Posts Tagged ‘morning sun’
September 26th, 2009 | 
Author: Japanese Mahjong is a board game that has once more become fashionable international after the first international world tournament 2002. Formerly coming from China to Japan the rules and versions have evolved and consist of ancient as well as modern parts. Mahjong is enjoyed in China, Japan, Europe and America with somewhat diverse tile sets and versions. Also the manufacturing of tiles has changed since then as far as fabric is concerned.
The very first Mahjong sets were made of ivory. Since ivory is no longer available mahjong sets today are of many different materials. But there are undeniable efforts to at least replicate the color of ivory when manufacturing those tiles, so that there still is the visual connection with the original. The tiles are mostly either white or almost white in color. The original tile sets however, were art works in design and every family who regularly played used to have their own imprint and outline.
Today the high quality mahjong tile sets process animal bone which can be carved and polished to an extend that the result can easily put side by side to the ancient ivory tiles. More temporary sets are often made of plastic. The mahjong game has become so fashionable over the years that also reasonably priced materials like plastic and resin were considered and processed. There is a trend, however to try to duplicate the ancient designs as closely as possible. Some modern sets were developed with innovative unique designs which do not repeat the ancient tiles.
What all the mahjong sets have in common is the crash of clicking when the game is played. It reminds of sparrows clattering in the morning sun. The tiles typically have similar sizes, 1 and 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Though most tile sets come with picture designs, the pictures can vary a lot. Most mahjong sets are stored in boxes of similar material as the tiles themselves or other like wood, metal and plastic. The boxes can be excessively bejeweled or simply plain functional. Today it is rather a question of
how much somebody wants to pay for for the mahjong set which determines the picking of the set and the material. There are sets for every class and wallet.
If you are interested in playing mahjong with your private set, please check out the following link for more information on Japanese Mahjong Sets. You will be presented a Standard Japanese Mahjong Set, a Saki Anime Mahjong Set, and a
High Quality Nintendo Sparkling Jewel Mahjong Set.
I. Grzeskowiak lives near Stockholm, Sweden, where she works as an online marketer and writes about various topics. She also runs a website which helps people to start earning an income online. For more details on japanese mahjong sets visit:Original Japanese Mahjong Sets
Article Source: Is it Difficult to Play Japanese Mahjong ?
Cumulus Clouds are found worldwide but tend to be more common in humid regions. Cumulus clouds form through convection and while the cloud base is commonly below 2,000m they can reach up to 12 miles high, and 6 miles across. Cumulus clouds are formed within columns of rising thermal air, with their base marking the level at which condensation is occurring, and this explains why all cumulus clouds in one area have their base at the same height.
As the thermal air speeds vertically upwards it draws in surrounding air at its base, and this air is cooler and drier. Cloud droplets evaporate, and cloud fragments sink, in this drier air. This prevents cumulus clouds from growing wider and stops other clouds from forming close to it.
If you look out of the window on a clear summer morning and discover that there is not a cloud to be seen in the sky, and then by mid morning there is a horde of fluffy white clouds marching across the sky, blocking out the sun, then these will be cumulus clouds. Fluffy and white, looking like cotton wool they move quickly across the sky on the breeze. Cumulus tend to be short lived, they form rapidly and they disappear rapidly.
The heat of the morning sun makes the ground warmer and so by mid-morning patches of warmed ground are overlain by larger invisible patches of warm air. This parcel of air will start to rise and carry its moisture with it, and as it rises it expands (the air pressure is lower the higher up you are) and cools and its moisture condenses into tiny cloud droplets, forming a cumulus cloud.
Sometimes a power station or an industrial chimney will introduce enough moisture into the atmosphere to cause its very own cumulus. As mentioned the clear air around surrounding the cumulus clouds is an indication of descending air, and the larger the cumulus then the larger the clear air around it. Therefore a bigger than normal patch of blue sky may indicate the approach of a sharp shower. A medium sized cumulus cloud can hold as much as 1000 tons of moisture in it.
But at the end of the day, as the sun starts to lose its heating power the convection will end, and the cumulus clouds will slowly drift, fade and disappear.
In summary, the word ‘cumulus’ comes from the Latin word for a heap or a pile, and this aptly describes their appearance. They do not tend to last very long, and consequently do not reach to great heights (unlike, for instance, cumulonimbus). Cumulus clouds are a good indication of fair weather, with perhaps the odd sharp, short shower. And finally they are more prominent in the summer months, when convection is at its greatest.
Mark Boardman BSc dip.hyp is a leading author and expert on world weather. For more information about cumulus clouds, feel free to visit these sites.
Article Source: Cumulus Clouds The small fluffy ones