from white through chocolate-brown, cinnamon-brown, and blonde. Blonde black bears are found mostly west of the Mississippi River in the United States and in the Canadian provinces west of Ontario. Occasionally, a black bear will have a v-shaped white chest blaze.

While black bears can stand and walk on their hind legs, it is more normal for them to walk on all four legs. If a bear is standing, it is typically to get a better look at something or to figure out from where a scent is coming. The shuffling gait we all associate with bears is a result of their flat-footed walk. In addition, the hind legs are slightly longer than the forelegs. In addition to the flat-footed walk, bears also use a pacing gate. Unlike many other quadrupeds, the legs on one side of the bear's body move together instead of alternating.

For more information on bears and other animals, please visit http://www.atlantaveterinarianclinics.com.

Joseph Devine

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How to Throw a Charming Teddy Bears Picnic Birthday Party!

A Teddy Bears Picnic is the perfect party theme for both boys and girls! It can be held indoors or out, in a park or in your very own backyard. The best of all it is simple and very cost effective.

Decorations: If your having the party outdoors, use the natural setting as your decoration. Set up beside a big tree for shade, cover picnic tables with gingham tablecovers and have large picnic blankets for the kids and their special friends to sit on. If you choose to have the party indoors, decorate the main party room like a forest. Cover 1 or 2 walls with butcher paper and paint on simple trees, flowers, grass, sky, clouds and some friendly birds and insects flying by. Use gingham fabric to decorate tables and lay out picnic blankets for sitting. Gather all the Teddy Bears you can find through friends and family and place them all around room. Indoors or out, helium filled balloons are always an important part of this theme. Don't forget the giant homemade "Teddy Bears Picnic" party banner!

Invitations: Find cute teddy bear scrap booking paper or use brown construction paper cut into the shape of a Teddy Bear. A cookie Cutter works great for this! Put the teddy bear picnic rhyme on the front of the invite. The teddy bear picnic rhyme goes like this..."If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise, If you go down to the woods today, you'd better go in disguise, For ev'ry bear that ever there was will gather there for certain, because today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic." On the inside of the invite, using your computer, print out the party information. Cut and paste if your not printing right on to the invitation. Use some cute clipart to dress up the inside party information. Be sure to request that every child bring their favourite teddy bear.

Craft: Before the party, make each child a set of Furry Bear Ears. The ears can be made with a brown furry material or brown felt. Make a template of an oval approximately 6" long by 3 1/2 inches wide. You need 2 ovals per set. Trace onto material and cut out oval shapes. Fold the ovals in half lengthwise around an inexpensive hair band and affix with a hot glue gun. Voila! Fuzzy Bear Ears!

Guest arrival: When the guests arrive, paint on them a perfect little black bear nose and give them their very own Fuzzy Bear Ears to wear. Adorable! While waiting for everyone to arrive, have a small activity set up like teddy bear colouring pages. When all guests are accounted for, start out the days activities by sitting on the picnic blanket and have everyone introduce their Bear. Then read the classic children's book "Teddy Bears Picnic" to get everyone in the mood.

Lunch: Make Picnic Baskets for the guests attending. Purchase inexpensive wicker baskets at your local dollar store or craft store. Dress up the baskets by hot gluing red & white gingham fabric to the inside of basket. Lunch is to be served in the baskets including a plate, napkin and utensils. The kids will feel so special when the receive their special pre-packed lunch in their own beautiful basket. After lunch, their basket doubles as their "loot bag" for all the items they will collect on their "Bear Hunt." The lunch baskets can consist of Honey and Peanut Butter Sandwiches cut with a teddy bear shaped cookie cutter, a juice box, a fruit cup and of course a pack of teddy graham cookies. A neat idea for dessert is to make paw print cupcakes. Using your favourite cake flavor and your child's favourite colour for icing, make little paw prints using 1 junior mint and 4 upside down chocolate chips. To cute!

Games: Bear Hunt - Proceed just like you would on an Easter Egg Hunt. Even use those plastic eggs and fill with candy and trinkets. To make it more Teddy Bear like, decorate the Eggs with a Bear sticker or draw on a Bear paw print with a black sharpie. You can let them go and find anything or you could colour co-ordinate so every child gets the same amount. For example, Sally finds and gathers the pink eggs, John finds and gathers the blue..so on. You can also use shapes coloured on the eggs for definition. Squares, triangles, hearts, stars - anything a toddler can recognize. With help of course! Another fun game to play just before the party winds down is "Is that your Bear?" Have the kids sit in a circle with all their Bears piled in the middle. The birthday child will go first. They are to put on a blindfold and when they are ready, they are presented with 3 bears, one of which is their own. Through touch they are challenged to figure out which Bear belongs to them. Perfect for toddlers!

http://www.partydepot.ca - Purchase party supplies in Canada

http://www.partycanada.blogspot.com - More great party planning ideas!

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Who is Teddy Bear?

There is nothing like a Teddy Bear!

Since his existence, he has brought pleasure, serenity, and comfort to children and people of all ages worldwide. A Teddy Bear is very special, because he is more than a toy - he is a companion. He has wonderful qualities, he consoles when needed, he has compassion when required, and he knows everything about us including our deepest thoughts. He is our most intimate friend! Did you ever feel like that about your Teddy Bear? I am sure you did, we all did! How can a stuffed bear, although cute and cuddly bring so much pleasure and happiness to our lives? Let's look at some of Teddy's origins.

It is well known that the name "Teddy" originates from Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America 1901-1909, who was referred to as Teddy by the public. There are numerous stories of how the Teddy Bear received the President's name. One story refers to a Mississippi bear-hunting trip where villagers wishing to please the President captured a bear for him to shoot, however, the President flatly refused. He drew a line, as this was not fair hunting sportsmanship. This encounter became a famous cartoon story by Clifford Berryman under the title of "Drawing the Line in Mississippi." The cartoon caught very wide attention, which eventually led to the Teddy Bear and its name. Another story suggests that the staff of Hotel Colorado wanted to cheer-up President Roosevelt during a hunting trip with a gift. They presented him with a small stuffed bear made by the housekeeping employees. His daughter, Alice, liked the bear and gave it the name Teddy.

Based on my findings, it seems that Teddy was born around 1902, but this was not just a US birth. Coincidentally, at the Steiff Company in Giengen an der Brenz, Baden Württemberg in Germany, the owner Margarete Steiff, produced stuffed animal toys. Her nephew Richard Steiff was an artist who drew animal pictures for the stuffed animal toy production of the company. In 1902, Richard visited the Stuttgart Zoo and made a sketch of a bear cub. The company started production of his design and the German (Teddy) bear was born. How wonderful sometimes coincidences work. Was it destiny to remember internationally a great President throughout the ages with this divine toy? In 1903, at the Leipzig Toy Fair Steiff sold 3000 bears to an American toy merchant and by 1907 the Steiff Company sold 974,000 bears. Whatever the stories are, the fact remains that the Teddy Bear became a famous and beloved toy ever since the time of President Theodore Roosevelt. A nice long stretch!

The bear market is still going strong to this day. Teddy Bears or stuffed bears in general are here to stay for generations to come. It is interesting to know that in some families Teddy Bears have become heirloom pieces. Did you know that bear collectors are called arctophiles? The word derives from the Greek language "arcto" meaning bear and "philos" meaning lover. Bears are not just a toy for children, bears are also used as mascots by many organizations or as corporate gifts and uncountable other special uses. There are also Teddy Bear Clubs and some organizations even have annual conventions to celebrate these lovable keepsakes.

Teddy Bear has reached its 106th Birthday, that is a good old ripe age, but we all know he will live forever.

Tina Nyary, researched a beloved stuffed animal toy, the Teddy Bear. Stuffed teddy bears are without a doubt one of the most adored stuffed animal toys.

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Backpackers, Lock Up Your Food and Save a Bear

Hikers and backpackers, you can save a bear by modifying the way you handle your trail food. The food that you take with you to the wilderness can be lethal to bears. That's right. Your food could spell the death sentence for one of these wild creatures. No, it is not a problem of a bear's digestive system not being able to handle human food. If that were the case, the problem would not be so acute.

On the contrary, many bears love the food that we find palatable. And therein lies the problem.

Here is an often too frequent scenario. A bear gets the taste for human food and starts increasingly to crave it. His appetite for our kind of nutrition becomes so acute that he gets aggressive and dangerous in his quest for the food of man. As in all too many cases, he could become so aggressive that he will have to be killed for your safety and mine. The bear's fault? Not really.

BALANCING ACT

I remember waking up and finding my brother's mauled and shredded backpack lying at the edge of our camp. I also recollect our consternation at finding all the food having been filched by a hungry bear. Fortunately it was our last night on the trail and there was enough food among our group to keep everybody going until we reached the Yosemite Valley floor. Even more fortunate is the fact that my brother had the presence of mind to not keep the food inside his tent. That could have spelled disaster.

Forty years ago, when this story took place, the prevailing wisdom was to hang your food as far out on a tree branch as you could to keep it out of the reach of bears. Hopefully there was such a tree nearby.

The idea was to tie a small rock to the end of a string and throw it over a tree branch which was neither too high for you to lob the rock over nor so low that the bear could swat down your grub. Then you tied a nylon rope to the string and pulled it over the branch. On one end of the rope, you tied your food sack and, on the other end, a rock to counterbalance it. After that you took a stick and pushed the bag of food that was on the end of the rope up as high as you could, higher than a bear could reach, all the while hoping that the rock didn't come down low enough for the wily bear to grab and gnaw off.

The next morning, the trick was to reach the food sack yourself, if indeed it was still there. By the time you were finished with your wild dance of leaping, swatting and hooking, you were more than ready for a hearty breakfast and far more than unwilling to share it with a bear.

My brother and the rest of us were way too exhausted that night to even think about such a taxing enterprise, having arrived at our campsite extremely weary and well after dark. So he did the next best thing that his muddled mind could think of. He put what he figured to be a safe space between his food and his tent. Good thing, but not good enough.

DRASTIC MEASURES

Bears, especially black bears of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, have become a lot smarter than they were 40 years ago. This is true to the extent that, in many places in the Western United States, drastic measures have had to be taken to not only protect your food while you hike, but to also protect the lives of bears.

We humans are no physical match in this fight over food with a bear that has been habituated to our sustenance. And with its sense of smell being 100 times stronger than that of a dog (one can only guess how much stronger that is than the sense of smell of a human being), hoping that a resident bear will not find your food is an exercise in futility.

SOLUTION: BEAR-RESISTANT FOOD CANISTERS

So, what is the answer to the bear problem with regard to our food?

The best current answer is bear-resistant food canisters. Bears on a number of high traffic trails in California, for instance, now associate these handy devices with lost luck in obtaining tasty food. So they tend to pretty much leave them alone. One bear, according to my daughter, who hiked recently in Yosemite National Park, on finding a bear-resistant canister in her camp, batted it about for awhile, tried to gnaw her way into it without success and then ambled off disappointed and still hungry.

In many wilderness areas, bear-resistant canisters are mandatory. These areas include National Parks, National Forests and other wilderness areas, especially in the western states. Be sure to check the rules in the particular wilderness area where you plan to hike.

SAVE THE BEARS

So, please don't be sloppy with your food management in the wilderness. Save a bear's life as well as your own food. Invest in a bear-resistant canister. It's the right thing to do. What's good for you is good also for the bears.

Copyright (c) Richard Davidian, Ph.D.
Dr. Davidian, Professor of Research and Writing, writes on topics as varied as internet marketing and the outdoors. Visit his Great Outdoors Information blog for hiking and backpacking information.

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Bear Bile Farming Causes Unnecessary Torture to Poor Bears

Bear bile farming is a very disturbing, yet a common practice, in some places. It causes extreme pain to the bears. During the process, it can be observed that bears gnash their teeth, bite their cages, moan, and even chew their own paws because of the pain.

The Process - Bile extraction is done in the crudest manner, and without any form of sanitation. The persons conducting it are unskilled and the process is not up to modern veterinary standards. Most of the bears die during or soon after bile extraction. If they live, they suffer from liver cancer, as a result of chronic inflammation and infection of the gall bladder and liver. Generally, farmed bears live only up to 4 years.

Why People Bile Bears - Bile is a digestive liquid produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Bile gathered from bears has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least three thousand years for a variety of purposes. It is used in Chinese physiotherapy, to cure inflammations and to dissolve gall stones and kidney stones. Also, it is thought to help detoxify the liver and improve eyesight. And according to research, bears are the only mammals that produce the bile salt ursodeoxycholic acid, which is effective in treating some liver diseases.

Originally, bear bile was gathered by killing wild bears and removing their gallbladders. In recent decades, when wild bears became increasingly rare, bile became prohibitively costly for most Chinese. But then, during the year 1980, the Chinese bear bile farming industry adapted a technique first developed in North Korea. This involved extracting bile from captive bears without having to kill them.

Bear Abuse - The bears are housed in cages hardly large enough to hold the animal itself. To get the bile, an incision is made in each bear's abdomen and a catheter (which is basically a plastic or rubber tube) is then inserted into the gallbladder. The bile is drained through the catheter and then gathered for sale.

To gather the bile from the gallbladder, a connection from the gallbladder (located deep inside the body) to the surface has to be established. The connection, which is medically called fistula, is made in any of the three ways: insertion of a metal tube, insertion of a plastic tube, or creation of a tissue bridge between the gallbladder and skin. The connection is conducted by untrained and unskilled individuals who do not observe modern veterinary standards.

To gather the bile, some bears wear a "metal jacket". It is worn around their bodies and it has a collection container attached to it. There are bears forced to lie on the floor of their small cages so the bile will drip downward. Keep in mind that their crush cages are extremely small. The floor is made up of iron bars so the bears cannot stand or lie down on firm ground. This results in neck and back injury. Since a bear's body will try to exclude the inserted metal or plastic tube or close the tissue bridge, scarring and damage is done to both the inside and outside of the bear. Sometimes, to prevent the closing of the incision, hot pieces of metal are inserted without any form of sedation or anesthesia. Bile is collected twice a day, and this goes on for the rest of their lives.

Why Its Unnecessary - There is no need to make poor bears undergo such abuse. The use of bear bile is obsolete. There are at least 75 herbal medicines that can be used as an alternative to bear bile. Of which, 54 are proven to work. These alternatives are a lot cheaper and more convenient.

Synthesized bear bile that contains UrsoDeoxyCholic Acid (the active constituent in bear bile) is available. All these alternatives are just as effective without the deaths of innocent bears. Let us put a stop to bear bile farming. It causes unnecessary torture to poor bears.

Read more about stricter punishment for animal cruelty [http://stopanimalcruelty.info/category/animal-cruelty]. Learn more about bear bile farming [http://stopanimalcruelty.info/] and other animal abuse.

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Teddy Bears Appear On All Kinds Of Products And Collectables - You Could Fill Your House With Them

Teddy bears appear on all kinds of products, from wallpaper to slippers. You can decorate your whole house with bears, wear teddy bear slippers and sleep in teddy bear sheets. You can buy chocolate teddies, cereals promoted with teddy bears and bears have even appeared on some laundry products! But this isn't just a modern craze. Teddy-decorated china appeared almost as early as the first bears themselves. Early examples are highly prized by collectors since the fragile nature of their materials means that few have survived in good condition, and complete sets are very rare. Some modern makers of limited-edition bears also offer bear-sized accessories for their special bears. And of course, we're all familiar with images of Pooh Bear and Paddington being used across a whole range of items.

Various other materials have been formed into bear shapes over the last century or so. Early 20th century wooden carvings of bears - often called Black Forest Bears - after the region of Southern Germany where they were made, are very popular with collectors. Some were intended purely for use as ornaments, but others were made into useful objects, ranging in size from pincushions to coat stands.

Silver teddy bears were once used to adorn christening gifts such as teething rings or rattles, and bears also appear on silver spoons and egg cups, also popular christening presents. Early examples again are particularly sought after, and the hallmarking system means that they can be accurately dated.

Postcards featuring bears have also been around almost as long as the teddy himself, and an enormous number have been published. These could once be obtained extremely cheaply, but prices have soared in recent years. Luckily for bear-lovers everywhere, larger numbers of new cards continue to appear at collectable prices, most recently from DevonBear Designs, who offer a whole set of bear-ish images. We also offer bears on e-cards if you want to send other bear-lovers some great English bear images, absolutely free!

Old adverts and packaging - ephemera - are also very collectable, and even modern items can be grouped together very effectively to create a talking point. Think about Rupert Bear and Sooty, Paddington and Pooh to name just a few. Other collectable items with a bear theme include decorated toffee or biscuit tins and the metal buckets that many will remember from seaside holidays of days gone by.

Whenever bears appear on items, you can be sure that someone somewhere will have started a collection. But for real bear-lovers, the only problem is deciding where to begin - and also when to stop!

Helen Dickson is the owner of DevonBear Designs. She designs and makes a small range of really practical - and pretty - textile items and stationery all inspired by the wonderful coast and countryside of South Devon, England. Helen is a talented watercolour artist and all DevonBear Designs products feature one of her images. Visit her site at http://www.devonbeardesigns.com

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10 Steps For Caring For Your Teddy Bear

1. Check your teddy bear over to see if their is a washing instructions label. Some synthetic bears can actually be machine washed on the most gentle cycle. Do not wash with other colored clothes or items. Using a mesh bag to put the bear in is not a bad idea. I would not use much detergent if any but maybe a little fabric softener would be a nice touch. Allow it to air dry. Do not put in dryer or use a hair dryer. Machine washing is not something that would be recommended for antiques or real old or fragile teddies. Remember that bears that talk or make sounds probably have a device inside them that may get ruined if machine washed.

2. Let me say that for the next steps "patience" is a must. For a really dirty teddy bear the human instinct is to get some strong cleaner and put it in a spray bottle and spray and scrub the heck out of it. While this may get some good results some times, it may also ruin certain fabrics by changing color, texture, and overall appearance of the teddy bear.

3. For the many teddy bears that are not machine washable, The material of an old teddy bear is really not much different than the care you would give to an antique piece of upholstery or tapestry. Brush gently with a soft brush to loosen particular dust and soil. Carefully vacuum it by putting cheese cloth or using a nylon over the vacuum head of your vacuum tool to remove loose soil.

4.Using a clean damp cloth (warm water only-no soap as soap tends to leave a residue that can cause quick re-soiling) wipe down the teddy bears fur. You'll be surprised how much soil can be removed with simply wiping down the bear. This should help restore some of the shine and brighten the color like it had when it was newer.

5.If teddy is severely soiled you may have to repeat this process 2-3 times to get as much soil removed as possible. Do not soak the teddy bear. If you have to, allow it to air dry then repeat the process.

6. The next step is allowing the teddy bear to air dry. It is best to lightly brush the teddy bear's fur before it dries, so that the nap is all laying in the same direction (usually laying down) . If you let it dry first before you brush it it may change the texture and appearance and you may not be able to get it back after it's dry.

7. At times a little mending may be needed.

8. Don't forget to hug them at least once a day.

9. Make sure to allow as many kids as possible to admire and maybe hold them. Teddy Bears love children.

10. For teddy bears that don't get used much and maybe sit on a shelf for a long time, you can either buy a case to put them in or you can use a large clear zip lock bag or freezer bag and slip on over the bear's head & body. This allows you to still see the bear but will help keep the dust and dirt for getting them dirty.

Hopefully some of these tips have helped you care for your teddy bears. Remember the older and more antique the teddy bear the more caution and care needs to be used.

Bruce Simmons is a Teddy Bear Designer for "Mainely Bears Collectable Teddy Bear Gifts" checkout some of the different designs at [http://teddy-gift.com]

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Teddy Bears - Stuffed Toy Or Best Friend?

Teddy bears have been a symbol of affection, love and cuddles, in excess of a century. They are often given away at carnivals as prizes. It's the one possession that children feel safe with at night time when they go to sleep. Teddy bears are a source of comfort and warmth. Try taking away their teddy bear from a young child and be prepared for tears!

Of course, there have been many famous bears throughout time. Who can forget Winnie The Pooh, Fozzie the Bear from The Muppet Show, The Care Bears, Sooty the teddy bear glove puppet, Humphrey Bear, Baloo in Jungle Book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Paddington Bear, Rupert the Bear, Smokie the Bear and Yogi Bear? We have all grown up with these lovable characters. We have been taught by them, laughed at them, and admired them. Who hasn't heard the famous song "Teddy Bears Picnic" That song has been around since 1907!

Some Famous People and their Teddy Bears

Perhaps the most famous bear story is in the origins of the teddy bear name. It has been commonly reported that the teddy bear got its name from President Teddy Roosevelt when he refused to shoot a bear cub, which had been chained to a tree for him by his hosts, who wanted to make sure he was successful during a hunting trip. Some other famous personalities have had their very own teddy bears. Elvis had a teddy bear called Mabel when he was a child. It sold for $75,000 at auction. In 1989 a Steiff bear sold for $88,000 in a Sotheby's London auction! Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean had "Teddie" which featured often during the series. Donald Campbell, the world record breaking land and water champion took his "Mr Whoppit" bear along with him on record attempts. Aviation pioneers Alcock and Brown took their teddy bear mascots with them on their record breaking first non-stop Atlantic flight in 1919.

Ask any adult what their favourite toy was and they will probably tell you it was a stuffed toy, and a large percentage of those will certainly say, "my teddy bear". While there are many different types of toys on the market today, the teddy bear still remains a strong favourite for many children. In fact, eBay reports that on any day there are over a staggering 20,000 teddy bears up for auction!

Brian Parkin is an ex Geordie (from Newcastle, England) who now lives in Brisbane, Australia and currently operates an online store promoting personalised gifts. To learn more about personalised gifts, particularly personalised teddy bears, please visit Parkin's Patch at http://www.parkinspatch.com

For further information, you can contact Brian via email at brianparkin@parkinspatch.com

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Wind Turbine Bearings

Let me start by covering a little bit about bearings in general. They are highly engineered and precision made components, which enable various aspects to move at high speeds. You can tell just how important bearings are for the fact that pretty much any form of machinery or piece of technology that twists or turns probably has a bearing in it.

When it comes to wind turbine bearings, the manufacturers need a bearing supplier with experience and capability to support critical pitch, yaw and gearbox applications in systems. It is highly important that you only enlist the help of an experienced supplier when it comes to wind turbine bearings due to their size and their use.

Wind turbine bearings need to be corrosion resistant due to their constant exposure to the elements. Without this resistance the bearings ability would be slowly reduced, affecting its performance, which would then go on to cause the wind turbine to stop working. In order to ensure that all wind turbine bearings are corrosion resistant they should come available with a wide range of surface treatments. If for whatever reason this isn't the case then you should enquire into what forms of surface treatments are available as the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of money on your bearings only to find that they need replacing in a short space of time. But what exactly should you be looking for when it comes to wind turbine bearings?

Well with all modern forms of wind turbines you will find spherical roller bearings as the main bearings that are present. So what does this mean to you? Well the term spherical means that the inside of the bearings outer ring is shaped to resemble a cross section of a ball. The reason for this is that it allows the inner and outer rings of the bearing to appear with a slight slant and they are out-of track in relation to each other without damaging the bearing while running.

The inner and outer rings of the bearing can slant to a maximum of half a degree. This may not sound like a large amount but this is all that is needed as it is a big enough slant to ensure that any possible small errors in alignment between the wind turbine shaft and the bearing housing will not give excessive edge loads, which could result in possible damage to the bearing.

With the spherical bearing you will find that it has two sets of rollers, which both allow for absorption of radial loads, which come from across the shaft from the weight of the rotor and shaft etc and from the large axial forces, again across the shaft, which results in wind pressure on the rotor.

With wind turbines the main bearings are mounted within the bearing housings, which are bolted to the main frame. The quantity of the bearings that are present is a factor that varies among the different types of wind turbines that are available. For example if you have a small wind turbine, which includes 150kW then they will be fitted with two bearings. If you have 250/300kW however they will only have the one bearing. Each of the bearing arrangements that are available come with their advantages and their disadvantages but the amount of bearings that you will need is basically calculated through the amount of wind turbines that you have and the size of these turbines.

For all of your Wind Turbine Bearing [http://www.howcroft.co.uk/windturbinebearings/] needs give Howcroft Industrial Supplies a visit today. They are experts and industry leaders when it comes to all forms of Bearings [http://www.howcroft.co.uk/bearings/].

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Ganz Teddy Bears - A Collectible

The charm of a Ganz teddy bear is both straightforward and awesome. They were originally created in the 1950s, and are still being made today. These teddy bears give you a shoulder to cry on, and love you unconditionally. Sometimes, if you listen closely, they will tell you "take me home." The love affair between us and these Ganz teddy bears shows no signs of slowing down.

Often used to calm and reassure children, this is an enduring and traditional stuffed animal. The price of these teddy bears has recently increased as they have become collector's items. It is very hard to picture a world that didn't have the Ganz teddy bears to provide a listening ear and a warm hug to both young and old.

The teddy bear has been a part of the world for a long time. The history of the teddy bear began in the year 1902. Not only did it make its entrance into the United states that year, but also made its entrance in Germany.

In the United States, the teddy bear got its name from a cartoon featuring Theodore Roosevelt. In the early 1900s, society woman liked to carry these bears around with them and kids had photos taken with their cuddly friends. U.S. toy makers were creating bears of all different sizes and styles, including roller skating teddies and ones with eyes that lit up. However, our firms had to deal with lots of competition from German bear makers, so quite a few of them went out of business.

The German tradition of toy making is legendary and the creation of fine teddy bears was made famous by companies like Bing, Schuco, and Hermann, combined with Steiff. This laid the groundwork for an innovative kind of mass-produced bear - the artist-designed manufactured bear. Currently this type of bear is sold by Ganz and it gives collectors the chance to own an artist-designed bear that is less expensive because it is mass produced.

A lot of outfits and clothes for teddy bears are also available. You can learn making personal teddy bears online or by purchasing books meant for that purpose. Everyone certainly needs the teddy bear's gift of unconditional acceptance, love, and reassurance more than ever.

Teddy bears have been a favorite toy since the beginnings of the twentieth century. Teddy bears were developed at about the same time in both America and Germany. In America, the toys were based on a cartoon involving President Theodore Roosevelt, and became a favorite of society women. In Germany, artist designed bears were available from various manufacturers, and included a high level of detail and customization. Children love teddy bears and ganz teddy bears are high quality examples of these toys. Online shoppers have the pleasure of making personal teddy bears and buying outfits and clothes for teddy bears.

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Collecting Vintage Bears

If you're new to vintage bear collecting, you may wish to think about which particular type you find the most appealing. A shelf-full of modern and antique, standard sized and miniature vintage bears will look a bit of a mish mash, whereas a small collection, of similar size and from the same period, will compliment one another. You may be drawn to the teddy bear brands of your childhood on a nostalgic level, or the exclusivity of antique bears. Perhaps the decadence of the Steiff appeals to you, or the quirkiness of Care Bears. The key is: collect what you love. If you decide later that you want to branch out (and you probably will!), you can always start another collection!

COLLECTORS' TIPS

1. Condition

Significant damage will compromise the value of your teddy bear, and possibly your enjoyment of him too. It's far better to pay more for damage-free teddy, than one who has very obviously been through the wars! Of course, vintage bears will show some signs of age. A well-loved teddy may have a bald snout, his fur rubbed away by a thousand goodnight kisses! If your antique teddy bear has clothes, these may have yellowed a little or faded. Do not be tempted to clean the clothes of an antique bear yourself - it may do much more harm than good. Stiff joints, worn pads and missing eyes can be fixed by an expert, though it is worth bearing in mind that serious collectors are looking for teddies with original features. If your antique teddy has no clothes and is a touch on the bald side, it may be time to get him an outfit and give him a new lease of life!

2. Authenticity

We're all familiar with the renowned Steiff buttons and dream of stumbling across the perfect teddy with one of those in his ear! Many teddy makers got into the habit of marking their bears, either with a button or label somewhere on the body, and this can be a good indication of authenticity. Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that many parents saw these appendages as hazards to little hands and mouths, or just found them unsightly. Often, these little indicators have long since been removed, though it is worth checking for traces - an indentation in the ear, a sliver of label in a seam - these telltale signs are key. The serious teddy collector may wish to invest in a book so that they may learn what other attributes to look for, e.g. face and body shape, colour or material of the eyes and nose, etc. If in doubt, ask! There are fakes on the antique teddy bear market, and the maxim 'caveat emptor' holds as well here as anywhere else. If the vendor can provide documentary evidence or photographs as evidence of authenticity, you'll want him to pass these on to you at point of sale. If you come to part with your teddy in the future, such evidence is highly prized by collectors and will help you attain a better price. It is also useful for insurance purposes.

3. Scarcity

It often follows that the lower the number produced, the more highly prized the vintage bear.

4. Age

It usually follows that the older the teddy bear, the more sought after he'll be by collectors and the higher the price Ted will achieve! Antique teddy bears produced before World War I are generally the most valuable. There are, however, exceptions to every rule. Louis Vuitton made a small number of bears in 2000 fetching as much as £130,000 when they went under the hammer.

5. Size

It often follows that the bigger the teddy, the higher its value.

6. Expression

It is usually the case that the happier the teddy bear appears, the more sought after he will be. Other factors must be taken into consideration, however. Sussenguth's Peter teddies are open mouthed and snarling - far from happy bears! Parents were put off because these bears frightened their children. This led to the line being quickly discontinued, bringing us back to the issue of rarity. Despite their fierce expressions, these bears are much in demand now because of their exclusivity.

7. Accessories

Antique teddies which come with their features intact and, if clothed, with their original garments, are much more sought after. If they come complete with original accessories, e.g. jewellery or hats - even the box- so much the better as far as the teddy bear collector is concerned.

Lindsay Coope
The great news is that if you shop online for Vintage Bears or for Vintage Soft Toys you can find unbeatable deals at great prices!

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Food Safety to Help Avoid Bears in the Wilderness

If you plan on venturing into the wilderness on a camping or hiking trip, you need to be prepared to deal with potentially dangerous wildlife. Bears in particular need to be respected and avoided. One of the easiest ways to avoid bears is to be careful with storing and preparing food.

Choosing the Safest Camping Food

Strong smelling food like tuna or garlic can attract bears easiest. When you choose which foods to pack, try to avoid foods that have strong odors. Canned or dried food is a much better choice. Not only do these types of food last longer, but they give off fewer odors too. Individual packaged food is better than larger packages that have to be manually resealed.

Safely Storing Your Camping Food

One mistake many campers make is not taking adequate precautions for storing food. All too often food is stored either in the same tent you sleep in or in a nearby cooler. This can be a very bad idea. You are essentially drawing the bears right to wear you are vulnerably sleeping.

Your food should be stored a good distance away from your tent (at least 100 meters). To prevent food odors from blowing through your campsite, your food storage location should also be downwind from your campsite. When picking a location to store food, think of how close to your campsite you would be comfortable having bears. Obviously that is not very close at all.

For actual food storage, you have a few choices. There are bear proof containers available in a variety of sizes. These bear proof storage lockers make it nearly impossible for bears to get at your food. It might not be practical to carry one of these durable containers to camp though.

The more traditional method for camping food storage is to hang your food up in a tree in an airtight bag. Since bears do have some tree climbing capabilities, it is best to hang the food at least 5 meters above ground and at least 4 feet away from the trunk of the tree. A bear could easily reach a bag if it is too low or too close to the trunk of the tree. This is not the most secure method because using too small a branch makes it possible for a bear to break the branch and using too large a branch makes it possible for a bear to climb out to your bag. Bears can also chew through ropes holding bags up in trees. So if you plan on hanging your food, counterbalance the rope with a second bag. Then use a long stick to retrieve tour bags afterwards. Or you can suspend the food bag between two trees. Some camps have existing ropes or poles setup to use instead of hanging food from branches.

As a last resort, you could also store your food in the trunk of your vehicle. This should be avoided though, as vehicles are not airtight and odors could leak out. This could lead to a bear scratching up your vehicle to get at your food. Bears with previous human contact may recognize coolers or other food containers. So don't just put food easily in sight in the front seat of your vehicle.

As your garbage may also have food odors, it is recommended that you also safely store your garbage with your food supply. Other fragrant items such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant and perfume should be stored with food too. If any of your clothes smell like food, be on the safe side and store these garments with your food. Ensure that no extra snacks are still in your daypack when you go to sleep. Tampons, napkins and toilet paper can also lure bears if not stored properly.

Safely Cooking Food While Camping

Another mistake campers make is to cook food in the middle of the campsite. This will leave traces of food odors throughout your camping area. Assume that bears will come investigate your cooking area and position it away from your tent with your food supply.

While you are cooking, try to keep the area well ventilated. If you are inside a tent, open the flap to air out some of the odors. You don't want these areas still strongly smelling like food when you go to sleep. Do not cook in the tent you plan on sleeping in! Covering any frying food prevents excess odors too. When you are done frying food, completely burn any excess grease and oil.

Many people like to go fishing while they camp. If you are one of these people, don't clean your fish near your camp. Ideally, you would gut the fish in the middle of a lake where a bear would not smell the remains. Burying fish remains nearby is a bad idea.

Another tip for camp cooking is to avoid cooking too much food. Don't cook more than you can eat as leftovers smell more than packaged food.

Cleaning Up To Prevent Bears

Keeping your campsite clean of garbage and food scraps will help keep bears away. Immediately after cooking and eating, you should thoroughly clean all your dishes. Strain the pieces of food from your dishwater and store that with the rest of your garbage and food. To dispose of the dishwater, dig a shallow pit. Then poor in the dishwater and cover it with ashes or disinfectant. This will stop odors and decomposition.

While some people do not recommend burning any garbage while camping, it may be a good idea for any food scraps and food wrappers. It is better to burn these items leaving a temporary odor rather than keeping the items emitting bear attracting odors.

Always pack out what you pack in. Leaving any garbage behind can turn the campsite into a regular bear hang out.

Conclusion

Be aware of the necessary food storage and cooking precautions while camping. Do everything you can to keep food odors away from your camp. Taking these precautions is the easiest way to prevent a bear encounter.

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Bear Spray - The Only Way To Protect Yourself In The Event Of Attack

So you may think that only a gun can really protect you in the event of an angry Grizzly coming toward you, well it may be time for you to reconsider that opinion.

Nearly one half of people that try to defend themselves with a firearm against a bear attack end up getting injured. Compare that to the under ten percent who sustain injury while defending themselves with bear spray.

So, why is bear spray so effective in protecting humans from bear attacks? The answer is pretty simple, unlike the less effective methods of protecting yourself in the event of an attack; you don't have to be particularly close or particularly accurate for it to be effective. With a firearm you need pinpoint precision to takedown a bear, and considering the stress of the situation it's unlikely that even a seasoned hunter will be as accurate as needed.

Bear spray is the best way to protect yourself during an impending attack, because you can use it from a longer range. The spray will travel a minimum of twenty-five feet, creating a fog between you and the bear, that when entered will irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs of the bear, stopping it in it's tracks before it even gets close enough to do any damage.

Bear spray will also reduce fatalities to bears, which probably wouldn't be your utmost concern when attempting to protect yourself in the event of an attack, but Grizzly Bears are protected as a threatened species. If you shoot a Grizzly and it's found that you or someone else wasn't in imminent danger at the time of the shooting you could be subject to some rather severe penalties under the law, including a six month stint in prison or a fine of up to $100,000.

Keep in mind that bears are very rarely out hunting for humans. Most bear attacks can be avoided by educating yourself and by following all the proper precautions; bears should never be approached or taunted, food should never be left out at a campsite, bears should never be fed and garbage should be disposed of in a proper and timely manner.

Bears should always be respected and treated with caution, but when left alone will usually leave humans alone.

No method of defense will ever be one hundred percent effective, but studies show and experts agree that the absolute best way to protect yourself in the event of a bear attack is by using a bear spray repellent.

When camping, it's never a bad idea to bring along a few cans of bear spray, especially if there are multiple campers. Always keep a can and a flashlight within your reach in your tent in the event of a nighttime attack. You can purchase a holster with your bear spray for a few extra dollars that can be strapped to your belt or fastened to the shoulder strap of your pack, this is extremely important. If an attack occurs it will most likely happen very fast, your bear spray needs to be within your reach for the best chance of halting the attack. If a situation were to occur, and you had to waste time removing your pack to hunt for the bear spray, you and your fellow campers would run the risk of being seriously injured before you could come to the rescue.

It's particularly advisable to carry bear spray in any situation where an encounter may occur, but in the not too distant future visitors of all national forests in grizzly bear country may be required to carry bear spray due to that fact that it's the most effective method of protection in reducing or eliminating injuries to humans and bears alike.

Before your next visit to bear country you should pick up a couple containers of Guard Alaska Bear Spray. Consider Muzzle Dog Repellent for any possible encounters with man's best friend.

Ken Potter is the founder and owner of Protect Your Home and Family and Eyes Undetected. Please visit http://www.ProtectYourHomeandFamily.com and Eyes Undetected where you can buy self defense products and security cameras to protect your home and family. On these sites you will find a variety of personal protection products, including pepper sprays, a variety of stun guns, kubotans, telescopic stun batons, college safety products, cell phone stun guns, wireless security systems, surveillance cameras and many other self defense and personal protection products.

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Bear Spray - The Best Defense Against Charging Grizzlies

One of the major questions that is often asked among people going on some serious adventure camping for the first time is whether or not bear mace works. Does bear spray really work? The answer is, yes. This is a good question because after all, if you're wrong, you could be lunch. An angry charging grizzly bear is a much bigger issue than a raccoon looking for a snack at night.

If you're thinking about using bear spray, it makes sense to know whether or not that deterrent works before the angry grizzly charges. Hikers, campers, bikers, and travelers alike in certain parts of the country use bear spray, and studies show that actual bear pepper spray, when used correctly, is more effective than a firearm.

There are several problems with using a firearm for self defense. The first and most obvious is the people carrying around a hand gun aren't always excellent shots. Being an okay shot with a revolver is not enough when a bear charges. In fact, there are expert marksmen who have been mauled because the shot bear just got angry and kept on coming, even with several well placed shots.

The second part is that a bear that is shot is only likely to stop or slow about two thirds of the time. The other third the bear actually becomes more angry and aggravated from the pain and actually becomes more intent on harming you. On the other side, studies from the last 30 years showed that bear spray turned back charging bears or over curious bears an amazing 92% of the time.

Bear spray can cause incredibly severe pain to humans, but an accident with bear spray will put you in extreme pain for some time, but it won't be fatal the way a firearm could be. A person that just catches a downwind whiff of this is often on the ground in pain for five minutes or more. A bear's nose is hundreds of times more sensitive than a human's, which is why the bear spray is so effective and repulsive to even a full sized grizzly.

Like with most things, the key to using bear spray effectively is to know how to properly use it. If a bear is getting too close are charging, spray the bear spray in front of you. It should form a cloud in the air, and the moment the bear hits that cloud it will fall on its haunches and then 19 out of 20 times it will tuck tail and run.

That's a far better result than having it charge through two bullet wounds to its next meal.

If you liked this article and want to learn more about bear spray, please visit my website about Bear Spray.

Thanks for reading!

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What Do You Know About Bears?

First of all, a bear is, often, a large flesh-eating animal, but may also lean toward a vegetarian diet, when prey is scarce.

It may be found both in warm and cold climates.

It has a solid body, covered with shaggy fur, is supported by thick legs and has a short tail. The complete sole of the foot lies flat upon the ground and the claws are perfect for both digging and climbing. Found in Asia, Europe and America; those from the cooler climes seem to be more savage and less happy eating just vegetable foods than bears living in warmer areas.

Brown bears are plentifully found throughout Europe and Asia; they eat fruit and vegetables, as well as animal food. They climb and swim with ease. At the beginning of winter, they search for a cave, or hollow and sleep until spring. The babies are mostly born at some time during the winter.

The American black bear is thought by many to be a variety of the brown bear. It is very fond of honey and is much less dangerous than the grizzly. Closely related to it is the Syrian bear and the Indian white bear of the Himalayas. The former is often mentioned in the Bible. Remember, black bears are strong climbers.

The North American grizzly is a very strong and fierce animal, chiefly found in the Rocky Mountains. The fur is dark brown, but somewhat grey around the head. The claws are long and curved. It is the most savage of bears and is said to be strong enough to drag along a buffalo carcass.

Many grizzly attacks on people, are purely defensive in nature, and by playing possum, you may show the bear that you are not a threat and escape a severe mauling, or death. Brown and grizzly bears are actually classified as the same species, 'Ursus arctos '.

Other bears are:

The Malayan sun bear is the smallest bear family member.

The Sloth Bear is found throughout India from the Himalayan foothills to the Southern part of India.

The spectacled bear of the Andes mountains is a small animal about three and a half feet long, with black fur and curious light coloured rings around the eyes.

The white polar bears of the Arctic region are the largest of all bears, often measuring 9 ft in length and are very strong. They swim very rapidly and live largely on fish. They are more apt to attack man than any other variety. Polar Bears are classified under the Latin mane of, Ursus maritimus, It is the largest meat-eating hunter.

The males do not sleep in the winter, but the females stay in sheltered places throughout the winter and their young are often born through this period. For this reason, bears weigh least in the spring or early summer.

Ray Cunningham, loves all animals and birds.

Has built a new web site at http://www.raygc.com/Wildlife/

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Our Love For Those Wonderful Teddy Bears

Teddy bears have been around for a long time. In reality it has been well over 100 years since we came to know teddy bears. The beauty of it is that teddy bears have come in all shapes and sizes, various colors and personalities. They have become a staple of childhood toys and they hold a spot in all of our hearts.

Books have been written about various teddy bears and stories have been told. Some teddy bears have even made it onto the movie and TV screen.

Winnie the Pooh Bear is infamous for his many adventures and his friends. Winnie, along with Christopher Robin, Rabbit, Tigger, Owl, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, and Roo live a very interesting life in the hundred acre wood.

We certainly would not want to forget Paddington Bear. This adorable little teddy bear comes from darkest Peru but now lives with Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens. Paddington is very intelligent and has set opinions about what is right and what is wrong, and he is happy to tell you about his views. He is known for saying, "Things happen to me. I'm that sort of bear." This is a feeling that most of us can relate to. Paddington is also fond of saying, "It just wouldn't work", which is adorable in a teddy bear but not so much in a human.

In recent times The Care Bears were discovered. They rapidly gained popularity. Each Care Bear teddy bear has a message a message and a lesson to teach us about how we should conduct our lives. They come in various colors and sizes and each Care Bear has a personal motif on their tummies and a personal motto they dedicate their lives to. These bears have starred in their own movies and TV series.

There is a comic strip in a London newspaper about a mischievous teddy bear named Rupert. The comic strips have even been compiled to form books, called Annuals.

Not only have many teddy bears been featured in animated series and movies but several have had poetry written about them. With the many TV stations designed for children teddy bears are almost always in the spotlight.

Yogi and Boo-Boo have been in our lives for a long, long time. And we would not want to forget about Smokey as we warned us about forest fires.

But perhaps the teddy bears that deserve the most recognition are those that live with us. They can bring comfort to a sick or scared child and they can bring a smile to our day. If you do not have a special teddy bear in your life you are missing out on a comforting friend that wants nothing more than to see you happy.

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Collectible Teddy Bears

Teddy bears bridge the gap between young and old collectors as well as ladies and gentlemen. They light up the world as a symbol of the innocence and magic of childhood and the special warmth of love. They will steal your heart and brighten your life. Teddy Bears are one of the most collectible items around the world. They are popular with children, obviously, but also with adult collectors who build on their childhood friends and often invest in limited editions or bears made from prized designs and rare materials.

Collectible

What makes Collectible Teddy Bears so special, is their quality, unique designs, and the fact that they usually are not mass produced. In other words limited numbers are available. Sometimes it's simply because they are old and rare. Collectible Teddies make excellent teddy-bear gifts and teddy-bear presents for a girlfriend, mother, or grandma for Mothers Day, Christmas, birthday, Valentines Day, anniversary's or any other occasion. Whether you are a collector looking for that special teddy bear or just looking for a unique gift or present for someone you love. Collectible Teddy Bears ooze with personality and beautiful unique designs. This is what makes Teddy Bears such a popular collectible item, not only are the outfits different, but in many cases they are numbered in sequence. All Artist's Teddy-Bears are unique, collectible, and in some cases "one-of-a-kind". These Collectible teddy bears are generally for collectors only and should not be given to young children.

Gifts

Teddy Bears make beautiful  gifts on any occasion or simply as a special treat for yourself. They are also a symbol of memory, a gift of love, and especially designed to have extra "huggable quality". Many gift orders receive a free, personalized gift card during checkout, making your internet shopping perfect for mom, dad, a grandparent, or any loved one needing a perfect gift to cheer them up or tell them you care. So, whether you are giving this as a birthday gift, for Valentine's Day, to wish someone well, or just to make someone smile, you can always express your love with a Soft Cuddly Teddy Bear.

Personalized

If you need a Teddy gift, many companies will personalize your bear for you with special accessories to customize them for your particular need and a special message card of some kind to enclose a personal message. Some companies also offer embroidery options for people's names or messages. A perfect way to say thank you, congratulations, or "I Love You" with a gift message for any celebration. A personalized message will make the gift very special to your loved one.

Summary

A teddy bear can be a constant life-long companion, listening to and keeping secrets, and silently offering comfort whenever it is needed. Since teddy bears first appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century, people have cuddled them for comfort, kept them for luck, and given them as a symbol of love on a special occasion. Many have built up fantastic collections of limited edition bears over the years.

Teddies have always held a slice of many a romantics heart. They are so much a part of growing up in America that few of us can imagine a childhood without a stuffed bear. Even grown-ups can't resist the appealing glint in a teddy's eye or smile on it's face. Teddy Bears have been around for generations and are well loved by young and old. They have been a cherished, lovable toy for decades. I hope you find that one special Teddy Bear that you've been searching for in your collection. It seems there's always room for 1 more.

Bruce Simmons is a Teddy Bear Designer for "Mainely Bears Collectable Teddy Bear Gifts" to see some of his work go to [http://teddy-gift.com]

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Thrust Bearings - Learning About the Different Types and Their Respective Applications

Thrust bearings are popular types of rotary bearings. They have the capacity to handle different radial loads. The bearing functions with the presence of needles, balls or rollers. Dimensions forming part of the consideration when seeking for such industrial products are outside diameters, overall width and bore. The industry making use of the product sets a particular standard or number system for bearings through the so-called metric diameter bores.

The search for the exact type of thrust bearing to be used in a certain process depends upon the bearing's rated speed, static and dynamic thrust load. When it comes to rated speed, those operating with the use of grease is slower than those bearings operating with an oil lubricant. The static thrust load is that property of a bearing to withstand a load without being deformed along the process. In order to understand more about the product, learn about the different types found on its list.

Ball bearings

These are types of bearings used in applications with lower friction and motion required. It consists of two types known as radial ball bearings and thrust ball bearings. The former is created for radial and thrust loads while the latter serves thrust loads. Radial ball bearings have inner and outer rings, cages and balls and are characterized by having ring races higher than the other.

Roller bearings

These are types of thrust bearings that can withstand greater loads than ball bearings. Among its subcategories, tapered roller bearings are popular. This roller bearing is formed by components such as the cone, cup, cage and tapered rollers.

Normal operating conditions dictate that the cone, rollers and cup take responsibilities when carrying the load as the cage is utilized to provide spaces as well as retain the cone rollers. These are highly favored in applications like power generation, mining, aggregate processing, oil fields, wind turbines and rolling mills.

Machine tool spindles, automotive transaxles, vehicle front wheels and trailer wheels make use of roller bearings as well.

Other types of thrust bearings

There are also fluid and magnetic bearings found on the list of thrust bearings. Fluid bearings are those that make use of a thin layer of gas or liquid to carry the workload. They are often smoother and quieter than roller bearings. Magnetic bearings on the other hand, makes use of magnetic levitation to carry a workload. They are often found in industrial machines like pumps, turbines, compressors and generators.

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Buy Cheap Steiff Antique Teddy Bears

Collectors fancy Steiff Antique Teddy Bears because of the history of the toys. It all started in 1877 when a Felt mail order company started in Giengen, Germany. They manufactured felt garments.

Because of the success of the felt elephant pin cushions, toy production started in 1880.

The first Steiff teddy bears were made in 1892. The first designs were bears that were placed on iron wheels. These were sold in stores in 1893. The stuffed toy design of the bears that Steiff manufactured began in 1902.

The company eventually registered as the Felt Toy Co. By 1904, Margarete and Richard Steiff, the pair behind Steiff, were awarded the Gold Medals for their effort in the industry which was introducing Steiff teddy bears in the market.

The concept of the button in the ear was made in 1905. For any collector of Steiff antique teddy bears, getting these bears with the Steiff trademark was a jewel to their collection.

The earlier versions, the better. These bears go back 1892. The style of these Steiff antique teddy bears either stand on hind legs or they are down on all fours.

There are also designs that come with four wheels. The limbs of the early Steiff antique teddy bears were somehow rigid. When the moving joints were developed, Steiff adapted these to their designs.

The first ever jointed teddy bear produced by Steiff was the Bar 55 PM. The number means that the bear was 55 centimeters in length and P means plush and B means beweglich which is "jointed" in German.

This bear is a replica of a real bear. The arms and the legs were attached to the bear's body through a twine that has been fastened and tied like a knot under the plush.

This was the bear that was viewed by American Herman Berg at the Leipzig Trade Fair in 1903. Berg eventually ordered 3000 of these models and brought these to America.

Richard Steiff was determined to improve the designs of his bears. These are the Steiff antique teddy bears that can be found in stores which collectors frequent.

The evolution of these bears range from limbs becoming more loose depending on the rods and wires that were used.

Disc joints were also introduced which make the limbs of the bears more movable and more human.

Discover where to buy cheap antique steiff bears online. Learn where to buy cheap collectible teddy bears at my site.

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Can Polar Bears Adapt As Their Habitat Area Shrinks?

Polar Bear adaptation to the frigid and unforgiving Polar climate is one of nature's marvels. The dynamic sea ice, where polar bear live, is one of the cruelest and grimmest climates on planet earth.

It's only in the latest evolutionary cycle that bears adjusted to arctic sea life. It started about the time of the Ice Age, in the northern seas, when the seals needed to breathe and mate near the water's surface. By doing this, the seals became a copious year-round food source near a population of brown bears, who then began to inhabit the ice, changing into something similar to the polar bear of today, approximately 100,000 years ago.

Weighing roughly 330 to 1,760 pounds, the length of the polar bear's body is around 6.6 to 10 feet. The male body is usually heavier than the female. The polar bear, akin to the brown bear, is large and thickset. It has an long neck and small head. Its fur, usually white, may seem yellow, due to oxidation.

A polar bear has black skin, which helps it adjust to the Arctic temperature, absorbing and holding heat from the sunlight. It is definitely well dressed for the weather with a layer of fat more than 4 inches thick, allowing for efficient insulation. The dense fur on its feet (its foot is about 9 inches wide and 12 inches long) offers warmth and traction. Because each foot is so huge, it acts as a handy snowshoe.

It adjusts well to swimming with its broad front paws that serve as paddles and when swimming underwater it lays the tiny ears flat for protection, and its nostrils close under water. It paddles at about 6 and one-half miles per hour --forepaws only, hind feet trailing--and can remain under water for about 2 minutes. The hairs of its waterproof coat are hollow which is an adept insulator and increases the bear's buoyancy when swimming.

A polar bear has an excellent sense of smell, sensing prey at a distance of about 20 miles. Although little is known about its sense of touch (its eyesight and hearing is acute), a polar bear is able to manipulate various objects with surprising dexterity.

With canine teeth bigger and malariform teeth sharper than those of other bears, the polar bear is the most carnivorous North American bear.

A polar bear lives on Arctic islands, sea ice, and water and continental coastlines. It chooses the sea ice habitat, with water channels or cracks through the ice, next to continental coastlines or islands. Some polar bears spend part of the year on land, although in warmer climates a bear could become isolated. Most pregnant females spend the autumn and winter on land in maternity dens.

A polar bear travels throughout the year within single home ranges, which tend to be a larger area than for other mammal species because of the alterations in sea ice from year to year and even season to season. Small home ranges (19,000 to 23,000 miles) can be discovered near Canadian Arctic Islands, while larger home ranges can be found in the Bering or Chukchi Sea areas. The polar bear remains in the same area during the same time of year. A polar bear is capable of traveling 19 miles or more per day for several days, although some are capable of a good deal more than that. One can only hope that polar bear adaptation will carry on, as their habitat area shrinks and the pressures of civilization continue to encroach on the the natural homes where the polar bear dwell.

For more information, check out my blog Polar Bear News. You can also find information at Are You Polar Bear Aware? and Polar Bear Video Showcase

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Sending the Perfect Teddy Bear Gift to Her

Just like flowers, teddy bears are loved by women of all age. Many women love to receive a teddy as a gift, especially by their love one - even if they never tell you so. Why? Teddy bears symbolize warmth, comfort and care and always make a perfect companion on her happy days as much as the days when fortune does not seem to be on her side.

So, if you are sending a teddy bear as a gift for her, chances are you are sending the right gift. No matter if you are sending it to your daughter, mother, sister, wife or your sweetheart, you can always make your gift a perfect gift by paying special attention to these few simple details:

1. Her age

A child's life is full of imaginations. So, if you are thinking a teddy bear gift for a child, find something that is colourful, fun and magical. For example, a cute bear all dressed up as a princess can make a wonderful gift for her. Meanwhile, if you are sending the gift to a grown-up lady, a classic bear might be a better choice for you to consider.

2.Her passion

Knowing what her passion is will help you a lot in choosing the perfect teddy bear gift for her. For example, if she loves ballet a lot, a teddy in a ballet dress will make a great gift for her. You can also consider a gift based on her job that she is passionate about. Maybe she is a nurse, a doctor or a lawyer and is very passionate about the job she is doing, then, a bear dressed up in her job outfit will make a wonderful gift for your dedicated lady. Some women love teddies a lot, and have a room full of collections of teddy bears. Undoubtedly, teddies make perfect gifts for her at anytime. However, getting to know her collection is a good idea so you can choose something that she has not own, and try to avoid giving the same teddy bear you've already given before.

3.The occasion

Nowadays, stuffed bears are designed in many ways so they suit any occasion you are planning to give your special gift for. For example, if you are sending a teddy bear gift as a birthday gift, a bear with a colourful birthday hat and a party balloon might be perfect for a child or a teenager but if you are planning to give your gift to a special grown-up lady, a bear dressed in a queen of a beauty pageant will make her feel special on her birthday.

If you are planning to give a teddy bear gift to a bride, it is a good idea to find a couple of bear that includes a bride and groom instead of only a bride bear. A wedding is a celebration for both couple anyway, isn't it?

If your gift is meant for a valentine gift or an anniversary gift, find a teddy bear that express your love to her. A bear holding a love sign or those singing a love song makes wonderful gift to show that she has a special place in your heart.

A teddy bear gift also makes a great get well gift for anyone during recovery. You can choose a teddy characterizes as a hospital patient to tell her that she is not alone and help her to cheer up during her recovery. However, if she is deeply depressed or is having problem coping up with the misfortune that happened, maybe a bear characterizes as a nurse or a doctor is a better idea to show her that you will always be there for her to look and care for her. Alternatively, there are many teddies nowadays that can actually talk and even sing to tell her not to be worried; and these also make great gift ideas to help her in her recovery.

Many times, teddy bears also make great gifts just to tell her that you are thinking of her without the need for any special occasion or a reason for you to send one.

4.Consider a card or a poem

While many associate teddies with flowers and chocolates, a simple card with a sincere wish will do just as fine to be sent together with a teddy. Alternatively, poem also makes great accompany for your teddy bear gift. For example, if you are sending your gift to your sweetheart, instead of card, flower or chocolate, write a love poem to be sent together with your bear. Maybe you are planning to send the gift to your mother, why not write a poem about a mother's sacrifice and you will definitely touch your mother's heart upon receiving your gift. If you think that you do not have the mind of a poet, you can always quote a nice poem written by someone else to express yourself in your perfect gift for her.

5.The presentation

A nice presentation will complete any perfect gift idea. A nice presentation does not mean it has to be expensive. A presentable box with a nice ribbon is enough to complete your gift. In fact, the good thing about teddy bear gifts is that, if you are unable to find a suitable box or your gift is too big to be placed in a box, teddies are so adorable that you can present them just by themselves.

Have good time sending your perfect gift and hope she will love your special gift a lot!

For more teddy bear gift idea, visit [http://www.uniqueteddybeargift.com]

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Bearings - The Different Types and What They Are Used For

There are many different types of bearings used, all have benefits and disadvantages to them and so are used for different purposes and in different circumstances.

Ball Bearing

A ball bearing uses a ball to rotate and move the load. Ball bearings are cheaper than other bearings used such as cylinders in roller bearings and have high accuracy. When moving lighter loads ball bearings do not have as much friction as roller bearings, and can support radial and axel loads. Radial loads are perpendicular to the shaft and axel loads are parallel.

Roller Bearing

Roller bearings use cylinders instead of balls and usually have a larger diameter. Roller bearings can support radial loads, usually of a higher capacity than ball bearings can, but have higher friction with axial loads. Roller bearings are commonly used in rotary appliances and in machinery.

Thrust Ball Bearing

A thrust ball bearing consists of two steel washers with balls situated within them. They are mostly used for low speed appliances and can't handle heavy loads, for example they can be found in swivel bar stools and turn tables.

Taper Roller Bearing

Tapered roller bearings are used to support large radial and thrust loads. It consists of a series of tapered or conical rollers held in a cage between inner and outer bearing tracks. They are used in many car hubs. The disadvantages to taper roller bearings are that they are usually quite expensive and they add more friction than a ball bearing.

Needle Bearing

Needle bearings are similar to roller bearings but the cylinders are thinner and longer like needles. These are used sometimes as they reduce the friction of the rotating surface. Needle bearings are used in engines and engine parts and transmissions; the drive shaft of a rear wheel drive car has at least 8 needle bearings.

Roller Bearing [http://www.bearingsdirect.net]

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A Teddy Bear Party - Some Simple Tips

A great teddy bear party is not a difficult thing to pull of with a little creativity and some things that you can find round your house! Here are some quick ideas for making the party "beary" fun!

Invitation ideas

Buy some inexpensive rubber stamps with bear images and let your little one make

homemade invitations. Or cut a piece of cardstock into the shape of a bear and

write your invitation on that. Free clipart can be found for this purpose in many

places on the Internet. Make sure you include the request for all the guests to bring

their own bear to the party too!

Decoration ideas

When kids think of bears they usually think of honey and bees, so a big hit for

decorations is LOTS of yellow and black balloons and streamers. If possible have

various teddy bears all around the room as well to tie in the theme.

Menu ideas

When you're hosting a bear event even your menu should be centered on teddy.

Here is a cute way to turn Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches into a beary fun treat!

Spread your peanut butter and jelly onto eight whole-wheat hamburger buns. Now

the fun begins. Cut four of the eight buns in half. On a large tray or covered cookie

sheet, arrange the buns into a shape of a teddy bear. For the tummy, put one whole

bun and surround that with 4 half buns. Another whole bun becomes the head/

face, with two half buns on the topsides of the head for the ears. Two whole buns

become the legs and the final two half buns turn out off of the body to make arms.

Garnish the face/head bun with raisin eyes and a strawberry slice mouth and you've

got a bear! Use a separate tray for additional sandwiches and watch for all the

smiles! Mix some honey and yogurt together for a great dip for cut fruit and your

menu is complete!

Bear Party - Activities and craft ideas

Crafts with a bear theme abound but here are some quick ideas for your bear

birthday party. Make a paper bear chain (paper dolls) that the kids can color and

decorate. Use paper plates to make paper bear masks. Bead a bear collar

(necklace). Take a picture with all the kids and their own bears and decorate a

simple scrapbook page to honor the occasion. Decorate teddy bear cookies with

colored icing and various decorations.

Bear Party - Game ideas

Pin the honey pot on the teddy bear - if you have an artist in the family, draw a

large teddy bear on poster board and cut out honey pots. Blindfold each child

individually and see if they can put the honey pot into the teddy bear's hand.

Hot Teddy Bear - like hot potato only pass the teddy bear to the music. When the

music stops, the person with the teddy bear is out.

Toss the honey pot - draw a large bear head with an open mouth on poster board

and lay it on the floor. Using yellow beanbags as the "honey" each child throws the

bag to see if it will land in the bear's mouth.

Take home gift ideas

Purchase yellow lunch bags (available at party stores) and decorate with bee

stickers. Fill with gummy bears, teddy grahams, miniature stuffed teddy bears and

fun bear jewelry. Or if you want to go all out, hire a stuffed animal party planner to

come and have each child make their own stuffed animal as part of the party.

Annette Yen throws great birthday parties and other fun kid's events. Sign your children up for her free birthday club at http://www.funontheark.com

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New Gund Teddy Bears for Autumn 2010

In autumn 2010 Gund release a whole new range of teddy bears. There's 4 versions of Philbin, new sizes of Gaffney and Gus, and new bears Dilip, Stitchy, Wooly and Marmalade. For those that like a larger bear there are two giant versions of the popular Alfie teddy bear (XL and jumbo). So let's take a closer look at these bears.

Philbin is available in two sizes and colours, one's chocolate and the other is cream (or is it white chocolate?), their heights are 13 and 18 inches, so there's quite a noticeable size difference between the two. Philbin is easily identified by distinctive, contrasting paw pads with embroidered edges. They have quite large heads and big round tummies. Simply put, they're beautiful bears made from super soft Gund plush.

In 2009 Gund released a small version of their popular Gordy bear. Some say that the smaller version is actually a better bear, being slightly better proportioned. I think they're both extremely cute, I tend to think of the smaller bear being more suitable for a younger child (suitable for 1 year +) Gordy is a 3+ bear (based on size). At the same time Gund released two new bears, of similar size to the smaller Gordy, called Gaffney and Gus. Gaffney was a dark brown bear and Gus has a distinctive tuft on the top of his head. For autumn 2010 Gund have released larger versions of Gaffney and Gus, which are comparable in size to the larger Gordy. This teddy bear family is now complete.

Dilip is similar in some ways to the current Gordy bears. He's got chestnut brown fur, which has a nice shimmer and a cream coloured tummy. He has a very cute face, like all Gund bears and like Gordy is available in two sizes: 13" and 20".

Like the brand new bears previously mentioned (Philbin and Dilip), Stitchy is also available in two sizes (11" and 14"). He's a light brown bear, with a face that shouts "hug me". A typical Gund bear.

Wooly is the most different of any of the existing Gund range. He's a greyish brown bear with a big round ivory tummy and paw pads, with a look of a refined old chap.

Marmalade is based on the Manni range of bears, and sites in between the two existing bears (size wise), he's a darker golden brown colour, but just as cute and cuddly.

Alfie has been one of Gund's most popular bears. This year he's been super-sized. Following the discontinuation of the extremely popular range of Basil giant teddy bears (42, 46 & 80 inch), of which the 42" bear was a really great size (and value) for a ￡100 teddy. Gund have brought out 36 and 60 inch versions of Alfie. These giant teddy bears are perfect for big kids (children or adults) and may also suit businesses who need a display for a stand or something at a trade fair or even window dressing.

So if you're looking for an idea for Christmas or an upcoming birthday, I strongly recommend checking out these huggable new Gund teddy bears.

Phil Jones-Davies discovered Gund teddy bears, whilst searching for the perfect teddy bear for his eldest niece's first birthday. After choosing Sidney (Black), he started selling Gund teddy bears online at Delves Wood Bears and his nieces are in danger of being overrun by Gund teddy bears and soft toys!

http://www.delveswoodbears.co.uk

http://www.softtoys.co

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Fishing Reel Bearings - All You Need To Know

Fishing reel bearings fall into six categories these days: roller bearings, ball bearings, journal bearings, needle bearings, thrust bearings, and tapered bearings. Roller and ball bearings are the ones usually used, so I'll get into detail about these two.

OK, first off, let's examine the "tech specs" of fishing reel bearings, particularly ball and roller bearings. There are two "runway" tracks (technically called races) that the bearings, held in place by a cage, slide on while the bearing is spinning. To make sure the rollers and the cage don't come out, there is a round shield and a shield retainer between the two races. If you want to examine a bearing, first pop out the shield retainer with a knife with a pointed tip or a needle, being careful not to loose it (it acts like a spring), then take the shield off.

How about oiling your bearing? You should oil them at least every year to retain long life and to keep your reel smoother. First, you'll want to clean them. Putting some WD-40 on it and dabbing them on a paper towel or cloth is good way to get it done. Once you're done cleaning it, I would recommend putting drops of oil from an applicator in between the two races. Be sure to buy quality oil recommended by your reel manufacturer. I use Quantum Hot Sauce and has worked for me very well. If there is a shield and retainer on the bearing, there is usually a little opening in between the races, so just let the oil drip in between them. Make sure not to put too much in the bearing, a couple of drops will do. Many people make the mistake of putting to much oil in the bearing which shortens the life of it and makes the handle hesitate to move freely.

Roller bearings for fishing [http://www.theartofangling.com/ebook.html] reels have cylinders, or metal tubes, which ride in between the races. This type of bearing usually takes on low speeds and high loads because the roller, or cylinder, is rolling on a wide race. There is usually only one of these bearings in a fishing reel.

Fishing [http://www.theartofangling.com/forum] reel ball bearings usually take on high speeds and light loads because of less friction caused by the thinness of the race. Ball bearings do look different than roller bearings in that roller bearings are generally larger and have much wider races than ball bearings because of the long cylinders used roller bearings verses the tiny balls used in ball bearings.

I am an avid angler from Somerset, New York and if you enjoyed reading the above fishing article and are a serious fisherman who loves the outdoors, I would like to invite you to my website where you will find tons of information and a forum community about fishing at [http://www.TheArtofAngling.com]

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