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Choosing Family Camping Tents

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

There are countless adults who will say the most memorable part of their childhood was the family’s camping trips. Whether the sleep out took place in the backyard or involved a more in depth planning and execution process, camping is near and dear to a lot of peoples hearts. It makes sense that as those children grew up and had families of their own that they would want to continue the tradition and take their children of exciting camping trips as well.

Of course to make this dream a reality, the most important piece of equipment is one of the family tents. These tents have evolved over the years into virtual paradises of home like comfort.

Family tents are available in a huge selection of styles, sizes, and colors. Almost any version can be found to accommodate the family’s size and needs.

With the advancement of technology, camping tents are better made than ever and are constructed of the most durable and weatherproof materials. While it may not be the optimal experience to camp in inclement weather, these tents help to ensure that it doesn’t have to be the worst thing ever either. There are certain criteria to keep in mind while deciding on the perfect tent for your family.

Before style even becomes a consideration, it is important to find one of the best made camping tents on the market. When you find a tent that may be the one, check online message boards for honest reactions to the products performance.

There are several websites designed to provide consumer opinions. Visit the local sporting goods store to take a look at the tent up close and personal. Pay careful attention to the zippers, fastenings, and how easy or difficult the tent is to put up. This is the time to look into the type of material used in its construction and quality of the poles and attachments.

One of the good family camping tents should be made to last a long time and hold up to the rigors of the great outdoors.

Once you have found several camping tents you like, narrow down your selection according to personal preferences. Some family camping tents are large one room design, while others are equipped with a tunnel between two rooms that children find a lot of fun.

Also consider the size and space available in the vehicle that will be used for camping trips. Many models are made to be compact and space saving for smaller cars and vans.

Family camping trips are a worthwhile endeavor. Be sure to be properly prepared with one of the high quality family camping tents available.

Mother Cow Report Card

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

In one respect, possibly the best person to do a preliminary assessment of a cow protection program is an accountant, because of his or her training to evaluate performance in terms of names, dates and numbers. These factors reveal a lot about the quality of cow protection, even before the project is visited.

Let’s evaluate the Mother Cow program by a set of standards (abbreviated here) that I posted a year ago. The point here is not to attack Mother Cow, but rather by revealing positive standards of cow protection to promote the defense of Dharma in all cow protection programs.

MONITORING AND RECORDS

1. The entire herd should be counted daily.

* Whether Mother Cow follows this standard is unknown, but probably it would not be difficult at least to count the cows still being maintained at Mother Cow.

2. Every cow should have a name.

* It appears that all Mother Cow’s milking cows have names, but it’s worth noting that the website doesn’t give names of any calves or bulls. Thus it’s harder to know what becomes of them, and less noticeable when they are missing.

3. Records should be kept with the name, sex, date of birth of each cow. When a cow or calf dies, the cause of death and date of death should be recorded. Annual records should be provided to members each year.

* Unknown. Website does not specify whether members receive an annual cow census.

4. Calf mortality should be less than 10%. In the absence of proper records, this can be determined retroactively by seeing how many cows have been milking in the last 2-3 years and determining how many of their calves are still alive.

* Website indicates over 50 calves born to 22 milking cows – yet Mother Cow states it is protecting only 12 calves. What happened to the other 40 calves?

5. Analyzed by sex, the herd should be approximately 50% cows, 50% bulls or oxen. If there are far more females than males, it’s a sign of a discrepancy – either in the organization’s incomplete understanding of cow protection, or in substandard protection for bull calves.

* Website indicates over 50 calves born to 22 milking cows – yet Mother Cow states that it has only one bull and one ox. Of the total of 70 animals, only 2 males are currently protected by Mother cow (less than 3 percent). The oxen shown in the website’s photo don’t appear to be from Mother Cow, since all the cows are taurean breeds, but the oxen shown are Indic or Brahmin breed.

6. Any cow who has taken shelter on Krsna’s land or in Krsna’s temple should never be subsequently sold, traded, given away or killed.

* Statistics show that several dozen cows are missing from the herd. We’re assured that bull calves are given to a Jain project where they will be “protected for life.” Out of site, out of mind. On one hand, if the Jain temple is protecting these cows, why not donate money directly to the Jains? On the other hand, getting rid of unprofitable cows by giving them to others makes Mother Cow’s claims of providing life-time protection unconvincing.

BREEDING AND AQUIRING COWS

7. No cow should be bred for milk production alone, without plans for the resulting calf. No cow should be bred unless there is a clear and concrete plan for the care of the calf for its entire life, which may be 10-20 years. This means there must be adequate land, adequate funding and adequate trained personnel to care for the resulting calf.

* The statement of goals indicates that cows are being bred primarily for milk production: “Our plans for expansion include the purchase of 6 acres of land (in addition to our present 3 acres of land), 40 milk cows.” Cows are not being bred to produce working oxen, nor is there any description of training the resulting bull calves, who appear to be simply unwanted offspring.

8. Cows should not be acquired based on sentiment alone. A goshalla should not allow itself to be exploited by those who “donate” animals with mixed motives.

* Mother Cow cannot be accused of this flaw.

9. Milking should be a pleasurable experience for the cow.

* Milking techniques are unknown. This is generally difficult to assess without being on-site. There seem to be enough cowherds to prevent the necessity of machine milking.

10. Milk production should not be developed primarily as a profit-making venture. “You say we must have a gosala trust, that is our real purpose. krsi-goraksya-vanijyam vaisya karma svabhava-jam, [Bg 18.44]. Where there is agriculture there must be cows. That is our mission: Cow protection and agriculture and if there is excess, trade. This is a no-profit scheme…

* It seems clear that this project has been developed primarily as a profit-making venture, which is why most of the calves are missing. It’s simply not profitable to keep them. Profit-motive, especially in a competitive capitalist system, always endangers the welfare of cows. (See also my article, “Why Commercial Dairies Can’t Stop Killing,” Back To Godhead, Vol. 30, No 6, 1996.)

TRAINING OF OXEN OR BULLOCKS

11. In general, all bull calves should be trained to work. As Srila Prabhupada stated, “If you do not use the bulls for plowing, one day you will say, let us cut their throats.”

* Out of 70 animals, it appears that one ox is being trained to work.

12. No ox should be overworked or worked by force only.

* Not relevant at this point, since no oxen are working.

13. In general, bull calves should be castrated by the time they are 1 year old, or whatever age is appropriate for that breed. This can be done with minimum discomfort by using a bloodless emasculator or burdizzo, which only pinches the semen tubes to achieve sterilization.

* Whether oxen are castrated before being given to the Jains is unknown.

SHELTER, GRAZING AND FEED

14. The cows’ living conditions should be clean and comfortable.

* The 30 animals who have been permitted to remain at Mother Cow appear to have clean facilities. The living conditions of animals donated to the Jain goshalla are unknown.

15. All cows should have adequate shelter.

* Again, the 30 animals who remain at Mother Cow seem to have adequate shelter. It is unknown what kind of shelter the other 40 animals have.

16. Adequate fencing should be maintained.

* Apparently the fencing is adequate since the goshalla stresses that cows are not permitted to wander the streets eating hazardous garbage. Thus they are also protected from street injuries and from slaughter by rustlers.

17. Cows must be provided sufficient grazing opportunity. And, as stated by Bhismadeva in the Mahabharata, no cow should be kept always tethered.

* Grazing opportunities unknown.

18. The program should maintain adequate pasture for animals. Generally the minimum would be at least 1/2 acre (1/4 hectare) per animal, preferably 1 acre per animal.

* 30 cows on 3 acres of land means 1/10 acre of land for each animal, probably less, because buildings occupy some land. Mother Cow plans to purchase more land, but indicates land will be for 40 more cows (and presumably their 40 more calves). “Our plans for expansion include the purchase of 6 acres of land (in addition to our present 3 acres of land), 40 milk cows, 2 fully equipped barns…” It appears that to increase profitability of the dairy, conditions will become more crowded, not less crowded.

19. Cows should be sufficiently well fed.

* It appears that the 22 milking cows are well fed. The conditions of the animals sent to the Jain goshalla are unknown.

20. Ideally, feed for the cows should be grown on site, not purchased from outside.

* Given the small amount of land, most feed must be purchased from outside, but it appears from the photos that some is grown on site.

FUNDING AND ACCOUNTING

21. The goshalla should have an accurate and clear method of keeping accounts, and members should be presented with an annual statement of accounts.

* It is unknown whether members are presented with an annual statement of accounts. Since the endeavor is set up primarily as a profit-making dairy rather than as a cow protection program, it seems doubtful that the standard of public accounting exists at this stage.

22. Ideally, funds collected for a goshalla or cow protection program should be kept separate from other accounts, such as that of a temple or community facility. Funds should not be invested in any speculative business enterprise.

* Unknown.

COWHERD TRAINING AND SUPPORT

23. Cowherds should be recognized as important members in the spiritual community.

* Whether cowherd are regarded as members of the spiritual community is unknown. The fact that their photos are highlighted on the website seems positive. When cowherds are publicly praised, they take pride in their work. This usually results in better care for the cows.

24. Ideally, the goshalla should maintain a well designed program for training cowherds and ox-power farmers.

* Training program for cowherds is unknown, but probably there is some program in place or the facilities would not look as good as they do. It is doubtful that there is a training program for teamsters, since most bull calves are sent away,

25. Cowherds should be facilitated and supported so they can have a decent, if simple, standard of living… Without proper training, facility and care of its cowherds, a cow protection program is threatened by constant turnover of staff and may eventually collapse.

* Standard of living and rate of turnover among the cowherds is unknown.

MEMBERSHIP AND OUTREACH

26. A goshalla should use its cow protection program as a means of attracting the public to Krsna consciousness.

*Difficult to assess at this point.

27. Activities of the cow protection program should be highlighted on community websites and during religious holidays and festivals such as Gaura Purnima, Janmastami, Govardhana Puja and Ratha Yatra. The Deities can be read accounts of the activities of the year, not only how much milk or burfi was produced, but also how many oxen were trained, how much area they plowed, how much wood they hauled, how many bushels of vegetables they produced, etc showcasing the offerings of the animals to the Lord.

* Unknown.

28. A cow protection program should provide opportunity for members’ input and participation. This can be achieved through questionnaires, newsletters, workshops, and pre-festival meetings.

* Members are invited to come to the farm, and they exchange letters at Mother Cow’s public website.

CONCLUSION

Though established primarily as a profit-making dairy, Mother Cow displays interest in some aspects cow protection. An informed membership can guide this interest to greater incorporation of the principles of Dharma, especially through proper protection, training and utilization of Father Bull, which will be more in keeping with the practice of Krsna consciousness.

Chaos, Children, and Chores

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Of course we all love our children dearly, but who knew they’d be so messy? When you have children, you can never count on how long your house will actually stay clean after you’ve cleaned it. A day? An hour? Less? Cleaning up after your kids does not have to take on a life of its own. By making a clean and organized home a priority for the entire family and by setting and sticking to household standards, you can avoid feeling more like Maid than Mom.

Ages of Your Children

Household chores are not just for older children. Children as young as two can learn to be organized. Toddlers can learn to put away their toys, brush the dog, put their dirty clothes in the hamper and help to unload groceries.

Older children need regular household chores. Studies have shown that children who have chores at home get better grades, are more social and more confident than children who do not have chores. Children need a certain amount of responsibility and need to learn to be accountable for their actions. Requiring your children to do household chores will help them to be more well rounded (and organized!) as they grow. Older children can make their beds, keep their room organized and clean, dust and vacuum, wash dishes, feed pets, and water plants.

Rewarding Efforts

Always thank your children when they’ve completed a chore and praise them for doing it and doing it well (when deserved).

The traditional chore chart on the fridge is a great parenting tool for positive reinforcement. Reward your children with stickers on the chore chart next to the chore they’ve completed. When they get X number of stickers, they get a reward – a new book or toy, their favorite dinner, a trip to the movies, etc. The chore chart system can be tweaked and customized for your family to suit each child in the house.

Your older children may be more apt to take their chores seriously if there are dollar signs involved. Base your children’s allowance on what you can afford, how many chores your children do and how well they do them. For instance, you can pay according to age (so an 8 year old would receive $8 per week). Or come up with a pricing system that works for you. Luckily, my 3 year old is quite happy with stickers, and my 8 year old is thrilled with Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

Flexibility – Make it Fun!

When it’s possible, allow your child to choose chores that they like to do. Their response will be better because they will enjoy what they’re doing. My three-year old loves to dust. I let her turn her music up a bit, hand her a damp rag and she goes to town. It’s a different story when it comes time for her to clear the table after dinner though. That’s like pulling teeth – without pain killers!

Do your children fight over who does which chores? Rotate chores from week to week so that your child isn’t stuck doing something he/she hates every week. (This week Susie dusts and Johnny takes out the trash. Next week it’s Susie’s turn to take out the trash and Johnny’s turn to dust.)

Try not to base household chores on gender. There’s nothing wrong with your son having to wash dishes or do laundry and there’s nothing wrong with your daughter taking out the trash or washing the car. No housework is strictly for girls or strictly for boys. Send your son off to college with the ability to do his own laundry, and your daughter with the confidence that she can haul out a ladder to change a light bulb.

If rotating chores doesn’t work to stop bickering, try writing the chores down on little pieces of paper and having your children pick their chores from a hat each week.

If your children don’t have chores, it’s not too late to start. Hold a family meeting and explain that you need help to maintain the house and that effective immediately everyone is going to start pitching in. Introduce chore charts and allowance/reward systems and explain to each child which chores they’ll be responsible for, when each chore needs to be completed and if necessary, how to do it.

Be sure to have consequences ready for chores that aren’t done and explain them in advance. In our house, if one chore is neglected or refused, it’s a done deal – no allowance, no negotiations. It may take a few weeks to get your family in full swing, but it will come together – I promise.

You are Mom, not Maid. You can ask for help and get it! Your children may not thank you for it now, but later on it will pay off for them – and for you! Make housework a part of your children’s routine and make yourself less stressed. Sit down and supervise for awhile …you knew you had kids for a reason.

Nicole Dean welcomes you to visit http://www.HomeOrganizationHelp.com to help battle clutter and disorganization and http://www.ShowKidsTheFun.com to make memories that last a lifetime.

How To Get The Best Results Out Of Your Bulb Planting Efforts

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Bulb planting can be one of the most rewarding things a gardener can do. There’s nothing quite like putting that bulb in the ground, and watching as it grows into the full plant it’s meant to be. As long as some simple ground rules (pardon the pun) are followed, bulbs grow easily and are very rewarding.

Bulbs can be planted either in the fall or in the spring. Fall planting would be the preferred time to plant because that gives the flowers an opportunity to adjust to their surroundings, set their roots firmly, and bloom earlier in the spring. If you are going to be planting in the fall, anytime from about late September to early November is appropriate. Sometimes, circumstances lead us to not be able to plant until spring, or we would just rather wait. If that is the case, it is best to plant as soon as the ground thaws if you live in an area that freezes. If the ground does not freeze, anytime beginning in about mid-April through mid-May would be a good time. Your bulbs will bloom later than those planted in the fall, but they will still put on an impressive show. Planting in the fall does put the bulbs at an increased risk of being exposed to freezing temperatures because they will begin to grow earlier in the spring, but it is a risk that most gardeners are willing to take.

The majority of bulbs should be planted shallowly. There should be enough of a hole to cover them completely, but they do not need to go far down in the earth. However, there are some, like daffodils, that like to be planted a little deeper. Refer to the instructions on the bag or box for just how deep your bulbs should be planted. Be sure to follow those directions so that your flowers are not adversely affected by too deep or too shallow of a bed. Be sure to fertilize and water thoroughly as soon as the planting is completed. The bulbs will need those nutrients to help them root into their new home.

If the bulbs have been planted in the fall, as the winter months progress, they will remain dormant in the ground. Therefore, watering and fertilizing further will not be necessary until the ground begins to thaw in the spring. At that point, when the weather is dry for a few days and watering becomes necessary, do so with a garden hose for five minutes daily while the weather remains dry. Otherwise, it is safe to let nature take her course with these flowers while they are in bloom.

When blooming has completed, though it can be tempting to cut off those empty flower stalks, wait until they have become yellow and shriveled. The stalk is still taking in important nutrients to the bulb, which is now preparing for the next bloom season. If the stalk is cut off while it’s still taking in nutrients, in the following season, the flower will not bloom as well or may not bloom at all. It is important to give those flowers the time they need to prepare for the next growing season.

UFC: Tito Ortiz a no-show for exhibition match with White

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Due to the absence of Tito Ortiz for his weigh-in Friday, the much-awaited battle between the UFC fighter and Dana White, President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been cancelled, at least for now.

White was scheduled to make his professional boxing launch on March 24, 2007, against his former client Tito Ortiz. This was also an attempt to work out their feud, supposedly contending in a three-round boxing exhibition. In fact, Ortiz previously sent daring messages to White asserting his determination, as well as the authenticity of the fight. However, Ortiz left a message indicating his decision to let White “off the hook.” The decision of Ortiz actually left many people puzzled and surprised, especially the Nevada State Athletic Commission which previously lauded Ortiz for his

professionalism in these types of events. Given this, it’s hard to

imagine what instigated Ortiz’s failure to show up.

Ortiz, a 32-year old American-Mexican mixed martial arts fighter from Huntington Beach, California, began his martial arts career as a wrestler in his sophomore year in high school. After a series of successful competitions, he headed for more prestigious competitions worldwide.

Previously, he headlined many pay per view championship cards and graced the covers of several magazines. Also known as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,”

his awards and accomplishments includes the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion with 5 title defenses, a 2006 Golden Gloves, a 2006 Fight of the Year, and a

2006 Feud of the Year among others. At present, he has 15 wins, 5 losses and 0 draws.

Others speculate that Ortiz’s nonappearance is due to his desire to acquire more money since Spike TV intended to broadcast segments of the their fight as a promotional tool for the highly anticipated UFC 69. Meanwhile, others perceive his move as an avoidance of the possibility of his defeat in the hands of White.

Hang Onto That 2 Dollar Bill

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Today, when we go to a store many of us pay for our commodity by hard currency or cash, if we don’t have our credit cards with us. We are very intimate with the different money values that we see regularly. Or at least have a good idea of what they look like and there value. However, there is one type of money bill that is seen very rarely. This is the 2 dollar bill and because it is barely ever used or seen there are many stories that have developed about this bill. And to think that my kids haven’t even seen a 2 dollar bill.

These urban legends or folktales have all inspired the myth that the 2 dollar bill is not what you would conceive as being real money. Boy, is that the furthest from the truth. In fact the 2 dollar bill is now starting to be seen as a collectors item. For this rationality when people see a 2 dollar bill they will either regard it as being a fake or they will decide that it is so uncommon that they need to own this bill. Hence how it has become a collectors item.

Even though you will not see the 2 dollar bill all that much, there are some of these bills still in circulation today. Due to the collection of the 2 dollar bill the public has now started to see it fade from public sight. It is only when there is a severe deficiency of this bill that the Fed Money Reserve will start printing a new batch. What an interesting concept, hey folks we are out of this type of bill we better go and print a few more off. It isn’t really that simple, but the Federal Reserve does watch and regulate the money flow including 2 dollar bills.

How this works is that because there are not many people using these dollar bills there is no real need to print out a large sum of them. As this is the case the sum of 2 dollar bills that you can find are regarded as being used by by a very small population. The less times the Feds print the 2 dollar bill, the more valuable it becomes. The printing of this bill has seen a serious decrease over the last 10 to 20 years. This means a higher value for those of you that are interested in collecting this bill.

Since the 2 dollar bill is not thought of as being part of the monetary system there are few facilities or shops and other places to take the 2 dollar bill. but, I tell you now, hang onto that bill and put it into your collection. Alternatively you will find that various other items have been located in the sections where the 2 dollar bill inevitably use to go. There is another problem that you may run into when you try to use a 2 dollar bill. As so very few people have heard of a 2 dollar bill much less seen one, they may think that you are trying to play some type of game with them.

There are still others who may feel that you are spending fake money. Therefore if you do come over a 2 dollar bill you might want to hang on to it until you can switch it at the bank where they will not look at you funnily! Or better yet hang onto it and add it to your ever growing coin collection. this bill one day will no longer be printed by the feds (if it hasn’t already stopped) and will grow in value.

Why is Goji Berry So Beneficial?

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Goji berries or Tibetan Goji berries are technically known as Lycium Barabarum (Latin). They belong to the family of Solanaceae (flowering plants) which also have members like potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco. It is quite surprising to know that over eighty varieties of Lycium berry are found in nature. One of the most famous include the Chinese Wolfberry which is considered by Chinese healers as the best cure for male sexual dysfunction. But to be on a more technical ground, Chinese Wolfberry is just a genetic cousin of Lycium Barbarum and is not exactly a true Goji berry.

Goji berries are perhaps one of the richest sources of vitamins and other nutrients. It has been clinically proven that they contain over 18 different amino acids and vitamins like B1, B2, B6, C and E. It is surprising but a truth that this fruit contains more Beta carotene than carrots and is perhaps the best source of vitamin C around. Only Australian billygoat plum and South American camu camu are richer than Goji berries where vitamin C is concerned.

Goji berries are also rich source of minerals like iron, calcium, zinc, selenium, phosphorus and germanium. With all that, they are also a rich source of antioxidants.

Legend is that hundreds of years ago, a group of Buddhist monks in the mountains of Tibet saw small red berries growing behind a well. When they gave it a try, it tasted quite well and included these berries in their daily diet. What was surprising was that they found out that they outlived other monks. They came to the conclusion that these berries made all the difference.

For centuries they went on reaping rich benefits out of including Gojies in their daily diet. It was quite later that west became aware of the benefits of Gojies and started using it and its use spread all round. And there are enough reasons for this popularity. It starts with the belief that it increases ones life span considerably. It is also believed that it has good healing powers. It works wonders for cuts, burns, abrasions and also rashes.

You can easily get extracts of Goji berries from most health stores. These extracts are turned into creams and remedies. As of now these products are very expensive but if you decide to buy online, you can save a lot of money. And if you are thinking of buying in bulk the cost would get a lot cheaper. It goes without saying that Goji extracts are amongst the best health product that is natural. And more and more people are going for it.

If you look at health food stores, you would find that entire shelves have been filled with products containing Goji berries including drinks, skin care lotions, cosmetics and remedies. They benefit those who are looking for natural skin product that are non-toxic.

Goji berries have been grown in China, Tibet and Mongolia for ages. Chinese medicine has always used them for centuries. It is used with lycium bark and is believed to boost your immune system, circulatory system, proves great for liver and kidney protection, improves your vision, and works wonder for your skin. Gojies are surely very rich in vitamins and minerals but what is more it is also the best in Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale. It is used to measure the antioxidant levels in any food. And studies have revealed that they contain 25000 units per 100 milligrams which is about five times more than the fruit (prunes) that comes second on the scale and about 15 times more than the vegetable that comes second on the list.

And what is the importance of antioxidant? Well it is the primary ingredient that fights the aging process. It is quite natural that many believe that those berries are the best and the most powerful anti-ageing food that is around. And that is why it has also found topical applications and is one of the key ingredients in skin care products.

It is true that Goji berries have just found application in topical uses, yet you can find it being used in a wide range of skin care products right form creams and lotions to every other product. And that is why most of the new natural skin care product has Gojies as its ingredient.

If you want to have those berries and want to assure that they are perfect, go for Goji berries that claim to be cold-pressed, have no solvents and have been air-dried. Also, preservatives must not be used. Heat processing and other chemicals, if added, reduces its benefits greatly.

The Advantages of Payday Advance Loans

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Payday advance loans are becoming increasingly
popular for a number of reasons. One of these reasons is that the internet has
helped to reduce the costs of borrowing money quite considerably. Where before
finance companies would have to incur significantly more overheads from their
brick and mortar operations, now these have been slashed with the introduction
of their web-based businesses.

Despite this, payday loans and cash advances are not
suitable for everyone. An example would be if you were looking to buy a car for
example. In that instance financing the purchase through a bank loan would be a
far more suitable arrangement. Payday cash advances are also not suitable for
those that do not expect to have the money in place to finance a purchase within
a short period of time. An example would be if a person was not expecting to
have the liquidity to finance a purchase within the next few months: in that
instance a bank loan would be a more advisable financing option.

Payday cash advances are becoming increasingly
popular for a number of reasons, not just the relatively low cost of borrowing
that is now in place. One of these reasons is the speed at which money can get
in the hands of the borrower. Should a person have the essential paper work and
information to prove their validity for a loan; then a person can expect to have
the money in place within a time frame of significantly less than a week. This
is much faster than other financing options and can help the borrower to get
ready cash at the time that they need it the most. In most cases all a person
will need is evidence of employment in the form of a wage slip, and then they
will be in a position to get their money straight away.

The friendly approach adopted by employees of cash advance companies is also an
important reason why people are opting to approach payday loan services when
they are in need of money. From a survey conducted in early 2005, people felt
that they were being unfairly judged when they approached their bank for money;
however felt that employees of cash advance companies were less judgmental and
far more appreciative of their situation. This, along with other reasons can be
a real advantage of choosing a payday loan provider.

Payday cash advances are also becoming increasingly
popular as a result of credit card companies charging very unreasonable fees for
cash advances, feeling that they had the opportunity to do so being the only
major resource in the marketplace. Today credit card companies charge around 3%
with a minimum fee of $15. Many borrowers feel that this rate is unfair and is
merely a means of taking advantage of people who are in a desperate situation.
For this reason many are now finding that they are able to get a far more
competitive rate from a cash advance provider.

Writing Help And Morning Pages

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Reading Julia Cameron’s “The Sound of Paper” is like revisiting an old friend. For more than fifteen years, her morning pages have been my daily writing help, the friend that coaxed me out of fear and inertia about putting words on paper and like the Nike slogan, urged me to “Just Do It!”

Why is it so difficult to write? Writing is an activity removed from direct experience. Writers have often mourned the loss of words to describe an event and this is probably because rendering what happened in words involves a completely different set of neural motor skills. Freud in “Civilization and Its Discontent” sees writing as technology; both he claims act as “prosthetics” to the body, functioning as an appendage or addition. Even the word “prosthetics” is ambivalent, carrying both the negative connotation of loss or compensation and the positive sense of extension. After all, writing is a later development of the human brain and signals not only the beginning of recorded history but also the evolution of the highly specialized and compartmentalized intelligence in the prefrontal cortex.

In “The Sound of Paper”, Julia Cameron reiterates what she has so poignantly elaborated in her previous books–the creative self is buried so deep in our psyche, we have to develop ways to let it out. And morning pages, like solitary walks or runs, done consistently on a daily basis, form the “pivotal tool of a successful creative life (2).” The difficulty we experience in writing comes from the specialized voice in our head: “We write grudgingly and under half steam, resentfully and uphill. ‘Who cares ‘and ‘This is stupid’ are our companion thoughts (25).” It is usual, when the inner voice is struggling to find a place in the outer world, that the censor places it under a scalpel. Without the writing help of morning pages, most voices remain unheard.

The easiest form of writing is the trade school type that disseminates information. The writing that engages our authentic being, our fears and passions is the most difficult to execute. It demands a different kind of writing help– rigorous and open self-acceptance, a visceral catharsis of our “self” on paper and unless we have built a conduit of safe passage for this inner voice, the water can be treacherous indeed. Many writers have been drowned by voiceless inundation.

The morning pages, like the daily walk or run, is a means to engage this voice. Writing first thing in the morning allows you to evade the censor. “Spilling out of bed onto the page” (as Julia Cameron puts it) helps the writing self side-track the critic. The repetitive nature of the morning pages assures your psyche safe passage on your journey. Securely ensconced in a routine, it will spill its guts out–and that’s what you want.

Without this spillage, the daytime writing that you do will never quite have that ring of authenticity that is the mark of a writer who has made the plunge into her instinctual being. Because these morning pages are not meant for public scrutiny, they are your means of internal housekeeping, letting the little woman (or man) have her say about things in the house. And the more she is allowed her say, the stronger your trust in your gut instinct and the more resilient you are to the opinion of others.

It’s like building a set of muscles with running. On most days, I do not feel like running. But what I have found is that the simple act of lacing my running shoes, getting out into the pavement or treadmill, beginning the motion of running will trigger a visceral engagement that changes the entire experience. More often than not, my best runs have been on days when I least wanted to run. Had I listened to my head, I would have missed a fabulous engagement with my legs. The head seems always at odds with the body and writing help that works with the body somehow straightens out the head.

Both morning pages and running take time, but as with everything else, an investment of time and effort is in order for the miraculous to take place. We expect miracles to fall from the skies, part of our belief that we should be getting something for nothing. This sense of entitlement is the one of the most debilitating myths of the self help industry. Ask and it will be given–yes–ut we must also do our share of moving in the right direction.

Writing help like morning pages takes no more than twenty minutes; you are spilling your guts onto the page, not deliberately crafting words. Running or walking can take up forty minutes or more. Is it too much to ask for an hour a day to invest in physical and psychical musculature?

4 Ways To Remove/Avoid Adware & Spyware Without Spending A Dime

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Adware and spyware have reach epidemic proportions. They have turned into malware due to their viral and very aggressive behavior. With the threat of identity theft and financial fraud looming on the Internet, adware and spyware can be more than just annoying. Here are four methods to remove or simply avoid adware and spyware without spending a dime on the latest “anti-virus” software.

1. USE Firefox. If you don’t use the Internet much, than perhaps you don’t know much about Firefox. All you need to know is that it is a browser that works REALLY well and has great security features.

2. Do NOT USE Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is like Swiss cheese. It is open to the world by default. Microsoft is continually releasing patches to fix all the flaws in the Internet Explorer 6.X and lower versions of the browser. Although it can be “secured” by increasing the security it may loose much of its functionality once set to maximum security with certain exploitable features off.

3. Use a software or hardware firewall (not just Window XP Service Pack 2′s firewall). This may sound expensive and hard to do but it is not. If you have a DSL or broadband cable connection your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may have given you a DSL/Cable router with a firewall built in. All you have to do is turn it on. This may require you to take a few minutes to read the manual.

If your ISP did not give you a DSL or Cable broadband router with a built in firewall you can spend anywhere from $20 – $60 (or sometimes even cheaper with a mail-in rebate) to get a router. If you have DSL you will need a DSL router. If you have Cable broadband ISP you will need a Cable Router. Brands such as Linksys have built in firewalls and a feature called NAT, Network Address Translation, which is very effective since it hides your real IP address from the Internet. All routers come with instruction on how to hook them up. If you want to keep you computer security free, just use a free software firewall.

4. Remove Spyware/Adware with free Anti-spyware, anti-adware software. Lavasoft’s Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy are two excellent methods of cleaning your system for free. Majorgeeks.com is a popular and trusted freeware site that has these and many other excellent spyware/adware cleaning and malware prevention tools (including free downloadable firewalls).

The best method is to use ALL of the above. Being proactive by surfing with a decent browser and getting a firewall is important, but it also helps to know about a couple of good anti-adware/spyware applications. If you get hit with a really nasty bit of malware that can not be cleaned with Adaware or Spybot, find yourself a geek. There are many great forums on the Internet dedicated to doing nothing but finding and cleaning such malware. Chances are if your system is infected with it, hundreds of others before you have been infected and have already figured out how to get rid of the malware.

How to Avoid Mindless Unit Studies in Homeschooling

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

If you feel that educational organizations do not fulfill the purpose of imparting education and knowledge satisfactorily and that you are capable of doing a better job, then homeschool is the perfect solution for you. Homeschools not only instill personal values but also protect your children from the negative influence of peers.

There are various educational theories and tools that can be used to implement homeschooling successfully. Some very popular methods adopted by parents of homeschoolers are: Classical education, Charlotte Mason education, Waldorf education and Maria Montessori. They may be used singularly or in combination, depending on a parents needs and preferences. The materials and tools specifically designed to serve the purpose of education are readily and easily available. Public libraries, books of religious institutions, distance-learning programs are a few popular educational resources utilized by parents while homeschooling their kids. Workbooks and guides are commonly used to complement the teaching. However, parents need to take care that they do not end up wracking their brains on units, which have no direct connection with the main subject.

While homeschooling children, many parents must certainly have encountered units with absurd topics that have no relevance or bearing with the main subject being taught. Instead of flowing naturally, they appear to be contrived.

If a unit contains a particular subject, then the topics included in it should complement the theme. Otherwise, including unrelated reading material makes it too nebulous. If a unit is based on the history of the world, then books like the Mein Kampf makes meaningful reading. Instead of concentrating on the topic at hand, if the unit tries to incorporate information on other subjects like science or math, along with history, it will not only become pointless but also confusing as well.

A well-constructed unit should contain topics that are interconnected and incorporate activities that complement the subject. The entire unit should be structured in such way that it helps the pupil to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the chosen topic. The activities should revolve around the central theme of the unit and should be carefully merged into it to facilitate better and easier understanding of the subject. Just like a fabric, activities also need to be woven diligently and patiently into a unit so that students can obtain maximum benefit from learning from them.

Sometimes, attempts are made to integrate a wide variety of diverse subjects into one unit. This usually proves very frustrating for parents as well as perplexing for the student. A unit on a scientific topic should not try to fit in unrelated topics on arts just for the sake of trying to cover two subjects at one time. Rather than wasting time on unrelated activities, units should be constructed in such a way that they advocate and reinforce the theme covered in the unit. While some units are based on scientific topics, others cover topics related to literature or music. Hence, while tutoring, you can maintain the natural flow of teaching.

Units should be fabricated in such a way as to improve understanding and enhance your childs thirst for knowledge. They should help the child to gain an insight into the subject and develop skills that will help him or her in the future.

Data Loss Is Not Forever Find Out Why?

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Imagine for a second, your computer system just crashed and you may have just lost all of your precious data. Do you feel the emptiness in your stomach or the lump in your throat? Have you put off doing a backup of your PC for the last time or will you procrastinate again? You never know when disaster might strike and you will need to perform a system restore.

While you sit their reading this you should become aware of where you are backing up your data now and are you. Once you realize that your data is precious you should decide to protect it. Next, you might ask, “How?” and “Where do I backup my files?”.

Knowing where to backup your data is an important factor in this process. You will have so many choices but we will whittle them down. You have USB connections, Firewire connections, and even network connected storage to choose. You will come across storage sizes ranging from 20 GB to 750 GB. The point is you need to identify what YOU need. Don’t let anyone sell you anything you don’t need. Plan this out before you begin, it will save you some time and money in the long run.

You will want to figure out how much data requires backup. Will you be backing up your mp3′s, pictures, videos, or just work data? Which ever data is most important and that you have decided to backup you will need to look at how big it is. How many MB (mega bytes) does it take up on your hard drive?

You may be wondering how you can find out how much space all of your data is taking up. Well, for one, most people keep some type of folder structure. All you have to do is right click the folder of choice and click on properties. That gives you an idea of how much space the entire folder is taking up. You can keep a tally of all of your folders and it will give you an approximate amount of drive space you will need to backup your data.

Ok, this is pretty simple but you don’t want to go out and purchase a drive that is at the same size as your data you have just calculated. The reason for this is because more than likely your data is going to grow over time. The amount of growth is going to be determined by how often and how much you add to your collection of data. This growth will be different for every person depending on how they use their computer. The industry standard is about thirty percent growth per year for data in many businesses. That figure is just to give you an approximation to start looking at how much data storage you will need.

Getting a plan to start is one of the first things you need to do before you start backing up your data. You have to know what you want to back up and the location you will back it up to before you start. You never know when you will need to perform a system restore or a desktop restore so your storage will need to be reliable. You can go to any electronics store and find a large variety of Hard Drive storage. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is your data we are talking about.

Now that you have begun to get a foundation on backing up your data you will eventually need to learn how to perform backups and system restores. You will feel better now knowing that you have learned some of the steps necessary to protect yourself and your data from catastrophe. Take some action and start backing up your PC today.

Audio Books For Reading On The Go

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

People love to listen to audio books on tape or CD, but for quite some time they have been provided with alternative methods of enjoying various literary works.

Technological advancements have served to accommodate many different types of media output and more recently, downloadable audio books are becoming very popular. Complete volumes are available in downloadable format and have become a great alternative to printed books.

Audio books have been developed not only as a mainstream method of entertainment but also for providing educators with cutting edge teaching aids for both children and adults who have special needs. Recently, audio books have gained widespread popularity among multi-taskers who want to acquire particular information on a wide range of subjects while involved in other activities like commuting and exercising.

Audio books are available in various formats including unabridged (word for word), abridged (text edited out), and dramatized volumes, which include actors, musical scores and sound effects.

What Type of Audio Book is Right for Me?

As digital devices like iPods and MP3 players become more miniaturized and technologically advanced, they are readily accepted by everyone. Creators of audio books have been quick to take advantage of this trend and thousands of audio books have been developed with various techniques for downloading and retrieval of files.

There are many options available for anyone interested in listening to audio books. If you are a sedentary person and would like to enjoy your audio book from the comfort of your couch or favorite chair, cassette tapes may be the option for you.

Perhaps you spend a lot of time on your computer. As most PCs come already loaded with digital audio players, listening to audio books on your computer is simply a click away. Programs like RealOne Player are perfect for this. If, for some reason your computer does not have the program, you can download it from the RealOnePlayer website.

For those on the go, the new iPods and MP3 players allow users to listen to their favorite audio book while they walk, exercise or commute.

Just Exactly How Do I Download An Audio Book to My Computer?

Most of us have downloaded software files from the internet to our computers at one time or another. Downloading audio books is just as simple. Because audio books are digitally produced with software consisting of sound files, it is quite simple to transfer the files from an internet site that specializes in audio books right onto your home computer. For a nominal fee, your chosen audio-book site will provide you with easy to use instructions for downloading your selection. It only takes a few minutes and then you will be ready to enjoy your audio book.

From there you can either enjoy them via the speakers in your computer, burn them to a CD, which can then be played in any audio CD player or transfer directly to your PDA. The selection is vast and the choice is yours.

Computer Security Ethics and Privacy

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Today, many people rely on computers to do homework, work, and create or store useful information. Therefore, it is important for the information on the computer to be stored and kept properly. It is also extremely important for people on computers to protect their computer from data loss, misuse, and abuse. For example, it is crucial for businesses to keep information they have secure so that hackers can’t access the information. Home users also need to take means to make sure that their credit card numbers are secure when they are participating in online transactions.

A computer security risk is any action that could cause lost of information, software, data, processing incompatibilities, or cause damage to computer hardware, a lot of these are planned to do damage. An intentional breach in computer security is known as a computer crime which is slightly different from a cypercrime. A cybercrime is known as illegal acts based on the internet and is one of the FBI’s top priorities. There are several distinct categories for people that cause cybercrimes, and they are refereed as hacker, cracker, cyberterrorist, cyberextortionist, unethical employee, script kiddie and corporate spy.

The term hacker was actually known as a good word but now it has a very negative view. A hacker is defined as someone who accesses a computer or computer network unlawfully. They often claim that they do this to find leaks in the security of a network. The term cracker has never been associated with something positive this refers to someone how intentionally access a computer or computer network for evil reasons. It’s basically an evil hacker. They access it with the intent of destroying, or stealing information. Both crackers and hackers are very advanced with network skills.

A cyberterrorist is someone who uses a computer network or the internet to destroy computers for political reasons. It’s just like a regular terrorist attack because it requires highly skilled individuals, millions of dollars to implement, and years of planning. The term cyperextortionist is someone who uses emails as an offensive force. They would usually send a company a very threatening email stating that they will release some confidential information, exploit a security leak, or launch an attack that will harm a company’s network. They will request a paid amount to not proceed sort of like black mailing in a since.

An unethical employee is an employee that illegally accesses their company’s network for numerous reasons. One could be the money they can get from selling top secret information, or some may be bitter and want revenge. A script kiddie is someone who is like a cracker because they may have the intentions of doing harm, but they usually lack the technical skills. They are usually silly teenagers that use prewritten hacking and cracking programs. A corporate spy has extremely high computer and network skills and is hired to break into a specific computer or computer network to steal or delete data and information. Shady companies hire these type people in a practice known as corporate espionage. They do this to gain an advantage over their competition an illegal practice. Business and home users must do their best to protect or safeguard their computers from security risks.

The next part of this article will give some pointers to help protect your computer. However, one must remember that there is no one hundred percent guarantee way to protect your computer so becoming more knowledgeable about them is a must during these days. When you transfer information over a network it has a high security risk compared to information transmitted in a business network because the administrators usually take some extreme measures to help protect against security risks. Over the internet there is no powerful administrator which makes the risk a lot higher. If your not sure if your computer is vulnerable to a computer risk than you can always use some-type of online security service which is a website that checks your computer for email and Internet vulnerabilities. The company will then give some pointers on how to correct these vulnerabilities. The Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center is a place that can do this.

The typical network attacks that puts computers at risk includes viruses, worms, spoofing, Trojan horses, and denial of service attacks. Every unprotected computer is vulnerable to a computer virus which is a potentially harming computer program that infects a computer negatively and altering the way the computer operates without the user’s consent. Once the virus is in the computer it can spread throughout infecting other files and potentially damaging the operating system itself. It’s similar to a bacteria virus that infects humans because it gets into the body through small openings and can spread to other parts of the body and can cause some damage. The similarity is, the best way to avoid is preparation.

A computer worm is a program that repeatedly copies itself and is very similar to a computer virus. However the difference is that a virus needs to attach itself to an executable file and become a part of it. A computer worm doesn’t need to do that. It sends copies to itself and to other networks and eats up a lot of bandwidth. A Trojan Horse named after the famous Greek myth and is used to describe a program that secretly hides and actually looks like a legitimate program but is a fake. A certain action usually triggers the Trojan horse, and unlike viruses and worms they don’t replicate itself. Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are all classifies as malicious-logic programs which are just programs that deliberately harms a computer. Although these are the common three there are many more variations and it would be almost impossible to list them. You know when a computer is infected by a virus, worm, or Trojan horse if one or more of these acts happen:

ü Screen shots of weird messages or pictures appear.

ü You have less available memory then you expected

ü Music or sounds plays randomly.

ü Files get corrupted

ü Programs are files don’t work properly

ü Unknown files or programs randomly appear

ü System properties fluctuate

Computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses deliver their payload or instructions through four common ways.

One, when an individual runs an infected program so if you download a lot of things you should always scan the files before executing, especially executable files. Second, is when an individual runs an infected program. Third, is when an individual bots a computer with an infected drive, so that’s why it’s important to not leave media files in your computer when you shut it down. Fourth is when it connects an unprotected computer to a network.

Today, a very common way that people get a computer virus, worm, or Trojan horse is when they open up an infected file through an email attachment. There are literally thousands of computer malicious logic programs and new one comes out by the numbers so that’s why it’s important to keep up to date with new ones that come out each day. Many websites keep track of this. There is no known method for completely protecting a computer or computer network from computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses, but people can take several precautions to significantly reduce their chances of being infected by one of those malicious programs.

Whenever you start a computer you should have no removable media in he drives. This goes for CD, DVD, and floppy disks. When the computer starts up it tries to execute a bot sector on the drives and even if it’s unsuccessful any given various on the bot sector can infect the computer’s hard disk. If you must start the computer for a particular reason, such as the hard disk fails and you are trying to reformat the drive make sure that the disk is not infected.

The Ease of Installing A Pre-Fab Sauna

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

There are many benefits of owning your own sauna. Besides the various health advantages, they can also provide hours of relaxation and enjoyment. These days they are even easier to acquire, as you can build them yourself.

Because saunas now come in pre-fabricated kits, doing it yourself is now easier than ever. There are many options available for both in-door and out-door saunas, and benefits to building both. The steps are simple.

First, you will need to decide what type of sauna you wish to build. If you are purchasing it for health benefits, especially if it has been recommended by a physician, you will want to be sure you buy the kind that will best suit your needs. When purchasing your sauna kit, you should take into consideration where it will be installed. Location is crucial, since it can also help you determine the size of the sauna you will buy as well.

After you have chosen a location and purchased your pre-fab sauna kit, you will begin the building process. Start by installing the floor and walls. You will have to make sure the sauna is properly wired and insolated. Once you have constructed the sauna, you will need to add the doors. You will then be able to add the benches, heaters, lighting, and vents.

The kit will come complete with all the instructions you will need to construct your sauna. Since it is already pre-fabricated, you will not have to worry about cutting building materials to fit your needs, or whether or not it is too big or too small. This has already been accomplished for you. If you do have difficulty constructing your sauna, you might consider contacting the place of purchase. Someone there may be able to answer any technical questions you have, as well as provide you with additional sauna building tips.

While it is certainly possible to build your own sauna from scratch, a pre-fab kit can make the process much faster. It will eliminate having to measure building materials and figure schematics, and will still provide you with the advantages and enjoyment of having your very own sauna. You will also be given step-by-step instructions on caring for your sauna, which will help keep it working for a very long time. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing you built it yourself

How To Avoid Spam Robots

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Despite the fact that Federal legislation (the CANSPAM act) made it illegal, harvesting email addresses from the web using automated robots remains alive and well.

Spammers who need fresh email addresses release software spider programs that comb the Internet and suck email addresses off Web pages, guest books, and anywhere else you might post your email address.

Once they get your email address, spammers will trade it around like 5th graders with a new pack of Pokemon cards at recess and you can expect the avalanche of email to begin flooding your inbox.

In order to combat this still rampant practice of stealing email addresses from websites and sending people email they don’t want, the following tips should help protect you.

** Break It Up **

Obviously the best way to avoid getting picked up by an email harvester is not to post your email anywhere on anyone’s website (including your own).

If the only way someone can get your email is if you give it to them, that creates a similar situation to operating with an unlisted phone number.

If telemarketers can’t get your phone number, they can’t call.

If you must post your email address, post it in a way that a robot won’t recognize it as an email address. Instead of posting YOURNAME@YOURDOMAIN.COM, you can put YOURNAME (AT) YOURDOMAIN.COM and then, in parenthesis, put (replace AT with @ to email me).

Though it seems like an extra step for legitimate email, you’ll find it a very effective technique.

** Use An Image **

Currently, online spiders (ANY spider, including search engines) cannot read text that appears in a graphic or picture. If you must display an email address on a page, then do it by typing your email address into your favorite graphics program and saving the image as a .gif or .jpg. Then post the image onto your web page so people can see the email, but spiders cannot. This too creates an extra step for people because they must type in your email address, but it’s an effective solution if you must display an email address on your own website.

** Use An Email Form **

Another way to cut down on spam originating from your own website is simply not to display an email at all.

Instead, allow customers and prospects to contact you through a form where they fill in fields, click a button, and your website emails you their message.

A note of caution: make sure the form script you use does not keep your email address visible in the form code.

If the form code contains the email address, spam robots can find it even though you don’t see it on the page.

** Make It Hard To Guess **

Sometimes you’ll get unsolicited email because a spammer guessed your email address.

It’s not a far stretch to imagine that someone probably has the email Jim@yourdomain.com, so spammers will do a “dictionary” attack on common usernames.

One way to defeat this is to place a “dot” (.) in your email address, such as Jim.Edwards@yourdomain.com. The dot makes it virtually impossible for spammers to guess your email address.

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The Last Martian Goes Home

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

The Martian stood in the open field surrounded by the best government artillery pointed at his head and chest and back.

The infantry troops formed a circle around him.

Up above, fighter jets waited for the word to launch a missile right into the corn field if necessary.

Unaware of the hostile force that had greeted him, innocent of all thoughts of death and destruction, the handsome green giant, using his intergalactic translator device, said:

“My wonderful friends:

“We have noticed your suffering on this planet and I have been sent as an emissary to bring you good tidings.

“You’re not here to suffer.

“You don’t have to be hungry.

“There is no need to cry.

“I have come to bring you hope.

“It’s possible to wish for what you want.

“It’s possible to move beyond merely trying.

“You see all being everywhere are here TO THRIVE.”

“The president wishes to speak to you,” said a brusque man in army fatigues and enough medallions to sink a ship. He threw a walkie-talkie at the alien’s feet.

“Hello, Mr. President. I have good news for you. You see, the entire Universe is on

your side.”

The President, surrounded by his entire cabinet, experts on UFOs, and the top-ranked officers of the armed forces, barked: “Why are you here?”

As the two spoke, the agitation around the president increased. This was obviously a breach of national security. And it was getting worse by the minute.

Unknown to them all, the green giant had a special vibration-meter on his wrist and within a few minutes the increasingly hostile emotions all around him set the alarm off, creating a loud piercing shrill.

A nervous gunman, his nerves taut, accidentally pulled the trigger.

The other gunmen, confused, assuming that an order had been given, began firing as well.

The bullets passed through the green giant.

“Clear the field,” shouted the commander.

The soldiers raced to their vehicles. Within minutes the entire field was deserted. And the first missile struck. Then the second and the third. Within a few minutes, a small crater had formed.

Watching all this on a giant television screen, the pictures being taken by satellite, the president and all his men were astonished to see that the green giant and his shiny vehicle appeared to be unharmed.

“We’ll have to go nuclear,” was the last command given.

Soon a huge mushroom of smoke enveloped the crater.

When it cleared, there was no sign of the alien and his craft.

Far above the chaos, another flying saucer, monitoring the scene, the real green giant decided to turn his image projector off . The hologram image on the surface of the earth disappeared.

While the entire country was suddenly celebrating their victory over beating back the invasion, apart from a small group of malcontents that actually felt sorry for the alien, the jolly green giant said to his wife, “I don’t think they’re ready yet.”

Pushing the joystick with a sigh, she pointed the craft out of the earth’s orbit at warp speed.

Nitro RC Cars For Enthusiasts

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Nitro RC cars are added to the list of vanity and sought after toys for the big boys. If you have been driving for many years but never heard of Nitro RC cars, these are but miniature model vehicles/autos run by nitro methane via remote control device. The way it got its name.

Driving this engine, too close to be an accomplishing, life-like experience is for enthusiasts who love electronically manipulated gadgets. Gaming with nitro RC cars could get so serious that hobbyists find themselves neck-to-neck in racetrack competitions. What do you expect in racetracks? The bets and fun!

More than what Nitro RC cars can do to sensible past time, people indulged in the hobby, is more hooked by assembling and maintaining the toy. It is a state-of the art creation anyway. Models can be brought in kits and assembled at home. The make is similar to a life-size car, except they are small.

The measure and assessment of what size you will take comes in scale of say 1/10 of real car. It means if you buy the model, you get a small car in a package with an engine powered by methane by-products. Hobbyists just get crazy by the roar of the engine. You can’t expect this noise with real cars, planes, choppers and buggies.

Nitro RC cars have specific language quite different from what other men talk about with life-sized cars, although the context is just the same. Repairs will not come close to real automobiles, but they also take some time to overhaul. Running them have no specific rules other than what big men can already make up with common sense. But believe it or not, these minute power players can run a speed ranging from 20 to 90 MPH!

In other words, running it carelessly anywhere can already cause hazard in some ways. That is why there is silent gathering for serious enthusiasts who have come to terms with the expertise of operating their nitro RC cars. The price range could start as cheap as $150 for starters who would practice with low-end mechanism.

After spending the novice periods or probably after smashing the nitro RC car in careless fall, one could spend higher amounts on a new one. Collections could make enormous slash in the budget, but if the hobby goes beyond simple vanity to business, then it becomes an asset.

Most of the maintenance and repair come from electronic problems. People who are good in electronic troubleshooting have the advantage of saving the budget. Buying kits and assembling the nitro RC car can help in developing the feel of each spare parts and invoke learning. At times, this is considered to be the fun side of which.

After you have made the fruitful assembling of your sophisticated technical toy, it’s time to start asking: “where do I go from here?” Space is all it takes. Joining clubs with members indulging with the nitro RC car racing as hobby is the place to be! Such places are available online at your convenience. For starters, a large parking lot approved by the owner is a good place to start with.

You can gather friends for maneuver practice until you get the knack. If you plunge into the serious hobby, you will realize how big the opportunities would lead you to other possibilities. But at first you will start as novice and be grouped according to your skill level.

Tennis Guru Are You?

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

In Tennis, a chop stroke is a shot where the angle towards the player and behind the racquet, made by the line of flight of the ball, and the racquet travelling down across it, is greater than 45 degrees and may be 90 degrees. The racquet face passes slightly outside the ball and down the side, chopping it, as a man chops wood. The spin and curve is from right to left. It is made with a stiff wrist.

The slice shot merely reduced the angle mentioned from 45 degrees down to a very small one. The racquet face passes either inside or outside the ball, according to direction desired, while the stroke is mainly a wrist twist or slap. This slap imparts a decided skidding break to the ball, while a chop “drags” the ball off the ground without break.

The rules of footwork for both these shots should be the same as the drive, but because both are made with a short swing and more wrist play, without the need of weight, the rules of footwork may be more safely discarded and body position not so carefully considered.

Both these shots are essentially defensive, and are labour-saving devices when your opponent is on the baseline. A chop or slice is very hard to drive, and will break up any driving game.

It is not a shot to use against a volley, as it is too slow to pass and too high to cause any worry. It should be used to drop short, soft shots at the feet of the net man as he comes in. Do not strive to pass a net man with a chop or slice, except through a big opening.

The drop-shot is a very soft, sharply-angled chop stroke, played wholly with the wrist. It should drop within 3 to 5 feet of the net to be of any use. The racquet face passes around the outside of the ball and under it with a distinct “wrist turn.” Do not swing the racquet from the shoulder in making a drop shot. The drop shot has no relation to a stop-volley. The drop shot is all wrist. The stop-volley has no wrist at all.

Use all your wrist shots, chop, slice, and drop, merely as an auxilliary to your orthodox game. They are intended to upset your opponent’s game through the varied spin on the ball.

Half volley shot requires more perfect timing, eyesight, and racquet work than any other, since its margin of safety is smallest and its manifold chances of mishaps numberless.

It is a pick-up. The ball meets the ground and racquet face at nearly the same moment, the ball bouncing off the ground, on the strings. This shot is a stiff-wrist, short swing, like a volley with no follow through. The racquet face travels along the ground with a slight tilt over the ball and towards the net, thus holding the ball low; the shot, like all others in tennis, should travel across the racquet face, along the short strings. The racquet face should always be slightly outside the ball.

The half volley is essentially a defensive stroke, since it should only be made as a last resort, when caught out of position by your opponent’s shot. It is a desperate attempt to extricate yourself from a dangerous position without retreating. never deliberately half volley.

A tennis court is 39 feet long from baseline to net. There are only two places in a tennis court that a tennis player should be to await the ball.

1. About 3 feet behind the baseline near the middle of the court, or

2. About 6 to 8 feet back from the net and almost opposite the ball.

The first is the place for all baseline players. The second is the net position.

If you are drawn out of these positions by a shot which you must return, do not remain at the point where you struck the ball, but attain one of the two positions mentioned as rapidly as possible.

The distance from the baseline to about 10, feet from the net may be considered as “no-man’s-land” or “the blank.” Never linger there, since a deep shot will catch you at your feet. After making your shot from the blank, as you must often do, retreat behind the baseline to await the return, so you may again come forward to meet the ball. If you are drawn in short and cannot retreat safely, continue all the way to the net position.

Never stand and watch your shot, for to do so simply means you are out of position for your next stroke. Strive to attain a position so that you always arrive at the spot the ball is going to before it actually arrives. Do your hard running while the ball is in the air, so you will not be hurried in your stroke after it bounces.

It is in learning to do this that natural anticipation plays a big role. Some players instinctively know where the next return is going and take position accordingly, while others will never sense it. It is to the latter class that I urge court position, and recommend always coming in from behind the baseline to meet the ball, since it is much easier to run forward than back.

Should you be caught at the net, with a short shot to your opponent, do not stand still and let him pass you at will, as he can easily do. Pick out the side where you think he will hit, and jump to, it suddenly as he swings. If you guess right, you win the point. If you are wrong, you are no worse off, since he would have beaten you anyway with his shot.

Your position should always strive to be such that you can cover the greatest possible area of court without sacrificing safety, since the straight shot is the surest, most dangerous, and must be covered. It is merely a question of how much more court than that immediately in front of the ball may be guarded.

A well-grounded knowledge of court position saves many points, to say nothing of much breath expended in long runs after hopeless shots.

Can You Decide To Be Happy?

Last Updated: 2011/10/07

Many people are living a life of sadness, despair, fear and anger, as if they were living in a basement with a very low ceiling. A cold, damp ceiling of dense concrete, keeping them down. There are no windows in this place, no sunshine coming in, no birds singing, no nightingales, no voices of children playing, no affection, no tenderness. Instead there are tons of misery, illness, sadness, anger, depression, fatigue, anxiety, doubt and low self-esteem.

How can you leave these gloomy quarters? How do you go back to the gentle sunlight? All you need to do is take a few steps up the staircase, and there you are: on the first floor, where there is lots of light, love, abundance, joy, well-being and plenty of sunshine, even if it is raining outside. All of this is just one floor away! One floor up, in fact.

Why is it so hard to leave the basement, to wake up from this nightmare, and to reach that place where you long to be, when it is just a few steps away? Because they have told you that this murky basement you are living in is all there is, and you have taken their word for it. Who are they ? They are your parents, your teachers, people around you, TV shows you watch, newspapers you read, and so on.

You think this sad life in the basement is reality, and that love and excitement is the stuff that dreams are made of. My dear, you are living an illusion! You are living a huge misunderstanding, for it is exactly the other way around. It is the darkness that is the dream (a nightmare in fact), and Love and Light that is real.

Unfortunately, they never told you that real life is happening just a few steps up. They never told you that you are living in a nightmare. Why didnt they tell you? Are they that sadistic? Didnt they want you to be happy and healthy and abundant? Oh yes, they did! So why didnt they tell you? Because they simply do not know themselves! They too believe, and have believed for their whole life, that the lies they are living are the truth, that the nightmare is real. And so they could not have told you anything else than the lies they themselves take for truth.

This handover of misunderstandings and lies has been going on for a very long time, generation after generation. Do you really want to stay under that ceiling, cramped and swamped in darkness and misery? Do you want your children to fall for these lies and living a life of discontent, heaviness and chronic disease? Or do you want to live one step beyond, a few steps up, being showered with love and feeling the sunshine on your face?

How do you get there? It is right there!

You will have to stretch yourself a little bit to get there. You will have to take a serious look at your belief system and carefully examine the core beliefs that all of your thoughts are built upon. Then you will need to decide whether you will continue believing the lies they told you, or whether you will abandon those limiting ideas, make up your own mind, and take a shot at living in joy and excitement.

Stretch yourself, step out of your comfort zone. You will have to quit some bad habits and leave behind some of the people you used to hang out with. You can no longer dwell in negative energy vibrations once you have made up your mind that you want to live on a positive vibe.

How can you go one floor up and step back into the light? There are several things you can do! Take a walk in nature, listen to some uplifting music, read an inspiring book, attend workshops to develop your talents, discover your inner truth and your true nature in moments of silence, take your dreams serious and do whatever you can to realize them. Nurture your passions: sing, dance, paint, draw, make love with your loved one, connect with your guardian angel, look into the eyes of a child, play with your pets, make friends with the Universe, have a conversation with God (and with the neighbors), follow your own path, lift your vibration with therapies like Bach Flower Therapy, and so on. In a nutshell : surround yourself with people, objects and activities that have a high energy vibration and that makes your energy flow in your body. There is so much to enjoy!

There is so much you can do to uplift your energy vibration, that there is absolutely no excuse to stay underground. Unless you consciously choose to be loyal to those who tell you there is no fun in life, that this misery is just the way life is, that you have to accept it, and that the basement is the only room in the house. You have a choice to make: or you make it your priority to uplift your energy, or you stay where you are. It is totally up to you! You have the freedom to choose. Since everybody can go upstairs, since access is denied to nobody, there really is no excuse not to go there?

You should do every day things that make you feel happy. It won’t happen by itself. Make a list of what makes you feel smiling and what uplifts your energy, and start doing at least some of these things every day! You can, nobody withholds you!

Consider this: the effort needed to go up that staircase is no bigger than the effort needed to stay under that low ceiling, carrying a heavy load on your shoulders. The effort is the same but the results are vastly different! Staying where you are is wallowing in misery and pain. Going upstairs is telling the world you really believe you and everybody else deserve a life filled with light and enthusiasm! Your life is waiting for you! Go up there and get it! Do not wait for it to happen by itself. Stand up, move your body, take action and do what makes you feel better!

Why not go up? The difference is enthusiasm!

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