Kids, Martial Arts, and Self-defense by Ryan J Bell

Parents instinctively know that the safety of their children is under constant threat. More kids than ever before are abducted and victimized by predators each day. Plus, playground bullies, older children, and others prey upon the young, thinking them defenseless. By enrolling your child into martial arts classes, you can equip them with the skills to ward off an attack or evade it altogether.

In this article, I'll describe how learning karate, judo, kung-fu, and other styles can help your child feel more confident, approach potentially threatening situations thoughtfully, and ultimately preserve his or her safety. While most parents would prefer not to think about their children needing to defend themselves against others, it is very real possibility.

A Persistent Threat

Long ago, children were seldom victimized or abducted; and it was practically unimaginable in small towns. Times have changed. In 2002, over 58,000 children were kidnapped by non-family members. What's more, the number of cases reported in communities with sparse populations has escalated. In effect, every child, regardless of location, is susceptible to the threat of predators.

Young kids are also vulnerable to older children. They can easily – and without reasonable justification – become victims of bullying or physical abuse. Sometimes, the circumstances can swing wildly out of control, leading to injury or worse. Parents are understandably concerned and are becoming increasingly aware that they need to take preventative measures.

Kids' Self-Defense Through Martial Arts

Kids martial arts classes are not designed to train children to fight. Instead, they focus on developing a number of mental and physical skills that provide lifelong value. Kids learn to concentrate more effectively and think more clearly. They also learn the value of respect and emotional restraint. The training will also include self-defense strategies that your child can use to ward off threats.

One of the most important elements in kids martial arts classes (in the context of self-defense) is the ability to disengage from situations that might lead to violent confrontation. In many cases, a child can find himself embroiled in circumstances that could have otherwise been avoided. Learning the martial arts can help a child identify and avoid those circumstances.

Martial Arts for Kids

Parents have a number of martial arts styles from which they can choose. Some styles, like karate, are more aggressive than others. For example, aikido focuses on techniques that help students disable an attacker without actually fighting them. It emphasizes throwing moves rather than striking. On the other hand, karate and kung-fu involve a number of striking tactics; both approach self-defense from a far more aggressive perspective. Judo, like aikido, stresses the development of physical and mental control; the style involves very few striking moves.

Finding A Dojo

Parents who are interested in exploring martial arts classes for their child should visit a few training facilities in their area. They should speak with the instructors and ask about each dojo's respective philosophy. They should also observe a few classes to become familiar with each instructor's training style. For example, one instructor might emphasize aggression while another stresses mental and emotional refinement. The style you and your child choose should be consistent with your values and goals.

Protecting Their Safety

In the end, your child needs to develop the necessary physical and mental discipline to help ensure their safety. That includes learning techniques of self-defense. It also involves learning how to approach potentially hostile circumstances thoughtfully with the goal of either diffusing or avoiding them. Kids martial arts classes are designed to train young people to develop these skills. If their safety is threatened, they should have the training and discipline to respond in the best possible manner.

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Decorating with Modern Cabin Decor

The words cabin décor bring to mind a scarcely decorated room crafted from wood, often with exposed beams, a fireplace, and traces of snow tracked in from the outdoors, where there is nothing but snow covered trees for about as far as the eye can see. However, modern cabin décor can include the feeling of a down home cabin in the middle of woods with all of the modern conveniences of home and a street lined with trees and neighbors outside; snow optional.

Any home can have that cozy cabin feel if that's what the heart desires. Long winter night curled up in front of the fire place with a loved one, that feeling of earthy but hearty aromas wafting from the kitchen, and Christmas time with all the feelings of Laura Ingalls Wilder childhood dreams can be had despite the regular every day hustle and bustle of earning a living, raising a family, and living a life. In fact, the popularity of cabin décor is growing rapidly throughout small towns and cities throughout the United States. People want the feeling of home and simplicity that cabin replicas bring into their lives.

The walls and interior spaces of a home decked out in the cabin's best style includes wall decorations that are mild and brave. Several walls are likely to be devoted to large wall hangings or interesting blankets and quilts. Other walls might be spared for their simple earthy design and can lend to the décor best if left bare. Round mirrors are most suited to the cabin look. The use of round mirror to accomplish the basic cabin décor can finalize either a regular wall or become the staple functional decoration in the bathroom or bedroom. After all, round mirrors can be readily equated to simplicity, quaint gentleness, and ease of appearance, subtly suggesting that there are better things to do with your time than gaze at yourself. Round mirrors are almost port hole like, lending themselves the general idea of cabin lifestyles with their basic structure. It's almost odd, the difference something as simple as the shape of a mirror can add or detract when considering decorating tips.

When deciding on your basic cabin décor remember that tradition can blend well with the modern. You don't have to tear down your walls and replace them all with bare wood. Showing some wood will certainly add to the ambiance, but it can be well blended with some textured walls, and regular hardwood floors. You don't need to have splinters for authenticity.

Using varying wood types for the furnishings, and using fine wood types for the furnishings, creates a sweet look that can be added to and detracted from as needed. Using a fine oak desk with a roll away table top can just as easily hide modern technology while keeping it readily accessible. Using a teak armoire to hide the television when it is not in use presents the look of a rustic cabin while blending the realities of modern living into the home. Balancing the look with the modern isn't as hard as it seems. It simply requires a dedicated eye toward furniture craftsmen who understand the need that melts with the desire.

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Kenya Camping Safaris: Biribiriet, the haven for camping & nature addicts

The valley opens below. Cliffs and high valleys stand in the midst of a sky pregnant with moisture. The rains are about to come. We stop at the Kerio Tingwa Ecotourism camping site for a stretch and to admire the beautiful landscape. We are on our way to Eldoret via the Eldama Ravine road and then to Chepkiit waterfall.

A map on the sign board points to the interesting features in the view. We can see Tongwoto caves, Tingwa hills at 2,700 meters and somewhere below are the Kabilet waterfalls and Kerio River. At the next viewpoint, we can see the white rug on the terrain of the Fluorspar mines.

It’s nearly midnight and we are camping just off the turning from Biribiriet near Eldoret on the Eldoret-Kapsabet road .The night air is cold but stunningly revitalizing. this is the ultimate forest camping experience. The gurgle of the stream running at the bottom of the field, is inviting. The moon, hidden in the clouds, send a little light in the terrestrial grounds but our eyes have become accustomed to the darkness and we are no longer daunted by it. Instead, warmed by the camping fire, we are suddenly animated when somebody suggests a midnight walk with Beryl to the rivers edge in search of frogs! this may be my proverbial chance to kiss the frog and end up with prince charming, so I join in.

The trouble with frogs is that you get to see them more at night and so much of Beryl’s field work is stalking the wilds in the dark armed with torch and plastic bags to catch the jumping jacks.

We tread the grass softly so as not to frighten the amphibians. Ringed by the glow of the torch light, a tiny reed frog tenderly perches on a thin grass. It’s quite a piece of art, this delicate scene.’ That’s a reed frog,” Beryl says as our torches beam on many more in the shallow edges of Kipkeren River which thunders over the nearby Chepkiit waterfalls and onwards to Kingwal swamp. Many of the tiny water frogs are breeding and their throat sacs are ballooned enormously to call out female mates. It’s quite a busy little scene by the banks of the river. In contrast, the bigger grass frogs look quite monstrous and scary.

“Frogs are a good indicator of a clean environment “says Beryl.” Any disturbance of the water quality effects their populations. “There is no long term national data on the amphibians to compare the state of the environment or the diversity of frogs. Beryl is one of the few young Kenyan’s studying frogs.

It’s amazing. In the light of the following morning, where the scene was busy the night before, there is not a single frog to be seen. I take a leisurely stroll to a secluded water pool surrounded by massive rocks for a morning bath. The water is cool, the early morning clean and pure and the sky is lit with diverse colurs. The Ross’Turaco with its bright scarlet under wing has everybody taken ‘under its wing ‘it’s a bird of the old forests and quite rare to many birders.

This place is a find for camping nature lover groups. We are camping in this beautiful place surrounded by trees and open glades sandwiched between a picturesque Nandi homestead and the river overlooking a stone buff, all thanks to Mary, who has been researching in the vicinity for six years. “Everybody keeps running to coast for their holidays. They should come here for a once in a life time camping experience,” she says vehemently. “You won’t believe the number of stunning places like these.”

We lumbered early out of our camping gear and after the private bath in the rock pool and a leisurely breakfast, Mary gets us up on our feet again. This time, it’s a walk to the Chepkiit waterfall. There is so much to see walking through the glades of grass and forest, its like being in a wonderland.

The turacos awe us time and time again. The harrier hawk, glides to perch on a rock while the tiny leaf-loves and green doves fly about. Black and white casqued hornbills send noisy trumpets in flight while the graceful crowned cranes spread their feathers in elegant flight. There is life everywhere .Even on the rocks “I wonder what these are? “Mary asks as she kneels to gently touch the white straw-like threads weaving a pattern on the rocks. I have no idea either. Silk threads touch our bare faces as we walk the jungle part to the waterfall. Its sound reaches us faintly and we step over a border to see this most amazing scene of giant rocks and water and through the wide split in the gorge, a forest stretching into the horizon.

“This is Chepkiit waterfall,” announces Mary proudly. Everybody is bowled over and with a new lease to life; we explore the vistas, moving from rock to rock as the water crashes down. This water will flow on Yala swamp and finally into Lake Victoria.

“The Nandi area is very rich in bio-diversity,” says Mary.” There are lots of places like these.” What we need is to manage these places through researches that they are sufficiently protected.”

We visit the nearby homestead; Janet is busy with the usual house hold chores. The sheep and goats have been let out, the cows have had there morning drink at the river having to walk around the tents, and the cooking is going on. Inside the kitchen, the hand-made stove is ablaze with the firewood, little escaping from the sides so as to make the most efficient use of the precious fuel. Above are the calabashes, adding a dash of deco in the earth walled kitchen. The ‘botet’ or calabashes are used to store ‘mursik’ the traditional sour milk of the Nandi. I buy a couple, not to store milk but as a small token of the place.

For more information on the area, you can email; Robert

To explore more of the outdoors and discover all that’s wild, visit a local operator for more information on camping tours. You get to explore places that are off-the-beaten track with people who make every trip an unforgettable forest camping event.

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Basics Of Amateur Boxing

Boxing has been a favorite past time for many centuries. That is, from the times of the Egyptians in the 2nd millennium B.C. until now when there are more rules to govern the field and spectators to watch the not-so-brutal fights. this is evidenced partially by the inclusion of boxing in the modern Olympics since it started in 1908 as well as the popularity of professional boxing.

In their present forms, amateur boxing and professional boxing are different in many respects. Below are the marked differences that anyone who is considering a career in amateur boxing might want to know.

Amateur boxing is somewhat less popular than professional boxing an is oftentimes seen only in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and other games sponsored by independent sports bodies. In some of the places in the former Soviet Union and Cuba, however, amateur boxing gathers more fans and enthusiasts than its counterpart.

Scoring system

The scoring system used for amateur boxing games is designed such that only the clean blows are recognized and scored instead of the damage that each blow renders.

Scoring

A clean blow is one that lands cleanly on the designated scoring points. To score, a boxer must land a clean contact with the knuckles of his glove either on the head or on the part of the body above the belt. Judges award the score by hitting the button of computer scoring system for each blow. Three out of the five ringside judges must hit the button in no less than one second apart.

During an infighting, that is when the fighters are fighting up close, scores are awarded to the player who throws the better punches or exchanges.

Blows that are not awarded are those that infringe the rules of amateur boxing, punches that did not land on the white strip of the gloves' knuckles and those that lack weight.

Rounds

Depending on which sports body is sponsoring the amateur boxing game, the number of minutes per round can vary between two to three minutes. Nonetheless, the number of rounds remain the same. For both the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games, there are 4 rounds that last three minutes each. For other bouts, however, such as those sponsored by the Amateur Boxing Association, there are just two minutes for each bout.

Protective gears

Boxers are required to use protective headgears. Gloves have a white stripe around the knuckles. The official gloves weigh only 10 ounces and should have the standard white strip.

Officials

The main man on the ring is the referee who basically monitors the conduct of the players. He also takes care of maintaining fair play as well as regulate movements on the rings. He also addresses all violations in the ring.

Weights

Unlike professional boxing, amateur boxing only has the basic weight divisions. They consist of the following (from the lightest weight divisions to the heaviest weight divisions):

Light Flyweight

Flyweight

Bantamweight

Featherweight

Lightweight

Light Welterweight

Welterweight

Middleweight

Light Heavyweight

Heavyweight, and

Super Heavyweight

Basic Rules

Boxers are illegible only in the ring if they are wearing the proper protective gear and recommended shirts and pants.

The fighter with higher points, regardless of the power of the blows, wins.

The boxer must move fast since amateur boxing only lasts for 3 to 4 rounds, depending on the bout's sponsor.

The winning boxer is determined by the number of points except on bouts where the referee stopped the game. In case of a tie, the judges will deduct the worst and best scores from the total score of the boxer. The winner is the one with most points left.

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Baby Showers 101

Are you ready to host the best baby shower ever but don't know where to start? Baby showers are fun, but planning one can be tedious. In this article we'll cover the basics to get you started.

So who should host the baby shower? Traditionally, only non-relatives are to host a baby shower -- co-workers, church groups, etc.; however, it has become more common and acceptable for mothers and sisters to host showers too. The important thing is that someone take the initiative to host the shower -- what a wonderful display of caring for a growing family and a special way to help welcome a new life into the world. It is also perfectly acceptable for more than one person to host a baby shower. It can be fun for a group of friends to share the responsibilities and excitement of planning and hosting this special event.

When it comes to inviting guests, you likely have some idea of those you want to invite to the shower, but it is always a safe bet to run the guest list by the mom-to-be to ensure you haven't left anyone out.

You can invite guests via a phone call or an e-mail (be sure they check their mail regularly!), but the written invitation is still the most preferable way to kick off a shower. You can even find baby shower ecard invitations online. Just do a simple search online and I'm sure you'll find one. No matter what type of invitation you use, be sure to include pertinent information -- whether it regards a theme, a note of where the mom-to-be has registered, a map or written directions to the shower, or any special item you want the guests to bring for the mom.

Showers are normally given a month or two before the mom's due date. It's a good idea to give the mom enough time following the shower to shop for items she didn't receive, yet wants to have before the baby arrives. And of course you don't want to hold the shower too close to baby's due date in case he or she makes an early arrival!

Baby showers are normally held in the home of the hostess. If desired though, you can certainly host a shower at a church fellowship area, a favorite restaurant, or even at a banquet hall -- it really all depends on what atmosphere you are looking for and how much money you want to spend. If the shower will be held in a restaurant, make reservations at least two weeks prior to the date. At one- week prior, one of the organizers should speak with the manager to confirm the details.

The shower should last around one and a half to two hours. Things may wind down early or they may likely continue on as guests chat together.

There are many variations on showers, but we have devised a general "schedule" for baby showers. You can add/remove any part and re-order it to your liking.

Greet Guests - serve light appetizers

After all or almost all guests have arrived, go around the room and have each guest introduce themselves and identify how they know the mother-to-be.

Play 2-4 Shower Games. It is good to play games at the beginning as ice-breakers. Remember some guests may not know *anyone* but the mother-to-be.

Let everyone go get whatever food may be available and then once everyone has been served, the mother-to-be can begin to open her gifts. Be sure to have someone write down each gift and who it is from. It will make sending thank-you notes a lot easier.

People chat and usually leave a few at a time. Make sure the mother-to-be gets to say goodbye to everyone and the hostess thanks the person for attending. If the hostess has shower favors, they should give this to the guest now.

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Rustic Accessories the New Buzz in Home Decor

(ARA) - As the cooler seasons draw closer, thoughts and activities drift slowly from the outdoors to the inside, and the annual human version of hibernation begins. We re-acclimate to shorter days and longer, colder nights. There is a sense that the house must be buttoned-up for the winter.

More time is spent indoors, and so this is also when many people decide to give their home decor a new look. Many people are rediscovering the beauty of primitive, rustic decor. The wonderful part about decorating with primitive accessories is that they don't have to be perfect. Since many early items were utilitarian and made on the spot for a specific use, they were often flawed: corners were not square, tops were not level and sides were not smooth.

Because there are more options from which to choose today, these rustic pieces may not be used as once intended. Often it's just a matter of rethinking for today's needs. A dry sink, for example, is better used for display than for cleaning. A galvanized bucket is better suited today for holding bath accessories or children's art supplies; and a tin-punch pie safe is more useful for storing almost anything than the pies for which it was built. An old trunk turned on its end can be opened to display a variety of old quilts and blankets stacked colorfully, with a table lamp above.

Basic wooden furniture, whether painted and peeling, or scratched and dented from years of use, is finding its way back into homes today. Because these are not fine antiques, but basic home furnishings, they often cost less than similar pieces purchased new. In an active home where items are used daily, dents and scratches are the norm. These basic pieces blend nicely in a casual space, giving an eclectic look to any room.

Decorative artists and crafters are seizing upon this style to provide buyers with accents to blend with this decor, and today there are "new" primitives to complete the look. Floor and wall treatments can bring this eclectic look together. Although wall-to-wall carpet does not lend itself to rustic styles, it is a fact of life in many homes. On carpeted floors, try an area needlepoint, rag or braided rug between two pieces of furniture to emphasize the style. Use a twin grip pad to keep it from shifting on the pile. This also works perfectly on natural surfaces such as wood, stone, brick and tile.

On smooth surfaces, try rugs or consider a floor mat. These are a 21st century adaptation of an 18th century craft. Often made from primed canvas, then painted with acrylics and sealed, they are perfect under a kitchen table, in a mud room, under a baby's high chair, or in any area that sees debris and moisture. Use a rubber pad under all rugs or mats to keep them from slipping.

One of the newest old designs making a re-appearance is the simple bee. From antiquity, bees have evoked images of wealth, industriousness and nurturing. The phrases "busy as a bee," or "she has a bee in her bonnet," and even the "birds and the bees" are common. Even the word "medicine" has its roots in honey or mead, an alcoholic drink made from the honeycomb.

Carol Endres, America's foremost primitive folk artist, in conjunction with Chesapeake Wallcoverings, has introduced a new collection of designs to enhance rustic decor, "Beekeeper's Inn." Her designs call to mind a place where life is simple and quiet and where home cooking and handcrafts are a part of every day. In this delightful sample book, Carol offers tips on making beeswax candles and herb-flavored honey in addition to her rustic and complimentary designs. Browsing through it gives the reader many ideas on decorating and folk craft that can apply to any home decor. Look for this collection at a wallpaper showroom close to you, or find it at www.cheswall.com.

To make vignettes within a room, use items in unexpected places. An easy accent is a small quilt or needlepoint rug. In your breakfast area, drape a quilt over a sideboard or your table when not in use. Hang a shelf 3/4 of the way down a wall to display treasures, but keep it simple. Use wallpaper above the shelf and a border or hanging pegs below. In the family room, flank a fireplace with old painted chairs, place a rug between them and you have a cozy place to warm your hands after coming in from the cold. Use a simple small print or a plaid on the walls in a color that contrasts with the chairs, and then use a border, or a combination of borders, to bring out the color. If you have a mantle, keep it simple with a candle or oil lamp and a couple of toys or utensils. By keeping things uncomplicated, motifs can be changed seasonally. The focal point of the family room, for example, can be moved away from the fireplace over to a window, and the kitchen tablecloth changed to something lighter, such as cheesecloth.

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Sevam the Golf Swing Guru

On a popular Internet golf forum one day in mid-2008, a golf swing video was posted that would change golf for tens of thousands of golfers worldwide. this one video became the catalyst for a forum discussion that generated over 5,000 replies and well over 300,000 views and became an obsession for everyone roped in.

Although not the original poster, the man behind the golf swing that rocked this forum for the better part of 9 months joined in on the discussion. Sevam, aka Mike Maves, an ex-amateur Canadian Golfer led the members of this forum down a path that few expected. An unforgettable journey that was entertaining, wildly eye-opening, and downright impressive. Sevam told stories of playing with the legendary Moe Norman and provided in-depth analysis on the "Secret" to Ben Hogan's swing.

Sevam professed intricate knowledge of Hogan the man and the swing that belonged to the greatest ball-striker of all time as expressed by the Jack Nicklaus, a legend himself. Impressively, Sevam is able to replicate many key pieces of Hogan's swing including the pure compression on the golf ball. More impressively however, Sevam is able to relay these concepts and and feelings on to other golfers.

Forum members eventually coined Sevam's secret as "The Move" and nearly all who tried it reported back amazing results. The success of the forum members didn't stop there, Sevam continued to give advice on the grip, setup, posture, and advanced topics in forearm rotation, weight distribution and the all important TIMING! Sevam answered questions from golfers at all levels calling on his years of studying Hogan's swing and the many experiences with Norman, Trevino, and many high-caliber golfers.

More information about this incredible experience and what it is that Sevam has provided to tens of thousands of golfers worldwide can be found by going to http://www.squidoo.com/sevam

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Inflatable Airbeds - No Fuss Sleeping Gear

Inflatable airbeds can be really useful at times when we have guests staying over for a night. They can be quickly deployed in the living room or study room. When not used, they can be deflated and stored away in the cupboard. this is useful especially in smaller houses without a dedicated guest room. However, they do not provide sufficient comfort and support and thus should not be considered for long term usage. They are best suited for temporary stow-away beds for guests or when you need to work overtime in the office till very night and may as well sleep in.

These portable airbeds are typically made of plastic, textile-reinforced plastic, or rubber. Some light weight airbeds actually look and feel no different from the inflatable sun tan beds found in the swimming pools and lagoons. The mattress support is provided by the contained air which is compressed under your body weight when you lie down on it. Due to the lack of solid support, it is unable to support and alleviate stress from your body's spine effectively and if you sleep on such a bed for several days continuously, you will soon feel the strain on your body. Sleeping on air does not necessarily mean comfort.

Being portable sleeping solutions, they can be used when needed and tuck away neatly to save space when not needed. It sure beats sleeping on the sofa or contort yourself into a chair or lying on the cold floor with a towel when you do not have a bed around. It is also an acceptable sleeping arrangement if you are frequently relocating among different locations due to work and you prefer to bring a personal bed along rather than to sleep on a mattress that has been used by someone else. If you spent a lot of time outdoor such as camping or hunting trips, a cheap inflatable mattress can be brought along such that you need not sleep on hard and uneven terrain.

These portable air mattresses are available in a variety of designs and sizes, and you should be able to find one that suits your needs. Most come packaged with an electric or manual pump for you to quickly fill up the airbed. Do not try to inflate the mattress using your mouth as if it is a balloon. You will not be able to complete the job before your mouth starts to ache and suffer. Because there many companies making and selling these air mattresses, you have more choices than ever.

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I Want to Do an Ezine! Part 2

When starting your ezine, the first thing you want to do is name it. I would suggest keeping the name as close to your website/business name as possible. If you do not have a website or business yet, use a name you could name your business as well.

For example: If you sell gifts/products for you & your home and your business name is Gifts Galore, you could then name your ezine "Gifts Galore News" or "Gifts Galore Ezine".

For content, you would include home decorating links, beauty tips and ideas, articles on frugal decorating home remedy recipes, camping tips and resources, whatever pertains to the gifts you are selling. this type of ezine would be great fun to publish!

Now to get started with the design and layout of your ezine...the first thing you want to do is to find a good text editor such as Textpad. You can download the free version at http://www.textpad.com. This is what I use and I love it. It is very easy and efficient.

A lot of people format their ezine to 60 or 65 characters per line, but I prefer 55. That means that after every 55 letters/numbers/spaces typed, you would press enter and start a new line. You can set the Textpad to do this automatically, but I find it works better to do it manually. Just watch the number at the bottom right of the TextPad screen and hit enter when you get to 55 or 60/65.

Create a template for your ezine so each week you can just open up this template and fill in the necessary sections. This will save you lots of time.

At the top of the ezine, you want a centered heading with your title, and contact info.

It should look like this:
Gifts Galore Ezine
October 15, 2002 Issue No. 1
Jane Doe, Publisher/Editor
janedoe@giftsgalore.com
http://www.giftsgalore.com
(c) 2002 All Rights reserved

Gifts Galore Ezine
October 15, 2002 Issue No. 1
Jane Doe, Publisher/Editor
janedoe@giftsgalore.com
http://www.giftsgalore.com
(c) 2002 All Rights reserved

You should have all your contact info in your closing at the bottom of your ezine as well.

If you are not sure how to do the layout of your ezine, there is a free template you can use or use as a guide here: http://www.myownezine.com/tutorial/page1.shtml Just read through the info and take a look at the template.

Try a few different ideas, change things around a bit until you find the layout you like and are comfortable with. You can make improvements/changes after you start publishing as well.

One thing I suggest is not to have too many squiggles and decorations. Some are ok, but keep it clean and sharp looking. Too many decorations can make it hard for some people to read.

Some things that should always be included in your ezine are:

• Your contact info - top and bottom of ezine
• Subscribe and unsubscribe info
• Privacy Policy - at or near the top
• Disclaimer - towards the bottom
• Table of Contents - at the top of the ezine
• Editorial - chat a bit with your readers and discuss any current events or happenings at your site/business.
• Start forming that all important bond with them!
• Thank you to your subscribers - include this in the editorial section.

Once you find the layout you are satisfied with, fill in your standards like disclaimer, contact info and anything else that will remain the same from week to week and save it in a folder on your desktop. Each week or however often you publish, just open this template and you are ready to get going.

In Part 3, I will be going over content. What to have for content and where to get it.

Ezine publishing is very important and you can do it! DO NOT let your doubts stop you form this rewarding and enjoyable experience! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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Getting The Most Of Your Valuable Sleep Time With Your Sleepwear

Nothing prepares you for a great and productive day than having a full and restive eight hours of sleep the night before. Our sleep time is when we regenerate the energy we have lost during the previous day’s activities and this is when we rest our mind and body to be able to have the energy to take on another day.

Without rest, we would always feel tired, fatigued and stressed out. As many of us know, stress accounts for many illnesses and diseases. Also, without our energy and vigor we could never fully function and this can affect our work either at the office or in school.

This alone is the basic and most important reason why we need to have a good night’s sleep. But then again, just laying our bodies on our bed doesn’t guarantee that we will be having a great rest. There are a lot of factors which can attribute to a fitful sleep.

Having a great mattress or bed is also a great factor, comfortable pillows and blankets are essential too. Then there is the weather, if it’s too hot or too cold, our rest may be disturbed. But one of the most ignored aspects about sleeping that many people tend to disregard is our sleepwear.

Most of us just tend to put on an old shirt, some shorts or maybe none, and off we go to dreamland. But like our blankets and our air conditioners, our sleepwear can help us keep our body temperature at a comfortable level.

If you live in an area where cold nights are a norm, then wearing wool or flannel sleepwear can be essential. As we toss and turn at night, we may slip off our covers and expose ourselves to the blistering cold. Having the proper thermal wear would allow us to fight of the frigid cold weather and not be mindful about it. Thus we can keep on sleeping without being disturbed.

Cotton and silk sleepwear also provides great comfort with the opposite temperature. If the climate in your area is hot, you will be able to still keep your body at a comfortable level of temperature while you sleep, without the need to keep on waking up being all sweaty.

Wearing a great sleep wear after you freshen up for the night will give you a great fresh feeling after a grueling day. This would allow you to have a great rest not feeling all icky and sticky. Available in different designs and cuts, you can be able to purchase different types of sleepwear that can make you feel comfortable.

Do you want to feel sexy even when you are about to hit the sheets? No problem, there are a great number of sultry sleep wear which can be very seductive. Women may be able to feel very sexy and sophisticated as they don this fantastic sleepwear.

One great place where you can shop for fantastic and comfortable sleepwear is through the internet. Just by browsing the thousands of websites that offers online sleepwear shopping, you will be able to see the designs and the prices of what you are looking for. All you have to do is look at the pictures, select one that you like, pick a size and do an online order. It will be shipped to you in a couple of days and you will be soon feeling great and comfortable as you lay yourself on your bed.

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Used Equipment For Golf

Golf is a game one can learn in no time. One way to become good in this game is to have enough determination and patience, and knowing which club to use and how to putt properly. this activity is very affordable and should that person want to get serious at it, one can easily join some tournaments then perhaps proceed on to the big leagues.

People who want to start playing the game will easily get the hang of it by just watching how others swing and putt the ball into the holes. The first thing that one needs is some equipment such as the different types of clubs, the proper shoes and the ball.

The most expensive thing that a person has to use money on are the clubs. The price depends on the brand the person wants to buy but since one is just a beginner, that is the least of the worries. If that person isn’t sure yet whether to invest in brand new equipment, then that person can either borrow from the club which rents this out to players or buy one that is second hand.

Used equipment can be purchased at the golf club or at specialty stores. This can also be seen on the Internet and ordered online. Some players who have played for some time may also want to sell the used one for a brand new one so it just takes some time to look around and get the best deal to start playing the game.

When everything is ready, one can start by working with friends who do know how to play or hire an instructor to teach the basics. The first putt can be practiced on driving ranges then when one gets good at it, on the actual course itself.

Playing golf early in the morning with people from work or friends is just one of the many forms of relaxation people can do these days. It is a time for bonding and a great escape from the pressures of the city.

Nobody can become an excellent golfer overnight. This will take a lot of practice. There are some public and private golf courses to choose from. Such facilities offer 18 hole and 36 hole courses and can be found by searching the web or by checking the local directory. This is usually advertised so it is kind of impossible to miss.

It doesn’t really matter if one wins or loses being in the golf course and playing the game. It is all about having fun.

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Dog Behavior Training - Dog Aggression Toward Its Owners

A dog that growls at and/or bites its owner does so for some reason, even if the behavior appears to be "unreasonable" to the owner. If your dog displays aggressive behavior towards you, for the safety and welfare of you, your family and your dog, it's important to find out why as quickly as possible.

Call your vet right away and schedule an appointment for a complete medical examination. Talk with your vet about testing your dogs hormonal balance, neurophysiologic functions and allergies. The test results may reveal the underlying cause. this has been especially helpful in dogs that have mood swings.

When growling or biting has erupted as a consequence of scolding or punishment for behavior such as chewing, jumping, general unruliness, or overprotection of food, these problems must be dealt with swiftly and firmly to correct the aggression it is initiating.

As the dogs owner, you must understand that your dog growls or bites at you as a result of defensive feelings. Even the dog that growls when ordered off the couch is reacting defensively, as it feels its dominance status has been threatened.

If scolding and punishment provoke aggression, your dog is reacting to a perceived threat to its physical safety. In either of these situations, your own threatening behavior may be producing negative results.

If the results of a medical examination show no signs of a medical condition that would be causing this behavior, you will have to examine your own behavior closely to determine what you are doing to make your dog feel threatened.

If you can't hire the services of a professional, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer by Adam Katz for indepth instructions on dog behavior training. This ebook is available on my blog. http://dog-behavior-training.blogspot.com/

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Fresh Ideas Herald Fall Decorating

(ARA) - Looking for a room with a view when there is none? Can't afford to move, or renovate? Check out the latest in affordable decorating trends, including wall mural graphics, accent pillows, throws and rugs and greenery.

It's easy to change accent elements in a room to make the transition to fall décor. If your larger pieces of furniture are covered in solid or tone-on-tone fabrics, you can add flair with pillows, throws and even area rugs. Pillows can be warm and cozy chenille, elegant damask, stylish satin or handsome wool.

Throws also are available in many styles including tapestry-backed velvet, long-fringed chenille, or soft, fuzzy acrylic. Area rugs can be found for as little as $250 for a 6x9, which is the ideal size to use as an accent, even over wall-to-wall carpet. Pillows, throws and rugs are great ways to make a quick change without investing too much, and stores like Pier 1 Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Marshall's always have the latest styles.

Adding greenery to a room also changes its look and adds a feeling of life. Silk plants are fine, and with proper cleaning they can last for years. When decorating with plants, keep it simple. You should limit floral arrangements to no more than one per room, but you can be more generous with green plants. Bookcases benefit from a plant on every third shelf or so, and the top of an armoire is also a good candidate. It's especially easy to buy ready-made containers for your plants or arrangements, in styles ranging from bright brass, silvery aluminum, sparkling glass, to more casual ceramic or terracotta in stores including Michael's, Home Expo and Garden Ridge.

Wall-sized murals also can transform a space, quickly and easily. Whether you want to create the illusion of a garden vista, a soothing seascape, or even an island paradise, your options are wide open with the many views available.

If a photo mural isn't your preference, try an original artist's rendering, which can be far more cost effective than a wall of original art. Don't forget that kids' rooms also need a change with school starting again. Because their style preferences change as quickly as their shoe size, wall murals are an easy way to redecorate as their tastes and interests change.

Because they are easy to install and easy on the budget, wall murals can even be changed seasonally. You can enjoy a warm tropical view during the winter, and change it to the cooler, crisper look of a peaceful mountain lake during the summer. Environmental Graphics has been designing these home-enhancing vistas for 30 years, and mastered an easy installation method that even the most craft-challenged can complete successfully. EGI's murals are available at Lowe's and Sherwin-Williams stores nationwide or on the net at www.primoproducts.com. For more information, visit www.environmentalgraphics.com.

Keeping your home up to date will lift your spirits and improve your energy, and may provide a perfect excuse for a party. Greet the fall season with gusto!

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Gas furnaces for Small Spaces

Gas furnaces for your small homes or small places need to be able to sustain a comfortable and constant home temperature yet still be comparatively cheap to operate. Unfortunately, most gas furnaces that full fill these requirements do tend to be rather expensive to buy in the first place. Quite often these particular gas furnaces also need to have new venting installed or other adaptations in order for them to operate properly and, while none of them are cheap to install - with even the conventional gas furnaces costing around $3,000 to be put in and become operational - the modulating gas furnaces cost even more to install. Experts advise that installing modular gas furnaces for your small home or small spaces may still not recoup the difference between the efficiency of a conventional gas furnace and the efficiency of a modulating multi-stage gas furnace.

Modulating and/or Multi-Stage Gas Furnaces

The most comfortable temperature is maintained through the application of variable-speed blowers incorporated with these gas furnaces for your small home or small spaces. They achieve their temperature maintenance through operating an on-off cycle that runs in conjunction with either two or three-stage furnaces, thereby maintaining a constant temperature through the whole of your home. One particular brand that is often recommended is the Lennox. this has found to have no negative aspect and is an efficient, quiet runner.

Energy Conservation Rebates

Experts' reports do, however, indicate how essentially important it is to use a reliable contractor to install your new gas furnace and to choose the appropriate size - as important if you are choosing gas furnaces for your small home or small spaces as it is if the opposite is true. Whichever gas furnace you finally decide to install you need to remember that you are aiming at an optimum annual efficiency of between 90 - 92% fuel utilization. Achieving this percentage of annual fuel utilization is efficient enough for the home owner to be eligible for energy conservation rebates in a number of US states. Similar schemes operate elsewhere in the world, although these vary according to country and information tends to be sparse and less clear-cut. When you take this conservation rebate eligibility into account, even though is can cost you a good $1,000 more to install these modular, multi-stage gas furnaces.

The Most Reliable Gas Furnaces

Moreover, over the total lifetime of the unit, the fuel savings are likely to more than compensate for the costs involved upfront in installing this gas furnace. Various reports indicate that, of these modular, multi-stage gas furnaces, the most reliable gas furnaces are Rheem/Ruud and American Standard/Trane - although, again, that advise has to be tempered with the advice your receive from your contractor and the size of the home you are going to be heating. HVAC experts indicate that the overall lifetime efficiency of a gas furnace operating between 80 - 90% is greater overall than one operating at 92 - 97% efficiency. So, first and foremost, before even choosing your gas furnace for your small home or small spaces, choose a reliable contractor and take their advice - then go and choose your gas furnace.

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Can You Really Discover to How to Make a Solar Panel at Home?

Is it really possible to learn how to make a solar panel at home? Discover secrets that you should find out before you make home made solar panels.

Before you get started and take a trip to your garage and attempt to make a solar panel at home it is essential to discover how solar energy functions.

Solar power is generated by the suns energy and makes electricity most people know, however there are essential details to ascertain to gain a full understanding to how solar energy functions.

The system of solar energy is pretty straight forward to understand, it is just a question of harnessing the suns power and accumulating it into batteries that are rechargeable.

Converting power from DC to AC is a process that has to be completed in order to use solar power for our electrical appliances. The explanation is that home appliances function on alternating currant referred to AC power.

Let's look first at the appliances that we use on a daily basis. Freezers, fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, cookers all function on AC power.

The truth is it is possible to purchase appliances that are designed to run on solar energy. If you choose this option then the cost of replacing all your appliances in your home can prove to be expensive at first.

When we contemplate the possibility of solar power it is a long term investment; the mere fact that solar cookers provide a free energy source, and are maintenance free is why after the initial outlay this can be financially appealing.

The facts are you can have similar benefits on a solar oven as you can on a normal oven. It is possible to bake, roast, and steam food just like a conventional cooker but it does take more time. When you consider the positive and negative points of view there are defiantly more positives, the savings you can make on your electric bill can be quite substantial is the obvious one.

The use of solar power is here to stay but it is still in the early stages of development. In the last five years or thereabouts a considerable amount of products have arrived on the market place for instance: mobile phones, radios, flat screen television just to name a few.

The facts are solar power is going to be our future energy source that cannot be denied. Numerous folks are discovering how to make a solar panel at home and the general point of view is, it is a fairly simple task.

The many do it your self experts say it is just question of discovering a few simple techniques. Discovering techniques to how to solder and attach the panels. Calculating how much power a single solar panel is able to generate. The process of making stringers, these are just a few simple techniques that many people are learning when they want to make homemade solar panels.

Surprisingly enough many folks are converting their homes using solar energy even in locations in the world where the sunlight is limited for example, the UK and parts of Europe.

The facts are the moment we discover the procedure of utilizing the power of the sun we will always have a source of energy. The benefits are fantastic due to the incredible savings we can achieve on our electric bills plus we are saving our environment along the way.

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Why Choose a Bivi Bag?

Whether you are climbing, hiking or walking, the addition of a good bivi bag to your kit is essential, this can provide you with an emergency shelter should you find yourself in a situation where conditions have deteriorated and you are stranded. If there is any chance that you may be faced with extreme conditions then it is advisable to carry a bivi to ensure you are protected from the elements until either help arrives or the conditions ease off.

The benefits of a bivi bag often go unknown due to a variety of factors. However, a bivi bag is an easily compatible and lightweight piece of equipment which can be added to your backpack without the extra hassle of a tent and is much easier and faster to set up. A bivi bag will also keep you dry throughout the night, allowing moisture from your body out but also preventing it from getting in. Did you know that the human body, even on a cold night, can sweat over a litre of water and so in a sleeping bag alone this is likely to leave you waking up damp in the morning, something which a bivi will prevent.

Bivi bags also have windproof qualities, especially the newer Gore-Tex bags, and as you well know, the heat sapping potential of the wind is something best avoided. Good quality bivi bags are also adaptable to year round use and are extremely durable, lasting the owner a long time providing he/she takes care of it. This in the long term will save you money.

Visit http://www.bivibag.org.uk for more information and to view a selection of the highest quality bivi bags

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Freeze Dried Camping Food - What You Need to Know

Most sportsmen are aware that some types freeze dried food is available to reduce the weight of traditional foods. But there are now a wide assortment of freeze dried camping food available to satisfy just about any palette.

It used to be that your choices were limited as to what you could purchase for backpacking, cycling, or canoeing in the freeze dried department. You would find freeze and dried spaghetti and stews as well as a desert or two and many sportsmen would look to MRE's or meals ready to eat to give themselves a variety. Now campers and sportsmen can find just about any of this type of food they desire.

You can find freeze and dried beef patties similar to those you would purchase in the supermarket. Then you will simply rehydrate or reconstitute them and cook for a minute on each side. You can also find chunk chicken that you will add hot water too and will be ready in about 10 minutes. You can then use the chicken as you would traditional chunk chicken to make a pasta dish or eat plain.

You can also find freeze and dried campers deserts such as strawberries, apple pie and others. As far as dairy products you will find those as well, such as eggs, cheese and milk that can all be ready with a bit water.

Camper freeze dried food is packaged differently from the emergency food storage and is less expensive. You will find it in pouches that have been vacuum packed and are easy to open. Emergency supply of this type of food is stored in enamel coated cans so that the can does not disintegrate with time. These types of packages can last well beyond 30 years and come in a better variety than campers freeze and dried foods.

There are plenty of items your campers and sports enthusiasts will enjoy as gifts such as different types of campers chocolate bars, nutrition bars and a variety of easy to make freeze dried campers food. There are stroganoffs, stews, lasagna, freeze dried chicken breast and potatoes and many other camper foods that are great for any sports enthusiast gift ideas. Most people have found that these camper foods are better than something traditional foods they would have to bring and offer better nutritional value as well.

You can find camping food at most sports stores such as REI and also direct from your internet. In fact many of the online stores will offer great prices and free shipping if you order enough freeze dried foods and campers gear. You may find the prices are better online due to the low overhead of these camper supply stores.

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Recreational Vehciles (RV) Tips

Using a recreational vehicle, or RV, to travel in and use for camping is an ideal way to enjoy the outdoors while having many of the comforts of home. RV’s can be affordable for rental or purchase and can be a great way to camp in comfort. There are several things the RV user should consider when traveling to get the most out of the experience.

If you have never used one, a class may be useful in learning the ins and outs of properly driving and maneuvering the vehicle. Campsites may be tight to get in and out of so being able to move the vehicle safely is important. Pay close attention to dealer instructions and adhere to any safety requirements. Joining an RV club will also give you valuable tips from experienced RV’ers on what to do and what not to do.

Carrying blocks of wood, or chocks, to secure wheels will help prevent the RV from moving while camping. Traveling with a companion is advisable so they can help remind you about tasks that need to be done for daily maintenance. They can also assist in visual directions for backing up into camp spaces. Many people take RV’s on long driving trips and having someone take over driving periodically can be a safe way to ensure one does not get too tired, causing a driving hazard.

Take proper care of water supplies. Do not clog sewer pipes with paper; instead keep it as free from debris as possible. this will also help conserve water and minimize problems when draining. A great tip is to recycle cleaning water for use in the commode instead of using the fresh water supply. Have a longer, good quality hose available. This will make disposal more convenient. Slowly open the valve and ensure the other end is secure. Check to ensure all valves are closed before removal of the hose. In your sink, do not dispose of food or grease as this will clog and damage pipes.

Before embarking on a trip have a checklist available for all your packing needs. Be aware of weight restrictions and only pack lightweight items to ensure you do not go over the weight capacity of both your camper and your towing vehicle. Balance the load in the vehicle so it is not heavy in one area. This will provide a safer driving experience.

Maintain the vehicle properly. Always check gauges and detectors for proper working order before starting a trip. Have tools available on board in case maintenance is needed while on the road. Always have at least one fire extinguisher on board, though multiple ones are advisable. Have a survival and first aid kit available and fully supplied at all times.

Being prepared and using a checklist to ensure nothing is missed will make your RV’ing experience much more enjoyable. Always maintain your vehicle properly for maximum potential. Keeping your RV in good condition will also enhance the resale value in case you want to sell it or upgrade to a larger model. Using an RV is a great way to travel in comfort and style.

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How You Can Turn Any Stadium Or Field Into A Concert Venue, Trade Show Floor, Or Event Area

Temporary floor rental and pathway systems provide access, surface protection, and decorative enhancement for special events and other functions.

Whether you're planning a concert for 60,000 or a wedding for 100, a portable rental floor is the perfect alternative to costly built up wooden floors, staging, and decking. You'll experience immediate labor savings, improved speed of installation, and reduced long-term maintenance due to it's unique features.

Whatever your floor rental needs, a portable floor can more than likely can meet your specific requirements. From natural and synthetic turf stadiums, to ice and dirt arenas, and from large tent functions to portable dance floors, you can have a firm, comfortable floor upon which all types of events and gatherings can be held.

Once modules are connected, assembled sections roll up for easy installation, storage and transport, allowing for thousands of square feet of flooring to be installed quickly and easily with a minimum of labor.

Sections are durable, weather resistant and capable of withstanding extraordinary loads and stresses, including the weight of cars, trucks, and forklifts. Should a module be damaged it can be easily and inexpensively removed and replaced, even from the center of a large floor. Sections are easy to clean and maintain using standard cleaning fluids and a brush or pressure washer.

A portable floor system consists of a series of molded modules that snap together on all sides using a uniquely engineered connection system.

Each standard module features a series of reinforcement ribs and supports which distribute weight and add strength. The floor's robust height provides sufficient clearance for water flow and a protective canopy under which grass and synthetic turf remains safe from surface traffic.

Municipalities, schools, country clubs, museums, theme parks and all types of event venues can benefit from a floor rental system and open up lawns and fields for tents, parties, and all types of traffic.

There's no need to worry about rain on event day because it's there to keep visitors out of the mud and water and off the grass, soil, carpet and other sensitive surfaces.
You can find additional info at the following links:
Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

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8 Top Tips for Becoming a Professional Gambler in Horse Racing, Poker and Other Sports

Most folk are under the opinion that professional gamblers have one bet, play one game of poker, or some other form of gambling, and then collect the winnings and go back to their big mansion for a few months rest, before having another gamble!!

I pray it was like that, but in valid life it is vastly different. I personally work 10-12 hours a day, 360 days a year, and still do a bit on the days off, including Christmas day. When you see professional poker players they are spending 3-5 days at a table in a game every week, sometimes sitting for 12 hours, and when they are not doing that, they are at home playing poker on the computer.

So if you are looking for a relaxing life, do not take up betting as a profession. Yes it can pay well, very well, but you need to put in a lot of work, and it can be 2-3 years before you are making any meaningful hard cash. Anyone who tells you otherwise is possibly lying just to receive your hard cash.

When you see tipping advertisers stating things like "We made $26,000 to $100 stakes in the last 12 months", it looks sensational. However, they need to receive your attention as a 1/8th ad in a paper costs around $500, and they need that money back before turning a profit. And how innumerable average gamblers have $100 to bet, especially when you need a betting bank, and with $100 stakes, the cash you need before you even place one bet is around $3,500, any less and you can easily blow it all. Then divide the $26,000 by the $100 to work out how many points you make a year, and that is 260, then divide by 52 to see how numerous points profit a week, and that comes to 5pts a week. Wow!! If you are just starting off you are likely to only be using a realistic $5, so that is $25 a week average. That may not sound much but you have to learn to walk before you can run. If you cannot profit with 10c bets, how the hell will you profit with $100 bets?

Also think why various tipsters advertise every day. This is because they have such a considerable turnover; they need to keep replenishing the customer base. This does not always mean the tipster is rubbish, in some cases they may be profitable long term, but the average Joe Punter always wants profit NOW and every day, and average Joe points more than 5 points per week, whereas a full time professional would be happy with that.

If you are going to gamble to profit, then for the inaugural few months this should be your conditioning were you will be doing a lot of work for little return, but you will also learn how to handle losing runs, how to cope with mistakes, and if it does all go improper and you lose the betting bank, you should have learnt a lot from it for as little loss as possible, as you should only ever bet what you can afford to lose, especially while proving to yourself you can profit. You may have a spare $10,000 available, but prove you can profit with a $1000 bank maiden, and then add to the bank monthly.

So here are the 8 tips you need to learn, and stick to religiously if you want to stand a chance of ever making money from gambling.

1. Patience: If you want big profits now, try the lottery. Building up you betting banks takes time a lot of time.

2. Betting Banks: If you do not have a betting bank to emergence with, and you are just betting from whatever is in your pocket, you will never make a profit. It is as simple as that. Most punters lie to themselves that they are breaking even. Do not do that, be truthful.

3. Staking: You see betting plans for sale on EBay, most of them may make you a few dollars quickly, but it is 100% guaranteed they will bust your bank as these are designed by amateurs who have no understanding of gambling maths in the real world. Always onset with levels, if you cannot make hard cash with that simple staking plan you will not make bankroll with anything more complicated. Once you have proven over a few months you can turn a profit with level stakes, and then you can switch to each bet being between 1%-3% of the bank. Most professionals will emergence at 3%, but get it down to 1% as the bank grows.

4. Bank Management: Managing banks is not just staking, it also involves listing every bet on a spreadsheet so you can monitor things like average odds, strike rate, losing runs, etc. If you do not list every bet, you will have no idea where you stand, and no way of having data to look back and learn from.

5. Risk Management: Most people follow one tipster, or one system. This is usually suicide, you do not see the big boys in the city markets investing everything in one stock do you? No. They spread it around, and so should you. Use a number of systems, proven tipsters, method bets, etc. And ensure you have a separate betting bank for each (you can use the same betting account, as the spreadsheets you keep will tell you the amount which is in each bank).

6. Alcohol: NEVER drink while betting, you will bet more than you should, you will bust banks, you will play bets you would never do when sober.

7. Forums: Join a forum where you can bite ideas, this can prove a powerful aid, but make sure it is a decent one, and not full of idiots just spouting off how good they are!

8. Fun Bets: You are often told not to do any 'fun bets' if you wish to turn professional, but this will not happen, as it is hard to break old habits at first. The best way to treat fun bets is to handle them as you would any pro bets. Separate betting bank, list all bets, and it will not be long before you lose the bank and realise how wonderful your own tipping is!

This advice goes for betting in any country, on horseracing, greyhounds, soccer, NFL, poker, etc.

You can also find innumerable free horse racing systems, staking systems, poker systems, on the internet, ignore them, they are only free for a reason, as they lose hard cash.

These days it is possible to receive horseracing software, poker software, etc that can facilitate you, they will only make you hard cash if you are already doing so, they just enhance your skills, not make them. Search the web for reviews on every product before parting with any money; ask people on forums which software is the best.

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Cheap Caravan Holidays in Cornwall

Cheap caravan holidays in Cornwall are perfect if you want to take the kids on a break this summer but you're on a budget. You don't need to go abroad to experience great beaches and relaxing scenery, you just need to know where to look. The Cornish coast is full of white sandy beaches and plenty of coastal walks and water sports for the more adventurous among us. Here are two great caravan parks for you to consider this summer.

1. Perran Sands Holiday Park

This 4-star modern holiday park is owned by Haven holidays. Located between Perranporth and Newquay, this resort has everything from high sand dunes to Atlantic surf.

Perran Sands has its own restaurants, swimming pools and bars so you won't have to travel far to eat or be entertained in the evenings.

As with most Haven holiday parks this resort is family friendly with plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained including surfing lessons and even fencing.

The caravans themselves are a home away from home with televisions, DVD players and a fully equipped kitchen; unlike most parks you will need to bring your own bed linen though.

2. Mena Caravan & Camping Park

Situated atop a hill with 15 acres of open space this caravan and campsite is perfect if you have your own caravan. Its location in central Cornwall makes it the perfect base to explore all of the attractions that Cornwall has to offer. The Eden Project is just two miles away and it's just a 25-minute drive to the surfing beaches of Newquay.

Cyclists can take advantage of the nearby Camel Trail which runs from Padstow up to Bodmin moor and keen fishermen will be able to relax by the site's small fishing lake.

While there are no dining options onsite the nearby Lanivet village has a cosy pub and a popular fish and chip shop. A ten-minute drive will find you in St Austell where you can shop at the 24hr supermarket.

3. Hendra Holiday Park

If you'd prefer to be closer to the popular Newquay beaches then Hendra holiday park is well worth a closer look. This park has fully equipped holiday homes and a tent and touring caravan section with high quality shower blocks making it perfect whether you own your own van or not.

Your kids will love the children's club and entertainment options which includes football matches, pitch and putt and talent competitions.

You can relax as a family in the outdoor pool, or have fun in the indoor pool which boasts three water flumes.

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Essential Outdoor Emergency Supplies For Camping

Since the beginning of human history there has always been a fascination with discovering nature, known to many as the great outdoors. Not only is it a love of hiking enthusiasts, but also for families in general. But in order be certain that you can fully enjoy your camping excursion, you need to plan ahead with outdoor emergency supplies and kits.

If you look all the way back in early history, you might be surprised to find that there have always been some kind of ointment or creme used specifically for someone who may have suffered some type of insect or animal bite, a scorching burn, or even from protection form harmful UV rays. Outdoor emergency supplies didn't just pop onto the scene in recent decades, since very early cultures would make their own from items they found within nature itself.

You can pretty much count on the fact that, being that you all will be active in the outdoors, the terrain will result in one of the individuals in your pack will end up cutting, scraping themselves, or getting a hematoma. Insects can be a pretty big irritant as well. Whether you would think so or not, something as small as an insect bite, such as that of a fly, can make was at first an awesome camping excursion turn into a nightmare if you aren't prepared to treat them.

Well stocked first aid kits should always include essential outdoor emergency supplies such as a flashlight with extra batteries, as it will be crucial if you are out hiking and night falls faster than you anticipated or if you become lost. A sharp knife should also be included because it will come in handy for a variety of things such as cutting string for the tent, cleaning fish, and for countless other situations you may not even realize.

If you were to somehow get lost from the group that you are traveling with, one of the greatest supplies to have on hand would be a whistle. Fire starters are useful, specifically if the area you are camping in has had rain recently and the kindling and small branches you would normally collect and use for starting a fire are damp.

A variety of over the counter medical supplies should always be stocked in first aid kits. Band aids and gauze for wounds, punctures or cuts are a must have. Topical antibiotic ointments are good to have for these type of injuries as well. Aspirin, antacids and ibuprofen are good for headaches and muscle aches. Creams to relieve burns and itch relief from rash or bug bites are good to have, also.

Many of these items will not even be used on your trip, but it is always better to have them and not need them then the other way around. One of the most intelligent things you can do in your prep work is to be sure that all that are on the trip remain in optimal health and that any accident be taken care of immediately with the correct supplies.


Copyright (c) 2009 Jonathan Perez

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Mauna Kea in Hawaii - Driving to the Summit of this Grand Volcano

The summit of Mauna Kea is called Puu Wekiu and it is at an elevation of 13,796 feet. this is the highest point of land in the Pacific Basin. An interesting fact about Mauna Kea is that if measured from the bottom of the ocean floor, it reaches nearly 30,000 feet which would make it the tallest peak on earth.

Visitors flock to Mauna Kea for a variety of reasons. There are 11 domes and 13 telescopes at the peak of Mauna Kea which attracts professional and amateur astronomers alike. Others come for the amazing viewpoints, unique bird watching and rugged hiking. Others come to Mauna Kea just to say they did so.

The drive up Mauna Kea takes about an hour. At the start, the driver will see typical Hawaiian tropical vegetation. As you pass sea level, the landscape changes to grass pastures and then into raggedy looking forests of koa and ohia trees. These thin out at 6,000 feet and the landscape becomes dominated by barren lava flows. The sub alpine regions found after the 6,500 foot level still support a few koa and ohia trees and even the rare mamane tree. All vegetation beyond 8,500 feet becomes very scarce.

The mountain is home to some excellent bird watching. The rare, yellow-crowned palila bird can be seen here. The endangered Hawaiian honey-creeper can be seen here as well. This bird only feeds on the seed pods from the scarce mamane tree. Less rare, but still interesting birds such as the uau (Hawaiian petrels), nene (Hawaiian geese), io (Hawaiian hawks) can also be seen on Mauna Kea.

The first step to reaching Mauna Kea is to drive Saddle Road (Route 200). This road is listed as off-limits by many of the car rental agencies. Thrifty will allow its rental cars on saddle road but advises against this practice. The roads are narrow with little or no shoulders and there are no emergency phones on this route should you encounter a problem.

You take the turn off from Saddle Road to Hale Pohaku and the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy Visitor Information Station. This leg lasts 7 miles and takes the traveler to 9,300 feet. This section can be driven by a normal car but it does feature very steep and windy roads. If you are driving a Thrifty rental car, the Visitor Center is as far as you are allowed to go. Harper's Car and Truck Rental (harpershawaii.com) does rent vehicles for the exact purpose of getting from the Visitor Center to the observatory.

Please remember to bring warm clothing on this journey. Even in the summer temperatures can reach the low 40s. Also make sure to fill up the gas tank before you go. The steep grade and thin air pushes the car into very poor gas mileage and there is nowhere to fill up at the top.

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Dress Up Your Deck: Details Make a Difference on Decks and Porches

Are you looking to make a statement with your wooden deck or porch? Do you want to enhance the color scheme or architectural charm of your home’s exterior? The Flood Company’s products allow you to re-energize your home’s outdoor areas with customizations that can be as simple or as elaborate as your imagination allows. The following deck ideas will help to get you started.

Finish your patios, decks, porches or planters with Flood’s inventive colors to lend a bold charm to surfaces. For example, perk up your deck planters using this season’s hottest tropical hues. For maximum impact, select a hue from your planter's color palette and fill the container generously with overflowing blooms. You also may consider creating one or more vignettes of planters that sport different sizes and shapes. Using Flood finishes, or quality paints with Flood paint conditioners such as Floetrol® or Penetrol® added, will allow you to creatively pattern and unify the entire group.

For a more intricate design, introduce a new or recently refurbished gate to effectively update the entire appearance of your exterior living space. Explore the possibility of installing a custom gate to enhance your home's architectural style. Select an appropriate motif, and then tie into the current exterior paint color scheme by utilizing existing door, window and trim colors. Gates that feature contrasting colors with the current deck space create a vibrant and eye-catching focal point that personalizes the outdoor living space.

Mixing and matching materials adds visual interest by displaying differing textures as part of the outdoor living area. Materials may differ in texture and fabrication, but they still provide colors that bear a definite resemblance to each other. For example, a homeowner may opt to combine stone-colored poured concrete asymmetrical pavers with sand-colored rectangular brick pavers to produce a unique flooring pattern. The exterior flooring can be customized further by painting the concrete with a quality product that mimics the appearance of brick pavers that appear weathered by age. By applying a paint application that lends a distressed flavor to the concrete flooring, the entire surface becomes stylishly and harmoniously unified. Wood, metal and synthetic materials can be attractively painted, then partnered with interesting flooring patterns and fabrications to produce dynamic outdoor styles that enhance both the color scheme and architectural style of the entire house.

Courtesy of The Paint Quality Institute.

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Preparing For Your Home Purchase - A Simple Guide

So you're thinking about buying a house? Whether it's your first purchase or not, buying a property can be a confusing and stressful time. Here are some tips to help you have a successful experience.

Using Estate Agents

Do not restrict your search to using one or two estate agents. In order to receive the best search results possible, draw up a generic email containing the following information:

- What type of property you are looking for.

- What size and number of bedrooms you want.

- What location and how many miles surrounding that location you are willing to extend your search to.

- Your realistic lower and upper budget for the purchase.

- Any specific requirements such as a garden, utility room or garage.

- Include your preferred contact details such as an email address and mobile number.

Send the email to as many locally-based estate agencies as possible so you have a greater chance of finding the right property for you. After sending your email, call the estate agent regularly to keep you at the front of his mind when properties come onto the market.

It is also a good idea to point out areas to the estate agent in which you are willing to be flexible, for example having a garage may be an added benefit but not really essential. If you provide this flexibility it is likely that you will get a wider range of properties put forward to you.

It is always good to try and stay open minded when you are looking at the estate agent's property particulars. If there are certain point within the description that discourage you, they may transpire to be minor when you view the property.

Budgeting

As tempting as it may be to put an offer on a property just out of your financial range, it is a dangerous move to make. It could either result in you having to pull out of the transaction at a later date or even if you can secure the mortgage you will not be able to afford the repayments in the future.

The key to budgeting effectively is to produce a financial statement, which will examine your income and outgoings. This statement allows you to calculate exactly what deposit money you can afford to put forward and what monthly repayments you can make. Remember to over budget for the costs of moving home and any refurbishments you may have to make. It's always better to have a bit of money left over rather than to run out.

Once you have created your financial statement, shop around for mortgages before you start looking for a property. Seek the assistance of an independent mortgage advisor. An independent advisor will either work for a financial services company or will often work alone. They work on a combination of a fixed fee and commission basis. If they are successful in finding you the best deal for a mortgage, you will have to pay a fixed fee before taking out the mortgage and they will also receive a commission from the mortgage company. Using an independent body rather than merely having an appointment with your bank ensures that you will get the best deal for your financial situation.

Finally, when coming to select conveyancing solicitors to help with your house purchase, make sure that you pick specialised conveyancing solicitors. It's also worth considering appointing local solicitors rather than relying on one of the conveyancing factories scattered throughout the country.

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To Execute Softball Hitting Perfectly � Physical Strength and Proper Approach are Essential

Everyone is already aware that softball hitting is certainly the hardest skill that a player should learn in softball. this is because it does not only require the player to learn a single technique or strategy to master the perfect hit. Hitting is definitely more than hitting itself.

There are a lot of things that a hitter must possess before he will be able to become an expert in hitting. Aside from that, he must also be willing to spend more of his time and loads of effort just to be good in this field.

Those professional hitters that you are seeing right now don’t only have their inborn talents in hitting. They have also worked hard to reach the top. And they have these amazing qualities and magnificent techniques and strategies.

When it comes to softball hitting, you must not only have a sharp mind to think of methods and techniques. The first thing that you must have is the physical strength. If you have this then you will be ready to face all of the physical challenges that are in store for you in hitting.

In any kind of sport, being physically strong is always said to be an advantage because you can use this against your opponents and you can also use this to be excellent in the sport that you have chosen. You cannot enter or try a sport without having this.

How you can have this physical strength? There are a lot of ways on how you can achieve this. First is if you will eat foods that have the ability to make the body strong such as fruits and vegetables. Aside from that, you can also eat meat, bread, and some other foods that are rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These will surely have good effect to your body and even if you are practicing hard for softball hitting, you will not feel weak. Apart from that, drinking a lot of water, milk, and energy drinks can also help. Having daily exercises is also a good thing since they can help in developing your muscles especially in your arms and legs.

Aside from having a strong body, having a proper approach is also needed for you to become good in hitting. Being positive can absolutely do a lot of wonders. When you are molding yourself to become good in hitting, you must never entertain negative thoughts. You must always think that you can do it, that eventually you will become good in it. If you will believe that you can be a powerful hitter then it will most likely to happen. Aside from staying positive, you must also learn to hold on to your emotions. Do not be frustrated if you didn’t succeed at first. Being frustrated will affect the way you hit and this would surely be a reason why you will fail. Always be calm and put all your concentrations on the things that you are doing, not on your emotions. These are the keys to succeed in hitting.

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7 Reasons To Mulch! Why's And How To's

Your landscape is a large living investment and like most investments the more information about it, the more you get in return. Most of us regard mulch as having one function, to give our landscape a fresh new appeal. The truth is, properly laid mulch has many other functions that are vital to the health and life of our plants.

There are basically two types of mulch, organic -- such as hardwood, bark chips, leaves and pine straw that easily decompose and inorganic -- such as stones, brick chips and dyed rubber that are permanent. Although inorganic mulches have their place in the landscape, this tip sheet will be limited to the use of organic mulches.

Why Should I Mulch? Mulching is one of the most simplest and most beneficial practices you can use in your landscape. In addition to giving your planting beds a uniform, well-cared for look, mulch will:

-Help maintain soil moisture. Evaporation is reduced, and the need for watering can be minimized.

-Help control weeds. A 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will reduce the germination and growth of weeds.

-Serve as nature's insulating blanket. Mulch keeps soils warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

-Improve soil aeration, structure (aggregation of soil particles), and drainage over time.

-Improve soil fertility.

-Can inhibit certain plant diseases.

Plants growing in a natural wooded environment have their roots anchored in a rich, well aerated soil full of essential minerals. Urban landscapes, however, are typically a much harsher environment with poor soils, little organic matter, and large fluctuations in temperature and moisture. Applying a 2 - to - 4 inch layer of organic mulch can mimic a more natural environment and improve plant health.

How To's. While mulching can be beneficial to your landscape, if improperly applied it can be equally harmful. Most organic mulches must be replenished but the rate of decomposition varies. Coarser mulches may remain intact for many years while finer mulches many need replenished every year or two.

-Define the edges of your landscape beds using a garden spade or power edger. Cutting a 3 to 4 inch deep trough along the edge of your landscape bed will keep mulch from bleeding into the turf.

-Check the depth of your existing mulch. If there is an existing layer of mulch, either remove and replace with fresh mulch or till the existing layer.

-Not too much! Deep mulch can lead to excess moisture in the root zone. Remember recommended mulching depth is 2 to 4 inches.

-Piling mulch against the trunk of plants can stress stem tissues and may lead to insect and disease problems.

-For trees, the mulch bed should be as large as the drip line of the tree. this will ensure the feeder roots, located near or even beyond the drip line of the tree, will be protected from drying out as quick and receive nutrients from the mulch.

-Thick blankets of fine mulch can become matted and may prevent the penetration of water and air. In addition, a thick layer of fine mulch can become like potting soil and may support weed growth.

-For landscape beds that do not drain well, apply a thinner layer of mulch.

Remember, your landscape is a large living investment and the more information you know about it, the more you can expect in return.

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Weekend Getaways and Mini- Vacations!

You need to get away, but don’t have the time or money to take a week or two off to head to your favorite destinations. Many people count out taking a weekend and heading to a semi-local vacation spot that allows them to get away, relax, enjoy time alone or together, and find romance, rest, fun, or whatever it is you are looking for in a vacation.

The beauty of weekend getaways is that you can travel on a budget and not miss work, kids activities, and so forth. For a few years while in school, my wife and I never had enough time or money to take a full fledged trip, so we would take little weekend trips a few times a year experiencing more types of travel than if we had taken one big trip.

So, we have put together a simple list of weekend getaways that you can print out and enjoy immediately. Many of the ideas we mention are generalized to any area of the world, however we will mention various locations that are close to where we live as examples. Use your imagination to brainstorm destinations that are within driving range and quite affordable.

1. Romantic Getaways: These are usually at the top of the list. With anniversaries, holidays, romantic events, and so on always around the corner, we need to be on our toes to come up with fresh ideas to sweep our significant others off their feet and keep the romance going. Rent out a bed and breakfast in a small town, grab a hotel in a romantic city like Paris, head to Las Vegas and enjoy all it has to offer. Romantic spots are as creative as you make them.

2. Sporting Events: Big sporting events like March Madness coming up is always fun. An example is two of my best friends for Valentines Day are traveling a couple hours to our state capital to watch the state high school basketball championships. Spring training is coming up for baseball and is always in a warm location. You have racing, football, golf, the Olympics, baseball, the major horse racing events like the Kentucky Derby. The list goes on and on.

3. Camping: this is a cheap vacation that can be fun, romantic, and adventurous. Combine camping with white water rafting or go hiking or without being too adventurous, rent a cabin in the woods and get away from society all together.

4. Theme Parks: One year we traveled to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio and enjoyed a day at the theme park and the night at Put-n-Bay on Lake Erie. Also, we live near Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio and many people travel from all over to spend a couple of days enjoying the attractions there. There are theme parks everywhere and are a great way to have some fun while enjoying an array of activities. If you aren’t close to Disney World or Disneyland, then think of a closer location.

5. Famous vacations spots: Las Vegas comes to mind. We enjoy traveling to Gatlingurg, Tennessee and spending a couple days in a cabin, shopping, eating, and hanging out. New York, San Diego, anywhere in a 6 hour driving time to your home can be perfect. Just write down a few places within that circle and pick one.

6. Beaches: Unfortunately, we don’t live within a few hours of a beach, but many people do. A great weekend getaway to enjoy the walks on the beach, dinner overlooking the ocean, beachfront hotel or villa, and all a beach vacation has to offer.

7. Festivals, Events, Concerts: Is there a musician playing in a town not too far away? What about a major event or festival? Pack the bags and head out for the weekend. Grab a hotel and head to this event. You’ll have a great time. We have done this many times and always have a good time.

This is just a short list of ideas. Pack your bags and just get away. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and ready to plan your next weekend getaway.

Have fun and tell us how your trip was!!

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