Monday, August 31, 2009

Bomb Those Drives with Modern Golf Clubs

By David Samson

As the golf game evolves, so do golf club manufacturers. These days, there are so many different companies making clubs and they all make many different models. How are people supposed to find the right ones?

So many different companies with so much technology. Continue reading for more popular club manufacturers.

Cobra Golf may not be the most popular manufacturer out there but it makes a great driver called the Cobra S9-1. Having a street price of $300, it's not the most expensive driver but it delivers real results. In fact, this driver won the Hot List 2009 gold award for drivers under $300.

Adams Golf makes hybrids that many Champion's Tour players play but they also began making drivers. The Insight Tech A4 is their new high end driver and the sound and feel are fabulous. It is also one of the longest driver out there and the ball just flies off the club face.

Callaway Golf is very good at making clubs that are very forgiving. The FT-9 driver from Callaway is its latest and it's a very good looking club head. It also sports a ton of different lofts and options (9,10,11 degrees neutral, 9,10,11,13 in draw, 8.5,9.5,10.5 in tou and 8.5,9.5,10.5 in tour draw).

Nike Golf catapulted into the golf scene with the endorsement of Tiger Woods. I'm sure they are hard at work and Tiger must love being able to test all the different options and help them in designing the golf clubs to golf balls.

Lynx mainly sells through Golfsmith and it's not a bad brand. I'm not too familiar with them though so your mileage may vary. However, it will probably be pretty consistent if you couple it with a good shaft.

Adams may be the pioneer in hybrids but their marketing is totally taken over by the other major brands. I have no idea what fairway woods they make so I naturally think they aren't that great.

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Wall Mounts For Your LCD TV

By Sandy Major

Your Flat Panel TV is wonderful investment for your home entertainment, but by adding a wall mount will not only improve the view quality of your Flat Panel TV, it will provide more room in your view area and increase the overall value of your initial investment.

Many larger sized Flat Panel TV's often give the place they are in a cluttered or uncomfortable feeling due to their wide viewing dimension, and even when placed on a higher table they still limit that full theater like feel.

The addition of a wall mount system will give your High Definition TV a natural theater look that balances well with surround sound systems. Depending on the model of your Flat Panel TV there are also many wall mount systems that will allow the integration of speakers to further enhance your home theater experience.

Because so many wall mount TV owners start off buying either an entry level Plasma or a lower quality TV, they often find that that they simply do not enjoy watching their TV as much because it is either on a table or stand that keeps the viewing angle of the Plasma TV at a lower uncomfortable level.

If you are a serious audiophile or just love watching movies on your High Definition TV, mounting your LCD TV with a on the wall mounting system will provide you and your family and friends with a true theater style viewing experience that will complement your audio system and give a more natural viewing position that makes watching movies, sports, or just about anything more fun and exciting.

Choosing the right wall mount for your High Definition TV depends on the make and model of the Plasma TV you own, and there are many different types of wall mounts available; from corner type mounts, swivel or movable type to standard mounts.

There are also many wireless and hidden wire connection systems that will remove those dangling wires that power your Plasma TV, connect to your DVD and sound amplification systems making the wall your High Definition TV is mounted on look natural and uncluttered.

Adding a wall mounting system to your home theater system is wise investment that will add value, better viewing and sound quality to your Plasma TV. They are inexpensive, easy to install and very affordable.

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Do You Want To Know How To Play Copied Wii Games?

By Rob Cole

Should you be a member of any forums that discuss the gaming world as whole, you will be unsurprised by details of how people play copied Wii games. The threads with these discussions can originally seem complex and full of problems, but this instructional report could help simplify things for you.

As you will most definitely know, it is very hard to play copied games without having the copies to use. You may have thought the process would have been done on the computer, and you have half right, but since Wii games are not recognised by computers, the process has to start on the console.

Before you can even consider making duplications of your games, you need to add a backdoor modification to your Wii that adds a channel to your system that could enable you to follow the upcoming steps. Called the Homebrew Installer, it is found in a Windows application that you need to transfer to your Wii via SD card. This is the vital instrument in this tutorial which allows you to rip game contents and read copied discs, resulting in the ability to play copied Wii games.

It's all very simple. Once you have downloaded the Homebrew Installer, the processes of installing the Homebrew Channel are very quick. On the channel you have installed, you need to get a further piece of software that allows you to rip official Wii game contents to the SD card you have in the scheme for storage (if you do not have one, you need to get one).

The ripping process, where the game's contents are placed onto the SD card could take the greatest part of ten hours in a worst case scenario, so getting the information of the Wii's IP address in advance of this lengthy process could help. Once all of the chosen game's contents are in an ISO file on your SD card, you will require to access the Wii's IP on your computer before being able to play copied Wii games.

Typing in the IP address of the console will bring up the option to transfer the ISO image from the console to your computer.

You can play copied Wii games once you have placed the ISO image which holds essential data about your game onto a blank DVD-R by burning the contents from your computer using your DVD drive. Bear in mind that you will require a software program which recognises ISOs to make sure the transfer was successful.

If the ISO images are small enough, a good tip for saving the cost of purchasing plentiful amounts of DVD-Rs is this: to try and fit as a lot of copied games onto one disc as possible. As the typical DVD disc is nearly 5GB, you should be able to fit several games onto one DVD, saving you the time of switching between discs continually.

The ability to play copied Wii games means the opportunity to protect your original game from the risk of loss and the ability to be as reckless with the copied disc as you like without fear of consequence. After you have completed the process once or twice, you can find things become a lot less complicated as you have a better idea of what you need to do.

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Sunday, August 30, 2009

At Home Pole Dancing: The Fun and Sexy Way to Get Fit Right in Your Own Home

By DeAnn Norton

If you have heard about at home pole dancing, you might be wondering how in the world you can install a pole in your home without your family and friends knowing about it.

Let's face it, you do not want your formal dining room to have a stripper pole in it while you are eating your dinner with the kids and grand parents, right?

Thankfully, there are some great, sturdy portable pole dancing poles on the market now. Some of these poles will hold up to 220 pounds easily, and do not cause any cosmetic damage to your ceiling or floors.

There are also some cheaper, imitation poles that are available online. These poles may not hold your weight very well and could cause you to fall. You will be able to only dance around those poles, but not do all of the moves. As you advance, you are going to want a sturdier pole.

If you spent that much money for a pole that you can only dance around, you might as well just dance around a tree in your yard! The purpose of buying a pole is to get sexier and fitter, so you want one that will hold you up when you need it.

As you progress and get more in shape, you are going to need to lift your body weight onto the pole. Some of those inverted poses will help you greatly tone your abdominal muscles.

Having a stripper pole in your home will add feelings of being sexy and feminine. It is so important for women to keep that connection to the sexy part of themselves.

At home pole dancing is beneficial to a woman on so many levels. It can help her feel sexier, give her more strength and of course get in great shape. The key to enjoying pole dancing is first to find the best, safest pole available.

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Take a Caribbean Cruise Vacation in November and Revisit the Summer

By Ric Henderson

As August starts to roll through, the reality that the summer is almost over begins to kick in. In about 3 weeks, the pools will be closing and the weekend trips to the shore will cease to happen. It starts to get darker earlier and the joy of summer is gone. Hold on! It doesnt have to end if you book a Caribbean Cruise Vacation and steal one more week of summer away right in the middle of the winter.

There is no arguing the fact that most people are much happier in the summertime. Everyone is more pleasant, we get to go the beach or head out at the pool. When wintertime rolls around, things just seem to change. Instead of getting depressed as the summer drifts away, plan a Caribbean Cruise Vacation and give yourself something to get excited about this winter.

If you have never been to Jamaica, you have no idea what you are missing. It has some of the best Caribbean food around and plenty of rum. A Western Caribbean Cruise Vacation will take you there and also to the ports of Mexico, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. If you like diving, the Grand Caymans have areas that are known around the world to be breathtaking.

The Eastern Caribbean also has plenty of excellent ports. Some of the destinations here are worthy of longer stays so you may want to look into a destination cruise instead of a multi-port cruise. Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Marteen have some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Other activities to enjoy are rock climbing, exploring the rainforest and lots of great shopping.

An area that you may not find people flocking to, but is just as beautiful is the South Caribbean. It is not as popular as some of the other spots, but it is not because it lacks in things to do or beauty. This is the ideal Caribbean Cruise Vacation spot for someone that wants to stay away from the hustle and bustle and really sit back and enjoy what this part of the word has to offer.

As soon as you have your destination picked out, it is really now only a matter of what cruise line and how many days you are going to go for. You can always break up your vacation and take a couple of 4 day cruises instead of one long 8 day cruise. This would really allow you to carry the summer sun into the winter months.

Even if you do decide to break up your days, make sure at some point that you do take one of the longer Caribbean Cruise Vacations. For most people, 4 days is just not enough time to enjoy everything that his part of the world has to offer. Beautiful islands, incredible food and some of the best scenery in the world is something that you can never get tired of.

The summer ends when you say it does. Just because you see football on television and the weatherman starts calling for snow does not meant that you have to give into the season. Go on a Caribbean Cruise Vacation and steal back a few more of those summer days.

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Methods Towards Having A Successful Personal Training

By Gregory Moore

The job of personal trainers is to provide the help for attaining fitness goals. When you first meet with a personal trainer, you probably undergo an evaluation of your current fitness level as well as complete a written questionnaire. This questionnaire is a good screening tool to assess your current level of activity, past experience with exercise, and your current measures of success. If a client does not pass the preliminary assessment, they must be evaluated by a physician prior to starting a fitness program.

Next you will need to complete a fitness assessment requiring you to do a series of exercises that will assist you in the establishment of your present weaknesses and strengths. An exercise plan will be developed by your trainer utilizing your goals, time frame, and identified strengths and weaknesses. This is accomplished by taking measurements of the body including the folds of the skin, your weight, and how tall you are, and taking your age, flexibility, and posture into account so your progress can be tracked to determine if your exercise program is working.

Your diet will be carefully examined, as you will be requested to keep a food diary in detail by the trainer for the length of the training program. Since fitness professionals are very knowledgeable about dietary requirements, yours will let you know whether you are eating properly and will tell you what you should be eating if you are not.

Prior to hiring a trainer, make certain that he is qualified. The ideal way to accomplish this is by having him tell you their fitness association fitness number, and if it is active; most likely they have insurance also and have the required First Aid Level 2 certificate. In order to be certain, place a telephone call to the fitness association they have registered with for verification of their credentials.

Good luck in locating a great personal trainer; I hope you've found this text helpful along the way.

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Saturday, August 29, 2009

Brinkman Grills - Best Rated Grills

By Jay Williams

If you're out there searching for the perfect grill, you're not alone. There are so many barbecue grills on the market and lots of information to take in. When you're in the middle of a search for one, it can be confusing. It's nice to be able to read reviews on the different barbecue grills out there.

When you're looking for a good grill it's great to be able to read some opinions on the grills you're contemplating purchasing. Brinkman grills are some of the most popular barbecue grills on the market and they've been around for a long time. What are some of the best reviewed Brinkman grills out there? Let's look at a few of the more popular models.

The Brinkman Pro Series 2210 is the entry level model for the Brinkman brand. There are not a lot of bells and whistles, but it can still cook meat, which is the main purpose of the grill. If you just want something to grill your steaks on, this is a quality model to use. If you're looking for something that has all of the more impressive features of a more expensive grill, you're probably not going to find them on this model. However, it is still a quality-made grill that can withstand the rigors of a routine barbecue. Check this one out if you're low on cash.

Another one of the more economic Brinkman Grills is the Brinkman Pro Series 4400. It's a little better version of the 2210 series with a few more features. It can crank out some heat with its 15,000 British thermal units on each of its four burners. It also boasts a side burner with another 12,000 British thermal units of cooking power. It's always nice to have a side burner so you can cook something separately on the grill. It makes a nice place to scramble an egg while looking out over your back yard.

Overall, Brinkman grills offer several choices for the weekend warrior to choose from. If you're looking for a certain set of features, you can undoubtedly find a model that has them.

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A Trainee's Manual For Gambling On Dice Online

By Simon M Skinner

If you've been to a free online casino, you've probably seen a game called craps. This is a complicated game for new gamblers. Gambling or betting strategies can be very complex and there's a lot of money at stake. With online casino gambling, you can protect some of your real money by learning with free play money or getting into a freeroll game, however-and that's the recommended way to learn.

Even the basics of craps can be confusing, so we are only going to stick to the basic betting strategies. Some of the more complicated strategies should definitely be saved for when you have a better understanding of the game or can play for free versus real money online casino gambling.

In live casino games, it is very fast moving and takes four different dealers and a shooter to play. On the free online casino websites, the shooter may rotate around the table and the computer does much of the work on paying out winning bets and collecting losing ones.

The basic bet in craps is called the "pass line." Alternatively, you can choose the "don't pass" line-and that means you're betting against the people who are betting on the "pass line" bet. The first roll is called a "come out" roll. That roll sets the number the shooter wants to roll again before "crapping" out with a 7 on the dice. When the "come out" roll is being tossed, a black "off" marker is shown. If an 11 or a 7 is rolled on the dice during the "come out" roll, you'll win even money. After that you don't want to roll a 7 until after you roll the same number as is on the "point" or "come out" roll.

On the come out roll, if you roll a 2, 3 or 12, which is called "craps", you lose. If you roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that is your point that you have to roll again before the 7. So, the game starts with you using the "pass line" to place your bet, betting on hitting the point before hitting a 7. If you use the "don't pass" line, it means you are betting that a 7 will hit before hitting the point number.

Let's look at an online casino gambling scenario to illustrate the point:

The dealer has the black "off" marker on the table, and everybody bets. The shooter rolls the "come out" dice and gets a 7, so everybody wins except for the "don't pass" bettors, which means the opposite- they lose.

Now it's a new round and the dealer puts the black "off" marker out again. People place bets. But in this case the shooter rolls a 5 on the dice for the "come out." The dealer will then flip over the black "off" marker so it shows the white "on" side and he'll put it by the 5 on the board. The shooter rolls several times and finally succeeds in rolling a 5 on the dice without getting a 7. Again, everyone wins-unless they bet on the "don't pass."

This time, the process starts over and the shooter rolls a 6. The white "on" marker goes on the 6, but the shooter rolls several times and finally rolls a 7, with no 6 coming up first. Everybody loses except for the bettors on the "don't pass" line and they win.

These are the basics of online casino gambling and the game of craps. Free online casinos are the best way to start learning the game and getting familiar with the odds before you move on to more complex strategies and real money.

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Save Money On an Orlando Vacation

By Bob Ranallo

There are many housing options that you may choose from and DRG Property Services has condo's, townhouses and regular homes to stay at very affordable rates. When you go on vacation can make a big difference also in what you will pay. For example, if you go after Labor Day, rates typically come down and is less expensive than the traditional summer months. The weather is nice into October and you avoid the large crowds.

Stocking a home with food that has a kitchen is a great money saver. DRG properties offer kitchens that make feeding your family alot less expensive than eating out every night at expensive restaurants.

Rental car companies typically run out of economy cars and will offer an upgrade to a mid-size car. If they don't, be sure to ask. Make your reservation on line for the best rates and save even more money.

If you are flying into Orlando, book your reservations on-line at least 2 weeks in advance. Check around and see who is offering the best rates and always check for any restrictions. Travel agents may also be a helpful resource to use at this time.

To avoid any cleaning fees from the property owner(s), always remember to clean up after yourselves on the final day. Make sure the furniture is the way it was, the kitchen is clean and all the trash is emptied. Rental companies do charge a fee for any excessive cleaning that needs to be done. Also report to the property manager anything that needs repair or their urgent attention.

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Friday, August 28, 2009

An Introduction To Online Casino Slot Games

While many people enjoy the fun of playing slots at a casino, it seems that many of them aren't aware that they can enjoy the same fun by playing slots online. The casino slot games that are available online are the much the same as the ones the casinos have, with the main difference being that the slots are virtual. They aren't machines that you can actually touch. Even though you can't really touch the machines, the online casino slot games pay the same kind of winnings that the slot machines in the big city casinos pay.

The game is played the same online as it is in physical casinos. Before you start playing and spending any money, you need to be sure that you research the different online casinos. While the majority of them are legitimate, there are a small number of them that are not considered to be among the top online casinos.

You want to feel confident that you are playing online casino slots with an online casino that has a reputation for paying their winners the money they won. How do you actually receive your winnings while playing slots online? Since everything is done online, many people find this aspect of the game to be a bit confusing even though its very simple.

Once you've found an online casino that interests you enough to start playing with, you will have to use your credit or bank card to deposit the amount of money you want to play with. The money you deposit to the online casino account doesn't have to be spent at one time. You can use it any time you want or need to.

As you play the casino slots, the money you deposit will be deducted according. The money you win will also be deposited directly to your casino account. You will have two choices regarding how you use this money. You can either play more slots in an effort to win more, or you can choose to have the money transferred to your offline bank account so you can spend the money elsewhere.

One thing you should watch for when you are new to online casino slots is free money. Many of the legitimate online casinos frequently offer their new players free money as an incentive to spend money in their casino rather than another one. The better they make the offer, the more likely the will get more players. If you keep your eyes open you will be able to get your hands on plenty of free money to play with. It's really nice to play with free money.

Be sure you use caution as you play each of the games. It's usually a good idea to play the casino slots that you can understand when you are first starting out. This gives you a chance to get the hang of how things work. As you gain experience you will feel confident enough to play some of the more complicated slot set ups or an entirely different game. However, you may find that you enjoy the slots so much that you never even want to try any of the other games.

Funny Halloween Costumes That Are Sure To Send You To The Winning Stage

By Susan West

Halloween is one time of the year we get to be something different. Forget the norm and try something bizarre, terrifying, or exotic! This is the one holiday that should be nothing but pure fun! Children and adults alike prepare for grotesque quantities of goodies, Halloween costumes, and clever tricks. Only a single day long, it can be easy to put off your holiday planning until the last minute. This can cause major problems when you run to the store, searching picked over Halloween costumes. Remember, if you choose the wrong Halloween costume, you may find your dark holiday turns into a terrifying event.http://www.costumecauldron.com/Kids-Angel-Fairy-Wings-Costumes.html

When else can grown men and women wear the ugliest, skimpiest, or scariest outfit in public without concern for the social repercussions? Get the most out of your holiday by choosing a Halloween costume you can fall in love with. Everyone has their own personalities, likes and dislikes. Use that during this evening of dress up! Do you idolize some eccentric celebrity or hardcore rock star? For one evening, shed your blouse or polo and khakis and don their trademark-studded leather!

Before you commit to a certain costume, consider where you plan to wear your new one night only persona. Certain costumes may not be appropriate for certain situations. For example, do you plan to wear that terribly revealing belly dancer outfit to the office? You would be better off to forgo the exotic performer for something more conservative.

Halloween costumes don't have to show a lot of skin to be revealing either. If there is something that you really want to wear that you don't think will be inappropriate consider adding something to make it appear less so. This way you can have the best of both worlds. Halloween is for fun, but you still want to have something that works for where you are.

You'll find that many Halloween costumes speak a language of their own. Take a moment to consider what message you may be sending with your outfit. Thinking about this will help you in choosing a costume that fits the occasion. There will be certain costumes you may not want to wear around children. Older guests will also be more easily influenced by certain outfits. So while you want to have fun playing dress up this Halloween, remember to remain proper where possible.

Buying (or making) something that will be able to stand up to the task of being worn under various conditions will be your first job. You don't want to have too many pieces that won't stay in place; there should be nothing sliding off of you every ten seconds. Halloween costumes should be exciting and attract attention, but they must also be wearable.

Make the costume a something unique and people will surely talk. Putting time in to choosing Halloween costumes will make a huge difference. Some outfits come back year end and year out; some are remembered for years, others are quickly forgotten. Don't do the overdone version of the hippie or become another bad Elvis.

A clever Halloween costume is going to be a wonderful conversation starter. Putting in a little time can make all the difference. There are certain outfits we see year after year. Sure, the occasional variation may make them stand out, but who do you really remember from last year's party? The guest who came in the watered down French Maid costume, or the one who dressed as Cher, full wig, makeup, microphone, the works, and was a guy! http://www.costumecauldron.com/Kids-Biblical-Jesus-Nun-Costumes.html

This is Halloween; this is where Halloween costumes have the potential to go down in history. It is an opportunity you don't want to let pass by not preparing yourself to join in the festivities. Plan right and you'll have a great Halloween filled with lots of Halloween costumes that will make the holiday even more exciting. Edited by Glinda Zuladra

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The Bare Facts About Batting Cages

By Scott Stevens

It is not everyday we hear people talking about batting cages. Yet when you look at all the professional athletes, it is not hard to see that the ones of professional calibre are the ones who have put the hours and hours into practicing. Unfortunately when it comes to batting cages they are not as readily accessible as other sports facilities.

The easiest, most effective way to help improve your batting, or that of your child, is to make it a game. People, especially children learn better when learning is fun. Keep score of your practice sessions. Use a three point scoring system, give line drives three points, grounders and low balls get two points, and fly balls get one point. Keeping track makes it easy to make it a game, and when you're trying to beat your own score, you're improving your own skill, and it can be a lot more fun.

If you don't have access to a batting cage, you can always build your own, right in your own backyard. You'll have access to it whenever you want. A good size batting cage is seventy feet in length, fourteen feet in width, and twelve feet in height. The height shouldn't be a problem for anyone, but if you don't have a big enough yard for the length or width, just modify them to suit your area.

The list of materials needed to build a batting cage are pretty simple, and easily located. The netting is most often composed of polyethylene or nylon. Nylon is most suited for indoors as it absorbs moisture and stretches. For the support poles you can use wood or aluminum. For poles on the top you can use PVC pipe. You may also need some cement.

Once you have laid out your batting cage, dig holes for the support poles. The holes should have a depth of between three and four feet, as these poles will support the weight of the nets. You may wish to pour cement around the poles for increased stability. Attach the net to the poles and drape it down.

Now all that is left in building your batting cage is to make sure your net comes all the way to the ground. You don't want to have to be chasing balls that are escaping under the bottom of the net. Also you will want to make sure you have left yourself a way to get in and out of the batting cage.

Now at this point all you have left to do is to put your pitching machine in the batting cage and start hitting those balls. Remember to make your practice fun and challenging. You'll be surprised at how fast you'll see improvements in your batting average.

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Buying A Horizon Fitness T93 Treadmill?

By Jillian Grace

Horizon's top-selling treadmill has one of the highest ratings for home treadmills. If you are in the market for a first treadmill, definitely check out this machine. Incredibly comfortable and well-equipped, the Horizon Fitness T93 is one of the best value-buys in the treadmill market today. The T93 has been compared to premium health club treadmills and, at a great price of under $1000, it is a steal in this highly competitive industry.

Comfortable and easy-to-use, the T93 treadmill is ideal for beginners and intermediates who are trying to fit a home exercise routine into their busy schedules. The Horizon T93 features an easily adjustable workout where users can change pace and distance of their workouts. You can even watch tv or read books or even listen to MP3's through the T93's MP3 port, which comes fully equipped with state-of-the-art speakers.

Whether running or walking, the Horizon Fitness T93 offers an invigorating cardio workout on a cushioned belt that keeps your knees from wearing down prematurely. The adjustable ComfortSelect cushioning system is perfect for those who want to run one day and walk the next. Much easier on sensitive joints like the knees and hips, the T93 surface has a long, padded platform that offers plenty of room for long strides while providing a comfortable, low-impact jog without the jarring effects of concrete or asphalt.

The best thing about the Horizon Fitness T93 treadmill is that it is sturdy and unbelievably quiet. When you are pounding away, it seems like time passes without you even knowing it. After half an hour on the cushioned treadmill belt, you will look up and feel like you have only been going for five minutes. And when compared by many to premium health club machines, the Horizon T93 comes equipped with a boatload of workout programs and a bright, orangelit LCD (logically designed) that tracks your progress. You can walk or run 4 different terrains on 14 customizable programs that can be changed at any point during the workout.

Also, this folding treadmill machine from Horizon Fitness is simple to store. Horizon's FeatherLight lift features hydraulic shocks to help lower and raise the treadmill deck so it isn't a chore to store or unfold like so many other durable, heavy-duty treadmills. The Horizon T93 sells at under $1000 (sale pricing) and it used to retail for over $1700. So if you are in the market for a quality home treadmill that doesn't break down all the time, check out the Horizon Fitness T93. You'll be pleasantly surprised with its value and quality--so surprised that other popular brands like Proform or Nordictrack might slip out of the picture. Good luck and happy treadmill hunting!

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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Base Training Stamina Enhancer

By Alison Addy

A cyclist starts the base phase before he performs the stress training. Base training is the foundation of his whole training program which helps him to compete in races. His planning and monitoring go a long way in the success of base phase. He can plan the volume of his workout and the time to be spent on riding. During this training, he perfects good riding position. A total time of 8 to 12 weeks is allotted by the cyclist to improve his riding technique and form. He develops efficiency during this period. If his instructor finds defects in the bike position or pedal stroke, the cyclist can use his own time to correct them. His intensity is not increased during the base phase because it results in overwork and injury. His muscle groups get used to the stress that is generated. Low intensity stress applied during the base phase prevents injury.

A beginner in cycling should buy his new bicycle before the base phase starts and adjust the position of the handle bar and saddle height to suit his posture. All variations in posture form and riding on bumpy roads should be tried during the base phase only since the volume of riding is high and sufficient time is allotted for good training.

In the beginning, the cyclist should ride for lesser distances during the first two weeks. His fitness level decides the distance he covers. He should have in mind the goal distance to be covered in the final phase of this training. From this figures, he can chart out steady increments in the volume of riding for the successive weeks. For example, if a cyclist decides to start his training with 200 kilometers in the first week and end with 500 kilometers in the final week, he can plan such that he covers 300, 250, 300, 375, 400, 350, 400, 450, 475 and 425 kilometers in the middle ten weeks of his base training. A combination of increase and slight decrease in the distances makes his legs grow stronger. By alternating recovery period and stress period, his stamina grows to a large extent. He allows rest days when the body becomes more fit. While beginners cover smaller distances as the goal, they can ride for 4 days a week, elite cyclists can leave one day for rest and ride longer distances as the volume goal during the others days in the week.

Base training has to be supplemented with cross training like running, strain training and swimming. These training schedules increase his aerobic capacity and endurance.

Read full articles about aerobic heart zone and bike training available at this web.

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Would You Like To Sell Digital Photos Online To Make Money?

By Danny Haberg

Now you can sell digital photos online and make great money by using sites on the Internet called micro stock photography sites. By offering your photos in a high resolution format and are considered 'good stock' photographs you will succeed.

First thing you must do is to learn how to take the shots that are good stock. These are photos or sometimes imagery that is available to be used for specific uses and can be licensed.

The buyers for these photos are usually professionals that don't want to hire a professional photographer for common images that they will use in their marketing brochures, websites and magazine ads. All they have to do now is to search online for photos that meet their needs, license the images and pay a commission to the photographer.

Each photo is based according to it's overall potential for salability and quality. The photos should be crisp, well lit, clear and with no digital noise that can be caused by underexposure, over processing, long exposures or high iso. If you think that the snapshots that you have taken or photos that look like a tourist took them will be winners you can think again. They should be in demand commercially and very usable for designers or art directors. Go look at some professional sites on photography and get some inspiration before you decide on shots to submit.

Never submit any photographs that come with logos, trademarks, third part images and brands to any micro stock photo agency. They will immediately reject these items. If any of your photos contain a person in them that is recognizable you will be required to submit a model release form along with the image. Most agencies have their own forms but there are also standard ones that will work just as well.

While you are deciding which agency to go with log on to some of the websites that will allow you to upload your images for sale. Compare your photos with some that are posted on the websites and see if your photos are as good quality and the type of styles that are displayed. You can check on the website to see how many times the photos you are looking at are viewed or even downloaded.

There should be a community forum available on the website that will allow you to talk to the other members about their selling history which will help you answer the question if you are likely to sell your photos on this site as well.

Listing your photos in as many categories as possible will insure that your photos are viewed by the right people and for the right uses. To sell digital photos online you will also have to assign keywords to your images which is another way buyers will locate your photos. Both of these items are very important and you will want to pick the very best ones to describe your photos for the maximum exposure.

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Learn To Have Fun With Virtual Makeover Games

By Lucas Godfrey

With today?s modern technology, there isn?t much that we can?t do when we set our minds to it. Many of us don?t take advantage of all the free technology that is available to us. In one such area, it would be fashion.

With the world at our fingertips on the Internet, we can almost find any piece of clothing, hairstyle or makeup that we want. We can spend hours surfing the net and looking at all the wonderful things that are available. The problem is we just don't know if they're going to look right on us, as it's not like being in the store being able to try it on.

Something that is quite exciting on the net is makeover games. This is where you can become a virtual part of the Internet and see how a hairstyle, makeup, piece of clothing or even accessories are going to look on you. It's just a matter of downloading your picture to the particular site that interests you. Many sites are offering free makeovers whether it is for your hair, makeup, or clothing. They are very useful aside from being a great deal of fun.

If you're an individual that's never been one to wear a lot of makeup but you would like to start then this is a great opportunity for you. If you are just not, too sure, how you're going to look there?s an easy solution. Just go to one of the sites that offer cosmetics and see if they have one of the virtual makeover games and then get ready for some hours of fun. You don't always have to download your picture if you are uncomfortable with this. Many models are available with the program but ideally, you want to use your own picture, as that?s what you are interested in.

You don't have to be computer smart to be able to take advantage of these programs, as they are very simple to use. It?s just a matter of downloading your picture going to the site that that you're interested in for example makeup. Just by clicking on a color, it will automatically appear on your picture. You can do complex things like changing the style of your eyebrows or going with some really deep and funky colors that perhaps you would never dream of using in reality.

You will be surprised at just how much you can do and how much you can learn with these types of virtual makeover games and it doesn't come to only make up. There are various types of virtual games. to choose from when it comes to clothing or minor things such as wondering what type of sunglasses suit you best. It?s simple to surf around to find sites that offer this service and then it's going to take a lot of guesswork out of what you want for yourself.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Finding The Right Costume

By Rene A Lacape

Have to go for a costume party and don't have an idea as to what costume to go for? Getting a costume is not an easy task, both for women and men. It is well known that women are too conscious about the way they look, but so are the men. So it is equally difficult to find men's costumes. You would definitely not want to look silly in a costume party.

Costume hunting is really a tiresome job, but it can sometimes be fun and can be a breather from daily life. Getting the costume for you is obviously not a piece of cake, but when it comes to getting a costume for couples, the task becomes even more difficult. When you are out to select a men's costume or a women's costume, buckle up for some hard work as it is something that you want to pay utmost attention on. And if you are out to get a costume for couples, the level of difficulty increases.

Newbie to costume hunting? It can prove to be a bit difficult to you. The first thing that you should keep in mind is the source where you might want to get your costumes from. This is because of the reason that by this time you might have an idea as to what you would like to purchase. There is no point in loitering around about the stores to get the right costume.

If you are new to the whole process of selecting a costume, you might find this a bit of challenge about how to get started. The most important thing you would need to address first and foremost is to determine where you are going to get your costumes in the first place before you can even decide what costumes you want. That is because you might have already had an idea of what you want to dress up as, but you need to keep in mind the availability of the costume you want. If you can't find what you are looking for, it is pointless anyway so you might as well go the stores first and see what options are open to you before making a choice.

Here are some places you might be able to go to get your costumes:

The local stores should be the first and the foremost option as they give you an opportunity to try the costumes. Once you have found a store near you, you can then go can check it out. If you do not like them, go on to the next option.

The Internet - now this is a great resource for looking up potential costumes and costume ideas. On the internet, you can browse a much wider selection because the internet covers vast areas and these days you can easily get things shipped to you, no problem. The internet would also provide you with great ideas for what to dress up as and gives you visuals of how each costume would look like. The only downside is you won't be able to try the outfits you have chosen out.

You don't really have to worry about the size as the costumes are available in various sizes, shapes and styles. If you plan, know what do you want and start early, nothing could beat the fun in getting a costume.

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How to out cruise a Harley Davidson with style, with speed and with comfort.

By John Vincent

I've just seen what may possibly be the most individual, and maybe a little scary, motorcycle ever built. And it's a Honda! The Valkyrie Rune looks like something that leapt out of the pages of a 1980's sci-fi comic. Or a Sylvester Stallone film based on it. Wide tyres, wide tank, wide bars, wide everything! It's a beast which begs you to break the law. So it can judge you.

It's the look of the thing that first grabs your attention. It's huge, it curves elegantly everywhere and there's just *so* much chrome! This is one Cruiser that knows which target audience it's aiming at. Big, brash and glittering it shouts 'look at me' with every beat of that throbbing exhaust note.

Let's be direct about this. This bike is insane. In fact I'm not so sure it's a bike at all. It's just a huge 1800cc flat 6 engine crafted into a solid 50's, retro styled frame. And I *mean* solid! The whole bike weighs in at 350kg but you really would never know it. All the weight is so well balanced and so low in the frame that when you sit on this colossus she feel more like a racehorse.

The engine purrs and then kicks like a donkey. Turn into a bend and she digs and growls, shooting out of the apex and leaping down the road for more. I'm not saying she's a road racer you understand, but this is a cruiser through and through. The engine is so smooth and the saddle so comfortable you could stay sitting on this dream of a bike for hour after hour. And enjoy every minute.

So why doesn't everyone have one then? Because Honda designed and built them for Americans, who as we know only ride Harleys (or mopeds), and didn't think there was market for them in the UK or Europe. So we have to either import one by ourselves - if we can find one - or hope that they come up for sale and then catch them before they are gone again.

But for one lucky person an opportunity beckons. I've seen one for sale in a shop. Fasttrack Motorcycles in Leicester must have sold their soul to the devil and taken her in part exchange. Who in their right mind would part with one of these once they had one is what I want to know. But part with her they have and now she's for sale.

Actually seeing a Honda Rune in reality was what shocked me into writing this mini review. I have honestly never seen anything like it in my life. You really wouldn't be surprised to see a blaster-touting Dredd come walking by and fly off on her at any moment believe me.

But for now she sits there alone with a 13,000 price tag and demands your attention. Not just *your* attention either but in fact the looks and admiration (or consternation) of absolutely *everyone* who walks by. Go take a look for yourself if she's still there and hasn't already been sold. It'll be worth the trip and something you will most probably never see again or ever forget.

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How To Choose The Right Hiking Shoe Or Backpacking Boot

By James Warner

So, you want to get into hiking and you're not sure what to do first. Well, your feet play a big part in moving you down the trail and if you take care of them, they will take care of you. I would suggest finding a pair of supportive trail shoes or boots that will do just that.

Defining your use is the first step. Doing shorter hikes at the local parks with less challenging terrain requires only a good pair of trail shoes. These look like sneakers. The big difference is much better support. If you will be going on a multi-day hiking trip where you will be carrying a pack over more rugged terrain, you will need a pair of backpacking boots.

Standing there in front of the shoe and boot wall at an outdoor retailer can be a little intimidating. The trick to determining the best choice comes from knowing the 5 major components involved in the construction of all shoes and boots and the level of support that each component should provide.

The outsole is the tread which contacts the ground. Staggered treads are better for traction. The raised tread should not be in uniform evenly spaced rows. When your shoe flexes, a staggered tread releases dirt and debris.

The layer of material above the outsole is the midsole. Its purpose is to disperse shock. When your foot hits the ground, an amount of shock rebounds back up through your body. Insufficient midsoles make your ligaments, tendons and cartilage disperse most of that energy producing unnecessary soreness and muscle ache.

Determining the level of midsole support in any shoe or boot is easy. Just hold the back of the shoe firmly in your left hand, put the front tip of the shoe against the palm of your right hand and apply pressure, enough so that the front half of the shoe begins to bend upwards. You will notice that some shoes exert more resistance to counter that pressure. The more resistance there is, the more supportive the midsole. Most sneakers just fold in half because they lack midsole support. Keep in mind that you still want your choice to be somewhat flexible. If you choice were too stiff, you may not feel trail debris under your feet causing you to slip. You still need to feel the earth under your feet.

The footbed, commonly referred to as the insole is a thin piece of material cut to fit the inside shape of the shoe providing support and cushioning to the anatomical curvature of the bottom of your foot. Most manufacturers supply insufficient footbeds with their boots and shoes. Once removed, if you can easily twist them out of shape, they will only provide minimal cushioning and no real support. You may choose a shoe or boot and use the original footbed, but over time it will compress and you will loose the cushioning. You may wish to try a replacement footbed with actual support. My favorites are called Superfeet. A good footbed provides proper anatomical support for your feet and body, significantly reducing stress.

The body of the boot or shoe is called the upper. Some are leather, some are made of synthetic materials and some are a combination of both. While it takes longer for full grain leather boots to break in, synthetics conform to the shape of your feet quicker. Shoes that employ breathable mesh panels are cooler in warmer conditions. The upper also contains the laces and the tongue.

Contrary to popular belief, the height of a boot has nothing to do with ankle support, only abraision resistance and protection from debris, mud, snow, etc. All ankle support is determined by the heel counter. The heel counter is a band-aid shaped piece of material located between layers of the upper, wrapping around the heel area at the back of the shoe just above the outsole.

If you drew an imaginary line straight down the very back center of a shoe, it would cut the heel counter in half. If you compressed the shoe between your palms on either side of that line, shoes with little ankle support would fold flat along the line toward the bottom near the outsole. A shoe with superior ankle support will not easily fold at the lower back of the shoe.

So, there you have it. Outsole, Midsole, Footbed, Upper and Heel Counter. Other than these attributes, you know when a shoe feels right. It either does or it doesn't and the only way to know, is to try them on. Go try on some shoes and improve the quality of your outdoor experience!

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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Online Casino Slot Games (An Introduction)

While many people already know about the great fun that they can have at a casino. Playing the slots, it seems to be new knowledge still that the same fun can be found online. The casino slots that you find online are the same kind of casinos with the only difference being that they are virtual than something that you can actually physically touch. But the online casino slots are the same game and produce the same kind of winnings that slots in big town casinos produce.

The game is played exactly the same. The best thing to do, before spending any money, is to make sure that you are researching the various online casinos. This is because while most of the casinos online are legit, there is always a chance that you would come across one that is not considered a part of the top line.

You want to make sure that you are playing casino slots with an online casino that is known for paying their winnings their money. But how is it that you actually receive the winnings? Since the entire game is played online, many people find this part of the game very confusing. It is rather simple though.

Once you find an online casino that you would like to play with, you will need to use your bank card or credit card to upload a dollar amount that you would like to play with. The amount of money that you deposit into your online casino account does not have to be spent all at once. You can dip into as needed or desired.

As you play the casino slots, your casino account will be deducted the proper amount of funds. The winnings that you receive will be deposited into that online casino account. You, as the winner, can chose to play with those winnings in an attempt to win more, or you can have that money transferred into your bank account so that you can spend your winnings elsewhere.

One thing that you will want to keep your eyes open for is free money, especially since you are new to the online casino slots. Many legit casinos are offering new players free money. This is an incentive to play at their online casino instead of another casino. The better the incentive is, the more likely they will receive more business. Because of this, you can really find yourself earning a lot of free money. When you play with free money, you really are not out any of your own.

Make sure that you are playing each game with caution. You also want to start off with the casino slots that are easy enough to understand. This will allow you to get the hang of everything. As you become more advanced you can move on to more complicated slot set ups or even a new type of game all together. You might just find yourself thrilled with the slots so much that you never want to play any other games again.

Selecting the Best Folding Card Table and Accessories

By Brian Garvin

If you are searching for a well-built folding card table and accessories, a great place to begin your hunt is online. Your shopping for this sort of table will actually involve a few steps.

Before you begin shopping for your folding card table and accessories, you first need to consider what you want. You also need to set your budget. So firstly, figure out if you want a wood, resin, or metal table. Then determine how much you wish to spend. Will your folding card table and accessories only be used for fun, or will it be a more serious outlay of money for a table you can use for a long time? Consider all these things before you begin shopping for your folding card table and accessories.

What material is it made from?

Although wood is the most stylish material your folding card table and accessories can be made from, it costs a lot. In fact, the upper end tables can go for as much as $400, including chairs. However, there are some good resins or other tables you can get that are produced from cheaper materials that look a lot like wood. They are actually even more durable because they do not ruin from water damage like wood can. So resin or plastic tables are a good alternative for someone that does not want to layout a lot of money.

Metal is an adequate option, however, it is what it is, and is not easy to disguise as some resins are. Meaning if you are looking for a table that looks like wood, but is long lasting and will make it through much wear and tear you should select a "wood look" resin for instance.

What you'll pay

If you want to treat your card table as if it was a well made piece of furniture, and not abuse it, and if you are willing to invest a considerable amount of money on a table, then a $400 wood table set that comes with chairs is a great choice.

Nevertheless, know that you can spend far less and get something just as durable if not as aesthetically pleasing if you choose metal or resin. What you will pay is $100 for a table and four chairs, all the way up to $400 dollars for a better table and four chairs. What you spend depends on the budget that you have, and you do not have to spend a lot of money to get a good quality folding card table and accessories.

Buying your folding card table and accessories

I earlier mentioned that there were many parts to this. You will first need to decide what you want to purchase, and what your budget is. Then, go online, and browse and compare prices and styles and determine what is available to you. Armed with that information, you can now go out and hunt for folding card tables and accessories in stores.

One point to make here is that even though you may still want to buy online (because it's usually cheaper to do it that way), you'll still want to get a firsthand look. While you do that, take down model names, materials, etc., and then go back and do your final purchase online with the information you've gathered.

With some planning and effort, you should be able to find a great folding card table and accessories for a price that is suitable to your budget. The table will certainly serve your needs well.

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Top Ten Hiking Essentials

By James Warner

These are the most important items in your pack. Applicable to both dayhikes and backpacking trips, these will improve your safety, comfort and quality of your outdoor adventure.

Obtain a map of where you will be hiking. Usually, you can pick one up at the park visitor center or ranger station. You can also download maps from various websites. Having a good map will not only will not only prevent you from getting lost, but it can help rescuers find you if you suffer an injury.

Purchase a map reading compass and learn how to use it. Once you've learned how to orient the park map and the compass, you will know what direction you are facing, how to easily correct your course and get back on track.

Staying hydrated is crucial. You can survive about a month with no food, but only a few days without water. You can become dehydrated quickly by exertion, perspiration, heat and exposure. It's a good idea to have 2 one liter bottles of water. Also, carry some water purification means with you. I use a liquid water treatment drops.

Have extra food with you. Enough so that you could get through another day if necessary. Some companies produce compressed whole food bars that serve as complete meal replacements. My favorite is called the Pro Bar. Taking a few of these with will extend your energy levels if you need them.

A few more layers of clothing for comfort and safety. Temperatures can drop unexpectedly or at nightfall. If you hike through rain or fall into a creek, having only one layer of wet clothes when it starts getting colder can spell disaster. Make sure to wear synthetics as they are more insulative when wet and dry quickly.

Pack some sort of light source like a headlamp or flashlight. If you are forced to make camp or hike out in the dark, you will be able to see trail debris an obstacles that could cause danger.

Having an accident or injury in the backcountry is no fun. Bring a small first aid kit with you. You can create one out of household supplies but don't forget hiking needs like moleskin or blister treatment. I recommend taking a basic wilderness medicine course.

In a waterproof canister, bring matches and a lighter. Lighting a fire in the wilderness should only be considered as a means of survival. Do not start a fire if another layer of clothing will suffice. Use common sense and help prevent wildfires.

Carry a knife with you. Mine has come in handy so many times. If you use a folding knife, make sure that it has a locking blade. Non-locking knives have closed on fingers!

Don't forget the sunblock. Bring some sunglasses as well and you may want a cap with a visor or brim for extra UV protection. Your skin and eyes will be much happier.

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Computer Training And Study Companies - Update

By Jason Kendall

Well Done! As you're looking at this you're probably toying with the idea of getting re-qualified for a new job - that puts you way ahead of the crowd. Only one in ten of us are satisfied with our careers, but most complain but just stay there. Why not be one of a small number who decide to make the change.

We recommend you seek advice first - find someone who knows the industry; an advisor who can discover your ideal job, and analyse the courses you may be suited to:

* Do you want to interact with other people? If you say yes, are you a team player or are you hoping to meet new people? Or are you better working in isolation?

* Do you have a preference which area you could be employed in? (In this economy, it's vital to get it right.)

* Having completed your retraining, would you like your new abilities to take you through to retirement?

* Are you worried with regard to the possibility of getting new work, and being gainfully employed right up to retirement?

The most significant market sector in Great Britain to tick all of the above boxes is the IT industry. There's a need for more skilled people in this market, - take a look at any jobs website and you'll discover what we mean. Don't let people tell you it's all techie people looking at their computerscreens all day long - it's much more diverse than that. Most of the people in the industry are just like you and me, with well paid and stimulating jobs.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, with books and manuals, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If this describes you, check out study materials which feature interactive and multimedia modules. Research has consistently verified that an 'involved' approach to study, where we utilise all our senses, is proven to produce longer-lasting and deeper memory retention.

Fully interactive motion videos utilising video demo's and practice lab's will forever turn you away from traditional book study. And they're a lot more fun to do. Be sure to get a look at some courseware examples from the training company. You should ask for slide-shows, instructor-led videos and virtual practice lab's for your new skills.

Purely on-line training should be avoided. Ideally, you should opt for CD and DVD ROM courseware where available, enabling them to be used at your convenience - it's not wise to be held hostage to your broadband being 'up' 100 percent of the time.

Most people don't even think to ask about a painfully important area - how their company actually breaks down and delivers the courseware sections, and into how many bits. Individual deliveries for each training module piece by piece, according to your own speed is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds logical, but you must understand the following: What could you expect if you didn't actually complete everything at the required speed? Sometimes their preference of study order doesn't work as well as an alternative path could be.

An ideal situation would be to have all the training materials packed off to you immediately; the complete package! Then, nothing can hinder your capacity to get everything done.

One fatal mistake that students everywhere can make is to choose a career based on a course, rather than starting with the desired end-result. Colleges have thousands of unaware students who chose a course based on what sounded good - in place of something that could gain them the career they desired. It's quite usual, in many cases, to obtain tremendous satisfaction from a year of studying but end up spending 10 or 20 years in a career that does nothing for you, as a consequence of not performing some quality research at the beginning.

Make sure you investigate how you feel about career development, earning potential, and whether you intend to be quite ambitious. You need to know what (if any) sacrifices you'll need to make for a particular role, what qualifications are needed and in what way you can develop commercial experience. You'd also need help from an advisor that can explain the market you're considering, and who can give you 'A typical day in the life of' outline of the job being considered. These things are absolutely essential as you'll need to know if you're barking up the wrong tree.

Huge changes are coming via technology over the next generation - and it only gets more exciting every day. Computing technology and interaction through the internet is going to dramatically affect the direction of our lives over future years; to a vast degree.

Let's not forget that the average salary in the IT sector in Great Britain is noticeably more than average salaries nationally, therefore you will most likely receive significantly more once qualified in IT, than you'd get in most other industries. Because the IT market sector is still emerging at an unprecedented rate, the chances are that the requirement for professionally qualified and skilled IT workers will continue actively for quite some time to come.

Finding your first job in the industry can be a little easier with the help of a Job Placement Assistance service. The honest truth is that it isn't so complicated as you might think to land your first job - as long as you've got the necessary skills and qualifications; because there's still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

One important thing though, avoid waiting until you have completed your exams before polishing up your CV. Right at the beginning of your training, list what you're working on and place it on jobsites! It can happen that you haven't even got to the exam time when you will get your initial junior support role; although this isn't going to happen if interviewers don't get sight of your CV. Generally, a local IT focused recruitment consultant or service (who will get paid by the employer when they've placed you) will perform better than any recruitment division from a training organisation. They should, of course, also know local industry and the area better.

Not inconsiderable numbers of trainees, it seems, invest a great deal of time on their training course (sometimes for years), and just give up when it comes to looking for a job. Introduce yourself... Do everything you can to put yourself out there. A job isn't just going to bump into you.

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Monday, August 24, 2009

Why Orlando is Still the Team to Beat in the East

By Jordan Black

It's a funny thing in the NBA. Both Cleveland and Boston seem to have forgotten about the team that beat them in the playoffs just two short months ago. Both teams are insisting that they'll make the NBA finals, and cite each other as their biggest obstacles. Ironically, the team that knocked them both out has quietly improved.

Sure people are boasting about Shaq making LeBron an unstoppable phenom and Rasheed Wallace's presence making Boston's Big 3 + Rondo, A fab 5. But many sports writers and professional analysts are counting Orlando as an underdog. Again. Yep I said it,Again. Did Hedo Turkoglu and Courtney Lee really make Orlando a championship team?I think not. They were essential pieces to an almost perfect puzzle.This year's team has better pieces that can make the puzzle complete. Let's break down the off season's moves for Orlando.

PG: Same situation as last year. Jameer Nelson will be healthy entering the year and he's a stronger point guard than Rafer Alston. Alston was a great backup, but Nelson is younger and better, and the Magic are stronger with him.

PF: Again, mostly the same in Orlando. Rashard Lewis will still occupy the PF slot, but backing him up will be Brandon Bass, a much better option than an aging Tony Battie. The team has also acquired Ryan Anderson from the Nets, a versatile forward who can score from long range.

C - No changes. Dwight "Superman" Howard and Marcin "The Polish Hammer" Gortat will be holding their spots down. Enough said.

SG - This is one of the more worrisome positions for Orlando. Instead of Courtney Lee... Orlando will more than likely go with Mikael Pietrus and Matt Barnes backing him up or the opposite. These 2 guys will be the keys to winning games. They both are big SG/SF who can play exceptional defense. They can play SF if needed, and can handle the ball in case of some terrible accident to Jameer Nelson. They will need to produce what Courtney Lee did in points which shouldn't be hard (9 PPG)and avoid needless turnovers. This seems to be a slight upgrade over Lee since he was a rookie and still had some learning pains. Let's not forget about JJ Redick who is still a threat from behind the 3 point line and getting better and not a defensive liability as most thought... Just ask Ray Allen.

SF: The loss of Hedo Turkoglu was obviously hurtful to the Magic and their fans, but what better way to counter that than by signing Vince Carter? The team now has a legitimate superstar to play alongside Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis, and they're simply dangerous for it.

The Magic have lost Hedo Turkoglu and rookie Courtney Lee, both valuable players. However, the improvements they've made across the board (especially in the depth department) more than offset any hits they take from the loss of Hedo and Lee. All in all, this is a stronger Magic team, and remains the team to beat in the East.

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Koala Bears - Sam The Bushfire Koala Dies

By Jennifer Schellington

In February 2009 bush fires had a devastating affect on the state of Victoria. The fires burnt over 400,000 hectares with 210 people losing their lives and thousands losing their homes.

One story allowed some hope. Out of the ashes came a Koala bear that managed to survive the fires. Her name was Sam. This Koala and the firefighter that rescued her became famous the world over as millions saw the video of him giving water to the Koala. The Koala recovered from her second and third degree burns at South Ash Wildlife Refuge.

It turns out that Sam the Koala had a disease called "Urogenital chlamydia" This disease has affected nearly 50% of the Koala population particularly in the Victoria area. It may sound familiar to you as Chlamydia is usually associated with a human sexually transmitted disease. Koalas are affected similarly with females becoming infertile. Other symptoms include urinary tract infections and even loss of sight.

Sam the Koala was taken into surgery to remove cysts that were a direct consequence of the disease. On opening her up, the vet found that the disease had spread much further than they had first thought. It would have left Sam in too much pain. It was decided that it would be kinder to euthanize Sam

The firefighter who rescued the Koala and gave him the water, David Tree, is said to be devastated. The Koala was for him such a fighter and a symbol of hope for the bushfire survivors. The people of Victoria intend to place a commemorative plaque near the place where he was given the water.

The Koala is a native animal of Australia and one you should try and see on your visit to Australia. They tend to live high up in Eucalyptus trees as this is their main food supply. Normally Koalas don't drink water as they get all the water they need from the Eucalyptus leaves.

These animals carry their young in a pouch which makes them a marsupial. A baby Koala is known as a joey and is absolutely tiny when it is born (only 2cm long.) It will then spend 6 months exclusively in the pouch and then will spend time in and out of the pouch until it is strong enough to be on its own.

If you want to cuddle a Koala then you need to go to a wildlife park or Koala sanctuary. Not all will let you, but some will. The nicest way to see a Koala though is in the wild. Unfortunately they are no where near as common as the Kangaroo so seeing one can be difficult. You just need to know where to look.

My only piece of advice is not to attempt to cuddle one in the wild. If you disturb their sleep they can be ferocious. Take a look at their claws and you'll understand why.

For where to see Koalas in Australia and some other fascinating facts visit the Real Australia Travel website (details below) You can also see the video of the Koala Sam drinking water from the fire fighter.

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Enhance Your Golf Game With Shiatsu Chair Recliners

By Chip Austin

If you golf, then you know that warming up prior to playing is an important prerequisite. Warm up consists of proper stretching to elongate your muscles and to increase the range of mobility of your joints. It is important to loosen tight muscles and get them prepared for your golf game. This helps to improve your performance and to lessen the chance of injury. Massage chairs have incorporated many important massage therapy functions that can help prepare you for your next golf tournament.

You may have to play golf with back pain or shoulder pain. Maybe this is from a previous injury or sometimes, things just go. Shoulder and back pain are like little grains of sand that tend to just grind on you. You play, but that pain has to be overcome. This can be especially aggravating for you golf swing. The swing is the critical movement in golf. Small changes in you swing make for wide variation of where the ball gets placed after you hit.

The golf swing when done without an adequate warm up can actually cause damage to the muscles and tendons. Warming up helps to increase the elasticity of the muscle tissue. This helps increase your range of motion. The golf swing has a very long range of motion. Loosening up the muscles and tendons with a massage chair can be effective to increase blood flow and get your body started.

If you back muscles are not flexible, then your swing may suffer accordingly. Think of the motion of teeing off. The arc that the golf club needs to make is a long range of motion. You have to position your feet, shoulders and head correctly to get a good, consistent swing. Everything is related. If your have back discomfort or tightness, then your swing will be off as well.

Another important warm up technique is to walk as part of your warm up. You want to get your heart and blood flowing to get nutrients circulating and energy moving in your body. The secondary effect is to warm up your muscles to help prepare them for your golf game later. You want to keep your muscles warm during your play. As easy way to do this is to walk between shots and not just ride your cart. If your muscles cool down, then they become less flexible and your swing will be less true.

Massage chairs from the premier massage chair brands like Panasonic, Sanyo and Omega have many features that can help improve your golf score. Panasonic has a model EP30004 that has a very effective shiatsu massage therapy. This chair helps to effectively warm you up with an invigorating shiatsu or Junetsu massage. Both of these techniques improve blood circulation, warm up muscles and help increase mental awareness.

An effective massage chair for your shoulders, back and neck is made by Sanyo. The HEC DR7700 model massage chair has a massage system that can massage the tops of the shoulders and around the neck. This system helps to thoroughly loosen tight muscles preparing you for your round of golf.

Stretching is important to perform before your golf outing. The Montage Premier massage chair by Omega comes with a lower body traction system. This traction system actually stretches out the entire lower body. The Montage Premier will hold onto your feet and then it stretches you out. This helps to elongate the muscles of the lower back, hips, thighs, knees and ankles. Use this in conjunction with the built in heating elements for a great warm up.

Reducing your score and the chance of injury are primary concerns of golfers today. Both of these can be reduced with proper warm up and down. If you don?t have back or shoulder problems, then be proactive and try to prevent their occurrence. If you have some level of back and shoulder pain, then healing and preventing further injury is vitally important. Massage chairs offer many potential benefits to golfers. If you golf with regular frequency, then massage chairs are a viable economic alternative to a massage therapist. Do not let your back pain hinder your golf game.

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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Don't Trust the Hoopla - Purchase the Perfect Ping Pong Paddle for You

By Frank Froggatt

A lot of people who sell ping-pong equipment will try to talk you into buying things that are "essential", and tell you need it in order to play ping-pong right. In fact, they can even let you select the paddle or blade you want and the rubber you want to go with it and assemble it for you.

It's all good except for the fact that most people don't have any idea which ping-pong blade and rubber is going to help them out.

The rule in ping pong paddles is that the paddle should have a black rubber on one side and a red one on the other. You also need to remember that the ball should be orange or white and new ITTA rules suggest that the official ball should be 40mm in size.

When making a decision on a blade and a rubber, you need to know that different rubbers will create different spins on the ball. You also need to know that different types of rubbers will affect the speed of your paddle. You can try customizing your paddle by trying out one type of rubber on one side of your paddle and another type of rubber on the other side. Try to remember though that the paddle needs to have a black side and a red side.

The blades can also be variably different. Some things to look for are the weight of the paddle its speed and the shape of the handle. The flared handle is best for most people with a medium weight as this gives you a balance of speed and mass. The rule of thumb is, try to find the heaviest paddle possible that will not affect the speed of your swing.

The flared handle is by far the most popular type of handle. All around players like use them as well as loopers. If you really like looping or driving, then you are going to want to look at getting an anatomic handle or a conic handle.

People who are proficient at smashing or who have a really powerful backhand prefer a straight handle. The penhold handle is the perfect choice for people who use Chinese or Japanese grips.

These are just some of the things that you need to take into consideration when you are looking for the right ping-pong equipment. With this information in hand, you will be able to find the right ping-pong paddle for your playing style. So now don't go believing the hype about those high dollar paddles being the best paddles that you can get. Get the ping-pong paddle that is going to help improve your game for the way you play and that matches your abilities.

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Affordable Stag and Hen Events In A Recession

By Mariko Conisuellian

As the current economic crisis deepens, debt is piling up, unemployment is rising rapidly and household bills are skyrocketing, engaged couples are finding that they must make their wedding plans on a tight budget.

In the last ten years or so, stag weekends or even weeks have become commonplace, although in the last 6 months, people have started to go old-school in that respect. Due to the recession, people are obviously having to clamp down on their spending and so are having to shorten or cut out unessential luxuries all together.

Day or weekend breaks in the UK are now becoming popular, mainly because of how much cheaper they are compared to trips abroad and in many cases, they end up just as memorable. You will usually be able to find a place that will run a full day of high quality activities for around 70.

Another main advantage that UK stag parties have is that you will find more people are able to participate as the financial prospect of going abroad may put many people off, and so with more people taking part, the event is sure to be more memorable than it may have been otherwise.

Activities like karting, golf, indoor sky diving, indoor skiing, off road driving, quad bikes, archery and clay pigeon shooting are ideal for an eventful stag day / weekend. A good venue will organise all of the events for you, usually as well as a place to stay, removing a lot of pressure from the shoulders of the best man, while appearing as though he has put in an enormous amount of effort.

When picking activities, you want to try to have a broad selection that lots of people will like. In addition, if you choose Golf just because the Groom and Best Man play twice a week you will possibly deter many non golf players from attending. The key is to make the stag party as inclusive as possible so that you please the masses. This is why having several different activities works so well, everyone should enjoy at least one of the activities throughout the day.

If you make the day into a competition with some small prizes for winners and losers you will also make the day more memorable and enjoyable.

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Tiger Woods Blows it for Himself and the PGA

By Tony Lamazza

Y.E. Yang shocked the world and probably himself by beating the world's best golfer, and maybe the greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods, by coming back from 2 strokes down Sunday to win the PGA Championship. Yang is the first Asian player to win a Major, the first player to beat Tiger Woods when Woods was tied or all alone in the lead after 54 holes of golf. Golf enthusiasts cheered, David took down Goliath, 12 never struck for Cinderella, No. 110 took down No. 1.

Is this good? I don't really think so. The PGA heavily relies on Tiger Woods and the sentiment on the street is that Woods simply isn't effective as he was, and may never be again.

Tiger hasn't lost it, he's won 5 tournaments this year, coming from 5 strokes back on Sunday to win one, and coming back from 8 shots down Thursday to win by 3 strokes on Sunday. But, as I said, casual golf fans don't get that. In fact, most sports fans probably don't get that because he hasn't performed in the biggest events, the Majors, the moneymakers, the events that pull in the biggest ratings.

While everyone loves to talk about Yang and what he did today, this was a crippling blow to the PGA in 2009. There were simply no exciting stories that capped off the year of majors. Tom Watson nearly became the oldest golfer (by far) to ever win a major, before losing it on the final day. Woods went the entire year without a major, virtually unheard of during his career.

Yang will probably make few headlines anytime soon, and the once "sure prospect" of Woods beating Jack Nicklaus' record for majors one is suddenly not such a sure thing anymore.

What do people get to look to now? "Oh, I can't wait to see Tiger take revenge in the exciting series of FedEx cup event"? No! They are looking to, "Hey, Anthony Kim or Rory McIllroy are ready to take the torch next year."

Tiger must bounce back in 2009. He is the face of the PGA, and any story lines lacking Tiger Woods will do anything but help the sport grow.

Here's to hoping that 2010 brings us a Tiger resurgence, and most notably, a major or two. The sport really needs it.

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Saturday, August 22, 2009

How to Get Ex Boyfriend Back: Psychology Makes All the Difference

By Paul Lindquist

Did you break up with your boyfriend a short time ago? All you can think about is how to get ex boyfriend back? Are you full of heartbreak, pain and frustration? Here are some things you can do to get ex boyfriend back.

The beginning step to winning your ex boyfriend back is to give him some space. You need to put an end to daily contact of any kind, especially seeing him in person. Most men don't like this kind of behavior, and by engaging in it you not get any nearer to winning him back.

No, when learning how to get ex boyfriend back, it really starts with a change in the psychology of the relationship. What I mean is, you want to make him be the one that wants to reconcile more than you. Once that happens, restoring the relationship will be inevitable.

To get your ex to want to get back with you, you need to make him desire you again. Altering your attitude is a great move in this direction. The beginning step to overhauling your attitude is to let go of all your angry and bitter feelings toward him about your breakup.

One of the better ways you can get rid of these emotions surrounding the break up is to write your ex a letter expressing all the pain and regret you have about what went wrong in the relationship. Then, don't mail it. Rid yourself of the letter. Throw it in the garbage, light it on fire, do what you need to in order to get it out of your life. This will bring closure to that part of the relationship and assist you in moving on.

After you have gotten rid of the letter, do your best to get rid of negativity in your life. One good way to accomplish this is to ask yourself better questions each day.For example, instead of asking questions like "why do I have to go through all this pain?" Ask a better question like "what's good about this situation that I hadn't noticed before?"

When it comes to the relationship, ask questions like "what are some great qualities that my ex has?" In other words, think about what's good about your ex and about your present situation. Also, when you talk to your ex again, bring up only the good experiences you had, and stay away from fighting about the things that caused the breakup.

In order to get ex boyfriend back, you need to make him feel good about you and the relationship again. You can help him to do this by becoming better at the things you know that he likes about you. For example, if he likes how you cook, learn some new recipes and surprise him with some new dishes.

Along these same lines, you can get ex boyfriend back by taking a look at things about yourself that you could improve. You probably know two or three areas of your life that he regularly complained about. Take a good look at how you can eliminate these weaknesses.

Lastly, be willing to casually date other people. A great way to turn him into the pursuer is to help him see that you are attractive to others, thus making you more desirable to him. This new psychology surrounding the relationship will put him in the position of wanting to go out with you again, which will give you a great chance to get ex boyfriend back.

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