Organization Helps Change The World With Coffee

You can make a difference in the world every day, simply by purchasing coffee.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters of Vermont is introducing Heifer Hope Blend, a new organic coffee whose sales will help improve the lives of small-scale coffee farmers in Guatemala. Forty cents of every bag purchased will be given to Heifer International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger worldwide.

The partnership between Heifer and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters will bring needed assistance to impoverished farmers of the La Voz area in San Juan la Laguna and other communities in Guatemala.

Coffee prices today are so low that many small-scale farmers are unable to make a living growing coffee. With Heifer's help, the farmers at La Voz will learn to grow certified organic, shade-grown premium coffee. Green Mountain Coffee then will buy the coffee from the farmers at fair-trade prices - a guaranteed wage that is higher than what the farmers would get on the conventional market - and roast and package it as Heifer Hope Blend.

The farmers will earn a premium price and Heifer will extend its work to more poor families.

With the money earned by Heifer Hope Blend, Heifer also will help coffee-growing families diversify their sources of income by giving those livestock - cows, goats and other income-producing farm animals. This extra income means better nutrition, housing, health care and education.

Since 1944, Heifer has helped millions of impoverished families move toward self-reliance by

providing them with livestock and earth-friendly agricultural training. Heifer then asks the families to "pass on the gift" by donating their animals' offspring to others, thereby helping to lift entire communities out of poverty.

Green Mountain Coffee has made a commitment to social responsibility and the environment

as well, annually setting aside 5 percent of its pre-tax profits to support charitable causes.

"We are truly excited about partnering with socially and environmentally responsible corporations such as Green Mountain Coffee," said Cynthia Hester, Heifer's director of corporate partnerships. "It's important that nonprofits find new ways of encouraging companies to extend their values into the nonprofit world."

Home Owners Insurance - Learn More and Save Money

The family insurance portfolio usually always includes some form of property insurance. The homeowner policy has been around a long time and is purchased every time a family purchases a new home. Homeowner's insurance is very comprehensive coverage but is very often misunderstood. The typical homeowner always has some kind of maintenance problem. These kinds of problems are sometimes submitted as claims on their homeowner's insurance. That is where the misunderstanding begins. Homeowner's policies protect you against losses caused by perils. Maintenance and deterioration problems are never covered by your home policy. Your homeowner's policy would become unaffordable if that were the case.

Perils Insured Against – Fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, explosion, riot and civil commotion, aircraft, smoke, vandalism, theft, falling objects, the weight of ice sleet and snow, accidental discharge of water or steam, freezing, volcanic eruption, and more. These are the basic perils covered by most home policies.

Homeowner Policy Structure:

Section A – The Dwelling – This provides coverage for the dwelling and any structures attached to that dwelling.

Section B – Other Structures – This provides coverage for detached structures like garages, storage sheds, flag poles, fences, and swimming pools.

Section C – Personal Property – Personal property provides coverage for personal property owned by the insured anywhere in the world. There are limitations on certain types of personal property

Section D – Loss of Use – This coverage refers to the additional living expense that the insured incurs when the dwelling becomes uninhabitable because of a peril covered in the policy.

The perils and the policy structure are the essentials that you need to study when purchasing a homeowners policy. Replacement cost verses actual cash value is the next consideration. These are the two methods that insurance companies use to settle claims. The actual cash value method will rebuild your dwelling or replace your property by taking the replacement value and subtracting the depreciation. Replacement Cost will replace your dwelling or personal property with material of like kind and quality without depreciation.

Marine Electronics

Autopilot The first self-steering gear was introduced in the 1920's to control model yachts but it was not until 1948 that the principle was applied to full scale yachts. Standing at the helm for lengthy periods, monitoring instruments and keeping a good look out can be very tiring. An autopilot relieves the helmsman from steering the correct course leaving him free to maintain a proper watch. 

The autopilot can be set to either steer a compass course or a course relative to the wind. A flux gate compass or electronic wind indicator feeds information to a microprocessor which then makes the necessary rudder movements to return the vessel to its required course. The mechanical power is applied to the rudder by electric linear activators, hydraulic pumps or rotary drives. GPS/Chart plotters can be used to input navigational instructions to the autopilot.

Battery Chargers will keep batteries fully charged thereby extending their working life.

Chart Plotters Typically a chart plotter consists of an antenna, mounted high on the boat, to track GPS signals and a display unit sited either at the at the navigation station or the helm of the vessel. The vessels position is sent from the antenna to the display unit which in turn shows it graphically on the chart. 

The Chart itself will look similar to it's paper equivalent and show depth, land mass, navigational aids such as buoys and potential dangers in the form of wrecks and obstructions. The user can add way points to the chart and zoom in and out of the display. Chart plotters can be connected to drive an autopilot and/or send GPS data to a fish finder or radar. They can also interface with a laptop enabling complex passage planning to be done away from the boat and then entered into the chart plotter after arriving at the boat.

Magnetic Transmitting Compasses work like traditional compasses using magnets to determine the vessels orientation to the earth's magnetic field they then transmit the boats heading to an electronic display. They make steering easier than with conventional compasses because they display steadier headings and do not suffer from the "lag" that occurs when making a turn. They can interface with chart plotters, autopilots and radar. 

Flux gate Compasses consist of two pieces of readily saturated magnetic material with coils wound round them in opposing directions. AC current is passed through the coils and the material is saturated in one direction and then the other. The earth's magnetic field affects slightly the time at which saturation occurs, earlier in one coil and later in the other. The difference is then calculated giving an output proportional to the earth's magnetic field. They are accurate to 0.1 of a degree. Their output can be displayed digitally to the helmsman or they can interface with autopilots, chart plotters and radar.

Echo Sounders work on the same principle as sonar. A transducer emits a narrow beam of high frequency sound. This is reflected by any solid objects and the time between transmission and receipt of the echo is measured. The speed of sound through water is known and so the range or distance to the sea bed can be calculated. That is then displayed in meters. Forward Looking Sonar (FLS) enables you to see the underwater hazards before you're actually on top of them. A typical range for a FLS is 150 meters.

An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a piece of equipment designed to float free of a vessel in distress. It then sends a radio signal that can be detected by Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) satellites. They relay a message to a ground station that in turn can instigate a search and rescue operation.

Fish Finders use the same technology as sonar. A narrow beam of high frequency sound is transmitted by a transducer; this is reflected by solid objects such as the sea bed. By developing these technology fish finders provide displays that show where the fish are and they can differentiate between bait fish and larger species

Global Positioning System (GPS Receivers) - This system was originally designed for military purposes and is owned and operated by the United States Department of Defiance. 24 satellites are arranged in a "birdcage" around the globe, they are positioned in such a way that at any place on the earth's surface a direct line of sight can be established to a minimum of 4 satellites. 

A fix is obtained by measuring accurately the distance between a satellite and the GPS receiver at a precise time. Because the exact position of the satellite is known, these distances provide position lines which are converted by a microprocessor within the GPS receiver to read outs of latitude and longitude.

The log is used to measure the boats speed through the water. A paddle wheel or impeller, mounted below the waterline is turned by the flow of water, this generates electrical impulses that are fed to a microprocessor that displays both speed and distance run.

Inverters - On most boats today you will find domestic equipment of one sort or another. For on board entertainment there are televisions and stereo systems. With the popularity of chart plotters comes the PC or laptop. Maintenance often requires the use of power tools. Live boards might have a washing machine, dishwasher or microwave. Can take 12v, 24v or 48v supply and convert it to a stable 110 v or 220v AC supply.

Narthex can perhaps best be described as a continuously updated telex service providing navigation and weather information within specified areas. An on board receiver, tuned to 518kHz, the worldwide Narthex frequency, if left turned on will either print out or display the latest massages sent from a local station. The service is available up to 400 miles from the coast.

Radar enables you to see what otherwise would be invisible. They offer greatest benefit at night and in fog or rain and are of particular value when close to shore or in busy shipping lanes. They consist of an antenna and a display. The antenna sends out a stream of RF energy which is reflected back off hard objects. 

When this energy is bounced back it is converted to a signal which displayed to the user. The antenna rotates every few seconds, the display continuously calculates the direction of the antenna and so a precise bearing to the target is calculated. The time is measured for the energy to be reflected and so the distance of the target is also displayed.

Satellite Phones consist of an antenna, a modem and a normal handset. They are powered by an iridium battery. Their range is anywhere covered by in Inmarsat Mini-M satellite. Voice, fax, email and data can be transmitted.

Satellite TV requires an antenna and of course a television. Reception is available within a "footprint" which is based on EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) of a transmitting satellite. The EUTELSAT together with the two ASTRA satellites cover Europe. NILE SAT and the two ARABSATs cover Africa and the Middle East. Good coverage is also available in North, Central and Southern America.

SSB Radio has a range of several thousand miles. You will need an FFC license, or the equivalent in whichever country you plan to operate it. Power consumption is a consideration. Up to 100 Watts may be required for transmission. SSB radio requires several items of equipment. A transceiver capable of SSB operation, An antenna, this must be 8 meters long and in practice most boats use a back stay or shroud for the purpose having fitted the necessary insulators. An antenna tuner matched to the transceiver model. If you want to send email you will also need and radio modem and computer.

VHF Radio the power required to transmit is minimal, all sets have the option of transmitting on either 1 Watt or 25 Watts and the lower power should be used whenever possible. Unlike telephones that allow you to both talk and hear at the same time most VHF sets require you to press a transmit button prior to talking. This is known as simplex. Duplex sets are available but are much more expensive. VHF radio waves travel in straight lines so the aerial should be mounted as high as possible, preferably at the masthead.

Coaching May Be For You

Are you looking for someone who will hold you accountable to achieving your goals? Career coaching and mentoring may be what you need to accomplish what you really want in your career. Your friends and family certainly love you and want the best for you, but they can't always make the time to devote the necessary hours you may need to achieve your objectives and goals. Your friends and family have objectives and goals that they are looking to achieve as well.

Coaching is one of the best investments that I have made. Although there are many coaching packages that you can choose with becoming a coaching client, generally speaking, the coach and client usually have a weekly call, which lasts from about 45 to 55 minutes. Email communication is usually included between each coaching call.

I have worked with many terrific people who were extremely talented and were over qualified in the position in which they were working. I could only imagine how much happier and productive they would be if they had hired a career coach to work with them.

Why should you consider hiring a career coach?

1. You have someone who is focused on your objectives and goals.

Your coaching calls are all about you. Your coach will hold you accountable for your actions to achieve your goals. Many career coaches have graduated from CoachU (www.coachu.com) and have been educated and trained on holding clients accountable to achieving their goals.

That's why many coaches offer a free initial consultation. This initial consultation will better determine if you and your potential coach are compatible. There's nothing wrong if a particular coach and you are not compatible. The same principle applies with other professional services. You may not be compatible with every accountant, lawyer, contractor, plumber, hairdresser, mechanic or web-designer.

2. You have someone who is objective toward you.

As mentioned before, you have family and friends that love you and they may think that any work you do is awesome, but you are generally getting a subjective opinion. A coach would be able to objectively prepare you for such events as a job interview, calls from clients, querying an editor, writing a resume and getting better organized.

What Every Self Improvement Junkie Should Know About Emotion

Most people are familiar with the phrase "thoughts become things," and in a manner of speaking that is true. However, the more accurate way to explain that concept would be to say that thoughts become emotions.

Emotions in turn drive the machine of your life that creates the things that you think about. The fact that emotions need to be part of the equation is easily verified by thinking back to any time in your life whenever you thought long and hard about having or doing something, but those thoughts never manifested into whatever it was that you were thinking about. For example:

• Many people think very often about having enough money to enjoy certain material possessions or experiences.

• Almost all people give considerable thought to weight loss, physical fitness, or their overall health.

• The majority of people also spend plenty of time thinking about satisfying romantic or other social relationships.

However, despite the massive amount of thought that is dedicated to some or all of those things, it is often the case that we do not have the level of success in those areas that we desire.

The reason for that is because we do not have the appropriate emotional attachment to the things that we want to bring into our lives. When giving thought to the things that we want, more is not necessarily better, since emotionless thoughts have no real power, no matter how many times we think them.

However, a consistent thought about something that also evokes a positive emotional response from you almost always serves to ultimately bring that thing into your life.

In order to illustrate this concept, simply think back to any job interview, health improvement program, date, or other social situation that you were involved in that you felt very positive and confident about. In most if not all of those situations, one of two things happened:

1) You attained or enjoyed the experience of whatever it was you felt positive about, or
2) You realized after the fact that you didn't really want it after all.

By feeling positive and confident about attaining something, you put yourself in charge of the outcome, as opposed to how a lack of confidence will tend to make you feel powerless to get what you want out of any given situation.

You need to be honest with yourself, however, when considering whether or not you truly feel positive and confident about attaining something. Strongly desiring something does not equate to feeling positive or confident about acquiring it. Everyone wants whatever they consider to be financial, health, or social success, but actually believing that we will attain it is another matter entirely.

It is this difference between giving a high quantity of thought to something vs. giving a high quality of thought to something that is ultimately the deciding factor in whether or not we attain it.

Choosing a Linoleum Floor for Your Home

 

Nothing can make over your home faster than new flooring. It can breath new life into an old looking living room or kitchen. There are many different types of flooring available on the market today, vinyl, laminate, wood, and linoleum to name a few.

Linoleum is considered by those in the flooring trade to be a resilient type of flooring. A linoleum floor is durable and, with proper care can last up to 40 years, which is longer than vinyl flooring. Regular cleaning of all of your floors will help prolong their life and preserve them. Linoleum flooring can be easily cleaned by damp mopping with clear water and a mild cleaner. Newer linoleum have surface protection applied by the manufacturer which help make them water and stain resistant.

Linoleum floors are almost limitless in design and color choices and linoleum is better suited for areas that will be getting moderately wet than is laminate flooring. Linoleum flooring is perfect for use in a kitchen. Linoleum can be ideal in a foyer area or laundry room as mud and water are easily cleaned up. While many use ceramic and natural stone floors in entry ways and kitchens, they are harder to upkeep than linoleum.

Linoleum can tear. It is therefore imperative that you use all caution when moving any kitchen appliance on a linoleum floor. Lay a piece of plywood down on the floor and carefully slide the appliance onto the plywood. Make sure that when you move the appliance it is resting evenly on the plywood. You don't want to make any impressions onto the floor beneath.

Linoleum is thin and must be laid carefully. The sub flooring beneath the linoleum must be free of any bumps or irregularities or nail heads. These irregularities will come through a linoleum floor.

If you are thinking of replacement flooring check with family and friends to see if they have had any experience with a particular type of flooring or installer. Do your homework. Expect anyone who sells flooring to be knowledgeable, if they aren't, go elsewhere. The best way to get the perfect flooring for any room in your home is for you to do your homework first.

Acne Prevention Tips

Effective acne prevention requires using the right treatments, and adjusting product use and hygiene habits. If you want to know how to get rid of pimples, and deal with other skin problems like oiliness and blackheads, take a look at these great tips from the acne prevention experts at Nature's Cure.

Oily hair can aggravate acne, so stay away from oily products like pomades or hair spray, especially if you want to get rid of pimples on your forehead.

If your hair is long, wear it pulled back or consider a shorter style that keeps it off your face, neck and shoulders if acne prevention is important in those areas. Be sure to pull your hair away from your skin when you sleep so that pimples don't develop overnight.

Use "noncomprehending" (won't clog pores or cause blackheads) or "nonacademic" (won't cause pimples) cosmetics and suntan lotions.

Avoid using moisturizers on acne-prone areas to get rid of pimples you have there or practice good acne prevention; if you do use a moisturizer, make sure it is not antigenic.

Use topical treatments, such as Nature's Cure medicated spray, anywhere that you tend to get breakouts for acne prevention - don't just spot-treat existing blackheads and pimples. The pore-clogging process happens two to three weeks before any blackheads or blemishes become visible on the skin. Since the salicylic acid acne medication in the body spray is an exfoliate, it helps to remove the dead skin that combines with oil and dirt to form those nasty blackheads and whiteheads that can get infected and become pimples.

Wash the skin gently with a mild soap or cleanser and warm (not hot) water once or twice daily. Hot water and harsh cleansers can further irritate your skin and undermine your acne prevention efforts.

It's tempting to try to scrub away acne, but that's not how to get rid of pimples. Scrubbing too hard or too frequently can actually make your acne worse and promote scarring by increasing inflammation or rupturing cysts under your skin, making bacteria spread.

Don't pick acne or blackheads on your face or body. It can permanently scar your skin. If you must pick, immediately apply a topical antibiotic to help stave off infection.

Since stress can trigger acne, try to avoid stressful situations, resolve stresses by talking to friends/family or a professional, and be sure to eat right and get enough sleep. Sometimes the stress of having acne and trying to figure out how to get rid of pimples can make things worse. But if you take action toward acne prevention with these tips, you can diffuse some of that stress.

Exercising regularly can also help reduce stress and it increases blood circulation and oxygen penetration to the skin, which may help with acne prevention.

Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to help "detoxify" the body from the inside out.

Avoid hot, humid environments such as poorly ventilated kitchens, gyms, or tropical climates and stay away as much as possible from cooking grease or machine oil that can contribute to blackheads and clogged pores.

If you work out, bring along pre-moistened alcohol towelettes to wipe sweat off your face, back and chest. Use towels to cover neck and chest areas to prevent coming in direct contact with the equipment.

If you want to know how to get rid of pimples on your body, you need to realize that bumps on chest and back can be caused by tight fitting workout clothes that trap moisture and heat, so wear loose-fitting all-cotton clothing when you work out.

Wear loose fitting clothing whenever possible and try to avoid friction against the skin caused by helmets, straps, backpacks or handbags.

Sweat combines with skin oils to trap dirt and bacteria in your pores, causing blackheads and pimples, so it's important to shower as soon as possible after you work out or sweat profusely.

Clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup. Since bacteria are one of the key causes of acne, anything that keeps bacteria from touching your skin will help in acne prevention.

Upcoming movies

 

Since I've been spending quite a bit of time at the movies lately, that also means I've been seeing lots of trailers. When we're not seeing a lot of movies, I miss seeing all the stuff that's coming up, although sometimes that can be a blessing as well. I can't tell you how tired I got of seeing numerous trailers for "The Eye" and "The Ruins".

But with the summer movie season about to kick in, there are quite a number of movies coming up in the next multiple months that I'm interested in seeing. Here's a rundown of them.

I first saw the theater standee for "Made of Honor", which is being released May 2, and it didn't do anything for me, but as I've been seeing the trailers, it looks funny. Yeah, it looks to be pretty predictable with standard romantic comedy overtones, but I like the physical comedy I've seen in the previews. Here's the link to the trailer.

When I first saw the trailer for "Iron Man", which is being released May 2, I was very surprised to see Robert Downy, Jr. in the lead role. I guess everyone is doing these kinds of films nowadays. It looks like it'll be interesting, though. Here's the link to the trailer.

I remember watching and loving "Speed Racer" as a child, and even though I really can't tell you much about what I watched (other than that whenever I've been stuck at a train crossing, I've always wished I had his car so that I could jump over everything and be on my way), I'm interested in seeing the live-action feature film version, which is being released May 9. I'm not crazy about the Matrix-like funky special effects, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Here's the link to the trailer.

I enjoyed "The Chronicles of Narnia", so I'm interested in seeing "Prince Caspian", which is being released May 16. I've never read the books and haven't yet decided whether I want to attempt them. I've got too much stuff in the queue as it is, so it's not like I'm looking for things to read, but it's something I might consider in the future. I might have to watch the first film again to orient myself before seeing this one. Here's the link to the trailer.

You would pretty much have to be living under a rock to not know that the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones series is being released May 22. I'll be spending the majority of May trying really hard to avoid spoilers, especially once the film premieres at Cannes. I'm looking forward to seeing the film - the trailer looks great, I'm excited that Marion (Karen Allen) is back, and I'm interested in seeing how Shia LeBeouf does in the film. Here's the link to the trailer.

I hadn't heard until recently that they were making yet another version of "The Incredible Hulk", which is being released June 13. The last version didn't interest me enough to actually see it, especially with the horrid special effects, so I was pretty ho-hum about this version - until I saw the trailer. It looks pretty good, and I find it interesting that Edward Norton is playing Bruce Banner. With the cast also including Liv Tyler, William Hurt and Robert Downy, Jr., I'm looking forward to seeing how this version pans out. Here's the link to the trailer.

I've already talked about being excited to see "Wall-E", which is being released June 27. We're planning on getting tickets for opening night at the El Captain as soon as they go on sale. (You don't really need me to link to the trailers, do you?)

It'll be a two-movie weekend since I'm also interested in seeing "Wanted", which is also being released June 27. I'm not a particular fan of Angelina Jolie, but the trailer looks awesome, and Morgan Freeman is in it, so how could you go wrong? Here's the link to the trailer.

I recently saw the trailer for "Hell boy II", which is being released July 11, and it looks kind of interesting. I've never seen the first film, and watching this trailer made me think about a city full of the inhabitants of Tattooist's Catina. The husband wants to see the film, and he's recommending that I watch the first film so that I can understand this one better. Here's the link to the trailer.

The second installment of the new Batman series, "The Dark Knight", is being released July 18. I was looking forward to seeing the film anyway as I love this particular incarnation of the story (I was not a fan of Batman being played by Michael Keaton, Val Killer or George C looney though admittedly, I didn't see the last couple movies in the series.), but it'll be sad to see Heath Ledger's last role, in which he supposedly does an amazing job. Here's the link to the trailer.

The movie I'm most excited to see, "Mamma Mia", is also being released July 18. It's going to be a bit of a schizophrenic weekend at the movies. (You don't need me to link to this trailer either, do you?)

I had heard nothing about "Tropic Thunder", which is being released August 15, and as I watched the trailer, it wasn't really the kind of movie I'd normally be interested in - except for one element. The apparently-very-busy Robert Downy, Jr. is in this film, playing a critically-acclaimed Australian actor who undergoes a controversial medical procedure so that he can play an African-American character in the movie-within-a-movie. The trailer footage of him looks incredible, so I think I'm going to have to see this movie just for him alone. Here's the link to the trailer.

Another movie that I'd known nothing about is "Hamlet 2", which is being released August 22. But we saw the trailer recently, and we were laughing so hard that it's one of the movies I'm looking forward to seeing the most. It's just completely irreverent, and the show-within-the-movie just looks outrageous. Here's the link to the trailer.

I'd heard that they were doing a remake of "The Women", which is being released October 10. I'd seen the original film as well as read the original play and enjoyed them both. The casting of this new version is pretty interesting, so I'm interested to see how it comes out. There's apparently no trailer available yet.

Pregnancy Week By Week: Week #1 & #2

Week #1:

The most wonderful experience that can happen to a woman is to be pregnant. It is a truly amazing process of life and being able to go through 9 months of carrying another living; breathing person inside of you will change you forever.

When you think about pregnancy, you think about 9 months. But you actually have to start from the first day of your last menstrual cycle. Women have no idea when they ovulate or conceive, but they do know when the first day of their last menstrual cycle occurred. Ovulation won't take place for another 2 weeks, so you may actually conceive during week 3.

If you are planning on becoming pregnant, now is the time to start getting your body ready. You need to start taking prenatal vitamins, which contain folic acid and iron (two very important nutrients for fetus development early in pregnancy).

Also, start tracking ovulation by taking your basal body temperature and watch for the signs. Check out the article called "So you’re Ready to Have a Baby….." to see more information.

Make sure to check back next week to see what happen in week 2. Until then, happy baby making.


Week #2:

This is around the week of ovulation. You are now at the midpoint of your menstrual cycle (if you have a regular 28-day cycle), about to ovulate and are most likely to get pregnant. Your uterus has shed its lining and is preparing itself to house your fertilized egg. Your egg is ripening in one of your ovaries and is getting ready to be released.

A woman is truly fertile for about 4 days a month and this is determined by when she is ovulating. You need to keep track of your menstrual cycle, your basal temperature and the consistency of your cervical mucus. These will give you the best signs of when you are about to ovulate.

Prepare to have fun trying to make your baby.

Getting Some Air in Cherokee County: Bike Park Gives Woodstock a New Place to Play

Sure you can ride your mountain bike just about anywhere but there's nothing like riding miles of winding hand-built single track (just wide enough for one) through the forests of North Georgia. But where? Unfortunately, mountain bikes have been unceremoniously kicked out of public parks all over the Southeast for their tendency to erode paths built for hikers and even collide with the hikers themselves. The solution? Well if you live in Woodstock Georgia, you wrangle your own park and build your own trail.

The Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Organization (SORBA) is responsible for the wildly popular Blankets Creek trail system that skirts Blankets Creek at the edge of Lake Allatoona. Other nearby SORBA projects include Atlanta's Morningside Nature Preserve trail that links Midtown Atlanta with Buck head through a 30 acre forested trail, and Big Creek Park in Roswell.

BLANKETS CREEK:

Almost entirely built by hand by a team of volunteers, Blankets Creek Park is Cherokee County's only designated Bike Park and is proving it to be one of the state's best rides. Right in Woodstock, just off Sixes Road, not too far from downtown and just 25 miles outside of Atlanta, the park draws over 100,000 bikes annually. Kids, men, women, families, couples, lone wolves, seasoned riders and even hikers all converge here for the great trails, a good workout and fun times.

The park has three short loops that let you choose your own adventure - from beginner trails to hair-raisers that demand technical skill. The group is currently building a fourth for a total of 16 miles of off-road goodness. The North Loop will be complete in spring 2008 and is going to bust the guts of all but the most experienced cyclists. With breakneck climbs and headlong descents, you really have to know how to handle your bike if you want to make it to the end of this four mile trail. Fortunately there's plenty of opportunity to train up.

The Mosquito Flats trail and the slightly more challenging Mosquito Bite Trail (1.3 miles total) are fun easy rides perfect for kids and beginners or to get your heart rate up before taking on the more challenging trails. Intermediate riders can try the Dwelling loop (3.5 miles) and advanced riders can try the South Loop (4 miles) for a steady stream of switchbacks, climbing, rock gardens, roots and log crossings.

Though all previous trails were built by hand with rakes, shovels and a lot of back-breaking labors, the new North Loop trail is being blazed by a mini-excavator. The main benefit is that the trail will be complete in less than half the time it would take to build it by hand.

GETTING HERE:

Blankets Creek is located in Woodstock on the shores of Lake Allatoona. To get here, take I-75 north to I-575 north and take exit 11. Turn left on Sixes Road, go about 1.8 miles and turn left into the trail head parking lot. The park is open every day, but closed for rain. Check the trail direction before you begin as it changes daily. Admission is a $1 suggested donation.

WHAT TO BRING:

- A helmet. You can't ride the trails without one.

- Tool kit and tire pump

- First aid kit

- Water and snacks

Music for Self Improvement

Would you like to pop in a CD and have a better quality of life, and even self improvement? There are three ways you can use music to accomplish this.

Music for Motivation:

Put on energetic music, and even doing housework seems less like work. Using music to motivate yourself or change your mood is an area where you can trust your experience and experimentation. When you find the music that energizes you, relaxes you, or makes you happy, keep it ready for when you need it.

Music for Intelligence:

Music creates neural pathways in your brain that stimulate creativity. Studies show that music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking. In one study, three-year-olds were split into two groups. The first had no special training in, or exposure to music. The second group studied piano and sang daily in chorus.

Eight months later the musical three-year-olds were much better at solving puzzles. They also scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the other group. There's also anecdotal evidence that listening to music, especially from Mozart's era, can help you study and learn better.

Hopefully there will be more research. In the meantime there's no reason not to do your own experimentation. I've heard that Stephen King writes with loud rock music playing, so the benefits of music may be according to your own tastes or brain-organization.

Music for Brainwave Entrainment:

Want to listen to some music, and get smarter, or have instant easy meditation? There are products now that "entrain" your brainwaves, in order to put you in a meditative state. Music is embedded with beats and pulses that entrain your brain waves to a specific frequency. Put in the right CD or MP3 for your activity, and you get better brain function. Science? Partly.

Brain wave frequencies vary with mental state. Daydreaming and light meditation take place in the "Alpha" range of frequencies, for example. So if you listen to music containing beats at a frequency of 10 Hz you will generate more brainwaves at a 10 Hz frequency and enter a relaxed Alpha mental state. Do these things really work?

Yes. I've found two products that put me in a peaceful state unlike any other music or meditative practice. Studies will prove the effects (some have already), and disprove the wilder claims. Given my results, however, I wouldn't wait for more research. Many things work long before the scientific proof arrives.

If you are skeptical, you can wait for more evidence of the benefits of brainwave entrainment. Meanwhile, why not try classical music when you study, just to see if it helps? Experiment with music - Mozart isn't dangerous.

Forklift - how does it work?

Forklift – or a lift truck as it is sometimes called – is a machine that is capable of lifting heavy objects and transporting them to different locations. There are several important characteristics that each forklift possesses. First of all, most of the forklift trucks (if not all) will use the rear wheel steering. That means the forklift uses rear wheels to make a turn. This gives the forklift operator more vehicle control (especially important when lifting something with the forks). You should be able to become comfortable with rear wheel steering during your forklift training. The operator of the forklift will be able to make turns in a very tight circle.

Another important characteristic is the fact that a forklift will usually weigh more than a regular car. Depending on a type of forklift it can even be heavier that a truck. This heavy weight is necessary to allow the forklift to lift heavy objects while providing the necessary stability and control. Also the weight is necessary to provide stability when the lifted objects are moved from one place to another. Another reason for the extra weight is the fact that forklift trucks often have a short width, many times fewer than 4 – 5 feet. The weight of the forklift will determine the maximum weight of the load it can lift.

Another thing to mention about forklift trucks is that they are very powerful? You should be very careful when you are driving the forklift or lifting some object. There are many different forklift types produced by many manufacturers like Toyota, Mitsubishi and Clark. Each of these forklift trucks will have its own specific benefits. For example, many Toyota forklift trucks offer the Active Control Rear Stabilizer for extra side stability and System of Active Stability for electronically monitoring of forklift functioning and operations. Other electronic equipment is usually installed on different forklift models.

Celebrity Sedu Hair Styles - From Paris Hilton Sedu Hairstyles to Emma Watson Sedu Hairstyles

Celebrity sedu hairstyles are everywhere and you only need to open up a magazine to see pictures of sedu hairstyles but do you really know how the celebrities are achieving these great looks?

From Paris Hilton sedu hairstyles to Emma Watson sedu hairstyles, all the famous celebrities are now sporting this seasons hottest looks and they are getting them thanks to the revolutionary new sedu hair straightening iron and of course their own personal stylists. Of course for the ordinary person you can achieve your very own celebrity sedu hairstyles from the comfort of your own home just by following some very simple tips and guidelines.

Achieving Celebrity Sedu Hairstyles:

If you want to successful achieve Paris Hilton sedu hairstyles or even Emma Watson sedu hairstyles then the first thing you will need to do is purchase a sedu hair straightening iron. These are not the same as your basic hair iron and will cost you a little more, but let's face it, for celebrity sedu hairstyles they really are worth it and so much easier to use than standard models.

The next thing you will need to do is learn a few of the celebrity sedu hairstyles secrets and these include washing and drying your hair before using your hair straightened and applying styling tonic from root to ends. You will also need to style your hair in sections beginning with the bottom section and working your way to the top. This not only ensures the perfect celebrity sedu hairstyles but also gives a longer lasting hold.

To finish your look whether its Paris Hilton sedu hairstyles or Emma Watson sedu hairstyles you will need to add a small amount of finishing wax to your hair. This should be smoothed along the outside of your hair and only a very small amount is needed to finish your look.

So there you have it, the way to celebrity sedu hairstyles without having to pay huge stylist fees.

Download Full Movies - Top 3 Sites for Unlimited Movies Reviewed

 

Are you looking for some source from where you can legitimately download unlimited movies to your computer and that too at a very reasonable price? Then you are at the right place. In this article, we will explore various sites on the internet which provides unlimited movies that you can download on your computer at pretty good speed. We will compare these sites based on their popularity, collection of movies, money back guarantee, price, convenience of use, etc. The good thing about all these websites is - they offer unlimited movie downloads life time membership service at just one time fee.

1. Net Movie Downloads:

Net Movie Downloads has been ranked 1 considering its popularity, great service, low price, satisfaction guarantee and many other factors. This site is very old and is also number 1 in popularity. They offer movies from a collection of over 100 Million movies. Their collection is too vast and you can find almost any movie that you want. Beside movies, they also offer some of the very popular games, music, videos etc. Net Movie Downloads also provides you with the software to burn each movie to CD or DVD. Lifetime membership is also available. Their download speed is very decent. While download is in progress, you can start watching the movie. 

2. Shared Movies:

Shared Movies is one of the oldest and very well established site on the internet for downloading unlimited movies on your computer. The quality of service and ease of use of this site is very close to Net Movie Downloads. This site has been rated at number 2 position because its collection is 80 Million in contrast to Net Movie Downloads. The picture and sound quality is awesome! Shared Movies also gives a great value to security. All your downloads are free of spy wares and mal wares. It is highly secured. 

3. Movie Advanced:

Movie Advanced is a new player in market. But in a short period of time, it has gained significantly high popularity. They keep updating their movie database very frequently. This site offers a large collection of DVD quality movies and full episodes of TV shows. They also offer very comprehensive tutorials for helping you in downloading and playing movie files on your TV, computer or home theater system. You should prefer this site if you want instant access to unlimited movie downloads.

5 Parenting Tips To Help Your Child Get More Exercise

Was parenting easier forty years ago?

As a mom in the new millennium, I dream about the idea of parenting in a world where streets are safe and parents can let their children run freely through the neighborhood, their bodies naturally challenged with the exercise of play.

Instead today, before the slam of the car door fades and the backpack drops on the floor, the TV is switched on and the last few hours of daylight disappear in a haze of video games and over processed snack foods.

Even the concerned, well-meaning parent can often stand helpless, wondering how to compete against marketing genius and instant gratification. Exercise and carrot sticks have a hard time competing with Xboxes, SpongeBob and potato chips.

The proof is all around us. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the health of too many North Americans is in danger because of unhealthy lifestyles. (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity)

The latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics show that 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older - over 60 million people - are obese. The CDC reports the percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980.

My kids aren't obese - why should I be concerned?

Your kids are normal, right? You are parenting just fine. But in a world where walking is limited, school P.E. programs are being cut, and cars, elevators and buses eliminate our chance to exercise naturally, we need to make a concerted effort to make physical activity part of our day and our children's days.

Despite all the benefits of being physically active, most Americans are sedentary. (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/contributing_factors.htm). Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults.

So as parents how can we get our kids moving?

"The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day."

The great news is exercise comes in many forms and can be a lot of fun! With a little creativity you can easily add some fun physical activity into your parenting style.

Celebrity Sedu Hair Styles - From Paris Hilton Sedu Hairstyles to Emma Watson Sedu Hairstyles

Celebrity sedu hairstyles are everywhere and you only need to open up a magazine to see pictures of sedu hairstyles but do you really know how the celebrities are achieving these great looks?

From Paris Hilton sedu hairstyles to Emma Watson sedu hairstyles, all the famous celebrities are now sporting this seasons hottest looks and they are getting them thanks to the revolutionary new sedu hair straightening iron and of course their own personal stylists. Of course for the ordinary person you can achieve your very own celebrity sedu hairstyles from the comfort of your own home just by following some very simple tips and guidelines.

Achieving Celebrity Sedu Hairstyles:

If you want to successful achieve Paris Hilton sedu hairstyles or even Emma Watson sedu hairstyles then the first thing you will need to do is purchase a sedu hair straightening iron. These are not the same as your basic hair iron and will cost you a little more, but let's face it, for celebrity sedu hairstyles they really are worth it and so much easier to use than standard models.

The next thing you will need to do is learn a few of the celebrity sedu hairstyles secrets and these include washing and drying your hair before using your hair straightener and applying styling tonic from root to ends. You will also need to style your hair in sections beginning with the bottom section and working your way to the top. This not only ensures the perfect celebrity sedu hairstyles but also gives a longer lasting hold.

To finish your look whether its Paris Hilton sedu hairstyles or Emma Watson sedu hairstyles you will need to add a small amount of finishing wax to your hair. This should be smoothed along the outside of your hair and only a very small amount is needed to finish your look.

So there you have it, the way to celebrity sedu hairstyles without having to pay huge stylist fees.

Download Full Movies - Top 3 Sites for Unlimited Movies Reviewed

Are you looking for some source from where you can legitimately download unlimited movies to your computer and that too at a very reasonable price? Then you are at the right place. In this article, we will explore various sites on the internet which provides unlimited movies that you can download on your computer at pretty good speed. We will compare these sites based on their popularity, collection of movies, money back guarantee, price, convenience of use, etc. The good thing about all these websites is - they offer unlimited movie downloads life time membership service at just one time fee.

1. Net Movie Downloads:

Net Movie Downloads has been ranked 1 considering its popularity, great service, low price, satisfaction guarantee and many other factors. This site is very old and is also number 1 in popularity. They offer movies from a collection of over 100 Million movies. Their collection is too vast and you can find almost any movie that you want. Beside movies, they also offer some of the very popular games, music, videos etc. Net Movie Downloads also provides you with the software to burn each movie to CD or DVD. Lifetime membership is also available. Their download speed is very decent. While download is in progress, you can start watching the movie. 

2. Shared Movies:

Shared Movies is one of the oldest and very well established site on the internet for downloading unlimited movies on your computer. The quality of service and ease of use of this site is very close to Net Movie Downloads. This site has been rated at number 2 position because its collection is 80 Million in contrast to Net Movie Downloads. The picture and sound quality is awesome! Shared Movies also gives a great value to security. All your downloads are free of spy wares and malwares. It is highly secured. 

3. Movie Advanced:

Movie Advanced is a new player in market. But in a short period of time, it has gained significantly high popularity. They keep updating their movie database very frequently. This site offers a large collection of DVD quality movies and full episodes of TV shows. They also offer very comprehensive tutorials for helping you in downloading and playing movie files on your TV, computer or home theater system. You should prefer this site if you want instant access to unlimited movie downloads.

A must-know about computer and internet glossary

Computer-related things tend to have a language all their own. While you do not need to know all of it, there are many confusing words and phrases that you are going to come across sooner or later.

Bandwidth. Bandwidth is the amount of data that your website can send each second, as well as the amount of data that the visitor to your website can receive. If either one does not have enough bandwidth, then the website will appear slowly.

For this reason, you should choose a host with plenty of bandwidth, as well as testing that your site doesn't take too long to download on slow connections.

Browser. A browser is the software (see below) that visitors to your site use to view it. The most popular browser is Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which comes with Windows.

Cookie. Cookies are data files that your site can save on the computer of someone who visits that site, to allow it to remember who they are if they return.

FTP. File Transfer Protocol. This is a common method of uploading (see below) files to your website.
JavaScript. A common language for writing 'scripts' on websites, which are small programs that make the site more interactive. Another common cause of problems for visitors.

JPEG. Joint Photographic Experts Group. This is the name of the most popular format for pictures on the web, named after the group that came up with it. If you want to put pictures on your website, you should save them as JPEGs.

Hardware. Hardware is computer equipment that physically exists. It is the opposite of software.
Hosting. If you've got a website out there on the Internet, then you'll be paying someone for hosting. It is the service of making your site available for people to see.

HTML. Hypertext Markup Language. A kind of code used to indicate how web pages should be displayed, using a system of small 'tags'. The 'b' tag, for example, causes text to appear in bold, and the 'image' tag displays a picture.

Hyperlink. A hyperlink is when a piece of text on a website can be clicked to take you to another site, or another page on the same site. For example, if clicking your email address on your website allows someone to email you, then your email address is a hyperlink.

Programming. This is when the computer is given instructions to tell it what to do, using one of many 'programming languages'. Programming languages for the web include PHP and Perl.

Server. The server is where your website is stored, and it is the server that people are connecting to when they visit the site. Note that server refers both to the hardware and software of this system.

Software. Programs that run on the computer, or that make your website work. Microsoft Word is software, for example, as is Apache (the most popular web server software). Opposite of hardware.

Spider. Do not be scared if a spider visits your website! Spiders are simply programs used by search engines to scan your site and help them decide where it should appear when people search. It is good to be visited by spiders, as it means you should start appearing in search engines soon.

Upload. Uploading is when you transfer data from your own computer to your website. For example, you might upload your logo, or an article you've written. Opposite of download.

(URL) Uniform Resource Locator. This is just a short way of saying 'web address', meaning what you have to type in to get to your website.

Drive Traffic to Your Website with Articles

Many people begin their online road to riches dream by starting up a website and trying to sell a product they have created themselves. They may have written an e-book, recorded a cd of original songs, or knitted some lovely potholders with pictures of cats on them.

Enormous volumes of hype have been published with the claim that the internet is an easy, if not mindless, way to riches. The internet is now a global advertising grid, and millions of people surf each day for things they would like to buy, learn about, or discover. They search for the needle in the electronic haystack that suits their fancy for the moment. Shopping online has now become reasonably safe.

The first problem is, how will shoppers with a credit card and the urge to shop find your website? A count as of January1, 2005, suggested there may be as many as 11.5 billion public WebPages published. That was just over a year ago at the time of this writing, so that number can only be much higher today. To expose your little website selling cat potholders to prospective customers may take a little a little work.

Search engines use complex algorithms (mathematical formulae) to determine if the content of a website matches its owner’s claims. Self-proclaimed experts who follow this route for exposure must research every day to ensure their success. The search engine companies themselves keep their algorithms secret to avoid unscrupulous marketers taking unfair advantage of the whole internet shopping and surfing experience.

So what is a potholder seller to do? Search engine experts can charge upwards of $25,000 to guarantee that your site might be the first to be found when someone enters a search. That's a whole lot of lovely cat potholders. Some very easy and free methods are available to drive traffic to your website. One of them is writing simple articles. You're reading this one right now, aren't you?

Hundreds of "article directories" exist on the web just for this purpose. The main and simplest thing people search for on the internet is information. People want to know about something, and often a good place to find a snippet of information is in an article directory. Thousands of 500-1500 word articles have been written and published on the internet, and people love to read them. If they are short and informative, they will become popular to read, and not too time consuming.

Then once your website is up on the net, write a brief, helpful article about your product. Target the style and content of your writing to suit your friends and customers, and also yourself. The average newspaper is written for a grade 9 level reader, and tabloids are written for a grade 6 level or lower. Writing on the internet runs the whole gamut of education. Explain a problem that needs to be solved, and at the end provide a solution. Sales copy is more involved than this, but an article should be entertaining, or fit the parameters of a possible search.

The most important part of the article, besides the content and the attention grabbing headline, is a live link to your website in the author's bio at the bottom. More often than not, the reader will click the link, if it is live, to see what other information might be available on that particular subject. This link must lead straight to your potholder website. 

A reader is less likely to copy and paste your website address into their browser if another similar article is listed in the directory.  Write a short paragraph stating your expertise with cat potholders, and invite the reader to visit your website. This will be your "author's bio". If someone does read the whole article, they are often curious who wrote it, if it covers the subject they are interested in. Most article directories will accept HTML code in the bio box. 

Search for the words "article directory", and make a list of as many as you can. Most directories are free to read and submit your articles to. Registration is usually necessary, with your email as the username. Get another free email address to use specifically for article submission to avoid any trouble with spam.  After you have submitted your article, it may take a few days for publication.  Check back to the directory to see if your article is published and your link is working. Then do it all again. The articles will stay published forever, or as long as the directory exists.

Over time, people will continue to read your article, and click back to your website. If you submit your article to 20 directories, and 40 people interested in cat potholders read it, that's 800 more potential customers from one article. If you have the time to write 20 little articles, and submit them to 40 directories, and 40 people read each one over time, well you do the arithmetic.  Article submission is one easy, quick and guaranteed way to direct some website traffic your way, and at almost no cost. Give it a try, you'll be amazed.

Italy Beats Hawaii as the Best Honeymoon Destination

Ask any bride-to-be and she'll quickly tell you that honeymoon dreams come true in Hawaii. This tropical paradise has been king of the hill when it comes to honeymoon destinations for nine straight years. But this year, the king was dethroned. Instead of finding Hawaii as big kahuna, Italy took the lead.

In previous years, Italy ranked third, but in the 11th annual Modern Bride survey for 2007, it surpassed Hawaii, followed by Tahiti, Costa Rica, Mexico and France. The 11th annual survey was conducted through a network of 6,000 luxury travel agents who ranked their 50 favorite honeymoon spots. The results appear in the magazine's August/September issue. But what doesn't appear is the answer to the question "why?"

According to Hawaii's state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the trend has been building over time. The number of honeymoon couples traveling to the Aloha State fell to just over 200,000 as of June this year. That's a 1.2% drop from 2006. Hawaii certainly has beauty and a playground with enough adventure and romance to keep couples busy for weeks. But Italy is beginning to be appreciated for many of its unique features.

Venice:

For instance, Venice charms young and old alike with magical waterways stretching throughout the entire city. The gentle trickling of water through the canals is romantic on its own. Add to that a dreamy gondola ride and you've set the mood for the entire trip. Truth be known, Venetians travel by gondola because there are no cars, not because of the romance! You also won't find any motorbikes or motorized scooters. Why no cars? Because there are no roads to drive them on!

What you will find in Venice is gorgeous scenery along with palaces, museums and art collections. Open-air food markets are also plentiful and make for wonderful shopping. Or, of course, you can dine at any number of restaurants where you'll delight in truly authentic northern Italian cuisine.

Improve Your Memory with These Simple Tips

1) When you need to remember something important, find a way to create an image about it in your mind that is very funny or bizarre. Your brain easily remembers things that are unusual, or funny or scary, while it easily forgets things that don't stand out in any way.

2) Make written lists of what you need to do or to remember. This will free up your brain to remember other things that are more important.

3) Be sure to get enough sleep. Your brain uses its sleeping hours to put new information into long term memory storage.

4) To remember a long string of letters or numbers such as a telephone number, break the information up into small chunks of two or three numbers or letters at a time, such as 555 – 216 - 9827. Most people will find it very hard to remember 9 or 10 numbers in a row, but they can easily remember two or three numbers in a row.

5) When you need to learn and remember something, give yourself time to review the same material the next day for a few minutes and then a week later for a few minutes. Repetition and review will help your brain remember the material better.

6) When you are studying a lot of material, schedule a break every forty minutes to get up and walk and do something completely different. When you sit down to study again, your brain will be more refreshed and better able to pay attention.

7) When you are trying to study something, give yourself plenty of time to understand it and review it several times. Cramming at the last minute doesn't work very well.

8) Give your brain a good workout by practicing memorization as a fun exercise. Every few days, pick a new poem or favorite passage to memorize, and then write it out or speak it out loud.

9) Reduce the stress in your life by simplifying your schedule, delegating more tasks to others, getting regular physical exercise and practicing daily meditation. Long term stress can interfere with your ability to concentrate and to think clearly, and with your ability to form memories or to recall them later.

10) Get yourself a study buddy or a conversation partner, and try teach the other person what you are learning. This is a good way to signal your brain that what you are learning is important and you will remember more.

Optimal Performance from Super Pocket Bikes

Any racer is likely to tell you that there is performance, and then there is Performance. Optimal performance is the end goal, especially from super pocket bikes. You want the best possible performance out of super pocket bikes, and doing so is not all that difficult. There are a few basic tips that can help to ensure your bike stays in top notch shape.

One of the most basic rules to keep your super pocket bike running smoothly is the same rule that you need to keep any vehicle running smoothly, from mini bike to a car or van: choose your gas carefully. For super pocket bikes, most pros will tell you not to use racing fuel. Not only does it not help, it might cause problems that other fuels would not. High octane unleaded gasoline works best. As with any gas station, look at the condition of the pumps and ground. If they look bad and there is standing water around where the gas in put into the tank, try the next one down the road. Make sure to mix the oil right, too. The mixtures are fairly easy to figure out, and do not use the same oil as cars. It is not designed for pocket bikes. Buy motorcycle oil.

Break the super pocket bike in right. This mainly involves using common sense. Don't run your bike at the maximum RPM's during the break in period. That puts undue stress on the motor. On average it will take about four tanks of gasoline, five to be safe, to break your super pocket bike in. During this period, don't push the bike too hard - baby it a bit. Slow and steady quite literally will lead to winning the race. Going along with treating your bike right, don't run it cold. Allow your super pocket bike to warm up for about five minutes after starting it. This allows the motor and the fluids to heat up to their optimal running temperatures. You would never just start your car when its winter outside and take off, so don't so the same with your bike. It's not meant to run cold

Finally, get to know your super pocket bike. Learn what is normal, and what isn't. When it isn't running normally, or if anything at all sounds different than usual, turn it off and find out what the problem is. Make all repairs as soon as possible, and park the bike until the repairs are made. Caution will save you a lot of money in the long run. Follow these tips, and you will be able to enjoy a super pocket bike that lives up to every ounce of its potential.

Michael Vick

 

An elementary student who first showed an interest in baseball and basketball, Michael Vick later developed his love of football. Born in June 1980, this Newport News, Virginia native is now the quarterback for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

In his early teens, Vick became involved in football as his choice after-school activity. At that time, he seemingly gave up all other sports in order to concentrate on football. Through high school, his love of football flourished and carried over into his college years. Attending Virginia Teach, Michael Vick gained instant stardom as a collegiate player with 3 rushing touchdowns during his first game. With the help of Vick, the Virginia Tech Hokies enjoyed a phenomenal 11-0 season and secured a seat at the 2000 Bowl Championship Series. Even though they were defeated by Florida, Michael Vick led the team to an impressive comeback after being 21 points down at one point.

During Michael Vick's inaugural collegiate season, he led the NCAA in passing efficiency, which earned him a record setting year for a freshman. Additionally, he was awarded the ESPY award as the nation's top college player, the inaugural Archie Griffin Award and was voted third in the 1999 Heisman Trophy candidates. With all of the awards and recognition, all eyes quickly became fixed on Michael Vick's participation with the Virginia Tech Hokies. In 2001, however, he decided to pursue his dream of professional football and set his sites on the NFL as Virginia Tech retired his jersey.

In a strange twist of fate, Michael Vick found himself as part of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft when the Colorado Rockies selected him for their team. A game that he had once given up during his teen years now seemed like a probable route for the college athlete. However, Vick had other plans in mind. In 2001, the Atlanta Falcons selected the youngster for their number one NFL draft pick. Despite several injuries, Michael Vick led the Falcons to a record 11-5 season in 2004 and has led the NFL franchise to be one of most competitive teams in the league.

As quarterback, Michael Vick's memorabilia and his replica jerseys have become one of the bestsellers for the NFL. The apparel and collectibles industry remains one of the largest revenue producing sectors of any sport, including the NFL. As fans flock to find their favorite gear, many seem to be lining up for anything pertaining to Michael Vick and his tremendous contribution to the Atlanta Falcons and the National Football League.

Combat Jujitsu - What Is The Hottest Martial Arts Trend Today?

Combat Jujitsu is one of the hottest trends in martial arts today. In fact, a lot of martial arts masters are creating a new and unique form of all martial arts known as combat martial arts. Learning combat Jujitsu can have a lot of benefits.

Jujitsu is very skilled martial arts that use a lot of different moves such as holds, mounting, grappling, take downs, and a whole lot more. If you are persistent, determined and disciplined you can learn Combat Jujitsu and experience an entirely new level of personal development through it.

Jujitsu is an ancient martial art originating from the country of Japan, and was created in the 1500s. The ancient martial art of Jujitsu combines all of the grappling, holds, mounting, and take down moves with relaxing and beneficial meditations.

Judo was actually developed from the ancient martial art of Jujitsu in the 1800s by a man named Jigoro Kano. Jigoro Kano took a variety of different techniques from other masters of Jujitsu and meshed them together into Judo. Kano called this form of Jujitsu and Judo "Kadokan Judo". Kano soon found out that his dog's breakfast version of Jujitsu wasn't as great as he thought it was. His students could not defeat the Jujitsu students in any of the competitions they engaged in. Kano knew it was time for a change, and he chose to add some more skills to his form of Judo – joint locking techniques, choking techniques and holds. One of Kano's students eventually moved to the beautiful country of Brazil and brought his unique form of Jujitsu and Judo to the country with him. From there, the martial arts of Jujitsu and Judo spread throughout the world. 

Combat Jujitsu takes the original Jujitsu and creates a martial arts that has a lot more combat involved, especially self-defense moves. Learning self-defense in any form of martial art is a great benefit. It can even save your life. It will give you the confidence you need to know that you can protect yourself and those around you. You do not need to be scared anymore. You will learn how to watch out for situations you need to get away from, how to escape an attacker trying to hurt you, feel more confident and self-reliant when you go out. Also, you can have a lot of fun learning combat Jujitsu while you are becoming a healthier person overall.

Practicing combat Jujitsu on a regular basis will help you in self-defense and meditation. You will also reduce your risks for many debilitating diseases. In an age of fast food, fast cars, no sleep, 500 channels and road rage, learning this martial art will have countless benefits! 

Plan Your Proposal and You Plan To Win

Proposal planning is essential to ensure that you have time to develop, write and produce a well though-out solution to the client's requirement. Everyone who has written proposals regularly has occasionally wished that they had planned better, started earlier and various occasions stayed late trying to deal with an unsatisfactory and unfinished proposal.

Think of proposals as small projects – develop a plan. Think about all the relevant issues you must cover - how to meet their problem? How you have done similar work in the past? Who will work on the project? Do you need subcontractors or partners to help deliver the project? Who will work on the proposal? How will you present yourself to the client in order to win?

Ensure you are prioritizing bid opportunities and have your best people working on the most important opportunities for your organization. Think carefully about which contract is more important. Is it the high value opportunity that will consume all your time and resources for the next several months? or is it the smaller project that allows you to maintain other client work at the same time? Whichever is the most important priorities your bids and ensure that each one receives the attention it deserves.

As with any project, when writing proposals, set and keep deadlines and allocate resources to complete tasks. This is taken for granted when running a client project, but is sometimes ignored on internal "sales" projects. Proposal writers and sales teams need to manage and run their projects efficiently too in order for them to succeed…and remember one sure fire way to lose the contract is not submitting your proposal on time. Don't jeopardize several weeks work by being 30 minutes late getting the document in.

Unless you are an individual contractor you should delegate proposal tasks to qualified team members. This will allow more time to be spent on each section and that each section of the proposal is written by the most appropriate member of your team. If you have expertise available, make sure that it is available to be used in your proposals. When delegating make sure everyone knows the deadlines and commits to them. Everyone needs to know this is an important project and you are the project manager.

Always plan time for production of the documents. Make sure that everything can be produced and checked in the final form prior to submission. The last thing you need is a well-written proposal coming across poorly because it was carelessly assembled at the last minute. Make sure the printer is working, that you have enough paper and that you have time to get it delivered. Book a courier in advance.

Having a set and well-defined process can easily streamline the time required between projects and will allow for highly organized proposals that always meet quality standards. Many people underestimate the value of proper proposal planning; make sure you are not one of them.

Within the Learn to Write Proposals (www.learntowriteproposals.co.uk) Bid Management Toolkit you will find great tools to help you – the Bid Capture Plan helps you define your win strategies and themes, the Bid Development Plan helps you structure you documents and plan the development of each section as well as the whole document and the Proposal Tracker helps you keep on top of the production of multiple bids.

How to Buy a Snowboard

Buying a Snowboard isn't as trouble-free as it used to be. There are approximately 20 various types of Snowboards. With so many enormous choices, the snowboarder in the present day needs to be knowledgeable, so I put this list together in hopes that How to Buy a Snowboard will be an exciting and pleasurable experience.

There are many different types of snowboards available today. Here are the most common types of snowboards: Free ride boards, Freestyle boards, Back country boards, Park/Pipe boards, Kids boards, Women's boards, Boarder cross boards and Signature series boards. As you can see you, you have your work cut out for you in making a decision on what board to buy.

Snowboard buying necessitates a few central questions to be answered, but you'll be encouraged in knowing that you, by now, have the answers. Your, height weight, riding style and foot size are the chief features that will classify the suitable width, shape, stiffness and height of the board you'll buy.

Although there are other factors to be taken into consideration, a few of the ones you should be familiar about is your riding ability and riding style. The riding style you have a preference for will lend a hand in determining the sort of board you ought to buy. There are a lot of diverse opinions on the countless riding styles there are but I am going to split them up into three main categories of riding styles.

All Mountain and Free ride style-a free ride or all mountain snowboarder make use of the whole mountain. You enjoy catching air, carving and basically all riding aspects. This is the essence of snowboarding. While a cliched expression in snowboarding, free ride is still the best way to portray the majority of snowboarders. These riders take pleasure in the whole thing about snowboarding: the imagination that can only be understood sliding the half-pipe, the astounding feel of carving a turn on slopes, the sense of flight you get at lift-off from the big-air jump, and the feel of freedom one gets sliding on new snow. It is still inconceivably first-rate fun on spruced slopes. For next in line we will present the following.

Freestyle or Technical riding- involves mostly jumps, trick riding, rail sliding, grabs, jibbing, spins and tearing it up. Technical freestyle riding is usually set up in the parks or near the half pipe. For a beginning snowboarder, freestyle and technical boards are the best choice. This style is well-liked among the younger snowboarders. Many of today's technical freestyle riders come to snowboarding with an understanding as a BMX, in-line skater, skateboarder, or other action sports conditions. While the gear specific to this category of rider excels in park and pipe riding, it can also be very adaptable across the whole mountain at less than full-speed. We now will move on to the last category.

Carve/Alpine style-pulls together speed and deep turning and make the most of everything the mountain has to put forward. Alpine riders are repeatedly transitioning from one turn into the next. It is all about hard carving and high speed. Expert skiers who decide to learn snowboarding tend to like the performance of carving boards, although stiffer flex and narrower width can make them intolerant for beginners. These types of riders are recognizable out of the crowd; they are always seen laying a trench in the snow with each turn. These riders "use" a snowboards edge like no others, while using authoritative body movements and gravity as their friend, alpine riders enjoy the sport only when they are attached to the snow.

In conclusion, these are the basics of How to Buy a Snowboard. All the most important issues have been enclosed and hopefully the buying process will be simpler for you.
However please keep in mind that whatever you choose to buy, remember that it is your choice and that nobody has a right to influence you at all.

Classic Groomsmen Gifts Never Go Out Of Style

Your bride-to-be goes down her checklist with you one more time, and she says, "How are you doing on your groomsmen gifts?" Your usual response would be to stare at her blankly. But not today! Below you'll find a wealth of classic choices from money clip watches to cigar humidors that will impress her with your taste and preparedness.

These classic items round out the accessories of men of all professions and ages, and they never go out of style.

For Wearing:

Cufflinks: Every man has in reserve at least one special suit that requires the shirt with the cufflinks. A classy groomsmen gift, cufflinks show you know he'll have more occasions than just your wedding to look his best.

Pocket watch: Who doesn't love the heavy feel and precision movement of a pocket watch? Clicking open the face to check the time is just one of the coolness factors of these items. Add engraving to your gift to increase its savoir-faire.

For Holding
Money clip: A popular item, and no man should be without one. Money clips come in many ingenious styles, including money clip/wallet combos, money clips with watches, money clips with Swiss army knives. They can be silver, steel or leather. Individualize them with engraving.

Jewelry box: For a place to stash all the cufflinks and watches, a special box lined with velvet is just the thing. A masculine touch is to find a model encased in leather or metal.

Travel bag: A practical, classic gift, personalized travel bags straddle the zone between luxurious and pragmatic.

Briefcase: Celebrate the occasion with an embossed leather briefcase for your groomsman. The range of styles and colors will ensure that your gift is unique.

For Entertaining:

Bar set: You can just hear the ice cubes tinkling with a classy set for the top of the bar. There are sets to match any decor, from traditional to modern and everything in between.

Poker set: You never know when an impromptu poker game will form. Help your groomsman be prepared with his own personalized poker set.

Cocktail shaker: When the order is "shaken, not stirred," everyone reaches for a cocktail shaker. Models are available in silver or steel, and ready for engraving.

For Indulging
Tankards and mugs: A hefty tankard or mug is both a drinking companion and a beautiful decorative item. Pewter with engraving is especially classy, or choose a heavy glass mug with a special message or insignia.

Cigar humid: If he likes cigars, he'll need something to protect his investment. Humidors come in many elegant styles, including wood or leather. Be sure to include a few cigars in the package.

Hip flask: For a little pocket refreshment, what man can resist an engraved flask? Engraved silver sets the standard, and some models even include storage for a stogie.

Lighters: Seems like every man should have an engraved silver lighter, preferably given by a good friend. This gift will go over well and be useful for years to come.

The classic never go out of style. Now, it's just up to you and your bride-to-be to choose which one.

Enterprise Content Management And Service Oriented Architecture

Visualize the following scenario: All enterprise content (wherever generated by whatever entity) goes into a single repository and users can receive different services (that they were receiving from different applications earlier, or are completely new services) from an integrated system with a standard front end. Service Oriented Architecture, Enterprise Application Integration, and Data Warehousing work to make this scenario a reality.

Data warehouses, unlike transactional databases, are designed to facilitate querying and analysis. They are separated from transactional databases so that the latter are not burdened with query/analysis processing requests. These kinds of requests tend to use the processing resources, slowing down transaction processing response times.

Enterprise Application Integration seeks to integrate the different applications to eliminate duplication of both content and processing operations.

This article explores how Service Oriented Architecture works.

The Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

This style of architecture groups functionalists into specific service groups. The services are provided to manage business processes that support an organization's business.

The enterprise-wide system is structured as a collection of standard services that different applications used by employees, suppliers, and customers need. These different applications might even be working on different platforms and coded in different programming languages. Each service is designed to work with any application that calls it, and would not know which application would call it. Its role is to provide a defined service in a standard way to whatever application calls for it.

The pool of services can be configured to create new applications if needed. This kind of architecture adds flexibility and quicker deployment to content management systems. Available services are listed in a service registry that can be looked up by applications for calling the service they need. The services would come with any attached security requirements appropriate to the service.

In an ideal system, one service or another would cater to every kind of information management need, and there would be a standard look and feel for the interface. Additionally, information management would be customizable to the requirements of the organization's business processes.

Internet Protocols and SOA

Internet Protocols work independent of platforms and programming languages and work on the service request and delivery model. For example, a user client might request a certain document and the server complies with the request by retrieving the document and sending it to the client.

This makes the web-services approach a good Service Oriented Architectural approach. You can make your existing applications web enabled to start building a SOA system.

All services are described in XML documents that are independent of platforms, and written in Web Services Description Language (WSDL). An XML schema enables communication among the services.

A web service is not the only technology that can be used by SOA. SOA is an architecture that can be implemented using different technologies.

Conclusion:

Service Oriented Architecture makes it possible to convert even legacy applications into services that any application can call. By configuring the services to cater to all kinds of information management needs, and tailoring the information management to the requirements of the particular business, you get to use enterprise knowledge to gain real control over business processes. This is what Enterprise Content Management systems seek to achieve.