Learn to Dance With a DVD

There are many different dance styles and these styles can differ depending on the region. The main styles that people learn to dance and the most recognized styles are Jive, Waltz, Samba, Tango, Cha-cha, Salsa, Foxtrot and Rumba.

So what are these different styles? Well lets break them down.

JIVE - The Jive originated among African-Americans in the early 1940s. It is a variation of a less known style called the Jitterbug. Jive is part of the five International Latin dances. Done correctly it is normally danced at 176 beats per minute. Due to this tempo it is known as very fast swing music.

WALTZ - When the Waltz was first introduced it shocked many. Around the 1980s the Waltz became fashionable in Vienna. The waltz, and especially its closed position, became the example for the creation of many other ballroom dances. Subsequently, new types of waltz have developed, including many folk and several ballroom dances. It is normally danced at 84 - 90 beats per minute and normally to a Slow ballad or instrumental music in 3/4 time.

SAMBA - This dance appeared around the 20th century in Rio De Janeirio. It is one of the most popular styles in America. At 100 beats per minute this is a fast tempo dance normally with medium tempo Brazilian Latin music with a strong downbeat.

TANGO - Developed in the late 19th Century it was first seen in Argentina but as they did with many other dances, the Europeans (most notably the English) adopted the Tango and made it their own. The Tango was the result, with big movements, dramatic gestures, and quick snaps of the head from one position to another. Danced to 128 - 132 beats per minute and with Medium tempo orchestral, often march-like this style is not for the faint hearted. This can be a fun dance to learn.

Cha-Cha - The cha-cha-cha is a Latin American dance of Cuban origin. At 128 beats per minute and medium tempo Latin music. This is one hot dance to learn.

SALSA - This is a fusion of informal dance styles. Developed in the Caribbean but also in Latin America. There is a strong African influence in the music and the dance. Salsa is usually a partner dance, although there are recognized solo steps and some forms are danced in groups of couples, with frequent exchanges of partner. This is a great dance to learn since you can learn solo.

FOXTROT - Invented by a man called Harry Fox in 1913 it ultimately became the most popular and lasting dance of the twentieth century. Foxtrot is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. With 112 - 120 beats per minute it has a basic rhythm of Slow-Quick-Quick.

RUMBA - This is a dance organically related the genre o Afro Cuban music. Throughout the history one may trace several styles of dances called "rumba". Some consider rumba the most erotic and sensual dance, for its relatively slow rhythm and the hip movement. Learning this dance can become a steamy affair.

You may now have an idea about which dance style you may want to learn. Maybe you want to learn them all. So how do you start?

The usual method is to find a local class in your area but this could provide a stumbling block. I know when I started to learn I had to travel far to my lessons. You could go to your local library and get several books on your chosen style but this is not the best idea. You will have learn the theory but without professional advice visually how will you spot your mistakes. The recommended option if you cannot make a dance class is to get a DVD course. This option is fantastic due to the fact you can dance whenever you feel like it. You will be able to see if you are making that tango step correct.

There are many DVD courses out there for dancing but I have got you free videos for all the styles mentioned above. These can be found from the link below.
I hope I have helped you with this article and look forward to hearing from you.

Get your FREE dance lesson videos here http://thedogsbloggers.info/learntodancevideos

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_P_Miller

Watch free dance videos at: http://www.alldancevideos.com

Secret Restaurant Recipes - Not Need To Go Out To Eat by Dede Purneim

We're sure that going out to eat can be a very fun and exciting time but it can also end up chewing a small hole in your pocket and is also not suited for some people's budgets. Despite what many people think, you do not need to attend a fancy culinary school to cook delicious food just like the dishes you enjoy at your favorite restaurants. There is something about cooking at home that is so much more satisfying than eating out all the time.

What is actually it? All right, it is secret restaurant recipes. Yes, you can find books that have many secret restaurant recipes for you to make and create right in the comfort of your own kitchen. Also, you can find many secret restaurant recipes online with a little searching.

With the help of expert chef's and thousands of kitchen testers, these secret restaurant recipes have been fine tuned to taste exactly like the authentic restaurant versions. This is a chance for you to show off your restaurant type cooking skills. With the step by step following of these recipes, you can confidently cook and prepare wonderful meals for all your family and friends. All of your guests will adore you for the extravagant meals you have created.

Just think of all the times you have wanted a good meal but didn't want to leave your house. Now imagine how convenient it would be to have all types of recipes that you could choose from to make magic happen in your own kitchen. Also, you will be saving time, money, and impressing your friends and family. Wouldn't that be nice?

Hundred's of previously secret recipes from some of America 's most loved restaurants have been put together in secret restaurant recipe books that can be downloaded for immediate access. Best of all you don't need to be a superstar in the kitchen to get started, all you need is very basic cooking skills, even if you can only fry an egg, you'll be able to understand and recreate restaurant quality meals at home.

1. Broiled Chicken with Garlic

Ingredient:

2 1/2 pounds chicken quartered 3/4 teaspoon powdered rosemary salt & pepper to taste chicken bouillon 6 cloves garlic

Direction:

Rub chicken with 2 pressed garlic cloves, and rosemary. Also rub with salt and pepper. Let stand 30 minutes. Put chicken in broiler pan and coat top with bouillon. Sprinkle with 2 slivered garlic cloves. Add a little bouillon to pan. Broil turning when half done.

Coat top sides with bouillon and 2 more slivered garlic. Also rub with salt and pepper. Let stand 30 minutes. Put chicken in broiler pan and coat top with bouillon. Baste with pan drippings.

2. Chicken Breasts Alfredo

Ingredient:

3 whole chicken breasts split/boned 1 cup fine bread crumbs 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese 1/2 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup snipped parsley 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons water 3 eggs 3 tablespoons butter 6 slices mozzarella cheese Cheese sauce 1 cup whipping cream or evaporate milk 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup snipped parsley 1/4 cup water

Direction:

Coat chicken with flour. Mix eggs, water, Romano cheese, parsley and salt. Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture, then into bread crumbs. Heat butter and oil in large skillet. Cook chicken breasts over med. Heat until browned about 15 min. Remove chicken to baking dish 11-1/2 x 7-1/2". Heat oven to 425. Make cheese sauce. Pour cheese sauce over chicken. Top each piece with a slice of cheese. Bake until cheese melts and chicken is tender, about 8 min.

Cheese sauce: heat cream, water and butter in 1-qt. Saucepan until butter melts. Add cheese; cook and stir over med. Heat for 5 min. Stir in parsley.

About the Author

For more information on how you can turn ordinary recipes into your favorite restaurant dishes, plus get Secret Restaurant Recipes.

Watch free cooking videos at: http://www.cookingvideoclips.com

Secrets To Performing Magic Tricks For Beginners

Many common magic tricks are easy to learn and only require common items such as matchboxes, cloths and coins to perform successfully. The most common tricks are playing card and coin tricks which are both a good way to practice technical and audience distraction skills.

Card tricks are one of the oldest forms of conjuring and perhaps the best introduction to learning magic tricks and performance for beginners. Whilst you can buy special card kits and find free magic tricks online, you should start out with a normal deck of playing cards and learn specific card magic techniques that don't rely on props.

Start small and practice, practice, practice

Some magic tricks can be complicated and take months to perfect the illusion of reality. As a beginner or novice it's important to start small with more simple tricks that require far less practice and patience. You'll get results faster, gain confidence and experience the rush and delight of being a magician for the first time.

The most basic magic tricks can still be impressive without requiring expert skills but it's important to practice as often as possible. The legendary Harry Houdini started by picking locks. He practiced so much that he could pick any lock with his hands tied or eyes blindfolded.

You can use simple household objects such as cloths, cups and bags as your props until you get the hang of each trick, then maybe you will want to buy more specialized equipment to amaze and amuse your friends and family all the more. In the meantime, it's important to gain confidence in your magic tricks and abilities before performing in front of friends, family or any audience as your ability to perform and direct a crowd is as vital to your success as your speed with a deck of cards.

The art of distraction and misdirection

The most exciting aspect of any magic trick is it's effect on a live audience. Whether you perform a magic show in front of a few friends and family or a crowd of hundreds, the buzz of hearing gasps of wonder and applause will keep you hooked for life.

Once you've mastered the basics and gained confidence in your technical abilities, you'll need to start thinking about your audience and how to use distraction and misdirection to take your magic skills to the next level. Many of the greatest magic shows and tricks use a combination of misdirection and theatrical performance to control the audience while the magician performs his secret moves.

You'll also need to develop your own style of performing magic tricks, not only to make your magic more entertaining, but as an additional prop that's just as important to your success as your box of tricks. Developing dexterity or slight of hand and practicing eye contact skills with your subjects are both essential skills of any proficient performer of magic.

Top 5 tips for learning magic tricks

1. Start simple - begin with tricks that don't require any props such as card tricks or coin tricks. Choose one trick and stick to it until you are proficient before learning another.
2. Practice - practice magic tricks until you are completely confident that you can make it work every time. Only then begin to perform it in front of others.
3. Confidence - Practice will give you confidence which is essential to convince your audience that not only is your magic trick magical but you are as well.
4. Attention and distraction - learn to hold the attention of your audience and control it with eye contact, humor and well practiced movements.
5. Performance and style - the best magicians are memorable not only because of their tricks, but because of the way they perform them. Give a thought to your appearance, your voice, your humor, your props and your location when performing a magic show.

Once you master these techniques, your magic tricks should leave the audience entertained and more importantly, mystified wanting to know more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Renshaw

Watch online magic trick videos at: http://www.magictrickvideoclips.com

Magic Tricks - Are You Ready To Learn Them?

Is it easy to do what magicians are doing in front of many spectators? How does it feel if you are the one who is performing these kind of magic sleights? Have you ever wondered how the magician on stage managed to get the rabbit out of the hat? Or how he managed to get the girl out of the coffin when she was sitting right next to you? Well, magic tricks are not easy to learn or perform. But there is a huge art lying behind the madness and the magic. It may not be easy for you to start making people vanish into thin air, but you surely can try your hands at some sort of magic tricks. But most people keep wondering where to start and they end up never starting at all.

If you know how to use your computer, you can instantly learn magic tricks or even card tricks because the Internet is the answer.

By searching the internet, you can find almost all kinds of magic tricks that you want to learn. Be it magic tricks according to your age, or your skill level, you will find them all on the internet. The main factor that you need to consider and realize is that you are not going to become David Copperfield after you learn these magic tricks. But you surely you can become the center of attention at the next party. You can even impress friends and family members.

The best option is to start of with introductory level magic tricks that are meant for kids from the age of 3 or more. Now you may think that you are not that dumb, but there is nothing like starting from the basics. Though most of these magic tricks may seem corny to you, it will give you a taste of the basic magic tricks that you may use in advanced ones in the future. The hand movements, use of props, grabbing attention, diverting it, they are all covered in these basic Magic Tricks. So start off with the basics.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall.

Your mirror can be your best friend when it comes to learning and practicing magic tricks. Practicing in front of the mirror will not only show you your flaws, but it will also show you how you are going to perform in front of an audience. It will also give you the confidence to face an audience. Remember, practice makes perfect. So you have to make sure that you practice even the simplest of magic tricks to perfection.

If you execute and perform a magic trick properly and you get applause, there is nothing like it. Consider it to be a huge pat on the back. But then the reverse can also occur. What if you end up performing a trick and it becomes a dud? There is nothing more embarrassing. So practice till you feel that you can perform this trick even with your eyes closed. That's when you are ready to face the world.

So what are doing right now? Open another browser and start searching for your favorite trick and show it to your friends. Just don't forget to practice first.

About the Author

For more Free Card Tricks and Magic Tricks

Watch online magic trick videos at: http://www.MagicTrickVideoClips.com

The Top 12 of American Idol Reviews

American Idol is at full swing again back with Season 7 and the top 24 are singing trying to get their way into the top 12 and eventually become the next Idol and get that big recording deal. So how good is the talent this year? If you have been watching some of the episodes, you will notice that there is a good mix of younger talent this year which some are only 17 years old. Some of the 17 year old contestants are David Archuleta, Alexandrea Lushington, and Garrett Haley all of which have showed they can sing. David is one that has been highly sought by all three judges and appears to have a good voice as well.

There has been some controversy in some people questioning the amateur talent because some of the singers have been on talent shows before or even signed a record deal before they made it through to the top 24 of American Idol. Whether or not they might have been in a professional position once before, it shouldn't really affect their performance as this is a competition.

What kind of singer will become the next American Idol? Typically in each season there is always a good mix of pop, rock, country, and even jazz type singers and it appears that in season seven, there is just that. The key to making it in the top is that you have to sing well, stand out from the rest, and have great confidence throughout your performances. In the past, this seems to be the key to success.

You can learn more about individual American Idol Contestants here.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Norm_Butler

Watch all the latest American Idol videos at: http://www.idolvideoclips.com

Secrets of the 12 American Idol Finalists

Considering their talent, idols still have weird and odd secrets that were revealed. Here are some!

Amanda Overmyer

American Idol, Amanda Overmyer revealed that the worst thing that happened in her life was when she was pleaded guilty to DUI back in October 2006 near her hometown of Mulberry, In. She received a suspended sentence of 60 days and was placed on 180 days probation, which ended in August 2007.

Brooke White

Brooke White told and revealed to us that her most embarrassing moment was when she was in the church and she hugged the wrong person! “That was really embarrassing! I thought he was my dad! But he wasn’t! All I’m doing was pleading and telling him to go home because I was hungry and when he looked back, he wasn’t my dad! Haha, too embarrassing.”

Carly Smithson

When we asked Carly about her secrets of winning, she just simply told us, “Try to be a good person to others, to be well-traveled and educated, and make Ireland proud”.

Chikezie Eze

Chikezie told us that he had a favorite comfort room in high school, but he only found out it was a women’s comfort room when one day the door was closed! His secret in winning is he totally stole his entire performance from Elliott Yamin.

David Archuleta

David told us about his feelings in American Idol and here it is! “I’ve definitely feel like there are things that can happen this year. And the show just opened so many doors for me and even if it’s not winning American Idol, you know that’s what I’m hoping for, but even more just hoping that I will be able to make a career.”

David Cook

“I guess I should not say my secret!” said David, but we pleaded him to say his secret and he told us that word “Nerd!”

David Hernandez

His secret: “in the 80s, I spent a bit of time as Mary Lou Retton.”

Jason Castro

According to him, his recipe of winning is he hates doing interviews, basically anything that is not music stuff.

Kristy Lee Cook

Surprising us and probably you too! Kristy told us that her horse saved her life twice!

Michael Johns

Michael told us that his secret of winning is he’s a bit of a jock. Sometimes just to take his mind off everything he play a sport. His sport is killing hobos.

Ramiele Malubay

“If I don’t become the next American Idol, I don’t think I’m going to get all discouraged or anything like, “Oh no, I’m never going to sing again.” I mean like, of course it’s a big experience, you learn all this until the point you get taken off and you just take what you’ve learned and learn from it. I’m probably going to go back to school for nursing ’cause I had to stop.”

Syesha Mercado

One of the secrets that Syesha is keeping is when she was in high school and she was overcoming a house fire! This story makes her cry every time she is telling it.

About the Author

To work as a model was her dream. But she landed as an assistant photo editor in a small yet photo agency that takes pictures of all sports games across the state. The closest that she was to a model was when their on-the-field photographers submit pictures of models who were watching the games and juts her journeys in lifestyle blog.

Watch all the latest American Idol video clips at: http://www.idolvideoclips.com

Mixed Martial Arts - MMA Explosion

There is a lot of talk about what martial art is the toughest and which masters of the art could beat all the rest, but never has that question been tested so thoroughly as in the field of Mixed Martial Arts, more commonly known as MMA. This full combat, nearly no-holds-barred type of fighting pits one competitor against another and the results, while occasionally brutal, go further towards declaring a fighting supremacy than anything short of full-out warfare.

More and more, people are discovering that Mixed Martial Arts holds more appeal than simply going to the gym to pump iron. This raw and vital application of their strength, their speed and their stamina has become a rallying point for people around the world, and it cannot be denied that other segments of this rarefied society is taking note.

Mixed Martial Arts is turning into a real proving ground for the Holy Grail of the sport, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and while there are some clear favorites and some near-sure bets, there is still plenty of speculation who is really going to be entering the ring every year. If you are interested in Mixed Martial Arts, there is no better time to start than now, but keep in mind that being prepared is one of the most important factors when it comes to avoiding catastrophic injury.

The full contact nature of Mixed Martial Arts sets it far apart from the sterile and regimented stylings and posturing of other martial arts, and the high velocity and sheer strength that is behind the moves of this activity are legendary. Make sure you don't go into it unprepared and that goes for your protection as well as your mind and your body. Make sure that you find MMA gloves and shorts that fit you appropriately. Your MMA gloves and shorts are an integral part of helping you move and bend appropriately, so make sure you don't forget this very simple, but altogether vital factor.

Take some time and really learn about this sport. Mixed Martial Arts has quite a pedigree; it stretches back to ancient Greece and the Olympic games. In 2005, more than ten years after the activity's creation, the US Army began to allow Mixed Martial Arts when the first annual All Army Combatives Championship was held. While some continue to complain about the sport not being as raw or as real anymore, head to a tournament, and you'll soon see different!

About the Author

Clark Swihart is the Founder & President of CAS Enterprises, LLC. For more information, please visit...
Boxing Gloves, Boxing Gear, and MMA Shorts
MMA Gloves & UFC Gear

Watch the best mixed martial arts videos at: http://www.topmmavideos.com

A Description Of Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts, better known as MMA, is a form of sports that involves the use of a mixture of martial art combat techniques to win over the opponent. MMA has become very popular in recent years and MMA championships like Ultimate fighting championship have become very widely known.

MMA began with pitting one martial art technique with another under minimal rules, so that the martial art which would be the most effective in day to day life could be found out. Modern mixed martial competitions have evolved from such events, but rules are much stricter due to which, the sport has been promoted into acceptance. However, there is no centralized sanctioning authority for mixed martial arts and the rules vary from place to place or organization to organization.

Striking and grappling are the common techniques used in MMA. Striking techniques involve kicks, knees and punches while grappling techniques involve the use of holds, sweeps and throws. Techniques like eye-gouging, biting and fish hooking are considered illegal in most MMA competitions. Other techniques like head butts, spinal locks and elbows may or may not be considered legal in different MMA organizations.

In MMA competitions, victory is based on the judge's decision, submission or knockout. A competitor's corner man can also deicide the outcome of the match and so can the match doctor if the competitor is injured to an extent that he/she can no longer fight properly.

Competitors participating in MMA have to train themselves in a variety of fighting styles so that they can effectively overcome their opponents. MMA training usually involves stand up, clinch and ground combat. To make the stand up combat effective, boxing and kickboxing are taught. These improve kicking, punching, kneeing and most important of all--footwork. Freestyle wrestling is taught to improve clinching. Additionally, competitors are trained in Muay Thai to improve the striking power during a clinch. Training in Brazilian Jujitsu and Sambo improves ground combat by improving the competitor's positioning. Further, shoot wrestling, catch wrestling and judo are taught to enhance the competitor's ground combat abilities.

Success in modern martial arts lies in adapting many styles. These styles have to be altered accordingly. Today, MMA competitors do not train in a particular style but train all the styles together. Flexibility plays a very important role in succeeding in MMA competitions. MMA is physically a very demanding sport and being competent is the only key to success.

Many mixed martial artist train too hard and experience injuries at an alarming rate. The trend now is to use technical training as a way to avoid injuries and be healthy for the next event. Since there is more money pouring into these events, the longevity of the fighters is important for themselves and the event promoter. Therefore, smarter training methods have been employed instead of the "train till you drop" methodology that has been in place for years.

In the past, Senator John McCain has been an opponent to the mixed martial arts events. It will be interesting if he becomes President of the United States whether he will focus on these events and try to shake the foundation of the industry.

About the Author

John Galt is an instructor at Orange County Jiu Jitsu and MMA located in Lake Forest, California. Orange County Jiu Jitsu and MMA is the premier center for MMA and BJJ training. For more information about please click this link Orange County MMA

Watch the best mixed martial arts videos at: Top MMA Videos

Tornado Safety Tips

By taking basic emergency preparedness precautions before a tornado strikes, you can dramatically reduce risk of injury to you or your loved ones.

Understanding the Warnings

Tornado safety begins by listening for National Weather Service advisories. A tornado watch is issued when tornadoes are possible in your area. You need to be attuned to environmental cues:

• Dark, often greenish sky
• Wall cloud
• Large hail
• Loud roar, similar to a freight train

Implement your Family Communication Plan, and make sure your American Family Safety emergency kit is within reach. Remind all family members where to gather if a tornado is imminent.

A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or picked up by radar. You must immediately seek shelter. Don’t wait for twisters to appear or touch down.

Tornado Safety Tips

• In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement.
• If an underground shelter is unavailable, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, and take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture.
• Stay away from windows.
• Get out of automobiles.
• Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. Instead, leave it immediately.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned.

For more information on tornadoes and tornado safety, please visit the American Family Safety Emergency Preparedness Library, which contains numerous resources to help you and your loved ones in the event of an unexpected emergency situation.

American Family Safety is an international corporation that distributes emergency supplies and emergency preparedness education materials. American Family Safety’s emergency kits contain all the materials needed for complete 72-hour emergency preparedness. Best Tornado Videos: http://www.BestTornadoVideos.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Baruch

Storm Shelters and Best Places to be During a Tornado

Although tornado season is typically during the spring months, any of you who live in tornado alley can attest to the fact that tornadoes can show up any time of the year. They do not discriminate against the cold months of the year. We all know that a very warm day followed by a cold front spells out the possibility of severe thunderstorms or tornadoes.

For your safety and the safety of your family, you should have a plan for a designated safe spot in your house in the event of a tornado. There are a number of things that you need to know before you designate a place as well as a number of things that would be helpful to keep in your designated spot just incase.

One of the safest places to be when a tornado hits is in a storm cellar. You can purchase a pre-manufactured storm shelter and either install it yourself or have it professionally installed. You can also build your own storm shelter. If you choose to do this it is important that you research the appropriate materials to use in order for the shelter to be effective. You can have storm shelters built into your home or in the ground near your home. They also come in various sizes, so you need to think about the size and needs of your family. If you live in a trailer, it is particularly important that you have a storm shelter or know of a community shelter in the area where you can take cover.

If you don't have a storm shelter, there are certain places in your home that are safer than others. A basement or room that is underground and preferably without windows is the next best thing to a reinforced shelter. If there are windows in the basement, cover them with plastic if you have time and stay away from them.

If there is no basement in your home, you should go to an interior room that is on the lowest level of the home. A closet or bathroom is best. You can also go to an interior hallway in a building on the lowest level. You should stay away from windows, exterior walls and doorways. Stay out of large rooms such as auditoriums, the middle of the grocery store or large hallways. The smaller the room or hallway the better. If there is a heavy piece of furniture in the room, take cover under it.

Protect your head and body with pillows, blankets or mattresses. If you have small children or pets with you, make sure they are well protected as well. Keep a flashlight and a cell phone with you, preferable in your pocket. That way if you are trapped you can call someone for help and you will have a flashlight which will help you be found. A battery powered radio or television is also good to keep in your safe place to keep yourself informed.

Remember to never try to outrun a tornado. Do not stand by a window or out on the porch and try to video it. Get to your storm shelter or safe place immediately if you are under a tornado warning. If you follow these tips and other tips online, you can maximize your chances of being safe during a tornado.

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Watch Tornado Videos: http://www.BestTornadoVideos.com

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Weather Can Be Friend Or Foe

While the majority of our days are spent in very livable and comfortable weather conditions, there are exceptions. Those days bring us something out of the ordinary and the weather can become more of a challenge - foe rather than friend.

One of the more destructive of earth's extreme weather conditions is the tornado, featuring quickly spinning winds that pack a damaging punch. This category of storms can include small, entertaining dust devils, waterspouts that form over the ocean and, of course, the well-known tornado. There are basic differences in how these three weather phenomena are formed, even though they share the whirling wind characteristic.

Smaller whirlwinds such as dust devils are formed when the ground and the air immediately above it are heated. The air begins to rise rapidly and wind movement may cause the rising air to rotate. In contrast, a tornado is born when air at higher elevations meet the necessary conditions of severe thunderstorms. Meteorologists and storm chasers look for the telltale signs of a "supercell" when tracking tornadoes (though these storms can sometimes form with a squall or a hurricane).

While men and women have been tracking and studying tornadoes for decades, the true nature of this extreme of nature is still not completely understood. One theory proposes that air moving in different directions, at different levels, causes the rotation. Part of the tornado theory includes details about the interaction of warm air and cold air currents moving in particular directions to produce the whirling column.

Scientists do know that the rotation basically moves down, against the flow of the original updraft in the cloud structure. This results in the familiar funnel cloud that works its way out of the base of the clouds to touch the ground. Thus, a tornado is born. (Late winter and spring are prime time for a tornado in the U.S. Atmospheric instability is greatest during this season.)

Tornadoes generally have little color of their own, though the debris and dust they pick up from the ground will provide a solid appearance. Some tornadoes can actually cause destruction while remaining nearly invisible. But even when they cannot be seen, a tornado's location can be estimated. The storm travels with the original thunderstorm, along a path that may reach up to a half mile in width. The speed of rotation in a tornado may reach 300 miles per hour, while the storm itself moves along the earth at a slower speed.

Fortunately for human beings and other living things, many tornadoes travel a very short distance before losing their strength. The updraft of air, which may approach 180 miles per hour in the strongest storms, can lose intensity and "kill" the storm. However, some tornadoes have continued their destruction for miles, leaving entire communities devastated. Scientists have calculated that the average tornado lasts 15 minutes, though storms have been tracked for an hour or longer. While the U.S. experiences the highest number of tornadoes, the United States is far from alone in meeting this weather phenomenon. The Netherlands is actually considered the most tornado-prone area on earth.

The free-lance writer Peter Wilson is particularly passionate about themes associated to tornado. Writing for documents such as http://www.alicante-spain.com, he demonstrated his skill on subjects dealing with temperature in benidorm spain.

Watch tornado videos: http://www.BestTornadoVideos.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_I._Wilson

Tornado Alley

Tornado Alley is a term most often used in reference to the area of the United States in which tornadoes are most frequent. It covers lowland areas of the Mississippi, the Ohio and lower Missouri River Valleys, as well as the Southeast.

Although no state is entirely free of tornadoes, the land in the Great Plains sees tornadoes frequently throughout the season. The relatively flat ground, allows cold dry polar air from Canada to meet warm moist tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico. It's along the front between the two air masses that most tornadoes form. US States which are most effected are Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, and Missouri are at the heart of Tornado Alley, as well as parts of Texas, Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, and South Dakota, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana, and parts of Nebraska.

In certain areas of Tornado Alley, building codes are stricter than in other parts of the United States. Restrictions such as strengthening roofs and more secure connections between the building and its foundation are just part of building codes in these areas. Other common measures include the construction of storm cellars, and the fitting of tornado sirens. News coverage is high in Tornado Alley, letting the residents know of any incoming tornadoes and where they are expected to hit.

Although this is the main area for tornadoes, they have at some point or another occurred in all the States of America, many of the tornadoes in the southern states such as Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia are caused by hurricanes.

Find out more about Tornado Alley in America

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23 Things You May Not Care About - Tornadoes!

Tornado Fact 1. The deadliest ever tornado was the 'Tri-State' tornado that passed through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana on March 18th 1925. During its 3½ hour life this tornado killed 695 people along its 219 mile path.

Fact 2. Tornadoes are measured and rated using the Fujita scale.

Fact 3. Tornadoes tend to occur in mid-latitudes, and as they are restricted to land masses this means mainly in the northern hemisphere.

Fact 4. Those over the US tend to be the most violent as the North American continent has a combination of warm, moist Gulf air from the south colliding with cold air travelling down from the north west, producing ideal tornado forming conditions.

Fact 5. On some days up to 20 tornadoes may be spotted in Tornado Alley- the flat country of the mid-west stretching from Texas through to Oklahoma and Kansas.

Fact 6. A wind speed of 280mph was ascribed to a tornado that hit Texas in April 1958

Fact 7. The average life-span of a tornado is approximately 15 minutes. However some can last much longer - on 26th May 1917 the Mattoon-Charleston Tornado lasted seven and a half hours and travelled 293 miles.

Fact 8. A 'super Outbreak' of tornadoes during 3rd and 4th April 1974 saw 148 individual tornadoes cross and devastate an area from Alabama to Michigan.

Fact 9. Although they can and do travel in any direction, the majority of tornadoes travel from south-west to north-east.

Fact 10. The US endures around 750 tornadoes annually.

Fact 11. Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, although there tends to be a peak in the US in Tornado Alley during May and June.

Fact 12. Few people survive seeing the inside of a tornado vortex. Bill Keller from Kansas survived such a vortex in June 1928: "A screaming, hissing sound came directly from the end of the funnel, and when I looked up I saw right into the very heart of the tornado...it was brilliantly lit with constant flashes of lightning...around the rim of the vortex, small tornadoes were constantly breaking away and writhing their way around the funnel"

Fact 13. The inside of the funnel contains extremely low pressure equal to the pressure difference between ground level and an altitude of 4,900 feet - giving huge suction power

Tornado Fact 14. In the town of Natchez, Mississippi, in 1840 a tornado one mile wide touched down killing 48 people on land and drowning a further 269 in river boats and steam ships on the Mississippi river.

Fact 15. A waterspout is a tornado that occurs over water rather than land. However they are generally less violent, and will not move systematically northeastwards like a tornado would.

Fact 16. A bridge is not a good place to shelter from a tornado! Generally the confined space will increase the overall wind speed. This is despite well known TV footage of a news crew sheltering under a bridge. They did not receive a direct hit from the tornado and the bridge was of a rare design where they could crawl amongst the exposed girders for shelter and grip.

Tornado Fact 17. The most northerly tornado ever observed was on August 26th, 1976 at Kiana, Alaska, 54 miles north of Anchorage.

Fact 18. Well this is advice, more than fact. If you are caught out in the open by a tornado with no nearby buildings to shelter in, lie in a ditch, or lowest possible area, and protect your head and neck with your arms. Then pray.

Tornado Fact 19. Tornadoes are transparent, and appear so in the early stages of development, until dust and debris are picked up and give them colour.

Fact 20. Only 2% of tornadoes are classed as violent (F4 and F5), but these account for 70% of all tornado deaths.

Fact 21. 70% of all tornadoes are weak (F0 and F1), and account for less than 5% of all tornado deaths.

Fact 22. 50% of all fatalities from tornadoes occur amongst residents of mobile homes.

Tornado Fact 23. Hurricane Beulah spawned 115 tornadoes over Texas in September 1967.

After a childhood interest in the Weather Mark Boardman went on to study Climatology at University and has continued his studies for the subsequent 20 years.

He is considered an expert in his field, although he doesn't always work in a field.

http://www.agloriousfuture.com

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