Hobbies

There are a large number of historical airsoft guns, but one of the most popular is the M1A1 Thompson Submachine Gun. The iconic M1A1 is easily recongnized as both a gun that helped win World War 2 as well as one used by gangsters during the 1920s and 30s. In this article we will look at both the history of the real world thompson, as well as the various versions of airsoft replicas currently available.

Thompson Background

The Thompson submachine gun was designed to be a spray and prey weapon that would clear out the trenches of World War I battlefields, but never got that opportunity because the war ended before it could be put into limited service. Despite this, production of the Thompson continued and it first became available for sale in 1921. Although the price was high, the new submachine gun quickly became popular with a variety of users and has seen almost continuous action ever since.

Firing the .45 ACP round at a rate of between 600-1200 rounds per minute, the Thompson is a fearsome weapon. Unlike most other submachine guns which fire smaller rounds such as the 9mm, the Thompson can truly decimate targets. Available with magazine sizes ranging from 20 to 100 rounds, the Thompson submachine gun was capable of laying down an amazing amount of fire and could multiply the power of small groups of combatants immensely. The Thompson was truly a leap forward in weaponry and made a huge impact.

When originally produced, the fully automatic Thompson was available to all buyers, including civilians. This made the gun relatively easy to acquire, especially for gangsters during Prohibition who could afford the high price. This, combined with the large hard-hitting round, high rate of fire, and high capacity magazines made it a very popular weapon. And it is truly a weapon that has persevered and shown it self able to adapt to new situations. Since its introduction, variants of the Thompson have served in practically every world conflict, most notably during World War II and in Korea.

Despite its age, the Tommy gun shows no signs of leaving the world stage and looks like it will continue to see limited use for years to come.

Airsoft Versions

Highly recognizable, versions of the Thompson submachine gun are available from two different airsoft manufacturers. One version is made by Tokyo Marui, and is known as the Model 18. Another version is made by Cybergun. Both versions are Automatic Electric Guns with adjustable fire rates (semi- and fully automatic) and are full scale replicas of the original weapon. Tokyo Marui’s version makes use of an all metal barrel and upper receiver, while Cybergun’s M1A1 replica has an all metal body and weighs similar to the actual weapon. With both weapons shooting at velocities of well over 300 feet per second, these Thompson machine gun replicas are sure to help you dominate the battlefield.

Popularity: 9% [?]

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How many people do you know that speak Spanish? When it comes to Spanish speakers, chances are everyone in California and Texas know one. Nearly half of all US Hispanics reside in California or Texas according to statistics.

One in four people I know speaks Spanish, in part due to my southern California location. And although I have a high percentage of Spanish speakers in my life, I only know a few dozen words in the language. In the near future, it is a fact I plan to change! There are lots of good reasons to learn Spanish online.

Would you like to add Spanish to your list of languages? If you decide to learn another language there are many benefits, and if you are U.S. resident, learning to speak Spanish could benefit you more than you realize.

On the job market, large corporations and small businesses both seek Spanish speakers. Increasing your potential customer base becomes much easier if you can communicate with Spanish speaking customers. How can this help you as an employee? Not only does it mean a higher salary, but also an increased marketability to employers. If you already speak Spanish and English and are not seeing benefits in the workplace, perhaps you should consider finding new employment. Your income may increase substantially!

If you’ve been to Mexico like many Southern Californians have, you know that street vendors take advantage of non-Spanish speakers. You’re going to be treated better if you speak the language, which translates to lower prices and better overall service.

You will also develop a better cultural understanding if better prices don’t convince you. Consider how many books you have read in your lifetime that influence (and educate) your opinion and understanding of your own culture. Think about the cultural experience you will gain simply by being able to read Spanish books and newspapers; a new world of feeling and thinking will reveal itself to you.

Another great reason to learn Spanish is that it is easy to learn. Spanish and English share many similar words. Moreover, Spanish is easy to read – even for a beginner.

Is helping people something you enjoy? You will be much better prepared to help people around you, assuming you like to help them, because you will now be able to communicate in at least two languages. The favor holds true in reverse: you can ask for help from people that you normally couldn’t speak to.

Experiencing the heart of your local is another obvious benefit. You’ll also find many restaurants and clubs where Spanish is the language of choice. More than likely you won’t be going there if you can’t speak Spanish. Visiting a predominantly Spanish-speaking establishment will be less intimidating once you know the basics of the language.

How would you like to instantly increase the amount of cable channels you can watch? Spanish television is a real kick in the pants if you’ve never tuned in. Spanish culture is thriving in almost every Spanish program. You might even be surprised as a first time viewer, if you really listen to what is being said! Your local Spanish radio stations are the same way; the formats between English and Spanish radio differ drastically.

The best reason, perhaps, to learn Spanish is a simple one: by learning how to speak a new language, you instantly double the amount of friends you have!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Technorati Tags: , learn spanish online, learning to speak Spanish, speak Spanish

Congratulations! You finally figured out how to learn Chinese. You go online, sign up for a language course called Rocket Chinese, and at the last minute, decide to call up all family and friends to tell them you’re going to mainland China. You shrug off their reactions, reactions which ranged from the mildly interested and the disbelieving to the downright violent.

As you plan your trip in your mind, you begin to get delusions that perhaps, you had been Chinese in your previous lifetime.

How do you know you’re not Chinese in this lifetime? Quite easily!

1. You’re not Chinese in this lifetime when you find yourself googling ‘how to learn Chinese‘.

2. You’re certainly not Chinese in this lifetime if you’re taking a Rocket Chinese course online. After all, if you are Chinese, you wouldn’t be studying how to learn Chinese, would you?

Let’s look at the opposite end of the spectrum this time. How do you know you’re Chinese in this lifetime?

1. Your parents are never happy with your grads.
2. You eat chicken (and chicken feet).
3. You receive or give out little red envelopes during special occasions.
4. Your grandma is proud of her gold teeth.
5. At least 15 other people look like you.
6. Your mother gets a perm. So do you.
7. All of your parents friends are named auntie and uncle.
8. Your parents collect jade. So do you.
9. You not only like Bruce Lee, you resemble him.
10. You don’t know kung-fu but everybody assumes you do.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Technorati Tags: how to learn Chinese, learn Mandarin online

Are you flying to Germany in a couple of days? Writing to a German friend? Tracing your family’s roots? Looking for a job in Germany? No matter what your reason is for wanting to study German, congratulations! You are one of the few who have actually progressed from planning to master a second language to actually considering how to learn German.

So we come to the question: how to learn German?

1. Sign up for classes.
There are many language courses you could sign up for online, such as Pocket German.

2. Buy an English - German dictionary.
Get audio tapes, too, so you could learn not just what a word means but how to say it as well. Then, put your learning to the test by translating short texts.

3. Practice using German.
Practice makes perfect. The more you put a language to use, the more familiar you become with it.

4. Become friends with German-speaking people.
These people can correct your pronunciation and expose you to the language and the culture like nothing else can.

5. Stay positive.
Don’t give up no matter how tempting it is to do so. German may be difficult but remember, the things that truly matter are the ones you have to work the most for.

That said, Einen schönen Tag noch!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Technorati Tags: german language online, how to learn german, how to speak german, learning german language

Thinking of learning the German language? Most people who want to learn a second language seldom pick German. But maybe they should have. German is the mother tongue of more than a hundred million people in 38 nations around the world. That’s a whole load of German speakers, isn’t it? And that’s a whole load of reasons for learning the German language, too.

Why go German – linguistically, at least? Here are three reasons:

1. Travel
German is not only the mother tongue of three major European countries; it is also spoken by numerous nations all over Europe. This includes Romania, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. If you plan to visit Europe any time soon, you might want to start learning the German language. This is easy as there are many classes online, among them Pocket German.

2. Business or Employment
Who needs to learn German for employment or business? You do – or at least you might want to. Germany is the world’s third largest industrial country. It is also a huge world exporter. Learning the German language would open more doors for you and not just work-wise.

3. Culture
Germany is much more than beer, much more than lederhosen. It’s a nation with a rich heritage and an even richer history. You can understand it so much better by learning the German language.

The greatest reason of all is not found above, however. The greatest reason for learning German is this: because you want to and because you can!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Technorati Tags: german language online, how to learn german, how to speak german, learning german language

I See Trees Of Green…

I don’t know about you, but I love to look at beautiful things at all and special at Wildlife and Nature.
If pressure ever starts to get on top of me at work, I like to go to my local botanical garden and take some time out and play with my SLR Digital Camera. To watch and look at the nature gives me silence and "inner freedom". Also I look often interested at Websites with intersting Wildlife pictures.

Sure, lots of people are setting up sites showing off their talents, everyone can do that and you can too - if you have an interest in photography. The rest of us are just happy to hear the theraputic chica-chica of the
camera taking the snaps.

When I take pictures, I want to have them look as best as they can - and to make the most of the equipment I have, so that when I do not have the time to get away for a day to my gardens, that I still have the pictures there to remind me of the relaxing time I was there last - and they look awesome.

Some days ago I have found a wonderful tool, which gave me the needed help to transform the quality of my digital photos and I may highly recommend to have a look on it.

Digital Photography Secrets

greetings
W.M.Heus

P.S. Just a TIP:
If you are using images on the website, homepage or blog that you own or plan to
create, DON’T just go to Google images and pick something! - you can
get into a whole heap of legal trouble. If you need pictures use FREE sites !!!

Popularity: 29% [?]

Technorati Tags: about wildlife photography, guide to wildlife photography, how to do wildlife photography, nature photo, nature photography, pictures of wildlife, tips fo, wildlife photographers, wildlife photography

If you thought you’d NEVER be able to learn Spanish – think again!

Learning a second language has never been easier with the substantial growth of the Internet, interactive websites and of course the e-book market. In fact now you can learn Spanish now within weeks with the help of the world wide web and some dedicated teachers.

You can learn Spanish now without the hassle of attending night classes at your local college…

Intrigued?

Here’s a just a few of the benefits you can enjoy learning Spanish online:

* You can simply download the material straight to your computer – no postage
* You can start at any time you like, there’s no start of semester
* You can fit it in at any time of the day – regardless of what your agenda looks like
* You can use the audio and text materials over and over again
* You only have to pay a one off fee for the material that you can keep on your computer for a lifetime
* You will probably only have to pay around $100 for something that could cost thousands at a college
* You can stop and start at any time if you get a bit swamped at home or at work

There are SO many benefits that come with learning Spanish online.

You can learn Spanish now and be off on your trip next month! Or simply

surprise your friends with a FANTASTIC party trick!

Popularity: 34% [?]

Technorati Tags: easy to learn spanish, learn spanish, learn spanish language, learn spanish now, learn spanish on line, learn spanish online, learn to speak spanish online, spanish

Learning a language has been proven time and time again to be fantastic stimulation for your mind. Obviously learning a foreign language won’t happen without a bit of work on your part but why struggle your way through a night class at college when you could sit at your computer and let your mind travel to Spain.

If you want to hone your skills in the way this language is actually spoken you can learn to speak Spanish online.

There could be heaps of different reasons you want to jump into learning Spanish…

1. You might have found a sexy Spanish beau

2. You might be heading off on the trip of a lifetime

3. You might be bored in your life and want a new challenge

4. You might want to score the promotion of your dreams

5. You might just want to add a new language to the collection

Whatever your reasons for wanting to learn Spanish online the benefits speak for themselves..

You can learn online in the comfort of your own home, stop and start whenever you like, access the information again and again – I could go on!

Start on your path today - learn to speak Spanish and make your dreams come true.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Technorati Tags: easy to learn spanish, learn spanish, learn spanish language, learn spanish now, learn spanish on line, learn spanish online, learn to speak spanish online, spanish

The Importance of Wearing Protective Eyewear

Airsoft is a fun and exciting sport that is quickly gaining popularity around the world. The thrill and adrenaline rush involved in the simulated combat found in airsoft battles can be addicting at times and give players a feeling of invincibility. However, as everyone knows, it is a well known fact that airsoft players are mortal flesh and blood. Due to the speeds of the pellets shot by airsoft guns, it is important that all players and spectators wear some kind of mask or protective eyewear.

Airsoft is one of the safest sports that can be found in the world today. Few if any injuries are attributed to airsoft, and when compared to more traditional sports such as football or basketball, these injuries are usually superficial. Despite this, there is the potential for serious and permanent eye injury. Many players feel that the eye protection available isn’t fashionable or worth wearing; however, when seriously looking for protective eyewear, there are many great options available for reasonable prices.

Players have the option of choosing full face masks (sometimes these can even be considered helmets depending on the area that they cover) and goggles or glasses, to protect them from the bbs fired by airsoft guns.

Face Masks

Face masks offer the best eye and face protection available, and have the added benefit of having little slits in the mask where you can insert string or strips of colored felt as camouflage. This concept can also be altered to create a personal color scheme to show who you really are and makes a great addition to your airsoft armor package. (I have personally seen a patriotic color scheme that consisted of three stripes made of red, white, and blue string and a Marine color scheme that used red, black, and gold felt strips.) The only real downside to face masks is that they sometimes limit the player’s field of vision and the goggles in them sometimes fog up depending on the weather.

Glasses

Protective glasses and goggles offer great advantages. They are small and lightweight, covering just the eyes. This allows the user to protect his or her eyes effectively without compromising the field of vision, a problem often found in face masks. Also, glasses rarely fog up like the goggles found in face masks. On the downside, glasses and goggles don’t offer full face protection, and you may walk off the battlefield with a few welts on your face after a close-up encounter with someone’s Uzi. With glasses manufacturers becoming more aware of the desires of players, protective goggles are increasingly being offered with tinted lenses and in popular sport sunglasses styles. This should reduce the temptation to pick up old sunglasses and use them; this can be a very dangerous practice, as they are not designed to withstand the high velocity pellets fired from some of the better airsoft guns and may shatter if hit. Although some protection is better than none, it is highly recommended that airsoft players only wear eye protection certified for airsoft or paintball use; military grade glasses are also available.

Better Safe than Sorry

The potential for serious eye injury while playing or watching airsoft should not be ignored. With the advancements in airsoft gun technology, most importantly muzzle velocity, this risk is not going to simply disappear. Therefore, both competitors and spectators should wear some type of eye protection. No one ever thinks that an accident could happen to them, but it simply isn’t worth the risk to find out if it will or not. That’s why it’s best to heed the warning of the old adage: “It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.” Be safe and wear protective eyewear whenever near airsoft guns being fired.

To read more about airsoft sniper rifles and the sport of airsoft in general check out the blog: www.airsoft-sniper-rifles.com

Popularity: 55% [?]

Technorati Tags: airsoft armor, airsoft guns, airsoft masks

Based on the workhorse of the modern US military, airsoft guns based on the M4 are intended for similar uses in airsoft combat. Due to the M16/M4 weapon series widespread fame and recognition, M4 style airsoft guns are among the most popular in the world. Coming in many variations and with a large amount of accessories available, an airsoft gun based off of the M4 is a good choice for any serious airsoft player.

M4 Background

The M4 is a series of weapons based off of the M16A2 rifle family. Lighter and more compact when compared to the M16A2, the M4 assault rifle fires the same 5.56 NATO round and is a great choice for close quarters combat and support missions. The M4 is capable of both semi-automatic and burst fire, while the M4A1 replaces burst fire with fully automatic firing capabilities. Considered a carbine due to its shortened barrel length, the M4 (and M4A1) is able to be wielded effectively in confined spaces, yet still able to perform well at large distances. An extremely versatile weapon, the M4 is replacing many of the older battle rifles such as the M16 in armed forces in both the US and around the world.

Airsoft Versions

In general, airsoft M4s are full size models of their real life brothers in arms and can be used in corresponding roles in airsoft MilSim. The vast majority of M4 airsoft guns are made of high quality plastic with metal internal parts, although some are made entirely of one material or another. Using propulsion methods such as compressed gas and electric motors, many M4 replicas are capable of mimicking the selective fire modes of the real life weapons, making them truly worthy of the title “M4 carbine assault rifle.”

Luckily for the airsoft consumer, there is a huge variety of airsoft guns based off of the M4. For every version of the M4, there is an airsoft version. Many of these weapons come standard with accessories such as scopes, laser sights, foregrips, silencers, and adjustable stocks to name a few. For those that prefer to customize their weapon on their own, a very large selection of after-market accessories for this airsoft gun is available. Simply put, it is hard to find the person who isn’t satisfied with some version of an M4 airsoft rifle. To view a great selection of airsoft guns based off of the M4 carbine and its predecessor, the M16, check out airsocom.com.

To read more about airsoft guns and airsoft sniper rifles check out the blog: www.airsoft-sniper-rifles.com

Popularity: 50% [?]

Technorati Tags: airsoft m4, m4 carbine airsoft guns, m4a1 airsoft mpeg