What is parachute cord and where did it come from? During World War II, parachute cord was used as suspension cords for parachutes. But, as paratroopers found themselves in difficult situations, they discovered many creative ways to use the cord for survival. Now parachute cord, which is often called paracord, is used in many ways and by all kinds of people. A really great thing about paracord is that it can be fun to wear because it comes in some very stylish forms such as bracelets and belts. Then if you find yourself in an outdoors unexpected situation, you can just take the paracord item apart and make your own survival tool. Paracord "550" is the commonly found cord today, where the "550" refers to the number of minimum pounds of breaking strength of the cord. This cord has an inner core and is made up of seven strands of two ply threads. Pay attention to the number on paracord because a lower number cord will not have the same strength as a higher number and may not meet the needs you have for a survival tool. So if you remember nothing else, remember to know the strength of your paracord. Paracord Makes Great Survival Tools Making paracord projects can be fun, but it is important to also gain experience with disassembling paracord items. This will help you to be prepared if you get in to an emergency situation and need to quickly make a survival tool. Paracord makes great survival tools. There are almost endless ways to use paracord when you get in to a pinch. I have described several uses below. • If you forgot or lose your toothbrush, use it to floss your teeth. • Paracord makes a good fire starter; you will also need to disassemble a cigarette lighter for the flint. • If your shoe string breaks replace it with paracord. • Wrap the handle of your knife with paracord to get a better grip and a more comfortable grip. This will give you more power and accuracy in using your knife. • Use paracord for fishing line. • Use paracord to make a shelter by stringing paracord between two trees, then put a tarp or even ponchos across it. You can make or buy paracord, it is your choice. Not everybody is arts and crafts oriented and you certainly don't have to make your own paracord items. In fact with paracord items being so readily available and priced so reasonably, it can be a project just to shop for paracord already-made items. Army surplus stores as well as the internet have more choices than you can imagine. Cord comes in so many colors and you can even combine colors to come up with some very eye-catching combinations. So now you know that you know a little more about paracord you may just start to notice some of the bracelets and belts people are wearing are made of paracord. What will your first paracord item be? Whatever you decide, have fun!

More often than not when a trader uses an indicator that is widely promoted, they are unknowingly setting themselves up for whipsaw trades and chronic mediocre trading profits. Here are 7 tips for selecting the best Indicators for trading the automated marketplace: 1. What is the Market Condition? This is not the uptrend or downtrend, but the overall condition of the market which is derived from the Market Participant Cycle. There are 9 distinct Market Participant Groups. Where, when, and how they buy or sell dictates which of the 6 Market Conditions is present at any given time. Usually a Market Condition will dominate for several weeks to several months or longer. The Market Condition above all else dictates what indicators will work ideally at that time. 2. What was the indicator writer's intent? This is critical to know because each indicator writer developed their indicator based on a specific Market Condition that was present at that time. They saw price and volume behaving a certain way, and wrote an indicator to expose that pattern and what it meant for trading or investing. 3. What are the limitations of the indicator? Every indicator has strengths and weaknesses. As an example, it has been proven empirically that MACD only works during a momentum uptrend. It fails dismally for selling short trading, and creates whipsaw trades during trading range and platform market conditions. Knowing the limitations helps traders avoid using that indicator in the wrong Market Conditions. 4. What Market Data is present and used in the formula? Traders do not need to be mathematicians or learn how to write indicators, but they do need to know what data is included in the indicator. Price and Time indicators tend to lag as price must first move before the indicator can display the pattern in a line or histogram. Volume and time indicators in our automated marketplace tend to lead to some extent due to how large lots buy and sell nowadays. Volume, Price, and Time indicators which are the new Hybrid Indicators lead price as they incorporate all of the market data in their formulas. 5. How old is the indicator or when was it written? Indicators written 50 years ago were written for an entirely different Market Structure. On balance Volume and Stochastic were written during a time when there were no retail traders, online brokers, or internet. There were no pension funds allowed to invest in the stock market. There were far fewer institutions, and the average person only invested for the long term. Therefore these older indicators are not designed for the automated marketplace, and are not appropriate for many modern trading styles and strategies. 6. Do High Frequency Traders use the indicator in their HFT algorithm strategies? This is a huge factor many individual traders never consider. HFTs use the overly popular indicators such as MACD, Stochastic, or Moving Averages in their algorithms to find cluster orders that they can exploit on the millisecond time scale. Since individual traders are not allowed by law to trade on the millisecond scale and since their trading platforms do not show the millisecond tick or price, using these indicators is significantly higher risk. Cluster orders are anomalies that form when many individual traders are all using the same indicator, trading strategy, trading system or other popular entries. Cluster orders are easily recognized by the HFT algorithm, and used to trade against the mass of traders all trading the same way. 7. Does the indicator expose where the giant lot institutions are quietly accumulating? With the largest institutions now using Dark Pool venues for their transactions, it is imperative that retail traders use indicators that reveal where the giant institutions are quietly moving in or out of a stock. Specific indicators written in the past few years can identify these important market participants. Choosing indicators should not be about using what is most popular, what your online broker recommends, or what your charting software promotes but what is best for your trading style and strategies. If you use an overly exploited or very popular indicator, be aware that High Frequency Traders HFTs are now employing algorithms that quickly identify large groups of individual traders all trading with these indicators. Learning the new hybrid indicators written for the automated market and the new market structure, will lower your risk and increase your potential profits. The Market Structure has changed more in the past decade than in the prior 100 years. Using outdated indicators leaves individual traders struggling with chronic whipsaws, weak stock picks, and disappointing results. If you spend time learning to use new indicators, it will be worth it.

If you ask someone to think of a music instrument, most likely french horns are not the first instrument that comes to mind. Yet, it is quite an interesting, beautiful, and exceptional looking music instrument. It brings with it a mysterious quality that projects a mellow and subdued sound to any orchestra, marching band, concert band, or even a brass ensemble. It is quite intriguing actually, to look at the historical underpinnings of french horns. Looking back at their birth and development brings to light how they acquired their sound and unique features. It also explains why even today they are not the most popular music instrument in any type of music group. The most primitive form of french horns were megaphones. They were made from a hollow branch or cane and the player sang, spoke, or made vocal noises into them to produce a harsh sound to frighten away evil spirits. Megaphones evolved into the early trumpets which could produce only one or two notes and made a terrifying sound. These trumpets were used at circumcisions, funerals, and sunset rites. It was not until the Renaissance period, about 1550, that a music instrument was developed which bears the most resemblance to the present day french horns. This was the close-coiled helical horn, established in Central Europe. About one hundred years later, the parent of french horns was constructed in the form of a thin conical tube with two or more circular coils. There is no evidence that french horns were used for purely musical purposes with other music instruments prior to the eighteenth century, only for hunting in France, Germany, and Italy. Their introduction in Germany by Graf Franz Anton von Sporck in 1681 and their inclusion in a German orchestra score in 1705 helped them to gain a position in the music world. In England, however, they were used mainly in the form of an entertaining duet in the gardens or along the river versus attaining the prestigious right to be in an orchestra. France continued to restrict their use to the chase for hunting until 1735. To play french horns during the early 1700's, musicians would point the widely flared bell upwards like a bugle horn. The length of the tubing varied according to the pitch needed, so separate horns were needed for every key change. This problem was solved by the crook system, developed in 1715, which consisted of various lengths of tube rings fitting into the end of the mouthpiece socket. It allowed the player to use any key. An important technique came into fruition when Anton Joseph Hampel of Germany was testing out various mutes in 1750. He discovered that he could progressively lower the pitch by pushing a cotton pad or his hand into the bell further and further, called "stopping". This hand-horn technique required that the horn be held horizontally and is still used today. Hampel then redesigned it with the crooks in the center of the hoop versus near the mouthpiece. However, just like the unpleasant sound of the original horns, there was still a disparity between tone and power of the open and stopped notes. The best innovation for french horns came when two German musicians invented the valve in 1815. Voila! Crooks no longer needed to be changed as the descending spring valves lowered the pitch. The last notable invention for french horns were in 1899 when double F/Bb french horns were first sold. Over one hundred years later, no significant alterations or additions have been necessary. Materials may have changed somewhat, but spring valves are still used as well as the hand-horn technique to attain a perfect mellow timbre and keep the natural roughness of tone in check. French horns have continued to maintain their musical status all over the world. If you would like to pursue your own musical passions or aspirations, you will find highly crafted french horns at very reasonable prices at http://www.djmusicstore.co. Dianna Joseph is the owner and operator of DJ Music Store. She is a saxophonist, novice pianist, and novice guitarist. In addition, she is an occupational therapist who works with a host of disabilities utilizing sensory integration and neurodevelopmental therapy in combination with music and a variety of other techniques to assist these persons in achieving the highest level of function and quality of life possible. For more information on purchasing professionally crafted and reasonably priced marching band instruments (woodwind instruments, brass musical instruments including french horns, and drum sets for sale), string instruments including cellos for sale, the best acoustic guitars, and accessories please visit my website at [http://www.djmusicstore.co].