You're Strong Enough!

By Al Case

I am about to say something that is really rude. I'm about to say you're doing something that is all wrong. It will be interesting to see whether you can take it.

Glance through the martial arts magazines and you will come across lots of ads that appeal to your desire to get stronger. Maybe they tell you you can beat up the bully who kicks sand in your face, or maybe they tell you will get the girl if you can just be stronger. The problem is...they're not right.

Your muscles are actually strong enough just as they are. You are strong enough to do anything you want right now. No increase in your strength is required, either to do the martial arts or anything else...including beating up that bully.

Real strength can be defined in many ways. There is the real strength you possess as measured by the number of friends you have. This is a strength that will never end, and is opposed to the fellow who takes martial arts just so he can beat people up.

Then there is the strength of energy, which you cultivate by breathing and stretching and slow motion. This strength lasts ten times longer than muscle strength. This strength will never slow you down or bulk you up, such as can be experienced by many types of weightlifting methods.

This energy strength is available through forms practice. The slower you do the form, the more strength you will have. The reason for this is because doing forms cultivates awareness.

The ultimate strength is awareness. When you do something, maybe do a form requiring low stances, you become aware of how your legs work. This makes them work better, and the legs become measurably stronger.

Yes, simple exercises of the weight lifting type give you a little strength, but you tend to become aware of the iron that you are lifting, and not of your body. When awareness becomes focused on the body, this makes the body stronger, and gives you more real strength. It is awareness that will make you as strong as you can ultimately be.

Awareness of how your body works, instead of the endless lifting of iron. Awareness that is not concentrating upon your desire for self-image, but rather on the seeking of self-improvement. Awareness, but, unfortunately, most students are mired in such ruts that they are unable to seek out methods that increase awareness. - 16887

About the Author:

Al Case (The Master Founder) has forty years experience in the Martial Arts. Visit him at Monster Martial Art.

Is the Pilates Reformer The Best Pilates Machine?

By Steve Estes

If you've been doing Pilates for any length of time, you've probably come across a couple of Pilates machines. There are a number of these pieces of equipment available on the market today. A Pilates machine, such as the Pilates Reformer, is an all in one, self contained Pilates workout.

Winsor Pilates, Malibu Pilates, or Stott Pilates, whichever "brand" of Pilates you've practiced I imagine that you have used one of these machines before. And if you have ever thought that you might even want to purchase one for your home workout center then this article is for you.

I am going to contrast and compare three of the most popular Pilates Machines, the Pilates Reformer, the Pilates Power Gym, and the Malibu Pilates Chair as these seem to be, by far, the most popular models of the large variety of Pilates equipment available on the market today.

I want to start with the big dog on the market, the Pilates Reformer.

Pilates Reformer

This is the top of the line model of Pilates machines and the one used most by the real Pilates experts out there. The PR is really the Big Kahuna of exercise equipment. While the name sounds like it might come out of some Monty Python bit about the Spanish Inquisition, actually it is the premier state-of-the-art Pilates equipment.

As you probably know, the modern form of exercise known as Pilates is one that emphasizes strengthening the core postural muscles of the torso. It was designed and developed by Joe Pilates in the early 20th century. What is amazing is that the story goes that Joe came up with the basic idea of Pilates while in political prison. What he wanted was a holistic system of body development that improved the body's health by working the abdominal musculature.

You simply sit in the comfortable carriage of the Pilates Reformer, and using the patented pulley and spring system to push and pull your self back and forth with a progressively higher and higher workload. This is a real work out folks.

Pilates Power Gym Review

The Pilates Power Gym is a beautiful piece of Pilates equipment. Able to carry a person up to about 225 pounds it has comfortable foot straps and padded handles, just like the Reformer. Like other Pilates machines it allows you to adjust your gym to your own fitness level for core strength training. As well, it is only half the size of a normal Pilates machine and very lightweight so can be moved around with great ease and convenience. It is made with a sturdy carbon-steel frame that helps firm, tone, and sculpt calves, thighs, hips, abs, shoulders, arms, and back for a whole new you. Just think of what it will be like to look in the mirror and absolutely LOVE what you see!

The Malibu Pilates Chair

This is one of the smallest and certainly most compact of the whole body Pilates machines. And clocking in at just under three hundred and fifty bucks, it might just be one of the most affordable. It comes with a free wall chart and diet plan that make massive weight loss not only possible but simple and easy. Even sitting on your backside (it is a chair after all) you are going to get a serious work out with the MPC.

Whichever Pilates machine you choose you are sure to feel fantastic as you see those unwanted pounds drop off your body weekly until you see a whole new wonderful you. - 16887

About the Author:

Steve Estes is a weight loss expert and personal fitness trainer who writes articles about your health and well being. He endorses most of the Pilates machines, like the Pilates Reformer, Pilates Power Gym, and the Malibu Pilates Chair and a wide variety of Pilates fitness equipment.

Building A Bankroll - Holdem Bankroll Management Strategy

By Eric Lass

Building a bankroll can be a hard task if you don't follow a bankroll management strategy that will decrease your chances of the ups and downs that come with the game. A vital key in any successful poker career or hobby is to play only within your limits. A good holdem bankroll management strategy is essential to staying within those limits. Bankroll management is an excellent tool to use to avoid going broke with a bad run of cards or a losing session.

Most people realize that poker is gambling in the truest sense of the word. What most don't know, however, is that there is actually a way to minimize the gamble and maximize your chances of winning more than you lose.

To begin building a bankroll, you must first find a formula that you will be comfortable with. There are several common formulas that are used. Here's one example:

Start with a $100 bankroll. This is the amount that you have set aside to use for one session . We'll use this amount for illustration purposes, as it will be simple to understand the formula. What are the minimum and maximum buy-in amounts for the table? Maximum is most often 100 times the Big Blind. At $1/2 level, your max buy-in would be $200, or 2 times 100.

You will want to play 15-20 buy-ins for the session, so you would look for a NL Holdem Cash Game. With your $100 bankroll you'll be playing at $.02/.04 level. .04 times 100 equals $4. With this formula you can play for 25 buy-ins at $4 each. That may not seem like much, but at higher limits, you are likely to lose everything much more quickly. The better way to learn would be to get as many buy-ins as possible so you can play more hands.

The example above shows you where you should be playing at compared to where you are playing now. You are probably thinking this is too low of stakes for you, and this is probably why you are, in the long run, a inconsistent poker player. You need to build up to the levels where you bankroll gives you some room to lose, if you don't, then you are setting yourself up for failure.

It's a good idea to have a more conservative approach to building a bankroll and your bankroll management strategy. It is crucial to your success at the tables and can make you a more consistent, winning, poker player. - 16887

About the Author:

Next, check out Eric Lass' poker blog where he gives more poker tips on building a bankroll and other bankroll management strategies.

Finding Great Golf Equipment

By June Karlsson

When you begin shopping for good golf equipment, you'll find that if you know how and where to look, it can be a very rewarding adventure. I've stumbled upon great deals a number of times just by dropping by summer yard sales. I've seen entire sets for $30. Single woods were $3. Granted, they weren't the best of the best, but I don't need the best of the best to play (until such time that I turn pro).

I would much rather put a couple hundred bucks in golf lessons from a professional golfer than to plop down $1200 or more for a set of clubs I may or may not use a lot.Yard sales, garage sales, auctions, and second hand stores will all have sets of golf clubs discounted. So yard and garage sales are the first place I'd look.

Next, I would log onto the largest online auction site in the world, ebay.com. For the past ten years Ebay has enjoyed a great reputation in the online auction and e-commerce world. You can find exceptionally good deals if you know how and where to look. But you do need a little patience because the deals may not end for five or six days from the time you begin looking. Then again, it may end in eight minutes. You just never know. At this writing, there were over 2924 golf club sets for auction. There were 11,677 golf ball sites offering their golf balls for sale. Search around on Ebay and you are sure to make some really good finds.

Amazon.com is also a good site to find a ton of people who are willing, for whatever reason, to offload a set of golf clubs for a reasonable price. The deals aren't obvious all the time, but they do exist.

One disadvantage to these online sites is that you don't get a first hand look and touch before you buy them. In that sense, you truly are buying a pig in a poke. Most major online sites have decent return policies, but I have yet to see a quality return policy that makes the customer happy.

Finally, online golf sites (not Yahoo-, Ebay- or Amazon-related) are the last place I would turn to in order to find great reconditioned golf equipment. These sites are geared towards golf. Buying from these sites is an area that you need to be cautious about.

You can buy decent equipment at affordable prices but you need to exercise a bit of caution. It's fine to be cautiously skeptical about your buys. P.T. Barnum said it best: "there's a sucker born every minute." And he hadn't even heard about the online world. Unfortunately, he's right. You now know that not everyone you deal with online is as honest and trustworthy as you and me. Do some due diligence and read the reviews of the person you are buying from. If he (or she) has a ton of positive reviews, you increase your odds of success. Chances are very good that your purchase will also be very good. Avoid those who have very few buy and/or sell transactions. It doesn't make the person untrustworthy, it just makes her inexperienced. - 16887

About the Author:

Ms. June Karlsson is a writer and she writes a myriad of of subjects. Visit June's Buy Golf Equipment Blog for more information, or her friend's Golf Equipment Hub.

An Overview of Taxidermy For Hunters

By Jeff Henderson

Taxidermy is a highly augmented practice, particularly when the deceased animal is used as a wall mount, and it appears to be in rejected in todays culture. Still, most taxidermy business is made by common hunters, even though many taxidermists arrange animals for zoological, restaurants, and museums displays. In order to be a taxidermist, you have to get an education in the fields of painting and sculpture, anatomy and dissection, , and tanning.

Since the process of taxidermy depends on having a hard structure with which to work, the practice is usually restricted to animals with backbones.

Since the turn of the century, taxidermy has developed as a art form and science. Because the goal is to conserve the life likeness of an animal, taxidermists constantly seeking to advance their proficiency and practices, and hi-tech advances have added greatly to the line of work. If you are a sportsman and want to have your prize mounted, you need to know how to arrange your animal properly to make sure your taxidermist can accomplish the most life like dealing possible.

A frequent technique taxidermists use is freezing the animal. Using a huge freezer, like to that used by meat store, they chill the animal remains completely. Once a solid freeze is acomplished, the skin is taken off and set aside to be tanned later on. The animal's bone, muscle, and tissue are then sealed with plaster of Paris, creating a cast of the animal from which a form carving is made. The skin is tanned and then placed back on, and other elements like eye made from glass and fake teeth are added to create a life like Look.

A form of taxidermy that was famous in the Victorian times of the ninetieth Century is called anthromorphic. This form, mounted the animals in human clothes and doing human activities.

Hunters take their dead animals to taxidermists in order to conserve that moment of splendor when they killed the animal. One thing that is true about most game hunters, they use the meat for food and save the fur and skin for mounts. Another popular approach is to have a part of the body, like the head, mounted for display.

The conventional idea of the "Hunter" made popular by Hollywood makes this profession look barbaric and scary, but you must realize that taxidermists are professional, and what they do is a art form and a science. - 16887

About the Author:

Taxidermy information and products Buy Taxidermy Mounts and even Buy Deer Taxidermy Mounts

Racing Games for the iPhone

By Thom Yarbrough

It's not just kids who love racing games, but anyway, there's a kid inside all of us who wants to race and win too! These games carry an amount of excitement that is hard to achieve anywhere else. The good news is that there are numerous such games for the iPhone these days, some free and other's premium versions. Here's a small list of such games.

Airstunts

In this short but exciting game, you have to make sure that your little airplane can fly through several hoops that are hanging in the air. This game is fun to have and easy to play. All you have to do is to enter the hoops using your iPhone controls as an accelerometer. The environment is nice and this is the perfect little time filler for those times when you have a little, but not much, time free.

Touch Ski 3D

So you've always loved to hit the slopes for a spot of skiing. Here's your chance to play your favorite sport without leaving the comfort of your armchair as you navigate your skis across the stunning slopes. This game brings life like 3D environments, a very cool Bullet Physics engine and global online high scores. You have to use two fingers for this game, where one finger controls each ski. Make sure the skis are parallel for maximum speed and cross them to slow down and capture slalom flags.

Ferrari GT Evolution

For all those Ferrari aficionados out there, this game is the ultimate, because it not only lets you zip around in fantastically simulated races, you can choose from 33 authentic models including the latest ones. Choose the environments and car colors and challenge your friends in the multiplayer versions. Complete the courses on a circuit and get your driver's license and choose your own path as you wind through different famous cities like Athens, Madrid etc.

Aqua Moto Racing

Love the water? More important, love to jet ski? Then this is the game for you. Download it and you will not be bored as you maneuver your jet ski through the azure waters of Emerald Bay. There's a complete sense of freedom and amazing speed controls in this game where you can start off as a novice but move onto participating in a championship. This awesome game can be played in three different environments in the full version, in Emerald Bay, Everglades, and Long Beach Port. So, what are you waiting for? Splash around and zip through the water as you play this fantastic game on your iPhone. - 16887

About the Author:

Thom Yarborough crafts articles for leading independent iPhone games developer, GiantCrayon Games. GiantCrayon has many incomparable iPhone apps on the iTunes apps store.

Picnic Backpack Selection Tips - For Everyone On The Go

By Patricia C Thomas

Outdoor adventures with someone you love or the entire family are made more enjoyable with a picnic backpack. While a basket may be okay for short trips to the park down the street, longer trips will require something that is compact and can be carried without occupying both of your hands.

Depending on who will be doing most of the hauling and the amount of stuff that you want to carry on your trips, you will need to select the appropriate size of pack.

The idea of a backpack gives the illusion of something compact, but be aware that they can get quite large and bulky. Generally, they are sold in terms of the number of people going on the outing. A 2 person pack is going to obviously be more compact than a 4 person pack.

There are packs designed just for children as well. These will not only come in fun color schemes that children will want to carry, but they are lighter weight and will allow a child to be more independent. If you are going on family outings, then it is a great idea to purchase each child their own backpack. Not only will it give them something fun to carry, but it will lighten your load as well.

You also have to consider the arrangement of compartments in each pack. There are different types of slots, such as open spaces to put larger food items, drink holders, and slots for silverware. Make sure that the style and arrangement of these compartments will fit with what you are likely to be packing.

It all comes down to style and design. You want something that is compact as possible without sacrificing the space you need to carry food and drink for the number of people you typically include. Instead of one large, bulky pack you may want to consider several smaller ones to be carried by different people. This will also increase the number of drink slots you have or allow you to portion out food and drink for different people ahead of time.

Your chances of having an enjoyable outing today and many more in the future are increased if you look at functionality more than price. You want something that is durable and that will hold up with consistent use. If you select the right size and style chances are you will enjoy your time on the go much more. - 16887

About the Author:

You can find even more advice about outdoor equipment including the best picnic basket backpack available and daypacks at the Outdoor Equipment Guide.

Carp Fishing Quick Guides for Beginners

By Don Myatt

Today, carp fishing is one of the favorite pastimes among people of all ages. If you are interested in carp fishing, you need to gear yourself with at least some basic knowledge about this fun activity.

Engaging in carp fishing means you need to have a good grasp of carp fishing techniques, locations, food, tips, equipment, and much more. However, these cannot be available in an instant if you have access to only one source of information. If you want to enjoy this fun activity to the fullest, here are some carp fishing quick guides that will equip you with essential information on carp fishing. This article allows you to learn more about carp fishing.

Firstly, it is important to begin fishing in areas which are known for a good stock of carp. If possible, start in lakes where there are carp that weigh up to 3.6kg. Why is this important? Since you are just beginning, fishing in waters where carp are known to swim will allow you to observe the carps? behavior. You will also have a better chance of catching some fish on your first try which will be great for your self-confidence and help to maintain your interest.

Second, skills in locating carps are needed as well. When you are at the fishing grounds, you should take a walk around the waters to locate globule formations, smudged water areas (indicating that they are feeding), tell-tail indicators, topping, playing, and other movements. Also, you have to place baits in areas where they are hiding. During day time, carp will usually patrol lily beds, weed beds, and the cover of islands.

You will also have some decisions to make before you cast a line. The questions that you must consider are: are you going to fish in the margins or at long range? How big large are the carp you want to fish? How is the water condition? You might get some of these questions answered by seasoned carp anglers, but while they might be able to give you some tips on carp fishing in general, you really need somebody that knows the particular waters you are fishing. However, here are some general tips that may make your carp fishing trip a more fulfilling one.

For long range work, it is best to use a rod with a fast taper and tip action. A test curve that has a weight of 1.1kg is appropriate for carps that weigh over 57g. For the lighter ones, it is appropriate to utilize a 0.9kg test curve. Fishing in the margins requires rods with test curve that weighs 0.8kg. A sturdy reel with a spool that runs up to 140m long is required as well when carp fishing.

It is also important to consider the bait. Some of the most commonly used baits for carp fishing are maggots and caster, sweet corn, trout pellets and trout pellet paste, luncheon meat and sausage meat, hemp, bread, dog and cat biscuits, and boilies. You must never be afraid to experiment with different baits. By trying out different baits, you will know which baits are most effective in different fishing environments. Once you are more experienced you will be able to make your own boilies.

For beginners, it is important to know that soft hook lengths are more effective for carp fishing. There are different types of bait that you can use for different hook lengths. However, it is always safer to use soft ones. Then again, soft hook lengths are prone to tangles, so it is better use an anti-tangle gel or anti-tangle rig to make fishing easier. It is recommended that you use bite indicators as well. You can use monkey climbers, bobbins and swingers. These bite indicators will give you a signal when a carp escapes. They are effective when you are night fishing because they come with beaming isotopes that allow them to be seen in the dark.

Carp fishing is truly an exciting activity that you will surely find enjoyable, but a more exciting carp fishing experience awaits you if you follow the carp fishing quick guides. You can start fishing for carp with the knowledge that you have gained here. However, you will also need to conduct your own research to learn more advanced techniques and skills, as this article only provides you with the basic knowledge you need to know about carp fishing. - 16887

About the Author:

To get more information, you can read our articles where both novices and experienced carp fishermen can equip themselves with the knowledge they need to excel in carp fishing.

6 Must-Know Things for a Trimmer and Healthier You

By Thong M. Dao

Do you want to lose fat? Have you tried different diets and failed consistently? If you answered yes to these questions, you are in good company. There are a lot of people who have been trying fat loss diets over the years and have failed. The reason they have not succeeded is that they used gimmicks and lose-weight-fast diets that do more damage than good. Here are some sensible things to keep in mind when you try to lose weight.

1. Consume foods from all food groups daily. It is an excellent way to guarantee you're taking all the nutrients your body calls for and this assists to ward off any dieting deficiencies. Besides, do not have the same foods day in and day out. Experiment so that you do not become bored with same old diet.

2. Attempt to consume breakfast within an hour of waking. It is the best way to provide your body the jumpstart it demands. Do not wait till you're truly starved. Breakfast is crucial, however you do not have to stuff yourself.

3. 25 to 30% of your diet should be proteins. Various processes and activities are going on in our bodies. Things are broken down and being built up again. Resistance has to be built up, recovery from disease too is needed and for all this the body needs plenty of proteins so see to it that 25 to 30% of your diet consists of proteins.

4. Try to go as vegetarian as you can. This really is a healthier lifestyle, even if you can't cut meat out completely. The more fruits and veggies you can eat the better. The more meat you cut out, the more fat you can cut out of your diet as well. However, protein is important, so be certain that your option allows you to maintain good protein levels.

5. White bread is good, but high fiber multigrain breads are much better. These breads are another way to add more fiber to your diet and they also have a good protein level.

6. Restrict your sugar ingestion as much as you can. When you must add sweetener in your tea and coffee, attempt to find an man-made sweetener that you do not mind the taste. But they are not completely that wholesome either and should be restricted too. - 16887

About the Author:

Claim your free fat loss tips and start burning fat right now!

How Can We Use Bamboo Canes To Enhance Our Homes?

By Anna Meenaghan

In this day and age we are surrounded by so many unique types of dcor to equip our homes with. We have such a diverse and broad spectrum to make our choices from. In fashionable homes you will in all probability notice that one or two abstract paintings don the walls here and there, but as a rule there may perhaps be the odd larger reprinted photograph of a building in the vein of The Eiffel Tower, Picadilly Circus, The Statue of Liberty or even The New York Skyline to put in a touch of realism!

Yet, we do apply more than merely pictures to personalise and give our homes a hospitable feel to them. In spite of everything, we do want to be able to unwind, listen to cd's, look at TV, and by and large take it easy after a day at work.

Frequently the current trends may lean towards minimalism, so in this scenario you may only require a couple of items in the room to achieve this. I, on the other hand, am always experimenting with things. So I freely confess that my rooms are cluttered!

People on the whole, spend hours wandering around the stores trying to make up their minds really what to choose for their individual room. It is not always easy and repeatedly people find it testing to make an agreement and compromise.

Candles are a standard option with so many varieties nowadays, which of an evening, lead to an intimate tone. One thing is evident though, these further knick-knacks frequently do not come reasonably and so many are mass created, taking away any uniqueness.

And this in mind I got around to thinking what could you position, for example, in a corner to make an effect, but in spite of that not take over the room. No problem, I came up with bamboo!

So, if you go to any decent garden centre, hardware or DIY store, you ought to be able to buy a quantity of bamboo canes. Now, I had in mind the full length ones also in addition, not inevitably the ordinary thin ones that you produce your runner beans on. Truly what you require is some of the thicker type. In essence, in the region of an inch to one and a quarter inches wide.

Overall, if you intend them for a corner, purchase ten. The other feature is you can besides get them in colours at present. For this project I suggest that a pale green would be ideal. Once you have these, you will need some covered florist's wire to bind them all together, about halfway down, ensuring that the canes at the base half are part twisted so that they splay out. Once you believe that these are steady then go round the tie two or three times to secure this, with some strong twine.

The next stage is to join some large simulated flowers along with a significant head to them and drive them downward all the way through the string. Large red poppies otherwise sunflowers would be marvelous for this. Supplementary to this you in actuality require various long ferns, otherwise stems, with green foliage on. At this point, to add more strength to your tie, you could put together a belt of approximately eight inches of green plastic mesh all round, crossing it at the face resembling an x, and secure it in the centre. Otherwise, you may perhaps do something comparable with a bit of chiffon, or a fine long scarf.

Another option would be to suspend pine cones or string balls from it. Now too, you can buy twigs and flowers which are beaded. Obviously you can adapt this to your personal needs and preferences! - 16887

About the Author:

If you liked this article then you can find many more at the authors online interactive art community. F.Y.I., Anna Meenaghan provides not just guides there but most things art related from abstract paintings all the way through to realism and also a home where artists & art enthusiasts alike have a meeting point.

Development of The Official Soccer Ball

By Gabriel Barkeley

The following information in this article is the result of many hours of professional research and I hope it will help you.

In the popular game of soccer or football, the most important piece of equipment is obviously the ball. Before the modern invention of the official soccer ball, you should know that in the beginnings of the sport the 'ball' used was either a human head, a human or animal skull, an animal bladder, stitched up cloth, or an animal-skin ball. In medieval times, stories tell about animal bladders mostly, which, progressively started being covered with leather to maintain the shape better and for a longer time. It was only with Charles Goodyear who, in 1836 patented vulcanized rubber and in 1855 designed and created the first vulcanized rubber balls, that we can say we are getting closer to the shape of the official soccer ball of the modern times. Then, inflatable bladders started being produced in 1862, after H.J. Lindon invented them.

It was only with Charles Goodyear who, in 1836 patented vulcanized rubber and in 1855 designed and created the first vulcanized rubber balls, that we can say we are getting closer to the shape of the official soccer ball of the modern times. Then, in 1862, H. J. Lindon developed one of the first inflatable bladders for balls and he is also known to have invented the rugby ball, although he did never patent it. When talking of the official soccer ball, you have to think of the soccer ball from the temporal perspective. There have been more than just one official soccer ball models used, at least in the 20th century and up to the present. Another aspect regarding the official soccer balls used in time is that of the manufacturing companies that have been entrusted to produce these items. Thus we will have in mind firms like Adidas, Nike, Brine or Puma that design soccer balls according to the rules and regulations established by the international football organisms and associations (FIFA).

One official soccer ball was the Telstar (Star of Television) used in Mexico in 1970. Although they had started producing soccer balls just some seven years before, Adidas was accredited to design the official soccer ball for the FIFA World Cup of 1970. It was for the first time that the black and white 32 panel pattern was used to allow for a better visibility on black and white TV sets. Two Adidas soccer balls were afterwards launched in Germany, in 1974. Telstar was reissued but this time the gold branding was replaced by a black one. Then Adidas produced the official soccer ball in an all-black version which was named Adidas Chile, after an all-white ball previously tested in Chile in 1962. The materials and techniques from these first models were afterwards preserved in the 1970 releases.

To count some more of the balls that have won the official soccer ball status there are: Tango Durlast 1978 characterized by dynamism and elegance, Tango Espana, 1982 made real leather, Azteca, Mexico 1986, a premiere of polyurethane rain resistant coated ball, Etrvsco Unico, Italy, or in 1990 the first ball based on an internal polyurethane foam layer.

Good luck putting this information to good use. Once again thanks for reading. - 16887

About the Author:

Gabriel Barkeley is a consultant, soccer coach and trainer. He has lived and worked abroad since the late 1970s and has advised and worked with corporations and people from a wide range of backgrounds, professions and ethnicities. If you're seeking to learn more about brine soccer ball or soccer balls size then you can visit him at www.supersoccercalifornia.com

A Mild Drift and the Dangers Involved

By Will Kerfoot

Drift diving can be an exhilarating experience and in many cases it may be the only way to explore certain dive sites. It requires rigorous planning, specialist equipment (such as emergency dive flags) and strict adherence to the dive plan if it is to be conducted safely. Though many divers are aware of this there is a tendency amongst divers and dive operators to downgrade the mild drift dive and forgo much of the planning and safety aspects that are required. In many cases it is during the mild drift that, when things go wrong they do so spectacularly and result in newspaper headlines such as Five divers missing in Komodo National Park near Bali, No hope for 3 missing divers " Red Sea. Almost without exception those involved have not been carrying signal flags and were lost on the surface after a successful dive.

As the name would suggest a mild drift is an underwater current that can easily lure divers into areas unknown. The reason they are so dangerous is due to the fact that they require very little effort on the part of the diver to move a fair distance from where they should be. Mostly caused by surface wind the mild current can be the main cause for a diver to require a form of signaling device to get seen by the dive boat.

There are some amazing locations in the Red Sea that I have dived where a mild drift has often caught me out with the fast flow of the surface currents. A good surface cover and having a dive flag that ensured my customers and I were quickly spotted by the RIB and picked up. No matter what any diver tells you being caught in a drift and slipping away from a small RIB is a worrying experience no matter what level of diving you are at.

A change in the weather conditions or a careless boat operator can be the cause of the problem. Having a device which is lightweight, easy to carry and highly visible in all conditions is one of the best ways that a diver can ensure that they make it back to the RIB safely and quickly. In a moment of an emergency a dive flag is one of the better ways of getting the attention you need when you need it.

Many more experienced divers have made their own versions of a dive flag but it has always been the fact that they only last a certain length of time and they become a rather cumbersome addition to the divers kit. They were not always the easiest of devices to expand quickly either. There are now devices available on the market that fill this void and are extremely lightweight and highly visible in all conditions. - 16887

About the Author:

The Dive Flag is a new lightweight and easy to use device for divers to signal from the surface. Will Kerfoot is a qualified PADI diver with over 20 years diving experience.

Hustle, Loyalty, Respect

By Jacky Lee

A multiple time US champion, Tag Team Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, and Royal Rumble winner, John Cena, real name John Fleix Anthony Cena, also sometimes credited as a hip hope star and movie actor, is currently the hottest professional wrestling in America working under the Raw Brand of the World Wrestling Entertainment.

Graduated in 1998 from Springfield College with a physiology degree, John Cena is born in West Newbury, Massachusetts on April 23, 1977. Cena was an Division III All-American in football while in college. Before his profession in wrestling, he worked as a chauffeur in a limousine company while also being billed as a bodybuilder.

"The Champ" first real wrestling experience was under a semi-robotic character known as the Prototype at Ultimate Pro Wrestling's sub division Ultimate University. He was then placed in WWE's development wrestling company, Ohio Valley Wrestling before being drafted by the WWE in 2001 for his brute force and charming personality.

John Cena surprised many fans and well established wrestling superstar Kurt Angle when he nearly pinned the Olympic Champion by kicking out of the dreadful Angel Slam and outlasting the angle lock submission in his first WWE event. This event promoted him to become the new fan favorite in WWE and he was soon facing proven heels such as Chris Jericho. However, after little achievement, Cena decided to turn into a heel character who was rapping and cutting promos and interviews, while calling himself the "Doctor of Thuganomics". This character was soon rewarded with a destiny with then WWE champion, Brock Lesnar. Though Cena lost to Lesnar, he gained a lot of respect and earned the characteristics of being resilience and tough.

John Cena largest payday at last arrived on the night of Wrestlemania 21 when he overwhelmed loudmouth John "Bradshaw" Layfield and became the WWE World Champion. His ongoing feud with JBL ended when Eric Bischoff drafted him to his Monday Night Raw. Upon his arrival at WWE's flagship TV show, he rapidly made an impact by temporally retiring Y2J Chris Jericho. "The Champ" once again feuded with Olympic Champion Kurt Angle in the following months. In a submission match with Angle, fans witnessed Cena's new wrestling submission move called STF, or STFU. After an injury, Cena took a few months to film "The Marine". Before the injury and upon retuning to WWE, Cena started hearing boos toward him from many wrestling fans. Many were worn-out of seeing Cena billed as the top attraction week in and week out. Furthermore, other fans were booing him because of his limited wrestling repertoire performed in the ring.

John Cena put up one of his best years in 2006 when he started a long and heated rivalry with Edge and then headlined Wrestlemania with Triple H. He would later defend the title against the widely popular Rob Van Damn. Despite all these, the negative reactions from fans only got worse. "you suck" and "F U Cena" chants and be heard in arenas around the country directing at Cena.

Despite many negative reactions from the fans, WWE continue to push Cena because of his drawing power. "The Champ" and Shawn Michaels would headline Wrestlemania in 2007. WWE further proved their faith in Cena's ability when they put him in a rematch with "Mr. Wrestlemania" HBK in a classic one hour long match on Monday Night Raw the following week after Wrestlemania. Luckily for Cena, he still have many "chain soldiers" or fans supporting him and cheering him on despite all the boos and negative reactions.

Throughout the last few years, Cena has starred in two action flicks, "12 Rounds" and "The Marine', while recording his own entrance song in the album "You Can't See Me". No matter if you are booing or cheering for him the next time he does the military salute to the audience or shouting "The Champ is Here", there is little doubt that John Cena is the biggest draw and most emotional driven wrester in the industry today. - 16887

About the Author:

please visit Jacky Lee's John Cena DVD page for more information regarding the wrestler. The John Cena DVD page was one such page created to update wrestling fans regarding new and currently released wrestling dvd.

What is the History Behind the Winter Olympic Games?

By A. Nutt

The Nordic Games were the first iteration of winter Olympic games. Viktor Gustaf Balck first organized the Nordic Games in Sweden in 1901. This international mult-sport event that was designated specifically for winter sports was thereafter held regularly until 1926. In the meantime, Balck was rallying to have winter sports (starting with figure skating) included in the Olympic sport roster. He was unsuccessful until 1908, when four figure skating events were included in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.

When planning the next summer Olympics (to be held in 1912), an Italian count named Eugenio Brunetto dUsseaux beseeched the International Olympic Committee to plan a week of winter sports as part of the 1912 games. The idea was not welcomed warmly, for a couple different reasons. First, the committee did not want to detract from the Nordic Games. Second, the committee was concerned about the lack of facilities for other winter sports.

More ground was gained in 1916, when the idea to include a week of winter sports was again proposed. The committee went as far as to plan the week of winter sports including figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey and Nordic skiing. Unfortunately, the 1916 games in Berlin were cancelled due to World War I.

Figure skating and ice hockey were featured in the first Olympic games after the war, held in Antwerp in 1920. Shortly thereafter the International Olympic Committee decided that the organizers of the next Olympics (to be held in 1924) would also host an International Winter Sports Week. The first Winter Sports Week took place in Chamonix in 1924 and actually lasted 11 days. The event was a huge success, drawing more than 200 athletes from 16 competing nations. In the first Winter Sports Week, women only competed in figure skating events.

In 1925, the International Olympic Committee created a separate event designated for these types of sports. The event was called the Olympic Winter Games, and at the same time, the 1924 Winter Sports Week in Chamonix was retroactively designated as the official first Winter Olympics. The second Olympic Winter Games were held in St. Moritz in February of 1928. The next Winter Olympic Games were held in North America for the first time. The location of the event was Lake Placid, New York. The turnout at the 1932 Winter Olympics was not impressive, however, partly due to the financial stress of the Great Depression. 1936 was the last year in which both summer and winter Olympics were held in the same country. Both the 1940 and the 1944 Winter Olympics were cancelled as a result of World War II. The 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina dAmpezzo, Italy were the first to be televised.

The next Winter Olympics Games scheduled are to take place in 2010 in Vancouver, B.C. Below is a list of scheduled medal events:

- Alpine skiing - Biathlon - Bobsled - Cross-country skiing - Curling - Figure skating - Freestyle skiing - Ice hockey - Luge - Nordic combined - Short track speed skating - Skeleton - Ski jumping - Snowboarding - Speed skating - 16887

About the Author:

Industry leader in sports travel provides the ultimate in sports travel packages and tours for 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics hotels, 2010 Winter Olympics tickets, plus much more.

Wrinkle Creams: Cosmetic Or Charismatic?

By Jen Hopkins

Every woman ages. Most would prefer not to, especially when creases show up around the lips and eyes in our thirties. How many hours have been wasted scrutinizing that face in the mirror! Is there a jar or bottle which contains magic wrinkle-killing substances?

The cosmetic market is awash with so many creams that promise to aid you in your battle against wrinkles, that it can be a monstrous decision choosing one out of the multitude. Ranging in price from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars, one is uncertain as to where to start looking, and what to look for. Big brand companies seem to be the pioneers in this race to market their products for anti aging. Despite their expensive price tags, many gullible middle-aged women are willing to buy and try.

Reviews and beauty forums on the world wide web are populated with thousands of desperate shoppers, and most are fairly useless. If a handful of reviewers claim a specific product works for them a pile of women buy the item. Then, like clockwork, the negative reviews show up. "I have the same skin type the reviewer described, and it did NOTHING for me!" or "You may swear by it, but this stuff is junk!" It makes one wonder if any of the products really work.

The answer to that lies in the skin's structure and the reasons behind those fine lines. Wrinkles are said to be formed due to a number of factors, viz. skin's natural aging process, free radicals in the air that damage the skin's structure, UV rays from the sun, bad diet, lack of exercise, illnesses, certain prescription drugs, smoking and alcohol consumption. There are probably other reasons, but these are the main factors that are said to cause early wrinkling of the skin.

It appears that if a woman is having success with a specific product, her wrinkles aren't really going away because of it. Rather, she's taking better care of herself. I also recently learned that independant labs which test creams have not been able to prove than any of them match up to the claims made by the companies which produce them. In one case, the report said the best I could expect from a wrinkle cream is that it will take off the outer layer of my skin, which may give it a bright appearance but can be damaging if overused. Some creams also contain ingredients make the skin retain water or plump up, but I don't want to have fat cheeks just to get rid of a few lines - and how good can it be for my skin to be irritated like that?

What are the common active ingredients in a wrinkle cream? Antioxidants, such as a fruit base or vitamins A, E, C, kinetin, green tea extracts, alpha hydroxy acids, copper and coenzyme Q10 are some of the ingredients that make up most of these creams. How effective each of these are is not known, because no reliable statistics are available to understand which element works on which skin type.

Some believe antioxidants get rid of "free radicals" that cause skin damage. Maybe you've heard about using peelings from fruit to clean your face. It's the antioxidants that is supposed to cause new skin cells to grow on your skin, and the acids in the peels are acting as an abrasive. So, again - you're literally removing skin in the hopes that newer cells will generate a more attractive appearance.

There are no quick fixes. No overnight miracles. Each of the ingredients mentioned above are said to have worked for some, but not for many others. Prevention is still the best cure. Use sun protection, drink plenty of water, eat a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, eliminate smoking and excessive alcohol consumption and lead a stress-free life. Above all, re-evaluate your fitness regime. There is nothing like a good workout to get the circulation going, and to bring that glow back to your face. - 16887

About the Author:

Jen Hopkins maintains a website about best wrinkle cream. Visit her website to know more about best anti aging cream.

Very Basic Facts on the Use of a Sports Handicapper

By Adam S. Kingston

When you talk about online betting, sports betting is always part of the picture. The concept of sports betting in fact is what makes up the framework of online betting. This is also a way for aficionados to actively engage in a sport they very much know or are passionate about. It's logical to think that fans feel they have an affinity with their favorite because they actually get profit through betting. No matter how passionate you are about a certain sport however, it's quite natural to lose in sports betting quite a few times.This is where the services of a sports handicapper comes into play.

What is a Sports Handicapper?

It's quite easy to understand the concept of what a sports handicapper is. Handicapping involves enlisting the aid of a sports handicapper in betting in a particular sport. The handicapper will either help you decide the winner or give you advise as to what side you should bet on. To put it simply, you're just soliciting advice that will let you determine the most likely winner. The dirty work is done by the handicapper- poring through the facts and figures and coming-up with the most likely winner.

How can you use Sports Handicapping?

There is an abundance of sports handicapping services. The issue is less of how to find a handicapper and more about finding an established and reliable one. The internet is chock-full of "scamdicappers" or fake handicappers.Without due facts and thorough research, they rashly give out advice.For the sake of getting a fast buck from you, they give whimsical advice.

How you can watch out from these people is easy enough. You must make sure that the handicapper you are about to hire has a stable and popular reputation.This will be a good guide in figuring out if the handicapper has really helped many people choose properly and win in betting. By looking at their prior works, you should be able to certify their credibility. A handicapper usually boasts or declares his correct predictions.

A Sports Handicapper- Why Should You Hire One?

The reason for that has been implicitly explained throughout this article. It doesn't matter if you're a die-hard fan of a particular sport, no one can really be a foolproof expert of course. Third party advice will always become necessary.

In cases like this, help from a handicapper can come in handy. Maybe you may not know the ropes about betting, so enlisting the aid of a sports bettor can do a world of good.Look at the process on how the handicapper came-up with his results and not at the actual prediction.

Also, you can simply hire a sports handicapper for the sake of profiting. You can also hire a handicapper and follow the advice entirely by completely basing your decision on what was predicted, if profits are all you want. - 16887

About the Author:

Discover proven gambling strategies including Roulette strategies can you win. It gives a 99.4% win rate. For free info visit: http://www.easycasinoprofits.com

Horse Care " Horse Care Basics

By Lisa Blackstone

One of the responsibilities that an owner must provide his or her horse is horse care. Horse care is vital as it ensures the optimal health and long life of the horse. There are aspects that affect the way the owner needs to care for his or her horse. These aspects include age, breed, activity level, season and underlying health issues.

Horses must have enough exercise everyday to satisfy its physical needs. Horses kept in stables may develop stable vices. Stable vices are bad habits developed as a result of being confined with insufficient exercise, if they are not given work or turnout. Examples of stable vices are wood chewing, biting, wall kicking, pawing or digging.

For your horse to have enough exercise, you must provide it with enough land to run. An average land area for one horse is one to three hectares. The land must also be free from hazards, trash and poisonous plants. If the terrain does not provide natural shelter in the form of heavy trees or other windbreaks, an artificial shelter must be provided.

You must provide your horse with a shelter to protect it from the sun, rain and wind. Usually, a horse is sheltered in a box stall. The size or dimension of a box stall depends on local cultural traditions, the breed of horse, the gender of the horse, and any special needs. Just make sure that it is large enough to fit your horse.

Box stalls usually contain a layer of absorbent bedding such as straw or wood shavings. Compared to wood shavings, straw is less expensive. However, wood shavings are cleaner and more hygienic to use.

Box stalls and beddings need to be cleaned daily. There are health risks to the horse if forced to stand all day in its own waste. Remove any droppings using a shovel and wheel barrow and always disinfect the stable.

Horses need enough food, approximately 1.5% to 2.5% of its body weight in food per day. You can feed them with forages such as grass or hay, and concentrates such as grain or commercially prepared pelleted feeds. Also, they need sufficient water supply that is fresh and clean. Make sure that there is water in the water container for your horse unless there is a specific reason to limit water intake for a short period of time.

Grooming is also important for your horse to keep its coat healthy. Proper grooming prevents chafing and rubbing of dirt and other material, which can cause sores on the animal. Also, keeping feet clean and dry whenever possible helps prevent both lameness as well as hoof diseases. Grooming as well as hoof care and shoeing are good ways to gain the trust of the animal, therefore allowing you to check for injuries.

Horses need a regular veterinary care, which includes vaccination, parasite management, deworming and dental care. Vaccinations are given to protect horses against any number of sicknesses. Parasite management, which includes deworming, is done to get rid of the parasites and reduce parasite infection. Horses teeth also need to be checked as uneven teeth and sharp edges may cause problems to horses when eating or being ridden. - 16887

About the Author:

Author Lisa Brooks Blackstone is an equestrian and owns and operates Arabian horse training and breeding business. She has a niche clientele of horse owners, farms and training facilities. For more information on horses visit Horse Facts and Used Horse Trailers.

Massage Chairs Help to Treat Lower Back Pain

By Steve Esquire

Many people do not realize that lower back pain affects almost everyone at some point in their life. In fact, $50 billion is spent annually to diagnose and treat lower back pain in the United States. The most common cause of lower back pain is job related disability. Treating lower back pain can involve a variety of techniques including the use of massage chairs. Massage chairs provide an effective and reliable massage therapy treatment for some conditions of lower back pain.

There are two types or categories for low back pain. There are short-term back problems which are termed acute. There are longer-term back problems lasting weeks to even months which are referred to as chronic. Most treatment methods except surgery are more along natural lines. There are some conditions where the patient may have back pain for years on end.

There are two schools of thought on treatments which are blending together more and more. The blending of Eastern medicine and Western medicine has increased the options available. This is very good for patients as now they have more natural therapies as options as well. Although in certain situations surgery may be the only option.

Low back pain is often best treated by specialists in the same medical field. Doctors treating low back pain are typically doctors of osteopathic medicine or chiropractic doctors. The difference between these doctors is their area of specialty. Osteopathic is focused on joints where chiropractic is specialized for the spine.

Some conditions such as degenerated disc disease or back injuries can be of a more chronic problem. These types of conditions can cause scar tissue which makes the soft tissues more brittle. In these situations the soft tissues need to be stimulated and stretched. Some of these more chronic conditions have been where massage chairs have been used to help improve the flexibility of these harder muscles.

Some persons suffering from low back pain have used massage chairs to help them in some aspects of their recovery. Their soft tissue has become stiff and that is what creates the pain. Increasing the flexibility of the soft tissues is important to restore elasticity. Massage chairs have been used to help increase the flexibility of the soft tissues including joints, ligaments and tendons.

This concentration of force can happen because of poor posture, incorrect sitting position, or improper lifting techniques. This makes a few of the muscles, tendons and ligaments take the majority of the weight which causes them to become fatigued. This will lead to increased stiffness and eventually pain.

Many natural treatments are geared toward restoring flexibility in the muscles and other soft tissues. Massage chair therapy seeks to stretch out these muscles to help restore flexibility. Massage chairs are used to stimulate the lower lumbar and other muscles of the back to help redistribute the weight properly.

Massage chairs come with a variety of techniques to help with spinal health. Many massage chairs have traction systems. For instance, you can stretch out the lower body from the hips to the ankles. There are also stretching systems for the arms and shoulders. Massage chairs also have options to apply heat to different parts of the body.

Massage chairs are used to warm up the lower back muscles and to make them more flexible. This helps to improve range of motion of the spine. Massage chairs are used by chiropractors for their patients prior to spinal adjustments. This makes the adjustment easier when the muscles are not stiff. There are a number of positive treatments with massage chairs and they can also be used in the home for periodic relief of back aches and pain. - 16887

About the Author:

Help to relieve your low back pain with a massage chair from a reputable manufacturer. Browse through our Massage Chair Comparison to see chairs compared by massage technique. Find the best Massage Chair to assist you maintain the health of your spine.

Recreation And Sports - The Best Soccer Ball

By Gabriel Barkeley

Our article has been rated by top reviewers as one of the best on this topic. Carry on reading and you will find out why.

What is the best soccer ball? Which is the best soccer ball? Hard to say. The kind of usage is the one to influence the choice under normal circumstances. Anyway, even if the ball may be for personal use such as practice with your friends or family, you could still expect a decent quality level.

First of all you need to think of the correct size you will need to use. For eight-year-olds and under, the best soccer ball is a size 3. For players between 8 and 12 years of age, a size 4 would be suitable whereas from 13 on, the official international-size soccer ball size 5, is advisable. Then, think of the kind of ball you want from the softness perspective; buy a softer ball for younger players, especially for practicing heading. A good ball would be a PVC plastic ball, meant typically for young players/users. Advanced players will prefer a harder soccer ball for striking it. To make sure it is as soft/hard as you want, you can test it by pressing into it with your thumb. You can also ask the opinion of a knowledgeable person such as a coach or an experienced soccer player. If you really want the best soccer ball, you should look for the words FIFA Approved or FIFA Inspected.

There are other tips and warnings you should consider when trying to buy the best soccer ball. You should always go to a specialized store whose personnel is knowledgeable. You should visit stores that have a wide offer of sports equipment, soccer ball brands implicitly, with several offers for each brand. To get the best soccer ball possible, you must, among other things, check out the inner materials because the key to the feel of the soccer ball is the bladder or inner part that holds the air. Higher quality balls have latex bladders which also mean higher prices.

The way the ball is designed tells something further on its quality: hand-stitched items are high quality for instance. There are also laminated balls which are glued together. Such products are a bit heavier despite lamination. If possible, have the balls tested by a player on the ground. Furthermore, consider the weather conditions and the climate because balls tend to get harder when it's cold. One final piece of advice would be for you to also buy a small hand pump because you need to keep your ball inflated.

That is all I have for you in this article. Check out a few more for more great information. - 16887

About the Author:

Gabriel Barkeley is a consultant, soccer coach and trainer. He has worked and lived abroad since the late 1980s and has advised and worked with corporations and people from a wide range of backgrounds, professions and nationalities. If you're seeking to learn more about brine soccer ball or soccer balls size then you may visit him at www.supersoccercalifornia.com

Advice When You're Choosing Jon Boats

By Lena Hellsten

Jon boats are the basic open rough boats that are suitable for sport fishermen or to use as a transport boat in shallow waters. These types of boats are usually flat-bottomed with a square stern and this why they perform so well in shallow and calm waters.

These boats were originally made out of wood and have been around on the waters for a long time. They are normally using an outboard motor to get around. Nowadays, the wooden Jon boat is just one of many kinds. You can find Jon boats in other materials that are great since they require less maintenance than wood.

Apart from wood, polyethylene, fiberglass and aluminum are the most common materials for Jon boats. They are all good choices and which kind you choose depends on where youre going to use your boat and what youre going to use it for.

Aluminum is a great material if youre going to use your boat in lakes and rivers and also if you can expect to get a few beats from rocks. You dont want to have an aluminum boat if youre mainly going to be on salty waters since it can cause damage and leakage to the boat early on.

Polyethylene is a better option if youre going to use your boat in salty water since it withstands it very well. This material is still strong and gives you a boat that is quite light too. It can withstand a few beats to even though it shouldnt be dragged over rough surfaces.

Fiberglass is also suitable for boats that are going to be used in salty waters. If youre looking for a boat that is quieter this is your best option even though it is a little bit weaker than polyethylene.

If you know what youre going to use your Jon boat for and you know the area well where its supposed to be in the water you can feel secure to choose a boat from a material that is perfect for your specific situation.

A Jon boat is one of the better options for boats if youre looking for a boat that is safe and easy to use and that is great for fishing and short transports. Get your boat from someone professional and with expert knowledge and you can know that the boat youre getting will be the right one for you. - 16887

About the Author:

If you are wanting to learn more about boats of all sorts, like Jon boats, Pontoon boats, arima boats and stabicraft boats along with others, visit Venture River Boats.

Here Is The Easy Way To Creating Pictures Using Leaves!...

By Anna Meenaghan

We all surrender to distinct trends of fashion, whether it is things that are in at this moment in time or every so often things that hail from long ago. A great deal depends on the recent frame of mind we are, if truth be told, in along with what look we fancy to actually attain.

Fashions do come and go, and yes, return again! If you store things long enough they are almost certainly sure to. So many of us now run such active lives, tearing here there and everywhere, trying to carry out everything with not enough hours in the day.

We all ought to pause at times and chill out a little, however the time allocated intended for this seems to be ever decreasing. Consequently, with so little time remaining for relaxation, one thing that we can figure out to benefit ourselves, is to actually surround our living space with items which will provide harmony and also a sense of tranquility. This can merely result in lifting our mental state.

Okay, we can hang up a few abstract paintings, however you in addition can add a stroke of realism by using leaves collected from your very own garden to initiate your individual pictures. I, personally, formerly had a few of these featuring in my bathroom. These wood frames each contained a single leaf, but I became very fond of them. Unfortunately they got mislaid along the way once I packed up my house!

As a result let me explain. If, for example, you make use of a wooden frame that has a rectangular form, approximately 10x 8 inches, it will in all probability have an insert piece of around 4x6 inches. Working on this belief, you would be better to opt for a framework with the front part entirely wood, except for the insert portion.

Cover up your work surface with paper. To get cracking take the casing apart by removing the back and the glass. After that sandpaper all the wood down, then ensure you do away with all the dust before you go on.

Right now get a paintbrush and apply a coat of white primer to all the wood and then leave this to become dry. As soon as it has dried out you will want to brush on a colour that will fuse with your leaf. A natural brown will go together with most dcors. Position it somewhere to become dry, with a bit of luck where it will not gather dust.

As soon as this is all set for you to continue use a sandpaper and rub the paint down. The paint should shine through, part white, part colour, to give a distressed look. As for your leaves, you would only need a single leaf in this instance. Every leaf you intend to use has to be scrupulously dried out. You may well lay the leaves between newspaper, or blotting paper, with a heavy weight on top. Or else, now leave them anywhere warm on top of paper to dry.

You might like to touch the leaves later with some varnish or glycerine, but this is not compulsory. Make sure that you have some basic card for your paper backdrop, of your inset. Recycled paper is perfect. This can be white, cream, or else alternatively a lighter or darker shade than your frame.

Most likely you will find that your leaf will fit in the inset quite snugly, but if not, you could put a bit of double sided tape or adhesive on the back of the leaf to fix it. At this point you can reassemble the complete frame.

Generally, I think, this works splendidly if you arrange a set of them, like a set of 2,3, or 4, and every one with a different sort of leaf. - 16887

About the Author:

If you liked this article then you can discover many more at the authors internet interactive art gallery. F.Y.I., Anna Meenaghan provides not just guides there but most things art related from abstract paintings all the way through to realism and also a home where artists & art enthusiasts alike have a meeting point.

Funny Comedies in 2008

By Tally Redfields

With the year 2008 almost finished Tinsil town brought movie lovers well over 275 films. Out of all these movies, something like 70, or so, are made with laughter in mind. We will leave you with a short list of the best funny movies made this year.

GET SMART: Agent 86 is back, "and loving it". KAOS vs CONTROL, the shoe phone, and all the classic quotes. It's a trip down memory lane to look back at this classic spy spoof tv series.

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA: As you might imagine, this is the next edition to the box office hit Madagascar. The small group of animal friends are attempting to leave Madagascar, and go back to the Central Park Zoo, putting an end to thier incredible adventure. With things going wrong again, due to the Penguins, they find themselves going to Africa instead.

ROLE MODELS: Danny and Wheeler a couple of energy drink sales people, might be seeing some hard jail time after destroying the company vehicle while binging. The only way to avoid serving jail time is by doing communuty service. The catch is they will have to work as mentors with difficult children as sort of a big brother. Let the fun begin.

TROPIC THUNDER: With a collection of acting greats we soon see this movie is a claasic parody of popular war films. To get a realistic performance from his spoiled actors to make a true epic masterpiece, the desperate director into the jungle, and leaves them on thier own. His plan is to frightnen them so they will produce a work of genius, which hidden cameras will capture. When the director blows up on an old French land mine, the crew is left on its own, and they think there acting, but the bullets flying are actually real. Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Tom Cruise star.

ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO: The bills aren't getting paid and Zack and Miri, roomies who have been friends since grade school, need to come up with some cash soon. Their solution? Oh, thats easy, make a dirty movie. As one can expect this is a perfect enviornment for a funny film.

STEP BROTHERS: Two forty year old child adults, who still live with their single parents, find themselves having to share a room because their parents marry, we see that they are bound to have problems. With Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly acting as these two idiots, and the conditions are right for a racous comedy. This comedy looks like a must see for a good time this year.

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS: Heavy pot smoker Dale Denton in a stroke of bad luck, has seen a bad police officer, and a big time dealer, commit a killing. They see him witness the crime. Sure that he has been spotted, he drops his joint of pineapple express, and takes off. This joint is such a unique type of weed, that the bad guys can. The game is on, as Dale and his dealer Saul are on the run.

HAMLET 2: Failed actor Mr. Marshz now finds himself teaching high school theatre to bored and unmotivated kids. The school loses a building due to destruction, so the administration decides the theatre progam must be eliminated. Fully inspired, he hopes to keep the school from dropping his classes by producing Hamlet 2, a new version of the classic, which he writes himself.

FORGETTING SAHRAH MARSHALL: Down in the dumps after an undesired break up with long time girlfriend Sarah, a TV sitcom actress, Peter finally plans to take a vacation to a Hawaiian resort to start anew and forget about Sarah. As one might expect, upon checking into the resort, he runs into the woman who just left him and her new boyfriend, who has it all. This sets up as a thoughtful romantic comedy.

Thesw films, and thousands more, are availiable to buy, get as a rental, or you can even down load movies right onto your hard drive. Dowloading movies from internet vendors has fast become one of the most popular ways for aquiring movies. Look on the internet to locate websites to start getting free downloads. This is one of the best opportunities to build a massive collection of movies. - 16887

About the Author:

Other statements like, "i. You know the phenomenon, everytime you hear music playing in the background you think about the clip associated to the song. vintage videos you'll learn how to read notes and tab, form chords and recognize chord progressions by ear.

How to Make Carp Bait

By Peter Hooper

Starting with a base mix or starting from scratch are the two ways you can make your own carp bait. The first is the best way to quickly construct your own bait where as the latter takes a little longer.

Each of these methods has its advantages, the main of which is the costs involved and the final quality of the carp bait you are aiming to produce. For example adding flavorings, eggs and any additional oils are the only things required when you already have a good base mix, where a majority have the right quantity and quality of ingredients that are required. Although the more expensive of the two ways you do get a very good quality product at the end of this process.

The other method is to collate all of your ingredients that you will need to make the most basic of basic base mixes. For this there are three main ingredients which are Semolina, Ground Rice and Soya Flour. It takes a little time but stick with it and you will have a good start to your very own base mix.

Now is the time to add any powder you have planned for your mix for example robin red or fish meal, one of the key rules to making bait is to remember that you add powder to powder and liquid to liquid. It sounds fairly straight forward but as an example make sure you have added all the powder to your mix and given it a really good stir before you add in the liquids. One of the best ways to mix the dry is to use a sealed bag and shake it around, a clear bag allows you to see how mixed the powders are before you proceed.

With the base mix ready you need to move on to the next step. The manufacturer will have guide lines on how many eggs you should use but the normal amount is four eggs for every kilo of base mix that you have generated. Break your eggs into a bowl and add the amount of flavors you need for the amount of bait that you have and mix it all together in a bowl with a fork, be careful not to put too much effort into this as the air in there will determine how soft your mix is at the end of this process.

Once you are sure that your liquids are all fully mixed you can start adding them to your base mix, a little at a time, not to much but add a little quite often and keep mixing it with a fork until the mix becomes too thick to use a fork on. At this point you have to get your hands dirty as you will need to mix by hand (wear gloves if you don't want to smell like your bait for the next week). Continue dribbling in the mixes together until when you break the ball open you will see that it is the same dampness all the way through.

Break the paste into sections that can be placed into a bait gun, compress the sausage through the gun using the nozzle that corresponds with the size of carp bait you want, i.e 18mm nozzle for 18mm boilies. When you have the sausage roll it out with a Gardner sausage rolling table, this ensures the sausage is level and will avoid your boilies coming out oval and broken.

Once you have rolled your sausage in the rolling table and produced an amount of mix into the required size spheres you will need to move on to the next stage, boiling your bait. Take a small amount of your boilies and place them in a pan of boiling water for around two minutes. Refrain from putting too many in the pan at any one time as this can restrict the bait from cooking properly.

After the two mins is up we recommend placing them on an air dry tray for around 24 hours so that the skin forms fully and you can now take your bait and see what the fish think! - 16887

About the Author:

Peter Hooper is the Managing Director of Snags Fishing Tackle and also runs the unique fish bait website.

California and Cookin'

By Ian Kleine

The food in California has but one theme, due to the diverse races and the number of people passing by and staying in California. That theme is, fusion.

Fusion cooking integrates different styles and different forms of cooking which span around the world, using California-native ingredients. This defeats the barrier of substitution. Presentation and over all 'oomph' is important to California cuisine. Same goes for innovation and for over all taste.

The restaurant credited for starting California cuisine would be the Chez Panisse, by co-founder Alice Waters. The restaurant is found in Berkeley, California. Story dictates that Water visited south of France and had discovered the joy of cooking using fresh herbs, vegetables and oils. Her taste for what good food was cemented in this belief that the road restaurants served a better sense than those of the predictable menus of high-class Parisian restaurants.

She was a chef, and with her aspirations and dreams of steeling a cooking style that would cater to the taste buds of a demanding customer demographic whose demands are good food, fast service, and fresh, garden-fresh, ingredients. The garden-fresh criteria might be too much, but market-fresh and farm fresh certainly do fit the bill.

The restaurant was credited in making some of the more staple foods in most restaurants today. One example is the California-style pizza or the 'gourmet pizza' as they call it. California pizza uses non-traditional toppings taken from other cuisine styles, like artichokes, infused olive oils and peanut butter. The usual California pizza might have barbecue bits; curry sauce, oven-baked sunny-side up eggs, goat cheese, spinach, herbs and carne asada. It's actually more like a buffet pizza than a typical-put-everything-here pizza.

They also created the original Goat Cheese Salad and carbonated tap-water, a good alternative to soft drinks and soda. - 16887

About the Author:

Why not have a hand in crafting? Why not make it worth the trip? My Fairs and Festivals. Visit My Fairs and Festivals, and see how you can do with crafts and festivals. It is an opportunity you shouldnt miss!

Jumping Exercises

By Jump Manual

Jumping is one of the most important parts of most sports. The higher you can jump the better you will be at some sports.

People can teach their muscles to fire more efficiently and therefore increase their vertical leap.

The tricky part is that jump training is completely different than traditional strength training. Simply training your legs like a bodybuilder in the gym will not result in increased explosiveness.

The jump training you need to increase your jump height will involve both leg strengthening and leg speed.

Power is a combination of speed and strength. You have to train both aspects in order to see the results that you desire.

Leg strength is usually already achieved by most people that work their legs out regularly The hard part is getting the speed in the legs and know how to go about it.

Speed is taught to the legs by doing what are called plyometrics or jumping exercises. - 16887

About the Author:

More here on how to jump higher plyometric exercises and how to jump higher

Download Full English Movies Reviews

By Delaunay Ogilsbie

Some film reviews are listed below. If you want to download these movies do some searches to find what is out there. To get some good sites try to search phrases like "Download Movie", "Best Music Download Sites", or "Online DVD Rental Services".

Belle Starr: Advanced Tierney miscast as infamous lady outlaw in gradually paced account of her lawbreaker occupation. Cast includes Randolph Scott, Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, John Sheppard (Shepperd Strudwick), and Elizabeth Patterson. (87 minutes, 1941)

Lost Command: Tgus film is a tight, well-made tale of French-Algerian guerrilla warfare in North Africa, with Quinn as the peasant who has risen to a position of request. Fine global cast, excellent direction, and some top notch action roles mix extremely well. Cast includes Anthony Quinn, Alain Delon, George Segal, Michele Morgan, Maurice Ronet, Claudia Cardinale, Gregoire Asian, and Jean Servais. (130 minutes, 1984)

Bug: Film rendition of Tracy Letts' play is tough to take critically however not without a twist or two if you could acknowledge it as a stunt. This is simply bug versus man. Cast includes Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick, Jr., Lynn Collins, and Brian F. O'Byrne. (101 minutes, 2007)

Blithe Spirit: Delectable adaptation of Noel Coward's comedy fantasy in regards to a guy whose long since passed first spouse appears to haunt-and tease him in his recently wedded life. Rutherford is remarkable as Madame Arcati, the metaphysical medium. This film made an Oscar for its visual effects. Cast includes Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings, Kay Hammond, Margaret Rutherford, Hugh Wakefield, and Joyce Carey. (96 minutes, 1945)

Airport: Grand Hotel structure recipe grasps latterday apex in ultraslick, old-styled film that amuses regardless of itself, detailing chaotic fall day at metropolitan airport. Cast includes Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, Barry Nelson, Dana Wynter, Lloyd Nolan, Barbara Hale, and Gary Collins. (137 minutes, 1970)

Slaughter's Big Ripoff: A murderer is still playing games with the Mob in this dull actioner. McMahon gives more effort to his role as the mob boss than it merits. Cast inccludes Jim Brown, Ed McMahon, Brock Peters, Don Stroud, Gloria Hendry, Dick Anthony Williams, and Art Metrano. (93 minutes, 1973)

Delusion: Hard, tight thriller in reference to a yuppie pc executive-embezzler and his plight after seeing a Las Vegas show gal and her hit man boyfriend (Secor, in an eye-opening acting job) on a Death Valley freeway commit a killing. Cast includes Jim Metzler, Jennifer Rubin, Kyle Secor, Robert Costanzo, Tracey Walter, and Jerry Orbach. (100 minutes, 1990)

Requiem for a Heavyweight: Solemn account of boxer, Quinn, whose ring occupation is over, pushing him into corruption and degradation. His sleazy supervisor Gleason, understanding teacher Rooney, and Harris as unrealistic city employee are all fine. Cast includes Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Julie Harris, Nancy Cushman, Madame Spivy, and Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). (100 minutes, 1952)

Down to You: Prinze and Stiles futilely try to buddy us up by talking straight away into the camcorder, clarifying how their once idyllic college romance went bust (albeit not as bust as the film). In someway, this film manages to find room for subplots in reference to a Television show and a friend who has a try as an adult-film entrepreneur with a sort of bohemian knowledgeable porn actress. Cast includes Freddie Prinze, Jr., Julia Stiles, Shawn Hatosy, Selma Blair, Zak Orth, Ashton Kutcher, Rosario Dawson, Henry Winkler, and Lucie Amaz. (91 minutes, 2000)

Did you find something good to see? Searching "Top DVD Movie Rentals" or "Movie Downloading" will help you find downloading information for movies. Try "Buy Movie Download" if nothing else has worked. - 16887

About the Author:

The los angeles film school campus is pinpointed in the affection of hollywood. Movie Review Costumes are oftentimes a terrifically pricey quota of some emblematic film. Boast harmonicas and accompanyments onlinethere are thick harmonica reserves online this current day that vend harmonicas and accompanyments.

Paulson Poker Chips - Are There Any Other Choices?

By Mark Martir

Paulson poker chips are well known in the casino world for being the standard which all others have to compare to but what really makes them stand out? Try doing some research online and you'll quickly discover that information is scarce. The Paulson chip company, at least to the best of my knowledge, doesn't have an official website and most likely it's because they only deal directly with casinos.

Research on the web for the Paulson company and you'll quickly discover it's not that easy to reach them directly as most of the online retailers will not disclose how to reach them as it would be bad for business. Rumor has it that the company was bought out by a French company and the strictly only deal with casinos directly with no real option for a consumer to buy direct from them.

The history of the Paulson poker chip company would probably be quite interesting. Aside from the mysteriousness of the company, the main reason Paulson's are so popular among chip collectors is because of their proprietary clay composition.

The unique clay blend, passed down from many generations is not like the traditional clay found in sculptures but a form of ceramic that they conveniently just called clay in order to save us from pronouncing some long complicated scientific name. Paulson poker chips are usually found in most of the major casinos like Aladdin, Bally's, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Excalibur, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, MGM, Mirage, New York New York, Paris, Trump Plaza, Venetian, Wynn and the list continues on and on.

Since casinos are the main buyers, Paulson poker chips have to undergo meticulous detail and quality checks. No matter how much they try, the clay used in the chip is composed of does still allow some chips to be less than perfect, as this is mainly due to the nature of the compression during the manufacturing process. Many believe these details add charm to the whole Paulsons poker chip line.

One of the things you'll notice about a Paulson poker chip is how it feels. This again is due to the material that the chip is composed of. Depending on the size of the inlay (the area on the face of the poker chip where images are placed) plus molds with complicated designs may also effect the feel. The edges of new chips are sometimes sharp so be careful, but with constant use you will get the better feel you may have expected.

When you pick one up, notice the weight, which purists would say is between 9-10 grams, not the heavier weights that many others will claim is authentic. The other comparable chips heavier weight is usually due to the material injected such as metal inserts in the not commonly known "composite" clay chips that try to compete with Paulson.

Paulson poker chips come in many variations of styles and there was even a James Bond edition released which actually was received with mixed reviews. Every new line that's introduced is always greeted with open arms among the poker chip community. Many people wonder if it really matters if a chip is a Paulson. In the end, it always comes down to personal preference.

How can you tell you are popular? It's usually determined by many people imitate you and Paulson poker chips have many imitators. Always feel free to buy from many of the poker chip manufacturers who rightly do have some respectable and innovative designs. But if you are in the market for obtaining the absolute closest one can get to an authentic, true to its roots casino poker chip, then you can't go wrong with a Paulson chip as they are the standard by which all other chips are compared. - 16887

About the Author:

As you've read, Paulson poker chips have what many true poker chip collectors desire such as authentic weight and feel compared to casino chips. To peruse through some of the best selection and the many different varieties of Paulson poker chips feel free to visit http://www.signaturepoker.com

Like No Other - The Extraordinary Polar F11

By Ed J Price

F11 Polar

Polar is a brand that is associated with fitness and exercise. The Polar Company has over the years become a market leader in this field and more particularly, in the field of heart rate monitors. Polar heart monitors have set the pace for other competitors to follow. At the rate they are going, their heart rate monitors will be around for quite some time. They have been at the forefront of this field since 1977. With this, you can be assured that you are getting nothing but quality when you purchase any one of their monitors. There is no substitute for quality and service with any one of the Polar heart monitors. This also rings true for the Polar F11 heart rate monitor.

Above the Field

Showing the user their heart rate is the simple and primary purpose of a heart rate monitor. The Polar F11 gives more than just that. It is a remarkable and extraordinary instrument to do more. This is why it is one of the reasons why many say that it is the best out in the market. There is a personal guidance system built into the F11. A personal program is provided to tell users how hard and how long their workouts have been.

This multi-purpose heart rate monitor combines cardiovascular exercise and calorie burnt. It also has a Keeps U Fit training program that offers personalized feedback on your training sessions, fitness tests and a relaxation program. All your training data can also be uploaded to the Polar Persona trainer website giving you flexibility on your workouts and Polar F11.

Different Features

This monitor has a WearLink transmitter which eliminates interference from other heart rate monitors. It also measures fitness levels and tracks performance and improvements through its OwnIndex feature. OwnCal and OwnCode count calories and fat burned based on your own effort level and eliminate interference from other heart rate monitors also respectively.

The backlight on the F11 is a small yet handy feature which lets you view the monitor display in low light conditions. A clock, stop watch, daily alarm and date are the other watch functions. The battery life on the F11 is also very good.

Cons

The main downside to this Polar heart monitor is its size. Users have complained that it looks like an oversized watch. The second problem is that it is not too user friendly.

All in all, this heart rate monitor is in a class all on its own. With its many great features and overall quality, it is of no surprise that this heart rate monitor is rated by many as the best heart rate monitor out on the market today. - 16887

About the Author:

Ed J Price has had a marked interest in Health and Fitness for many years. For more information on Polar Heart Monitors or a particular Polar Heart Monitors, check out his online resource center today.