Ever since the bicycle was invented in the early 1800s, this people transporter on two wheels has had a significant impact on society. It’s estimated there are now around one billion bicycles in the world and, at least according to singer Katie Melua, nine million of those are in Beijing, China!

It’s not disputed that cycling is sitll the principal mode of transport for much of the world’s population.

In 1817 a man named Karl von Drais invented what he called his “hobby horse”, a wooden bicycle with wheels but no pedals or chain. This meant you pushed along with your feet - but it was still faster than walking.

About1840 a Scot named Kirkpatrick Macmillan took the next step by adding pedals. The “Safety Bicycle”, now sporting gears and a chain to drive the rear wheel, became popular around 1885. The introduction not long after of the rubber tire significantly improved rider comfort which aided public acceptance of the new design.

Yet it was only in the 1930s that cycles became a popular form of transport as a result of lower production costs, combined with higher wages.

So it’s natural that the bicycle, having played such a pivotal role in society during the last century, has been - and still is - a popular subject for artists and photographers.

This has resulted in a wonderfully diverse selection of cycling posters and vintage bicycle posters, in the form of art reproductions (as in the examples below), becoming accessible to those for whom originals or limited-edition prints are simply too expensive.

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Thanks to innovative technology and advances in digital printing, it’s now feasible to produce small quantities of art reproductions at affordable prices. And, while costs have dropped for small print runs, the caliber of art prints and posters has gotten better. Sophisticated inkjet printers using a wide array of inks can produce vivid, saturated colors, exceptional detail and subtle tones previously only possible with highly expensive equipment.

This means the average art enthusiast now has access to modern cycling posters and vintage bicycle prints reproduced from original artwork. Reproductions are made on archival quality materials and often include stretched canvas prints, giving an even more authentic look.

Giclée bicycle prints (pronounced “zhee-clay”), a form of inkjet print derived from the French term meaning to spray or squirt, offer additional options. Giclée prints can be made on a variety of paper surfaces, including various textures such as watercolor paper, stretched canvas, or textured vinyl.

When selecting cycling posters or vintage bicycle prints, one has various framing alternatives available that allow one to infuse the artwork with personal taste, ensuring a measure of originality. Selecting a frame that complements not only the print but also the interior design space will add hugely to one’s enjoyment of the artwork.

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The famous Spanish Steps, or Scalinata Spagna, make up another one of Rome’s amazing tourist hot spots. Designed by Francesco di Sanctis and built in the 1720s, the Spanish Steps continually draws tourists and locals alike out of their apartments in Rome.

Created by the French diplomat, Étienne Gueffier, the monumental Spanish stairway contains 138 steps and subsequently boasts the longest and widest staircase in all of Europe.

The steps lead to the French church, the Trinita del Monti, which provides an amazing site for those at the base looking up with its twin towers that dominate the skyline. The church is also representative of the French legacy that built the attraction on land that was previously owned by them.

However in the 1700s during the construction of the steps, their popularity grew exponentially and guards from the nearby Spanish Embassy were sent to maintain the peace.

Ironically many Spaniards continued to flock to the stairs, resulting in French protests against the Spanish for an intrusion onto their land. Eventually a decision had to be made by the Roman Authorities and they sanctioned that the stairs fell under the jurisdiction of the Spanish. As such, time went by and the stairs eventually formed the name it is commonly referred to today as the Spanish Steps.

Furthermore, at the base of the stairs lies the beautiful Barcaccia Fountain, or Fontana della Barcaccia, which translates to “Fountain of the old boat”. The fountain derives its name from the shape of a half sunken ship with bows that contain overflowing water. In the middle of summer in Rome, many tourists use the fountain in order to cool themselves from the scorching heat, whilst others may toss a coin in for good luck. Whatever the reason, the Barcaccia fountain provides a great element to the popularity of the Spanish Steps and for bringing guests out of Rome apartments.

NB: Don’t forget to browse our riveting selection of Rome Posters and Prints.

Providing your dog with a well balanced diet is part of being a responsible dog owner. Be sure that you include foods with protein, carbohydrates, and good fats. By providing your dog with a well balanced diet you are making sure that she has a long, happy, and healthy life. A proper diet will also provide her with a beautiful coat and bundles of energy.

The question that many people have is… What is the proper balance for my dog’s diet? Follow this general rule of thumb…

2 - 25% protein
20 - 35% fat
40 - 60% carbohydrates
Along with these essential nutrients you should also provide your dog with vitamins and minerals.

However, keep in mind that dogs have very different needs than us. B1 vitamin is one of the most important supplements that they need. This is because dogs are not very good at storing vitamin B1 in their bodies and it is absent from many dog foods.

Feeding your dog only lean meat will not provide them with all the necessary nutrients. In nature, dogs eat their entire prey which contains everything they need. As good owners we have to try and imitate their natural environment as closely as possible.

Studies have been done to look at the habits of dogs and what they eat. These studies have shown that dogs prefer cooked and mushy food over those that are raw and meaty. However, dogs are not usually very picky and many will eat almost anything we give them. So it is our job to make sure we are giving them what is best for them.

Most dog owners tend to feed their dogs commercial dog food. These are often fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. The manufacturers know that the dog food must be stored easily so they package them in convenient ways such as bags or cans. Dog owners just love that. The downside is that usually the more convenient and attractive the packaging, the more expensive the food. Wouldn’t you agree?

This is why many dog owners are turning to home cooking for their dogs. The problem here is that it can be hard to provide our pets with the proper balance in their diet this way. The things that we eat and cook for ourselves are not good for them.

The key is to do some research and make sure that you are providing your dog with the best possible source of her nutrition to ensure healthy pets.

Things can go wrong if we are not careful with what we are giving our dogs. For example, too much milk powder in their food may cause scouring because some dogs have a hard time digesting lactose. Instead of creating your own recipes a better way might be to search for recipes that have been time tested.

Another consideration is to be careful of bones. Try and avoid most bones, although your dog does enjoy a good bone. Small, cooked bones are more likely to splinter posing a risk for your dogs. You should try and stay away from cooked chicken bones, lamb chops, and especially fish bones. Fish bones are probably the worst of all.

You will learn what is best for your dog over time. You can note any food that she avoids since this may indicate a food that she does not like. Just keep in mind that you should follow the unique requirements of a dog’s diet and you should be fine. This will ensure that your dog is happy and healthy.

Download a FREE copy of “39 Simple Tips to Keep Your Pet Healthy“.

Buy at AllPosters.comSkateboarding is one of the fastest growing extreme sports around. Skateboarding is a world-wide sport. Skateboarding can be kind of tricky at first. But hopefully with the help from this post you won’t have to go through all the pain and frustration of trying to learn skateboarding tricks without help.

Believe it or not, skateboarding can be dangerous sometimes. Just in case you crash you should probably wear at least a helmet. Knee pads and elbow pads can usually help to. Oh, and I cannot be held responsible for any injury when you are learning skateboarding tricks!

THE OLLIE

One of the most important skateboarding tricks is the ollie. To do a kick flip, heel flip, pop shove it, and pretty much every other skateboarding trick, involves the ollie. To ollie, put your front foot in the middle of your board and your back foot on the tail. Then to ollie you snap the tail of your board down, then jump, and after you jump move your front foot up to the truck bolts at the front of your board to even out. And that’s how you do an ollie. But just like any other trick the ollie might take a few tries to get it.

THE POP SHOVE-IT

A pop shove-it is when your board does a 180 degree spin in the air. To pop shove-it you ollie, then you move your back foot in backward in a sweeping motion and, move your front foot forward just a little bit, then after the board does a 180 you catch the board with your feet and land! And that’s how you do the pop shove-it!

THE KICK SPIN

To kick flip you put your back foot on tail and your front foot behind the front truck bolts (kind of like you are going to ollie). But have your front foot at an angle (like a 45 degree angle). As you ollie, move your front foot to where the board starts to rise, then flick your foot to the side. Then bring your foot back and after the board has gone all the way around catch the board with your feet.

THE HEEL FLIP

The heel flip is somewhat like the kick flip, just a little different. To do a heel flip put your back foot on the tail so only three fourths of your foot is actually on your board. Put your front foot by the truck bolts, with your toes hanging off the side of the board. Then slide your front foot up to the nose of your board towards so your heel hits the corner, so your board flips the opposite way of a kick flip. Then you catch the board with your feet. Now you can go out and start doing heel flips

THE BONELESS

The boneless is an old school trick, but it’s still a cool trick (not that old school tricks aren’t cool). To boneless you start just riding your board (you might want to start out going slow) grab right behind the front wheels. Then you take your front foot off the board, and quickly push off the ground with it. Then when you’re in the air put your foot back on the board and land! Now you know how to do a boneless!

THE FINGER FLIP

If you want to do a finger flip you have your back foot on the tail and your front foot in the middle or just behind the middle of your board. First you grab the front of your board. Then you ollie, and while your in the air flip the board with your hand. Make sure you move your feet out of the way. Then hope fully land back on the board.

THE IMPOSSIBLE

If you want to do an impossible put your back foot on your tail so your heel is kind of hanging off and put your front foot up by the truck bolts with your heal hanging of a little bit so its easy to get it out of the way. Then you push down and forward with your back foot (like in a sweeping motion) and move you front foot out of the way. Keep pushing your back foot forward until the board goes all the way around your foot. Then put your front foot back on.

Hopefully this list of How to Skateboard tips has helped you get started in this great sport. If you know of any other cool tricks you want to share, please leave a comment so you can help out other skating athletes. If you are in the market for some sporting goods for extreme sports or just want more information on skateboarding in general, visit www.SkateboardPlanet.net.

NB: Don’t forget to check out our gallery of eye-popping Extreme Sport Posters and Prints

If you’re looking for a movie to get yourself or your family into the holiday spirit, these are 10 guaranteed top picks when it comes to Christmas Movies:

10 - A Christmas Carol (1951)
The Charles Dickens story has been remade into several television and movie adaptations through the years, yet the tale remains the same. Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly businessman in 1840’s London whose only goal is to make more money and keep it for himself. On Christmas Eve, he sees the ghost of his deceased business partner, who tells him that he will be visited by three spirits-Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come. The ghosts appear to Scrooge in an attempt to help him change his ways.

9 - Elf (2003) starring Will Ferrell
I’m not usually a Will Ferrell fan, to be quite frank, I find him and his characters annoying. I actually saw this film for the first time this year, at a friend’s house. I was surprised to find myself laughing at “Buddy’s” antics, and also a little touched to see how his childlike enthusiasm worked magic on the others around him. Besides, it actually is fun to watch a really tall guy wearing a ridiculous looking green suit and tights running around New York City. I guess I’ll have to make an exception and let Elf schmaltz into my holidays from now on, although it’s not really one to share with younger kids.

8 - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Animated
Jack Skellington, the “Pumpkin King” of Halloween Town, is bored and sets out to find something new to do. When he stumbles into Christmas Town, Jack decides to recreate Christmas in Halloween style, with ghouls, goblins, and a coffin “sleigh”, drawn by skeletal reindeer. Jack also assumes the duties of Santa Claus to deliver toys across the world, with unusual consequences.

7 - National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) starring Chevy Chase
Number seven is truly a classic Christmas comedy. The Griswold family struggles to have an old-fashioned Christmas. With crazy Christmas lights, Cousin Eddie, and squirrels hiding in trees, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will keep you laughing all night long.

6 - Bad Santa (2003)
Con men Willie and Marcus join forces each year to rob department stores at Christmas by posing as Santa and his little helper. Their plans are foiled when Willie meets a troubled 8-year old boy, who teaches them the real meaning of Christmas.

5 - Scrooged (1988)
Movie number five is a twist on A Christmas Carol. Administrator of a U.S. television station, Frank Cross didn’t really have a great childhood so his appreciation of Christmas is quiescent. His station is planning on playing a live adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Three ghosts attempt to help Frank change his ways.

4 - The Santa Clause (1994)
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is reading his son Charlie a Christmas story one night when he hears something on the roof. After frightening Santa to death, Scott must take over as the new Santa. Charlie likes the fact his dad is Santa, but Scott doesn’t believe it — until his hair turns white and he puts on a couple pounds. Can Scott keep his new secret from his unsuspecting family?

3 - Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Miracle on 34th Street is a timeless Christmas classic. After a drunk imitation Santa at Macy’s is replaced by a new Santa, skeptical six-year old Susan notices this Santa’s determination to prove to everyone that he, Kris Kringle, is indeed the real Santa. Kris goes to court to prove his title is true, and in doing so, restores Susan’s faith and belief in Christmas.

2 - It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) starring Jimmy Stewart
Given the financial events of this year, this one was a close one, almost got number one for me. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that everyone’s life makes a difference, and that your family needs you. Get everyone to sit down together and watch it, enough said.

That brings us to the number one Christmas movie to watch in 2009:

1 - A Christmas Story (1983) starring Peter Billingsley
Probably the most popular Christmas movie ever made, A Christmas Story is a tale of a young boy, Ralphie, who wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB rifle for Christmas. Does Ralphie ever get his one and only wish? Bunny outfits, leg lamps, and “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!” will keep you laughing until next Christmas.

There you have it, the Top Ten Christmas Movies of 2008! Throw another log on the fire and get to watching these timeless movies.

NB: Don’t forget also to browse our stunning collection of Movie Prints and Posters!

When most people think of skateboarding equipment, the first thing they think of is a skateboard. Well, some people might think of skateboard pads, but mostly I think it is a skateboard that people think of. To be exact, what people think of is complete skateboards.

Complete skateboards consist of three main parts: the skateboard deck, the trucks, and the wheels. I think everybody knows that the skateboard deck is the part that you stand on. The truck is the medal part your wheels hook on to. It’s important to get the type that best fits your style of skateboarding. The last part of a complete skateboard is the wheels. I am pretty sure everybody knows what the wheels are. You can pick different types of decks, trucks, and wheels depending on what type of skating you will be doing.

The main consideration of a skateboard deck is the width. Well, that and the graphics. You have to make sure your skateboard looks cool. If you like to skate in half pipes or pools or at a skate park your deck should be about 8.25″ to about 8.5″ wide. The wider the deck the more stable it is. For technical and street riding you would need about a 7.5″ to 8″ wide decks. This well help you do flip tricks, grinds, and other stuff like that a bit easier.

The next part of a complete skateboard is the trucks which come in three different heights: low, medium, and high. Low trucks give you more stability and quicker flip tricks. They also go well with smaller wheels. Higher trucks allow you to use bigger wheels for a little bit more speed, you can roll a little farther to, and even bigger wheels make it easier to go over rougher roads. Medium trucks are between low trucks and high trucks. Most skaters choose low trucks for street skating. You can also specialize the bushings that are between the deck and the trucks. Soft rubber bushings are better for sharper turns while harder rubber is more stable and harder to turn. Most skaters just use a medium hardness.

Wheels are the last part of a complete skateboard that you need to select. As with all parts of your skateboard, appearance is a big factor. You need to make sure your wheels look good with the rest of the skateboard. The other two factors are the hardness of the wheel and the diameter of the wheel. Larger wheels allow you to go faster. If you’re doing a lot of skateboarding on ramps, you will want a larger wheel to get more speed so you can get more air. If you’re going to be doing more tricks on the ground, you will probably want smaller wheels because they will be lighter and allow you to flip your skateboard easier. If you’re going to do a lot of all terrain type skating, you may want to choose a softer wheel to give you a smoother ride. As with all of the elements of a complete skateboard, many skaters will be well served by getting a medium sized wheel of average hardness.

Now that we have gone over all the individual elements of a complete skateboard, you will be happy to know, most of the time you can just buy complete skateboards already put together with middle of the road equipment and be off and skating without ever having to choose the components.

This is recommended for new skaters. After you start skating you can go out and replace components to fit the style of skating you do the most of. Once you are advanced and building your dream board, you will know exactly what you want and it won’t be hard to pick out all the components.

When you are ready to buy your skateboarding equipment check out one of many resources on the internet like www.SkateboardPlanet.net where you can save a bunch of money on big name complete skateboards and other equipment.

ELEMENT Skateboard LOGO Grip HEARTAGRAM BB COMPLE BLACK

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Mongoose MG102 Cobra Skateboard

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BAKER Skateboards BAKER LOGO Complete SKATEBOARD

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POSITIV Rodney Jones Metallic Series Complete Skateboard

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ELEMENT SECTION BLACK COMPLETE-7.5 thriftwood

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There are many reasons you may need to buy skateboard trucks. You may be building your own dream skateboard. You may be upgrading your existing skateboard with some premium skateboard trucks. Maybe you have worn out your existing trucks grinding like a pro. Whatever the reason, you need to look at a few things when you are deciding what trucks you want to purchase.

The first thing you need to look at is the bushings. They are the rubber part that flexes when you’re turning. You can remove these and replace them to customize your skateboard. Harder rubber is more stable and stiffer when you turn. Softer bushings are looser and let you turn faster. Most people are better off just getting a medium bushing and just having an all purpose skateboard.

For skateboard trucks, the dimensions are the next critical item to consider. The first dimension is the truck height. Low skateboard trucks are more stable and allow you to do quick flip tricks better. High trucks allow you to use larger wheels which go faster and are better for all terrain skating. As with the bushings, you can go with a medium height truck for all purpose skating.

The last dimension for skateboard trucks is the axle length. There really isn’t anything special you need to worry about here. Just make sure you match the axle length to the skateboard width.

There are many different brands of skateboard trucks and each has some unique features. Following are a few types of skateboarding trucks you may want to consider.

Tensor trucks have been engineered to the specifications of skateboarding legend Rodney Mullen. They are available in a standard and low design and are a great choice for an all around good skateboard truck.

Destructo skateboard trucks are another great choice. They make trucks in low, medium, and high. There are tons of color schemes to choose from.

Grindking trucks are great for grinding, as you might have guessed. The hanger is made from aluminum which leads to better and smoother grinds. Because aluminum is a softer metal, you will have to replace them sooner than other trucks if you do a lot of grinding.

Fury skateboard trucks are built to be heavier and stronger than most other trucks. They have several unique features including special bushings and a unique turning design which has a ball joint sitting in a socket in the base plate of the truck.

There are several other skateboard trucks out there so do a little research and find the truck that is right for you. Find the right size, construction, and color and you are on your way to a sweet skateboard. Good luck on getting the right trucks for your dream skateboard.

After you have chosen your ideal skateboard trucks, you can save a bunch of money if you know where to shop. There are many great online skateboarding equipment stores like www.skateboardplanet.net where you can save a whole bunch of money. Surf on over to find great deals on skateboarding equipment and all your other skateboarding needs.

Independent 139 Stage 10 Skateboard Trucks (set of 2)

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Cargo Skateboard Truck (Blue/Blue Base, 5-Inch)

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Bullet Raider B137 Trucks, Black Black (Set of 2)

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Bones Hardcore Skateboard Truck Bushings (Medium, 1 Box of 2)

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Independent 149 Stage 10 Skateboard Trucks (set of 2)

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The first thing that you want to consider when choosing a skateboard deck is style. This needs to be on the top of your list because skateboarding is a lot about style. Who is your favorite skater? What is your favorite team or company? What kind of graphics do you like. You need to consider all these things because you want to be proud of the way your skateboard looks.

Now that you have the style part down, you need to decide what kind of skating you are going to use your new skateboarding deck for. The type of skating you will be doing determines the size your skateboard should be.

If you are going to be doing a lot of skating on vert ramps or pools, you are going to want to have a wider board that is a little more stable. This means you will probably want a skateboard that is 8.25 to 8.5 inches.

If you are going to use the skateboard for a lot of street skating or doing a lot of technical tricks, you probably want to get a narrower skateboard that will allow you to do flip tricks easier than if you are using a wider board. Skateboards that are 7.5, 7.75, or 8.0 inches are commonly used for this type of skating.

If you want to get a skateboard deck that will work well for all types of skating, you could choose a skateboard deck that is 8.0 inches wide and have a nice all purpose skateboard.

If you are going to be cruising around and not really do any tough tricks, you could consider old school deck or a longboard.

Whatever type of skateboarding you plan to do, thinking about it a little before you buy the first cool skateboard deck you see will make sure your new skateboarding deck gives you years of service in addition to just looking cool! Good luck on your quest for the perfect skateboard deck.

Check out extreme sports gear at www.skateboardplanet.net where you will find skateboard decks and other skateboarding equipment at great prices.

Moose Blank 7.75" Skateboard Deck (Green)

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Moose Blank 8.25" Skateboard Deck (Dipped White)

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Moose Blank 8" Skateboard Deck (Blue)

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Almost Daewon Song Doggy Deck, 7.75-Inch

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Almost Cooper Wilt Horseshoes & Grenades Deck, 7.7-Inch

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