Monthly Archives: April 2018

Enjoy Biking In Atlanta

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Biking is a great way for visitors to see the city of Atlanta and enjoy its area parks and greenways. The weather is mild much of the year, and biking provides an opportunity for outdoor recreation and exercise. Visitors who are in town without their bikes will find several shops around the metro area that rent bikes, and one company that specializes in bicycle tours.

Bicycle Tours of Atlanta offers a guided Heart of the City Tour that covers approximately ten miles in three hours. Riders will see many of Atlantas historic sites and intown neighborhoods. The tour is recommended for riders age 16 and older who lead an active lifestyle. Safety is a priority and tours are led by experienced urban cyclists. The route leads along Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, past Underground Atlanta, and through the Martin Luther King Historic District, where the Civil Rights movement was centered. Riders will pass Grant Park, home of Zoo Atlanta and the Cyclorama, and historic Oakland Cemetery. The tour continues through Inman Park, Atlantas first planned suburb, and into Little Five Points, one of Atlantas most offbeat neighborhoods. The tours leave from Studiplex Lofts, Suite 19G, located east of downtown at 659 Auburn Avenue. Parking is free. Tours leave at 9am. The cost is $49 and includes bikes, helmets, and water.

The Silver Comet Trail, which begins in the northwest metro area, is a popular place to ride bikes. The paved multi-use National Recreation Trail runs over an abandoned rail line. It begins in the town of Smyrna and goes 61 miles west to the Georgia-Alabama border. It connects to the Chief Ladiga Trail, which goes another 35 miles to Anniston, Alabama.

Two bicycle shops located along the Silver Comet Trail offer bike rentals. Silver Comet Depot Cycles has a good selection of rentals that are available hourly on weekends and holidays and full or half days at other times. There is a required $50 deposit and helmets are included. The shop is located at 4342 Floyd Road in Mableton, Georgia, and is open year round. Smyrna Bicycles is also located just off the Silver Comet Trail at 4624 Camp Highland Road SE in Smyrna. This is a full service shop that also rents bikes hourly and daily.

Roswell Bicycles at 670 Houze Way in Roswell, Georgia, has bikes for rent. They are located a short drive from the Big Creek Greenway, a paved multi-use trail in the northern suburb of Alpharetta. Roswell Bicycles is open daily and rents hybrids and road bikes.
Skate Escape, located at 1086 Piedmont Avenue in midtown, rents bikes as well as skates. Their location is very convenient for those who want to ride bikes in Atlantas Piedmont Park. Skate Escape rents childrens bikes, 3 speeds, tandems, and recumbent bikes. They offer hourly and daily rentals.

Atlantas parks, greenways, and the Silver Comet Trail are popular places for bike riding. Visitors who enjoy the sport should try one of these bike rental shops and join local residents for some fun and exercise.

Kite Festivals

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Festivals and events like these are known throughout the world. It is also known to be family oriented, keeps the family bonded and creates interpersonal relationships. These kinds of events include small local events, traditional festivals that can be traced way back and major international festivals which bring kites and kite fliers from overseas to display their unique art kites and show their cultural designs and demonstrate the latest techniques in flying complex kites today.

In Asian countries, kite flying is a very popular event, especially when the festival houses a kite fight. Kite fighting are flying kites which participants try to snag each others kites and try to cut down each other down. These fighter kites are usually small and flat; they are usually diamond-shaped and are made of paper and bamboo, or any other similar materials that are light and well-built for such kind of game. You might ask, why paper and bamboo? Kites should pretty much be light and since it is played up in the sky, it is always possible for the kite line to be entangled with others kite lines or even in electrical wires. This is why kite fliers use materials that are easy to find and cheaper than silk and fiberglass. Though there are still avid fliers’ that use silk and more expensive kinds of materials, these are played in wide plains and are especially played during festivals and kite events.

In Afghanistan, kite fighting is also known as Gudiparan Bazi. Some kite fighters pass their strings through powders with broken glasses that and crushed into small pieces and glue to ensure that their lines are very abrasive and can severe the opponents strings easier. These abrasive strings are really dangerous and can always injure people as well. This is evident when Taliban rule in Afghanistan kite fliers was banned with other various recreations due to such dangerous acts by some kite fliers that use these tactics to win in kite fighting events.

There are also other stories such as in Vietnam, kites are flown, instead of tails, with small flutes glued and tied allowing the wind to whistle. It creates a musical hum that makes the viewers more in to the game or event. These types are called sound-making kites; others prefer to call them whistling kites. In Bali, they attach large bows to the spars of their kites to create low drum-like sounds. In Malaysia, they make theirs just like the Vietnamese prefer whistles. They use gourds and attached sound-making instruments such as flutes, and even harmonica-like instruments to produce different kinds of whistling sounds.

There are also countries that do not use sounds, but prefer kite fighting. Actually, they place these kite fighting events as their main events and one of which is in India. Just like in India, Pakistan is also one that has embraced these kites as their traditional practice. Flying kites have been a ritual during their spring festivals known as Basant. But again, flying kites were also banned due to, just like what the people of Afghanistan do, the fliers coating their strings with glue and finely crushed glasses. It was banned because of the danger that it cause when the kites flies back down and lands near people. It can endanger lives since kite flying events are popularly known and a lot of locals and even tourists go and watch these events.

Private Property Vs. Public Trust

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There are two types of property ownership recognized by law, jus privatum and jus publicum. Everybody’s familiar with jus privatum, also known as fee simple ownership. It means that you have title to a parcel of property, which confers upon you certain rights with respect to that property. Historically, private property rights have been defined as:
The right to control the use of your property.
The right to the benefits that accrue from your property.
The right to sell or transfer your property.
The right to exclude others from access to your property.
On the other hand, few people are familiar with jus publicum, also known as the public trust. Jus publicum ownership is always vested in the state, never in a private party. Unlike jus privatum, jus publicum is not transferrable. Furthermore, in any case where jus publicum can be established, it overrides jus privatum. Therein lies the rub. That enables the state to use jus publicum to abrogate your private property rights, without your consent and without compensation, in any situation where jus publicum can be established.

The idea of public trust goes back to English Common Law.

“Both the title and the dominion of the sea, and of rivers and arms of the sea, where the tide ebbs and flows, and of all the lands below high water mark, within the jurisdiction of the crown of England, are in the King. Such waters and the lands which they cover either at all times or at least when the tide is in, are incapable of ordinary and private occupation, cultivation, and improvement and their natural and primary uses are public in their nature, for highways of navigation and commerce, domestic and foreign, and for the purpose of fishing by all the King’s subjects. Therefore the title, jus privatum, in such lands, as of waste and unoccupied lands, belongs to the king, as the sovereign; and the dominion thereof, jus publicum, is vested in him, as the representative of the nation and for the public benefit.”
— U.S. Supreme Court, Shively v. Bowlby (1894)After the American Revolution, the thirteen former colonies that made up the newly formed Union assumed the title and rights of the King to all navigable rivers within their respective territories. The jus publicum was held to be non-transferrable, acting as a permanent public easement on the jus privatum title for purposes of navigation, commerce, and fishing, as originally designated under English Common Law. At a time when rivers were the most practical means of transporting people and goods over long distances, the free use of navigable waterways was considered essential for the development of local and interstate economies.

As other states were admitted to the Union, they were guaranteed equal footing with the original thirteen, and so acquired the same title and rights to the navigable rivers within their jurisdiction.

Said rivers and waterways and all navigable waters of the said state shall be common highways and forever free as well to the inhabitants of said state as to all citizens of the United States without tax, duty, import or toll thereafter.
— Act for Admission of Oregon into the United States (1859)In accordance with the original intent of the law, jus publicum was traditionally defined as the specific public rights associated with using rivers as “highways of navigation and commerce” and for purposes of fishing. While a highway is dedicated to public use, no sane person would claim the right to sit down in the middle of a highway and have a picnic. That is not one of the designated purposes of a highway. Likewise, it never occurred to anyone to claim that recreation would be an applicable purpose for which to invoke jus publicum. — Up until 25 years ago, that is, at which time the state of California came up with the notion that the definition of jus publicum could be extended to include whatever purposes the state might find convenient.

The objective of the public trust has evolved in tandem with the changing public perception of the values and uses of waterways. … [T]he traditional triad of uses – navigation, commerce and fishing – did not limit the public interest in the trust res. … “In administering the trust the state is not burdened with an outmoded classification favoring one mode of utilization over another.”
— California Supreme Court, National Audubon Society v. Superior Court of Alpine County (1983)In that case, the California Supreme Court extended jus publicum to include non-navigable tributaries of Mono Lake. The court ruled that the state could prevent the Department of Water and Power for the City of Los Angeles from using its legally owned water rights because the usage interfered with the supply of water to Mono Lake. The water rights were deemed to be a public trust for “environmental and human considerations” having nothing to do with the traditional jus publicum rights relating to navigation, commerce, or fishing. The court rejected a regulatory takings claim because the land was held to be exempt from fee simple title on the grounds that it was a public trust and, therefore, no compensation was due to the plaintiff for the loss of their water rights.

That ruling opened the door for other states to expand the scope of jus publicum beyond its original intent, in whatever ways captured their imagination.

The nature of the ownership includes two components: fee simple title (the jus privatum) and dominion as the publics trustee over the natural resource for public trust uses such as navigation, commerce, fisheries and recreation (the jus publicum).
— Oregon Department of State Lands, Rogue River Navigability Report (2008 ) Oregon, quietly and without fanfare, slipped “and recreation” into the list of rights held in trust for the public under jus publicum. Nobody blinked so, by precedent, the “right” to recreation is now part of the legal definition of the public trust in the state of Oregon. What difference does that make? If you own riverfront property, the traditional definition of jus publicum guaranteed passage for boats on the river without your explicit consent. The new and improved definition declares that anybody who wants to may have picnics and parties in your backyard (at least the part of it that extends below the high water mark). In the course of carefree recreation, people often make noise, leave litter, and sometimes do damage to property. But there’s nothing you can do about that, because the state of Oregon declared they have as much right to use your property for recreation as you do. You can ask them to pick up their litter, but you can’t enforce it. And, if they damage your property, you can try to sue them, if you can find out who they are… But you have no legal right to keep them out, or to restrict what they may do while they’re enjoying your property.

Oregon was not the first state to include recreation in the definition of jus publicum. In 1999 (National Association of Home Builders v. New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection), riverfront property owners were compelled to allow a public pathway along the river, through their property, with no compensation for takings, because the right to access the river for recreational purposes was ruled a public trust. Because the path is on their property, the “owners” have the responsibility of maintaining it (just like a public sidewalk) and, presumably, they also carry the liability if anyone should get hurt while traversing it.

In 2002 (Esplanade Properties, LLC v. City of Seattle), the Ninth Circuit Court used the state of Washington’s expanded definition of jus publicum to prohibit residential development of privately owned shoreline properties. Because the recreational use of the shoreline is considered a public trust, no compensation was awarded to the fee simple “owners” of the property.

According to The Idea of Property: Custom and Public Trust, in 2001 (R. W. Docks & Slips v. Wisconsin), the Wisconsin Supreme Court “expanded the public trust doctrine to include recreation and preservation of scenic beauty.” Subsequently, Florida and other states “expansively interpreted” the public trust doctrine to include both recreation and scenic beauty, as well. When the state can rule that the public’s “right” to scenic beauty supercedes the private property rights of individuals, one has to wonder if there are any limits to the ever-expanding powers of state government to abrogate our property rights for whatever arbitrary purpose they may declare.

When the state declares your property, or some part of your property, to be a public trust, it can legally deprive you of the traditional rights associated with private property ownership. In the cases cited above, property owners were deprived of the right to control the use of their property, the right to economic benefits accruing from their property, and the right to exclude others from access to their property. Yet, as long as the justification is based on jus publicum (or expanded definitions thereof), the state is not required to pay any compensation for takings under the laws of eminent domain. Because jus publicum is non-transferrable, the state will claim the property rights in question never did actually belong to you (though you will continue to owe property taxes on the property).

Simple Pool Landscaping Ideas

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Do you have the amazing pleasure of owning your very own inground pool but do not know how to landscape around it? This is an issue that many homeowners will deal with. Here I will give you some simple yet universally effective pool landscaping ideas that are relatively easy to implement. This way you can make your backyard pool twice as impressive as it already is, turning it into the perfect spot for summer parties or just relaxing at home.

As our first pool landscaping idea, it is important to decorate the area around the pool with a variety of plants and vegetation. The landscape of the surrounding environment will determine the entire mood of your backyard. Also, do not forget to include vibrant colors around the entire area. The reason for this is that the blue hue of your pool water will accentuate any color it hits; thus, giving your backyard that serene and surreal feeling of relaxation and joy. Make sure to add plenty of flower-bearing plants. This way, you get to add color to your landscape, while at the same time giving your pool a natural feel. In addition, try to stay away from plants that drop leaves or petals as cleaning them every so often can be quite annoying. Go for potted colorful plants, such as zinnia and crotons, that hold on to their petals and leaves for a very long time. Moreover, do not hesitate to add rocks or stones of different shades and shapes in between your flowers. If you wish to cover up the dirt around your pool area, then I suggest that you use mulch. Mulch will help your soil retain its moisture and avoid weed growth. Also, it is natural and adds grandeur to your overall pool setup. If you want, you may even go for a mountainous terrain appeal. Just stack huge boulders together, add a water pump to simulate a small waterfall, and there you have it: your own personal royal rainforest.

Another pool landscaping idea is to make your backyard pool more inviting by changing up your outdoor furniture and decor. You can add more elegance and mystery to your pool by placing elements that have stories to tell. You can do this by adding in backyard statues, rustic lounge chairs, and even small fountains. This will help your pool become a really warm and guest-friendly hang-out place. You may also add a canopy over your pool area. This will ensure that you can hold backyard barbecues no matter the weather. It also gives you the liberty to rest and relax in your pool garden without worrying about the harsh elements of nature.

With some simple pool landscaping, it is quite easy to transform your pool into not just a place for recreation, but a wonderful spot to relax. It is not as difficult as it seems. All you need is a creative imagination and a desire to turn your backyard into something special. Follow these tips and you will have your own natural paradise in no time.

Difference between Reproduction Oil Paintings and Prints

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If you have an idea to decorate walls of your home or office with the paintings like an art prints or reproduction oil paintings; you must have to know, what the difference between both of them is. Both terms have a great place in the art world, but they are extremely different from each other. It is very important to know the difference between them, while purchasing an art.

An art print is the indistinguishable copy of the original artwork, which is produced by the process of photomechanical.-Giclee- that is the word which is used to explain the techniques of reproducing art with the printing process. The print is as similar as the original painting. It is just like photocopying of an original painting, but different from the original one. Prints are created by an artist in limited editions and are also signed by their own. Prints are well-liked by the collectors wish to earn more profits.

However, these very creative forms of Oil Paintings are hand-made recreations of the original art works created by someone other than the original artists. A talented artist inspects the original painting and then paints the close reproduction. Those reproductions are created by oil paints on canvas to make similar to originals. These oil paintings are easily available and affordable. So, they are also liked by the art lovers. Art reproduction, known as a replica, oil paintings are the copies of well-known paintings that are made by the professional artists.

When you are probing for print or reproduction oil paintings, you will find that both the terms are interchanged with each other. Like an art print may be taken as a reproduction also because it is a copy of the original one. However, a reproduction might not always call a -print-. Prints and reproduction oil paintings both are the form of art, which attracts art lovers. Prints are the copies of the actual painting, but the paintings are the real paintings. They are only not painted by the original artist. If you do not have huge investment, but you want the actual paintings, you should prefer reproduction oil paintings. It provides you both, real art and low investment. If one wishes to invest in these incredible paintings forms for profit or interested in collection and is not capable to buy the original paintings, then prints will be the best alternative for that art lover and they would love to have the best creativity with them.